Christmas was great this year. I had a lot of experiences following from Saturday when I arrived in Grand Junction, to spending Sunday night with my mother, to spending a couple of hours with my grandmother Broughton, to locking my keys inside my SUV while sneaking Christmas presents for my nieces out of the back on Christmas Eve. My brother Jarrett gave me a nice survival knife with built-in compass and survival pack. My brother Jesse gave me a leatherman-like tool, and my brother Judd gave me a Swiss-army pocketknife as well. I don't know why I find that funny that my brothers gave me more weapons after my experiences in Utah. My brother Jake gave me a nice jungle hat with a mosquito netting. I think my family expects that I'll end up stranded and that I'll be able to fight my out. I gave each of my brothers a couple of packs of Camels, a pack of rolling papers, and a lighter. Not very original but they enjoyed their presents. I gave my nieces and nephew books for Christmas in keeping with my librarian meme. I gave my grandmother a 2008 calendar and a card. I didn't get out to see my grandfather.
On Saturday night, I went to a nightclub that alternated between pop country music and rap with a crowd skewing towards the male, drunk, and white. Two of my friends (I know them through my brother Judd) were in town. Michael Ochoa is in the Marines and has three tours in Iraq under his belt. He is a veteran from the beginnings of the Iraq war. Tommy is Michael's brother and Tommy just finished his first tour with the Marines in Iraq. Tommy was involved in a IED attack but wasn't hurt. Judd got kicked out because of his drunkenness (we weren't sure what prompted his expulsion but my night ended earlier. I had a hangover the next day that didn't go away although I didn't think I drank that much the night before.
This might be my last blog entry for 2007. 2007 was a recovery year for me. I was able to move into a better place, buy a new vehicle, and continue to normalize my life after my experiences in living in Utah. Here are some New Year resolutions for upcoming year:
- Increase my Aikido activity. For the past couple of years, I have practiced exactly once each year. The best way for me to do this is to teach an Aikido Basics class but I have to find suitable facilities and then worry about insurance, affiliation, and students.
- Increase my general physical activity. I am out of shape and weigh a good 10-15 pounds over what I like to weigh. I am not as concerned about my weight but I do feel that I my physical conditioning needs to improve.
- Write more. I used to try to write 500 words a day and I have stopped for a number of reasons not the least is that I find my journal writing to be too self-centered (although this blog is an example of ego publishing as there is) . I do like this blog because I can write and not worry about losing the material (as much)
- Quit all tobacco products. I hate smoking cigarettes but I do like to chew tobacco. Chewing has to be one of the most disgusting habits out there and not good for my oral health.
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