What I Know I Need

It seems that I only blog when it's the final stretch or when I'm depressed as all get-out. 

Partial truth. 

So, in the spirit of finals and churning out the last of my  

LAST PAPERS OF UNDERGRAD

I am going to make a number of vows that I plan on keeping, once I gain a little bit more time for myself.

1) MORE TRAINING! I decided to sign up for my first triathlon in probably two years. Coincidentally, it's the same race I did two years ago. I figure signing up for Santa Cruz triathlon in September will motivate me to get my butt back into gear (pun intended).

2) MORE RIDING! This is entirely possible once school comes to an end. It won't matter whether I'm at the bike shop full-time or working in the city this summer (fingers crossed!). Not having to trek all the way out to East Oakland will give me plenty of time. 

3) On the note of more riding... LESS DRIVING! Again, completely feasible. I imagine my driving will be limited to nannying first thing in the morning and the occasional road trips. I want to become incredibly efficient on my bike, both in terms of recreation and utilitarian purposes. There's something about the summer time that makes you feel like you have all the time in the world. Who knows? Maybe I will have all the time. It will be welcomed with open arms.

4) EXPLORING THE REGION. I've been out here for nearly 4 years and there are a whole slew of things I haven't done yet. Camping in any of the million regional parks, bike camping, biking every major climb in the Bay Area, visits to Point Reyes, Stinson Beach, Petaluma, and Sebastopol. I've known from the beginning that I live, essentially, in a vacation spot. Why should I go back to Texas for spring break when I live in the Bay? I can go from beach to snow in a matter of 3 hours (depending on traffic).

5) ROADTRIPS STILL haven't been to Yosemite. I've been meaning and trying to climb Half Dome for two years now and it still hasn't happened. And if I'm going to do Yosemite, I might as well check out the other National Parks: Pinnacles, Death Valley, the Sierras, etc. So many potential adventures! There's something about the open road that is comforting, in all its vastness and uncertainty.

6) All the little things I've missed, now that I've "grown up". Picnics. Day trips to the amusement park. Arcades. Bowling. Ice skating. Roller-rinking. Sidewalk chalk. Washing my car the old-fashioned way. Working in the garden. Outdoor sporting events (I've yet to attend a single game of any sort out here). Barbecues in the backyard.

I really believe I can make the summer between graduating and graduate school worth it. I just need to keep reminding myself to stay in the moment, that the opportunities only present themselves every so often. And more importantly: stop being so driven by money (even though it's a factor of consideration in EVERYTHING). I need to learn how to draw the line and take time for myself.

But until then, back to the late night work-a-thons. 

Less than 72 hours of this.