So this is the new year
And I don't feel any different. For the most part, that's true. However, I have made some resolutions this year, and thus far I've made some significant progress towards keeping those resolutions. Want to know what they are? I'm sure they're predictable (considering they're pretty much the same ones every single year).
Katie's 2007 Resolutions
The Body:
1. Work Out - Use the free gym at school at least 3-4 days a week. On other days, do some sort of exercise including: hard core house cleaning, shoveling, sex, walking, sledding, pilates, tai chi, yoga, or any other good outdoor/indoor activity.
2. Eat Healthy - Decrease the snacks. Increase the veggies and fruit. Reduce tea and coffee consumption. And two months before the wedding--no coffee, tea, or soda (time to whiten the teeth).
3. Use mouthwash daily and floss 2-3 times a week.
4. Maintain length and health of hair just long enough to get through the wedding and honeymoon and then...chop it, highlight it, and spike it, yo.
The Mind:
1. Keep up with work - Don't let work pile up and cause late nights of avoidable stress. Reduce nights spent slacking when I could be catching up or getting ahead.
2. Get the Wedding planned - Again, don't let the tasks pile up and cause stupid stress. Take it one step at a time and get everything planned out in advance.
3. Stay in touch with friends and family - If I'm caught up with work and planning, I'll have plenty of time set aside for socializing. These relationships really are what make life worth living, so cherish them.
4. Write! - Despite the fact only five people read this blog, keep on writing. Blogging for the past 5 years has been the best way to track my emotional development and significant moments of my life. Don't give up.
5. Keep the dream - I have a dream that involves crepes. I'm never going to lose it and one day I will find a way to make it come true. Next summer, I'm telling you. It's going to happen.
6. Consider grad school - This spring I will know whether I am at the same school again. Whether I am or not, grad school is in my future. I just hope it's with the school behind me to help pay for it this fall. Part time, of course.
7. Expand my musical horizons - I'm very slow at this. It takes a month for me to get to know a band and it's album and bring it into my conciousness. I need to take more chances and listen to the beauty out there.
The Mundane:
1. Budget - No question. Things are going to be tight this year. I'm a teacher because I love the work and not the money. Sometimes it's frustrating to see things so far out of my reach, but sometimes, it's worth the wait.
2. Keep it clean - This apartment is lovely. And I need to keep it that way as often as possible. It's so fun playing hostess. And it's so much better when friends have a place to sit that's not covered with school work or pretzel crumbs.
3. Neighbors - Even if they're as antisocial as possible, keep putting out the friendly hand. When they're gone, who knows what will move in, so again, cherish what you have.
There's an overview, anyway. The bigger resolutions have some more specific lists to accompany them, but that's for me to worry about. All I need from you is a smile and a thumbs up for trying. Happy New Year.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
"O" 7 We Will Watch Them Fall...and then Rise
A sort of nod to Prince (though I realize he says "All seven" not "Oh seven"...but it can sound like that...even if it doesn't make sense). ANYWAY, I thought that I may as well get on the bandwagon with the rest of the Minnesotans. Though I can't say that singing "Purple Rain" at midnight was my favorite choice of possible New Year's Eve songs. Definitely not. But the kiss was sweet and nearly PG-13 rated.
With the fall of 06 and the rise of 07, it is time for the honored tradition of listing the crap that has happened in the past year, good and bad, tragic and lovely. The year 2006 certainly had its share of moments.
Top Ten Worst Moments of 2006
10. Getting knocked down on the dance floor at Liz's wedding reception.
9. Losing my favorite winter hat.
8. Being told I can't play DDR in the house due to the huge noise and banging it makes for the downstairs neighbors.
7. Teaching summer school which was a lot more work and stress than I had thought it would be, all while I was applying for jobs and looking for apartments.
6. Stressful days and nights at my current school trying to catch up on work for students who don't appreciate it.
5. Unsuccessful interviews and filling out numerous applications for a new job.
4. Feeling the loss of friendships and self-esteem.
3. Moving Grandma into the nursing home, seeing her decline in mental and physical health.
2. Moving to the new apartment on the hottest day of the year (and cleaning the old apartment the next day).
1. Being denied a contract renewal for my job at the middle school that I believed was the job of my dreams.
Top Ten Best Moments of 2006
10. Buying a wedding dress (and trendy new eyeglasses).
9. Winter Break.
8. Sweet parties: 3rd Annual Bastille Day, Birthday/Engagement Party, Anti-Valentine's Day, Halloween, New Year's Eve.
7. Finding the necklace Chris bought for me when I thought it was lost forever.
6. Liz's wedding celebration in WI Rapids.
5. Awesome concerts: Architecture in Helsinki, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Decemberists.
4. Chicago vacation with Chris.
3. Getting a good job and the apartment we really wanted.
2. Trip to Ireland with my mom.
1. Becoming engaged.
I'm sure I'm missing some great moments and horrible ones, but you get the idea. I have a lot of work to do to fulfill my resolutions this year. "What are they?" you ask. How about I list them in my next blog, okay?
A sort of nod to Prince (though I realize he says "All seven" not "Oh seven"...but it can sound like that...even if it doesn't make sense). ANYWAY, I thought that I may as well get on the bandwagon with the rest of the Minnesotans. Though I can't say that singing "Purple Rain" at midnight was my favorite choice of possible New Year's Eve songs. Definitely not. But the kiss was sweet and nearly PG-13 rated.
With the fall of 06 and the rise of 07, it is time for the honored tradition of listing the crap that has happened in the past year, good and bad, tragic and lovely. The year 2006 certainly had its share of moments.
Top Ten Worst Moments of 2006
10. Getting knocked down on the dance floor at Liz's wedding reception.
9. Losing my favorite winter hat.
8. Being told I can't play DDR in the house due to the huge noise and banging it makes for the downstairs neighbors.
7. Teaching summer school which was a lot more work and stress than I had thought it would be, all while I was applying for jobs and looking for apartments.
6. Stressful days and nights at my current school trying to catch up on work for students who don't appreciate it.
5. Unsuccessful interviews and filling out numerous applications for a new job.
4. Feeling the loss of friendships and self-esteem.
3. Moving Grandma into the nursing home, seeing her decline in mental and physical health.
2. Moving to the new apartment on the hottest day of the year (and cleaning the old apartment the next day).
1. Being denied a contract renewal for my job at the middle school that I believed was the job of my dreams.
Top Ten Best Moments of 2006
10. Buying a wedding dress (and trendy new eyeglasses).
9. Winter Break.
8. Sweet parties: 3rd Annual Bastille Day, Birthday/Engagement Party, Anti-Valentine's Day, Halloween, New Year's Eve.
7. Finding the necklace Chris bought for me when I thought it was lost forever.
6. Liz's wedding celebration in WI Rapids.
5. Awesome concerts: Architecture in Helsinki, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Decemberists.
4. Chicago vacation with Chris.
3. Getting a good job and the apartment we really wanted.
2. Trip to Ireland with my mom.
1. Becoming engaged.
I'm sure I'm missing some great moments and horrible ones, but you get the idea. I have a lot of work to do to fulfill my resolutions this year. "What are they?" you ask. How about I list them in my next blog, okay?
