New Year's Resolutions

Well if January 1st is a portent for the year ahead, I should be in good shape. I wasn't sure I was going to make it to midnight last night, but I managed to keep my eyes open long enough to watch the ball drop at Times Square, give a quick cheer with Dad, then slink off to bed at around 12:03. Eleven hours later I woke up, ate a hardy breakfast, and worked out. Thomas ran smoothly on the drive back to Chapel Hill, and Vicki (my new GPS system) kept me from making any wrong turns. Now I'm just getting settled in as my second semester of medical school begins on Monday. Since it is January 1, 2010, perhaps I should make some New Year's Resolutions for the next 364.2 days ahead. If I can hang on and check off all of these, it should be an extremely productive (and fun!) year...

1. Walk the Inca Trail - this is scheduled for Spring Break. Just have to purchase the plane tickets.
   
2. Actually diagnose somebody with something - as opposed to standing in the corner and looking pretty as usual.
   
3. Unleash my Zhu-Zhu pet, Num-Nums the Hamster, on the stage of MBRB during a lecture - that's going to have to be with a professor that reeeeeally likes me.
   
4. Trade in my keg for a six-pack - it would be nice to stay over 200 pounds, but with a little less junk in the trunk if you know what I mean.
   
5. Run a half marathon (and maybe more later?) - let's make it to April before we talk 26.2
   
6. Volunteer all year with Parkwood EMS - for sure this will help keep me sane.
   
7. Smile more than Clodagh Mullen - in all honesty, this will probably be the hardest thing to check off. Frankly I don't think I have a shot, but I'll give it a try. Stiff competition.
   
8. Make a YouTube video that gets over 1,000,000 hits - I'll have to click on the link for at least 999,000 of the hits, but it'll happen with 5 Star Nerve in April.
   
9. Pre-read before class - yeah, right.
   
10. Pass an Economics class - it'd be nice to get some self-esteem back this summer.
    
11. Sit in the front row at the Carolina/Duke game - this I have no shot, unless I get a little help (cough cough, Meg?).
    
12. Spend less time on Facebook - hmmmm, Robby "likes" this.
    
13. Get on track with some health policy research - again, solely for sanity.
    
14. Watch Keith get married!!!!
15. Have "Med School Prom" be everything that real Prom should have been - prom should be for those already over 21.
    
16. Get 2,000 on the Helicopter Game - hopefully during community week and NOT a minute beforehand.
    
17. Not work at Starbucks during the summer in order to make money - someone please give me a real job!
    
18. Actually have a decent Fantasy Football season - med school has ruined all expectations for my draft.
    
19. Ace a test - yes.
    
20. Save a life.
21. Go somewhere exotic (other than Peru for Spring Break) - Rio, Greece, Costa Rica?
    
22. Change my bed sheets more often - they don't ever smell, but I think I can step my game up a bit on hygiene this year.
    
23. Learn how to cook something other than salmon and macaroni and cheese - or hamburger helper, that doesn't count either.
    
24. Live long enough to see Phil come back from Samoa - December I think!
25. Keep this blog going again this year.
    
26. Make it to second semester second year of med school without being kicked out, cited for unprofessionalism, failing a course, dropping out, or getting too stressed.

As a true UNC med student would, I know that I only have to complete 18.2 of these to "pass" the year (according to the P = 70 rule), but it'd be nice to ace this one :) Happy New Year everyone!