Hello 2017!

Happy 2017! But mostly, goodbye to 2016, which most people are glad to get shut of. I'm actually indifferent to last year - it certainly wasn't my best year (although please don't ask me which year is since I'll draw a blank on such short notice), but definitely not my worst. It falls somewhere in the middle, like most years. I'm not going to rehash the past year here - perhaps that could be another post - but instead I'm going to do the classic New Year's Day thing and come up with some goals/resolutions for 2017. (I got into a discussion last night about my use of the word "goals" versus "resolutions." It's really just semantics, in the same way I prefer "journal" over "diary.")

Obviously these are just guidelines. After all, how many people truly adhere to their resolutions through the entire 12 months of the year? Not to mention I always have one main one every year that I tend to slip in and out of: to be more disciplined. It's going to be a particularly important one for me this year since my work schedule is going to be entirely self directed and not beholden to the whims of a boss or the day-to-day minutiae of a 9-to-5 existence. It's a liberating, for sure, and it helps that I do have a deadline to complete the work I'm doing, but there's still a bit of a fear with finding the necessary discipline and properly motivating myself. Falling flat on my face is of course a strong motivating factor! So yes, let's again put that goal front and centre for 2017: to better discipline myself. It's an all-encompassing goal too since it embraces so many different facets of my life, from work to fitness to how I spend my free time. I like to think it's important to discipline the fun too (and I don't mean in an S&M way...), to make sure I leave myself the requisite time and energy to properly take advantage of the benefits (theatre! music! restaurants!) of living in a big city. In the end, it means not wasting too much time sitting on my ass and doing, well, nothing. I will report on this goal as the year progresses.

With that out of the way - and let's face it, that's the one that determines whether any other goals are met - let's perhaps set a few more goals for the year.

1. To write more often. That mostly means on this blog (even though I know it has few eyes, I remind myself this is more of a writing exercise for me), but I do have my large writing project I need to have completed for work by the end of the year. I'm going to initiate another blog as well for that project - stay tuned! Reading over my past blog entries, I realize that this is a good venue for me to keep up the writing chops, with the added benefit of chronicling "this place in time" of my life. I enjoyed revisiting my history, even though parts of it made me melancholic. (More on that in a future post.)

2. To read more. I know, another one that makes an appearance every year. But this one is important this year since, re-reading the blog, I realize I used to be a far-more voracious reader. It was partly because I was in a relationship with a woman for many years that didn't have a very good tv or cable package (!), and lived in a part of the city that wasn't open to hanging out at restaurants and pubs, so a big chunk of time we spent together was devoted to reading on her couch or in her backyard (since she was often busy running her own business that she had only-just initiated, or doing the gardening). I have my new reading chair set up in my study, and I've found in the short time I've had it that it's been conducive in reading more. (Environment is important, it's true!) The other key for me is to recognize that I'm not a "one book at one time" reader, that it helps when I have several books/articles on the go at once. It's just the way my brain works, so accept it and feed it thusly.

3. To take better care of my physical being. Yes, I'll admit, my running has truly lapsed of late, resulting in a bit of a weight gain. (Nothing to be overly concerned about, but I am carrying about 10 extra pounds that I truly do not need.) It hasn't helped that I've been dealing with a number of niggling injuries (the latest: a left ankle thing). But I've started running the stairs of the pedestrian overpass near my apartment (although I do take the long route to get there), which seems to be a good "quick hit" exercise. I'll add the long distance back into my running once I feel my various injuries aren't going to be a set back. The other part of the tending to my physical being is about ... well, I'll be coy for the time being. But tonight isn't the night to examine that. (Hey, I have a whole year to write on the blog - I need topics for the next 12 months, after all, so not everything needs to be explored this evening.)

4. "To thine own self be true." This is the big one for the year, even more important than the discipline goal. I will better explain this in a future post. It doesn't feel like a night to delve too deeply. Patience.

This is just a start. More to come!

Reading: Wolf Hall, the Sunday NYT, the Jan. 2 issue of the New Yorker
Listening: McCoy Tyner, Charles Mingus, some (mostly crappy) acoustical playlist on Spotify
Watching/Watched: Second season of Breaking Bad, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Rogue One, the Raptors west coast swing

I'm coming back

I've been very much a reluctant blogger, at least over the past few years. I was an early adopter - way back in the early 2000s, in fact! - but then writing for public consumption (outside of the writing that actually paid) lost its lustre. Maybe I didn't have much to say, or that I felt increasingly uncomfortable about "putting myself out there," but it was really more about lacking the time and energy (more of the latter than the former) owing to a full-time job and ... well, life. But starting next year, due to a very fortunate work situation (paid research leave!), I'm going to have more time, and hopefully the energy, to actually be more circumspect. Thus, it's probably a good time to revive the Procrastination Nation. Truthfully, I feel I need the writing routine - it will be a healthy way to start my days, or to inject some thought into a day when I feel blah and unmotivated. Re-reading my blog, I sometimes think I was a more interesting person when I spent the time ruminating and writing on this thing. Although some might say I've never been all that interesting at all, which is a fair assessment! But I will muddle along.

Dipping a toe in my thoughts

I undertook an interesting exercise this week, mostly by happenstance: I reread some of my old blog posts. It was actually revelatory. Not because I think my writing was brilliant or my insights particularly incisive, but it reminded me of how much I enjoyed maintaining a blog. Perhaps the best insight it provided, however, was that I seemed to a far-more interesting person when I was posting entries! Which of course got me wondering: did I seem more interesting because I was able to pull out the best parts of my life when I wrote them down, or was I, flat out, just more interesting at one time? It's an important question, and it makes me examine some of the evidence:

- I was reading more books back then, not to mention I was more thoughtful about what I was reading
- I seemed to be going out with my friends more often
- I listened to more music and (seemingly) saw more films.

Ok, maybe that's not entirely persuasive! But it did bring a general feeling to mind that I've become a little staid and predictable. I miss the "rawness" that I enjoyed (albeit not all the time!) back then. I think I need to bring that back. Stay tuned.

Transformations

After waiting almost two hours past the three-hour window I was given for the delivery of my new loveseat (they said 11-2, and it arrived close to 4), the first piece of significant new furniture I've bought in many years finally arrived yesterday. (It must be a weekend of lateness: the people who were picking up the Ikea couch I was giving away showed up over an hour late. But I didn't mind too much since my main goal was to get the thing out of the apartment before the new loveseat made its appearance. They seemed happy about it overall - the teenage who was going to make use of it was excited about putting it in his bedroom, so everybody was pleased.) I'm very pleased overall with the couch - it looks smashing in my living room! I didn't get to test it for a nap, but surely in due time... For the curious, here's a photo.

Also for the curious, it came with the accent pillows. It's slightly bigger than my previous couch/loveseat, but the good news is that I didn't have to move the three photos on the wall above - they're pretty much still centred. I did have to shift the tv a mite, but that was easy enough. I'm considering buying a new rug, and I still have my sights set on a new reading chair, but this couch is a good start.

Apartment transformation continues!

January bleeding into February...

So January is over - has been for a few days, obviously - and naturally I didn't quite complete all the tasks assigned to the January Cure. Am I disappointed? Not really, since really the exercise was more about initiating projects and "thinking" about my space, and I've accomplished both of those. It's been tough to begin projects because of my schedule - I've had quite a number of after-work plans, and weekends have been booked up too (and when I have a number of hours at my disposal in my apartment, I find it easier to just flop on the couch with a book and/or a movie on the tv) - but there are some that are half completed. The good news is that they will get completed, but in time.

I'm feeling especially positive because I'm having a new couch delivered tomorrow! Well, it's called a loveseat, but it's bigger than my current Ikea loveseat, so I feel somewhat qualified to call it a couch because of its larger size. (I'm currently waiting on someone to take my Ikea loveseat - I hope he doesn't find it too worn, although I am giving it away for free. Crossed fingers as I'd like it out of the apartment!) I'll post a photo of the new couch after it arrives and is set up. I figure the new piece of furniture will spur on my other projects. So my "replacing all of all my Ikea furniture" project has hopefully begun.

Not much to report otherwise. Went to the two COC operas in the past week - had great seats for both, which is always a plus - and there's some symphony and jazz in the coming weeks. I wish this nasty winter weather would depart, but that doesn't seem likely if the forecast is accurate. It's got me thinking about a survival strategy for next winter... Although the sensational S. doesn't seem to believe in warm-weather vacations. I'm working on her.

Taking stock

There seems little point in recapping all of the January Cure assignments one by one since I haven't really done any of them for over a week! But for those keeping track, here's the list of where we should be at: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/apartment-therapys-january-cure-2014-197811. 

In my defense, I had sort-of done some of these since the beginning of 2014 anyway, although most likely not in the "completed" sense they should be accomplished. As I said previously, I've never been all that good in taking strict direction in my activities. I'm good when things are "suggested," but not so good when they are set out as hard-and-fast chores. But no matter, I'm still feeling quite positive about my space. I've reduced a lot of the clutter and have begun to create an environment that I can call "home." And I'm sure to accomplish a few more tasks tomorrow anyway as the sensational S. is coming over for dinner and an evening of film viewing. (I told her that I preferred to crash at my abode on Sat. night since I want to get up early on Sunday to watch the final of the Australian Open, which I'm PVRing since the match starts at 3:30 am. I've committed myself to grilling some striploin on the BBQ, so I'll be braving the winter elements to cook the meat on my charcoal BBQ.) She hasn't stayed at my place for a number of weeks so I want to ensure it's nice and clean! Hey, maybe I'll even wear a sports jacket! (I write that for her benefit, in case she's reading this...)

I'm not much closer on buying a new couch, however. I've been somewhat slothful on the weekends - and busy with other non-home improvement activities as well, which is always good. It will happen, and soon. My current couch really does feel like its on its last legs (last fabric?). 

So not much new to report! I'm writing this on a Friday post-work, while nursing a beer and awaiting the start of Innis College's free film: they've promised a 35 mm print of the wonderful Sunset Blvd., so naturally I'm all over that! 

Oh, in other news, I'm off to Paris with the above S. (still sensational) for a week in May. My parents gave me some play money as a Christmas - it seemed silly to plow it into mutual funds, so two flights to Paris seems far more appropriate. I vowed I wouldn't travel again to Paris on my own, as I did a couple of years ago post-elbow break. I'm sticking to my word.

An update?

Believe it or not, I am still here and sentient. Work "stuff" has caught up with me, not to mention I've been spending most of my free time after work watching things like tennis and Downton Abbey. (I've been watching the current fourth season on PBS, but also trying to catch up as I never did see the first two seasons. As of last night, I'm through the first season's seven episodes.) But don't worry, reader (and I'm probably not far off the mark making it singular): I am committed to blogging, and to the January Cure. Although, admitedly, I've fallen a mite behind on that too... This exercise has been a good reminder that I've never been all that good in taking direction.