Today will be one of my last completely free days until May.  With the return of school on Monday, I have found that I will be in class 4 out of 5 weekdays this semester.  Saturday will be my 'day of rest'...but I plan on putting those to the most effective use that I can.

I spent today organizing things in my room, and trying to set my plans in motion for 2006.  I even somewhat finalized my New Year's resolutions.  Here are my goals for 2006 (written up here so that I can remember them) in no particular order:

1) Graduate from college.  After the spring semester I will have 5 classes (18 credit hours) left.  I have discovered why I could not sign up for a 6th class this semester...turns out that UCF has a limit of 17 credit hours in the fall/spring, and 14 hours in the summer.  Which means that if I feel really really dedicated over the summer, I can take 4 classes (provided I can find them), leaving only the Capstone course in the fall for my last semester.  Personally, I don't think that I will take 4 classes over the summer...but I don't know yet.  I tend to get strange when a goal is within my grasp.

2) Cut down on shopping/eating out.  I have discovered these combine for my major vice...I remember when I used to cook every night.  That was quickly replaced by my ability to fall in love with Burger King, Taco Bell, Arby's, Denny's, etc. etc. etc.  And with Best Buy and Walmart being my two versions of mecca...well, I am going to cut back on my frivolities this year.

3) Eliminate my debt.  I think if I maximize school, and follow #2 to the hilt...I will not have the time to spend as much, and I will wind up saving a bit too.  I have already figured out how to immediately minimize bills in the short term...and through progress this year I will eliminate them all.  Short of what I'm going to say in the next one...

4) Find a house.  I do not plan on trying to flip real estate, as the market is nearly its peak.  When I think of a residence, I think of it as a long term investment, not as a get-rich-quick idea.  So sometime by graduation day, I have to figure out if I am going to try adjusting life to the frozen north, settle down in the Sunshine State, or go out on a limb and relocate someplace totally random.

5) Obtain leads for a career-based job.  I do not think that I will immediately find a dream job upon completion of my bachelors degree.  That would just be stupid thinking.  However, I hope to have some idea of what I want to get into by the time I receive the diploma. 

6) Get back in shape.  I actually think I have a damn good physique for my weight/height, with the exception of the little 'pooch belly' phenomenon.  I think this is caused by my addiction to sodas, but I do not plan on giving that up this year.  I will try cutting back though.  Coupled with an actual exercise regiment (to be started on no later than June), I should be able to be oh so sexy (or on my way there at least) by December.  I miss my flat little tummy and I will make it that way again.

7) Devise a plan to see Erin at least 4 times this year.  With the combination of my financials, school, and everything else, it may not be feasible to see her every couple months like we have been since the end of her college program internship.  So I figure if she makes 2 trips this year, and I make 2 trips as well, that we can squeeze in every 3 months.  I think this will help her, as it will give her more definites for exactly when we get to see each other, and it will do me good also, since I miss her dearly.

These are the plans for 2006...next up is working on structuring everything to make it work.

Actually, next up is to finish getting all the crap off of my bed so I can sleep tonight...but you know what I mean.

Love, --Me

So now we're back in 'sunny' Florida...

Reflecting on the previous 9 days, Wisconsin was enchanting.  Too damn cold, but still wonderful nonetheless. Through the magic of having a house with heat, I could spend the majority of my nights curled up shirt-and-sock-less and still maintain being warm.  Christmas with the Westens was a little strange to me, but wonderful.  It was the first time in probably a decade decorating a Christmas tree, or even having one for that matter. Gift-wise...her parents gave me some clothes to help me keep roasty-toasty in the Wisconsin cold, her sisters each contributed to my semi-weekly trips to Best Buy (my personal Mecca)...and then there was the stuffs from Erin.  She knitted me a scarf! It was interesting trying to put it on, as we don't have things like that in the south...but once I got the hang of it, it definitely helped keep the cold off.  Plus...she actually knitted me a scarf! I'm sure that takes mad amounts of skill, and a lot of time.  I really don't thank her enough for being such a d-e-d-i-cated girlfriend.

There were lots and lots of other stuffs that she gave me, and many upon many of other things that I did...but that would require writing a book instead of just a journal entry.  To sum it all up in a sentence or two:

I had a phenomenal time, and I hope we'll have the chance to celebrate many more.

Anyhoo...I'm back in Florida continuing to freeze with the weather (it's 59 here, but that's still cold to me), and missing my Erin Westen bunches upon bunches.

Love, --me

PS: When I say 'what up bitches'...this does not mean that I think anyone reading this is a bitch.  It's just a phrase.

What up bitches!? 

The one and only...reporting from the cold, dank, horrid state of....cold.

Better known as Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  It has been a fun series of days in this frigid weather...so far I have came to the following conclusions:

Snow is cold.  'Sledding' in an inner tube can be fun.  I am not good at 'sledding' in an inner tube.  If I could throw a baseball like I do a snowball, I could play major league baseball.  Never throw a snowball larger than a person's torso...at them.  Erin is good with her hands.  In addition to that...she throws a decent snowball.  Snow is cold.  Cold weather kills birdies.  But not ALL birdies, as a flying flock evidenced shortly after Christmas.  Christmas with an actual family CAN be enjoyable.

Tomorrow I board a plane back to Orlando.  I will miss Erin immensely.  It has been a fun period of bonding that I feel has strengthened us as a couple.  All I need to work on now is getting her to not cry at airports.

Until next time...

Love, --me

This is going to be a fantastic holiday season.

Wednesday afternoon, I fly up to Milwaukee for my first white Christmas...something that I should be giddy like a child to experience.  First time playing in snow, watching this blessed white goodness fall from the sky...tre cool, right?

More like freezing.  The key thing to look forward to is going to see my wonderful girlfriend EW once again, as I do miss her so.  Other than that...this is going to be like most other holiday season, except for the fact that I will be a lot colder (and won't have to work).  Still frantically trying to complete holiday shopping...which I will hopefully succeed in doing.  One of these days I'll start being proactive about it.

School-wise...grades were posted.  This was my most demoralizing semester yet...however, it does not prolong my graduation date any, and I am relieved of that.

Work-wise...only 3 more days working in 2005! I have off from December 21st-31st, with the exception of Christmas Day...but as I will be in Milwaukee instead of Orlando...the chance of making that commute is very small indeed.

I started this with the idea of writing quite a bit more...but am finding the creative juices aren't flowing in full force tonight, so this will be a short entry. G'nite all!

love, --me