Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

December 31, 2007

No resolutions.....but maybe a few goals.

Happy New Weir everyone!! That's what Deadheads usually say to each other..."Have a Jerry Christmas and a Happy New Weir."


We'll be hanging out tonite, going to bed early, being awakened at midnight by the fireworks, then sleeping in tomorrow. As I mentioned in my Labor Day post, Brian and I are not huge fans of when New Years is celebrated. This time of year always seems so depressing. We're still coming down off the holiday high, many of us have eaten and drank way too much, although today I managed to get a pair of jeans on, and buttoned, that I haven't been able to get over my fat can in months, so apparently I didn't eat that much.

I just wish traffic was as light as it was today, every day!! At least it's a short day. Phones are quiet here at work...I'm planning to jet outta here at noon'ish.

Do any of you make resolutions? I don't. There was only one year that I managed to stick to a resolution and that was in 1996 when I said I'd try new things. That year I brewed my first batch of beer (under Brian's supervision and assistance of course), I tried to take banjo lessons but realized that I'm too old and too dyslexic to learn how to read music.....when I went to the 2nd lesson I proudly played what the teacher had me practice, only to find out that I'd learned the music upside down and backwards. I'd also had modest success selling jewelry and window crystals that summer. My office had moved from SF to West Berkeley in '96 & my hours were reduced, so I got a new part time job at another firm in downtown Berkeley, near the Cal campus and I eventually transitioned to that firm full time by the end of '96. So that was a pivotal year for me.

2008? Don't know. I hate the word "resolution", and prefer "goal" but isn't a goal just a resolution?


The one thing I'd love to do in '08 is stop the cycle of self loathing. My self esteem has always been in the gutter and I can't even stand to look at myself in the mirror. Which is why my hair always looks like it's been thru a cyclone, b/c after the initial blow dry in the morning, I don't bother looking in the mirror the rest of the day. So what I'd like to do is really get back to the gym and make an effort this coming year. I'd like to stop hating myself, but that's something I've grown so used to doing, b/c it's been a part of my makeup for as long as I can remember. I was never thin enough for my family, and all that caused me to do was eat more. Then I look back at photos of me when I was young and I wasn't fat. I was told I was fat. I was on diets all the time. I'm not talking about my teenage years, I'm talking about being fed cottage cheese and peaches when I was in elementary school, and told to "Get outside and get moving! You are too sedentary!" all the time. When I'd be playing w/ my cousins in my aunt's pool, I was encouraged to swim laps for exercise. My family is so incredibly fat-phobic. It's all I ever hear about....who lost weight, who gained weight, weight weight weight weight. In fact, I'm already having anxiety attacks about going back east this coming spring b/c I just know I'm gonna hear about it. Along with my unstyled hair and shabby clothes.


As for vacations this year, I was very excited to go to Canada again. I had planned on spending a few days at the Whistler/Blackcomb resort, north of Vancouver. It's a winter and summer playground, and I was planning on doing a zip-line in the woods. It looks like so much fun to do! On the way home, I was going to stay in Surrey or White Rock, near the border w/ the USA, and then go to Point Roberts, which is a tiny bit of Washington State that can only be accessed by crossing into Canada. Unfortunately, the US dollar has taken such a nosedive, while the Canadian loonie is kicking ass. Therefore, it would end up costing me way more money in the long run to vacation in British Columbia, between the crappy exchange and the foreign transaction fees that credit card companies charge. I'm glad I did my epic Vancouver Island trip last summer. Oh I can always take the Victoria Clipper from Seattle to the island and spend the night in Victoria if I need a BC-fix, but there won't be any long-term vacations to Canada this year.

Brian and I are, however, going to Long Beach, Washington, for President's Day weekend, weather be damned. Long Beach is in the far southwest corner of the state. The explorers Lewis & Clark ended their expedition in the Long Beach, WA/Seaside, OR area, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, between Washington and Oregon. I don't care if the weather is stormy....they actually have "Storm Watching" events. We will board Sagan and take Pepper. Washington is a very "dog friendly" state when it comes to travel, so we will stay at The Anchorage cottages. We've been there before and it's lovely and snug. The town of Long Beach is funky. Another reason we want to go is that area was hit so hard by the storm and floods of early December and their economy desperately needs a boost.

Other than that and my obligatory trip back east, we have no other travel plans. But another goal I would like to set for myself this year is to finally get up to Seattle and do the tourist thing. In June we will be here for 9 years, and other than passing thru Seattle & a Mariners game in 2001, I've never spent any time there at all. There are a ton of day or overnight trips I would like to take - Port Townsend, Leavenworth, Snohomish, Olympia, Mount St. Helens, and of course, Julie and I will have to rendezvous again at some point in '08.

And I can hear Susan, Kris and Tess now, "And we have to get you to Nebraska this spring too." I'm still mulling it over guys, and will let you know if it's feasible!!! I'm going to try and figure out a way to tack it on at the end of my trip to Cape Cod. Will let you know!

Anyways, have a safe and happy new year! Here's to a peaceful 2008 and the end of the Bush regime.

17 comments:

  1. well mulling it over is a step in the right direction! yey! you read my mind, when i got the paragraph that started "other than" in my head i was starting to figure o/ my wording for the comment i was about to leave for our nebraska trip lol!

    hope you & brian have an enjoyable evening and a happy 2008:)

    and btw, why aren't you taking sagan? (think i know why, just wanted to give you a laugh!!)

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  2. Hey, no place better than Nebraska in the spring time!!!

    Happy New Year Jojo :)

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  3. Kris - Sagan's just too excitable; he'd bark at every single noise. He loves going to board anyway.

    So far I cannot find any direct flights from Boston to the midwest, without having to slingshot thru Houston or some other hub, and I'm just not a good "flier". If I can't go direct from place to place, I don't go....let me know if you guys have any luck.

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  4. Anonymous2:18 PM

    I have ONE New Years Resolution... 'I will continue to be dotty about D'Onofrio'

    That one I know I CAN keep ;0)

    Happy New Year to you and yours too!

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  5. Happy New Year, Jo, hope it's going to be a great one for you all!
    Lots of love to you! xxx

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  6. happy new year,and peace to you and yours always.

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  7. JoJo - you forgot to mention your trip with Julie! Do you two plan to meet up again next year?

    I love the bit about learning the banjo music upside down and back-to-front!

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  8. Val - the mention of meeting up w/ Julie is in the post. She's in the Bay Area right now visiting her folks, but we'll talk this weekend.

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  9. I don't do resolutions..I haven't ever managed to keep one for more than a day or two.I guess losing weight would be on my list,but thats there every year anyway(until I find chocolate)

    maybe try some new things away from the computer,but I have so much fun trying new things on the computer that I don't have much time for anything else :-D

    Hope you and Brian have a good night and that 2008 is good for you

    Eliza xxxxx

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  10. hsppy new year to you, brian and the fur kids...and yes, you read our minds....nebraska in june!

    isn't it amazing how easy it is for us to believe bad things said about us, but not the good? parents can be sooooo clueless! anyway, WE all think you're beautiful so put that in your pipe and smoke it!

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  11. You know Jojo,if you find a teacher who is open enough you can learn whatever instrument you like by ear.My family all plays by ear and most read music as well.I play by ear (when I do) exclusively,because my vision deems it so.

    Goal...I like that.My goal is to lose 50 pounds.yes,I REALLY need to lose that much.120 sounds like a dream,hell 150 would be great right now.

    I figure if my uber slothful friends are exercising and eating right,it is something I can do.AND there is nothing like friendly competition to get an Aries to do something!

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  12. Play by ear, Bryde? I find it difficult enough playing by hand...

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  13. You and me both Val.

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  14. Anonymous3:24 PM

    what a great post jojo... I come up with "good intentions" on a daily basis... at my age I really should know better!

    self-esteem is a bummer; I feel the same way as you, but I don't think I'll ever be happy with my appearance... I guess a good resolution would be to accept who we are and the way we are

    I was just talking to a friend in Florida and with all my trips to Israel was looking for a window this year to make a trip stateside... I have to have to have to, said stomping little foot!

    jojo, I wish you and Brian and your cuddly little ones all the very best for 2008, a year blessed with good health, happiness and laughter

    lotsa luv ann xxxxx

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  15. Haha, I think I'll have to post my stuff on my blog.

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  16. So true about the weight thing! I used to think I was fat back in the day and when I see pics of myself then, I was fine! WP is built like me -athletic and muscular. She will say, "I'm fat!". Ug, no, no, no sweetie, you are perfect, I tell her. I want her to be ok with herself. Sometimes it's just hard to be a girl. Just do the best you can, maybe walk a little. Go easy on yourself.

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  17. Hard to imagine someone as cool as you having a self-esteem problem! WTF? Ha! And as for the gymming thing: good luck, babe! Lemme know if ya need any pointers (...says the chick who has to lie down to get into her jeans lately!!)

    Have a brilliant NEW YEAR honey!
    Hope we all ROCK this year!!!

    xxx

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