Resolutions

I guess I should make some New Year's resolutions. I avoided them for a long time because I used to set ridiculous, unrealistic ones so decided I was destined for failure so what's the use, but I actually started setting more reachable ones a couple of years ago and that went a lot better.

So, for 2009, my goals are:

*To not set unrealistic resolutions

*Exercise 3 times per week regularly

*Lose 40 more pounds (I lost 40 this past year, thank you very much)

*Take classes or do tutorials to update my computer skills so I can get back into a career when Shane goes on his mission

*Read 2 more Charles Dickens novels: Nicholas Nickelby and The Pickwick Papers, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. I love classic literature and it's a challenge. I feel smart after I finish a classic book.

*Come up with a housework schedule (you have NO IDEA what a big deal it is for me to set that as a goal! Organization is a NIGHTMARE for me. I usually dust when I notice that something is looking kind of scary. My mother, on the other hand, cleans things that are clean.

*Write all my debit card purchases in my check register (Shut up, I don't want to hear it :))

*Quit using avoidance to think I don't need therapy anymore

*Get the rest of our camera film/disposable cameras developed

*Treat myself to one day of scrapbooking every week

*Read something in the scriptures each day

*Strive to live in a more balanced way, saying no when I need to and not overdoing things like my work schedule

*Reserve my woman's perogative to change my mind and throw this list out if it becomes evident that I have just created an unrealistic list of stupid resolutions

Welcome to 2009

I'm looking forward to this new year. 2009 is going to be a pretty big year for us, with Shane graduating and going on his mission in the fall.

One of the signs that I am getting old can be found in how my New Year's Eve went:

Both my kids had parties with their friends and sweeties, so we went over to a neighbor's and played games with some fellow oldish people. By 11:30 I was clawing to stay awake! We went till midnight but I was dying. :) And no one else wanted to break out the Martinellis! I did get my New Year's kiss, though.

Gone are the days of parties till the wee early morning hours for me! I told my dd and her group they could cook an early breakfast after midnight, which they did and then kept going until 3:00 a.m. They said they'd try to keep the noise down and I told them it didn't matter; I was so tired I'd probably sleep through anything. :)

I remember the day when I didn't think it was a proper New Year's Eve unless I was out until 4 a.m. *rolling my eyes*

Maybe my best bet is just curling up on the couch after going out to dinner with Kelly and watching Groundhog Day. For some reason I always want to watch that movie for New Year's Eve.

I did learn a pretty fun game with FACE CARDS at our old people party(here is where you gasp in righteous indignation). It's called Hand and Foot. I like it a lot. They said it's a lot like Canasta; I wouldn't know, because I am pretty much a face card virgin. They weren't allowed in the house when I was growing up. I am feeling pretty worldly and sophisticated now. :)

CRRASSSSHHHH!!!

Yesterday while I was working at the Provo mall I looked up and saw Brittany, who then showed me "the coolest picture ever" on her camera. This is what I saw. Guess whose car it is? Yep; ours.

I had the van, so Kelly and Brittany hopped into our red '87 Toyota Corolla to come and see me and got stuck during the POUNDING of a snowstorm we got in Utah Valley yesterday. It was crazy. While they were dring they heard a crash and this is what the back windshield looked like. It was still snowing and they ended up with tons of snow in the car. So Kelly dropped Brittany off and took the car home to put it in the garage.

We're not sure what caused it to break, but it turns out the only way to replace it is to find it at a junkyard somewhere because no one makes that windshield anymore. Who woulda thunk? Needless to say, Kelly and Shane are not happy campers right now since that's the vehicle they usually drive--Shane the most, unless Kelly needs it for work (like right now because of the weather).

It was still storming really bad when I was done with work, so Brittany and I got lunch at the food court, finished Christmas shopping that was otherwise going to happen at Wal-Mart, and went and saw the Twilight movie. I told her I was fine with spending the night there in one of the massage chairs and declaring us "snowed in." She didn't like that idea and we finally made it home to my very upset husband.

The movie was good, though. :)

WHEW

I made it through one crazy Sunday today. Last night I wasn't sure how I was going to do because I was feeling sick yesterday (kind of achey, etc. how you are coming off of an illness) again and I think I have a sinus infection. Hooray.

Any-hoo. How's this for a ridiculous day? Not only was it my Sunday to teach Relief Society, but I also had a piano solo for the Sacrament Meeting Christmas program. It was good that I went home early from work because I really needed the extra practice time. On top of that, Kelly and I are on the ward activities committee and we had the ward PARTY last night. And I had visiting teaching appointments this morning at 9:30 and this afternoon at 3:00. Yow. I'm feeling a little like I've been hit by a truck.

The piano solo went better than last time I played it--it's an arrangement of The First Noel that I played at Enrichment and I wasn't happy with that performance at all. The key difference this time, I think, was that I had Kelly come up with me as my "page turner." Really what I needed was a wall so I didn't have any congregation views in my peripheral vision. It wasn't perfect but I remembered one of my piano teachers telling me that one of the keys to being a good pianist was being able to effectively COVER UP mistakes. I certainly did a fair share of covering up, but at least the parts that were really important to me for expression came out all right.

I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest. I guess "keeping the Sabbath Day holy" doesn't necessarily mean resting. Did the Lord REALLY rest on the 7th day?

AGAIN

I know I just finished my last post but I just looked out the window and it's SNOWING. AGAIN. Uggggh. I did a lot of shoveling yesterday evening and it is really coming down now--huge flakes, wind and everything.

Curses, Brittany, curses!! Santa must really like you (I just realized that if you rearrange the letters in Santa you can also spell Satan).

Feeling Merrier. . .Thanks to my "Grandmas"

I'm feeling better today. I've been able to get a lot done over the past 3 days and it feels good. Got most of my shopping done Tuesday and did wrapping Wednesday.

Yesterday I delivered some little snowman dudes I got at the craft store to some of the grandmas that live in my neighborhood. Can I just say that that was one of the nicest afternoons I've spent in quite a while? Every single one of them wanted me to come in and visit, and it was so nice. They were so happy to be thought of! I love talking with grandmas; it's so fun to get to know them better and hear some of their experiences and just gab. I think it's sad that as humans we tend to gravitate towards people our own ages; we can learn a LOT from each other at all ages, I think.

I actually did housework today. It was amazing. I also got some piano practicing in and I'm making soup so that everyone can eat real dinner tonight after I've gone to work (for some reason no one around here is capable of putting a meal together themselves. Shane thinks there is no food in the house if we're not stocked up on crackers--it drives me CRAZY).

My Holiday Meltdown

So yesterday I had a complete panic attack. I literally woke up around 4:00 gasping because it hit me WHILE I WAS SLEEPING how close it was to Christmas. And I had very little shopping done. I've been working a LOT the past few weeks and haven't had time to do everything.

I was scheduled to work yesterday and I had a feeling that it would be a good idea for me to call in and ask if they still needed to cut hours and volunteer to give up my shift. My shift was actually an extra one that had been added and up for grabs, so I took it. Then at around 8:00 the director called and told me my shift had been cancelled and I was like, "No problem!"

I got quite a bit done, but I always battle feeling panicky this time of year. Spending those larger chunks of money really freaks me out and I get worried that I'll be sorry that I spent the money on anything other than food staples the day the world ends and we're all living in our basements chewing on the wheat we have in food storage. LOL I know it's ridiculous, but I really do go there. Except for chewing on raw wheat, maybe. Except that that's what we'd have to do at our house since WE DON'T HAVE A WHEAT GRINDER!! Hmmm. . .maybe that's what I should get ME for Christmas.

I've definitely realized the past few days that I have not been living in a very balanced way over the past month. I haven't allowed time to do water aerobics or keep up with housework, etc. In fact, yesterday I got sick and I'm home from work again today. I've gotta quit being stupid.