The Chocolate and The Cheese

I've been trying to figure out which way I want this post to go. Is a reflective look on all that 2009 has been? A look back over the last ten years of this new millennium? Or is it all about the new year coming, 2010. The hopes, dreams and promises that we aim to keep for the next ten years? I guess I could write a post about a little bit of both. A quick dip into the past, and a little peek into what I think the future shall hold. I'll finish it up with a short bit about what I'll be doing tonight, the last night of 2009. A little 'New Years Carol', reminiscent of Charles Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol." I desperately hope that there are no ghosts though, they really don't know how to party. Past: Memorable New Years' Eves (No particular order) 2000: I was holed up in a skanky motel in my little hometown with some of my peeps. We were drinking cheap champagne and playing some game that involved wrapping up in toilet paper. I had to ...

I've never really been the type to make a (or a list of) New Years Resolutions. Oh, I might have made up something if someone asked me directly, but in reality I kind of thought that they were hokey. A way for gyms to sell you a membership that you are never going to use. Even for a list maker like me, I just could never get into it. This year I feel like it will be different though. Mostly because I'm choosing to re-think the Resolutions list. In years past I always thought about them in terms of unattainable goals. Oh, I really love to lose thirty pounds, but I have no desire to go to the gym. Well, I would love to read a book a week, but I'm not willing to cut into my internet time to do it. Those type of things. This year however, I'm going to make a list of attainable goals. Things that I know I can accomplish, and not necessarily ones that have to last the whole year. I'm also going to add in a few things that I'll actually want to do. Like vi...

As promised yesterday, here is a list of my favorite Tunes to Move Your Body To. Use them wisely. They may incite dancing in the street, in your living room or even some innocent car dancing. Add some to your playlist for the gym, it will help make those resolutions stick for more than the week they did last year. Now, get up and dance! In Between Days- Ben Folds Five version Ready for the Floor- Hot Chip Wonderboy- Tenacious D You're Fit But Don't You Know It- The Streets Superstitious- Stevie Wonder Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard- Paul Simon I Just Want to Play Piano- Mark Mallman Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand What songs make you want to get up and dance?

"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" -Rob Gordon, High Fidelity This is not going to be as depressing as the above quote sounds. I was just doing some thinking this morning while I was at the gym about the influence that music has on us. There I was, iPod stuck in my ears and I was running. Now, that may not sound so profound to most of you, but the thing is, I don't run. Not ever. Like, when the Army recruiter called me in High School I told him my personal motto was, "Don't run unless you have to." Strangely enough, he never called me again. So what does this have to do with Rob...

Holidays are stressful. Little sleep, over-stimulated, too much sugar, too many commitments. I give myself a lot of leeway this time of year. If you could take a look at my waistline you'd agree. I give myself some space; to be flexible, fluid, to try and let events transpire as they will. It's not easy, in fact I don't do a very good job at letting things go sometimes. The Mr. and I have a fight, I get stressed out and I hope that it doesn't ruin everyone's day/night/holiday. This year seems to be going a bit better than years past. I feel even more tired than ever before, but I think I'm finally learning to pick and choose my battles. Which fights I can win, which are important to me, which will only turn into a fight. That's not to say that I don't still get stressed out, but at least now I feel like I can see them coming. And then plan accordingly. So this Holiday Season I can only wish that you choose your battles wisely. For the sake of you...

So we've had an eventful past twenty four hours over here at my house. A huge-chunk-o-somethin' flew off of a truck and struck my car. It proceeded to puncture holes in my oil pan which in turn drained the car of oil. Greee-ate. So the Mr. took the day off of work and we've been dealing with stuff. Insurance companies are no fun to deal with, let me tell you! I always feel like I'm going in incriminate myself, although I didn't do anything wrong. Humph. Well, I hope this all ends well. Whether that means a new car or cheaply being able to fix the one we have. Either way I can't wait to be done with it all. Is there something wrong when your rental car is nicer than the car you're trying to fix? On a side note, I also cut LN's hair. It looks great! A little crooked, but I'm ok with that today. It's really the least of my worries. :) How's your day going?

"Let's go driving in an automobile...let's take a ride in the car..." One of my favorite things to do is drive. I think it might be because I grew up in the country and I found a lot of relaxation from driving back roads around the country. There is nothing more peaceful than a summer night driving around with your windows down, listening to the frogs chirping, and the breeze blowing. Once LN was born the one sure-fire way to get her asleep was to put her in the car. We did a lot of driving those first few months; I'd randomly drive around or I'd head to a park so I could read in the car and then take her for a walk afterwards. Even now she loves to go in the car and will often ask to go for a ride. When the Mr. and I travel I am the primary driver for the rental, partly because I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, but mostly because if I'm just riding I get so bored. I can't read in the car and that sucks, if I could I might let him drive once i...