[crouton] Nathaniel Trost: Critical Stage Flavor Analysis

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Posted by Nathaniel Trost:
Critical Stage Flavor Analysis
http://crouton.powerblogs.com/archives/archive_2006_12_31-2007_01_06.shtml#1167761570


   And now back to productivity. There is much to do in 2007.
   Well, there will be once my brain is engaged. While I am not a morning
   person, and have a tendency to stay up later than planned and thus
   arise later than planned, my main client is in the Eastern Time Zone,
   making this problematic. I slipped into old habits over the holidays
   and forced myself up earlier than usual this morning. The caffeine
   hasnât quite broken through the brain fog yet. Since I am in no shape
   to write any code yet, I might as well jump on an additional
   discipline of trying to be more regular with my writing. A short blog
   entry, a Monday brunch, and hopefully I should be set to knock out my
   programming to-do list for today. At least the morning email is out of
   the way.
   Iâm trying not to be too hard on myself for blowing off the second
   half of my New Yearâs Weekend to-do list for vegging out and playing
   Battleground PvP WoW for much of the weekend. I do feel better rested,
   although since I havenât quite been able to shake the feeling of
   running slightly behind on everything, the rest is kind of riddled
   with an undercurrent of stress.
   While great fun, the sibling holiday visit of 2006 was also
   exhausting. Long days were part of it, as well as lots of driving
   around Southern California. But going to densely peopled areas,
   especially Sea World definitely drained me. I am definitely a classic
   strong introvert. I am even less used to being in a sea of people
   these days and it take a lot out of me. It was worth it to see the
   Shamu show, however. Aside from that, Sea World really wasnât that
   interesting as an adult with no children.
   Iâm pretty daunted by 2007. Iâve got a big long list of stuff that
   Needs to get done (pay the bills) stuff I Want to get done (advance
   world domination), and stuff that would be Fun to do (he says that
   now). Getting back into a regular exercise routine is going to have to
   get bumped to the head of the queue, because right now I just donât
   feel the energy to do much more than tackle the Needs and veg out in
   unproductive tasks. I did manage to hit all the critical goals for
   2006, but it was frustrating how little I managed besides that. At the
   same time I have to recognize the magnitude of what I did pull off,
   but I donât see myself getting less ambitious, just more tired.
   At least Iâve finished off all the Jelly Belly flavors I like from the
   box sent by my mother. Mainlining sugar over the holidays really
   hasnât helped my energy levels or mental state. The funny thing about
   Jelly Belly is I only really like the quirky flavors and donât care
   for the traditional fruity ones (with the notable exception of
   Watermelon). This inevitably means half of them go to waste. At least
   this year, the handy box had them separated into cubbies with a bean
   legend that lets me easily delineate my preferences:
   Really Yummy
   (Iâd eat these into a sugar coma, or possibly a stroke, or stroking
   out during a coma while unconsciously flapping around like a
   hummingbird)
   Chocolate Pudding
   Bubble Gum
   Tutti Fruitti
   Sizzling Cinnamon
   Cotton Candy
   Watermelon
   Yummy
   Buttered Popcorn
   A&W Root Beer
   Dr Pepper
   Licorice
   Kinda Yummy
   Caramel Apple
   Caramel Corn
   A&W Cream Soda
   Jalapeno
   Coconut
   No Thanks
   Everything else