December 3

December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

it would have to be during the first drag race i competed in this year. it took almost two years to get my honda back up and running after blowing the engine at the end of 2008. the race took place on july 24 of this year. it was the first time i had been in the crx since 2008, and i was cutting great lights all day - .002, .016 and .012 (out of a perfect .000 reaction time). i made it through the first rounds, then the quarter and semi finals. it came down to me and another very well known and very good bracket racer, manny, in his 60s era vw open wheel car. he is one of the most tough to beat racers at new england dragway because he cuts very good lights and is always right on his times.

i remember sitting at the light right after doing my burnout, smelling the burnt tire smoke filling the car. i was gripping the smooth shifter handle and listening to the revving engine as i waited for the tree to drop. my heart was pounding, adrenaline pumping through my body. yellow...yellow...yel-GO! i popped the clutch and spun out of the hole with my foot planted to the floor. first gear went by in a flash. second gear got the turbo spooling and i shot forward down the track. let the engine ride out to 7500 rpms, ok...shift! third gear and i was flying. i looked back to see the other racer gaining on me pretty fast. the engine is screaming and i'm almost at the finish line. come on car, you can make it! i don't want to have to shift into fourth, i'll lose too much time. he's right up by my door, but there's still a little left in the engine. come on, come on, almost there, he can't catch me! then i was past the traps and i had done it! YEAH! i looked over at him and he gave me a big thumbs up. not only is he a great racer, but he is a very good sport. this wasn't the first time i've raced him. he beat me last time, but not this day!

my hands were shaking as i took the timeslip from the ladies at the booth on the return road. there was the proof, i had won! and with a fantastic reaction time, a .006 to his .068. that right there was a victory! we pulled over by his trailer and he gave me a hug and congratulated me, his wrinkled hand shaking mine as we listened to the other racers flying down the track. then it was back to the team xxx racing tent and hugs and high fives from rob and all the other team members. what a high! and it lasted all afternoon as we were reliving the race in all it's details to one another. i felt like i was floating. it was my best race in the seven years i've been drag racing. i can't wait to have a rematch in 2011!

December 2

December 2 – Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

i don't really write much, but i wish i was better at journaling on my scrapbook pages.

Dec 1

December 1 One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

it would be stagnant. i'm still stuck in the same old patterns i have been for the past few years. constantly looking for work, can't pay the bills, no motivation. i want 2011's word to be growth. i want to be in a different, better place by this time next year.