Sunday, December 30
Despite the fact that I have had more meltdowns this weekend than an over-exhausted and underfed three year old, I think tonight is going to be a good night. Ian, Chris, and Ben are collecting the goods to make sushi tonight and I hear them laughing and stomping the snow off their boots before coming inside. I have been living inside my head for the last several weeks and I think I just kicked myself out. Thank God. I racked up about 8 hours of what Jenn once titled "beach time thinking" which has been tailored to midwestern standards and is thus called "highway thoughts". The point of these thoughts are that you have a stretch of something almost endless before you and all you can do is think.0 comments
One very serious, contemplative, and Jenny-controversial topic that I had with myself was in regards to New Years Resolutions. To be honest, I am the biggest fuddydud when it comes to the eve part of New Years. Past New Years Eve's have consisted of Meg G. making delicious bread & an olive oil spread before we took a "millenial jog" around the block at the stroke of midnight in 2000, watching a Noah's Ark cartoon with Michelle while balancing beanie babies on our heads (strange), or doing the Time Warp (it's just a jump to the left) with Josette after watching Rocky Horror Picture Show. Clearly I am the picture of awsome-ness.
Rather, the excitement of beginning a new year for me is the actual day of the new year. How I spend the first day of 2008 is much more important to me than how I spent the last moment of 2007. I've had enough of 2007, thank you. I'm already plotting a New Years morning personal triathalon (like Meg G and I used to do every Friday night in high school) and then mole-ing up at a coffee shop to write or read poetry. I tried to convince Marius, a Kramer-like character who I used to live with while attending Northwestern, to join me at the coffee shop but most people sound pre-occupied with sleep New Years morning. I guess that makes more romping space for me!
So resolutions. I normally do these around my birthday but I given the intensity in my head recently, I think some resolutions will be helpful in the re-invention of self. Of course I ran through the usual suspects: read more, be organized, remember to feed the cat on time, spend more than 5 minutes in front of mirror in the morning, read one book a month, say 5 positive things for every negative thing, read the bible including Leviticus, cut out swearing, try not to annoy Ben on a daily basis, etc. Scratch those. Here are the 2008 big, bad, beasties:
1. Make room for writing no matter what so that I will be successful in submitting a short story to at least one literary magazine by fall's contest frenzy. (Within this resolution is also making sure I venture to New York City to collaborate/ be inspired by Lisa for at least 4 days)
2. Pick up the phone when somebody calls. Sorry everybody. I know you know how horrible I am with my phone. I promise it's never intentional.
3. Invite three people I find interesting to coffee. I am way too shy sometimes and asking someone out throws me back to freshman year awkwardness. Yes. Me. "I know I have met a real friend- someone I really like- when all I do is interupt them the whole night"- Lisa.
4. Initiate three adventures. Do not say no to having an adventure. (I kicked this off by, gasp, going to a Detagoh/ Rusted Root concert on a Wednesday night. A school night!)
I am pretty excited about 2008 even though I foresee many challenges that are no doubt soon upon me and my family. I am beginning to feel re-connected to Chicago again with old and new friends to play with, a new friend, Mark, introduced me to a fabulous coach named Bob who is an inspiration to all exercising humanity, and I have a solid place that I am standing on. Thanks 2007- you were good to me.
Happy New Years!
Love, Jennifro
posted by Jenny Sunday, December 30, 2007
