Happy (Belated) New Year

Early Saturday morning . . . don't want to be up, but no choice.  I'm happy that 2013 has arrived and so far, I'm doing what I need to do.  One of my biggest things is to get out of my own head and just go out and take life by the horns and enjoy it.  We always say, "Life is short, make the most of it. Or, you only live once."  But really, how many of us actually do that?  I've said it over and over again, until I'm blue in the face, but I still do nothing, sit at home, watching tv, reading, drinking . . . alone.  Well, no more.  I still do those things (because I enjoy them), but I'm adding to the list . . . I made a list of goals and I'm sticking to them.  Granted--it's only January 12th, but I'm doing it, dammit.

So, here are my goals and wishing you a very happy and prosperous 2013!

13 Goals for 2013

1.       Spending

a.       Create a realistic budget

b.      Spend only what is on budget

c.       Save—even if it’s only $5 a pay check

d.      Create an envelope system to save/spend on wish list items

e.      Buy groceries—limit eating out to 2x per month

f.        Try a “cash only” approach

g.       Always use lists and prioritize

 

2.       Eating

a.       Buy food and groceries—cook instead of fast food

b.      Pack lunch with food I’ll actually eat (plan!)

c.       Keep logging in food journal

d.      Substitute fruit and veggies for snacks

 

3.       Exercise

a.       Be realistic

b.      Walking is key—try for every day, even if it is only 10-15 minutes

c.       Calendar exercise programs and keep the appointment—try for every day, even if it is only 10-15 minutes

d.      Stretch, stretch, stretch, stretch . . . did I mention stretch?

e.      Keep logging in exercise journal

f.        Keep a positive attitude

 

4.       Hair and nail care—you’re a professional, look like one

a.       Regular mani/pedi—at least once a month, shoot for twice a month

b.      Regular color and cut—every 6-8 weeks

c.       Put these in the budget!

 

5.       Journaling—every day, even if only a sentence or two

 

6.       Blogging—2-3x/week on personal and joint blogs

 

7.        Daily review of blogs I follow

 

8.       Kindle books—read 3x per week, at least

 

9.       Read one new “real” book each month, e.g., actual book, not digital media

 

10.   At least once a month, spend actual time out with friends (budget!)

 

11.   At least once a week, talk to one or two friends on the phone—not text or Facebook

 

12.   Be more spontaneous, BUT stay in the budget

 

13.   Number one priority—more quality time with the Boy

 

Reflections

Some reflection on the fragility of life.  The elementary school shooting in Connecticut is another in a series of senseless acts of violence in this country.  I could go into the whole issue of gun control, the right to bear arms, and all the other arguments, but they aren’t going to change anything.

Let me state up front that I do believe in the right to bear arms; however, I don’t believe our founding fathers intended that right to be abused by owning semi-automatic weapons and turning them on the innocent.  The right to bear arms was created in a time of war—people needed to be able to defend their homes against invasion.  I still believe they/we have that right.

I also believe in gun control.  There is absolutely no good reason that anyone, other than military and law enforcement should have access to semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons.  There is also no good reason not to do thorough background checks.  If it takes six months to a year to be approved, so be it.  If you don’t have the patience to wait, you don’t have the patience to own a weapon. And sorry, #catscratchfever, you don’t need an AK47 for deer hunting . . . just sayin’.

Having said all that, there are those, that if determined, will find a way to obtain weapons and use them against the innocent.  In the case of yesterday’s tragedy, the weapons were registered to the gunman’s mother, who became his first victim.

Another big issue is access to mental health care.  The articles I’ve read are mixed as to whether the young man had mental disorders.  Let’s just get this clear . . . anyone who can go on a shooting spree like that, especially against young children, has a mental disorder.  Does that make him bad or evil?  Not necessarily.  By all reports, he seemed to be a “nice guy” and smart—an honor roll student when he was in high school.  So, what is the catalyst for someone to get up in the morning, shoot his mother in the face, drive to an elementary school, shoot and kill 28 people (20 of whom are children), before turning the gun on himself?  Would he have benefited from some sort of mental health care?  Did anyone recognize symptoms of mental illness?  Would it have mattered?  These are questions that we will never have answered as the only person that could answer them is dead by his own hand.

So today, my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones.  I cannot imagine the pain of losing my child in “normal” circumstances, much less to such senseless violence.  But my heart also goes out to that young man that didn’t see another way out and committed the horrible deed.  While I’m sure we are all judging him, his final judgment is not ours to make.

Take a minute to reflect on what you have rather than what you want today--hug your kids, parents, significant others, friends, and family.  Let the people you love know that you love them.  Life is fragile.

It's Just a Number, but . . .

So, I got on the scale this morning and surprisngly, I've lost 20 pounds.  Woo hoo!  As I stood there gaping at the number on the scale, I got so excited.  Of course, I stood there for a long time, savoring that number.  Why, you ask?  Well, because that 20 pound loss was after 3 days.  I got off the scale and watched it reset itself, with that message at the end . . . ERROR.  Well no shit, Sherlock.  Then I got back on it.  A 3 pound weight loss.  I'll take it.

Why do we get so hung up on a number on the scale?  I mean seriously, yes, I need to lose weight for my health, but I'm in better shape now than I was 10 years ago.  My clothes are fitting better, and I feel better.  Still, it's not enough to make me stop obsessing over that damn number.

So today's motto is . . . It's Just A Number . . . play the lotto

What a Difference

When I started this blog almost two years ago, I thought my life was pretty good.  Things have changed so much--life is still good, just different. 

Endings Lead to Beginnings

My life is changing, mostly for the better, but some things will always be bittersweet.  I came across a saying the other day, "We aren't friends. We're strangers with memories."  That phrase struck home and actually hurt my heart more than anything else that I've come across.

I'll keep moving on, working through the confusion and pain. Right now, my life is a Kelly Clarkson mashup.

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Settling

Never settle for less than you deserve. Nuf said.

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Ch ch ch changes . . .

Things have changed so much since I started this blog.  Well, if you can call it a blog.  Is it really a blog if no one reads it or is it just the rantings of a lunatic?  That is for another day.

I want to blog about the changes, but I'm not sure how to block certain people from seeing what I write . . .even though no one reads it, this would be the one time that it is discovered.

So for now, if you are reading this, keep sending me positive vibes so I can do what I need to do.