2011 Resolutions, Revelations and Reinventions. Amen.

Hey you,

Yes, it is that time of year again, time for resolutions. I believe that when I first started blogging, in the winter of 2005-6 (??)...that must be it, that it started around this time of year. I lived in St. Louis, it was cold out, there were margaritas, Jimmy Buffett and there were many a resolution. I would go and dig it for a laugh, but I don't really want to recall that at the moment. The last two years have flown by like the speed of sound and I haven't had much time for resolutions, just baby chasing and sleep. However, I feel that its time for a list again, a to do list if you will, of what I want to do, do more of and do better.

For the record, I am damned excited about the new year. I have big plans (see item 2 below) but won't beat myself up if some of them don't pan out. All you can do is keep swimming. Have you written yours down yet? What are they? Tell me more.

Here we go, Molly's 2011 New Years Resolutions.
1. Try Roller Derby through the month of January, then decide if I can handle the time commitment. If there's one thing I know about myself, its that I am very protective of my personal time.
2. Embrace my inner suburban homesteader by attempting the following overly ambitious things this spring so my family can be more "self sustaining":
A. Make a small box garden in my back yard utilizing materials I already have.
B. Start seedlings utilizing containers from my recycle bin
C. Chickens. You read that right. Chickens. I would like to build a small chicken coop
that can be moved around the yard. I have been researching this for a few years and am
ready to make it a reality.
D. Build a small greenhouse for year round goodies with old wood windows purchased at the ReStore. If you have one of these in your town, go check it out. Awesome if you need things like sinks, doors, old wooden windows to make a chicken coop with.
3. Be even more creative in saving money, making money and living with less shit. I have already taken a load of items to Goodwill this week. More to come. I also sold about $25 in items to a consignment shop earlier this month. I can totally do that again.
4. Be ok with where I live and know that it isn't forever and ever.
5. Be a better partner to my husband and mother to bebe.
6. Be true to myself. The more I do that, the more true I can be to everyone else. I am who I am and although I'm kind of flighty, I do like myself.
7. More country music oldies (currently staring at an iTunes gift card I haven't used...there's some Hank Williams and Kathy Mattea in my future).
8. Hit the road! I had some really successful road trips this year, so I know I can do more in 2011.
9. Be a leader in Nursing school. I'm old and smart, no need to hide in the shadows this time around. Besides, I've had a baby, so I can pretty much do anything now.
10. I would really like to ride a horse this year. Nothing fancy, just a nice ride.
11. Continue to emotionally support my SIL so that she can become independent (and eventually get her own place this year)...and so I can be a ton less judgey. This is something I've been struggling with as of late and I need to do something different. Otherwise, I'll resent her and I love her too much to do that.
12. Be a better dog owner/lover. The baby and large back yard have made me a lazy pet owner. More real walks around the neighborhood. They like those more than anything at all, so they shall have them.
13. I'm a country girl (not a southerner, there is a difference...and I don't mean that ugly) and that has resulted in a bit of an accent. I tend to notice it when I go home... I might not work so hard to choke that down anymore.
14. Less whining and self loathing, more Lebowski. Because everyone needs a little Lebowski now and again. I'm going to file this one under "Spiritual".

Just a massive to-do list, y'all, but I have good a good feeling about this year. Good things are going to happen. Its never too late for a new beginning. Its never to late to start over.

Its 9PM in the Bluegrass state and its about time to go down and fix myself my first New Year's Eve cocktail, which will be a cup of coffee, so I can be awake to watch Snookie drop in the ball for what is sure to be the most white trash New Years ever.

Happy, Slappy New Year, y'all.

Cookies, Love, Perspective

I officially began started vacation yesterday. Daddy and Bebe were off at work and day care and I had the house to myself to do laundry and finish up some cookies. It was nice.

The last week has been a tad stressful and harried, but it was still fun. My parents have been having an adventure helping with all the grandparents and my uncle who recently broke his hip (and subsequently had to have surgery...last week). And one of my aunts who normally comes in from NC is bailing to spend Christmas with her son who doesn't every really have anything to do with this family. Sometimes I hate him for staying away...sometimes I can be more understanding. He has his pretty wife, big house, 4 dogs, job, and he and his wife live it quietly and in their own world. I can kind of respect it, disengaging from memories of former drama forever and ever. I just want us all to be together sometimes, even if I don't really know him anymore. His absence is always felt. However, big love and hugs and lots of laughing coming my way this week and I couldn't be happier about it. I love my family, I am a lucky girl.

I am also lucky in the way of friends. I keep re-realizeing how wonderful, unique, intelligent and caring they all are. All of them. They all bring something important into the fore front for me. Now, if I can just figure out how in the hell to get them all in the same place more often...or you know, my ass to TN.

I everyone a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season. And next month when we all realize that there are a good 2-3 solid months of winter left, we'll break out the Jimmy Buffet and margaritas together.

Love,
Molly

A Poop Story (*Somewhat Graphic)

* Fair warning, somewhat graphic/gross tale below. You've been warned.

Dedicated to James and baby sister.

Yesterday, as I was heating up my lunch, I felt the urge to use the rest room. I thought it would be just a quick pee, but alas, there was a little poop. And it wasn't my normal "almost no wipe giant poop of perfection" either; it was a little messy one. Someone was waiting to use the microwave after me, so I felt a tad rushed. I wiped, washed and then grabbed my food. After eating at my desk, I stood up to go wash my dishes and hands. However, when I stood up, I felt my underwear sticking to my bottom with what felt like a bit of glue. No one was around so I pulled at my ass as if to pull a weggie from deep within. Thats when I knew it wasn't glue...it was poop. I went to the bathroom to see how bad it was. When I got my pants down, I had a lovely smashed terd slightly embedded into my underpants. And it was super stinky! I then had to assess the damage on my bottom. I was a mess up my backside. I did the best I could to clean everything with dry toilet paper. Then I pulled my pants up and went out of the stall to get some warm, wet paper towels. Thankfully my underpants are all microfiber and I was able to almost completely get the poo out of my undies, including the massive stink. Then I carefully washed my bottom. I was able to keep my "shit" together about it and marched from the bathroom with dignity.

The end.

Body Building and Flat Tires....

Hello, its been a while. I've had visitors and have been very busy with work, school and life in general. I've also been starting my training with the Roller Derby team. I'm sore as hell. We had an "off skates" practice last week on campus. It was a full 1.5 hours of push ups, sit ups, lunges, tires, Heisman's, pilates, yoga, etc. It was fun and I kept up. However, the last two days have resulted in my needing to learn how to walk again. My thigh muscles, however bulging and beautiful, make things like going up and down stairs or just standing up really painful. I'm definitely doing a long hot soak tonight, followed by some icy hot. Update: after Saturday's actual on-skates roller derby practice, i've worked most of the pain out and have a few new boo-boos on my ass and sholder. Quickly healing. And although I've lost some weight, I can't seem to ditch this damned flat tire from having the baby a few years ago. Its my mommy curve, I suppose. But eventually, it will need to go.

The SIL was in Memphis last week visiting friends and returned Friday. Upon her return she baby sat petit bebe and then Daddy and I went on a proper date. We did a nice Indian buffet and shopping at the mall. Not too exciting, but it was nice to run away and just be together.

This weekend begins my very long Christmas vacation: 2 full weeks off. Paid. Last one of those for a long while and I'll be savoring every single minute. Most of my Amazon christmas orders arrived yesterday. I await an ebay purchase and need to do a few more things and then I'll be done with that. Just wrapping to do. Then on to Christmas cookies: Chocolate ginger bread and some chocolate dipped short breads.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. More soon.