Refine in '09

I created this blog about 4 1/2 years ago.

Not sure what I would title it if I created it now, but I can't bring myself to take down the earnest Coldplay lyric as my banner. I still love Coldplay, so I haven't completely changed. My desire to write and blog has drastically tapered off, though, as no one can tell because no one likely reads this anymore for lack of updates.

Perhaps part of the Refine in '09 movement for me can be to delve back into writing, and by writing I mean typing out pithy comments and random thoughts on a blog, just like millions of others do.

But do they write in list format? Probably not!

So here goes.

• I think I'm supposed to not be content to wake up, walk my dog, go back to bed, wake up again and walk dog, shower, drink coffee, watch TV, get ready for work, go to work, work, come home on dinner break to walk dog, go back to work, work, come home, walk my dog, watch TV, get ready for bed, read, go to sleep -- but somehow, I am. My goal is to be more like my dad and follow his philosophy of learning to be content no matter what. I'm content to enjoy nature on my walks with Bama, daydreaming or debating who knows what in my head, making up stories about the various neighbors I see. I love making coffee with my favorite hazelnut-flavored creamer in the morning and curling up on my couch and watching my favorite shows waiting for me on my DVR. I love coming home and seeing Bama's giddy reaction when he realizes I came back for him and am going to let him go outside to pee. So much of life is ordinary, even mundane. I've experienced exciting things and met cool people, and my adventures are nowhere near done. But I refuse to fall into the solipsistic trap of bemoaning society and life in the suburbs and work in a cubicle. It's what you make of the ordinariness. A lot of life sucks. Deal with it. It doesn't have to be as hard as you make it.

• When I read "Gone With The Wind," I both sympathized and empathized with Scarlett, seeing myself in several of her qualities. That can't be good.

• I don't know how to handle being in the majority. For years, I grimaced every time I saw the president's face. Now, I smile. For years, my brain understood that it should not believe anything the president or anyone in his administration said. Now, my brain treats what the president says as gospel. For years, I delighted in ridiculing the president. Now, I'm upset if anyone dares to ridicule him. Where do I go from here? How do I live in a country with a leader I love? This is weird.

• I like how the suggested "Labels for this post" at the bottom of the screen are "e.g. scooters, vacation, fall." Scooters? Really?

• I think I'm getting closer to being able to say that I probably -- maybe -- never wanted to major in journalism in the first place. I just did. Now I'm at my second newspaper, and I have no idea how I got here, or where to go next.

• Blueberry is a great flavor. Special K breakfast bars in blueberry? The best ones! Blueberry bagels? I eat them. Blueberry vodka? Pour in some cranberry juice and you've got a par-tay.

That's all I've got.