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I signed up for NaBloPoMo again this year, so if nothing else you get to look forward to me writing something nonsensical and irrelevant every night at 11:30… for a whole month. Outside of November I think I'm going to attempt a regular posting schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – if such a thing is possible. It seems to jive with my schedule and give me a little extra time to do or find something interesting to write about, if I need it; and I often do. I've found a little inspiration here and there for photography, so I'm going to attempt to post one interesting picture every day, too. I'm trying to move from interesting snapshots to real photography: concept, composition, post-processing… the whole package. Not just taking pictures of things that I come across that are picture-worthy; but rather making something picture-worthy and then capturing it. This is going to take incredible discipline on my part, either to make it home and make use of the sunlight while it's still available, or to shoot enough on the weekends to last a whole week. That means thinking ahead… preparing… things that I haven't generally associated with blogging — at least not my own blog. Still, if you don't set goals, there's no way to measure success.

Well now that I'm feeling better, it's time to keep my promise. I am almost ready to join a gym — the same Planet Fitness that Ed goes to — but the only thing holding me back is my schedule. No sense joining when you're still working 11+ hour days regularly. But their $10/month rate offer ends 11/20, so even if my schedule isn't the best by then I'll probably join to take advantage of the rate and try to force my schedule to change. That aside, I need to have a goal, like runners who train for a marathon. Something to give me some motivation. When I worked out in college I was on the Kevin Spacey "I want to look good naked" plan. Now, I'm married so that doesn't matter. Just kidding. Or am I? I wouldn't mind being ripped, but that doesn't make for very good motivation. I don't have any desire to be a runner, so training for a marathon is out. I'm not overweight (quite the opposite). My blood pressure is fine, if a little lower than normal. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, so maybe I can go with "put on 10 pounds… in a good way." And I'll definitely be working my way back up to lots of crunches. Any ideas for what a good (and motivational) goal could be?

On our trip to Ireland I read a new book. As in I read page 1 at the airport while we waited for our departure flight, and I read the last page the night before our flight home. This is something that I haven't done since I stopped riding the commuter train into Philadelphia more than a year ago. I could probably count the number of books above a 5th grade reading level that I have read cover to cover in less than a month on one hand. I owe it all to Bill Bryson, and my friend John.

John read me part of A Short History of Nearly Everything, and I went straight to the store and bought it. I read that book like a dysfunctional couple dates: off again, on again, off again. Several years later, on the train to Philadelphia, I finished it. Since then I've read four of his other books, the rest are on my wishlist, and he is hands down my favorite author. Not that there is much competition.

A Walk in the Woods is about Bryson's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, and I know how exciting that sounds at face value (not very). I could tell you that the man has written four or five books about different walking trips — all of them worthy of their excellent reviews — but still… it's a book about walking. (One which I was thrilled to receive as a Christmas gift.)

When I was in high school, I joined the NJROTC, and I think all of the work I did on my "bearing" there has more or less ruined my ability to laugh. Seriously. Even when I laugh, I am nearly silent most times — and when I do make noise, it's uncomfortable. Obviously I'm very self conscious about this.

Still, while reading this book I laughed so hard I cried — the tears of hilarity were streaming down my face — and Megan can vouch for that because she made fun of me at the time. If you've ever hiked part of the AT, or if you enjoy camping; because that is an integral part of hiking the AT, then I can't recommend this book enough.