My New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year 2006 to all! One of my new year's resolutions is to keep better records on here. And since it's winter, that wonderfully depressing time of the year in Chicago when one is forced to stay indoors 3/4 of the time, I have no excuse. Anyway, in an effort to recapture all the events that have taken place since my last update, I offer snippets of the most memorable goings-on:

*Ryan, my cousin from FL, and Chad, my cousin on the westside, and I kicking back four rounds at a Loop bar, reminiscing about our youthful day and those in our family who've left us

*Chad hanging upside down fifteen feet about ground, riffing on a guitar

*Grinding on stage with the lead actress in a play

*Piss-drunk on Division with Ryan, who still manages to pick up some ladies

*Hearing both sides of the story when Uncle Ron crashed Uncle Mike's car

*Snow "falling" sideways, and my mom loving it

*...My dad and I hating it *Meeting my cousin Sean's new baby!

*$100 lobster

*Spending just two hours with best friends in Florida and once again being reminded why, no matter what, nothing will change, ever

*Also, for unrelated reasons, being reminded why I left that state in the first place

*A full-on intellectual debate with my brother's fiancée about politics, religion, philosophy, and evolution

*Realizing I'm even more different from my family than I ever knew

*Catching up with my old piano teacher/mentor

*Admitting to my mom I'm no longer a Catholic at 1 AM

*Leaving my baby for six days, but knowing he was in good hands

*Getting a Christmas bonus!

*Spending my first New Year's outside of the eastern time zone with good friends, good booze, watching fireworks over the skyline, all while wondering why they ever let Carson Daly host the New Year Special in the first place

Throughout this nasty winter--and I'm not just bitter, it's actually the coldest start on record--I have tried to keep in mind that spring is but within a few months' reach. Especially now that I'm out on my own, it truly gets rather melancholy around here sometimes, but I try to get the endorphins going by running with Alexei when weather permits and playing a good tune on the ol' six string. I can't wait until biking season begins again. I was very tempted to take Sus for a spin, since there was actually no ice on the roads and temperatures warmed a bit, but in fact it's still a tad too chilly to have an enjoyable ride. Soon enough...

In spite of this rather dreary season, I am also warmed by the thought that not two years from now, I will likely be venturing out west to start grad school. At the moment, the University of Arizona is at the top of my list. I recently got to talking with my Uncle Ron, who is a PhD at a research institute in Phoenix, and discovered that he is on several boards and is in constant contact with several professors in the area. He could wield some serious clout for me when the time comes next year. I plan to fly out there this summer and go with him to meet some of my would-be mentors. Even though I am just finding my groove at work, I know I will definitely be ready to move on to bigger and better things by that point.

In the meantime, I will have to settle for a free "business" trip to Texas next week. GlaxoSmithKlein is holding a conference for a new insomnia/drug study, in which I will be involved. They are providing free airfare to and from San Antonio, lodging at a resort & spa, and dining for three days. I get to be that guy flagging down the driver holding up a sign for me at the airport. When Lukas, my co-worker, asked if I would be available to come, naturally I obliged.

In the absence of a new Family Guy episode, I shall now instead curl up with a good book and read until I fall asleep. Because God knows there isn't much else going on around here tonight.