New Year's Resolutions

I thought that by posting my new year's resolutions here I'd be more likely to feel accountable for them (though you all probably don't care!). They may come across as pretty superficial to some of you, but I just wasn't feeling that deep, spiritual, or introspective over the holidays!

So here are my real, actually-determined-to-keep resolutions:

1. Run hill repeats at least once every two weeks.
2. Do strength training for at least 30 minutes a week (and my weekly ballet class doesn't count toward this).
3. Floss way more often.

So yeah, aren't I ambitious? So far so good - I've done two hill repeat workouts and two strength-training workouts, although one of them was only 25 minutes (I just could not make myself do 5 more minutes of abs or weights). And I've been flossing irregularly - a few times a week - but definitely way more often than usual (um...maybe once a month if I was feeling especially disciplined). I swear, it's not that I have bad dental hygiene. I haven't had a cavity in years and I go to the dentist every 6 months. My dentist hasn't even noticed that I'm not flossing. However, I just got up to check and I have SEVEN containers of floss that I've been accumulating over the years. I've gotta start using it up.

And here are my resolutions that aren't real resolutions because I haven't resolved to keep them, just kinda, sorta, "gee, it would really great if I could make myself do this".

1. Run at least 30 miles a week to exceed 1500 miles for 2010.
2. No computer or TV after 10 pm.
3. Bedtime by 11 pm at the latest.
4. Bike to work more often.

Actually, #1 is usually not a problem, although this week I only ran 28 miles. #4 I'm not bad at either, especially because I don't teach in the morning so I'm not usually in a rush. However, #2 and 3 have become exceedingly difficult. Part of it is that I don't get home until around 8 pm on Mon, Tues, and Thurs and I've fallen into a bad habit of using the TV or computer to unwind and relax while I eat dinner. Actually, that brings me to another sort-of resolution:

5. Read more, watch TV and web surf less.

I've started reading "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which was given to me by Kate. Thanks Kate, it's a good read so far! The only thing is the reading has been replacing sleep time instead of TV time.

Speaking of all this, there was an interesting article in the Post Magazine about time management.

Time to stop blogging and start organizing zooplankton data!

Happy 2010!

Geez, I'm getting lazy with the blogging. I was on vacation for over two weeks and I did only 45 minutes of work, so I have no excuse for not having time to blog! Andrew and I had a wonderful Christmas (right, Sweetie?). We went to church on Christmas Eve (here's us afterward, plus Madeline):



and spent Christmas morning at my mom's house. Then Andrew went to his mom's house and totally missed out on making a gingerbread BP gas station with my mom, Alicia, and me:



Aren't we creative? It was Alicia's idea, but I did the BP and gas price signs. After the gingerbread houses we had a prime rib dinner. Then I went to Andrew's mom's house for a SECOND prime rib dinner (it's Jesus' birthday - you gotta live it up!):



The next day we went to my aunt and uncle's house in PA where we had a fried oyster dinner. Man, I ate good over the holidays! For New Years Eve I went to a party at my friend Emma's apartment in Bethesda. Often my New Years Eves are kind of shitty and depressing, but I had a lot of fun this year. All in all, good holidays! Now it's back to the grindstone. Yesterday I was at a meeting in Chicago and today was my first day of classes. I'm back and yet I'm still not ready to be back. I haven't even unpacked yet from my holiday trip in MD and my Christmas tree is still up. This weekend will be the true transition from holiday to work :(