January 1, 2005
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If you want to sense the frustration of being a new waiter…play the memory game on this site: I got 2:06 my first time, how’d you do?
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=janet
to show how we all learn differently, and how a mixture of auditory and visual can help you remember, try this game
http://www.oddtodd.com/concentration/memory.htm
possibly the first xanga post of 2005!!!!!
yes…i am home and on my computer. I’m in Baltimore, don’t know anyone, felt tired, and said, f-it, i’m not going out. Although i am watching a cool fireworks display right now. It actually sounds like Fallujah, sh#@ exploding everywhere. I kind of feel weird not celebrating, missing out on the hooplah. I feel temporarily disconnected from life, but, at the same time, I feel more connected than most years. Last year I was getting blitzed with some great camp friends in South Africa, making sand-angels in the beach. Now…i’m probably the only person I know ushering in this new year’s alone.
I reckon I haven’t given up on the tradition of New Year’s. I just didn’t have anyone to go out with, and didn’t have the energy to go out alone, and had no desire to quickly discard the money I made tonight on booze. The thing is…in a day or two, this will be just another New Year’s, another day of the year. Matt Damon has a great quote in the movie Good Will Hunting, when he asks Minnie Driver, “let’s go out for caramels.” She has a perplexed look on her face, and he replies, “when you think about it, it’s as arbitrary as going out for coffee.” Indeed, I’ll admit, New Year’s is exciting, but it’s as arbitrary a celebration as any. Why should the other 364 days out of the year be any less exciting, and, why should Dec. 31st be the biggest party of the year? Oh…I expect 2005 to be full of some big time days, and I expect to have some solid nights this upcoming year, so despite this New Year’s passing me by without me noticing, you won’t give me the blues.
Instead of making resolutions, I’m putting together a mission statement. I want to have a vision for my life, something on paper to keep me focussed. A resource for when the winds are blowing hard, and my vessel is getting rocked. When I’m trying to sheet in my sails, and keep my bow heading at just the right angle so that the wind literally pulls my boat in the precise direction I want. I’m just two months away from getting back into the field with Outward Bound, and then my life will be regenerated beyond belief. If anyone is looking for a way to have a different kind of life adventure, definately check out Outward Bound, they have courses for everyone… www.outwardbound.org
With a bit of training, here’s some courses I have my eye on to instructing in 1-2 years.
http://www.vobs.org/course/boundary_waters_dogsledding__skiing_-_adult_renewal_451.html
http://www.hiobs.org/programs.cfm?pageaction=programs_course_details&type=15&group=102&course=132
Here’s the course I went on a year ago:
http://ncobs.org/courses/school_courses.php?page=outdoor_leader_course_100.html
And, here’s the two possible Outward Bound schools I’ll be working for in March:
http://www.nycoutwardbound.org/
http://compass.hiobs.org/prog.htm
Hope everyone had a happy Friday night…happy Saturday everyone!!!
