The New Year Has Arrived!

      Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year! (yes i know its late)

  I had a wonderful holiday season with my family! My brother Joey and his wife Laura and their baby girl Ella came in from Nashville, Tenn on christmas morning. We had also had lizzie join us just after she returned from Alabama seeing her family for dominos and other family functions. she also planned  The one tradition we have is to watch "The Ref" durning the Christmas season because of the sarcastic sense of humor that the film has ("slipper socks medium......") for new years I kept it low key and had a couple of bottles of wine with some old friends from high school. Good time busting balls and saying shit that wasn't true. Typical guy bullshit! As for my New Years resolutions im doing ok so far see below. (this list is from a previous blog post)

1. Workout - went running today for about 45 mins. before running I did find my camel pack so i had water with me and a place to hold my iPod while running. All though it took me a while to run the 5k but for running for the 1st time in 3 plus years i think that ok.

2. Quit Smoking - I had 1/2 of a cigaret today but that was the last one of the pack but i have not bought another pack since smoking the last one.

3. Start my MBA - looking at ASU, FSU, and University of Liverpool right now.

4. Pick up a Hobby - for christmas my parents got me a north face pack and other small items for hiking. i did get myself a Leathermen multi-tool, a timex watch, solar panels to charge my iPad and iPhone while out on the trail. My 1st hike will be thursday in the Sam Houston national forest on the lone star trail.

5. Be apart of a political campaign - I have looked the candidates for the Texas U.S. Senate and the candidate that i see most in line with is Tom Leppert out of Dallas. He has been the mayor of Dallas for sometime now and he is fiscally conservative and socially moderate. can't do craig james he sucks on tv. 


6. Eat healthy - im doing ok on the eating part cooking home made pizzas, paula dean's chicken salad but mainly cutting out the fast food so far.

7. Go To Mass every Sunday - yes I went to mass on sunday.

Marathon/Running

Ok my buddy Leon Williams mentioned a 5k marathon on the 1/1/12. I'm actually considering this so i can get a shitty baseline to go off of. LOL! I'm going to do it if its close to the Houston area!

Hiking/Camping

Ok so yesterday I pulled out my hiking pack from college and did an inventory of what I have and need. I have an average size pack, a one man tent, and basic cooking supplies.
The tent is a MSR Hubba tent but the weather prof chemical is breaking down and has become sticky. I have done some research on how to get rid of the sticky film and restore the weather proofing to the tent.
I have a little stove that mounts to a base propane tank and a two pot set. I tested the stove and it still works perfectly!
I have found a trail in the Sam Houston national forest that has a trail network of over 70 miles of trails. This is probably going to be where I start and develop my hiking skills. The only this is it will not have great vistas as some trails in Utah, Colorado or big bend national park. Nether-less it's close and will have cell coverage/gps for my iPhone. I plan on hiking part of the trail at the end of January so I can enjoy the cold nights! I'm very warm blooded.

New Years Resolutions

    This morning I found myself reading a friend's blog about Christmas cards and other stuff that she had posted on Facebook. She went on about how only women send out christmas cards. Alli; Yes, I do send out christmas cards out to my friends and family not pressured by a female to do so.

    Then I thought to myself I should do a blog about my plans for the year 2012 AKA New Years Resolutions. This way I can report my progress to others. Also 2012 is the last year in the Mayan Calendar so I better go out feeling/looking good.

1. Workout! I have thought about getting back in shape for years now. I would do a workout routine for about a week and then fall off the wagon and return to the couch. Im an ex-swimmer who was above average in high school so, that is really the only workout routines i know really well. I have thought about doing marathons, triathlons, cross-fit, and bunch of other workout programs but I keep coming back swimming. so far running is the cheapest just shoes and a memorial park is all you need so maybe picking up marathons is the way to go. 

2. Quit Smoking! I have already found my partner in this endeavor. Dion - on the 1st we are quitting! if you have the urge to pick one up call of text ill do the same. 

3. Start my MBA! I looking at University of Liverpool, Arizona State University, or Florida State University. I'm going to have to do the internet program do to my travel schedule for work. The Liverpool program lets you specialized in a certain field i.e. oil and gas, finance, and international business. I plan on starting in the fall. 

4. Pick up a Hobby - I have been meaning to pick up a hobby for some time now. Currently my only hobbies is drinking, smoking, and surfing the internet. sounds fun doesn't it! Last night I stayed in (with 2 bottles of wine) and goofed around the internet. When I had an idea of hiking at Big Bend National Park. I looked at the trills and material needed to do this. I put together a checklist of what i already have and what i needed. Granted i have very little camping and outdoors experience but i do consider myself a rather resourceful person when in a pickle. Im planning on maybe starting at Somerville Lake and hike in the area spend a night or two there and slowly build up my confidence. This would also help with my resolution to work out more.

5. Be apart of a political campaign - so far the GOP candidates for president really haven't inspired me that much bunch of infighting and bullshit. There is a Texas US senate seat open and i know of only one person running for it which is Craig James of the famed "Pony Express". im going to have to do some research on other candidates and see what they stand for. 

6. Eat healthy! - im a meat and potatoes kind of guy. However i need to cut out the sausage and cheese kolaches that i love. i need to eat more veggies, fruit, and non-processed foods. 

Wish me luck on my New Years Resolutions and God Speed! Hopefully im 20 pounds lighter, free of smoking, heading towards my MBA, hiking on a trail in Utah, remembering the people that i have meet in the political campaign from the past November and eating an apple!

Jake