Storming in the New Year

Wow, 2005 went by FAST.
i've been sick all weekend, so I spent New Years Eve sick in bed drugged up on theraflu.
I did venture out of the house today to stock up on some more theraflu and coffee creamer. By the way... Coffe Mates limited edition Creme Brulee flavor..... SO GOOD!

This picture really doesn't do justice to the storm currently blowing through Sacramento. We just had a weather alert that Sacramento County is under flash flood warnings for the next three hours and a levee in southwestern Sacramento County has broken and the area is being evacuated. The idea of driving to that area to take photos of the levee break did briefly cross my mind, but I have ultimately decided to stay indoors where I'm safe and dry. Just driving to the grocery store was nasty with how strong the wind gusts are and how wet the roads are.

This is the McDonalds across the street from the grocery store. The winds are strong enough that the cable on the flag pole snapped and the fllags are blowing the full length of the line. Trees are down all over the place, creeks are flooding, and while I havent gone and inspected the back yard, I know its a mess. But, my back yard is nothing compared to those who are having to be evacuated from their homes.
The I Street Bridge over the Sacramento River is one of our main gauges of flood conditions. As of Thursday night the water level was at about 26.5 feet with estimates that the storms coming through this weekend would take it up to at least 27.5 feet. I haven't been able to find out what the current level is, but wouldnt be suprised if it has passed 27.5 feet. Once the levels hit 31 feet, thats considered official flood conditions. Sacramento hasn't had flooding like this since 1997, and I was living in Boston at the time but it was on the Boston news channels. I'm glad that I'm home now and able to help my Grandma out if flood conditions do hit hard here.

Anywho...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’ve never been one to make New Years Resolutions.
I’ve always been of the mindset that if theres something you want to do to improve yourself, or a goal you have in mind, that turning a page on your calendar shouldn’t be what motivates you to work towards those goals. Why not start them when you think of them?

However, I’ve decided to make some resolutions this year. I’m really not sure why, other than possibly because I’ll be turning 30 in only 238 days.GAH! THIRTY! I’m not looking forward to it. I’m certain that my thirties will be great, I’m just not looking forward to saying goodbye to my twenties. I’ve grown attached to them. I like them. Like my favorite pair of jeans, theyre COMFORTABLE.
Anyways.... there are things I’ve wanted to accomplish by the time I turned thirty. So, here goes.....

1. QUIT SMOKING.
Maybe not immediately, but soon. Watching my granmother go through chemotherapy to treat her inoperable lung cancer has had an effect on me. Theres a couple of reasons why I’m not quitting effective January 1st, one being that I’m switching insurance carriers and am thinking of going the welbutrin (or whatever its called) route. A few coworkers of mine quit this way and I’m hoping it will work for me. Second, I like smoking. I look forward to my smoke breaks, to sitting out on the smokers patio at my favorite pub, to my last cigarette before bed. What I don’t like is the smell, the sense of being held hostage to an addiction, the antsiness I feel when a meeting or phone call is cutting into my regularly scheduled break time. I also dont the cost. I’ve calculated that each week I spend about $35 on cigarettes. Thats $1,820 a year! HOLY CRAP! Thats a vacation! A downpayment on a new car! 438.55 triple venti toffee nut lattes! 364 pints of Newcastle Brown Ale (with tip)! A SHITLOAD of yarn! So, I need to quit. Question... .what should I do with the money I save? I’m thinking vacation.


2. LOSE WEIGHT.
I’m sick of being so damned fat. A friend thinks that I audition/apply for “The Biggest Loser”, and I’ve thought about it but I don’t think I would want to do this on national television. I’ve never watched an entire season, but have caught a few episodes here & there. I think my biggest reluctance with this is that I grew up the fat kid and was teased in school. I guess a part of me is nervous that I’d be the fat kid being teased again... but this time not just by the school yard bullies but by the entire nation.
The Weight Watchers that I started back in September or October? Didn’t really pan out. Between work, traveling, and social activities it was hard to make the Saturday morning meetings. I'm thinking of rejoining, but going to a weeknight meeting after work. Perhaps that will be easier to get to than one on the weekends.

3. COMPLETE THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION TOUR DE CURE BIKE RIDE.
This is something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now, but a couple of consecutive car accidents (none of which I was at fault for, by the way) left me unable to ride. After that, I gained back all of the weight that I had previously lost and then I gained about 40 lbs more, got lazy and didnt feel like training for the ride.
I’ve chosen this charity because my mom and sister are both Type 1 diabetics and I have spent many a night in the emergency room with them.

4. BLOG MORE FREQUENTLY.
At least twice a week.

5.TAKE A FABULOUS VACATION.
I’m not sure where yet. I’d like to go someplace that requires my passport though. Shamefully enough, I’ve never been outside of North America. I was about to say I’ve never been outside of the country, but I did spend a weekend in Quebec City once.
I was thinking of taking a vacation with my friend Kelly who turns 30 about 2 weeks before I do. We both wanted to go somewhere for our 30th, and have some mutual friends, so it would be a large group of us - about 10 total. Initially before Hurricane Katrina hit we were talking about New Orleans, then that got changed to possibly Boston, Chicago, or Austin. BUT, Kelly is afraid of flying and the more she thinks about it the more she wants to do a road trip to Portland and Seattle. Her thoughts are to rent a large van and load everyone up for the road trip. I've been to Portland countless times since I have family there, but theres a lot of stuff I haven't done there because I'm usually visiting with my family, so that could be fun. Also, I've never been to Seattle and have always wanted to go there.

6. START A ROTH IRA.
I have a pretty good 401k through work but my father (who is my financial advisor) recommends that I also have a ROTH. Better tax benefits in the long run or something like that. So, I'll be shopping around the local banks and credit unions to find which offers the best rates.

7. PAY OFF MY DEBT.
My student loan and Visa have been whittled down to practically nothing and my car will be paid off in 2 months so I should be able to finish paying off the Visa and student loans REAL quickly.

8. GET ORGANIZED.
I am such a mess. I have chronic clutter all around me. I never put things away where they belong. Combine this with number two and its no wonder I’m single.

9. BE MORE ACTIVE.
This should help with numbers two and three. Even if I’m just walking my dog, I need to move more. I’d like to go skiing this year. I love to ski, but havent been in about 10 years. Mainly because I have a knee tracking disorder and I’m pretty sure that a day of skiing will leave me in pain for about a week afterwards. Perhaps I should try snowboarding. Is that easier on the knees?

10. GO SOMEPLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
Even if its just last minute airfare specials to Las Vegas for the weekend. I need to venture outside of my comfort zone.

11. WORK ON MY "100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE" LIST.
I currently only have 17 things on there and have only done 3 of them.

12. KNIT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A SCARF.
Perhaps a hat, or dare I even try a sweater? A coworker has asked me to make her a sweater. She’s a midget (or is it dwarf? Whats the difference? Is there a difference? I don’t know....) and has a hard time finding sweaters that fit, she says that mainly the arms are way too long, and you really can’t hem the arms of a sweater like you can with other shirts.

13. DATE.

14. READ MORE.
I used to be a total book worm and read ALL the time. I haven't read as much the last couple of years, but I'd like to start again. Any recommendations for my first book choice?