Cold is the New Cool — Fian Shadow

Autumn is coming; then winter. The coolness of the season excites me more than in years past as the next chapter of my life has been decided: Bartending! I've spent the past few weeks deciding what to do with my life and the short term answer is making fistfuls of cash, with ice, spirits, and a smile. I signed up for a 6 hour course to show me the ins and outs of making and serving a drink; from popular recipes to dealing with problem customers. I take the class next week, which means I can start looking for work shortly thereafter. This is perfect timing to get trained because Utah's ski season will be starting in the coming weeks and it's all hands on deck from November to March while the tourists come in droves to play on our winter slopes.

Speaking of perfect timing...we finally found a place to live in Utah! One of my good friends from high school approached me with an offer: let's be roommates! While it seemed unconventional and slightly backwards to go from living exclusively with your fiancé to adding a third wheel on the homestead, Sophie and I both loved the idea. We knew we'd be able to find a better place with an extra income funding the joint venture. We've since found a lovely house close to Liberty Park and minutes away from all the hip neighborhoods of Salt Lake. Now that we're settled, I plan to start painting and making music again.

Debut Solo Album…”If This ‘Stache Could Talk”

Some days, I feel like I'm reliving my teenage years (but in a less elastic body...I'm pushing 30): I moved back in with my parents, quit my job, and am now moving out with a roommate as I start a new career. 19 all over again! I like it though. More than ever, I feel like I'm defining my life one moment at a time and enjoying how it unfolds. Like an autumn leaf blowing in the wind; we'll see where I land. But I digress...

So why bartending, you ask? I'm reading a book and one of the topics it covers is keeping a "curiosity journal", which is essentially a list of things you want to learn one day. With my being jobless for almost four months (my fiancé is sooo patient) and the prospect of making an upwards of $200 a night (in cash) while learning something from my curiosity journal, I was sold on this boozy step forward (and slightly to the left). I'm nervous about the super late nights (I feel like I've FINALLY become an early bird...) and unthrilled about working most, if not all, holidays, but these are small sacrifices for immersing myself into a totally new life experience. I've always wanted to work in the service industry to find out what it's like. Now's my chance!

Making drinks is great and all, but what about the long term, you ask? In the next year or two, I plan on trying out multiple odd jobs that pique my interest while also focusing on other entrepreneurial endeavors. In addition to selling paintings, my friend and I are in the midst of selling a few products we have invented over the last few months. My long term goal is to find a product that sticks and replace my income with it's success. I anticipate this being a long, arduous, yet insightful road ahead of me and am excited to put our first product out by the end of the year.

What else is new, you ask? I've been on this kick about taking cold showers and I gotta tell you...they are "so cool":

Having trouble losing weight? Take cold showers!
Having trouble waking up in the morning? Take cold showers!
Having trouble with stress in your life? Take cold showers!
Having trouble building up the willpower to accomplish something? Take cold showers!
Having trouble regulating your body temperature? Take cold showers!

There are so many benefits to taking these frigid dips on a regular basis and I'm now a big advocate. Don't believe me? Check out this article and this one for more information about cold showers. Try it out though! You feel amazingly rejuvenated after each one.

Autumn. Winter. Then Spring; a time for rebirth and redefining anew. Until then, chill out and drink a cold one. It's on me.