Dear "Diary",
As this year comes to an end and the new year fast approaches, I felt compelled to make some new year's resolutions (even though someone very close to me is VERY anti-resolutions):

1. Be nicer: I used to be nice. But the last couple of years have made me a little bitter. I catch myself taking out my anger and frustration on the undeserving. Must stop immediately.

2. Practice patience: It's not a race. Go at my own pace and don't get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Trust that I know what is good for ME. This applies to everything.

3. Let it go: My forgiving nature combined with my photographic memory have often caused me great pain. If I choose to forgive, beat it up and then let it go completely.

4. Take control: Stop playing the victim and take control of situations. If it is out of my control, trust in karma.

5. Make health a priority: Recovering from illness and injury steals time. Life is short. Make smarter choices. Eat better, exercise more, laugh and love EVERY single day.

Cheers to 2012!

<3,
Sandy

Conquered (some) of my fears + BONUS: Sandy Story Time!!

Since my last post, I've conquered several of my fears:

1.  Porta Potties:  In the last couple of months, I have used Porta Potties FOUR times!  I learned that if you roll up your pants, plug your nose, and don't look down too long, it's tolerable. 

sooooooooo nasty

2.  Camping:  I have never ever gone camping (Camp Curry, La Honda Music Camp, and my cousins' backyard doesn't count).  I guess I wouldn't consider camping a real fear. I've mostly just felt overwhelmed with the preparation and set up. Luckily, I went with B and his buddy who both had the gear and did all the work. :)  We went to Pinnacles State Park.  Awesome place.  You should check it out.    

Our tents!  So fun!

3.  Cooking:  I hate reading instruction manuals so I guess following recipes would fall into the same category.  BUT...I learned I CAN cook if i put my mind to it.  I cooked my first meal on Thanksgiving and it turned out decent!  However, I did make a couple of rookie mistakes.  My timing was completely off.  Our guests arrived before I did (automatic failure!!!)...and the ETA for our meal was 3PM.... we didn't eat until past 7. :(  Luckily, B got everyone drunk and happy...so hunger was (almost) forgotten. Teamwork at it's finest, yo!



The spread



4.  Climbing:  I first learned I had a fear of heights in 6th grade when I sat on the first row balcony at the SF Opera house. FRIGGIN' SCARY! This is why i fear rock climbing. I went climbing with my cousin twice.  Both times, I didn't have any issues going up, but I couldn't get myself down!  I remember shaking, crying, and thinking, "NEVER again!" 

Unfortunately or fortunately..B loves rock climbing...and B looooooooves peer pressuring.  We went once a few months back.  I hated it and I did a pretty good job of avoiding our next outting.  But...this week...B surprised me with all this fancy climbing gear so I felt obligated to give it another go. 

We went last night and.... IT WAS SOOOOOO FUN!!!  I still can't come down elegantly or even just come down like a normal person, but it was sooooooooooo friggin' fun!  I swear, it HAD to have been because of my cool new shoes!  And again, like the Porta Potties, I learned that climbing isn't THAT scary as long as you don't look down for that long ;)



my cool gear!! love love LOVE my mint green elf shoes!



my PRETTY chalk bag. B has good taste!

That's ME!  NOT!!

BONUS:  Sandy Story Time!



So yesterday, I decided to take my belay test.  After 15 minutes of struggling with the knot (I had stage fright!), one of the workers finally came up to me and asked if I was ready to begin.  He looked at my knot.  Not pretty. But safe.  He asked me to list all the safety checks. I did.  Then...this happened:

Dude:  Is that how you always wear your harness? (stoicly)

Me: Yes. (confidently)

Dude: Are you sure? (stoicly)

Me: YES! (SUPER confidently and slightly annoyed) 

Dude:  Are you really sure? (stoicly)

Me:  umm...Should I be wearing it tighter?? (unconfidently and very SCARED!) 

Dude:  No.  Your harness is upside down.  We've been laughing at you from behind the counter the past 15 minutes. We knew you didn't have a clue. (stoicly yet completely amused at himself)

Me:  OMG!  Soooooooo embarassing!!! *cackle cackle cackle* (sooooooooooo embarassed but COMPLETELY amused at MYself!)  HAHAHAAHAH

The rest of the test went fine.  He passed me (i don't know why or how) and he ended it with, "you knew everything...just be careful with that harness next time" (stoicly). 

Just another "story of my life"...  :)

Love,

Sandy