2006 Resolutions

Photo:
Doc B. and me in Amsterdam, March, 1998





I wonder how many web logs will touch on this topic? Since I enjoy blending in with the crowd, I'll add my two cents on the subject! Please add your comments as a way to commit to what you will be resolving to do/be/change/improve in the new year.

It was hard enough to believe that I was turning 40 just over a year ago, but 2006 will be my brother's turn. He'll join me in the over 40 club on June 6th (I'll save you from doing the math and let you in on the fact that he was born on 6/6/66). Not to worry though, "The Omen" does not describe his life and his middle name is far from Damien. "They" say it's harder for men to turn 40 than for women, though I don't know if that's true. I rather reveled in it. Little brother, what are you going to do in 2006 to prepare for turning 40? The blog lines are open. I wonder what it will be like for my mom and dad to have 2 of their 4 in their 40's? Hmmmm....

In keeping with my OCD self, I use my calendar to write down my resolutions for the year. That way I can refer to them often. I usually jot down anything that comes to mind, from travel to health and everywhere in between. I've got the usual "lose 10 pounds" and "eat less popcorn". One would think if I could achieve the latter, I could accomplish the former? At least it's only 10 pounds - I remember when it was 30 or more.

I've also got "don't be such a homebody". I enjoy our home here in Atlanta so much, as well as the friends we have, that I don't always want to willingly leave it all behind. I've also never wanted to leave the pets for too long (worrying issues - more OCD). Nevermind that we have an incredible pet/housesitter, Kathy, who happens to be a vet tech, AND who charges a more than reasonable fee to stay at our house while we are gone. That being said, we already have our week-long trek to Hilton Head, SC set for April. We also have talked with two local friends about a Montana trip in August. Do a little fly fishing, a little biking, perhaps some horseback riding and of course some sightseeing in and around Yellowstone. I also talked to one of my oldest friends (well, she's not old, I've just known her since I was about 22) the other day who lives in Washington, D.C. She reports her "frequent floppers" program is up and running for 2006. According to her description, it provides each guest with a place to flop and a stocked mini-fridge. Knowing my friend for as long as I have, it likely comes with much more than that. The last time Doc. B. and I stayed with her, I think I would have described the accommodations as more of a high-end bed and breakfast! I think I'll take her up on that offer - perhaps over the MLK holiday weekend?

And lastly, though certainly not the least important item on my list, I'm going to try to take care of myself this year. That may sound simple to some of you, but it's not to an obsessive-compulsive, worrisome, "have to make sure everyone else is okay" type like me. A new sage in my life recently reminded me of something very basic. That it's really okay to dote on myself. Doc. B. is fine, my family is fine, my friends are fine - they don't need to be taken care of by me - they can take care of themselves. I need to be taken care of by me.

I haven't decided if I'm ready to share my progress on that last resolution as part of my future bloggin', but stay tuned to find out about the others for sure. And in the meantime, the blue mailbox moments, synchronicities and random thoughts/observations will continue to mount and will be recorded here!

My Three Day Christmas Vacation

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukah or whatever it is you celebrate! I enjoyed my three day weekend and look forward to three more: New Years weekend I get Monday off, the following weekend my sister comes to visit and I take Friday off, and the following weekend is the MLK holiday. Pretty nice way to close out 2005 and begin 2006, I’d say.

We did minimal holiday decorating this year – just the basics without a tree. A few lights were strung on the upper porch railing, wreaths were hung on the entry doors, and stockings were hung by the chimney with care. We started off the holiday season with a winter solstice meditation at our yoga studio. It was my favorite yogi’s last class before he departed for a visit with his family followed by a trip to Thailand for training and vacation. He’ll be back to teaching again on Valentine’s day – my friend Holly’s favorite Hallmark Holiday (this is an inside joke in case she reads this – see, she told me once she didn’t “celebrate” valentine’s day, so I of course try to send her a card every year).

We also visited with Doc. B.’s family on Christmas eve. They live about an hour away from us and we enjoyed our time with them. Doc. B. even got her sister, niece and nephews doing yoga in the living room – it was very cute and we caught some of it on film. Speaking of film, we finally came into the true electronic age and bought a scanner/printer. It can scan pictures, documents and even slides. Doc. B. created a CD of photos from some of her dad’s slides from the 60’s, including his stints in Vietnam. It was very cool to have her father narrate as we all sat in front of the television vs. the slide projector.

We also got some relaxation time in and cooked some good food. I got to talk to all of my family members on Christmas day and a number of friends over the weekend. What more could I ask for!?

More Roses than Raspberries

I have my Earthlink start up page set to give me local news, world news and then news from my hometown of Marshall, Michigan. I couldn't help but click on a topic from the latter entitled "Roses & Raspberries" - I had an idea of what it might be, but was pleasantly suprised when I read it. It's a section of the newspaper where people can write in to thank or bash others. We have something like that here in "The Atlanta Journal and Constitution" (or as some prefer to call it, The Atlanta urinal and constipation) entitled "the vent". But the vent is mainly full of irks and ires - people complaining about virtually everything. Most are pretty funny and are meant to be just that. But this roses and raspberries was chock full of thank you's and only one "raspberry". Here is the link if you want to see what I mean - it's very refreshing!

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051219/OPINION01/512190307/1014

What will you be acknowledged for in 2006 - roses or raspberries?

Happy Anniversary M and D!!!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! Hope all of your days involve some relaxation as in this photo!!!

(P.S. I'm having photo technical difficulties - I think if you click on the picture you can see a full view???)

An OCD New Year

I’m the first to admit my obsessive-compulsivity. Just last week I was explaining to some new acquaintances why I love my job. One of the reasons is that it feeds my need for order and organization. A stack of files is delivered to my desk each day and my goal is to move those files from my work station to someone else’s, as quickly, and with as much quality, as I can muster. You better believe that as soon as I completed training, I went back to my cube (so that I could begin thinking inside of my box, of course), and developed systems to help me move those case files. I’ve got it down to a science and have been affectionately dubbed, by one of my fellow trainees, “Ms. Efficiency”. I live for those terms of endearment! It is a term of endearment isn’t it?

But I was reminded again today about how obsessive and compulsive I really am. Doc. B. and I were in Office Depot to pick up a USB port. First of all, taking me into an office depot is like taking an eight year old into a candy store. Am I a freak or what? Wait; don’t answer that. After we found the USB port and I took note of all of the holiday bargains, I realized that holiday bargains means that the New Year is upon us and thus, I must have a new calendar. I have got to find a 2006 weekly organizer NOW! There is less than a month until 1/1/06 and that’s hardly enough time to sit down in a comfy chair with my beloved FranklinCovey 365 day planner mini-portfolio and transfer all of the most important information from 2005 to 2006. But alas, there was a very large lady between my goal and me. Her presence consumed the entire calendar aisle. I hovered for a while and was ready to give up when Doc. B. said “Carrie, just wait. She’ll be gone shortly and you can have the whole aisle to yourself to hunt for the right calendar.” Sometimes it just takes a normal person to put things back into perspective, doesn’t it? I waited patiently and found the calendar that will spend the next twelve months with me.

Looking forward to an OCD year…as I always do….

Holiday Giving and Receiving

If you and your friends/family have not yet decided how to give and receive this year, please consider what my siblings and I are doing.

Each year, we usually draw names for a gift exchange, set a price limit and head out shopping. But this year, one of my sisters came up with a great idea. Instead of doing a gift exchange, we are making contributions to worthy organizations. With the hurricane season draining most people of their available donation money, this may help get some funds to organizations that might otherwise end up with less this year.

For example, Doc B. and I drew the names of my youngest sister and her husband. I asked them for the names of some of their favorite “do good” groups. We will then pick one or two and send some money in their honor. I thought the way my sister listed the non-profits was pretty cute so I hope she doesn’t mind if I share that with you here. And as she made sure to note to me, they are in no particular order:

Michigan Historic Preservation Network (My sister’s favorite)
107 E. Grand River AvenueLansing, MI. 48906Phone: 517-371-8080Fax: 517-371-9090
http://www.mhpn.org/
The Michigan Historic Preservation Network is the largest membership organization in the state dedicated to recognizing and preserving Michigan's rich cultural and architectural heritage.

The Greening of Detroit (My sister and her husband’s favorite)
1418 Michigan Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48216 Phone: 313.237.8733 Fax: 313.237.8737
http://www.greeningofdetroit.com/
The Greening of Detroit exists to improve the quality of life in Detroit by guiding and inspiring the reforestation of Detroit's neighborhoods, boulevards, and parks through tree planting projects and educational programs.

Wonderful Animals Giving Support (Their dog’s favorite)
429 Livernois
Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 545-3313
http://www.aidsprevention.org/wagsWAGS helps people living with HIV and Aids take care of their pets. WAGS assists clients in keeping, feeding and caring for their companion animals when extended hospital stays, physical exhaustion or daily expenses seem insurmountable. The program, begun in 1999 by the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project, provides low-income clients with pet food, pet supplies, veterinary services and volunteer support.

Yankee Air Museum (My brother-in-law’s favorite)
P.O. Box 590 Belleville, MI 48112-0590
(734) 483-4030
http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/index.html
A 1941 hangar at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti which played a role in the production of nearly 8,700 B-24 'Liberator' bombers became the focal point of our aviation museum. The museum includes flyable examples of historic aircraft as well as static displays and display rooms filled with historic artifacts

So join us and consider this an option this year if you'd like - we won't mind copycats!