Resolutions for 2012

Studies show that new habits take approximately 30 repetitions to become automatic behaviors. By doing a little girl math, this fact leads me to think that each month I could introduce a new resolution. That's what we call a PLAN, kids. Here we go.

january

no drinking on school nights

With my workout schedule and healthy eating in full effect, just one or two drinks on a school night leaves me feeling like crap in the morning. Given that half of my workouts start around 5:00a on weekdays, it only had to happen once or twice before I realized how much of an interruption that one glass of wine could become. It's that simple. No more drinking on school nights.

Exception: vacations. In which case weekdays aren't technically school nights.

This is called the Maui Breakfast.

february

write more letters and cards
Starting with Valentine's Day cards, I want to write more cards. How great is it to receive actual mail? Pretty awesome. In addition, I already own a nice selection of greeting cards, and love getting a good deal on new ones, so it's good in every direction.

While I had the Christmas thank-you notes going, I addressed these Valentine's Day cards.

march 

send gifts on time
I have a rather wretched habit of mailing gifts after-the-fact. I've joked with recipients that it just extends their birthday/Christmas celebration by a few days (ok... weeks). That's pretty unfair, though, and I'm getting too old to lean on excuses. My niece and brother will each celebrate birthday in March, and the family birthdays continue on a pretty regular basis throughout the rest of the year, so in 2012 folks will get their gifts on time.


april
visit family more often
My family is geographically scattered, with a brother and sister-in-law in Florida; a sister, brother-in-law, and niece in Texas; and parents and step-brothers in Chicagoland.

Why WOULDN'T I want to spend more time with these clowns?

We genuinely enjoy each others' company. I need to make more time to spend with them, even if/when that involves significant travel. We're close, and we would be closer if I made a bigger effort to visit their homes more often.


may
banish "I didn't have time/a chance to ______"
I'm really looking forward to using this line for the next few months, but starting May 1 I shall no longer use that excuse. It's such a good one, but it's basically a lie. We all have 24 hours in a day, and some people manage to do a lot more with that amount of time. Like get things done. It's not that I didn't have a chance or the time to do something; I chose to spend that time doing something else. Which is fine, but also pretty lame. In May I'll probably hold a burial for that line. 


june
socialize more with friends
I'm a notorious home-body. Unless the plan involves meeting at the bar across the street, I'm probably not going to leave Fitchburg. The beginning of summer, with the Farmers Market and Concerts on the Square and pool parties, seems like as good of a time as any to start leaving home to spend time with friends.

Exhibit A: My friends are HOT.

I always, always have enjoyed going to events with friends. Remembering that will provide me with the momentum necessary to leave my cozy little cocoon.


july
read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
I learned somewhere that this behemoth made a relatively short list of the best works of literature of my generation. Well, now that I'm not in school anymore and therefore don't have homework reading assignments that expose me to this caliber of literature, I'm taking this opportunity to assign myself a project.

Clocking in at 1079 pages, this qualifies as a TOME.

Though this is my July goal, it'll likely take more than a month to finish, so let's say I will have started or gotten about half-way through the book by summer.


august
utilize my inventory of house stuff
I keep meticulous shopping lists on my iPhone.

I recommend the NoteMaster Lt app

Despite my efforts, I still occasionally find myself without canned black beans, or dryer sheets, or [fill in the blank]. This frustrates me because I HATE RUNNING ERRANDS. What a waste of time.

I created an amazing 2-page spreadsheet of every consumer product I own which requires replenishing. The list has categories which align loosely with the aisles of a grocery store (or... let's be honest... the Super Target down the street from my house). I need to spend some time finalizing it and then actually put the thing into motion. On a monthly basis, take stock of what I have and add what I need to the shopping list. The goal: RUN FEWER ERRANDS.

september
have a birthday party
I haven't had a legitimate birthday party in... a really long time. I've had a small group over for a last-minute cookout...

Jokingly referred to as a meeting of the Young Republicans

... and I've met up with groups of friends downtown for an evening in the bars. Both are alright options, but in 2012 I will plan and have an awesome, premeditated birthday-themed party to ring in my 33rd year. Excellent.


october
wear a Halloween costume and possibly attend a party 
I haven't really worn a Halloween costume since 2006. (Read all about why not.) Perhaps 2012 is the right time to stop being such a buzzkill about it. You know how great costume ideas always occur to you in, like, May? This year maybe I'll write down that genius idea so I can implement it come October.

november
organize my photos
My digital and printed photos are a hot, hot mess. About a year ago, I made some attempts to clean up my Picasa albums, which have once again become unmanageable. As a blogger, that's a pain in the ass. I need to be able to find pictures relatively quickly.

I have two shoe boxes full of printed photographs and I actually already own a couple empty albums. I also already have an external hard drive onto which I can back up my digital photos for safekeeping.

It's really just a matter of making time -- like, probably less than an hour -- to transfer the prints to said albums, and to copy the digitals to my hard drive. Not exactly rocket science, and not exactly a monumental task.


december
plan resolutions for 2013
This has been a great exercise. I hope that 365 days from now I'm able to reflect on the success I achieved with the goals above. Right now, they strike me as reasonable goals, though I'll admit to having doubts about the one-a-month format. Maybe these will end up being more 'seasonal' than 'monthly' and only time will tell.

Here's to a fantastic start to what will be a terrific year.

Stages of a Relationship

I am the opinionator. This is my opinion. This is NOT the opinion of 100% of my closest girlfriends and confidants.

An illustration of my my dating life during my 20s:

I took a nice 5-year hiatus from dating in order to focus on my self, family, friends, and work. I'd say it paid off. Around the time I hit my 30s, I decided to give it another go, but only after receiving confirmation from multiple close friends that I was "ready".

With my confidence restocked, out into the mean world of dating I went. (You can read all about a couple first dates here and here.) And here are the stages of relationships according to me.

dating around

You're seeing him, and you're seeing other people or would consider it if the opportunity arose. There's no expectation of exclusivity between you two, or of mutual social planning.

dating exclusively

You're seeing him and nobody else. You have mutually agreed -- out loud -- to not date other people.

boytoyfriend

My friend Emily introduced this word into my vocabulary. You need two hands to count the number of times you've "been out" and don't really consider these outings to be "dates" any longer.

boyfriend

You two attend events as a couple and there's an assumption that if one has a social event scheduled, there will be some degree of wardrobe coordination. (Just kidding about that last part.) (Or am I?)

Facebook-official

Say it loud, say it proud! Mark Zuckerberg empowers you to share the news with the world.

broken up

I've never actually achieved the Facebook-official status, but I've seen it happen many times. So-and-so changed her status from "In a relationship" to "Single". Ouch. Aren't you glad you told the world he was your one-and-only?

My break-ups have, for the most part, been pretty healthy learning experiences. The most recent one actually occurred... on Monday. No tears shed, and definitely for the best.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... and again... and again: I'd rather be single than with the wrong person. It's the balm that soothes the souls of women everywhere. Especially once we hit our 30s.

Yes, I did file this article under "chores" and "work." This provides you, dear reader, with a little insight to my state of mind when it comes to dating.

Grammar

'i' before 'e,'

except after 'c,'

and in the word

leisurely.

That's a leisure suit, see.