spryng | Good morning 2011

Ciao 2010 - hello 2011. So far it's off to a gloriously cold start - around 26 when I got up this morning - 32 right now. Had to scrape frost off my car when I left from work about an hour ago. Brr brr.

Started the year with friends and champagne and cupcakes, as it should be. I don't have resolutions this year, only two major goals. One: get fit. Steps in that direction include exercising every Monday and then not going more than two days without exercising, as well as starting rock climbing with

the_verb as soon as I have cash flow again, and aiming to eat just a smidge better. Two: send a query letter and (hopefully!) receive a rejection letter. I've decided to shift my emphasis back to writing this year - last year I believe I put too much emphasis on photography, which is fine, but that it still not my ultimate goal in life.

Also, keep reading more. Last year I read

Finch
How to Do Things with Words
WWW: Wake
Bitter Seeds
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
I am not a Serial Killer
Liar
The City and the City - which was my absolute favorite of the year
the God Engines
Conspirata
the Scar
Discord's Apple
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town
the Windup Girl
Ash
Who Fears Death
A Fire Upon the Deep
Greywalker
Kraken
Poltergeist
An Abundance of Katherines
Dreadnought
Mistborn
Death Rides a Chestnut Mare
Arctic Explorations

That's 25 books, and only 25. I fancy there were more in that bunch, but I know there were a handful I didn't finish - House of Leaves, the complete short stories of HP Lovecraft - and one I'm currently in the midst of - Territory, by Emma Bull (which is absolutely lovely by the way). I have a number on my list for reading in the coming month - Leviathan, the Secret History of Moscow, Rampant, Habitation of the Blessed - and I also would love to read all of the Hugo nominees this year, not to mention Patrick Rothfuss' Wise Man's Fear is finally coming out, and generally read at least 30, if not more books.

Yay books! I love books.

And now I'm going to steal

malanai's meme and try and write in this LJ every day over the next 30 days, addressing one of the below topics herein. It's not the most interesting of questions, or the most deep discussion points, but again, I am trying to write here more, and in general. Starting with

Day 01 - Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is.
I am in a relationship with a wonderful Lady and, in fact, our dating anniversary is coming up in a short two weeks. Hard to believe it's been five years since that cold day in Florida when we wandered down to the bay and back and I had to point blank ask if we were a thing or not. :) Those were very confusing times and I'm so glad it coalesced into what it is now. I love her so very much and I am thankful for her and her patience and intelligence and amazingness each and every day. It's kind of nifty being all engaged up, too, and I only get a bit of a thrill of terror contemplating what planning must be done in the coming year for the party and how to best navigate that particular terrain with my family.

Day 02 - Where you'd like to be in 10 years
Day 03 - Your views on drugs and alcohol
Day 04 - Your views on religion
Day 05 - A time you thought about ending your own life
Day 06 - Write 30 interesting facts about yourself
Day 07 - Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality
Day 08 - A moment you felt the most satisfied with your life
Day 09 - How you hope your future will be like
Day 10 - Discuss your first love and first kiss
Day 11 - Put your iPod on shuffle and write 10 songs that pop up
Day 12 - Bullet your whole day
Day 13 - Somewhere you'd like to move or visit
Day 14 - Your earliest memory
Day 15 - Your favorite Tumblrs
Day 16 - Your views on mainstream music
Day 17 - Your highs and lows of this past year
Day 18 - Your beliefs
Day 19 - Disrespecting your parents
Day 20 - How important you think education is
Day 21 - One of your favorite shows
Day 22 - How have you changed in the past 2 years
Day 23 - Talk about the five most interesting people you know personally or about.
Day 24 - Your favorite movie and what it's about
Day 25 - Someone who fascinates you and why
Day 26 - What kind of person attracts you
Day 27 - A problem that you have had
Day 28 - Something that you miss
Day 29 - Goals for the next 30 days
Day 30 - Your highs and lows of this month