(Too many) Resolutions

Ok - so here we are. 2012 - a brand new year.  I started this blog in January of last year and I can't believe I actually wrote 65 blog posts!  That's pretty good.  I thought I'd fizzle out as the year went and yes, I did have a few lulls where I didn't write much at all.  But I'm glad I stuck with it - wondering now if I'd made that a New Year's resolution or if it was just a fluke that I accomplished what I'd set out to do.

In light of this great achievement I'm feeling extra ambitious this year as I think of everything I want to do and accomplish in the next 12 months.  So here we go - I figure if I make a long list of resolutions I'm bound to stick to at least some of them, right?

Keep writing this blog
Well, this is a no-brainer.  If I succeeded in keeping this up throughout the entire year in 2011 then doing the same in 2012 should be a cinch.  I enjoy writing it and if others get enjoyment out of reading it (all four of you), then that's enough for me.

Play guitar
Last year I wrote about my efforts to learn to play the guitar - I'd even found a cute British guitar instructor online which meant I could learn in the comfort of my own home right in front of the computer.  Sadly my practicing was sporadic at best and I haven't logged onto Justin's website in months.  However - I'm determined to learn how to play this thing once and for all.  I now have two guitars in my possession - both having once belonged to my dad.  The first one he had transported from Spain after my parents' honeymoon in 1967 and had given it to me two years ago as I was about to embark on my first series of guitar lessons with the ill-fated Luis.  The second one was his personal favorite which he is playing in the photo at the top of this blog page.  Shortly after he'd given up playing the guitar due to weakening in his hands, one of the strings mysteriously broke, perhaps knowing that its master would not play it and so it self-destructed so that no one else could take his place.  Or maybe one of the two-year old nephews just gave it a good tug one day and it snapped, who knows.  Whatever the case may be, as soon as I have a chance to get the guitar re-strung I will be playing it myself.  This resolution is very close to my heart - I feel I owe it to Tato to keep going with this despite the fact that I keep getting sidetracked.

Run, run like the wind!!
In other words, keep running.  I was sidelined for months last year due to a recurring foot problem.  Now that I have new running shoes, inserts, and a fancy new Garmin Forerunner I really have no choice but to continue to put one foot in front of the other in hopes of running something longer than a 5K this year.  I ran three miles the morning of New Year's Eve, so I know I can do it.   It's just a matter of sticking with it.  I see a recurring theme here. 

Call my friends
I remember the days when my friends and I used to actually call each other on the phone.  Not on a cell phone, but a real phone that was plugged into the wall.  We would actually talk to each other, how strange.  Now the best I can do is to send an email, a text, a facebook post.  Seems a bit impersonal.  I'm not much of a phone talker anyway - so this might be a hard one to keep.  But here's what I plan to do - once a week I'm going to call someone I haven't spoken to in a long time.  I don't need to have a long conversation - quite honestly, ten minutes is about all I can handle these days.  But I feel the need to reconnect with certain friends who I used to talk to on a weekly basis and now I'm lucky if I even see them once a year.  The only problem is that I don't know anyone's phone number anymore because all we do is email each other - so I guess I need to start collecting phone numbers.  If I ask you for yours, watch out!  I might be calling . . . .

Paint Cabinets
You might remember that when John was away in the beginning of December, I took it upon myself to start scraping, sanding and priming the kitchen cabinets in preparation to repaint them myself, in lieu of paying someone to come in to do it.  Well, that project got shoved to the side during all the holiday madness - but I'm determined to see it through.  My husband has been gracious enough not to rub it in my face that the kitchen looks like a disaster zone right now.  I've chosen the paint color (Almond Cream - doesn't that sound yummy?) and once I can get some free time this week I will dive back in.  Why do I get sidetracked so easily?  It's very frustrating - perhaps I'm spending too much time writing this blog instead of painting, playing guitar and talking to my friends.  But wait, writing this blog is one of my resolutions too.  This is all very confusing.

Finish Jack's Blanket
Damn, another unfinished project.  I am sensing an unpleasant trend here - have I turned into one of those people that starts projects and never finishes them?  About a year ago a patient of mine inspired me with her simple crochet techniques which she used to make dozens of blankets and scarves for a shelter for abused women.  She showed me how to make the pattern and I was struck with the brilliant idea of crocheting a blanket for Jack, fashioned after the Ukrainian flag and large enough to cover him even when he's over six feet tall.  A year has gone by and I just finished the yellow part.  I should add that I hadn't touched it in months when I finally pulled it out this weekend and started working on it again.  Jack thinks it will be done by the time he goes to college.  I'm going to prove him wrong and get it done by his birthday.  There - I've set a concrete goal, can't back out now.  Blue, here we come!

Eat Better
I know, boring.  But in my case, possibly necessary.  I do not have to lose weight - however, I've had a problem with high blood pressure for the past couple of years and am now taking medication for it.  The doctor is baffled.  My age, height, weight and lifestyle do not account for high blood pressure, so I guess that means I inherited it.  I can't say that I pay great attention to my diet - I tend to eat whatever I want.  What does this mean?  Do I need to check everything for sodium content?  No more salting my food, eating Pringles, popping salted walnuts and cashews in my mouth between sips of beer?  Hmmm, this resolution is a bit murkier than the rest.  We'll see how it goes.

Secret Date Night
This is a resolution I jointly made today with my husband as we drove home from a long weekend in Philadelphia.  We do not have enough date nights, period.  And when we do have a date night, we tend to do the same old things, over and over - i.e.,  go out for sushi, see a movie, go to a bar and have a beer (or two).  So I suggested a secret date night once a month, where we take turns surprising the other with an interesting night (or day) out.  The only criteria is that we have to go somewhere and/or do something that we have not done before.  I'm hoping this resolution sticks because I'm tired of reading the Weekend section about all the fun and interesting new restaurants, shows, bars, bands, clubs, events, etc. and not actually trying any of them out.  Once a month is not such a stretch - I think we can handle this one.

Stop and Smell the Roses
Amidst all these attempts to get things done and accomplish goals, I also want to make sure to stop and enjoy the simple things in life.  It's so easy to get bogged down in work, obligations, bills, housework, etc. and to neglect the little things, like playing with the kids or taking the dog for a walk.  So I resolve to stop everything at least once a day and do something that has no other purpose than itself.  That's all.

That's it for me.  Seems like a lot - I put a lot of thought into it.  My kids, on the other hand, spit out their resolutions in two seconds flat when I asked them today what they were.

Jack:  Stop picking my scabs.

Ella:  Stop sucking my thumb.

If only it were that simple.