“I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second.”
How do you feel about New Years Resolutions? Friend or Foe?
This week I've been reading a lot of blog posts speaking about this, and there seems to be a 50/50 split. Some people take them very seriously, while others regard them in the same light as emptying the litter box.
I used to be the former. If New Years Resolutions were a subject in school, inside my teacher's grade book there would be a sparkling A next to my name. It isn't even crazy to say that I'd be offering after school tutoring sessions on how to beat your New Years Resolutions into shape. My own teacher would probably be a student of mine.
These days however, probably thanks to burnout, I don't have much use for them. Last year I didn't make any. If I did, I'm sure I forgot all about them by January 2nd.
But this year I started thinking really hard about it. (Insomnia makes me think even more than I usually do, which is saying something as the mind chatter inside my head is neverending). I decided that it doesn't matter what I call them - goals, resolutions, or a healthier lifestyle - and that no one is "positively perfect in every way." We can't all be Mary Poppins. (Actually, scratch that. Mary Poppins has got to be the most imperfect fictional character of all time with a pompous statement like that). There's always room for improvement.
So here's what I came up with, at 4 o'clock in the morning:
- The simple phrase, “Let go.” Stop worrying so much over trivial things. It’s exhausting and a ridiculous waste of perfectly good energy.
- Imperfection is okay, so stop comparing your creative endeavors and yourself to others.
- I know it can feel like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, but do your best to change your attitude over certain things... especially when it comes to matters that you have absolutely no control over.
- Find a way to better separate yourself from others emotions.
- Finally learn how to play that guitar, and even though you can hardly draw a stick figure please attempt to learn how to draw. You’ve always wanted to possess that talent. While you’ll never be anything like a Beatrix Potter or Tasha Tudor, at least you can feel good that you at least tried. (See Resolution # 2). Effort does count for something.
- Even though I already have several blogs, I would like to create another one elsewhere. A clean slate and anonymity agrees with me.
- Manage that over thinking. It’s okay that it’s nearly impossible to quiet your mind. Just try your best to turn down the volume of your thoughts. If they’re negative, push either the “ignore” or “self destruct” button. If the thoughts are positive ones, embrace them.
- To experience a well-rested night of sleep, force yourself to go to bed before 9 pm.
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
Now, I'm not saying that I'm sticking to any of these. I'm just saying that I've tossed the little buggers in the air and understand full well that subscribing to even one of them is a healthy step in the right direction.
I decided to start the New Year by saving a lot of my favorite music on YouTube. After having done that, I've come to the conclusion that I still enjoy the music from my childhood and junior high days the most.
Anyone remember this one? Or was this way before your time?
If so, I beg you to please humor me by keeping that information to yourself. I'm not a fan of acknowledging chronological age. I like to pretend that I just don't believe in it.
Anyhow, this video was only THE COOLEST VIDEO EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF NOT ONLY THE WORLD BUT THE UNIVERSE! It was boss back then, and it still is. It's like the Mona Lisa of 80's music videos. It's timeless!
Season 3 of Downton Abbey airs tomorrow!!!! I'm so glad I'm finally caught up on this show, thanks to good old Saint Nick bringing me the Seasons 1 and 2 DVD set for Christmas.
Don't hate me, but below I'm going to post just a few new pics. I had to take more since we turned on the fireplace for a change. It's been a rainy, wonderfully cool day so there was nothing to do other than take pictures.
Since all the other Christmas decorations have been put away, all left is the village and tree. I started taking off the ornaments, but look at what I'm dealing with here.
I'm dealing with A LOT of ornaments on a 9 foot tree to say sad goodbyes to. So far I've only taken off 9 of them. 9 out of possibly hundreds. (This year I'm determined to make an official tally of them. We have a bet going against my brother. I can't wait to see him lose!)
Abby and I played with her new Christmas baby today. Believe it or not, a couple nights ago was the first time she actually placed a baby/stuffed animal at my feet to play tug-of-war with and chase. (Finally, she's starting to act like a real dog and not a human baby). This is not usual for her, since she's obsessed with just hiding her babies behind the couch and guarding them. I even found Wendy's catnip mouse back there.
If there was a hoarding show for dogs, she'd be on it.
Look at these sleepyheads.
Chewing rawhides, playing with their toys and begging for people food is exhausting work.
-
At first, I was undecided but now I think this is so amazing. It's definitely different. I've heard 2 or 3 of their songs before, but I never knew they did all these remakes.
The songs I've heard by them before are these:
-
And here's the original song, "My Immortal" by Evanescence. I love both versions of these songs. It's sad, but beautiful.
I confess that I'm guilty of enjoying sad music. As Sally Sparrow said in Doctor Who, "Sad is Happy for Deep People."
- Along with Downton Abbey, Once Upon A Time airs tomorrow too. I don't know if I can handle this much joy in one night!
- I really need to raid the kitchen because this cooler weather has influenced Mom into baking and cooking a lot over the weekend. We have all this wonderful food - left over BBQ, Long John Silvers, homemade Cinnamon Crumb Cake, homemade Lemon Meringue Pie, homemade potato soup, cinnamon bread, powdered donuts, a box of assorted Milano cookies - yet I'm not even hungry.
- I forgot to mention that my niece and nephew were on tv again. Their high school's football team made Championship, and it took place at The Cowboy's Stadium! (Their team won, by the way).
The camera panned on my nephew and his girlfriend a couple times, and before the band played at halftime I heard them announce my niece's name... complete with her nickname "Lethal Weapon." (Because she's a 2nd degree black belt. Her brother is, too).
- My poor brother-in-law just lost his job, but thankfully he already has an interview with someone he's worked with before. Hopefully everything will work out for him, and I hear he wasn't happy at his old job. I really hope this is a blessing in disguise for them.
- I'm extremely jealous of all this snow people are getting. It's been in the mid-40's here lately, which is a pretty awesome change, but snow would be so nice. I don't think I've seen even a dusting of snow in 9 years.
Although we do have ice in our freezer. Does that count?
I've been giving my bedroom a little makeover lately, beginning with the bedding. Wendy Kitty has put some wear and tear on the old one, so it was time to replace it. When I saw these two quilts at Stein Mart, I fell in love. I mean, they had my favorite elements:
1). Fancy Script
2). Crowns
3). Paris(I'm a HUGE fan of Phantom of the Opera, and I already have a little table with Paris scenes).
4). Birds(Which to my surprise PERFECTLY matched a digital image/transfer I put on a bag recently... and now a chair cushion since it seems finding that transfer was meant to be).
5). My favorite color
Eventually, I'll break down and paint my room. I did try that a few months back, but with disastrous results. The paint I got from Ace Hardware was nothing at all like the sample. Instead of a pretty and soft shade of blue, it was the brightest blue I think these eyes have ever seen. Wearing sunglasses was pretty much a necessity, so I did the only logical thing I could do. I covered it up with the boring light tan that was there originally, and then chucked that little Paint Sample O' Disappointment into the trash.
This time around, I think I'll take my chances with Lowe's paint. We had a little paper sample of 3 choice colors in the laundry room - it's been taped to the wall since Spring - so I took a look at it in my room. If the actual paint looks anything like the sample, I think I'll be happy. Isn't it pretty?
I've also been perusing a lot of stores, searching for just the right picture(s) but so far I've come across a whole lot of nothing. Finally, I just did a search online for at least one pretty picture to frame. I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to this one poster of The Paris Opera House. I only hope that if I order it, it will look nice. I'm really not a fan of ordering things like this online. It's a lot safer to see them in person.
I would prefer finding something in a store though. I would go to Garden Ridge, but I don't think we have one anymore. It burned down a while back, and last I heard the damage was so bad they couldn't rebuild. (True Story, which is a little OT: The day before it burned down, my mother and I were there. Every time I walked down this one particular aisle, I got this stabbing pain in my head. The instant I left the aisle, the pain stopped. At the time, I just figured it was me being sensitive to high EMF but then I realized there weren't any electrical boxes or wiring right there. I've been to this store so many times, and that was the first time I experienced something like that. The next day was when it burned down, so that was unsettling).
But enough rambling. I'll just post some photos now. Just bear in mind that eventually I'll be replacing ALL that you see on the walls right now... replacing my wobbly old desk with an antique dresser... new rug... new curtains... and of course splash some color on the walls.
Just please remember to exercise your imagination here, because there's still a lot to do. This is only the beginning of the changes I wish to make.
- Once Upon A Time airs tonight. We're finally going to meet Hook!
- I've been slowly getting back into siggy making. Click HERE, on my Crafty Emporium blog, to view my most recent siggies.
I really want to get back into Photoshop/GIMP. Lately, I've been either stuck in a rut or totally abandoning it all. And I don't know why, but I never ever make larger wallpapers. I really would like to start trying my hand at those as well.
- I really love this song. It's short, but so pretty. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, you'll recognize it instantly.
For those of you unfamiliar with Middle Earth... this is "Arwen's Song," which is played in the extended edition - (aka the ONLY edition everyone should be watching) - of Return of the King. It's from my favorite scene in the EE trilogy... The Houses of Healing.
And yes, that is Liv Tyler singing. (It just dawned on me that I might have shared this song before? Well, if I did it's worth posting again).
Here are the lyrics:
With a sigh
You turn away
With a deepening heart
No words to say
You will find
That the world has changed forever
The trees are now turning from green to gold
And the sun is now fading
I wish I could hold you closer
And here is the actual scene from the extended edition:
And of course Faramir and Eowyn's extended scene:
I do love me some Faramir!
- Will Fall ever arrive in the south? I swear that the first day it's in the low 60's - and all day long - I'm putting up the Christmas tree.
I only hope that happens before November. I want to be able to wear a light sweater during the day. Even now, at night it's still too warm for that.
- I don't know how I managed it, but I've been a bad fan girl when it comes to my pretend boyfriend; my charming bad boy with the Scottish lilt and a love for his little pug dog, Lolita.
HOW did I ignore him for pretty much an entire year?! And look at those beautiful eyes. Did you know that sometimes they're green and sometimes they're blue?
I'm hoping to remedy my stupidity beginning this week, since he's going to be on a few tv shows. I need to watch Machine Gun Preacher, too, while it's on Netflix Instant Watch. I've been avoiding it because I know it's very graphic and a true story.
Oh! This is gonna be fun, but Gerry and Felix Baumgartner both are going to be on Jimmy Fallon the same night. (I was just telling Mom a few days ago how I bet FB will be on the talk shows now that he did his space jump. Little did I think GERRY would be interviewed as well). I hope we'll get to see them together. Gerry is an adventurous sort, too, so that would be interesting to see.
I'm not a fan of acknowledging chronological age. I like to pretend that I just don't believe in it.
