2008

The new year is fast approaching, and I have promised myself that I will be making some personal changes in 2008. The past six months have, health-wise, been absolutely absurd. I have had six bouts of bronchitis and one of borderline pneumonia and I am tired tired tired of being sick and I am tired tired tired of having absolutely no energy. I am normally a high energy person and all this illness has reduced my energy levels to almost zero. I do not want to live like this! The necessary changes have nothing to do with New Year's Resolutions. These are changes I personally need to make to get back to good physical, mental and even spiritual health. I am going to think of this as a one-step-at-a-time path back to good health. I can't look at a list of (fairly drastic) changes and think I can do them all at once or overnight. I will keep the "long term goals" in mind as I make short-term changes, step by step. My overall (long term) goals for 2008: -- (Physical) Schedule a complete physical with my doctor and discuss the lack of energy, building up my immunity, etc. -- (Physical) Build up my immunity against germs and diseases by taking a wide spectrum of vitamins, and -- (Physical) Eat a more healthy, balanced diet, cutting out white sugar and white flour, decreasing red meats, and increasing vegetables, fruits, and fiber. -- (Physical) Build up my energy levels and physical stamina by returning to a scheduled exercise program. -- (Physical) Decrease smoking gradually with a one year goal of quitting smoking. -- (Mental) Commit to taking more photos to share with friends and family. -- (Mental) Remember to enjoy every day for what it offers. -- (Mental) Schedule mini-vacations with Jeff and get away more often. -- (Mental) Respond to my creative side by doing more sewing and quilting on a regular basis. -- (Monetary) Return to work - at least some kind of part time job. -- (Monetary) Return to selling on Ebay on a consistent basis. -- (Spiritual) Commit to keeping in touch more often with dear friends and family. -- (Spiritual) Look into some type of volunteer work. First Steps: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So I need to plan my first steps to accomplishing my long term goals, one step at a time. My first goal is to get the following done by January 15th: 1. Make an appointment for physical, including pap smear and mammogram. 2. Get a schedule of classes from the fitness center, choose one. 3. Purchase vitamins. 4. Count number of cigarettes smoked each day. 5. Sit down and plan menus and grocery shopping 1 week in advance. 6. Talk w/Jeff about work schedule and pencil in a 3-day vacation slot within the next 2 months. 7. Make 2 phone calls, write 2 letters to family and friends. 8. Post 10 items on Ebay. 9. Buy Sunday paper to look for PT job and volunteer work. 10. Plan my next quilt/sewing project. Just having written all this out gives me a sense of commitment. My slogan is "2008 - It's not too late!" LOL

Almost Christmas!

It's been a busy few days around here, as I'm sure it is with everyone who celebrates Christmas and procrastinates as much as I do!

 

This morning I sat down and planned out the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day foods, and then went grocery shopping. The meal plans are:

 

Christmas Eve - I'm going to make a nice home-cooked from scratch Chicken Pot Pie with a biscuit crust. This is a family favorite and nice "comfort food" for Christmas Eve. We'll just have a simple green salad with it. I normally cook either a roast or lasagna, but I wanted something fairly easy to fix and that Brayden might actually eat. (The child is a fussy eater!)  For dessert, I'm going to make what we call "A Christmas Cake" but which is actually a white cake with the layers pierced and cherry (red) and lime (green) jello dripped down through the layers, then all covered in Cool Whip. It couldn't be easier, and yet it couldn't be more Christmasy.

 

For Christmas breakfast - We'll be having waffles, bacon, sausage and a mixed fruit salad with a vanilla yogurt dressing (which Brayden will eat). I will make scrambled eggs if anyone wants them. I'll also make a crumb cake  for morning snacking. When Jeff was shopping today he bought cinnamon swirl bread for cinnamon toast and Dunkin' Donuts coffee, so we'll incorporate those into breakfast. And I have a variety of juices as well.

 

For Christmas Buffet - We'll have our standard "dog poop" (hamburger, sausage, velveeta cheese cooked in a slow cooker and served on pumpernickle and rye mini breads), Buffalo chicken wings, assorted crackers, cheeses and dips, as well as more fruit.

 

The buffet is cooked in the late morning, then put on the kitchen table in crock pots so that anyone can eat whenever they feel like. I don't like a sit-down dinner on Christmas Day -- I want a holiday too! So the buffet works out well.

 

I still have things left to do! I have all the big presents wrapped, but need to wrap stocking items still. I have two world war II documentaries still to put on DVD for Jeff, to accompany his "The War" audio book. And believe it or not, I still need to make one more trip out shopping -- I'm not happy with what I've gotten Mary so far! I have two other things in mind and will go out first thing in the morning and get them. Luckily the main shopping areas aren't 2 miles from my house so it won't take long.

 

I remember the year when I had ALL my shopping done and everything wrapped in October....sigh sigh sigh. I need to get more organized and think ahead about this kind of thing. There are so many FUN things to do this time of year, but it's all going by the wayside because I'm busy playing catch-up.

 

Next year will be better!