New Year's Survey 2008

IN THE YEAR 2008:

1. Will you be looking for a new job?
Yeah, as a better dad, at least two days a week!

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
A new relationship with a punching bag would be nice, I just don't know where one is. And maybe a new relationship between my palate and vegetables. They have not hit it off well.

3. New house?
Someday. We like our secluded apartment, however. Even if it has cold drafts coming from the fireplace. There are no marital issues over keeping the lawn watered though, which has been great!

4. What will you do differently in '08?
Not have as many existential crises, if that's something one can control. Take better care of myself. Do more laundry. Maybe even clean the bathroom more than once.

5. New Years resolution?
I'm too much of a rebel at heart to conform to something like that. New years is probably the only time I don't make goals. Lame, I know. That being said, I am making one-week-after New Year's resolutions! On Tuesday I'm starting a 12 week cardiac arrest-prevention workout program!

6. What will you NOT be doing in '08?
Spending so much time on the Internets.

7. Any trips planned?
Hawaii (for school, I promise!), California, maybe Brazil (for a wedding).

8. Wedding plans?
See #7. (It's a friend's wedding, not my #2)

9. Major thing on your calendar?
Precious free time. Only a little bit left. Spring semester starts on the 15th.

10. What can't you wait for?
Seeing The Dark Knight, the presidential primaries to be over, and LOST.

11. What would you like to see happen different?
More unity, more kindness. Less bickering in the country. Less judgment from EVERYONE.

12. What about yourself will you be changing?
First, one must define what "yourself" means. As I still don't have an answer to that, I can't answer this question.

13. What happened in '07 that you didn't think would ever happen?
I made a bunch of female friends and somehow stayed happily married. (Note: N didn't like this answer)

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
Nicer than what?

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in '07?
Unless I go back to my Jr. High style of wearing basketball shorts to school every day, probably not.

17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
Better than what? How is this question different than #14?

18. Will you do charity work?
Sure...does that have to be a commitment?

19. Will you go to bars?
What is "bars?"

20. Will you be nicer to people you don't know?
Probably not. That's asking for a complete personality change? As an introvert, I just don't have the energy. I'm really good at being neutral though.

21. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you?
What does "good" mean? We don't use that word in our profession.

22. How much did you change from this time last year til now?
Last year this time I was buffer, and better at Japanese, but now I am more patient, and a better listener. I had better be, considering my tuition bill this school year is hovering around 20k.

23. Do you plan on having a child?
One is great for now, thanks! Ask me again in a few years.

24. One wish for 2008?
That all sentient beings be free of suffering and the root of suffering, and enjoy happiness and the root of happiness. And that I am somehow a part of it.

And I thought last semester was crazy...

This semester:
-15 credits (5 classes)
-6 hours a week counseling practicum
-15 hours a week working with foster kids
-5 hours a week graduate assistantship
-11-year old Boy Scouts on Thursday nights
-Sunday School lesson every other week

This semester definitely wins in busiest time in my life-ever. I didn't think it could get worse after last semester, but it did. : ) Fortunately, I'll have Tuesdays and Fridays home with LG! N will be substitute teaching. Funny how that works out. She swore she would never be a sub and I swore I would never work with kids or teenagers. That all changed pretty quick. I am grateful for the opportunity though. We're getting a wide range of experiences!

To top this all off, we've been worried for a while about LG grabbing his ear a lot, so we want to have that figured out sooner rather than later, and I've been having some new urology-type problems associated with exercise (I'll spare you the details here), so I'll be finding myself in the doctor's office soon as well. N is feeling pretty healthy though! That makes me happy. : )

We do have great lives. We are very fortunate, and I hope that we can use these opportunities to do some good in the world, or at least the community.

friends making music

Some old friends of mine from Centerville have a band called prospect mali, and they just put out their debut EP. The song "The Silence" (video below) was inspired by Jim and Pam's romance on The Office. How can you pass up a song inspired by a TV romance?

The band's name means "small street" in Russian. From garageband.com: "From 2001 to 2004, each member of the band spent some time on a street in St. Petersburg, Russia called "Mali Prospeckt," although no two members were ever there together."

Musically the EP exceded my expectations--really good percussion, vocal harmonies, and decent chord progression. You can buy the album at cdbaby.com, and is also available on iTunes!

Also, the bass player, Rob Green, was my drive-through bank teller for a few years. : )