My resolve in ... '08

Yeah, I know ... it's February already and I am just posting my New Year's Resolutions! Don;t hate me because you were stressin tryin to get it done, while I took my time and let the resolutions marinate = less stress, happy me.

So last year, I concocted a lil New Year's resolution list. I did okay with that list. Here is the list of what carries over - and note to self: if it does not get done this year, it can not - will not roll over to '09.

• snowboarding lesson
• travel (by airplane) to at least two cities I have never been to before
• run a 5K (at least)
• Get published in Cards magazine! and other craft related publications

Now here is what I've come up with for this year:

• Spend less and less often
• This is a big one; I want to shop less. I can do that, but I like fresh fruit and veggies, so that will be the only exception. For my own sake, I will have to more clearly define this one

• Get my mental act together
• This really means: do not allow other peoples negative actions to affect me emotionally - ooooommmmmmmm

• Do Pilates at least once a week

• Meditate for at least 5-10 minutes first thing in the morning

That's it for now ... gotta keep it doable.

Gettin it done!

I usually have a running list of things that I need to do. When I don't have my list, things don't get done - like bills don't get paid. That is crazy, but that is how it goes down over here.

So here is a list of some of the things I've done in the past two days, especially yesterday, since I worked from home:

• called the post office to follow up on a package that I mailed
• wrote and submitted my annual report for work (I thought that it was due on Thursday, but it was actually due on Tuesday)
• located some boxes to pack some packages; then packed the packages
• returned some camera bags to the store
• purchase a cinder block (don't ask)
• picked up prescription
• called Verizon to try to straighten out the phone bill (still no resolution ... they remain on the list for a call back)
• paid car insurance

There's more, but I think that you get the idea.

Still on the list:

• get a recipe for Potato Soup (I absolutely love potatoes)
• make copies of a few pages from a book a co-worker let me borrow
• call the electric company regarding the current bill
• print out my lesson plans for work
• gather other reading assignments for work
• confirm trip and transportation to main campus next week
• pack 4 packages to be mailed
• finish making Valentine's Day cards
• Oh, and complete my New Year's resolutions (been thinking about this one a lot)
• renew gym membership so that I can take Pilates at least once a week

So there you have it. A glimpse into my life. Though that is in no way typical for me. Next week will look totally different ... love that.

My BFF, the electric blanket

Let me first say, that I am typically cold. I dress in layers year round. I would much rather be hot than cold. Living in a cold climate can be fun, but not if I'm constantly cold. In my office at my last teaching job in a new building, I had the coldest office (in my opinion). To top it off, my office was near the entrance to the building and there was often a draft (again in a city that has a bonafide winter). To make matters worse, everyone had temperature controls in their office EXCEPT me! Crazy. So, I kept a heater under my desk. Loved that. I even ran it in the Spring and Summer because the air conditioner was too much for me.

I say all of that to say, I am the owner of an electric blanket. I am so in love with it. I absolutely love to turn it on about ten minutes before getting in bed and it is so scrumptious when I finally lay down to read a book before going to sleep.

There have been times, where I have removed it from the bed to accompany me on the couch. Snuggling under an electric blanket on a dank winter weekend is sooooo soothing. You should try it.

I got my electric blanket on sale after the cold chill had broken last year. Contrary to the electric heater, I do not use the electric blanket year round.

Music ... being open-minded

My friend Darryl, Who's done a couple of podcasts with me is a bona fide fan of Michelle Ndegeocello. It's not that I am not a fan, I just like for my music to have more beats, which I really enjoyed on "Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape". However, I was underwhlemled with "Comfort Woman" (that put me in a near Rip Van Winkle slumber).

What I will say (and it is not a ground-breaking observation) is that Ndegeocello can not and will not be musically categorized. The fact that she can be a beat provider or a mellow driven serenader is a wonderful talent and I admire that.

I am intrigued by the title of her latest project "The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams". I will definitely get around to listening to this one and probably in the next few weeks. I have to listen to it to determine if I like it or not and it could very well be the best thing in the musical pot, right?

Thinking ahead

I'm thinking about New Year's resolutions - things to do. But before I write up a slate of activities, let me reflect on how the '07 resolutions panned out:

take at least one snowboarding lesson (I attemped several times in the last two years)

• I did not get to this one; I could chalk it up to a crappy winter w/not a lot of snow action, but I think I will transfer this one to the forthcoming '08 list

learn spanish

• I did not make any progress on this one since I can't count thinking about it

complete a small 6x6 or 8x8 scrapbook

• I make cards because I can get them done and usually quickly; scrapbooking no matter the size of the pages, just seems too daunting to me - MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED

complete 3-4 mini books

• I did complete some mini-book; I think I did two and I really enjoyed them.

Travel (by airplane) to at least two cities I have never been to before

• I went to Boston in April, but that was it; this one will also roll over to '08

Run a 5K (at least)

• I sort of accomplished this one; I did go to a 5K; I ran for a good portion, but I also walked for a good portion; in '08 there will be another one of these and maybe a 10k

Get published in Cards magazine!

• cha-ching! I got this one! I was in the October '07 issue! Yeah.

Stay tuned for more ... and hopefully more ambitious resolutions.

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Great Debaters" podcast

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Great Debaters"

My friend Darryl Atwell and I are at it again. This time our target topic is "The Great Debaters".

Check out the podcast.

Movies to see ...

The movie list is stacking up too ... since Oscar season is in full swing, I will try to keep up this year as opposed to waiting for the awards to be handed out and then going to the movies.


So here's how things stack up:


"The Great Debate"

• I'm a fan of Forrest Whitaker and I like Denzel Washingto and Oprah (who produced the movie); nice to see those young people do their thing as well
• UPDATE: saw this one; just okay. too formulaic

"The Kite Runner"

• The book is on my reading list; but it looks as if I might see the movie before I read the book (my preference is for the opposite to occur), but I am just very anxious about this one

"I Am Legend"

• I do like Will Smith although it does not seem like my style of movie ... I will give it a go

"Look"

• Oooh, this is one I am definitely going to see! Adam Rifkin has hit the nail on the head w/a movie about how much of our lives is under surveillance - but he tells the story in a fictional way. Cool

"Juno"

• This one seems interesting; humor gets me every time

"Atonement"

• I've heard some Oscar buzz about this one, but I'm not a fan of period pieces, so I am on the fence about this one

"Charlie Wilson's War"

"The Bucket List"

• I like Jack Nicholson; I'm a little warm on Morgan Freeman ... so this one is not high up on the list (and it has not received much love from the critics)