2010 Resolutions

I have never been much of a New Year Resolution kind of guy. I guess it could be that I thought my life was some sort of master puzzle and I was destined to fill a specific spot. Or maybe I was scared to commit to something for fear of failing.

Or maybe I was just plain lazy. My money is on lazy.


Looking back, I fulfilled most of the things I started out to do in 2009, even without a published list. Promoted some races, got my Class B officials license, got one daughter out of college, another into my house, and, best of all, became a grandfather. (Little "Nugget" is set for arrival in July 2010 but I got the news in 2009.) I didn't get one thing accomplished like I would have hoped but that is another story.

I still didn't quite hold up my end of the marriage partnership though. Colossal "fail" there, but I'm trying. I wonder why my wife stays with me sometimes, but I am always glad she does. She could do so much better, but I doubt I could. There are days when I wonder what I did right to snag her, and what she did wrong to get hooked by me.


What is in store for 2010? Hopefully no drama, but still a crap-load of stuff. A trip to Florida for a dance competition and a visit with my brother and family. A grand-baby. A wedding in California (I think in 2010, maybe 2011.) Lots of time with my bride. And some cycling.



So, in reverse order of importance, here is my very first published list of resolutions:

• Get my weight down to 190. 
• Race competively in two mountain bike races and two cyclocross races. 
• Deal with that nagging "other story" once and for all.
  
• Be a better father.
• Be a better husband. 

That's it, five things. To accomplish those five things, I have two (opposite but complimentary) things I am going to live by:

• Namaste
• HTFU

With that, I'm off to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another with my bride. Have a Happy New Year.

Blue Moon or Blue Moon?

Either way you go, tonight will be a blue moon night. According to an online source:


Get ready for one of those rare celestial phenomenons you won’t want to miss. Not only will the earth be blessed with a full moon to accompany tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, but it will be a Blue Moon — the second full moon in a single month. The first full moon of this month occurred on December 2, and the second will fall tonight on the cusp of the new year.
According to NASA, the last time a Blue Moon fell on New Year’s Eve was almost 20 years ago, in December 1990. And although a Blue Moon occurs on average every two and a half years, the next time one will fall on New Year’s Eve won’t be until 2028.

Either way you choose to include the Blue Moon in your New Years' Eve, be careful. Someone wants to see you in 2010.

December 27 Spin Class mix

Comments?

Artist	Title	Length
The Wallflowers	6th Avenue Heartache	05:37
Talking Heads	Burning Down The House	03:45
The Bravery	Believe	03:46
U2	Mysterious Ways	04:04
Van Halen	Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love	03:50
Faith No More	Epic	04:54
Phoenix	1901	03:13
Garbage	Stupid Girl	04:19
The Rolling Stones	(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction	03:46
Stereophonics	My Own Worst Enemy	03:36
Sick Puppies	You're Going Down	03:08
Buckcherry	Rescue Me	03:13
Modest Mouse	Float On	03:30
Aerosmith	The Train Kept A Rollin'	05:34
Ra	Supernova	03:55
Muse	Hysteria	03:48
Thousand Foot Krutch	Move	03:27
Flyleaf	Again	03:11
Franz Ferdinand	No You Girls	03:42
ACDC	Rock 'N Roll Train	04:22
The Chemical Brothers	Block Rockin' Beats	04:52
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers	Runnin' Down a Dream	04:21
Velvet Revolver	She Builds Quick Machines	03:42
POD	Going In Blind	03:47
The Verve	Bitter Sweet Symphony	05:57
Van Morrison	Moondance	04:31

Merry Christmas To You

In case I don't make it back here before Christmas, I hope all you who may happen to stop here have a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year.


We will have kids in the house on and off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but the majority of the day will be spent alone with my bride, Kandy. We plan on taking in an afternoon movie while a nice prime rib meal bakes at home in the oven.


The Christmas spirit is hard to come by for me anymore, but hopefully not for you. Merry Christmas.

Too Bad Its Only 2009

A few weeks ago I got the strangest phone call" "Hello Mr. Downey? We're curious if you want to interview for a position here."

"Here" was Riverside County, California.

After getting my jaw off the floor and gathering my wits again, my answer was a shaky "Yes?!"

It seems the application I sent in out of curiosity a year or so ago had floated to the top of a pile and I was being considered for a job. The job was basically the equivalent of what I do now only for a bunch more money. In California. Where its warm. The HR lady said there were five openings and 30 people on the list. There would be a preliminary interview, a written test, a second interview, and possibly an offer.

So I interviewed. Pass. Written test. Wait. Then another call. Want to come interview with the bosses? Yes, when? December 23. Ok, let me book a flight. Thank you Mr. Downey, we'll see you then.

Yikes.