Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Not off to the best start...

So I just clicked over to my blog for the first time in a few days (weeks) and it occurred to me that I am epically failing at my first new years resolution. Actually, as I just added Oreos to my grocery list, I might sort of be failing at all of my resolutions.

On the bright side, we just booked vacation so I am on top of SOMETHING.

I have nothing more to say really. It just sorta felt like I should say something, so I don't just never blog again.  It actually reminds me of the time Missy found my diary. Have I told you all about that?  Why cares, if so, I will tell it again.

So one day we were cleaning out stuff at my parents house and Missy came up from the basement. She had been going through old boxes and came across my diary. She was so tickled, and I was so horrified. She announced she was going to read it allowed to the group. I PANICKED.  How could she??? WHAT had I written?? My heart's desires were probably in that book!

She opened it and cleared her throat. I tried to grab it from her hands. She dodged and began to read...

"Dear Diary. "

*Dramatic pause for effect*

" I am going to write in you every..."

I look at her. She looks at me.  She starts laughing.  Hard.  I look confused.

"That's all it says..." she said through her cackling 

"I am going to write in you every..."

I didn't even get to the word "Day" before getting distracted and NEVER PICKING UP MY DIARY AGAIN.

I guess, given that track record, I should be pretty proud of this little blog.  For better or worse, it has still gotten WAY more attention that my diary.
 

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Resolutions 2017: Reviewing and Renewing

Well, Happy New Year everyone! Doesn't it feel nice to have 2016 behind us? I hope it does. I actually wrote this on the 30th because we are currently out of town celebrating. Fingers crossed the new year transition went off without a hitch, otherwise this post might seem really out of place.

ANYWAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  As always, I will take the first blog post of the year to do a little reflecting and looking forward.  Let's get to it, shall we?  First, for the review:

My resolutions for 2016 were as follows:

1. Exercise at least three times per week: Well well well... this shows that I had NO MEMORY of what was even on this freaking list. Did I actually think this might happen? WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?  Now, I will at least point out that I did start parking sorta far away from my building (like 3/4 a mile) in order to get some exercise, so I did add a 1.5 mile round trip walk each day, but I would be pushing it to call that "exercising".  I mean, sure, it helps but I don't think it get to the heart of the item. I am going to give myself a fail on this one.

2. Lose Weight - Interesting how last years goals and this years goals might look really similar.  I actually specified on this one that anything less than what i weighed last year at this time was a win, and technically I am around 2-4 pounds down, so it's a pass?  I am not where I want to be, but I guess I will accept it and be happy that over the year I have not managed to GAIN weight.

3. Publish three papers in academic journals - Okay, not that I need to EXPLAIN things to you all, but this was set before I knew about my job change.  And that job change, along with Corrine's job change, sort of changed this goal. I am happy (THRILLED!) to report we had one article published, and I have another under review.  I will consider this a win, given that I had no idea at the time my work life would be altered so drastically (in a good way).

4.  Help in Henry's classroom - Well well well, I actually forgot this one was on here as well, but I am also going to give myself a pass here! It helps that his teacher is Boo, so I am extremely comfortable in her classroom, but I volunteer regularly, and it's great!

5. Read the first Harry Potter to Henry - Huge Pass!  And he loved it! Dreams do come true!

So in the end, I give myself 4/5.  That's not too bad, considering it looked like I might crash and burn after reading item #1!


Now, on to my new resolutions!

1. Blog better:  I am not going to say blog more, because while I want to increase the number of blog posts, I would actually settle for just writing one or two good posts a month.  I can post pictures or do updates, but one of the reasons I have always loved this space is that it helps me clear my head.  I still love it when I use it for that, but it happens so rarely now.  I would like to try to get back to that place.

 2. UGH with the weight again: I do not know how many years in a row my weight has been on this list, but it is here again. I do better with a specific goal, so I am going to say lose 15 pounds within 6 months and keep it off at the end of the year.

3. Be mindful of my time at home: With my new job, I have a lot on my plate.  And more often than I would like, my work life is taking away too much of my time with Nick and Henry.  Sometimes it's because I literally need to be working on things, and that's hard to avoid, but sometimes it's because I am not turning off the part of my brain that is focusing on work. I am home, but in my head, I have not left  the office. I want to do better with this, and focus on my family when we are together.

4. Make it a priority to read what Henry reads -  I have been trying to do this, but I am putting it on the list to hold myself accountable. Henry has fallen in love with reading this year, and it absolutely warms my heart.  He is reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and wants me to read it too. He keeps wanting to talk about stuff, but doesn't want to spoil it for me. I am on book three, and moving slower than I should. He is on book 7.  I need to make our joint reading a priority now or he will stop asking me in the future.

5. Impact the world around us: We are lucky enough to be in a stable place, financially.  With that, we have increased our charitable giving, which I am happy about.  But with the recent election, it has settled on my heart to consider if I am doing enough in other ways.  I don't know what I want to do to make a difference, but something more than just money.  I don't know exactly what I mean by this, but hopefully I will have an answer by the end of the year. 

And as a final update, by book reading total is not officially on the list, but the goal for the year is staying the same as this time at 25. I ended up in the mid 30s for 2016. Not too shabby:)

And that's it!  Bring it on, 2017!

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