The 2010 Bucket List

Once more into the fray of a brand new year.  I spent the first weekend of this year considering the question of "resolutions" among other things.  I reviewed the ones I set out for 2009.  It was the same background music of my life that continues to play all the time, regardless of what year it is or what else is going on:  more training time with the dogs, more exercising, less eating, more being "happy" and less being "angry", getting organized, cutting the clutter, etc. etc.  All things that serve to make me feel more guilty and less productive when I don't hit them with all cylinders firing.  So this year I'm trying something a little different -- a bucket list of things I want to do whether they are "good" for me or not.

First up is MORE ADVENTURES.  Alone, with others, with the dogs.  Just getting out and about, seeing and experiencing, getting involved in the living part of life rather than the thinking part.  I'm making a list to put on the refrigerator of "See Alabama First" things to do over the next months.  If I run out of those things, I might sneak in some other Southeastern destinations and experiences.

Second would be NO MORE RECIPES CUT OUT OF MAGAZINES.  I swear, I have enough cookbooks for a whole neighborhood and hundreds more clipped out ones in 3 ring binders.  From the looks of things, you'd think all I did was cook.  I don't even like to cook.  So, I'm limiting myself to TWO new recipes per month.  Simple Southern recipes.  If I want exotic and/or foreign, I'll go out.

Third, and related to #2, is not stockpiling food.  It's shameful what gets thrown out in this house.  There's only two of us here, not Cox's army.  (No, I don't know who Cox was.....it's just something I've heard all my life from my grandmother, mother and any other female relative when discussing amounts of food.  As in "we've got enough here to feed Cox's army!")  While cooking for Christmas, I threw away several cans of food from the back of the pantry  that were older than a kindergartener.  Ridiculous!

Fourth is BECOMING MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY EDUCATED.  For example, stuff to spiff up this blog.  I want to be able to know stuff that 10-year olds take for granted:  how to burn a CD, download music.  Just things that I've never taken the time to do because basically, I didn't have to.  I don't want to be a clueless little old bluehaired lady.  Not yet anyway.

Fifth, is to VISIT ONE NATIONAL PARK I'VE NEVER BEEN TO.  After watching Ken Burns' PBS special on our national park system a few months ago, I can see that I've been missing out on some spectacular places.  Why go to Europe when what we've got right here is so amazing?

Sixth, CONTINUE TO HELP RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS AND BREEDERS IN MY STATE AND NATIONALLY PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS TO OWN AND BREED DOGS.  However I can and as often as I can.

And then pretty much all that other stuff held over from last year.  2010 could prove to be a very full, but lighter, year.  After all, I've still got to lose 15 pounds!

You Can Quote Me

365 fresh new days; 365 fresh new opportunities...........

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

~~Donna

This Year's Animal

It started year before last when I gave my sister and myself sterling silver dragonfly charms.  Dragonflies symbolize transformation and I thought 2008 needed to be a transformative year for both of us.  My sister hasn't changed her animal since; she loves the idea of constantly transforming herself.

I, on the other hand, chose the bumblebee as my 2009 animal.  Bumblebees symbolize persistence, steadiness, diligence and winning against all odds.  After all, aerodynamically bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly at all.  All of which I need to work on as I have a bad habit of "flitting" and never "landing".  I think I've done better this year.  Not great, but better.  I wore my bumblebee often throughout this year to give me a boost when I needed it.

For 2010, I have chosen the turtle as my totem.  I love turtles and tortoises.  They just look wise to me.  So, for Christmas I asked for a very pretty little bracelet I had seen with turtles and turquoise beads.  It really helps me to have a reminder that I can wear.  Turtles signify "groundedness" and they are the oldest symbol for planet Earth.  The turtle is a reminder to create and hold your ideas and plans till they are fully ready to share; and, that being bigger, stronger or faster aren't always the best ways to get to your goal.  Remember "slow and steady wins the race"?

This year I'll try to give myself the time I need to do the things I need or want to do.  And I'll have these sweet little turtles to help me along.

HELLO 2009! End of the year wrap-up....

My, my how time does fly. Last time I was here it was mid-October. I could make all kinds of excuses. For example, I did have surgery in October and that took a few weeks to recoup from. And the computer took MONTHS to actually "get right". And there's always those gay holidays.....shopping, wrapping, decorating, eating, drinking. (For the record, I'd just like to say right now that I'm glad all that's DONE.)

Usually people want to get right to the resolution part of each new year. I think I've learned my lesson on this. Basically, don't. Every time I make them, they last a month or two and then gradually slide off in to oblivion. What's the point? But, it's hard to resist the clean slate, blank page feeling of January. So, at the risk of once again heaping guilt upon my very own head for not following through, here are the things I'd like to see happen in 2009 (just for me, mind you -- not the world at large):

* more training time with my dogs
* more exercising out of me
* less eating
* more creativity and writing (like keeping up with this blog better)
* less anger at the uncontrollable forces of the universe
* more peace
* less TV
* LOTS more laughter
* TONS more forgiveness

There're probably dozens more things I could put on the list, but these will do nicely to keep me feeling overwhelmed for a few months. And in the process, if only one or two really make it to the finish line in December, I'll consider the year a wonderful success. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!