Got up early this morning intending to go for a run, but it was just. so. cold. As in 15 degrees, felt like 7 degrees – or something close to that. No, I’m not exaggerating. So I ran out to pick up groceries. I got home and was so unmotivated to do anything but drink coffee. Finally I kicked my own butt, got dressed, and went for a run. It was invigorating. Ok, really it was just cold and the roads were slippery. Brrr.

I’m going to try a couple of new recipes this week – falafel and pita bread, and a lentil dish. We’ll see how it goes. Yesterday I made bean balls (think meatballs, but with black beans). Then I made lasagna and crumbled up the bean balls to use as the “meat” of the dish. I think it was successful because it tasted good, and when my friend came over later and was eating it she asked, “What kind of meat did you use in this?” I said, “Why? Does it taste good or no?” She said yes, so I explained the bean ball thing. She said it was good, spicy, and tasted like a type of sausage. No, I’m not vegetarian, but I don’t go out of my way to eat meat.

E’s mom came over this afternoon with her new Mini Countryman – such a cute, fun car! We went to lunch and to a couple of open houses, and took turns driving her car.

I made some cookies, read my book, had leftover lasagna for dinner and now just relaxing

My intentions for this week are: to get a little more caught up at work, visit my grandparents, buy birthday cards, get my hair cut, and register for a CPL class.

I appreciate my health, a hot shower after a cold run, family and friends, good food, and freedom.

It finally snowed this past week, and today is a gloriously sunny, albeit cold, day.  E is at his dad’s helping with kart stuff and I’ve had the house to myself to shovel the driveway, browse recipes, meal plan, clean up, tidy the basement and prep dinner (lasagna). I didn’t go for a run because the roads are pretty icy, but I’m hoping the sun today helped clear a couple spots so it won’t be so bad tomorrow.

The work stuff is good. There’s a bit of a learning curve, and it’s a LOT busier than my last role, but it’s good. The days have flown by.

The enjoying the week thing – I just can’t let one more year slip by only living for the weekends. So this past week, E and I went out for drinks one night – half off glasses of wine night. I had two which shouldn’t be a big deal, but I’m pretty sure they were 6-8oz each.  And I might have a teeny tiny bit of an overhang the next morning. Or maybe just dehydrated, because I still made it to my 6am workout class and felt fine afterwards. Another night we met for beer and pizza, and last night I met E and his dad and stepmom for dinner. I almost didn’t because I worked until 5:30 (on a FRIDAY!), and I just wanted to be home, but hey, it’s a good way to kick off the weekend.

Not that I mean for every “enjoy the week” to include alcohol, it just happened that way this week. I’m hoping to include some movie nights, massages, time with friends, try new recipes, maybe a book club, etc.  Any other suggestions?

So, other than a mild case of maybe/self-diagnosed bronchitis last week, this year is off to a good start.

I appreciate sunshine after the snow (and rain), good times with family and friends, feeling engaged at work, and people who don’t let their dogs bark incessantly.

I hate being sick. I hate when sick people who walk around spreading their germs. I hate when people don’t cover their mouths when they cough. I hate hearing news reports about certain germs that can live up to 2 days.

People, please wash your hands thoroughly, stay home when you’re sick, and stop spreading your sickness around.

I appreciate: hot tea, a comfy bed, the ability to work from home, and a little ice cream treat.

I was physically ready for Christmas. I was listening to Christmas music around Halloween, I had all of my shopping done, and I (mostly) knew what the plan was for the four Christmases we must attend as children of divorced parents, but I just didn’t want to do any of it. E and I are blessed enough to live close to our families so we see everyone regularly, so Christmas really isn’t that big of a deal. There really aren’t any gift-gifts, just gift cards or cash – which is totally fine, but why bother? Can’t we just get together for a nice dinner instead?

And, the guilt! E and I decided not to spend Christmas Eve night at his mom’s so I could actually wake up in my own bed and chill out Christmas morning. Yeah, she got a couple comments in about how sad she was we wouldn’t be spending the night.

So, yeah, poor stinking me for what? Having family who loves me and gives me gifts and wants to spend time with me? Ugh, I’m such a bitch sometimes. And what’s my problem? That I don’t want to see my family? No. That it’s just taken for granted that we’ll always show up? Maybe. But so what? I’d be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t take things/people for granted sometimes. Is that why I feel the need to go away for Christmas? So they’ll miss me? Maybe. Because really, what’s going away going to do except make everyone celebrate Christmas on some other random day. E’s an only child – they’re not going to do it without him.

So anyway, Christmas kind of sucked. I wish I could do it over so I could change my attitude, because I know I can’t change my family. We’ll never be the family who celebrates Christmas in Florida or in the mountains of Colorado or even with a fun tradition of making up a new cocktail every year. Our moms will always give us presents we (thankfully) don’t need, and hold dinner for us.  And the kids will always get way more toys than they need.

I appreciate my husband for putting up with my craziness. I appreciate that my family loves me, and that E’s family loves me. I appreciate that everyone has jobs and enough money left over to give gifts to those they love. I appreciate that I have the money, the flexibility, and the desire to travel. I appreciate good food. And I appreciate bloody marys.

I ran 6 miles yesterday and 3 this morning. Apparently 2012 is going to be the year of running for me. I’m nervous about the half marathon, and I’m sure I will be nervous until I cross the finish line. I also signed up for a St Pat’s Day 8K in March. Oh, and I have the Warrior Dash in July.

I paid off my car last week – a year early. It’s nice to go into 2012 with no debt. I’m hoping E and I can have a couple good trips this year. We had a pretty good 2011 for travel with South Carolina (plus Savannah), Hawaii, Tennessee, Las Vegas and Virginia. We have talked about Ireland, but nothing definite there yet. And maybe I’ll be brave enough to take a trip by myself this year.

I think this year I’m just going to enjoy life. I have an awesome one, and I’m always looking for something more instead of just being happy with what I have. It’s not that I’ll just let myself get stale – I want to work on my baking, read more, and worry less. I want to plant flowers this spring, maybe paint our kitchen cabinets, and paint the insides of the closets and pantry.  I want to get rid of the useless (in all aspects of my life). I want to appreciate more.