Fidelity

Just like Forrest Gump, in the last ten days I have asked my mom and dozens of others the question we all wonder, "what's my destiny?" And in a similar way I've come to accept the lesson that Forrest's mom so often taught him: sometimes life just don't make no sense. It has been an insane, torturous few days and the decisions have seemed more daunting than ever. I am thankful that the decision is made and that the evaluating phase is over. Now we'll just have to see how I deal with the consequences.

-Regina Spektor-

The House Wins

Utah has had an incredible fall and winter in sports. Apparently, even the high school teams are keeping up.


-ok go-

You're A Slave To The Money, Then You Die

Starting today, my life officially resembles this:Except without the computer. And sadly, no Jim. But I'm pretty sure that Meredith sits directly outside my office and someone who is one quarter Dwight, one quarter Kevin, and one-half Andy is only a thin office wall away. Believe it or not, I've already heard his picks for desert island. I shouldn't complain. I have my own office with a door, a desk, a chair and two windows - one to the conference room and one to Dwight-Kevin-Andy's office.

-The Verve-

First Day of My Life

Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life. It's all downhill from here. I kind of like this picture. An echo riding alone.

-Bright Eyes-

I Will Follow

Well, it's Thursday. I can't say that a lot of seemingly "special opportunities" have crossed my path, but then again it is only 5:45. One thing that did happen which could be potentially special or... complicated: one of my supervisors from Euro RSCG (Ad Age 2006 Global Agency of the Year, thank you) contacted me about employment possibilities in the near future in the Portland office. These decisions seem unending. Portland, of course, brings its own package of charms and challenges to the table. This great newish (to me) song by The Gabe Dixon Band reminds me vaguely of one of them.

-U2-

Good Day

Two things made my day. First of all, I finally accepted that job offer that I've been agonizing over. So whether or not I love the job, the stress of deciding is over... at least for a little while. I start next Wednesday. The second thing that made my day was the official announcement of the iPhone at mac world. It will be about six months before they can hit the market, but I'll be really tempted to get one once they do.

-The Click Five-

Make This Go On Forever

If only every week held such promise.I'll let you know what happens.

-Snow Patrol-

What A Good Boy

I spent New Year's in San Diego with my sister, brother-in-law, and two adorable nephews. As always, the highlights in photos.-Barenaked Ladies-

I Will

New year. New life. New goals. I made a few goals around the time I had my last birthday not too long ago and now that I've had a few weeks to really think them over, I think it's time to implement. Here are some of my plans for the year ahead that are not too personal to publish:

1. Run five races
2. Run a half-marathon (included in the five races)
3. Get a "real" job
4. Save ten percent of my income
5. Drink no soda (I was going a year and a half strong on this one until I was in Greece and just had to sip a Fanta in the sunshine)
6. Travel to at least one place I've never visited
7. Read more books

-The Beatles-

The New Year

This New Year's celebration was probably the least eventful I've experienced, which was a nice contrast to the year itself; certainly the most transient of my life. I have lived in four different places in three states and two countries. I have worked for four different companies. I had two hair colors and contemplated a third. Needless to say, a lot has happened. In sticking with tradition, here is my year in review:

Best Things that Happened in 2006:
1. Graduating from Brigham Young University
2. Visiting more than 10 countries
3. Summer in New York
4. Belgium

Worst Things that Happened in 2006:
1. Getting a 50 euro ticket on a train in Greece
2. Remaining undecided about what's next
3. Pam and Jim not happening (I guess when the worst things of the year involve your favorite TV couple, it hasn't been that bad of a year)

Most Significant Locations of 2006:
1. Bedroom, Hudson Heights, NYC
2. Kitchen table, Provo, Utah
3. A random street in Portland
4. One word: doorbell

Funniest/oddest moments of 2006:
1. Receiving a compliment on my english
2. Getting meowed at on a street in Greece. By a grown man.
3. Trying to find wireless on the 8th floor
4. Overhearing any given conversation in the hostel in Athens

Places I lived in 2006:
1. Provo, UT
2. Portland, OR
3. New York, NY
4. Brussels, Belgium
(I also like to claim Switzerland, though I only "lived" there for a day and half)

Coolest Things I did in 2006:
1. Hiked in the Alps
2. Graduated from college
3. Got published
4. Touched the Atlantic from both coasts

Realizations of 2006:
1. I can generally tell what the extent of my relationship with someone will be by looking through the music on their ipod or cd collection. If they don't have one -- well, enough said.
2. I send out some kind of vibe to attract people to whom I can never be attracted
3. I can be happy anywhere
4. Real life can wait

Most Played songs in iTunes of 2006 (that came out in 2006):
1. Be Good or Be Gone - Fionn Regan
2. Gotta Have You - The Weepies
3. Other Side of the World - KT Tunstall
4. For Elisabeth Wherever You Are - Tobias Froberg

I'm adding some new categories

Famous People I met in 2006:
1. The members of Keane
2. Josh Ritter
3. Glen Phillips

Things I did in 2006 to prove to myself that I'm disciplined:
1. made my bed every day (I think I missed 3 days. ok, maybe 4)
2. trained for a half-marathon (still training)

Concerts I attended in 2006:
1. Pink Martini - Park City
2. Landon Pigg, Lucas Reynolds and Ki Theory - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA
3. Josh Ritter - Millenium Music, Portland, OR
4. Some Random Free, Local, and Unmemorable Bands - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
5. Mark Geary and Tom Freund - Mercury Lounge, NY
6. Son Volt - World Financial Plaza, NY
7. Keane - Borders @ Colombus Circle, NY
8. Feist - Central Park, NY
9. Glen Phillips and Johnathan Kingham - Madison Square Park, NY
10. TV on the Radio, Voxtrot and Matt Pond PA - Prospect Park, NY
11. Psapp, Juana Molina and Jose Gonzalez - Bowery Ballroom, NY
12. Belle & Sebastian and Martha Wainright - Battery Park, NY
13. Mates of State - Castle Clinton, NY
14. Yo La Tengo - Prospect Park, NY
15. Juana Molina - South Street Seaport, NY
16. Josh Rouse - Castle Clinton, NY
17. Damien Rice and Fiona Apple - Beach, NY
18. Damien Rice (again) - Central Park, NY
19. Death Cab for Cutie and Mates of State - McKay Events Center, Orem, UT
20. Cat Power and Jeff Tweedy - Rock Primavera '06, Barcelona, Spain

Things I checked off my list in 2006:
1. Live in New York City (June-August)
2. Get published (my manuscript was purchased in October)
3. Stay debt-free (this is pretty much a continual one)
4. Sing in a karaoke bar (August 4th/5th - NY, NY)

-Death Cab For Cutie-