Maximilian

It's been awhile since I've posted and a few things have changed in my life... quite a few very close friends leaving Lexington (and a couple returning) and a new addition to my immediate family... MEET MAXIMILIAN!!!

Max, as I call him, was a stray I adopted from a friend in southeastern Kentucky back in October. He is a Basenji, Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) mix... and boy is he a handful! But he is so sweet and I have bonded with him very quickly. 

I'm excited to have a new best friend/son in my life!!!

Belated New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! ... I'm only 22 days late in doing this. 

The holidays were fast-paced for me, but I tend to enjoy my life like that. I was in Virginia with my family for two weekends during the holidays and then spent the New Year holiday in Chicago, Illinois celebrating a close friend's birthday and ringing in 2012! They say work hard and play hard, don't they? =) 

New Year's Eve fireworks at Navy Pier in Chicago

To start the New Year, I have set some resolutions for myself and am sharing them here. They are some pretty easily attainable goals and I have already been working on some of them intensely (on this Sunday night, I am still sore from my exercising from Friday). 

• Lose 20 pounds 
• Exercise 3 times a week (minimum)
• Set (and follow) a sleep schedule
• Be more positive about work
• Get to work no later than 8:30am daily
• Stick to my budget
• Eat out less
• Give up soda
• Conquer sweet tooth

It's a healthy list, but a lot of them go hand in hand. I have already read a lot of other Resolutions people have posted... Good luck and Happy 2012!

Back to the Blue Ridge

Recently I went back to the birthplace for the weekend. My favorite teacher from high school was retiring and there was a surprise gala in her honor. It was a great time for me to go back home and see old friends and my family. It had been almost 6 months since I had gone home.

View of the Blue Ridge Mountains
from here

I love having grown up in Roanoke, it is set amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains and while I would not like to return (at least until I am older), it is simply beautiful.

Things have been very busy lately and my mind has been turning a lot. I am in that “mid-twenty-something restless state”, where I know I am not where I want to be but majority of my circumstances make it difficult to leave. It’s tough knowing you want more and are ready for a change, but are weary of the ramifications. For now, my goal is to make a plan, and carry it out.