Goodbye to 2007

Alvin and I went out to a wonderful Italian dinner to celebrate New Years Eve once I finally finished working. It was really nice but getting home was a bit of an ordeal. Last year we had seen the swarms of people going up 8th Avenue, but this year there seemed to be massive crowds walking up 9th Avenue. And just stopping in the intersections and standing around. It took a lot of winding through cars in the street just to get home! And then the cops blocked off our street already.

But now that we're here, my annual new years recap/resolutions. I always intend to do this earlier, but it never happens.

Despite my posts where I'm annoyed with all the commotion and chaos with the Times Square NYE, the new year is actually one of my favorite holidays. Although it's probably new years day. New beginnings, the chance to start over, an easy way to hit restart and do all those things that you want to do. And if my resolutions don't really work out, I get to refine them and try again on Chinese new year. :)

So here's the recap (as I was getting ready to write this, I realized I left San Juan off of last year's trip list; how could I forget that?):

Movies/shows I saw in the theatre in 2007:

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Vacations/trips in 2007:

• Frankfurt, Germany
• Singapore
• Shanghai, China
• Chicago
• Washington, DC
• Seattle
• Juneau, Alaska
• Sitka, Alaska
• Ketchikan, Alaska
• Victoria, BC

Big events of 2007:

• Engagement :)
• Family Alaska trip
  

Resolutions:

The usual ones:

1. Exercise more.
2. Eat healthier.
3. Sleep more.
4. Clean the apartment.
5. Get rid of stuff I don't need.
6. Keep in touch better.
7. Keep files organized.
8. More free time and time off.
9. Keep inboxes clear.
10. Post/write more.

And some more specific resolutions... for January, at least:

1. Buy a sunrise alarm clock and work on shifting to a morning routine and getting to work earlier.
2. Try to do at least 10 minutes of exercise per day.
3. Try to eat healthier and smaller portions.
4. Try to sleep by 1 am.
5. Get gmail inbox below 3,000 messages (and keep it that way).
6. Get work inbox below 300 messages (and keep it that way).
7. Clean 5 things per day.
8. Keep budget book current.
9. Try to keep work files organized.
10. Take vitamins daily.

Good luck to me. Happy (almost) new year! 20 more minutes until a fresh start!

Confetti

Happy New Years Eve.  I can't believe there was already confetti in the street at 10 am.  What did they do, have a practice ball drop celebration or something?

 

Video trailers and speakers everywhere.  Barricades on the sidewalk curbs.  Crazy people in the streets.  Those annoying honking noisemakers.  At least the crowds are less than they were Friday night when I came home with the gigantic redweld.  For now.

 

It's no surprise I want to leave to work from home by lunchtime.  I can't believe there was a time when I was younger that I actually wanted to go to Times Square for NYE.  What was I thinking?

Chardonnay

I think the smoke has finally lessened enough that I can go to sleep (at 6 am!). This [insert word - I can't think of it - not quite "zig zag"] sleep pattern is crazy. 5:15 am, 1 am, now 6 am (or so). Although unlike Friday morning, I'm not getting up early for work tomorrow, so we'll see how much this throws off my plan to get in to work early Monday morning. Blahhhh.

I think I blog more when it's late at night because I am not chatting with people online and this is the closest thing to it. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

In quiz news (ha), this one is not that far off except for the meat part:

You Are Chardonnay

Fresh, spirited, and classic - you have many facets to your personality. You can be sweet and light. Or deep and complex. You have a little bit of something to offer everyone... no wonder you're so popular. Approachable and never smug, you are easy to get to know (and love!). Deep down you are: Dependable and modest Your partying style: Understated and polite Your company is enjoyed best with: Cold or wild meat

What Kind of Wine Are You?

Missed That

When I said that I believed the results in the last post, I was referring to both the description and the activity. Nothing against running... I like it, I'm just horrible at it right now. And I don't like to run on treadmills, only outside...

Then I looked at the results again and saw that it said I should "get in shape" with yoga unlike the other one which said I should "stay in shape" with running. The second result was definitely more accurate.

Re-do

Now this one I believe.

You Should Get in Shape With Yoga

You're serious enough to be dedicated to yoga... But playful enough to keep it fun Yoga will give you the lean yet curvy look you desire

How Should You Get Your Curves In Shape?

Amusing

You Should Stay in Shape With Running

Chances are that you're already in fairly good shape Why not challenge yourself with a run from time to time? Running will give you that lean, toned body you desire

How Should You Get Your Curves In Shape?

HAHAHAHAHA. "Chances are that you're already in fairly good shape." That's ... funny. I think I should take this quiz again. Maybe I accidentally answered a question wrong?

Another Post

Your Dosha is Pitta

You have a quick mind, a gift for persuasion, and a sharp sense of humor. You have both the drive and people skills to be a very successful leader. Argumentative and a bit stubborn, you have been known to be a little too set in your ways. But while you may be biased toward your own point of view, you are always honest, fair, and ethical. With friends: You are outgoing and open to anyone who might want to talk to you In love: You are picky but passionate To achieve more balance: Be less judgmental of those around you, and take cool walks in the moonlight.

What's Your Dosha?

Completely unrelated to the quiz, I have moved on to a dust mask in order to breathe in the apartment.

I have posted a lot in the past few days. Not really very much of substance though. Even if it's just a couple of lines of substance, I still want to post more than I have been over the past few months. It's just been such a busy year. Need to post more before I forget it all. On Christmas, we were talking about who had driven to/from my aunt's house the previous year and I had completely forgotten that I did. Hmm. Everyone else remembered.

4 am posting seems to be conducive to ramblings. I remember one post from one morning where I was up at 4 because I couldn't sleep because I was really sick and couldn't stop coughing (or was it sneezing?) and I watched the sun come up and wrote a really long post.

I wish I weren't wearing a dust mask at home in order to breathe. This kind of sucks.

I can't believe another year has already gone by. So, so quick.

Misery

This is miserable. The entire apartment reeks of cigarette smoke which is freely flowing in through the air that comes up through the fuse box. My air filter broke and I need a new one, but I don't think even that would help with this. It's worse than usual. Argh. It makes me feel sick and unable to sleep, so I guess on the plus side, the toxic fumes are helping me get work done. Sigh.

Pass

Woohoo! I passed the its it's their there they're quiz!

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct. It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors. If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs. As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human. And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

The It's Its There Their They're Quiz

Summer

Maybe this is an old quiz, since it's winter, but:

You Should Spend Your Summer at the Beach

You're a free spirit who is always thinking of new ways to have fun. And you don't just love summer... you live for it. So, you really should blow off your responsibilities and head to the beach!

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

I would love to go to the beach right now.

Scents

When we came home, the apartment smelled of Italian sausage and peppers. We commented on how that was preferable to the smell of cigarette smoke wafting in.

Then I thought about how horrible it would be if there were post-meal smoke drifting in to our apartment.

And then I smelled smoke. Wheeee. I don't care if people smoke; I just don't want it in my apartment!

Right

You Passed High School with an A

You have the brains of a high school graduate... at least!

Could You Pass High School?

Good to know.

Sometimes Late

You Are A Gold Girl

You're dependable and hard working. You never miss a deadline - and you're never late. You have a clear sense of right and wrong. You're very detail oriented. You get frustrated when your friends are sloppy - or when they don't follow through. You're on top of things, and you wish that everyone else was!

What Color Girl Are You?

Hmm, fairly accurate. Except for the "never late" thing. I can't seem to synchronize all my clocks. My blackberry, work computer, work phone all have different times and I can't fix any of them (not an admin) to all read the same. So I'm often late because I am not paying attention and use the wrong clock. And I'm tired all the time, so I run late. I need more sleep and a sunrise alarm clock.

Mint

You Are Mint Green

Balanced and calm, you have mastered the philosophy of living well. Your friends seek you out for support, and you are able to bring stability to chaotic situations. You're very open and cheerful - and you feel like you have a lot of freedom in life. Your future may hold any number of exciting things, and you're ready for all of them!

What Color Green Are You?

I wonder if I am "balanced and calm" because I answered that I would enjoy a yoga class.

Because right now I would love to go to a yoga class. Mmm.

Sunrise

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Well, I've definitely seen many sunrises.

As long as you're not awake from work or something, there's just something really special about watching colors break out across the previously dark sky. I almost thought I was going to see one this morning but that would have just made me sad. At least there was actually some sun during the morning today.

Chihuahua

You Are a Chihuahua Puppy

Small, high strung, and loyal. You do best in the city with adults - young kids could crush you!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

Note that I fixed the typos in that box. It said "a adults."

I'm reading a (very) similar document to the one from last night. Wheee.

California

You Belong in San Diego

Laid back and friendly, you were meant to live most of your life on the beach. You usually think everything is "all good"... except when the weather dips under 60F. You stay classy - especially when you're in Tijuana!

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Going to sleep (I realize this is the time many people wake up...).

I would like to be in San Diego. Sigh.

Donuts

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

I don't like Boston creme donuts. Oh well. Plain glazed. Or with icing and sprinkles. Yum.

Late night. Blog. Clickety-clack of the keyboard. TV on (although it's music and not QVC or the Weather Channel). It's like law school again. Wheee.

Mathematician

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Congrats to me! My subconscious can still do 8th grade math.

Tired

Your Emoticon is Sad

You're feeling a tad depressed right now. It will likely pass soon, but for now, you need some major cheering up!

What Emoticon Best Represents You Right Now?

No kidding... 3:30 am and not peacefully asleep? Of course I'm sad.

Working Away

Still working. I hate documents that repeat themselves 6,000 times. If I can read a paragraph enough times in one document that I can practically recite it, how is that good? (We didn't write it and I'm not saying who did, or even what it is.)

Looking forward to January 1st. A lot.

Carnations

You Are a Carnation

You are down to earth and grounded. You tend to be more traditional than trendy. Your confidence gets you through anything. People trust you and are very loyal to you.

What Flower Are You?

People are loyal to carnations?

Green

You Need Some Green in Your Life

Green will make you feel alive, renewed, and balanced. And with a little green, you will project an aura of peacefulness and harmony. If you want stability, you've got to get a little green in your life! For extra punch: Combine green with blue or purple The downside of green: It can promote jealousy in yourself or others The consequences of more green in your life: You will be drawn to a new life path You will feel free to pursue new ideas and interests, no matter how strange You will be released from the demands and concerns of others

What Color Do You Need?

BBC-A

So... BBC-America is playing 2 shows tonight (we were flipping through the guide) and I'm not sure why they're grammatically different.

"My Small Breasts and I"

"My Big Breasts and Me"

Leftovers

I didn't realize you should throw out cheese trays immediately after a party and not save anything. Thanks, Today Show.

Also stuffing is only good for 3 days? Sad. I love leftover stuffing. I just love stuffing.

Mashed potatoes don't last long either? What if you don't put butter or milk in them, since their assumption is that it uses dairy?

The primary parts of my Christmas dinner were stuffing and carrots. Yum.

Donuts

Yum. Alvin brought home some apple cider donuts from a farmer's market. They were the perfect accompaniment for the end of the Top Chef holiday special.

Speaking of the Top Chef holiday special.. I have been trying to DVR this since Thursday night. I ended up watching it live, because even deleting shows didn't work. Luckily, this is Bravo and this show is going to be repeated endlessly, so I wasn't really very concerned.

Mmm. Those donuts were good. I like donuts.

Squash

It turns out that I really, really like butternut squash.  Who knew?

 

I wish they would open another Just Salad branch really close to the office.  Yum.