Week in Review

Some Goals/Aspirations

The New Year’s Resolution has gone the way of the buffalo.  What I’ve substituted instead is something more personal.  It’s different when it’s tied to a significant day that is significant to yourself.  Thus, with my birthday being one day away, I’ve decided to lay out a few things I want to aspire to over the next year:

1) Drink less ____, drink more ____.

Fill ins for this would be “beer”, and “wine” ; “coffee”, and “fruit juice”.  I want to get rid of some of my vices, like beer or coffee, and replace them with something a little more mature/better.  I’ve always wanted to delve in the wine world, and be a dude in the know.  So what better time to start than now.

2) Read a book for enjoyment, one hour each night.

Something that is a television substitute … except on nights when How I Met Your Mother, Criminal Minds, or Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives are on.

3) Read/consume educational material – blogs, books, podcasts- and apply.

I want to be more familiar with financial and economic issues, and learn more skills to round out what I can offer, be it career or personal.

4) Eat better by cooking new dishes.

My normal cuisine consists of chicken, broccoli, and whatever sauce I have around.  I’ve taken some of Uncle Steve’s advice, and will diversify my spices, and refridgerator items.  Time to start impressing people!

5) Be in a solid financial standing by April.

Meaning not be debt free, because my student loans will still be in effect.  I mean be better with my money, start saving for our next apartment, a car, and set up a … oh yeah, that’s the next thing …

6) Raise an emergency fund of $5,000 by this time next year.

Sure, it’s not an exorbinanate amount, but it’s something solid to work with incase something happens.

7) Experience some aspect of a different culture.

Be it going to see a Russian ballet, or an Indian restaurant.  There are too many unique experiences outside the culture that I know that shouldn’t go untried.

Go on a vacation with Sam.

We’ve gone on mini-road trips before, but a serious, plane ride vacation is something I want to do before this year is over.

9) Get into shape.

No gym necessary.  I will accomplish this by walking to places I need to go, playing soccer, and eating well.

10) Maintain a positive attitude towards things.

My normal “keepin’ it real” mentality sometimes comes off cynical.  And rather than be miserable, I think it’s time to smile more, and just live life the way it was meant to: care free.

Weddings and a Weekend in East Brunswick

Friday was Kristen’s sister’s wedding, wedding #3 of my lifetime attendance record.  It was in this country-esque, victorian hall called “The Shadowbrook” in Shrewsbury.  The food was good, as promised by Kristen herself, but more importantly the atmosphere and friends around were better.  Sam was introduced to a few more members of my extended family, namely the Blewitts and ,now, Greenes.  She had a great time, and I was glad to see her having fun.

Saturday I spent the day shopping with my mom and brother.  We went over to the new Toys ‘R Us on Route 18, which is doing surprisingly well.  Timing is everything, I suppose.  Inside were droves of ill-informed mothers and fathers, pestering any red-shirted employee they could find about, “What’s that game with the guns and cars?” or, “Which games are the best for a 4-year old boy who chronically wets the bed”?  You get the picture: tis the season.

Sunday was spent at the apartment, cleaning and cleaning.  Sam and I had a long discussion, and we’re at a much better place now in our relationship.  After sleeping on the floor in my old room, on my sister’s incredibly uncomfortable bed, it felt good to curl up next to her and fall asleep in our own place again.

Blake Trying to Get Into Hogwarts

Surprisingly enough, the iPhone takes some half decent pictures, when given good lighting. This was taken during the Spring on my trampoline back in East Brunswick. Blake decided it was a good time to try out her wizardry skills.

If you like this, please check out more photos at my flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/helloimwes/

A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall

Literally, it rained all day today.  When Sam and I stepped outside, it was raining.  When I got off the PATH at Christopher Street, it was raining.  When my hunger won the battle against my budget and went out to buy a Subway sub, it was raining.  As I’m typing this entry, rain smashes against the kitchen window, sounding like frozen peas hitting the bottom of a pot.

Temperature wise, it’s warm enough outside to keep the water from freezing into snow, which allows a considerable amount of rain to latch on and crawl up the bottom of my pants.  It is also cold enough to allow the drops that have circumnavigated my umbrella and collected on my face to sting as its temperature drops just a little more.

Our company showed the recession who’s screwing who, by having a pretty decent holiday party.  I’ve never seen so many grown men and women latch on to such a missed memory as their time playing beer pong: that area of the floor is never going to smell the same again.  There was a delicious assortment of cookies, baked by people in various apartments.  The request was to supply baked goods for this party, not specifically naming cookies as the item of choice; yet, 95% of table were peppermint chocolate chip, cinnamon oatmeal raison, chocolate dipped sugar with sprinkles, or some similar variation.  I suppose people aren’t really into baking pies anymore.  That, or the New York baker majority find it difficult to toss a lemon meringue into their messenger bag and hop on the subway without making a mess.

People were drinking, playing some of the games crafted by the various departments for drinking, and were singing karaoke, which ultimately was fueled by one, or both, of the former.  But what was important that people were enjoying themselves.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the complexities of life, the curve balls and obstacles that one may encounter, and not remember something as simple as smiling and laughter.

The Ideal Evening

Sure, there is an entire city literally in my backyard.  OK, and front .. side of my house .. alleyway..

Whatever, you get the visual.

Hoboken is known for their lush variety of nightlife activity, houses of drunken debauchery, and huge pizza. At any given time of day, on one of the cramped streets this mile-squared town, there is bound to be a handful of people, journeying out on some activity. By societal standards, I suppose I haven’t capitalized on the extent of Hoboken’s many attactions.

Instead, tonight I sat at my desk, re-organizing my blog, while listening to Marley, Gaye, Rolling Stones, and about a dozen more bands I’ve been meaning to burn into my musical repetoire.  The most beautiful girl in my life is sleeping soundly to my immediate right, and the way this dim desk lamp lights up her face is angelic.  I’ve uploaded new photos that their delivery to family and friends have been very overdue.  There’s a slight stiffness in my neck, but nothing the sweetest sounding music playing in my ears can remedy.

I’ve discovered that the most ideal of evenings are those spent enjoying the simpler, calmer moments.   When everything slows down to a crawl and silences to a whisper, it’s easy to appreciate all the things that normally pass right before your eyes.

Sweet Memories

I just deleted my old LiveJournal blog that I’ve had since way back in the day.  Slower economy means slower work day.  I read the first couple of entries I wrote back in 2003 in my senior year of high school, then fast forward to a few in 2006 shortly after my return to the states from Europe.

My, was I little whiney douche.

So, I deleted it forever.  Sometimes, you need to leave your past in the past.  And with all the shameless name dropping and emo-sentimental lamenting, I don’t think I’ll ever need to be reminded of that.  I must admidt though, you don’t realize how far you’ve come from a place in your life, until you read what you once were.

No Time for Love, Dr. Jones

In an effort to keep people in the loop of the ever “exciting” life I lead, I’ve decided to brush off this blog and start writing more personal stuff again.  Lord knows the voices in my head have had their fill already.

To bring up to speed:

- moved in with Sam
- moved to Hoboken on Clinton St.
- still work at Comedy Central
- joined a soccer league and a kick-ball league
- still awesome

More to follow.

Testing, testing

Content 1, 2, 3 …

Moving on up

Timing couldn’t be worst.  Moving again, onto a .Mac account. Going to be suhweet!