That Just Happened!

Some things from your youth really stick with you.  Whether it’s your Mom saying, “Don’t wear white after Labour Day,” or your Dad saying, “Never let the salt stay on your car,” they are words of wisdom you find yourself taking to heart to this day.  I remember sitting in morning assembly in high school (yes, we had morning assembly each morning) on the first day of school.  As usual the Headmaster was giving his “Welcome Back” talk, but my friends and I were more worried about who was dating who, catching up with our friends, and finding ways to inconspicuously roll up our kilts.

I found myself only half paying attention until a call went out to the gym.  “Who here makes New Year’s Resolutions?”  Almost everyone’s hand went up, even the elementary students who probably didn’t know what a resolution was.  “How many times have you broken it?”  Again, a lot of hands went up.  The Headmaster went on to say that New Year’s resolutions are made and then broken quite easily.  In fact, most people expect that they are going to break it before the end of January.  He pointed out that September is like a New Year for us.  It is a time for all students to embark on the school year.  A time to reflect on what you want your year to look like, the goals you want to accomplish, the activities you want to do.  So many New Year’s resolutions are broken, but here is a second time to start anew. 

Something about that always appealed to me and to this day I see September as a fresh start.  The back to school commercials and the accompanying dip in temperature call to mind a time when September was the beginning of the year.  A year of friends, fights, successes and failures, and new school supplies.  I remember sitting in the gym with increasing resolve; I would get straight A’s, I would not let my French teacher annoy me, I would be nice to everyone in my class…All of these resolutions made in my mind, resolutions I would only have to keep for ten months instead of twelve.

Thinking ahead to ten months from now, there are going to be a lot of changes.  My brother will be graduating from high school, my Mom will be (potentially) facing an empty nest, I will be ending my single life by getting married, and my sister and I will both (potentially) be moving closer to each other.  So the question is; what do I want the next ten months to look like?  Do I want to let the pressures of planning a wedding get to me?  Not really.  Do I want to lose some weight for those wedding pics?  Yep.  Do I want to be looking for a new home and saving up money?  Definitely.  Do I want to get a new job and start a career?  For sure! 

I have all of these wants and dreams, but it is also important to think about the road I want to take to get there.  Do I want to sit at home all the time to save money?  Not really, I have to find a balance.  Can I lose weight and get healthy by sitting and wishing?  *sigh* Unfortunately not, I have to dedicate myself to fitness.  I want to achieve my goals in a way that is graceful and will help me to enjoy life as it is now.

The main point of this is a little reminder.  New Year’s is not the only time to set resolutions; you can do it any time throughout the year.  September is a good time to start because there is a change in seasons, many of you with children are experiencing a change back into the “routine”, and the weather isn’t so depressing you can only imagine curling up by a fire (*ahem* January *ahem*).  With all the little reminders that school is starting it helps you to get in the mind space for change.  Plus, all of the TV shows are new, and if TV execs tell me it’s a new year than it must be goshdarnit!

Think about what you want the upcoming “school year” to look like and how you can achieve these goals.  A new beginning doesn’t have to start when the calendar year does, and ten sounds so much more doable than twelve.

That Just Happened!

Ugh.  My brain is fuzzy and I am pretty sure my body is trying to tell me that I should be sleeping.  It is 8:00am on Jan 4th and I am back at work after the holidays. Yes, yes, I know that some of you did not even get a holiday and for that I am sorry. I know I should be grateful for the time off, but now I have a taste for it and would like it to continue.

I should have known today was going to be tough.  I slept poorly all night, waking up at 10 minute intervals. Then I was bum-rushed off the bed an hour before  I had to be up.  MPW kept pushing closer to me with his butt. Pushing is the key word. By the time I was ready to say something, he finally managed to push me off the bed. “Forget it,” I thought, “at least I will have time for a good breakfast.”

So I got up to get some Mini-Wheats.  It being so close to my sister’s wedding I am trying to lose some weight. Mainly because the dress doesn’t exactly fit at the moment.  But it will, oh it will. So I counted out 59g of Mini-Wheats as per the suggested serving size. Do you know how little that is?  How can anyone subsist on normal portion sizes of breakfast cereal?  How can 59g have 270 calories?  Thank goodness it is fibre-filled, but I doubt it will tide me over until my 1:30pm lunch.  So in order to fool my tummy into thinking I am eating more, I am bringing coffee to work.

I get in the car, after leaving pretty much on time (yeah!) and promptly knock my coffee over into the back seat (I know…it’s a skill) and am trying to dab the two napkins I have into the floor mat…from the front seat…as I am twisted around.  (Hey I told you my brain is fuzzy! )  Looking back I should have got out fo the car, opened up the back and then dabbed.  Meanwhile, MPW got into his car and drove by as I was twisted in the seat.  He slowed down, realized I was at least in the car and then sped off. Yeesh!  No help there. 

So, after following 2 cars doing 30km/h side-by-side half way to work, I have arrived.  As I am responsible for opening up the office I have a handy key which I always keep in my purse. A key that I couldn’t find. So after dumping out the contents of my purse I found it in the bottom corner of my bag. I should probably mention that my purse has a rep for being a Mary-Poppins purse. I could probably fit the dog in it, so dumping it’s contents is epic.

Gathering up my wits and courage I made it in to the office.  I am here, but my brain is notably absent. Not a great way for it to start the new year, being late for work like that.  When it gets here I am going to give it a stern talking to.  Although, maybe I should just be happy it gets here at all.

So, I am off to handle the two weeks worth of mail that just came in and the work that magically appeared on my desk over the holidays.  Apparently the work fairies aren’t union and were forced to show up all the way through.

Yeah, That Just Happened!

Well, hello again!  I have been spending time with my family and friends over this past holiday season and now I am almost recharged and ready to go!  How was your holidays?  Good I hope!  A quick update on what I have been up to:

1. Eating a lot of holiday chocolate
2. Spending time with family over Christmas and the ensuing days
3. Having a yummy, laugh-filled Girls Christmas
4. Overjoying in the books Santa and friends of mine have given me
5. Spending time with MPW (who is decidedly less grumpy and is now prone to napping whenever suits him)
6. Not doing laundry
7. Not checking the blogs/writing on my own.  This has led me to be a bit behind (I have 300 posts to catch up on now!) but I will be visiting soon. 

I have also had a very uneventful holiday.  Nothing overwhelmingly embarrassing (if one ignores family looking at your ring finger first and then disapponitedly asking how MPW is).  Just a lot of laughs and enjoyable evenings.

I am gearing up for the 2010 reading challenges I have  signed up for and patiently awaiting my Secret Santa gift (which has not arrived yet, so SS do not worry, I have not forgotten about you!).  I am also patiently awaiting a gift I ordered on Dec 4, but has still not arrived (as soon as it comes Becky I will make sure you get it).

As I have a few days of holiday left and I will not be posting again until the new year.  I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I will see you again in 2010 with lots of book reviews, challenge updates, and more That Just Happened! moments.

Cheers!