Eight

Eight years ago today, I made my first LiveJournal post, during a trip to Mexico City. In that time, I have posted 1420 entries, averaging just under once every other day[*]. As anyone would expect, there have been times of frequent writing and times when there are dearths. Last year, for instance, I wrote in this journal only 113 times -- well below the annual average. I attribute this decline somewhat to the fact that there has been a large exodus from LiveJournal in recent years; with less activity on the site, there is less energy and momentum for keeping this blog active.

That said, I have no patience for Facebook and an utter revulsion to the idea of compressing my thoughts into 140 character Twitter bursts -- ugh!

Happily enough, it seems that people are flowing back to LiveJournal in recent days. Huzzah! I have no idea what the reason for this reverse diaspora is, but it makes me smile to see my f-page buzzing along once again.

Thus, in the spirit of renewed journaling, I am using my eight year LJ anniversary to launch a new project -- 100 posts in 100 days. In the next hundred days, there will be a hundred new entries in this blog. In contrast to the previous One Hundred Days of LJ idea, which I snatched shamelessly from Resourceress, the focus this time is not on the number of days but the number of entries. If I miss a day, I can make it up later; if I receive fantastic news that merits a second post in a given day, that counts towards the final tally. All I promise is that, one hundred days from now, there will be one hundred more entries on this blog.

Ah, tis good to be back, dear friends! Come along and let's enjoy the ride! And, without further ado, let the games begin!

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[*] Or 177.5 posts per year, if you want to be pedantic precise, gentle readers.

1: Ordinary World

In the spirit of my new 100 Posts in 100 Days challenge, here is a quick entry to chronicle what I did today:

Today was a fairly mellow Sunday. I started off by going to St. Andrew's Church, here in Headington, to ring bells for the morning services. Only four of us were intrepid enough to show up on a sleepy Sunday morning... which, alas, limited what we were able to ring.

After ringing, I returned to Chiron Beta Prime to make breakfast for myself and cheshcat. Over tea and crumpets with damson jam[*], I read some more of my current non-fiction book, Paul Krugman's The Conscience of a Liberal. The book was a Yule gift from the gregarious gyades. The man knows me well -- when it comes to matters economic, Krugman is my heartthrob!

In the afternoon, cheshcat napped whist I engaged in such wonderment as producing an updated financial analysis for our household. Exciting, I know. On the plus side, we seem to be in pretty good shape right now! Then, when evening approached, I went into city centre to ring for services at my home tower -- St. Giles Church. The band was slightly larger -- six of us -- so we were able to ring some slightly more interesting methods, like Grandsire Doubles.

Returning home once more, my beloved cheshcat and I were had the pleasure of a cameo appearance from the lovely wolfpeach. He came bearing food, which made his visit even more awesometacular than usual! Then it was off to the Barton pool for me, where I hopped in and swam a mile. As always, it feels wonderful to get into the water -- tis the elemental in me!

When all was said and swum, I made my way back to Chiron Beta Prime once more and prepared dinner. Then I put my darling cheshcat to bed and, once she was neatly tucked in, went out for a run. I recently started the NHS's Couch-to-5K programme, as part of my goal of doing an Olympic triathlon. The running part of this is 10km, which I will freely admit is beyond me at the moment. Current plans have me finishing the nine week Couch-to-5K scheme, then using it as a springboard to training for a 10km race later this year. Once I can do that, I should be in good shape to start serious triathlon training, as the swimming portion is only 1500 meters -- or 100 meters less than the mile that I regularly swim.

Finally, I came back home and curled up with LiveJournal, launching the 100 Posts in 100 Days project. As I said at the beginning, today was not a terribly adventurous day; I stuck around Oxford and did fairly routine things. Tis the dark season, which makes it a time more suited for focusing on goals close to home. Soon enough, the light will be returning in force and the outward excursions will resume once more. Until then, there is much than can be done to take full advantage of these dark days.

On that note, dear friends, I take my leave of you. Happy Sunday to all, and to all a good night!

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[*] Jam courtesy of the ever-awesome wolfpeach.