New Years Resolutions

Drink More Water - I made this one last year but I've slacked off in the past few months. Those 24oz diet Pepsi's have slowly replaced the water I was drinking.

Update My blog more regularly - I went from doing about 12 posts a month to about 2. I think my goal for 2009 will be to have around 6 posts a month. That is once about every 4 days. So the 5 of you that read this can try and hold me accountable.

Eat Better - Jen and I are both going to try and work on eating better. I've slowly been trying to do this anyways. However, we are going to cut out a lot of bad sweets and too large portion sizes.

Stay Active - Last year I planned to run a half marathon. I don't know if I will do that this year or not. However, I am planning to keep up my cardio by running, biking, and playing tennis. I also plan to continue lifting weights, but probably not at the same intensity. I probably won't be benching 200lbs very often any more.

Have an Active Social Life - I hope in 2009 we can do more things out with friends in Birmingham. Go to movies, bowling, or just have people over for dinner occasionally.

Develop a taste for wine - I'm not talking about me and Jen throwing down on a Friday night alone at the apartment, but we both would like to learn a little bit about wines. There are several health benefits to drinking a glass of red wine a day, and it's a sophisticated beverage to enjoy.

2008 Survey

I completely ripped this post off Zac's blog. I just want to get that out up front so everyone knows. However, I thought it was a noteworthy survey so here ya go.

2008

What did you do in 2008 that you've never done before? Stayed away from Knoxville for months at a time.

Did you keep New Year's Resolutions? I said I was going to run a half marathon and did that in March.

Did anyone close to you give birth? Ryan and Sam

Did anyone close to you pass away? no

Did anyone close to you get married? Scott and Kristin

What places did you visit? Nashville, Knoxville, Pensacola Beach, Huntsville

What would you like to have more of 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Spare time

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory? April 19th, my last day at Penske Truck Leasing

What was your biggest achievement of the year? Making a career change

What was your biggest failure? Putting off grad school - once again

Did you suffer illness or injury? I had kidney stones - that was lame

What was the best thing you bought? I bought Jen some jewelry items she wanted, that made her real happy

Whose behavior merited most celebration? Jen consistently kicking butt in pharmacy school merits a lot of celebration

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I don't like to name names, but I'm sure some of my friends already know the answer to this one

Where did most of your money go? bills

What did you get really excited about? Having weekends and federal holidays off

What songs will always remind you of 2008? If I had Eyes - Jack Johnson, SOS - Jonas Brothers, there are probably more that I just can't think of right now.

Compared to this time last year are you:

i. Happier or Sadder? happier
ii. Thinner or Fatter? probably firmer
iii. Richer or Poorer? slightly richer

What do you wish you'd done more of? Gone on more "dates" with Jen

What do you wish you'd done less of? Wasted time complaining about things I can't change

How will you be spending the holidays? with my family and seeing what friends I can

How will you be spending New Years? In B'ham

Did you fall in love in 2008? I'm already in love

How many one night stands? none

What was your favorite TV program? I really got in to the Mentalist, How I Met Your Mother and Life on Mars

Do you hate anyone now you didn't hate this time last year? hate is a strong word

Do you like anyone you didn't like this time last year? I've built upon some friendships

What was the best book you read? I read the Twilight series

Greatest musical discovery? Jerry Jeff Walker

What did you want and get? I wanted a new bike which Jen got me for our anniversary

What did you want and not get? A new car, Jen got one though, so I guess that's half

Favorite film? film would imply I watched something artsy and educational. I in fact only watched major motion pictures last year. Unless Juno counts, but I really wasn't that impressed with it.

What did you do on your Birthday? Went to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen with my parents, went to dinner at Village Tavern with Jen, had some friends come over for cookie cake afterwards.

What one thing would have made your year immensely more satisfying? winning the lottery

How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2008? Preppy and dressy, more adult than trendy these days

What kept you sane? Having co-workers that shared my views

What celebrity did you fancy the most? Brad Pitt grew a mustache, so that is noteworthy

What political issue stirred you the most? Taxing

Who was the best new person you met? I've met some pretty cool people in my new job as well as through my neighbors.

A valuable life lesson learned from 2008? Don't be complacent doing what your doing, and always maintain your friendships

Quote a song lyric that reminds you of 2008? "These days I'm up about the time I used to go to bed" - Jimmy Buffett

Something I'd never done before 2008? Quit a full time job, took up road bicycling, joined a tennis league

Other memorable moments from 2008 include.... Going to the beach on Memorial Day Weekend, Staying in Nashville,

Tender Tennessee Christmas

I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I would catch everyone up on our Christmas break. I got off from December 19-25 to go home for the holidays. We had a great time but still didn't manage to see everyone and do everything we intended.

Every Monday Kendall and I email each other "the rundown" of activities from the weekend. I will give you all the rundown of Christmas Vacation.

Saturday - My mom had strep throat so I did my best to avoid getting germs at the house. Dad and I played some tennis and hung around the house. Jen and I went to the mall and to Gondolier (a local pizza place) for dinner on Saturday. At the mall we saw 5 people we knew. Two of them I went to high school with and they already have 2 kids. Weird...

Sunday - Got up and went to my old church. Then we headed to Jen's grandmothers for lunch and a Christmas exchange with Jen's extended family. I left her grandmother's house with a large pocket full of money and way too much food in my stomach. We ate dinner with my parents later that evening.

Monday - We got up early and headed to Pigeon Forge for some holiday shopping. We spent most of the day there with my mom. We came back to town and met some of my good friends for dinner at the Butcher Shop (semi-fancy steak restaurant). The food was not the best that night, but we had a great time with our friends. Afterwards Jen and I went and looked at a few festively decorated houses.

Tuesday - We got up and went to see my grandparents in Clinton. That was followed by getting a haircut and some light shopping in west Knoxville. Dad and I played tennis that afternoon. Jen went to the Ye Ole Steakhouse (nice steak restaurant) with her good friends and their moms. I went and got her a couple presents while she was there. Then I went over to Dusty and Emilee's to see their dogs and have a festive beverage with Dusty. It was good times.

Wednesday - It is a Christmas Eve tradition to go to lunch with my parents. We went to the Downtown Grill and Brewery (just like it sounds) for lunch. We walked around the city and then went to see Four Christmases at the downtown theater. That movie was absolutely hilarious. Christmas Eve night the tradition is to eat with Jen's family, in particular her dad's side. Her mom hosted the dinner this year and it was fantastic. Prime Rib was the main course.

Thursday - Christmas morning we still get up early to open presents. We did Christmas breakfast and presents at Jen's parents and then we did lunch with my parents. Jen's parents joined us for lunch too. We got most of your typical Christmas presents but did get a few things of note. Jen got a new Dooney and Burke purse, a Vera Bradley dog carrier, a black onyx ring from me and lots of clothes. I got a couple suits, a new racquet bag and some Rayban Wayfarers from Jen. It was a really great Christmas.

So that is what we spent our week of vacation doing. We came home very tired. I wish I could have seen more people, and done more things but that will just have to be on the next trip. I did get a gift card to Litton's (local burger place) and plan on going there next time we are in. I hope everyone else had as great a Christmas as we did.

Overly Festive

It has recently been brought to my attention at work that me and another associate might be overly festive. I know this may be hard to believe.

Apparently just because I own one or seven holiday sweaters, have been playing Christmas music since mid November and talk about holiday movies like they are classic films I've been given this stigma of being overly festive.

I mean, isn't it normal to have lots of holiday clothing. What would Christmas Eve be without my reindeer sweater. I even talked Jen in to getting a snowflake sweater last Christmas. And it's perfectly normal to put your tree up right after Halloween isn't it. You only get to enjoy it this once a year. Go big or go home I say. I only have a small balcony, but you can bet that every part of it that can host a decoration has a colored light on it. Yes, you head that right, COLORED LIGHTS. Because classy Christmas white just doesn't cut it for me. I grew up with this nice tree at my parents house with the white lights and "nice" ornaments. There are no arts and crafts on my parents tree, with the exception of the angel I made in the second grade that I insist be placed upon the top of the tree.

Some people thing that Christmas has become overly commercialized. I'm not saying I disagree with this, but I have some nice renditions of songs referring to the birth of Christ on the Christmas mix I made myself that I listen to in the car.

I think if there is any problem with the festiveness of the holidays it is because other people just don't have the spirit like I do.

Favorite Christmas music

Now that it's officially the holiday season I thought I would list some of my favorite Christmas songs.

In no particular order:

Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World

Ho HO HO and a Bottle of Rum - Jimmy Buffett

All I want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan - Kenny Chesney

River - James Taylor

Tennessee Christmas - Amy Grant

Baby It's Cold Outside

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bare Naked Ladies

Christmas Song - Dave Matthews

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson

Christmas in the Carribean - Jimmy Buffett

O Come O Come Emmanuel - Third Day


I made add upon this list as we get closer to the holidays and I'm reminded of more great songs.