Am safely back in Prague after three week marathon holiday in the States. In this post I shall review the successes and failures of my trip home, as well as my resolutions for the new year.
My Holiday Goals In Review
To begin, I will review the goals of my trip, colourfully highlighted (highlit?) for successes and failures.
1) Spend loads of quality time with Mom, Dad, and Katie. Success!
Soaked up as much family time at home as possible. Lovely hugs and warmth and comfort all in glorious cheerful Christmastime spirit. Only failure was inability to pack them all in Lady Baltimore to bring them home with me.
2) Spend loads of quality time with Yolanda. Success!
My beloved car, a spritely little banged up Scion xA called Yolanda, was finally back in my grasp. Oh, the untold hours we spent, depositing and collecting Shannon, making runs to QuickChek for coffee, driving all over creation with friends for the sake of it, singing at the top of our voices together... I miss her dearly already. Must more seriously investigate shipping her over here. Aleš tells me car insurance is only 5000kč a year! Imagine! 5000kč! That's significantly less than my monthly rent (about $250, for intercontinental readers).
3) Visit Caroline in Montréal. Failure!
Had every intention of taking a day trip up to
ma terre natale (not actually
terre natale but at this point who's counting and might as well be anyway) to see Care, but the ends of holidays are always too hectic. In the end was not possible. However I am determined that it shall happen in summer. Would hate to hit the three year mark.
4) Visit Ms Ledford and Dr Donna & Diane. Success! and
Failure!
Successfully spent lovely time with Ms Ledford over stemless glass of white wine in the living room I feel I partially grew up in, meeting her new cats and catching up on love and hugs. However, did NOT manage to make it to my old job at the chiro office to see my former boss and co-pilot of the reception desk. Miss them dearly.
5) Mend broken fences namely Sara and Lauren. Success!
Spent wonderful few days in Florida with my sister Sara (and whole family) talking everything through and reconnecting with her on mature adult level with excellent talks and Moscato (did not care for that 'rosé' imposter Moscato at all though). Also rekindled things with my childhood best friend Lauren, whom I missed dearly and was glad to find in best condition of our lives: looking great, sounding great, with her lovely great boyfriend. Also had to walk away very fast at end of night so could not be seen trying not to cry when she told me she still wanted me to be her Man of Honour.
6) See high school friends. Success!
Jen and Tracy and Steph and Danielle and Nikki and Ashley and Kristen plus newer but kindred spirit friend Lea... not everyone I wanted to see, but a decent effort! Had the best time at Sunset Grill, reconnecting with Jen just like we were never apart, and FINALLY duetting with Tracy to Wilson Phillips at karaoke. Feel like that was a life goal achieved. Plus a lovely time at Nikki's NYE Party, during which she may or may not have gone to bed while I was still on the balcony. It's her quirks that make her so loveable, after all.
7) Bring home loads of things from New Jersey. Failure!
Another good intention gone awry. Simply did not have enough room in normal sized suitcase plus Lady Baltimore for foodstuffs and books and other things which would have surely enriched life in Prague. Am however generously equipped with Kindle fire thanks to benefaction of endlessly thoughtful and helpful parents.
8) Explore psyche of 17 year old cousin, mainly for scientific curiosity. Success!
As it turns out, my cousin has turned into quite a fantastic young man. Rather enjoyed his Bay Area laid back attitude and his mature insight. Hope he will visit soon. Did not get as much time as would have liked with Aunt Linda though...
New Years Resolutions
Have never historically been successful with these, so I am going to try combining lofty high minded goals with attainable short term goals in interest of not feeling self-defeated by February.
I WILL:
1) Join gym and obviously lose 3000 pounds in one month (maybe just remove two zeros for purpose of ease [surely attainable?]).
1a) Lose my 'New Jersey 10' with alacrity (good progress already made in this front owing to poverty diet and stark lack of any delicious things at home).
2) Be diligent about invoices, attendance sheets, timesheets, and similar.
3) Learn how to actually do invoices.
4) Find time to sing as have discovered thanks to time with Yolanda that it greatly improves my mood and generally makes me feel good. Also surely must be type of exercise?
5) Pay all bills on time instead of letting phone, internet, etc be turned off owing to late payment of minimum payments.
6) Try new recipes more frequently instead of falling into dreadful rut of making same successful recipe every night for 3 weeks.
I WILL NOT:
1) Bitch about missing Tandrew, Alice, Meghan, Simona et al but instead invest time into finding new friends (ideally the more permanent variety).
2) Let self become bone idle, lazy, demotivated, or sedentary. Will sit with computer at kitchen table instead of tucked away in bedroom like some sort of elderly recluse on disability.
3) Maintain habit of binging and purging re: blogging, i.e. going for days and days without posting until it all comes to a head and I vomit sixteen topics in one sitting.
4) Be in any way habitually negative or self-pitying as continuation of last two years' resolutions (only resolution which have ever kept).
5) Close self off from opportunities in work, love, or social life. Instead, will extend self more and put self 'out there', as they say, though am unsure and uncomfortable about where exactly 'out there' is. Sounds dangerous.
6) Lie about my ideas, my life, my thoughts and opinions, or myself to make other people feel better somehow.
That's all for now! Check back soon!
