NEW YEAR'S MUSINGS

This is the family photo for our holiday card. Craig is in the back: the perpetual student, scientist, chef, who loves to read editorials and political blogs. Then there's me. You probably know more than necessary about me. Oh well. Here's more: I teach third grade at a progressive, project-based school. I love red wine and chocolate. I read and write poetry, duh. I have a bachelors in English and a masters in education. Mary Helen is in first grade, is very social/talkative, loves her brother and doing yoga with mom. Liam is The Little Prince: otherworldly, shy at first, loves trucks and bugs. I love this photo not only because everyone in my family is in it, facing the same way, and smiling, but we're all laughing. Priceless. Wishing everyone a new year filled with laughter.

Tonight, Craig and I are going out for New Year's Eve! Unbelievable. We haven't made it out for this night since the pre-kid era. We even have free babysitting services. Craig cat-sat for a colleague, so she and her fiance are babysitting for us. We bought them a bottle of champagne, and we're cleaning the house - that's payment enough! We are going to a co-teacher's house for a party. It will be "fabulous." The dress is "smart." I'm suddenly feeling grown-upish, even civilized. Usually, it's us and Dick Clark and falling asleep before midnight. This is an improvement.

So, I'm thinking about resolutions. I usually bite off more than I can chew. But this year, I have a plan behind my promises to myself. They are mundane and stereotypical, but necessary:

Getting Fit - I need to get in shape, I need more energy. Also, my cardiologist says I need to keep my heart stronger, being that it limps along with a hole and floppy valves. No more excuses. I can't ignore Dr's orders, now can I? So I usually try to do yoga once a week, but now that I am creeping up in my thirties, that's not enough. My sister-in-law suggested Curves, in fact, she sang its praises. Two to three times a week for thirty minutes. It's "do-able" and it works. Plus, its six minutes away. I sign up on Monday.

Budgeting & Saving - Also an area where we have no more excuses. Seven-and-a-half years of grad school are behind us. We both have jobs, we are living in our first house, it's time to get real about the finances. I've been reading Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover Workbook. It's very practical and stern with advice that you may already know, but it's nice to have it put all together for you with a step-by-step plan. Do this, then this, then this. This is my kind of budgeting.

So there you have it, Julia's totally self-centered, empowering goals for 2006. I have writing goals as well, and will save those for another time. How much me, me, me can I put in one post?