Happy New Year 2010

Well readers, it's New Year's Eve and I'm still in Oklahoma, sucking up the loving from my niece and nephew. Most folks are probably busy making resolutions about the coming year. They are deciding to shape up, be better people, blah blah blah..

Not me.

Mostly because I've yet to meet someone who has actually KEPT their resolution. And also because I am in shape. Round is a shape.

Kidding aside, most of the things I want are out of my control. I want to live in the same state as my husband - more on that later. But its something I can't control. I want to buy a house, and start a family. But all that hinges on living in the same state as my husband - again, out of my control. So, I will set out some goals for the new year. Because this is the year that Mark and I start to set some roots and start up our home. So what can I do to prepare for that??

Goal #1: Get my body into baby making shape. I don't want to be skinny. So, I need to prepare my body to be a temple to the "tator tot" that will soon be conceived ("tator tot" comes from the joke that my brother has "beans" for babies - since he's still a Castro, and still Mexican. I'm now Irish, and the Irish are known for potatoes... yadda yadda yadda.. you get it..). I think I could stand to lose about 30 - 40 lbs.

Goal #2: Prepare my bank account for the incoming mortgage. To do this, I'm not sure what I'll do - most likely not purchase the things I really want, and stick with those things I really need.

Case in point: before Christmas I purchased the book "The Joy of Cooking". I was so excited for my purchase, that I stayed up until midnight the night I bought it, just skimming the pages. Because that is my crack cocaine: COOKBOOKS. Additionally, I purchased the book: Julie and Julia, which got me excited about cooking. Today, Mark and I went to Barnes & Noble, where I found Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I sat in the aisle, opening the vintage blue cover and found myself growing excited. "I need this", I told myself. "Really?", I replied back to myself, "do you need this $40 cookbook, or do you need a house more?".

Damn.. Got me there.

"But I really really want this book"

"Where are you going to cook all these wonderful things? And for whom will you be cooking? Because Mark is still in California"

"Yes but I could practice until he gets here."

"Really? What about Joy of Cooking, mastered anything in that one yet? Cuz you really needed that one too."

Good point.

So - arguement with myself over (yes, I do that quite often), I put the book back. The glorious vintage recipes and ink drawings went back to the shelf. Which leaves me to my last goal:

Goal #3: Master Joy of Cooking. My reward will be Volume I of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

I think in order to accomplish all of these, I will have to overcome one small barrier: Mind over Mattress. I need to get up earlier. I love more than anything to sleep in, especially on cold days, but I'm going to have to get up to accomplish all of these goals. Mostly because I need to get into work earlier. Then I can go to the gym for 30 mins of running (ugh.. I cringe just writing it). That will get me home in time to make dinner. And since there are only 3 of us at home eating, I'll have some for lunch, meaning I won't go out - saving time and money. I'll need your help here, readers. I'll need you to remind me of how important my goals are, and how all I need to do is overcome the "mind over mattress".

So maybe I have resolutions, but I fully intend to accomplish them this year. The year 2010 is the year for Mark and Anje. Our long term family goals will be accomplished! And it all starts on January 1!!

Happy New Year! Let's make it a great one!