The Visible Woman...January 1, 2004

I'm the queen of resolutions but looking back on my dismal performance from last year....even though I did no work and I just don't know.

Yeah, I should have some resolutions. Because it is, after all, what I do. If I made a resolution to have a good time, that one I could keep. But I'm just adopting last year's and revising them. That should tell you something. Shouldn't last year's resolutions just be habits by now? All pretty worthy goals here but with plenty of pleasure built in.

Lose five pounds. [Last year when I proposed doing this I weighed about 177. This year I weigh about 153 although the holidays seem to be taking their toll. Still, I have more body fat than I need. I'm considering getting one of those body fat scales and going for percentages, actually. But maybe not until I lose five or ten pounds more.]
Drink more water. [Now I do drink water in much greater quantities than I used to. And, by the same token, less coffee, tea and cokes. But I still think I could drink more water for sure.]
Eat more healthy food. Fruit! Vegetables! Every day. [It seems that I at least observe how bad my diet is and if I can see my bad habits can changing them be far behind?]
Write! Not just this journal. All the short stories I've outlined. All the essays. Start on the novels and non-fiction books. [I wrote an article and that is just about it. But I'm going to try to put some emphasis on this one again.]
Find an appropriate volunteer activity. [I helped the Austin Cabaret Theater out a little and I'm on a committee at Ballet Austin but I haven't done much of a worthy nature. Still need to do more for the community.]
Travel and, when I do, take the time to prepare by reading books. [Well, I think I did prepare more for New York, San Francisco and the D.C. trip. But the telling point on this one will be France 2004. And, after all, I have been reading all these D-Day accounts in preparation for Normandy.]
Pay more attention to investments and our budget. Save money. [Well, I've kept a pretty good budget but that is more in the line of watching money leave than saving it. And we have spent a fair amount on travel and are now not only paying for remodel but also buying a new bed, some furniture and accessories. Still...we aren't out of control but I do need to think about wise investments.]
Continue my workouts and start playing tennis and maybe racquetball. [If there is one thing I have done, it's work out. But I haven't played tennis that much. Keeping up with an active lifestyle requires constant vigilance.]
Take Bridge lessons and learn more about Bridge. [I haven't even been reading the Bridge column, sadly. What kind of resolution was this anyway?]
Cook more. Start making crêpes again. [I am cooking a tiny bit more like more than none. Need to find some recipes and actually prepare a meal or two.]
Get the closets, garage, drawers, shed, yard, storage room clean and keep them that way. [I have cleaned out stuff when I just had to do it. That shed and garage really need work. As does the closet in my office.]
Learn to make a movie. [I should do this one, darn it.]
Learn more about photography. [I haven't learned much but I've opened the shutter a fair amount.]
Geez, this list is too long...make shorter lists. [Really, I need to make more lists. Annotated lists, books of lists.]
Ride the bus and write about it. [I still think this would be a fun project. I've noticed a bus stops in front of my club, for what that's worth.]
Get my mother's things sold or given away or packed and sent to my relatives. [Well...I haven't done too badly but I've promised my dad to go over there and attack some more closets and drawers. We have a few more things we can give to my sister, too.]
Read more books. [I'm always reading but I never feel like I read enough. Reading is such a pleasure, though, that I don't even feel like I need a resolution. I do need a resolution to keep the newspapers in order and to not buy so many books.]
Do some Windows programming and JavaScript and learn Linux. [I guess I should come up with a project to drive me to learn the ropes.]
Hmmm...it's the same every year, isn't it? Why don't I make one list for all time (work harder, read, write, exercise, eat better, learn stuff, save money, lose weight, be a better person). Indeed. Maybe recycling the old list is actually a step in the right direction.)

	new year I'm the queen of resolutions but looking back on my dismal performance from last year....even though I did no work and I just don't know. Yeah, I should have some resolutions. Because it is, after all, what I do. If I made a resolution to have a good time, that one I could keep. But I'm just adopting last year's and revising them. That should tell you something. Shouldn't last year's resolutions just be habits by now? All pretty worthy goals here but with plenty of pleasure built in. Lose five pounds. [Last year when I proposed doing this I weighed about 177. This year I weigh about 153 although the holidays seem to be taking their toll. Still, I have more body fat than I need. I'm considering getting one of those body fat scales and going for percentages, actually. But maybe not until I lose five or ten pounds more.] Drink more water. [Now I do drink water in much greater quantities than I used to. And, by the same token, less coffee, tea and cokes. But I still think I could drink more water for sure.] Eat more healthy food. Fruit! Vegetables! Every day. [It seems that I at least observe how bad my diet is and if I can see my bad habits can changing them be far behind?] Write! Not just this journal. All the short stories I've outlined. All the essays. Start on the novels and non-fiction books. [I wrote an article and that is just about it. But I'm going to try to put some emphasis on this one again.] Find an appropriate volunteer activity. [I helped the Austin Cabaret Theater out a little and I'm on a committee at Ballet Austin but I haven't done much of a worthy nature. Still need to do more for the community.] Travel and, when I do, take the time to prepare by reading books. [Well, I think I did prepare more for New York, San Francisco and the D.C. trip. But the telling point on this one will be France 2004. And, after all, I have been reading all these D-Day accounts in preparation for Normandy.] Pay more attention to investments and our budget. Save money. [Well, I've kept a pretty good budget but that is more in the line of watching money leave than saving it. And we have spent a fair amount on travel and are now not only paying for remodel but also buying a new bed, some furniture and accessories. Still...we aren't out of control but I do need to think about wise investments.] Continue my workouts and start playing tennis and maybe racquetball. [If there is one thing I have done, it's work out. But I haven't played tennis that much. Keeping up with an active lifestyle requires constant vigilance.] Take Bridge lessons and learn more about Bridge. [I haven't even been reading the Bridge column, sadly. What kind of resolution was this anyway?] Cook more. Start making crêpes again. [I am cooking a tiny bit more like more than none. Need to find some recipes and actually prepare a meal or two.] Get the closets, garage, drawers, shed, yard, storage room clean and keep them that way. [I have cleaned out stuff when I just had to do it. That shed and garage really need work. As does the closet in my office.] Learn to make a movie. [I should do this one, darn it.] Learn more about photography. [I haven't learned much but I've opened the shutter a fair amount.] Geez, this list is too long...make shorter lists. [Really, I need to make more lists. Annotated lists, books of lists.] Ride the bus and write about it. [I still think this would be a fun project. I've noticed a bus stops in front of my club, for what that's worth.] Get my mother's things sold or given away or packed and sent to my relatives. [Well...I haven't done too badly but I've promised my dad to go over there and attack some more closets and drawers. We have a few more things we can give to my sister, too.] Read more books. [I'm always reading but I never feel like I read enough. Reading is such a pleasure, though, that I don't even feel like I need a resolution. I do need a resolution to keep the newspapers in order and to not buy so many books.] Do some Windows programming and JavaScript and learn Linux. [I guess I should come up with a project to drive me to learn the ropes.] Hmmm...it's the same every year, isn't it? Why don't I make one list for all time (work harder, read, write, exercise, eat better, learn stuff, save money, lose weight, be a better person). Indeed. Maybe recycling the old list is actually a step in the right direction.)
my gym is closed today but here's a picture I took of it once
JUST TYPING Writing down intentions. Can backfire. If you never seem to accomplish anything.
		Food Diary. *breakfast* four pieces turkey bacon half a grapefruit *lunch* leftover dressing with melted whiskey cheddar leftover turkey *snacks* two 180 calorie Luna bars a few Ritz Bits from a bag FFP bought 6 ounce Coke dinner [American Airlines, First Class] green salad with sesame dressing and salmon and a few carrots and half a roll with a little butter and one bite of a dessert double Jack Daniels small glass Merlot cognac Today I - just ate what I felt like eating.
Meta: I'm not posting these entries until I'm back from the trip. So, yeah, they suddenly appeared.		Time flies.... Got up rather late. Felt a little fuzzy. Still plenty of time before going to the airport since the flight is at 5ish. I thought I'd get the papers read but I kept getting up to do something and soon it was time for SuRu to come for Chalow and I visited with her and then we went to the airport...deadly early. I allow the maximum time for everything (driving there, parking, check-in, security) but nothing really takes that long and we are left to sit and watch people go by and buy tea and bottles of water and stuff. Finally, and pretty much on time, we take off. In Dallas the gates are actually close together...miracle. We get upgraded and First Class isn't that full and it's great actually. Long cab ride and unsure cab driver from BWI, unpack and it's very late. I go to sleep after drinking a coke and watching FFP eat some room service. We got a call today that a friend is dying of cancer. In fact, he's being sent to Christopher House today which is a hospice.

		Reading.arth Michelin Green Guide to Washington, D.C.; The Best American Essays 2003 edited by Anne Fadiman---great collection if the first couple are any indication. Newspapers.
		Yeah, right.
		Exercise does carrying luggage count?
	. .	Felt a little fuzzy (bad bubbly?) when I got up but after a shower and stuff, felt pretty lively.
	It's a Tangled Web we weave...these days of our lives.	One year ago "I'm thinking that if I can't do a journal entry, how can I seriously try to do other things. Of course, if I didn't do it, maybe I'd be doing those other things. You think?" Two years ago "On the entrance ramp, we have a sweeping view of the city. Our driver says he took this route on Sept. 10 and saw the same beautiful skyline with the Towers."