My 2012 Resolutions

I think resolutions are important. I like to use it as an opportunity to set goals for myself for the upcoming year. In the past I have tended to set goals that are slightly unattainable, so this year I decided to set more realistic goals. Wish me luck in 2012.

My resolutions:

1. Watch more cute and cuddly kitten videos on YouTube.
2. Stop repeating myself again, and again, and again.
3. Spend more time on the Facebook.
4. Stop repeating myself again, and again, and again.
5. Read less books.
6. Stop exercising.
7. Procrastinate more.
8. Drink more mojitos.
9. Start being superstitious.
10. Spend more less time at work.
11. Help kids stay safe by not texting on my cell phone while eating McDonald’s and speeding through crosswalks in school zones with a frost covered windshield.
12. Talk with a robot voice all the time.
13. Eat more fruit...snacks.
14. Stop licking frozen flag poles.
15. Only eat white snow.
16. Spend less than $1,825 at Starbucks this year.
17. Gain enough weight to get on The Biggest Loser.
18. Be more decisive...I'll absolutely try to attempt to think about resolving to be more decisive, if I possibly can.
19. Watch more television.
20. I will avoid taking a shower whenever possible and conserve more water.
21. I will always wear clean underwear, "just in case".
22. Make a list of people who were mean to me in 2011 and seek revenge on them in 2012.
23. I will stop saying, "Ooh, that feels nice" whenever the security guys frisk me at the airport.
24. Stop bringing lunch from home and eat out more.
25. Use fancier words like hence, furthermore, unbeknownst and subsequently.

Furthermore, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful 2012 (look already 25% done with resolution #25). Happy New Year.

New Year's Eve Day Tradition

Today Dale and I took part in a tradition that is well into the 7th or 8th year and that is spending New Year's Eve Day with our friend's Toby and Nicole Krout. It is a wonderful tradition and it is great to share the day with two dear friends.

We had delicious Thai food at Tuk Tuk at the Westminster Promenade. There is nothing better than sushi and spicy food on a cold winter day.

After lunch we saw the movie War Horse, which was beyond stellar. It was absolutely incredible, but I personally am a sucker for any animal movie. I will admit I cried for the last 30 minutes of the movie. You must see this movie. It is very well done.


A big thanks to Dale, Nicole and Toby for a wonderful afternoon and for a tradition of ending the year in such a wonderful way.

Why I love New Year's Eve

I love New Year's Eve. Tonight is the night Santa comes and handles all the exchanges and refunds for the stuff he brought on Christmas Eve. He gets you different sizes, colors or just plain takes back the stuff you did not like and even gets you an Elf credit if you want. It is a magical, yet practical evening. I plan to get to bed early so he does not skip me house.

New catchphrase

I need a new catchphrase for 2012. For those wondering my catchphrase on 2011 was "just saying". I have narrowed the options to these 15. Please help me pick. Add a comment to what you think I should say in 2012.

1. Back in St. Olaf...
2. Cowabunga!
3. Did I do that?
4. D'oh!
5. For sobbing out loud.
6. Hey, hey, hey.
7. I'll be back.
8. Isn't that special.
9. O-Tay!
10. Shazz-bot!
11. Schwinnng!
12. Up your nose with a rubber hose.
13. Wubba, wubba, wubba.
14. Yowza, yowza, yowza.
15. Zoinks!

Busy day

Woke up.
Checked email on iPhone.
Read some Facebook posts on iPhone.
Read some Twitter tweets on iPhone.
Read some blog posts on iPhone.
Read USA Today Online on iPhone.
Played Tetris on iPhone.
Got lazy ass out of bed.
Went downstairs.
Petted pups.
Ate English muffin Dale made me.
Surfed the net.
Went upstairs.
Got dressed.
Drove to Credit Union.
Went to Starbucks.
Drank chai tea.
Went to Men's Wearhouse.
Dale exchanged two shirts.
I bought a shirt on clearance.
I ordered Dale a new leather jacket.
Pretty.
Went to Party City.
Bought New Year's Eve decorations for Sandy.
Got glitter in my hair.
Went to Best Buy.
Dale bought a new phone cover.
Went to Boston Market.
Ate turkey.
Went to Safeway.
Picked up more antibiotics.
Bought groceries.
Drove home.
Took down Christmas lights.
Well, held ladder as Dale took down Christmas lights.
Walked the pups.
Ate apples (thanks Nell).
Read new Entertainment Weekly.
Read some Facebook posts on iPhone.
Read some Twitter tweets on iPhone.
Read some blog posts on iPhone.
Read USA Today Online on iPhone.
Wrote this blog post.


Exhausted.

Best Christmas Gift Ever

On my porch today I found a box of 36 honey-crisp apples from my friend Nell. It is the best Christmas gift ever. I may left Dale have one...no wait 1/2 of one. After so many cookies this could not come at a better time. Thank you Nell. You are the best! I am in apple heaven.

Proof Otherwise

Dale claims I always get distracted and never hold the ladder for him. Here is photographic proof otherwise. Here is Dale on the ladder taking down the Christmas lights and me taking pictures.

My balls were not mighty

I had a great time at dinner at Hacienda Colorado and bowling tonight. Now, my balls were not mighty tonight by any means and Sandy once again kicked my ass, but it was still fun. Plus I won $200 betting Steve he could not get a strike. My thanks to Dale, Scott, Emily, Kelley, Jeremy, Sandy and Steve for a great night and Kelley for arranging everything.

Christmas Purge

We are donating some of our excess Christmas items to Goodwill this week. If anyone wants any of this stuff before it goes, let me know. Thanks.



A family of acrylic snowmen.


Silver snowmen spoon rest.


Silver tree stocking holder .


Little ceramic houses.


Seasonal soap dispensers.


Ceramic snowman.


Penguin mug.


Santa hat that lights up and moves.


Large snowman platter (a few chips).


Set of 4 outdoor luminaries.


Two small outdoor lighted Christmas trees.

Lots of laughs and smiles

It was a great evening. You know you have tremendous friends when simple, last minute plans for dinner at Red Robin and going to see the movie, New Year's Eve is full of lots of smiles and laughs. Thanks to Dale, Judy, Tim, Shannon, Steve and Sandy for a great time!

Ability to hold on

This is the Aspen tree outside the service door in our garage. We let our dogs out this door, so we use it several times each day. One leaf is left on this tree. I find myself fascinated with the leaf and its' ability to hold on. I am not sure why, but I find myself looking day after day to see if the leaf is still there.

Sleepy girl

Lucy is all worn out from watching Dale packing up Christmas.

VHS and DVD Sale

I used to have over 500 VHS tapes. Every year I purge more and more. I purged more today to get the total down to 90, which is exactly what fits in one cabinet in our basement. I am sending all of these to Goodwill later this week unless someone wants any of them. Send me a message if you do:




VHS:

Animal House
Baby Boom
Big
Bodyguard
Bull Durham
Corky Romano
Dick Van Dyke Episodes
Good Fellas
I Love Lucy Episodes
Independence Day
Jeffrey
Jetty Maguire
League of Their Own
Muriel's Wedding
Naked Gun
Naked Gun 2 1/2
Overboard
Poetic Justice
Scream
Showgirls
Sleepers
Sum of Us
Summer Rentals
Trading Places
Usual Suspects
What's Love Got to Do With It
While You Were Sleeping

I have a few DVDs I am clearing out too. Let me know if I interested:





DVD:

Glee: First 1/2 of Season 1
South Park: Season 2
The Office: Seasons 1-4

Woke up feeling sad

I struggled falling asleep last night. At 9 PM I was exhausted and at midnight, when in bed I felt wide awake.

I woke up this morning, so I guess at some point I fell asleep, but I did not sleep well. I only remember bits and pieces but my dreams were very sad last night. I actually woke up feeling sad and I know it was because of the dreams. In the one bit I do remember, I remember standing outside alone just staring into our house and feeling incredibly sad. It is amazing the emotion you can feel from a dream. Hopefully tonight's dream will be happier.

Even the Christmas decorations are tired

We got home last night and saw this.


Even the Christmas decorations are tired and want to lie down.

It got me to thinking

Yesterday Dale and I helped our friend Stacie Stubbendick move out I her college apartment, along with her parent's Sandy and Steve. She is studying abroad in the Spring semester, so she won't be needing an apartment in Fort Collins. We were happy to help and fortunately she did not have too much stuff.

However, it got me to thinking about back to all the times I moved in and out of dorms and apartments in my early twenties. It seems like a lifetime ago. Twenty years goes by so quickly.

My life seemed so complex back then, but was really just a mattress and a dresser. And like every twenty year old I thought I had it all figured out but now realize I was dumb as hell (which my parents knew but kindly kept to themselves). Youth really is wasted on the young. If I only knew then, what I knew now. Oh well, I guess that is what makes life interesting.

The problem with December 26th

Nobody makes you a special breakfast
Nobody gives you dozens of gifts
You can't lounge in your pajamas all day
You can't eat candy and cookies all day
Nobody makes you lobster for dinner
Nobody pours your champagne

December 26th sucks.

Mike's Sports Bar

After dinner and gifts, we all invaded the Trisler's House and hit Mike's Sports Bar for some shuffleboard and champagne. Mike and Patty Trisler are two of the kindest people around and it was great to end Christmas with them. It was a fun time. Thanks Mike and Patty for including us in your Christmas festivities.








And for those wondering, I kicked ass at shuffleboard tonight.

A Christmas to Remember

What a wonderful Christmas evening. We went to our friend's The Stubbendick's along with our friend's Judy Wodell and Tammy Robles.

Dinner was superb. We started with delicious baked brie that Judy prepared and for dinner had filet mignon and lobster tails with baked potatoes that Sandy, Judy and Dale prepared together. Tammy made an incredible peppermint angel food cake for dessert. It was incredible. I am still stuffed.

After dinner we exchanged gifts and listened to holiday music. It was so much fun. Good food and great friends! It was a Christmas to remember.

























Ha! For those worried...Sandy knows they are ornaments and not earrings. We made her wear them. Too funny!

Melt my heart

I am a sucker for big, doe-like eyes. They just melt my heart. Look at the eyes on these two gifts from my friend's, The Stubbendick's. Aren't they adorable?





Both are made from gourds. Sandy has the turkey and I fell in love with it at Thanksgiving, so she tracked down the woman who makes them to get me one. How sweet is that?

The duck is a Christmas ornament and is perfect as Dale and I are trying to have every animal presented on our tree and we did not have a duck...let alone one so cute.

Thanks to the Stubbendick's for the great gifts and a wonderful Christmas.

The Christmas Spider

Dale made six of these spiders and webs this year as Christmas gifts for friends. It is amazing what Dale can create. They are beautiful and a fun addition of any Christmas tree.

If you are thinking, why a spider?  Here is the story of the Christmas spider and what inspired Dale to create these ornaments. The one pictured above is the one Dale made for our friend Sandy Stubbendick.

The Legend of the Christmas Spider  

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.  

T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty.  

But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!  

Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

Dale's Big Christmas Surprise

Dale's big surprise for Christmas was private cooking lessons in January with two personal chefs with his friend Sandy Stubbendick at home. Each lesson is three hours and there are four lessons. My friend Steve Stubbendick and I went in on the gift together. We created a book for Dale and Sandy to surprise them with the gift.

You can read the entire book here on SnapFish. Just check out this link.




Here is a breakdown of the classes:

Congratulations! The start of 2012 will begin a month long culinary adventure with Chefʼs Tom and Shari Scholten. Below is our roadmap for food, flavor and fun...

Chopped! In this class, we will learn knife techniques, a critical foundation of cooking. Since most soups usually require lots of chopping, this class will result in the creation of three delicious soups: Classic Chicken Noodle, Mushroom Marsala and Cream of Asparagus. January 5, 2012

Entree Essentials. In this class. weʼll explore techniques essential in creating the perfect entree using beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. Weʼll learn grilling, sauteing, braising and roasting. Weʼll use these techniques to fashion a beef Braciola (flank steak pounded thin, stuffed with basil, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese) braised in home made marinara sauce, grilled steak, chicken roasted to perfection and fish and seafood quickly sauteed to bring out itʼs fantastic flavor. January 12, 2012

Letʼs Get Saucy! In this class, we are going to learn to prepare the five “Mother” sauces as designated by the first celebrity chef, Auguste Escoffier in the early 1900ʼs. We will discover: - Bechamel which we will incorporate into Mac and Cheese - Espanole or Brown Sauce which we will serve over Steak Skewers - Beurre Blanc - which we will serve over Fish - Hollandaise- over Eggs of course - Tomato - weʼll turn Sauce it into a Soup January 19, 2012

How Sweet It Is. This class will focus on the last course (or for some folks the first course). Weʼll concentrate on four classic desserts and give you fool-proof recipes for Creme Brulee, French Chocolate Gateau (cake) with Ganache Icing, Chocolate Mousse and Bread Pudding. January 26, 2012

Follow the sun

Apparently the pups are just going to follow the sun from room to room today. I should buy them a big sun dial. I do love that they lay together.

It's a wrap!

It was a glorious Christmas morning from a wonderful breakfast, to watching the pups play with some new toys, to the Christmas music, the Christmas tree, the wonderful gifts and being with the man I love. Dale of course spoiled me, as did out friends. It was a great Christmas morning. We are truly blessed.

Of course I captured the morning with a few photos.