Payson

It's funny what life throws at you. I took Claudio in for his yearly Safety and Emissions inspection, and it turns out that he's got a broken motor mount. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if he were anything other than a 1999 Hyundai Sonata. But since he is a 1999 Hyundai Sonata, it's going to cost $400 to get it replaced. Rough. But we take it in stride. I'm hoofing it a whole bunch more, and that's a win-win situation, both for me and the environment.

Plus, as of Tuesday, I'll have a very nice bike to ride around. Conveniently, that'll be just in time for the cross-training portions of my preparation for the Provo Halloween Half Marathon. I kind of surprised myself with this whole thing. I know it's not a full one, but running 13.1 miles is still a big deal (especially for someone as fitness-challenged as yours truly). My official training schedule doesn't start until July, after this whole vegan thing is done, but unofficial training started this week. I'm wicked excited.

I actually got the motivation from the marvelous people who sprung a last-minute camping trip on me. We went up to Payson Lakes and did some hiking/walking/trailrunning/generally awesome things. We swam the lakes, talked about everything and nothing, and had a blast.

Oh good people, I love you!

GOAL!

Wow. These last couple of weeks have been life-changing. Or rather, motivational to make some sort of change. I'm embracing counter-culture. I am living for the music of the moment. Hipster, Hippie, call me what you will; I am happy.

Sadly, though, I think I'm lacking a lot of direction. I'm full of this jittery energy that keeps spilling into nothing. So, here are a list of goals - things that I want to do - because by writing them, I validate them. Watch me go:

1. Continue with the vegan-ness. At the end of the month, reevaluate vegetarianism.

2. Write a song. Stop just screwing around with my guitar and make something performable at open-mic night.

3. Draw/Paint something to be proud of. Hang it up in my new room.

4. Conquer the UTA system. Make it up to SLC and eat at One World.

5. Find something decent at DI. Change it.

6. Write letters. Stop being so reliant on technology.

7. In the same vein: 15 minutes of computer time a day. Facebook doesn't own me.

8. Keep up the hour of yoga every day. Imitate Bryan Kest in everyday life.

9. Learn more about Buddhism. Go beyond Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Riding.

10. Get out of Utah. Hop a train to Oregon.

11. Tell people how amazing they are. Stop waiting around for them to talk first.

12. Hug more. All you need is love.

13. Buy a cycle. Scratch that - buy two cycles: one bi- and one motor-

14. Go green. Walk to work (and, again, conquer UTA).

15. Let people go. Clean out address books usw.

16. Learn Spanish and French. Practice practice practice.

17. Explore Neo-Psych . . . Man.

18. Buy a camera. Take photos and shake 'em like Polaroids.

19. Research med schools. Change major?

20. Visit HBLL twice a week. Pick a floor and area at random, and find one book on something completely new.

That's all I've got for now. I'll think up more later.

So much to do!

Breathe

"Don't you know it's gonna be alright?" -John Lennon, Revolution 1

Yes, John. I do.

Things are better. We're being positive. And listening to really great music.

Terror

My mom has cancer.

Not real. Not real. Not real.

Spotless

So I have this amazing friend with great taste in just about everything. At his behest, I watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

I loved it.

I'm pretty sure that a cuter scene does not exist:

Fog

Night creeps cold and lonely into hospital rooms. Soft, neutral colors turn sick in the dim fluorescent light, and bodies in beds turn sick with them. It smells antiseptic. I long for the hot, thick air of my own bedroom. My chair sounds ancient, but without a personality. The old red and white book resting open on my leg, and the sound of breathing from the bed next to me offer a mild comfort; still, I cannot believe that people come here to get well.

I'm tired. People are so unbelievably delicate. It's exhausting to try and keep everything together. But we soldier on, eh?

Ahem. Sorry. Dearest readers, prayers and love would be much appreciated, if you can spare them. I promise to reciprocate.