My day started beautifully with handsome husband singing "Happy Birthday." And, Simon entered our room, fully dressed for the day, to say good morning.
As with every birthday since becoming an adult, I told myself that today is the first day of the rest of my life. It's true. My birthday symbolizes a new year, and like many do for the New Year, I make resolutions.
But before I get into that, allow me to list my accomplishments from the past year:
- Celebrated my first Christmas—with my little family—in our own home
- Started and maintained three blogs—Hambone and Spice (food), Bibliotonic (books) and this one
- Traveled to Costa Rica (for John's 40th birthday) and to France (Paris for sights/culture/food and Reims for champagne/James & Ulrika's wedding)
- Appeared on newsstands as the editor of 12 magazines
- Celebrated my first anniversary at Homestore/Homeplans, part of Move
- Crossed some restaurants off my list: Grand Cafe (the reincarnation of Bakery on Grand), Nami, Auriga (twice), a Rebours, 112 Eatery (thrice). Revisited restaurants: Alma, Vincent
- Took cooking classes at Cooks, something I have always wanted to do: Japanese grilling and sushi basics
- Made/cooked gnocchi (failure), osso bucco (success), Italian fig Christmas cookies (success), sushi (not a complete failure), a really large octopus (gross, but a success), croquetas (my first foray into deep-frying, a total success), empanadas, margaritas from scratch
- Read some classics (Edith Wharton, Muriel Spark)
- Collected wine
- Threw a summer solstice/tapas party and a surprise birthday party for John
- Maintained friendships (Tracy A., Caryl T., brother Nik)
This is my last year before turning 40, and I feel like I have a lot to accomplish. I'm tired of being fat. In the past year, I have gained at least 20 pounds, largely through beer consumption and by eating a few Bread and Chocolate pastries a week. Oh, and not exercising. Nada, nothing since RAGBRAI—last July. Pathetic. Last September I was only 20 pounds from my pre-Simon pregnancy weight—not that I was entirely happy with that weight, but I felt sexier and more fit than I did before Simon was born. To reward myself, I bought some deliciously curvy clothes from Boden. Then, satisfied with my success (over summer 2005, I lost 15 pounds and toned), closer to my goal, I blew it. A sadly familiar predicament (happened in 1995, after I got down to a size 10, then ballooned up to a size 14 in record time). My weight is now closer to where I was just after Winston was born, which was an utterly horrifying time to me.
As long as I exercise, I lose weight. I am happiest when I exercise. Finally, at 39 I get endorphins. I hate getting myself to the gym. My free time is so fucking precious (with a job, husband, and small children, I don't have much free time) that I never choose going to the gym. I'd rather come home after a day at the office, fix a lovely dinner for my family, have time to clean up, then cuddle with my kids before sending them off to bed.
But, I am in training for turning 40, so that I may be at the peak of physical and intellectual health. Herewith, a few resolutions for the new year:
- Exercise every day: stretching or yoga in the morning, walks at noon, ride my bike everywhere, and spinning whenever I can. Something, anything. Groove my body however I am able.
- Lose weight: by exercising every day, eating well, cutting down alcohol and pastry consumption
- Meditate
- Read 50 books (reading list to follow)
- Conquer clutter in every room of the house
- Maintain house-proud status, inside (decorate) and out (landscape)
- Clean up messy relationships (mostly my mom)
- Travel (Chicago, No Cal, Jazzfest in New Orleans, and [possibly] Barcelona)
- Dine (La Belle Vie, The French Laundry, Zuni Cafe, Chez Panisse, Alinea)
It's going to be a great year!
Yogi Tea nugget: Wisdom, character, and consciousness conquer everything.
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