The conclusion to yesterday’s nail-biter was that I went to the gym, wrote xmas cards, and cooked dinner. Before you get impressed with my high level of motivation, you should know that I just took a 3-hour nap this evening.

I ran into Meeta at the gym yesterday, and went through her abs routine with her, and hung out chatting a bit after. I peppered with a volleyball player I saw bumping and setting alone. Turns out he was just between games, but it was fun to hit the ball around a little. That’s one big thing to look forward to when I get back from my trip — the winter volleyball season beginning! My plan is to tailor my gym workout to building a good volleyball physique. Wrists, thighs, calves, triceps, jumping… This plan is partially to return working out as a regular part of my life. It’s one of those things that I’m so glad I did after I did it, but that often doesn’t seem a high enough priority for me to make happen.

Went to my first-ever Sunday brunch at Chelsea Commons, something the London Towers crew has made a tradition. The waitress that usually takes care of Kris, Rich & co., Katie, was off today, and so I’m not sure it fully qualifies as my first brunch. Nice place. And great company. Anthony’s parents, up for the weekend, joined us for brunch and I spent the day hanging around with them, playing guitar and singing, and then meandering to Union Square for some holiday shopping. Asked Anthony’s dad a bunch of questions about being a pilot (his hobby) and found out that it’s a lot more affordable than I’d thought. It’s now on my mental list of “things that would be neat to do sometime in my life.”

I sit now with a busy week ahead, a stuffed up right nostril (need more sleep), and a strange feeling of being ill-prepared for my upcoming adventure. The truth is that there’s really not much to do, and I’ve done most of it. I’m glad to have a few days in Singapore at the start of my trip. I should be able to buy anything else I need there.

When I planned the trip, I was in such a different state of mind than I am now. It’s hard to say how much of that change was caused by planning and anticipating the trip and how much by inpendent shifts in the landscape of my life. Their interplay is fascinating, though, and leave me in a state of wonder at what I may be feeling and thinking on my return.

Having recently celebrated Hanukah, I’d like to balance my atheist self out and remember my favorite Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.