Friday, March 28, 2014

Physical Goals

Got to get in better shape and I really really mean it. I'm 33 but swear my dad who is turning 65 is in better shape than me. As much as I don't want to be a gym guy I think that's really the only option I got and the only one that has ever worked.

I am 20 pounds overweight and know it is slowing me down too much. Physically and mentally.

My diet is decent but I just need to move more....do an hour a day.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Busy Summer coming up

I have a lot of obligations and objectives this summer but I am really happy for the challenge and think I'm on a good path.

Objective/Goal:

1) Blog more often and better...try to get a handful of people following this and do something that interests people

2) Complete my Master Composter Class

3) Be accepted into the Master Naturalist Class (with possible completion in 2014)

4) Complete 100 hours of community service

5) Create the Icelandic Community website (Once I get full domain access,....grrr)

6) Get into some kind of physical activity...fuck..I'm 34 and getting FAT...If I can't take some kind of care of myself now where will I be in 20 years? And I can only blame my office life so much.

7) Get fixed

8) Downsize my material belongings, I know I'm pretty good...but I would really like the sound of this 100 thing challenge...

9) Expand my friendship circle (both with current friends in depth and new ones) but do it without booze or loud music....it's a shame that you can know people for years sometimes but barely know much about them because so often what we do socially doesn't really allow proper interaction.

10) Be debt free or well on way

11) I already booked the time off work for the Verge Permaculture course this fall...so would be totally awesome to complete that....and be a certified Permaculture guy...woot?

12) Setup weekly touchbases with my family via skype...sometimes being far away sucks :(

I think that's a good rambling list for now....
Step 1) Figure out why my blog posts aren't formatting properly Step 2) ??? Step 3) Profit

Friday, March 14, 2014

Different strokes

Different strokes for different strokes.....

I've always been a somewhat competitive person.....but I'm actually trying to make a conscious effort to try to stop that...it's not healthy for anyone....and frankly...I highly doubt anyone will look back from 2050 and go "oh yeah, that Justin guy....always the top sales guy...or always the guy with the cute curly hair"

Recently one of my coworkers mentioned offhand that the city she lived in (St. Albert Edmonton) was voted <a href="http://money.ca.msn.com/banking/homebuyersguide/gallery/best-places-to-live-in-canada?page=21">the best city to live in in Canada</a>. That is great and I am very happy but it really throw things into perspective for me a bit.

What is "best" and why do we always strive so hard to get there and why must we measure it? "Best" should be an individual metric...that only each individual person can truly reach. I don't care who you are or what you accomplish but I hope you are happy (while doing no harm).

It got me thinking what is really important about where I live. My beautiful wife an I both acknowledge that our move from crackhead downtown to the south was great in so many ways but we really miss walking through a neighborhood.....there is something so intangible about being able to stroll up a neighborhood and feel the history though it.

We've decided to stay where we are another year...because of the large south window and patio where we can grow our plants....and truth be told the fact we have a fireplace and a washer/dryer means a little bit to us at this point. hmmmmmm fire.....


It frightens me that the "best city in Alberta" can be on that is ranked 163 out of 180 cities in walkability...to me...that would be one of my absolute top priorities, my coworkers said she really enjoyed this city and loved it...despite admitting that she had never once...not once...actually walked anywhere from her home....not to the store..or the walking trail...or the local community centre...or a coffee shop. (For the record, I really respect and admire this particular coworker, she is a great person). Is it even a city or a community if you have to hop in your car everytime you need to go somewhere?

The nearest reason I can determine it was "the best city to live in" was simply wage and high discretionary income....ie: people made a lot of money...and didn't have alot of money drainers (ie: kids). While I am not a pro-kid guy guy I do think they are part of a healthy community...Most of my life I have made ok money but I am really excited to spend the next few years ...frankly..not making that much money.

If my wife an I push it we will be debt free by the end of next year and WWOOfing throughout the Kootenays in Canada....got to embrace life people....or it just skips on by..







Friday, March 7, 2014

Iceland

Me and the pm yo

I got hang out the with Prime Minster last Friday..it was a really great time hanging out with a great group of people. At one pint in the night I actually managed to steal the Prime Ministers beer and drink it throughout the night....sweeeet I also managed to get a really fly Iceland pin from his..ambassador? liason? I dunno..guy...