New Year's Resolutions

My first resolution should probably be to spend less time sitting around in my bathrobe, surfing the internet... hmmm...not sure I'll be able to keep that one!
With that thought in mind, I'll focus on things that I CAN commit to:
Aimee's 2007 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Dance every day - obviously this should be a full practice session, but even just around the kitchen will work. I resolve to
   
2. Do what feels good - with regards to what I feed myself and how I move. Junk food tastes good, but if I feel sick afterwards, what good am I doing myself? I resolve to think before I eat! This also applies to exercise. I love how I feel after a good cardio class or treadmill session - I will remember this when I'm tempted just to slump in front of my desk and skip the gym.
3. Show the love - to my friends and family, and especially to my new husband. So often, I'm cranky and crabby, and I'm afraid this shows in my interactions with the people I love the most. This is unfair to them, and to myself.
4. Stop the insanity! - with regards to my extra-curricular activities. I commit to not over-committing...if that makes any sense. :) I've taken on enough activities this past year, all of which I love dearly. I shall not add another time-intensive commitment and will instead focus my energies on the activities I am already passionate about - belly dancing, Jr. League, running, continuing education pursuits, and of course my marriage.
5. Relax - this ties into #2, with taking care of myself, but I will find time for me - do read, sleep, do yoga, paint my toenails, whatever - on a regular basis.
   

I'll add more I'm sure, as they occur to me, but as I look over this list, I notice that none of these goals are specific, as my resolutions were last year. It was easy to check each item off last year's list, because I knew when each had been accomplished. That won't be as simple this year, but maybe this abstraction of my goals will lead to a more fulfilling and easy-going process. We shall see...

And here's to the New Year

Well, Christmas is finally behind us.  Lowell and I attended 4 Christmas celebrations in 3 days, with our adorable well-behaved dog in tow…or not.  Ryker was whiney and hyper at every stop, of course, as he is prone to be.  Ah, the majestic cry of the Schnauzer – nothing quite like it.  Thank god. :P  But we love him, and other than that, the long weekend went quickly and pleasantly.  We saw all sorts of relatives, gave and received all sorts of gifts, and ate all sorts of food.  

I love Christmas, but I am glad to have it done with for another year.  Happy Kwanzaa!

 

Gender Roles in Kabul

I just thought this was cute…
 
Barbara Walters of 20/20 (USA) did a story on gender roles in Kabul several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that women customarily walked about 5 paces behind their husbands.  She returned to Kabul recently and observed that women still walk behind their husbands, but now seem to walk even further back and are happy with the old custom.
Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, "Why do you now seem happy with the old custom that you used to try and change?"
"Land mines," said the woman.
MORAL:   BEHIND EVERY MAN IS A SMART WOMAN

My Secret Santa is cheating!

Every year we do a Secret Santa exchange at work.  We draw names and spent the week sneaking presents and candy onto the person’s desk.  This year, we set an $8 limit.  This is $8 altogether, not per gift.  My secret santa has broken the rules.  I’m pretty sure it’s out of guilt, too, ‘cause I didn’t get anything last week (which was the week we were supposed to do the exchange, but so many people were out of the office, they extended it through this week).  So far, I got a little bucket with shower gel and puff (both Bath & Body Works) and a ceramic Christmas bear on Monday.  Yesterday I got a bottle of Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion from B&BW, there was a candy cane on my keyboard when I got here this morning and when I returned from the gym just now, there was a big bag of Lindor Truffles on my desk.  Not that I’m complaining, but I feel like a cheapskate for following the rules!  I’m fairly certain (70%) that I know who is responsible for this, and that is it the same person whose name I drew, so I might slip something extra onto her desk tomorrow. J  That’ll teach her, right? J

 

I'm with the band...

Did I mention that the extremely good-looking and amazing intelligent man that I recently married is also very musically-inclined and talented? Lowell recently joined a band, which was all the encouragement he needed to buy a rather-pricy (multiple zeros) custom-made drum kit. Yea. But at least he'll get some use out of it, as the band has quite the schedule lined up for the new year.

Happy Holidays

OK, I know it’s only December 5 – Christmas is weeks away, Hanukkah doesn’t start for 10 days, even the Winter Solstice is at least 2 weeks out – but I’m in the holiday spirit.  I’m ahead in not only my cheer but also in my shopping and mailing, for once.  Our presents have all been purchased and the holiday cards were mailed this morning.  The tree and other décor have been up for a week, although the outside of the house is still a work in progress – I’ve been stringing lights around the porch as the weather permits.  Hopefully I’ll finish tonight that project up tonight as the temperature is supposed to climb into the 40s this afternoon.  A broken bulb stopped me cold last night… But some are up, so we are no longer the dark house in the neighborhood.  Maybe I’ll bake some cookies tonight…feeling very much the happy little domestic goddess…