Sink or Swim

You have the boldness of a much younger woman.

2015 is shaping up to be an interesting year for me. When I injured myself last year and enforced a running and cycling ban, things were looking dark. Work was suddenly slow and I delved into my annual bout of career dissatisfaction. I cancelled my ultra marathon plans and felt a loss of identity.

So I went into the new year on a strict low-carb diet, studying hard for the wine exam in my free time, and sending out resumes left and right. On top of that forward momentum, the weather has been unseasonably sunny and warm which in Portland has a huge positive affect on everyone's mood. Then I had a birthday, and the next day I won a bike in an online contest. The day after that, I got a fortuitous phone call.

Remember when I said a month ago that I wanted to move into a restaurant manager job that would put me in a good position to move into beverage management or to take over a tasting room at a winery in the next few years? Well, in quick succession, it has happened and I am a little bit winded, frankly. Amazingly, I was hired to manage at a busy restaurant I have always respected. It's been crazy, to tell the truth. I'm working under a really fucking smart Somm. And although I am not particularly sure if I can still pass the Certified Sommelier exam in two months, I'm going to try. I am treading water right now, trying like hell to channel my inner Jack Donaghy. Sink or swim, baby!

Five Goals for 2015

I believe in visualizing my goals and for me that means writing them down and taping them to the fridge. Or the internet.

I completed my major goals for 2014, so maybe writing them down here worked. I bought a house we love, ran my second marathon, climbed a couple medium-sized mountains, and completed my dream day hike across the Enchantments. A lot of those smaller hikes on that list from last fell by the wayside, but fortunately will still be there in the years to come.

1) Running sometime again in the foreseeable future. I am currently on a running ban, which to speak the plain truth feels a hell of a lot more sensible than the cycle of injuries and depression that was leading up to ultra training. Maybe next year I'll join those hallowed ranks, but for now I signed up for the Portland Marathon in October. For now I plan to rehabilitate my injuries through cycling and stretching. Blowing out both knees again on Saddle Mountain this weekend was a big wake up call.

2) Somm certification in April. Yikes! Time to hit the flashcards again...

3) Finally take the necessary steps to transition to beverage or tasting room management. I love serving and the freedom it gives me, but I have to think about my future and the stability of a salary. The next step is management... and still somehow paying my mortgage.

4) Travel and outdoors in the summer. Ice Lakes Basin in Colorado, Tank Lakes, Glacier National Park and Banff and Shasta. I plan to keep the list a little smaller this year to allow more time for career, running and my sanity.

It's a modest list this year. I no longer know what to do without running, and interesting things are happening in my head now that there's all that free space...