Zen in '10

My nephew, Taylor, just started his last semester of high school. Other than making me feel really old, that makes me feel a bit nostalgic, because It's been 20 years since my high school commencement.

I'm guessing my loser class won't have a two-decade reunion since we didn't have a 10-year one. Allegedly most of my classmates didn't care to reunite or reminisce a decade ago. It's weird how most of us are still holding onto our high school pettiness at the 10-year mark, but by the 20-year anniversary, most of that stuff doesn't matter anymore. No longer are we gossiping about who hooked up with whom on the senior trip. Instead we're worrying about mortgages and life insurance and paying for orthodontists and divorces.

If we do have a reunion I suppose I'll attend. After all, I'm pretty proud of my career path. My personal life, on the other hand, will be the subject of speculation I'm sure, with people guessing I'm not married because (a) I'm a lesbian (I'm not); or (b) I'm such a perfectionist that no man has ever been good enough for me (hmmm... maybe).

So yeah, I've yet to meet Mr. Right, but unlike some of my classmates, I'm not on my third husband or fourth grandchild.

This year is the first time in a long time that I didn't make New Year's resolutions. For one thing, I never keep them (how's that 5K going, Lori?). But I have been thinking a lot lately about what I want to accomplish this year. Like figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. Finally getting out of credit card debt. Always looking fabulous.

I predict 2010 (pronounced "twenty ten" by the grammarphobes, in case you're wondering) will be the year I take more chances, both personally and professionally. I'm ready for more bad first dates and perhaps a few good second ones. For finally feeling competent at work instead of merely faking it. For traveling to new places, eating new food, and wearing new clothes.

In the words of the great philosopher Celine Dion, what do you say to taking chances? And maybe finally running that 5K.

NYE, Texas style

Jen and Lon had a great party to ring in the new year last night. I've been accused of crashing all of the S&W radiology parties, but honestly, I don't drive down when there's a party, there's just always a party when I'm here. That's totally different!

We had good food, good times, and a little too much champagne. Now we're being lazy watching football.

I crashed about 11:30 last night after cooking all day, but Lon and Jen made me wake up to toast 2010 and we stayed up 'til about 2:30.

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope the new decade is great for you. My resolution: to stop waiting for the ideal and to start enjoying the interim more. I'm so thought-provoking.

Rest of the NYE pics are here, if you don't have Facebook.

New Year's Resolutions

For the past two years I've confessed my NY Resolutions on this blog and for the past two years, I've broken every single one of them. So, instead of resolving to do anything, here's a list of things I'd like to accomplish in '09:

• Walk/jog at least 25 miles a week
• Run a 5K race (and not just a few steps, like in '08)
• Be more open minded about meeting "the one" (so LB wasn't Mr. Right, or even Mr. Right Now, but he did remind me that there are still good guys out there, so I guess he served his purpose)
• Bake no cookies nor agree to lunches with any cute boys unless they ask me out on a real date
• Travel to Europe
• Spend more quality time with my friends
• Learn to say "no" to things that don't improve my life or someone else's
• Listen more

I'm closing on my house on Friday, so I suppose "becoming a home owner" should be on the list. And I made my last credit card payment this week, so getting out of debt (save mortgage, car and student loans) is a very real possibility in '09.

Here's to the new year, kids. Hope yours is great.

Oh, and leave me comments with your resolutions or, at the very list, things you'd like to accomplish in '09.