Dave Schroker

Today has been a very Death Cab day. First time I’ve really gotten into their latest. :) 

2012 Resolutions

Having made a summary of what I succeeded in doing and what I failed in doing with regards to my 2011 resolutions, here are my 2012 resolutions.

1. Be out to my family (and thereby be out to anyone I want)
2. Get into a decent exercise regime
3. Resolve the fucking anxiety/panic issues
4. Smoke 0 cigarettes in 2012
5. Learn 1 Mark Kozelek/Sun Kil Moon song on guitar (to high standard)
6. Reduce internet use and distractions from electronics
7. Be more social (at least one major social event per month)
8. Reduce my other addiction to as close to nothing as possible
9. Own GTA:V and be a boss at whatever Car Jack City becomes
10. Stay alive.

So there we have it people. Much the same format as last year, including 10. Stay Alive which is purely there so that if I’m around to write about it I at least succeed at one fucking resolution.

A quick addition of details to some of the more vague ones, (for me as much as anyone that may stumble upon this post). With regards to 4 if you read my previous post you will know I randomly quit smoking, even though it wasn’t on my resolutions list last year. I have smoked a few this year (probably totalling around 20 over 3 different slip ups). Just having done that makes me feel like a bit of a failure, however, I know that I don’t want to do it anymore, and if I can go a year with none, that will confirm it. That should be an easy one. 8 the ‘other’ addiction is very personal, not going to write about it even on an anonymous blog. 9 my god I am SOOOOOOO excited for GTA:V it’s not even funny. If they kill Car Jack City however, I will be pissed. Here’s to hoping they don’t. After 3 years of playing CJS on IV I am in the top 50 in the world. I want to be in the top 5 next time around. 

So yeah… there we have it. Here’s to hoping for a good year for y’all out there in our little home called earth. Let us hope for increased peace, increased efficiency (electric cars anyone? excitement!) and a good year for everyone’s resolutions!! See you all throughout the year for sporadic posts about gorgeous guys and fuck all else, and then for a summary of successes and failures during resolutions at the end of the year!

I love you all.

“Dave”. xxx

21.

2012

So, that year went by vaguely quickly. Here are my new years resolutions from last year… 

Here we go, my 10 New Years Resolutions:

1. Come out to family (and thereby be out to anyone I want)
2. Exercise on a pretty much daily basis (getting a rowing machine shortly!)
3. Read more books (at least 1 per month - big improvement over 2010)
4. Experience more wines
5. Eat more variedly - dinners mainly
6. Get over performance anxiety issues (at least partly)
7. Learn to make a salad I like
8. Sleep better by not doing stuff in bed (like this right now!!)
9. Find more clothes I like and build a nice collection
10. Stay alive!

Let’s see how they went: 

1. Failed

This didn’t really work out, majorly unfortunate as really wanted for this one to work out. I got very close over summer but ultimately was too scared. Perhaps this year… It will almost certainly be on my 2012 list. 

2. Partial Success

I got a rowing machine and used it throughout the year. Mainly at the beginning of the year admittedly and it did fall down to being barely used at all for the end of the year. A partial success as I got myself on the exercise ladder, and along with lots of walks for walks sake around my city, I am improving. This will be on my 2012 list once again, slightly modified. 

3. Success

If reading was my only new years resolution I would be ultimately successful. According to my Shelfari (which is accurate, not sure why I say “according to”) I have read 25 books, which averages to two per month, so erm… more than double my resolution. I will aim to read at least 2 books per month in 2012 (on average of course) which should be an ok target! Not necessarily required to be on my resolutions list though. 

4. Partial Success

I indeed experienced more wines. Through uni and also on my own time (wink wink) I have drunk a nice range, and am developing ‘old friends’ in wines that I can always fall back on when I want a nice calm evening, which is great. Partial because I didn’t experience as MUCH as I intended I don’t think, but it certainly wasn’t bad. No need to repeat for 2012 :)

5. Success

Fortunately I have been able to eat more variedly. Going from one meal I’d eat most days I now have I guess at least 6 or 7 regular meals and specials on occasion, so I think that is successful. I aim to continue to expand this but not one that needs to be on 2012’s list. 

6. Fail

I have actually got new major anxiety issues on top of my old ones now. This whole section deserves a full on post which I may do later on. Needs to be on 2012’s list. Needs to be. 

7. Success (in a way)

I made a salad I liked: General leaves, some parmesan, crouton-y things. Basically a caesar but without the mayonnaise. I don’t really like any dressings so.. meh. Basically it is a success as I did it, but I also learned that salad is not really my thing. A side salad of just plain leaves (not a fan of dressings at all, even just oil to be honest) to go with a nice meal is fine. 

8. Partial Success

I had periods where I slept better and many periods where it was terrible. There were many things to blame to be honest that were out of my control, and I have had new things keeping me up lately. Basically, need some more ear plugs, but, really this is a success as along with reading (which I always do for 30-60mins in bed before sleep), I am getting into a good rhythm, just need to shift it back a bit so I get up not too late. Not one that needs to be repeated for 2012, I will just keep up with it. 

9. Success

I bought more clothes and have a good wardrobe going. Some more long term pieces I would like but otherwise things are looking good. Got a lovely coat from parents for Christmas which will make my A/W for a long while yet :)

10. Success

I am still alive whoop, and importantly….

BONUS ROUND, SURPRISE ‘RESOLUTION’!

So, a lot of people make stopping smoking a new years resolution. And I did that! It was not on my list as I wasn’t really up for it and had tried a few times, but it happened. In around March I read Allen Carr’s Easy way to stop smoking. That book helped majorly and a decent bit of will power I stopped. I am not going to lie I had a couple of incidents during the year, most recently about 2 months ago, but what is good is during those times I didn’t actually get any pleasure out of those couple of smokes.

Basically, I have to be realistic with myself and realise that the addiction will stay with me for a long time, and that is fine. I will have hard times, but there are plenty of good times, along with the fact that my health has hugely improved. Excellent. 

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That is a success rate of 65% (with 5% for each partial). I am pleased with that :)

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So, stay tuned for a post on resolutions for 2012, and let us hope it’s a good year! 

Happy New Year all. 

“Dave”. xxx

Funny how fast things change. Feels a second ago I’d just turned 19 and couldn’t have enough fun. 

I’ll now be 21 in just over a month and am about ready to die. 

beware the gonzo

So, it looks like the only way I can get this film (since I am in the UK, not US) is by buying a $ USD iTunes gift card and opening another account and then downloading… Quite a hassle, along with the fact that I will then have left over USD that I won’t need. 

Anyone got a better way?