The New Year’s Eve Chicken Torching

Yep… I burned it. And no, we’re not talking about over-cooking the New Years Eve meal; we’re talking about the symbolic chicken that was a souveneir from a weekend trip taken by myself and he-who-shall-no-longer-be-named. On New Year’s Eve, I took that little hen, and I tenderly laid it on the fire, and I watched it go up in flames. Bye Bye, chicken. See you in Hell.

Part of moving on, is letting go of the negative things in your past. Hwsnlbn is one of those things I have let go, completely.the burning of the chicken was not malicious, but symbolic. Ashes. All gone.

Im not making resolutions per se this year; but I do resolve to reflect on the decisions and behaviors from last year that brought me to where I am today; which were good, which were bad. Which I could do better letting go of, which I want to strengthen and build on.

I watched Jim Carrey’s ‘Yes Man’ yesterday, and although it was a rather silly movie, it did get me thinking… am I saying no to too many opportunities in my life? I saw a lot of parallells to my own situation there, and found it interesting. Certainly one of those things I will be reflecting on….

So Long, 2008…

 

Well, this has been one of the most bizarre years of my adult life.

I entered it in a stable marriage, a secure job, a comfortable house, and good financial status.

I am leaving it in a state of separation, a job I worry about keeping, a cold basement apartment, and never enough cash to stretch from one pay day to the next.

It’s been interesting.

In between there have been lost loves, internet relationships, and plenty of heartache and heartbreak. It has been tough learning to be on my own, but I really think I am making progress. It’s hard, and it’s lonely, but if there’s one resolution I make for 2009, it will be that I refuse to sacrifice my self, my personality, my happiness, to appease a man. I have rediscovered what it’s like to really be able to just be me… and I like me.

My husband and I are getting along well, spending some time together, and will start counseling in January. But I have been very clear that I have made no promises, aloud or inferred, that I will be returning home. It seems I like him as a friend, but as a husband? I still have no idea if we’ll ever get back to that point. Much change is needed.

My kids will return from my parent’s place in Southern Utah on Sunday; I have missed them and can’t wait to see their little faces again (reminding myself they’re just not so little anymore). School starts up again Monday, and life resumes as normal again for everyone… well, as normal as it can be right now.

So what will 2009 bring? Hard to imagine. So many things in the air right now, I can’t possibly predict what might happen next… but stay tuned,  faithful readers, it’s sure to be entertaining!

Credit where credit is due…

Happy New Year!!
We had a great evening here at the Homestead: the boys came home from Grandma and Grandpa’s, their shuttle arrived just about six p.m., and dad picked up Chinese on the way home with them. We ate and ate. Then we all hunkered down in the living room and watched Pirates of the Carribbean At World’s End (yay PIRATES), and afterwards we all put on our pirate-y best and talked like pirates while we played Pirate’s Dice that the boys got for Christmas. What fun!
This year they both stuck it out until midnight, though the younger JUST BARELY… although he did perk up when I brought out pots and wooden spoons for banging on (yes, the ones I got for Christmas!) We popped a bottle of bubbly at the stroke of twelve and sent the not-so-little ones off to dreamland… all in all, a tremendous evening. How many more years before they’re both off with friends on New Years, doing who knows what? Heaven knows their sister already won’t be caught dead with us if there’s an alternative…
Anyway, back to the title of this post: my husband has partially redeemed himself, and it’s only fair that I give him credit for that. Sure, it’s after Christmas, and it’s something I found and told him he’s buying for me, but… he did. So it kinda counts. Part of what irked me last week at bowling was that right before I got questioned about my questionable Christmas, my husband had walked into the Pro Shop and bought himself a fancy new bowling ball. The nerve! So yesterday, I was dinking around online and happened across some bowling supply sites. I found a PIRATE bowling ball. With a stormy background, a skull and crossed swords on the front and a pirate ship flying the Jolly Roger on the back, it is totally, totally cheesy, and therefore, totally cool. I HAD to have it. The thing is… my bowling bag is in sorry shape. the zippers are stripped, it’s all raggedy… how could I put such a fine new ball in an old sorry thing like that? It seemed only right to look at what there was to offer in the bowling bag category while I was at it. And you’ll never guess what I found! A two-ball, rolling carrier, with flames AND the skull and crossbones!! How obnoxious can you get?? It was like being punched in the eye by Bootstrap Bill himself. Of course, when I showed my husband my fine treasures, there was no way he could refuse me booty. He shook his head, rolled his eyes and handed over the credit card.
AAAARRRGH!!!!!

For 2008: Some Resolutions I Can Live With

Once again, a new year is upon us… and many of us will make that traditional list of resolutions for the coming days that we will, no doubt, fail to live up to almost immediately.
Well, this year, I have decided to be a little smarter (and more realistic) about the goals I set for myself. I have decided to look to my favorite film and television characters in order to shape my do’s and don’ts for 2008. Here goes:
I will be more politically correct than Borat.
I will eat less chocolate than Augustus Gloop.
I will almost always be more sober than Anna Nicole.
I will shower more than Hagrid. (And shave more, too.)
I will be less insufferable than Horatio.
I will be nicer than the Soup Nazi.
I will smell better than Captain Jack.
I will be more willing to see my own faults than Marie Barrone.
I will ruthlessly dismember less people than Dexter.
I will shout less than that Oxy-Clean guy.
I will terrorize less neighborhood children than Mr. Nebercracker. (Okay, maybe 1 less kid.)

There may be more, but for now, these are things I’m fairly sure I can keep to. Notice I made no promises regarding how good I’d be to my husband or kids; some things you just can’t guarantee…