It’s a new year. And that means new goals. Many of my goals are the same as last year…Goals that I’ve failed at achieving. But, we never let failure stop us from trying to succeed. We’d really never get anything done if we did!

There’s a number of things I want to do this year.

Writing: I want to start writing more and better. 2009 saw me get hired on as one of the parent-bloggers for Onslow Memorial Hospital’s Mom-Talk blogging network. I’m hoping that will continue through 2010 and flourish into some new opportunities. New opportunities that include include publishing in magazines and other websites. I want to start and keep a journal. My goal is to write one non-blogging piece a month for submission to magazines. I’m focusing on publications that look for creative non-fiction like The Sun Magazine. If you know a similar magazine that’s looking for something new, please let me know.

Reading: I want to actually finish a book this year. I’ve read horribly little the last few years. I want to read some creative non-fiction to help build the writer I want to be…But I also want to read good fiction. My goal is to read one book a month. Starting this month with Jack Kerouac’s Town and Country. I’ve been reading off and on (mostly off…) for months. I’m looking for recommendations, so if you’ve got them, send them my way.

Photography: I want to start taking photos…Again. To that end: I’ll be taking a self-portrait a day. Today it’s with the iPhone (at left). Future self-portraits may be well-planned shots, others on-the-go. The idea is to get back into the habit of taking pictures. I also want to start using my Nikon D40 more. I want to take more photo-walks and maybe even take the camera along on some bicycle rides and commutes. My goal: Post weekly to the Photography blog. Post daily self-portraits there, here and on Twitter and Facebook.

Bicycling: I have been extremely lazy when it comes to bicycling since October. I want to get back into using the bicycle as my primary form of transportation. I also want to get back into blogging more about bicycling and working harder to advocate for the bicycle as a viable form of transportation in Jacksonville, NC. My goal:  250 miles ridden a month by bicycle.

Fitness/Weight-loss: I have completely failed at all previous attempts to get into better shape. This year, I hope to make real and lasting lifestyle changes to get back to a reasonable weight. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by May 2010. I can achieve this by making better food choices, exercising and bicycle commuting more. Tools like the Lose It, 100 Push Ups, 200 Sit-Ups and 200 Squat iPhone apps will help me. As will getting to the gym and not being a slave to sodas.

Activism and Issue Advocacy: I’ve been remiss in advocating for the issues that are important to me for some time. In 2010, I want to take a more active role in the world around me. That means making more time to research issues and contact the elected leaders that can influence them. More letters to the editor, more letters to elected leaders (local, state and national) and more work pushing the ideas and ideals that I believe. It also means a more active role in the City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks and Trails and Greenways Commissions.

So. Those are some of my goals this year. What are yours?

To be honest, I think the bicycling will do wonders for some recent stress issues that I’ve been having (all work related, so no, I won’t discuss them here).

Saturday morning, AM and I decided to visit the Power of Touch Massage and Bodywork Therapies studio for a bit of their relaxing yoga class. It’s been years (literally) since I’ve been to a yoga class and she’s never been. We were the only two people there and I really enjoyed the session. I think it’s going to be a Saturday thing.

And, as a bonus, I saw a bunny!

This morning’s ride was just a touch slower (my legs are a tad tight and my lower back a bit stiff) at 53 minutes and some change. Everything else, though, just as great as the previous day.

I’m really starting to like this bicycling to work business. Yes, it takes a little longer, but it seems to be much more fun than driving.

And, as an added extra bonus, I weighed in at 192lbs this morning. Woo to the Hoo!

They say May is Bicycle to Work month. Since I’m a good little lemming that always follows, I’m going to commute the entire month of May by bike (I will add a caveat here. If there is a position interview, I may drive.)

Remember Justin Schoenberger? It seems that a female driver in New Bern tried to run over him. What’s worse about this particular incident is that it very may well have been (and probably was) quite intentional.

She made eye contact with me before she made the turn. Then, when I kept going as if she hadn’t just failed to pay tribute to my existence on the road, she proceeded to give me a dirty look.

I’ve never been driven at while bicycling in Jacksonville, but I have had things thrown at me from moving vehicles. That’s quite enough to scare the crap out of me…I can’t imagine what nearly being hit would feel like.

It seems that young Mr. Patrick McHenry just can’t keep from doing stupid stuff. This time, though, instead of ridiculing and marginalizing a group of Americans, he’s insulting Iraqis, and worse, causing the deaths of three American military members.

The insulting (courtesy Firedoglake):

We spent the night in the Green Zone, in the poolhouse of one of Saddam’s palaces. A little weird, I got to be honest with you. But I felt safe. And so in the morning, I got up early — not that I make this a great habit — but I went to the gym because I just couldn’t sleep and everything else. Well, sure enough, the guard wouldn’t let me in. Said I didn’t have the correct credentials.

It’s 5:00 in the morning. I haven’t had sleep. I was not very happy with this two-bit security guard. So you know, I said, “I want to see your supervisor.” Thirty minutes later, the supervisor wasn’t happy with me, they escort me back to my room. It happens. I guess I didn’t need to work out anyway.

Then, the killing (also courtesy Firedoglake):

McHenry’s faux pas in Iraq went beyond insults into recklessness. Last week, on his official website, McHenry posted a video that clearly violates operational security (OPSEC) considerations, putting into public information about where insurgent weapons struck inside the Green Zone. While a stretch to connect the dots, it does bear mentioning that

Unfortunately, only two days after the bellicose, yet clueless, Congressman McHenry posted the video, more rockets rained down on the Green Zone–this time killing two U.S. soldiers and wounding 17 in the most damaging attack on U.S. forces in the Green Zone since last year.

His actions directly lead to the dissemination of information used by Iraqi militias to attack the Green Zone in Baghdad. This Congressman caused the deaths of three members of the American Armed Forces.

Why hasn’t he been charged? Why isn’t he in jail? Why is he still “The Gentlemen from North Carolina”?

First, my PC required serious treatment and was shipped to HP for warranty repair. This was on March 27th. It was anticipated that it’d be back home on April 9th. It’s not. In fact, according to a message left on my telephone this morning, my PC won’t be back until April 22nd. Two weeks from today. All is not lost, though, as I was able to rescue my files prior to shipping her off.

Second, I’ve applied to several higher-level, higher-responsibility, higher-paying jobs. Writing and re-writing resumes without the use of my PC has been the source of way-more-stress than I prefer. But, the resumes and applications are done and submitted. Hopefully, I’ll get onto the interview list and then it’s up to my winning personality…Ya know, when I say it like that, I feel queezy…

Third, I haven’t completely been dedicated to the Fat Challenge, but I haven’t failed it, either. My weight has stayed consistently below the original weight, though I haven’t had any real solid loss.

Conveniently, though, co-workers in my building have decided to have a Biggest Loser competition. Pay $8 a month for six months and the person who’s lost the most percentage of weight wins the cash. I’ll find out tomorrow how many people entered and do the requisite math.

The bicycle commuting is about to begin. Work on the railroad trestle crossing Northeast Creek and connecting Camp Lejeune to the rest of the Rails-to-Trails path is nearly complete. Work is being done now on the decking. Once it’s finished, I’ll have a single path to follow and not have to deal with vehicle traffic except at a few intersections. I’ve got to say, I’m excited.

Fat Challenge wasn’t the only thing to suffer the lack of a PC…I haven’t been able to concentrate on photography or writing.

It’s kind of sad, but, without the PC, I feel really out of touch, even though I’m not. It’s kind of sad.

Here’s to hoping things get better soon!

I feel like I’m sitting on a yoyo…I weighed in at 195.5 this morning.

The Food:

• Breakfast:
  • One serving of oatmeal
• Snack:
  • Two Honey Wheat pretzel braids
• Lunch:
  • Two turkey and cheese sandwich with sprouts
• Snack:
  • Two Honey Wheat pretzel braids
  • Half of Fruit and Grain Strawberry cereal bar
• Late Snack (5pm-ish):
  • One roast beef and cheese sandwich with sprouts
• Dinner:
  • One Balsamic Chicken “sammie” from Quiznos
  • One glass of Pink Lemonade
• Drinking:
  • Water throughout the day (over 100 oz)

The Fitness:

Lots of work-walking (about 4000 steps), but no real exercise.

The Sleep:

I went to sleep around 9:30pm-ish and woke up when the bells rang at 6am. I laid there for about an hour and got moving around 7:15am-ish.

I’m still feeling tired throughout the day, though. I think I need to make a new, stronger commitment to the exercise.

The Summary:

Overall, it was a decent day. I was more hungry today, though, and that sucked.

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A set back! I weighed in at 197 lbs this morning. I’m not sure why, as I didn’t eat that much yesterday.

The Food:

• Breakfast:
  • One serving of oatmeal
• Lunch:
  • One corned beef and cheese sandwich with sprouts
• Snack:
  • Quarter of an untoasted bagel
• Dinner:
• Corned beef and cheese sandwich with sprouts on an untoasted bagel
• Pasta salad 
• Small glass of apple juice
• Drink:
• Water throughout the day (over 100 oz)
• Half bottle of Vitamin Water (Orange) (sipped throughout the morning
• One bottle of Diet Coke sipped throughout the afternoon (damned headache)

The Fitness:

Headaches…Bah!

The Sleep:

Early to bed, early to rise. I went to bed around 9pm and woke up around 6am (when the alarm went off) and laid in bed until about 6:45. The result? I’ve been tired all stinking day.

The Summary:

Today was a bad day. Not food-wise, but my head hurt so friggin’ much…

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I weighed in at a jaw-dropping 195 lbs this morning. I was shocked. Happy, but still shocked.

The Food:

• Breakfast:
• Homemade sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit
• Lunch:
• Peanut butter and jelly crustable sandwich
• Small cup of sweet tea
• Snack:
• Half a 100-calorie Oreo cookie bar
• Dinner:
• Roast beef, turkey, and cheese sandwich on Italian bread
• Pasta salad
• Small glass of apple juice
• Snack:
• 3 Girl Scout Caramel Delite cookies
• Drinking:
• Water throughout the day (over 100 oz)
• 1 1/2 bottles of Vitamin water (one bottle sipped with water throughout the morning, 1/2 bottle before dinner)

The Fitness:

Today was a busy day (lunch with Mini), so I didn’t get to do any individual exercise. I did use my lucky little pedometer, though, and walked over 7,000 steps. 

The Sleep:

I slept well last night, but, since I had a headache, I didn’t read anything and the dark hour was mostly me lying on the couch in the dark.

I’m not getting any better with getting up when the alarm goes off…I’ve got to find the motivation to get up and get busy…Otherwise, I’m never going to have enough time to bicycle to work.

The Summary:

Today was a good day. I wasn’t really hungry, I didn’t feel the need snack, and I didn’t have a headache. AND my weight was down. Teh. Hawesome.

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The weekend caught up to me. I weighed in at 197. A pound more than yesterday.

The Food:

• Breakfast:
  • Two servings of trail mix (spread throughout the morning)
• Lunch:
  • Leftover Grilled barbeque chicken with cheesy brown rice and broccoli and cauliflower
• Snack:
  • Half of an untoasted bagel eaten in quarters throughout the afternoon
• Dinner:
  • Baby spinach greens salad with cucumber, peppers, onion, and raspberry walnut vinegarette
  • Toasted half of a hotdog bun (instant Italian bread!) with butter, garlic, and rosemary herb seasoning
  • Pasta with tomato sauce with cheese
• Drinking:
  • Water throughout the day (over 96 oz)
  • One glass of sweet tea with dinner

The Fitness:

I walked for over 40 minutes and went 2 miles.

The Sleep:

I went to bed a little late last night, but woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and rolled out of bed at around 7:15.

The Summary:

Other than the slight setback from this weekend, which is entirely my fault, I feel pretty good. I’ve got to get a better plan for the weekends…

Also, there’s something I have to address with Fat Challenge:

Fat Challenge,

I want to make this work, I really do. I’m keeping honest by writing my intake of food and my exercise. But listen, if, as a result of eating healthier and trying to lose weight, headaches are a side effect of our partnership, I quit. I can deal with tummy rumblings, and gas (more veggies than I’m used to), but I can’t deal with the headaches every day.

I don’t want to sound like I’m giving you an ultimatum, but look, make the headaches stop or we’re through. I’ll be a happy fat guy with a fine head as opposed to an unhappy not-as-fat guy with a headache. Really.

Your friend,

Thomas

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Surprisingly enough, even after yesterday gorging, I weighed in at 196 lbs this morning.

The Food:

Today was a pretty good food day.

• Breakfast:
• Sliced hard-boiled egg sandwich on ciabatta bread with baby spinach greens and blue cheese
• Snack:
• Handful of popcorn chickens and Combos
• Dinner:
• Grilled barbeque chicken with cheesy brown rice and broccoli and cauliflower
• Snack/Desert:
• Small Frosty from Wendy’s.

The Fitness:

No real exercise, though I did 4 loads of laundry in the morning and walked a bit while talking to the OOPS artists.

The Sleep:

I got plenty of sleep and woke up at 7am feeling quite good.

The Summary:

I’ve got to figure out a routine for the weekends. That will help me from “bored eating” throughout the days.

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