Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I started my New Year's Resolution early this year

People say that when you let other people know about a personal goal, you're more apt to accomplish it. So here's my 2010 New Year's Resolution (which I've been working on for a few weeks now):

I will learn to loosen up more and not get bogged down by details.

There. I have made this public. And, I'm really trying, much to the relief of my friends and family who must get totally exhausted by my over-scheduling and over-analyzing. Heck, it exhausts me!

But, last night my resolution hit a hiccup. How, must you ask, can this happen before the New Year even graces us with its presence?? Because, at 3am, in the dark, without my glasses on, I was making a list. A list that involved things like name tags, pencils and another list I needed to make when I got to work.

Sick.

Honestly, I feel like my subconscious is slyly working against me. I mean, it's waking me up in the middle of the night and encouraging me to make a list!!! Without my permission.

Dear Subconscious: I'm pissed at you. And, while we're at it, stop with the crazy dreams. I'm sick and tired of logging onto dreammoods.com every morning trying to decipher why I would dream about gerbils or tornadoes or swim lessons. Pissed.

I will continue to work on accomplishing my resolution. Baby steps. Itty, bitty baby steps. Until then, just bear with me...


Oh - one bright point?!?! My handwriting on the list that I wrote at 3am. In the dark. Without my glasses??? BEAUTIFUL!!! Seriously. The letter spacing is impeccable. I'm that good.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

of Turkey Trots and DNR forms

How was your Thanksgiving? Full of football and turkey and funny family stories? That's sweet. No offense, but I bet your Thanksgiving can't hold a candle to my Turkey Day.

The day started off EARLY. Momma and I had this fun idea that we would run the Valpo Turkey Trot 5K on Thursday morning. I woke up. Got dressed. Looked out the window. Changed my outfit. It was raining. And sleeting. And snowing. Winter Mess Trifecta! But, we did it anyways. Oh, quick side note? I'm not a runner. Nor did a "train" to run a 5K. My gym routine consists of kickboxing, lifting weights and reading Health magazine on the elliptical. I didn't start the race running, but a half mile into the race, I had stepped in two huge puddles and the sleet was crusting around my eyelashes. So I ran. I ran just to get the thing over with. At the end of the race, my mom comes up to me and says, "Alane. You're a machine. I can't believe you ran that whole thing!" She failed to mention I was pale as a ghost and she was worried I was going to pass out.

(PS: For all you runners out there, I know that a 5K is practically nothing to you. Stop snickering. I had not physically or mentally prepared myself to run three miles when I woke up that morning. Get over yourself.)

Either way, after the race, I grabbed a granola bar, tripped all over my soaking wet pants, sloshed around in my wet socks and patiently waited for my mom to claim her medal for placing third in her age group. (You're welcome, Momma.)

But, we did it!

Okay, okay. So some of you might have run a similar race in your home town on Thanksgiving morning. You're probably thinking, "What? Why was her Turkey Day that special? I ran a race too."

Here it is: My 83 year old grandma had my family sign and witness her Do Not Resuscitate form on Thanksgiving. Yep. True story. It was awkward. And, it made our "Litany of Thanksgivings" around the table much more poignant this year. MUCH more.

Bless her heart. All she had to say about it was, "Well, I'd rather have you sign it at Thanksgiving as opposed to Christmas." Well, that, and jokingly accusing my brother of sending her to the grave early. But, that's why we love her!

Bring on the holidays!