The intellectual equivalent of a ham sandwich.

Archive for December, 2013

New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Day is fast approaching and that means I’d better get my resolutions in order. (Despite the fact that I sort of made fun of such things in a previous poem post.)

Last year, as far as I know, the only resolution I wanted and achieved was to reduce how many paper towels I use. After I go to the bathroom at a public bathroom I dry my hands with only one paper towel instead of two. This is simple but it does make a difference. You just spend a bit more time shaking water off your hands before grabbing a paper towel and wha-la, paper towel usage greatly reduced!

This year I would like to do another sort of green thing, as well as the usual personal resolutions which probably won’t happen.

Green resolution: take my Starbucks thermos to Starbucks whenever I go there (usually once a week). This will keep those paper cups I normally use from being used. Just like last year this is very simple but it does make a difference.

The usual litany of personal goals will make up the other resolutions …

  • Eat out less (priority number 1)
  • Send off query letters (which also means touching up my query letters)
  • Write more (finish that book I started for NaNoWriMo)

I am ok with the amount I read this past year for fun, but I could always use more of that. And of course expanding any knowledge I use for work (like by glancing at top coder in my spare time) would be great. But really, the top things are to eat out less and pursue my writing goal more. In November I cut down how frequently I blog so I’m reducing my excuses. Time to act on my goals!

Feel free to write some resolutions you have in the comments! (And yet more goals would be to read other blogs more, and get other people reading my blog more.) I hope you have some achievable and good goals for 2014. Whether resolutions or not, I believe it’s always good to be striving for something.

Doge Meme + Awful Race Photos Equals …

Earlier this month I ran a 10k. The race was my best 10k time yet, which is exciting. Also exciting was the fact that the event photographer took a picture of me where I look pretty good (not a lazy stride, and I look like I am trying instead of bored or in pain).

But the MOST EXCITING NEWS OF ALL! …

The event photographer took two pictures of me where I look absolutely horrible. They are amazing pictures. For the first time ever I ordered race photos (those puppies are overpriced). I framed them in $1 frames from Michael’s which I painted with the Doge meme and some lucky family members got these as gifts. For everyone else … There’s this blog post.

Race Photo 2

Determination? Instant old age? What is this look on my face?

 

Race Photo 1

It was a VERY cold race, and my theory is I was moving my jaw around here because it felt kind of frozen in place. Result? Poetry in motion.

Attn: Ellen (12/25/13)

Front

Ellen150a

Back (apologies for my handwriting!)

 Ellen150b

The text of the postcard is

Dear Ellen,

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I hope you have a good visit from Santa, or not, I don’t want to force your hand or anything … So, you know, um, see ya next year.

Sincerely,
DumbFunnery.com

P.S. This postcard was, apparently, written while watching a Michael Cera movie.

Why am I doing this?