Resolutions

According to Wikipedia - 40% of Americans set New Year's Resolutions in an attempt to better themselves. The site also says that 88% of people fail. 

I don't really know when Holidays started getting me down. I suppose it began while I was in college. The winter break would happen and I would arrive home just as Christmas was approaching. There was no more build up. There was usually an argument with the parents about when the tree was going to finally get put up. It seemed like it went up because of a deadline not because of the spirit. One day I hope to have a home of my own that I can deck out with the upcoming holiday and perhaps throw a cocktail party for my friends. 

This might sound like a debbie-downer way to start a blog for the new year but my point is only that if you don't like something - you've got to do something about it, right? I have made a few New Years Resolutions of my own. 

1. Create at least 70 blog posts in 2013.
I started Marmalade a while back. And then made a verbal commitment to post about cooking and food and whatnot but I failed. My camera broke and I felt too inept to fully utilize my iphone camera. So with 70 posts that is at least one a week plus a few extras.

2. Work harder on my body and for my body. 
I don't want to set a goal of losing a certain amount - that seems like its asking for failure. Instead I just want to eat better than I am now and work harder at the gym than I do now.

3. Cook more. 
Its my passion. There are 52 weeks in a year. Say I vacation 2 weeks. With my current schedule that means I only have 100 days available to cook dinner for myself. But I also love to eat out, try new restaurants and visit favs. So now lets say I have 60 opportunities to cook. Lets say 10 of those are already prepared meals. I now have 50 opportunities to cook dinner. I better hop to it!

4. Remember the good times. 
I saw on Pinterest the idea of writing down good times, warm fuzzies, and happy thoughts and sticking them in a jar so that in one year they can be pulled out and reviewed. I love this idea because it seems we often remember negative more than positive. I purchased a vintage Whisky decanter from an antique shop and as of yesterday it was collecting dust. Today it has two notes in it. 

5. Keep up with friends better. 
This one sounds easy but it is not. I am sure its a resolution that most people make. I need this though. Everyone I meet leaves some kind of footprint on my heart and I am always sad when I realize that too much time has past since I have spoken, talked to, or seen. I intend to send cards, write emails, make phone calls, and schedule plans. Hope the friends are ready. 

What were you up to New Years Eve? I had just come home from spending Christmas in Alaska with my family. I had to rush back into work. I forgot to make plans, see what might be going on! For a moment I wondered if it would be lonely to sit home and snuggle with my pup while watching Seacrest count down to midnight. Or would it be more sad to sit in a favorite bar where I don't know anyone just to be out and around people. I chose the latter. 

For New Years I headed over to Interurban on N. Mississippi. A usual haunt, its comfortable, non cliche, and the bartenders are always entertaining. I took a seat at the only vacant bar stool. As I sat I realized I was next to the resident bar stool warmer - you know - 60s, drunk, telling the same story over and over. Luckily he left soon after I arrived, he had two other bars to visit before it struck New Years. At that time I found myself surrounded by empty seats. I thought about scooting down towards people but then I thought "Lets let fate fill these seats and see what kind of conversation I will end up in. An intensely drunk group of 23 year olds walked in which was mildly amusing for the first 10 minutes. Next came a couple. I am not even sure when they sat down. We started chatting and had a lot in common from school, local favorite spots, and life. As a group we chatted and chatted until someone on the customer side of the bar saw the time ticket atop the bartenders computer. It was 11:44 pm. The bartenders rounded up whatever servers were available and started handing out the toast. At a hip bar such as Interurban surely it wouldn't be an ordinary toast. They handed out Champagne Jello Shots. Served in a wide shot glass with a demitasse spoon for slurping. Delicious and complete with bubbles it was a truly fun way to ring in the new year!