John Yaya

We went to Arizona to visit Heidi's parents and to support her sister as she ran her first marathon. She did fantastic -- running a 3:45. An amazing time. Heidi and I also ran in the half. It went well for Heidi and considering my lack of training I would say it went well for me. Mine was certainly no record time, but not nearly as slow as I thought I would have to go. My knees are pretty sore today, though. Next time I'll have to do more than a few long runs on the weekends to prepare myself.

The "Rock 'n' Roll Arizona" Marathon and Half Marathon was a nice flat course, great weather, and plenty of fun with a live band every mile and over 30,000 participants. I would recommend it if you are looking for a fun, well run marathon to enter.

I haven't had much time for blogging or other diversions over the past nine months, but as a new year begins I thought I would make a post to proclaim some resolutions.

I resolve to...
... eat less meat.
I'll stop short of going vegetarian because I do love a good Italian sausage, but I will start being more mindful of the source of what I eat with an eye toward avoiding chemicals and contaminants and supporting humane treatment of animals. The industrialization of animals bugs me and I want to stop supporting it.
... get involved.
I want to find more active ways to support the politics, ideas and organizations that I believe in. I will volunteer for or join the board of at least one organization.
... save and invest.
I'll set up more forced savings -- more money each month that I never see until it is time to buy some stock or something. I'll research how to invest my nest egg. I'll also keep aggressively paying off debt this year and continue my efforts to track my spending and spend wisely.
... take a photo every day.
I have always wanted to get in the habit and now I have a tiny little camera that I should easily be able to keep with me every day.
... exercise a little more.
I will run another marathon this year.
... drink a little less.
No more cocktails and only a drink of beer or wine with dinner.
... make more time for family, friends and fun.
Work will have to work without me sometimes. Sunday dates with Heidi. Dinner once a month with Bill.
... slow down.
I'll stop and eat lunch, take more coffee breaks, and stop sweating it when I am running late for work. What's the hurry?
... stop taking it all so seriously.

I am so bummed out. The paint job on my VW is disintegrating before my very eyes, and there is nothing I can do about it. There must have been impurities in the paint or shoddy prep work, but the place I had do the work six years ago is now out of business. From the looks of it I have about 6 months until the car turns from a shiny red car to a dull red car with large gray spots. Anyone know a good body/paint shop to recommend?

This was kind of a slow read, but I stuck with it because the subject is so interesting. It's pretty depressing to consider the energy problems that we face and how little is being done about it, but it is also refreshing and even inspirational to learn about the number of options we have to develop alternatives to the oil economy, stop producing the carbon emissions that are choking the planet, and decrease foreign relations tensions by taking oil out of the equation. After reading this book I do believe it is at least possible for the world to move away from a reliance on oil before we destroy the planet, but I have to agree with the author that even though it is possible, it doesn't seem likely.
:(