So I changed something tonight....

I took out my septum ring, gave it to Sara. I've thought about taking it out for a while now, just seemed like a good time to do it. I was going to give it to her for xmas, but I realized that a small jewelry box that's wrapped would tend to freak a significant other out a bit or give the wrong impression until opened.

Part of the reason why I got it in the first place was that I was insecure, and was extremely self conscious, so doing something that made people take notice and tend to stare was empowering. Granted, I was also an asshole who enjoyed making people uncomfortable. I have grown a great deal in the past year though, and I don't think that's as much of who I am anymore.

My face feels naked.

46 Learn 5 new recipes to cook (1/5)

I made soup tonight, something my mom used to make all the time when I was growing up. I was just in the mood for it, and turns out I can make it without burning the house down :) One down, four to go.

42 Visit Brooke and Merlin at their home at least three times (1/3)

I feel bad crossing this one off, as we didn't get to spend much time with them. I'm crossing one time off of the list, but also adding a time. So it counts but it doesn't count at the same time.

41 Go to 5 events (1/5)

Went to see Dave Matthews Band in KC on 9/30 with Sara. It. Was. Epic. Great show, next time I am definitely saving enough for floor seats rather than the second level we were on this time. Here's the setlist from the show:

Pantala Naga Pampa >
Rapunzel
Proudest Monkey
Funny the Way It Is
Lying in the Hands of God
Shake Me Like a Monkey
Gravedigger (w/ Willie Nelson)
The Dreaming Tree
Spaceman
Lie in Our Graves
Why I Am
You Might Die Trying
You & Me
Crash Into Me
Crush
Alligator Pie
Tripping Billies

Encore
Baby Blue (Dave Solo)
So Much to Say >
Anyone Seen the Bridge > Too Much [fake] >
Halloween

29 Learn regular expressions

I got to use this list item at work actually, it helps me run a report faster... and I was thinking of the xkcd comic the entire time:

51 Learn to use chopsticks

I apparently already knew how to use chopsticks and forgot I knew, or I picked them up REALLY quickly... Sorry, this is the most uninteresting blog post for a list item, but I had to say I'd write about them all.

39 Be in a relationship lasting longer than a month

This has been my favorite list item to cross off by far. I'll do my best to avoid getting too sappy, don't want anybody to gag reading this...

Simply put, this has been one of the best months I've had in a long, long time. I'm with somebody who is an intellectual equal, a fellow tech junkie, and quite honestly the most interesting woman I've ever been involved with. We can literally talk all day long through whatever medium is readily available, be it Twitter, text, Facebook, e-mail, phone calls, or in person.

Ok, so I can't really say anything without getting sappy, so instead I'll just say Thank You Sara ;)

In a side note, I also view this as a major accomplishment for my year. If I hadn't quit smoking, I wouldn't have taken any preliminary steps to improve my life. I wouldn't have started my diet, wouldn't have made my list, wouldn't have the self confidence to ask her out. And now that I have somebody, I want to improve even more.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This is my year. It's more than a mantra at this point, it is literally a way of life, no pun intended.