I’ve issued myself several “directives” this year. I’m not calling them resolutions, even though they probably are. Anyway, one of my directives this year is to take better care of myself. Last year was a rough year on me emotionally and physically. I lost my Grandma, I had a major-ish surgery, and I had a simple little shot turn my world upside freaking down.

So, part of taking care of myself, means listening to my body. Typically, I only hear my body when it says, “Yes! You should have another glass of wine!” Or, “Yes! Cookies for dinner is a GREAT IDEA!” But, when it’s telling me, “Time for bed, Sleepy Head,” I don’t really hear it.

Enter, Saturday Night: I’m out with the boy and his brother. The restaurant we had planned on going to is now some other restaurant. We drive around for a while, and finally settle on a new bar that a friend had recommended. After a drink at this bar, we notice that we’re the oldest people in there (and, people? I’m 30! that’s NOT OLD), so we leave. We end up having dinner elsewhere (there is really no point to this part of the story, I’m just talkative today) . Anyway, as we pay the bill, the boys announce that we’ll be having another drink closer to home.

To which I announce, “No, I think I’d like to go home and go to bed.” And, so the boy drops me off at his house, and I turn a podcast on (I like Ira to talk me to sleep), crawl in to bed, and drift off to sleep at NINE O’CLOCK.  Anyway, the whole point of this is that I listened to my body. I needed to sleep, and I slept. I made no apologies the next morning for sleeping for almost 11 hours, and actually was kind of pleased that I was so alert on Sunday morning. After watching Miami’s disappointing loss yesterday, I went home and was productive. ON A SUNDAY!

It’s all perhaps a bit silly, but, I feel like I’m on to something here.

Now, next up? Figuring out why I dreamt about the gym and working out with my trainer last night. My body surely can’t be telling me to exercise, can it?

• Our New Year’s Eve was lovely, lovely. We went to the Grand Lodge where there was mediocre food, awesome greyhounds with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and a fun band.
• I woke up without a hangover, but with a hungover boyfriend.
• For breakfast, I had quite possibly the Worst. Eggs Benedict. Ever. Seriously. So, I might as well have been hungover, because I threw up anyway.
• And, now I’m afraid I’ll not be eating eggs benedict again anytime soon.
• I’m back to work today, but I really don’t understand why I didn’t take today off.
• I really just have the BLAHS. I’d like to be snuggled up on my couch with my cat and the tv remote.
• Instead, I’m having my second and final Lupron shot today at 11:30. I’ll be rewarding myself with some sort of treat after that. Suggestions are welcome.
• I don’t think I’m going to make any resolutions this year.
• I’m going to try to spend less, but we’ve all heard that before, right?
• I really don’t know what else to write.

Hope you all had a safe and happy new year! I’ll see you next week!!

• Today is  my first day back in the office after 9 days of either working from home or being on vacation. To say it was hard to get up and dressed is an understatement.
• The snow is FINALLY all gone, and I really don’t think I EVER need to see snow in Portland again. If I need to see snow, I’ll travel to it, thankyouverymuch.
• I had a minor meltdown (HA!) the day before Christmas Eve over how I was going to get to Seaside to be with my dad. And, when I say minor meltdown I mean, I was THISCLOSE to throwing myself on the floor to kick and scream.
• But, my Daddy is the best and he drove over the coast range and drove 3 hours (normally a 1.5 hour trip) to come pick me up. And, then he took me to the yarn store.
• It took us close to 4 hours to get back to Seaside and OMG was the drive ever scary. Tell me this? If you drive a Mazda RX-7 why do you think that you can make it over the pass without chains?
• So, anyway, we had a nice quiet Christmas Dinner (the Finns celebrate on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is a quiet day for reflection, or basketball watching) and then opened presents.
• There is no reason EVER why a 30 year old woman should have 15 presents to open from her father. Seriously. I am a spoiled brat.
• A spoiled brat who has a new toaster, a Flip Video Camera, 4 new cookbooks, a salt pig, a new apron with the Finnish Flag on it, and lots of new books.
• I woke up Christmas Morning at 9 a.m. (awesome!) and could see the ocean from my bed. And, then I noticed that it was snowing. AT THE BEACH.
• Christmas Day was spent knitting (me) and napping (my dad). I deserve a giant cookie for not using my new camera to document my dad’s very loud snoring.
• Oh, and holy crap! It snowed at the beach.
• My dad  brought me home on Friday, where I found my car still under a lot of snow, but not as much as before.
• I spent 30 minutes breaking ice off my car so that I could drive over to my beloved boyfriend’s house to celebrate Christmas with him.
• When I arrived, he greeted me with a Hot Buttered Rum which is exactly what you should greet your girlfriend with after she’s risked life and limb (well, not really, but I’m all about the dramatic) to come see you.
• Anyway, we then opened gifts (darling green coat from Saks that doesn’t fit, boo) and trudged up the hill to McMenamins for drinks. Note to self: these boots? NOT SNOW BOOTS.  
• And, that was pretty much my holiday. Oh, but it should be noted, that after two hot buttered rums, some wine, and then some PBR, opening a bottle of dessert wine is not advised. Lucky for me, I have a boyfriend who made me yummy huevos rancheros the next morning which fixed me right up.

How was your holiday? What did you get? What are your plans for New Years? I’ve missed you!-

Exhibit A: My car, I THINK

• Hello, it is winter in Portland. And, by winter, I mean SNOW AND ICE. Not our normal RAIN.
• This weather is making it very difficult to a) spend my birthday gift cards and also b) Christmas Shop.
• I am really almost done with my shopping, I just need a couple little things for the boy, and also one more THING for my dad.
• Last night we went to a Champagne Tasting at our favorite little wine bar and I met another girl named Rhiannon. I’ve decided that I never want to run into her again. I kept thinking her friends were talking to me.
• The best champagne I tasted, was also the least expensive. That is pretty much the first time I’ve ever liked something that wasn’t the most expensive on the list.
• Holy crap, it’s snowing again.
• Thank you ALL for your thoughtful repsonses to my last post. I’m still really sad that I won’t be seeing my aunt and uncle for Christmas,  but in order to have a somewhat pleasant Christmas, I need to put it behind me.
•  BUT, with that said, I’ll be responding to both of their email messages this weekend. Whilst snowed in.
• Earlier this year, I went through a rather painful process of detoxing my body from the evil wonder that is Stouffer’s French Bread Pizza. I’m very sad to say that I’ve fallen off the wagon. I blame cabin fever.
• I really feel like I need to go over the whole “Due to/Because of” thing with the world, AGAIN. This really is my biggest grammar related pet peeve. I’ll prepare a power point and schedule time with everyone.
• And, because I’m in a teaching mood, I’d also like to go over “How Not to Drive Like a Dipshit in the Snow”
• Oh! Question - pretend you went through a nasty breakup almost two years ago. Pretend that you lived with this person and had things such as garbage service in your name. Also pretend that said garbage service has been calling you everytime there is a service delay for the past almost two years EVEN THOUGH you asked your pretend ex-boyfriend, Hugh Jass, to remove your name and contact information from the service. Now, here is the question: How many profane words are you allowed to use in the email you send to your NOW  MARRIED ex-boyfriend when you get YET ANOTHER CALL from the garbage service.