As the New Year looms upon us, it is time to reflect on the year past and look forward to the new. I like New Year's Resolutions, I always have. So I've been thinking a lot lately about what I would resolve this year. But before we get to that, let's review 2008.
I was just looking back at my New Year's Resolution post from last year. I resolved to take more pictures this year and to post them. I think I managed to do that. I bored you all summer long with photos of my vegetable garden. I did post a few cute pictures of Violet and her adventures.
My last post of 2007 I was resolving not to let the little things get to me and to take back my life. I think I did that very well. At least for me. Sure I did get sucked into a few things I didn't want to be. But not as many as in the past. I went a whole year without a breakdown, that's definitely good! We cut way back in our outside activities and I didn't get involved with daycamp. Both positive steps forward towards not taking crap from everyone else. Funny thing, I reread that post and I can't really remember what had been bothering me. I know a few of the ongoing issues from last year, but I'm really not sure what prompted me to write that. I guess I succeeded in taking back control.
Highlights of 2008 would have to include You & Me Camp (both weekends) with Violet, acknowledging that I love to cook and diving head first into the kitchen, and the success we had in the garden. Goals for 2009 will include more of all that: going to activities with Violet that she wants to do, cooking and gardening.
Workwise I did okay too. I lost the months of March and April to writing a big manual for a client, but boy did I rack up the hours and the appreciation of some important people. I survived the new (now ex) CEO. And I still have a job as we begin 2009. That in itself is nothing to sneeze at.
Now for my goal for 2009: I resolve not to take on any more volunteer work for Girl Scouts. I will continue what I'm doing, but will also look for a replacement for one of my positions. But I won't agree to anything new.
I'm going to try to get someone else to be Juliette Coordinator next school year. I like it, but I don't like that Council keeps signing up every girl waiting for a troop as a Juliette. I expected to have about 12 girls, I have over 40. Not the job I signed on for. I'm either stepping down or doing only the very bare minimum needed, unless Council finds a new designation for the girls who don't want to be Juliettes. In a way I feel bad, because I love the Juliette program and I know there are some girls (Violet included) who love being Julittes. I want them to get the information they need. But Council only cares about getting their registration numbers as high as they can, so every girl they can they register. Even when they don't have a troop for them. Maybe they need to recruit more volunteers before they take on all the girls. But that's just me. So before I become even more cynical and start lashing out, I'm going to step down. Or try to. It isn't always that easy to get out of Girl Scout Volunteer positions.
I'm also going to try to get back into my skinny jeans and my skinny capris. That means Wii Fit and I have many more mornings together.
I think New Year's Resolutions should be about taking control and getting your life in order. So to all of you, have a wonderful 2009! And don't let them give you their crap. It's their crap, they can deal with it. If they don't like it, go all Freak on them!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wii Fit
I managed to work out again this morning. It was kind of a rush because we were heading to my parents for our Christmas with them. But I did it, marking the 24th straight day. Ami was asking about it so here are some highlights.
The basics: it works with the Wii, and has a special "balance board" you stand on for most exercises. There are yoga positions in which the board measures how much weight you have on one foot or the other. There are strength exercises, where it measures your movements. Aerobics like hula hoop, running and step aerobics. And balance games to improve your balance. You can pick whichever exercise or combination you would like to do. You get scores for many of them and you are ranked based on those scores allowing for family competition.
Your little "Mii" character you create goes through aerobics and balance games with you. It interacts with other Miis and it is all quite cute. For instance when you run, you are in the park and other Miis are running past along with dogs. There seems to be no leash law in the Wii. The Wii balance board character gets all excited when you start up and cheers you on.
For strength training and yoga you choose a male or female trainer who shows you how to do the exercises and encourages you. Of course they use the same stock phrases over and over so it helps to have a good imagination when you are hearing that you should practice yoga every day to improve your posture for the billionth time.
The Wii tracks your time spent exercising. And you can do a body test weigh in that measures your weight, BMI and center of balance. You can continue with extra tests and get your "Wii Fit Age" which is rather goofy in my opinion, although today I did measure in one year younger than I actually am. I hate it when it tells me my Wii Fit Age is in the 50s.
I like Wii Fit a lot because you can really mix up your workout and customize it. It is so much more fun than the clothes rack, I mean stair stepper I have upstairs. Up, down, up, down, over and over. Boring! It is much more fun to workout with the Wii and the characters built in. I suppose for someone with no sense of humor whatsoever it would be too corny. But for those of us who like fun and silly, it is perfect.
Mom #1 was asking what my favorite things to do are. I've been doing more of the yoga and strength training combos lately. It gets me to do exercises I'd probably skip. But if they are paired together as a workout, I try them. I hate some of the yoga poses: tree and dance in particular. I always fall over. I also hate plank. Good lord I can't do that one. I do like most of the others though. I love most of the aerobics, especially the step. I'm very cautious about hula hoop though, I remember your hula hoop injuries from this summer. I do like running too. I don't do too many of the balance games, mainly because I stink at them. But I do love penguin slide! I've been trying to get better at the bubble one (I can't remember what it is called) and the marble one (can't remember that either - and the game is in the other room and would require walking to get it.) You should see Violet try to do Lotus Focus. She can't stop talking long enough to sit still for it, then gets mad when it ends so quickly. That one definitely wasn't designed with a 9 year old in mind!
Now ask me in 6 months if I'm still doing it. That will be a better time for a testimonial, won't it?
The basics: it works with the Wii, and has a special "balance board" you stand on for most exercises. There are yoga positions in which the board measures how much weight you have on one foot or the other. There are strength exercises, where it measures your movements. Aerobics like hula hoop, running and step aerobics. And balance games to improve your balance. You can pick whichever exercise or combination you would like to do. You get scores for many of them and you are ranked based on those scores allowing for family competition.
Your little "Mii" character you create goes through aerobics and balance games with you. It interacts with other Miis and it is all quite cute. For instance when you run, you are in the park and other Miis are running past along with dogs. There seems to be no leash law in the Wii. The Wii balance board character gets all excited when you start up and cheers you on.
For strength training and yoga you choose a male or female trainer who shows you how to do the exercises and encourages you. Of course they use the same stock phrases over and over so it helps to have a good imagination when you are hearing that you should practice yoga every day to improve your posture for the billionth time.
The Wii tracks your time spent exercising. And you can do a body test weigh in that measures your weight, BMI and center of balance. You can continue with extra tests and get your "Wii Fit Age" which is rather goofy in my opinion, although today I did measure in one year younger than I actually am. I hate it when it tells me my Wii Fit Age is in the 50s.
I like Wii Fit a lot because you can really mix up your workout and customize it. It is so much more fun than the clothes rack, I mean stair stepper I have upstairs. Up, down, up, down, over and over. Boring! It is much more fun to workout with the Wii and the characters built in. I suppose for someone with no sense of humor whatsoever it would be too corny. But for those of us who like fun and silly, it is perfect.
Mom #1 was asking what my favorite things to do are. I've been doing more of the yoga and strength training combos lately. It gets me to do exercises I'd probably skip. But if they are paired together as a workout, I try them. I hate some of the yoga poses: tree and dance in particular. I always fall over. I also hate plank. Good lord I can't do that one. I do like most of the others though. I love most of the aerobics, especially the step. I'm very cautious about hula hoop though, I remember your hula hoop injuries from this summer. I do like running too. I don't do too many of the balance games, mainly because I stink at them. But I do love penguin slide! I've been trying to get better at the bubble one (I can't remember what it is called) and the marble one (can't remember that either - and the game is in the other room and would require walking to get it.) You should see Violet try to do Lotus Focus. She can't stop talking long enough to sit still for it, then gets mad when it ends so quickly. That one definitely wasn't designed with a 9 year old in mind!
Now ask me in 6 months if I'm still doing it. That will be a better time for a testimonial, won't it?
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Day After
I am so glad we do a low key Christmas. We had such a nice day yesterday and I don't feel like "thank goodness that's over!" Today we are going to see Mr. Incredible's dad and step mom. His brother and maybe our nephew will be there too. Plus step-mom's brother. I've made a lentil salad to take. We aren't going until mid-afternoon, which is good. There was some freezing rain overnight but it is supposed to warm up, so it will be fine by the time we go.
Tomorrow I think we'll be with my parents. (I need to call them when I'm done here and confirm that will work. We left it open to see what the weather would bring us.) I'll be taking a spinach lasagna to that one. I think I'll try to assemble it today before we leave.
All our snow will be melting, including Violet's unfinished snow fort. We'll need more snow. I really don't mind the snow if I don't have to drive anywhere in it. I like it better than melted snow that creates mud everywhere. Plus we haven't even gotten out the snow shoes yet. I'm going to look locally at a couple of places for the snow pants. I realized that skiers wear them all the time. I don't ski. Well, I cross country ski, but not downhill. Tried it once. That was enough. I'll be in the lodge with an appletini.
I did manage to work out yesterday. I even did a little extra to try to work off some of those extra calories. Something pretty cool happened in Wii Fit. The balance board was wearing a Santa hat and wished us "Happy Holidays." I called Violet and Mr. Incredible in to see it.
Time to get a move on.
Tomorrow I think we'll be with my parents. (I need to call them when I'm done here and confirm that will work. We left it open to see what the weather would bring us.) I'll be taking a spinach lasagna to that one. I think I'll try to assemble it today before we leave.
All our snow will be melting, including Violet's unfinished snow fort. We'll need more snow. I really don't mind the snow if I don't have to drive anywhere in it. I like it better than melted snow that creates mud everywhere. Plus we haven't even gotten out the snow shoes yet. I'm going to look locally at a couple of places for the snow pants. I realized that skiers wear them all the time. I don't ski. Well, I cross country ski, but not downhill. Tried it once. That was enough. I'll be in the lodge with an appletini.
I did manage to work out yesterday. I even did a little extra to try to work off some of those extra calories. Something pretty cool happened in Wii Fit. The balance board was wearing a Santa hat and wished us "Happy Holidays." I called Violet and Mr. Incredible in to see it.
Time to get a move on.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate it. If you don't, I hope you had an enjoyable Thursday. We had a nice day here.
Violet let us sleep in until 8:30. It pays to have a night owl sometimes. We hung out at home all day. That is something we insist on. We aren't going to let our kid open her presents then not get to play with them at all. Or worse, pack them unopened in the car and make her wait until evening to open them, and still not get to play with them.
I got some cool new kitchen things I wanted including an electric can opener. My little hand-held one fell apart last week. Luckily Mr. Incredible is a procrastinator, so it wasn't too late to ask for a new one. I love my one. I've never had an electric opener before. I am still going to pick up a hand held one for picnics, when the power goes out, camping. We have another old hand crank one, but I can't use it without many bad words being uttered. I need a better one.
I also got Alton Brown's Gadget book:
So I will be asking for many more kitchen tools in gift giving occasions to come. I love to cook. One day, I will become good at it.
We went out for a walk after it got dark out, hoping to see holiday lights on the neighbors' houses. There weren't many on, it looked like many people weren't home. Many of the sidewalks weren't shoveled. Mr. Incredible and Violet trudged through the snow, I walked in the street. Luckily there was hardly any traffic. It was also quite cold. Violet had a great time. I was freezing. It is supposed to warm up tonight and rain the next two days. All our snow will melt. That's quite a bummer.
Tonight's cold walk confirmed it for me: I need snow pants. I need them for walking and for snow shoeing. I never even thought about getting myself snow pants until a few weeks ago, heck I didn't even know they made grown up snow pants. But a real life friend of mine told me that she got a pair this year and the first thing she did was make a snow angel. I'm off to L.L. Bean's website to see if they are clearancing any.
Edited to add: No snow pants anywhere near the clearance price I was hoping for. I think I better look into old fashioned long underwear! Maybe I can bring back the leg warmer. I loved those.
Violet let us sleep in until 8:30. It pays to have a night owl sometimes. We hung out at home all day. That is something we insist on. We aren't going to let our kid open her presents then not get to play with them at all. Or worse, pack them unopened in the car and make her wait until evening to open them, and still not get to play with them.
I got some cool new kitchen things I wanted including an electric can opener. My little hand-held one fell apart last week. Luckily Mr. Incredible is a procrastinator, so it wasn't too late to ask for a new one. I love my one. I've never had an electric opener before. I am still going to pick up a hand held one for picnics, when the power goes out, camping. We have another old hand crank one, but I can't use it without many bad words being uttered. I need a better one.
I also got Alton Brown's Gadget book:
So I will be asking for many more kitchen tools in gift giving occasions to come. I love to cook. One day, I will become good at it.
We went out for a walk after it got dark out, hoping to see holiday lights on the neighbors' houses. There weren't many on, it looked like many people weren't home. Many of the sidewalks weren't shoveled. Mr. Incredible and Violet trudged through the snow, I walked in the street. Luckily there was hardly any traffic. It was also quite cold. Violet had a great time. I was freezing. It is supposed to warm up tonight and rain the next two days. All our snow will melt. That's quite a bummer.
Tonight's cold walk confirmed it for me: I need snow pants. I need them for walking and for snow shoeing. I never even thought about getting myself snow pants until a few weeks ago, heck I didn't even know they made grown up snow pants. But a real life friend of mine told me that she got a pair this year and the first thing she did was make a snow angel. I'm off to L.L. Bean's website to see if they are clearancing any.
Edited to add: No snow pants anywhere near the clearance price I was hoping for. I think I better look into old fashioned long underwear! Maybe I can bring back the leg warmer. I loved those.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Three Weeks!
This morning marked 3 weeks of exercising every day with Wii Fit! A few days I didn't do much, but most days I've racked up 30-40 minutes with a combination of things. I've warned Violet and Mr. Incredible that I intend to work out on Christmas Day too.
Our snow seems to be tapering off for a while. We didn't get any of the freezing rain or sleet that a lot of areas got. I'm not sure how much snow is out there, it has drifted so much. The mailbox is practically covered, but most of that was from the snowplows. The temperatures are up too. It is around freezing, making a terrific day for playing in the snow. I'll work on getting those shipments of snow boxed up today. ;)
May I make a plea for a minute? If you are trying to get to friends or relatives houses for the holiday, and the weather and driving conditions are not good, please stay home. Yes, I know you really want to be together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But in the long run, it would be really better if you are all still alive on New Year's Day. It just isn't worth it.
Someone I know told me yesterday that they are waiting to see if son, daughter-in-law and new baby grandson can make it in. If not, she's hell-bent on driving to Ohio herself to see them. She said there's no way she's not spending Christmas Day with her grandson. To me, that's insane. The grandbaby is 6 months old. He doesn't know what day it is. Celebrate a few days late, safely. The grandson needs his grandparents safe and not stuck in a ditch on Christmas Day. I understand the holiday is important to her, but that is taking things too far.
Please be safe and warm!
Our snow seems to be tapering off for a while. We didn't get any of the freezing rain or sleet that a lot of areas got. I'm not sure how much snow is out there, it has drifted so much. The mailbox is practically covered, but most of that was from the snowplows. The temperatures are up too. It is around freezing, making a terrific day for playing in the snow. I'll work on getting those shipments of snow boxed up today. ;)
May I make a plea for a minute? If you are trying to get to friends or relatives houses for the holiday, and the weather and driving conditions are not good, please stay home. Yes, I know you really want to be together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But in the long run, it would be really better if you are all still alive on New Year's Day. It just isn't worth it.
Someone I know told me yesterday that they are waiting to see if son, daughter-in-law and new baby grandson can make it in. If not, she's hell-bent on driving to Ohio herself to see them. She said there's no way she's not spending Christmas Day with her grandson. To me, that's insane. The grandbaby is 6 months old. He doesn't know what day it is. Celebrate a few days late, safely. The grandson needs his grandparents safe and not stuck in a ditch on Christmas Day. I understand the holiday is important to her, but that is taking things too far.
Please be safe and warm!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
One day to go
Violet is bursting at the seems. She did keep busy today. I had her make a to do list this morning. It included things like making paper snowflakes, wrapping presents and playing Wii Sports. I think we'll use that strategy again tomorrow.
No cooking today. Mr. Incredible is working late so I didn't bother to make dinner. It is Fend for Yourself Night. We have one last cookie batch to bake, but we'll do that tomorrow. A few weeks ago we make sugar cookie dough and stuck half of it in the freezer. That's what we'll bake tomorrow. According to Violet, Santa needs sugar cookies.
It seemed to be indecision and pass the buck day at work today. I did my share of tossing the old buck around too. But I did make a decision or two also. For some reason when we are down to a skeleton crew working, we freeze up.
Mr. I is probably stopping at the pet store on the way home. Violet asked Santa to bring the pets something too. Have you noticed how much help the big guy needs? But does he share the credit at all? No. I left him (Mr. Incredible, not Santa) a message on his cell phone saying Santa could probably find something here in the stash of stuff for the pets. But he (again, Mr. Incredible not Santa) never answers his cell phone. Not sure if he'll get the message or not. I tried.
By the way, I don't know if Santa answers his cell phone or picks up his messages either. But if he doesn't, I bet Mrs. Claus sometimes wonder why they're paying for it.
It has been snowing all day. The forecast is calling for it to change to ice over night. Then back to snow. Other forecasts say it will stay snow. At least we're getting a white Christmas. Can I send any of you a little of this white? I'd be happy to box it up and ship it.
No cooking today. Mr. Incredible is working late so I didn't bother to make dinner. It is Fend for Yourself Night. We have one last cookie batch to bake, but we'll do that tomorrow. A few weeks ago we make sugar cookie dough and stuck half of it in the freezer. That's what we'll bake tomorrow. According to Violet, Santa needs sugar cookies.
It seemed to be indecision and pass the buck day at work today. I did my share of tossing the old buck around too. But I did make a decision or two also. For some reason when we are down to a skeleton crew working, we freeze up.
Mr. I is probably stopping at the pet store on the way home. Violet asked Santa to bring the pets something too. Have you noticed how much help the big guy needs? But does he share the credit at all? No. I left him (Mr. Incredible, not Santa) a message on his cell phone saying Santa could probably find something here in the stash of stuff for the pets. But he (again, Mr. Incredible not Santa) never answers his cell phone. Not sure if he'll get the message or not. I tried.
By the way, I don't know if Santa answers his cell phone or picks up his messages either. But if he doesn't, I bet Mrs. Claus sometimes wonder why they're paying for it.
It has been snowing all day. The forecast is calling for it to change to ice over night. Then back to snow. Other forecasts say it will stay snow. At least we're getting a white Christmas. Can I send any of you a little of this white? I'd be happy to box it up and ship it.
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Alleged Gingerbread Doghouse
With another day with the high temperature hovering around zero, it was a good day to stay indoors. After having it for weeks, Violet finally made her gingerbread kit. We buy a kit every year. When I saw this one in the store, I didn't even bother to ask her, I knew she'd like it. One day we'll be brave and make one from scratch. This wasn't the year. Maybe next year.
Her doghouse turned out really cute. Here's the view from the top:
And here's a photo that neither Violet not I remember taking:
Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it? In the past our cat has tried to take licks from the gingerbread houses. This year we accidentally caught her on film. Well, on digital.
I did make it out to the grocery store this morning. Mr. Incredible was working from home so Violet didn't have to go out. I joked when I got back that whenever there is a break in the weather, I go to the grocery store. I think I'm starting to hoard food.
We're expecting another snow storm tomorrow. Mr. Incredible's boss called after dinner to tell him not to go in to the office if it looked bad. Mr. Incredible had been hoping to swap out a hard drive in one of the servers, or something to that effect, so he's going to decide in the morning if he should go in. I think the bad stuff isn't going to hit until later so he'll probably go. Problem is, he was wanting to stay late to do the work after everyone leaves, so he might be coming home in some pretty icky stuff. We'll see. Mr. Incredible is pretty level-headed about these things.
Violet and I made oatmeal raisin cookies this afternoon. See what being cooped up in the cold will do to you? I can almost feel my fat jeans getting tight. Better do a few extra rounds of Wii Fit hula hoop tomorrow morning.
Her doghouse turned out really cute. Here's the view from the top:
And here's a photo that neither Violet not I remember taking:
Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it? In the past our cat has tried to take licks from the gingerbread houses. This year we accidentally caught her on film. Well, on digital.
I did make it out to the grocery store this morning. Mr. Incredible was working from home so Violet didn't have to go out. I joked when I got back that whenever there is a break in the weather, I go to the grocery store. I think I'm starting to hoard food.
We're expecting another snow storm tomorrow. Mr. Incredible's boss called after dinner to tell him not to go in to the office if it looked bad. Mr. Incredible had been hoping to swap out a hard drive in one of the servers, or something to that effect, so he's going to decide in the morning if he should go in. I think the bad stuff isn't going to hit until later so he'll probably go. Problem is, he was wanting to stay late to do the work after everyone leaves, so he might be coming home in some pretty icky stuff. We'll see. Mr. Incredible is pretty level-headed about these things.
Violet and I made oatmeal raisin cookies this afternoon. See what being cooped up in the cold will do to you? I can almost feel my fat jeans getting tight. Better do a few extra rounds of Wii Fit hula hoop tomorrow morning.
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