What are your New Year's Resolutions in 2009?

1) Resume crash, yo-yo, dieting.
2) Drink less coffee, more tea.
3) Read more books. Recommendations anyone?
4) Start volunteering in South Minneapolis.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by julia on January 1, 2009 at 8:22pm: Drink less coffee?? That's nonsense!

Have you read "The Forgotten Ways" by Hirsch? I'm in the middle of that - pretty good so far.

My resolutions:
1. Walk to work.
2. Leave the country (to a place I've never been) at least once this year.
3. Read the books I buy off Amazon (and the books that are on the required reading list for my classes).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Williams on January 1, 2009 at 11:36pm: Forgotten Ways = Awesome.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Holland on January 1, 2009 at 9:58pm: I commute to work by bicycle and for twenty years I have been content to do that. This year I want to convince at least one other that they could ride a bike to work as well. Save money, save yourself, save the planet. Ride a bike. Outside of walking, it has the lowest carbon footprint to manufacture. Upkeep is cheap and it is fun to do. Wadaya think of my sermon so far?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by julia on January 1, 2009 at 11:19pm: I'm convinced. I just need someone to help me know what kind of bike to get - where to look - etc. So...that's my only other advice - encourage them to ride and bike and then tell them how/what to get.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Holland on January 2, 2009 at 12:43am: Look up some local bicycling clubs in your area and make contact. A good commuter bike won't be expensive unless you buy one from a department store. The ones they(Wal-Mart and the like) sell are great for going around the block, but that is it. Also, it is a good idea to get a few miles with a club before starting a commute program.Just to learn good safety practices and make some new friends. I live in Oklahoma City where it is dry most of the time so I ride to work about 80% of the time. I work in a factory and am on my feet all day so I would not want to ride more than fifteen miles each way.
A good starter bike is like the Giant Cypress. Giant is a quality manufacturer of bicycles and the Cypress is a nice, comfortable bike that is not expensive. It is not a "race" bike but a good, solid comfort(hybrid) bike that you will find at a local bike shop. If the shop does not carry Giant then ask the salesman to show you something comparable.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by julia on January 2, 2009 at 1:37am: awesome!! thanks; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa the Knitter on January 3, 2009 at 12:55pm: I have always bought used "assbikes" off craigslist and friends, etc. -- the kind of bike you can afford to get stolen and can fix yourself if you have that kind of moxie. I live in the Netherlands where biking is safe and theft is rampant, but even when I lived in downtown Toronto I was happier with a crap bike than a fancy bike. Seriously, once you've painted, named, and ridden a dorky bike that teenagers laugh at, you will be in love and will never look back.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Holland on January 4, 2009 at 2:48pm: Once again proving that a good bike is the one you like.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephanie Williams on January 1, 2009 at 11:36pm: I am going to see how far into 2009 I can go only buying necessities. I assume that I will be able to go a month before "necessities" starts to broaden in definition. We shall see!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Holland on January 2, 2009 at 12:50am: As far as reading goes, I recomend Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence. It is not about Zen Buddism nor is it about motorcycle maintainence. It is a true story.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by will on January 8, 2009 at 1:04pm: Great book - the head of student leadership at the college i'm interning at almost begged me to read it and let me borrow one of his many copies. He keeps it as one of the required books for his classes. I can see why! On the other hand, it's not simple reading for someone who, perhaps, hasn't taken any intro to philosophy. It's insightful and a terrific read though.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by hopefully devoted on January 2, 2009 at 3:24pm: As far as books-- you gotta read "The Shack" (go to theshackbook.com), if only to open a new discussion on the person of God and how He reveals his Grace to a broken, disenfanchised world. Most everyone I've recommended it to have enjoyed it, and been challenged.; ▶ Reply to This