My traditional New Year's eve activities involve spending the day reflecting on all my flaws and resolving to fix every last one of them in the coming year. You can see how successful I have been at that but I am doing it again today.
They say you should document your resolutions so as to make it concrete, almost like a contract. So here is my contract for 2010.
1) The obligatory FIX BODY. That will include losing that last 10 pounds of pregnancy weight ( my son is 14 so it may be time), exercising stronger every day, visiting the appropriate doctors for the appropriate check ups, easing up on the carbs, bulking up on the fresh fruits/veggies. Two years ago the impetus was "Skinny Bitch", last year Omnivores Delight and this year Flat Belly Diet". At least my wallet is slimming down.
2) FIX PERSON. This is a big one. It means being a better mother, wife, daughter, and yes person. So ambitious, right? More patience with the kid, more "attention" to the husband, less arguing with the mother and overall just to be kinder and nicer. This oldie but good lasts about 2 days.
3) FIX HOUSE. My house is about a billion years old and I love it. However the age and size present a constant demand for repairs and improvement. I will paint (or get a painter), sand, repair and improve this house this year. Last time I made this resolution to redo a seldom used bathroom, it took 3 years. IS that success?
4) FIX MIND. I need to be calmer, or so I hear. This year I will work on good thoughts, spirituality and more laughter. Maybe this one will eliminate the need for the others.
5) FIX CAREER. I guess it isn't really a fix but more of a find. I love working but sometimes my priorities dictate commitment levels I cannot adhere to. This year I will find what I want to do and do it - even if just for 2010. I plan on writing more and better. Let's say publishing at least 3 magazine articles or a short story. Guess I will have to blog about rejection this year as well.
How's that for improving oneself? Actually, it made me tired. Good thing I don't have to start until tomorrow.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Driving in Snow
If you have lived in Buffalo during any of the winter months you must have experienced driving in the snow. So I should be able to assume that Buffalo drivers know how to drive in such weather. Why are there still idiots behind the wheel?
During Monday evening's snow storm my husband was exiting the 90 to the Scajaquada freeway during snow and wind. A guy in a Ford Truck determined that his truck was a tank or that he was auditioning for the INDY 500 and sped past all drivers taking the turn at lightening speed. Guess what? He smashed into another car, propelling that car's bumper about 100 yards where it waited for my husband's car to hit it resulting in two blown tires.
I am so thankful that no one, especially my husband, was hurt. However this little stunt by our trucker resulted in a day of me driving back and forth to hospitals, car dealers, offices and tire shops not to mention the bill for two new tires. My husband had the additional delight of driving on two flats (can you say rim damage?), removing those tires in the snow storm and having to be driven around to and from his appointments by his very annoyed wife.
What is it about these guys (because usually they are men) who think they are exempt from the laws of nature while behind a steering wheel? Is it bravado, stupidity or just plan ignorance that makes a driver believe snow, wind, ice and traffic means increase your speed rather than slow it down?
I think we should implement a new driving test for winter drivers. It doesn't need to me a road test. Oh no. It needs to be a simple written quiz to determine if the driver is an absolute senseless, selfish, idiot.
During Monday evening's snow storm my husband was exiting the 90 to the Scajaquada freeway during snow and wind. A guy in a Ford Truck determined that his truck was a tank or that he was auditioning for the INDY 500 and sped past all drivers taking the turn at lightening speed. Guess what? He smashed into another car, propelling that car's bumper about 100 yards where it waited for my husband's car to hit it resulting in two blown tires.
I am so thankful that no one, especially my husband, was hurt. However this little stunt by our trucker resulted in a day of me driving back and forth to hospitals, car dealers, offices and tire shops not to mention the bill for two new tires. My husband had the additional delight of driving on two flats (can you say rim damage?), removing those tires in the snow storm and having to be driven around to and from his appointments by his very annoyed wife.
What is it about these guys (because usually they are men) who think they are exempt from the laws of nature while behind a steering wheel? Is it bravado, stupidity or just plan ignorance that makes a driver believe snow, wind, ice and traffic means increase your speed rather than slow it down?
I think we should implement a new driving test for winter drivers. It doesn't need to me a road test. Oh no. It needs to be a simple written quiz to determine if the driver is an absolute senseless, selfish, idiot.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Fictional vs. Real
Is it just me or have people begun to live more in a fantasy world than in the real world? Is life so bad that it needs to be fabricated with pretend friends and make believe talents?
Since the beginning of time, I think people have pretended to be something other that what they were, but technology has has taken this to the nth degree. Role playing video games such as SIMS are fun in moderation; pathological in abundance.
How about all those people who claim to be fitness gurus because of their Wii personal trainers? Wake up folks. Those personal trainers are animated characters who don't really see you and can't really tell if you are moving appropriately. And guess what? You are not a guitarist because you hit the top level of Guitar Hero or Rock Band. We have entered a world where hard work, persistence and effort to perfect a skill has been replaced with purchasing a gaming console, pouring a drink and toss around a controller.
Don't get me wrong, I think these games are great fun. But that's what they are: games. Its wonderful to be able to simulate something that you will never do as long as you are not passing up an opportunity to really try something because you believe you have already experienced it electronically. I cannot believe that the physical act of hitting a tennis ball can be fully replicated by swinging a remote control.
It's worse with friends. I have a few extremely good friends. I consider myself genuinely fortunate. Developing a friendship requires compassion, time, understanding and shared experiences. It is more than sending a Friend request on Facebook and periodically posting a pithy note on their wall. Those 100 names do not represent real friends.
It's not just technology. I once visited a new friend. When asked about the microphone and audio equipment set up in her living room, she responded that she was a singer. WOW. Good for you, have you been singing long? Do you play local clubs? Performing in front of an audience must be amazing. She responded oh no I do karaoke. Really? Is that all it takes to call yourself a singer?
I guess I am doing it as well. I blog so does that mean I am a writer? Are my colleagues the writers who majored in English, worked years to hone their craft, published words and basically paid their dues? Or are my peers the people who have a computer, an opinion and a little time? No, I recognize what I am and what I am doing. The line between fiction and reality is pretty clear for me, which makes me even more crazy when speaking to people who pass through that line like walking through fog.
Since the beginning of time, I think people have pretended to be something other that what they were, but technology has has taken this to the nth degree. Role playing video games such as SIMS are fun in moderation; pathological in abundance.
How about all those people who claim to be fitness gurus because of their Wii personal trainers? Wake up folks. Those personal trainers are animated characters who don't really see you and can't really tell if you are moving appropriately. And guess what? You are not a guitarist because you hit the top level of Guitar Hero or Rock Band. We have entered a world where hard work, persistence and effort to perfect a skill has been replaced with purchasing a gaming console, pouring a drink and toss around a controller.
Don't get me wrong, I think these games are great fun. But that's what they are: games. Its wonderful to be able to simulate something that you will never do as long as you are not passing up an opportunity to really try something because you believe you have already experienced it electronically. I cannot believe that the physical act of hitting a tennis ball can be fully replicated by swinging a remote control.
It's worse with friends. I have a few extremely good friends. I consider myself genuinely fortunate. Developing a friendship requires compassion, time, understanding and shared experiences. It is more than sending a Friend request on Facebook and periodically posting a pithy note on their wall. Those 100 names do not represent real friends.
It's not just technology. I once visited a new friend. When asked about the microphone and audio equipment set up in her living room, she responded that she was a singer. WOW. Good for you, have you been singing long? Do you play local clubs? Performing in front of an audience must be amazing. She responded oh no I do karaoke. Really? Is that all it takes to call yourself a singer?
I guess I am doing it as well. I blog so does that mean I am a writer? Are my colleagues the writers who majored in English, worked years to hone their craft, published words and basically paid their dues? Or are my peers the people who have a computer, an opinion and a little time? No, I recognize what I am and what I am doing. The line between fiction and reality is pretty clear for me, which makes me even more crazy when speaking to people who pass through that line like walking through fog.
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