New Year's Resolutions

I got to thinking this morning about the whole "New Year's Resolution" thing. Where did it come from? Is it just a fad that caught on because the beginning of a new calendar seems like an appropriate time to begin a new set of goals? So I did a little research (yup, I'm awesome), and found this cute little article. Enjoy.

The History of New Year's Resolutions

How and Why the Tradition of Making Resolutions Began

by Nathan Collier

The history of making New Year’s resolutions dates all the way back to the time of ancient Rome. The Romans are responsible for the majority of the modern calendar and for the tradition of making resolutions on New Years.

Celebrating the new year has been a tradition for thousands of years and is arguably the oldest celebrated holiday. The ancient Babylonians were the first to hold celebrations for the new year over 4000 years ago though they did not begin the tradition of making resolutions on that day.

New Years has not always been celebrated on January 1st and it’s not celebrated on that date everywhere today. The Roman and Gregorian calendars are both solar calendars that hold the new year on January 1st. Lunar calendars such as the Chinese calendar would hold the new year on the first full moon of the year.

The Romans and the Tradition of Resolutions

In the early Roman Empire the new year was celebrated in March. This made sense to the Romans because it marked the beginning of spring and the planting of the first crops.

In 153 BCE Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the Roman calendar by the Roman Senate. In legend Janus had two faces which he used to look to the future and the past. Since it was believed that Janus could forgive transgressions, many Romans would give gifts and make promises at the beginning of the new calendar year. Their belief was that Janus would see this and then bless their life for the entire year.

Over the next years, each Caesar made his own changes to the calendar. The official date of New Year’s switched from January to March and back again several different times over this time period.

Julius Caesar Solidifies the Calendar

In 46 BCE Julius Caesar changed the Roman calendar in order to make it align more evenly with the seasons and to make further changes impossible. Caesar made January 1st the official beginning of the next year. A legend began that on the last day of December at midnight Janus would see the past year and the next year at the same time. Romans began making promises to Janus on the last day of December in the hopes that he would see their sincerity and help them attain their goals.

The legend continued on after the Roman Empire was dissolved. During the Middle Ages Christian powers attempted to remove the Roman traditions from the calendar. Christians proclaimed the new year to be December 25th in order to celebrate it with the birth of Christ.

In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar and new years was once again celebrated on January 1st. The tradition of making resolutions once again surfaced while the mythical element of Janus was removed.

Santa is a blogger

I couldn't believe it when I woke up Christmas morning to find out that Santa is a blogger, and apparently follows Moesying Through Life! He wants to make sure that my journey of 101 Things in 1001 Days is a success, so he planned my Christmas presents accordingly. Thanks, Santa!

Santa especially wants to make sure that I get all my kitchen "to do's" taken care of, and thus, blessed me with the tools to potentially complete #46, 50, 55, 64, 66, 69, and 74 on my list! My new creme brulee ramekins and flavored sugars and cooking torches should be fun to play with (watch out!)! The french onion soup crocks will be instrumental in perfecting my dad's killer french onion soup recipe. And the DOUBLE (yes, I said double) crock pot I got should help me keep dinners cooking, and maybe even come up with my own special dish. My friends will be happily tanked with the cocktail guide that I got to help me learn to mix drinks. And, in case I run out of things to play with in the kitchen, I can go spend a weekend taking cooking classes with my dad! (Hey look, there's #2 on the list!)

It occurred to me, as I was beaming with delight over all these fun toys (I mean, come on, cooking torches and DOUBLE crock pots???) that Santa also thinks I am a fatty. I am ok with this, I think.

I also had to smile when Judaism for Dummies fell into my lap (#67 on the 101 list, #1 on the Christmas Irony list), both of my brothers started talking about how they want to go skydiving (#86), my older brother gave me a book he was recommending (#8) and my mom got a phone call about a potential location for the next girl's weekend (#1!).

So, thank you, Santa, for following my blog. I hope you like what you see here, and I will keep you posted on my progress with the list.

Now it is New Year's resolution time. Resolution #1: Get 50% of this list done.

I Believe in Santa Claus

I believe in Santa Claus. It's a faith that I learned from my parents as a baby that I have kept with me my entire life in one form or another. While I no longer believe that there is a fat man in a red coat who delivers gifts to all the good children of the world in one night with the help of his magical, flying reindeer, I do believe in the spirit of Santa Claus.

It has nothing to do with naughty or nice, with presents or stockings, with Christian faith or childhood fairy tales. But I do believe that there is something in the air around Christmas time that just gives people a sense of warmth and kindness towards the people in their life. Friends, family, colleagues. Maybe not so much with holiday shoppers or your run-of-the-mill hoodlums, but luckily, the people I care about have a little Christmas spirit in them too. A little Santa.

Sometimes it is just baking cookies for friends, or doing an extra favor for a co-worker, or putting up holiday decorations with your mom, or sitting by the fire that your dad built to fight the cold winter air. It can be an unexpected hug or a warm greeting. There is something that happens this time of year that I can't explain; it gets inside you and makes you want to share it. Giving that dollar to the salvation army guy ringing the bell on the corner, holding the door for the woman with the shopping bags, chasing after the kid who dropped his mitten in the snow to return it to him, or even just looking out the window to watch the snow fall and being completely full and content with that seemingly boring act.

So yes, I do believe in Santa Claus. I always have. It's not about the man, not about the gifts, not even about the bedtime stories. It is whatever is in the air during the holidays. I've never needed "proof" that there was really a Santa Claus, but it is nice to think that sometimes, when you least expect it, he can still give you a little wink.

What qualifies a good day:

1. Woke up early for no reason, but without feeling tired once I was up.
2. Andy spoiled me by not only buying breakfast, but going out to get it so I could stay inside, out of the snow, and in my pajamas.
3. Playtime! Playtime! Playtime!
4. Got two things done off my list (watched the 1938 A Christmas Carol and got my iTunes all organized and cleaned up). Plus, got all the software I needed for my webcam set up so that I can video skype. (Not really on the list, but it helps out with one of my items).
5. Did it all without ever having to get out of yoga pants.

That would be a good day.

Shock and Awwww

It is just a few days from Christmas. As I was walking to work recently, there was the cutest little boy you're ever seen in your life walking toward me with his mom. The boy was probably about 4 years old and was not so much walking as he was jumping alongside his mother as she walked, all the while exclaiming (with a cute little boy speech impediment) "Seven more days 'til Christmas! Seven more days 'til Christmas!"

AWWWWWWWW!

And as I continued on my journey to work, feeling all warm and fuzzy by the image of the cutest little boy doing the cutest little thing he could possibly be doing, the shock set in.

Really? We're that close to Christmas? Uh oh.

Today's miserable upset...

Which is more important? Your friends or career? And what if you have to choose, with no option to combine them?

What if choosing "friends" for one day could be detrimental to your work? Will your friends understand?

What if you can't justify missing out on your friends for work? Is it worth the risk?

How do you know?

Festival Time!

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah! To all those celebrating, I wish you eight days and nights of a Happy Hanukkah!

One of the items on my list is to learn more about the Jewish traditions. I know the basics about many of them: "this is the one with the menorah", "this is the one with the seder", "this is the one with the latkes", "this is the one with the costumes", "this is the New Year", "this is the one where we laugh at Andy as he reads the four questions because he is always the youngest one in the room and then goes to find the afikomen". And I know the basic backgrounds of the major holidays too: the eight days the candle burned when there was only enough oil for one, the celebration of the Israelite's escape from slavery (including the unlevened bread for their hasty escape and other the other symbollic foods of the pesach seder and the answers to those famous four questions), etc.

For an Irish Catholic, I think I have a decent understanding of the biggies. But not great. Not as much as I'd like. There are still many aspects of the holidays (and traditions) I don't understand.

Recently, my beautiful sister-in-law (yay) posted on her own blog a little article about Hanukkah that I really enjoyed. It was some nice, light reading stuff, but it went along nicely with some of the other articles I have read recently. “Hanukkah: A Guide for the Perplexed” is a link that she included as additional reading from her own blog, and I enjoyed clicking through it. I feel like this might be a site as we approach other holidays as well, just so that I can take a look. This one, although an older article, was informative as well: from the Inside Israel website.

With that, I wish you...

It's that time of year

About this time of year, I think most people get into a little bit of holiday stress mode, trying to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Even the people that really love holiday shopping probably feel a little pressure when they have found the perfect gifts for Billy, Sally, and Sue, but little Johnny still has nothing. Of course, lists make things a little easier for everyone and take away the wonder of "will they like this?". But then there are no surprises.

I like coming up with ideas that people didn't ask for, but I think they might like. It's hard. And it doesn't come easily. And I am pretty sure I have bought a few things that have never made it out of the box. But I think some of them are gems also! But there's the pressure....

So which is better? Buying something unexpected and having your loved ones be truly surprised when they open their gifts, or buying what a person wants, and knowing you made them happy with something they can actually use?

And what's on your holiday wish list this year?

Pep Talk

Is it wrong that I want to add peppermint to everything around this time of year?

Peppermint Mocha coffee? Yes please.
Peppermint Brownies? I'll take two.
Peppermint Candles? Light 'em up.
Peppermint Bark? Holy delicious, batman.
Peppermint Chicken? Well, you can try it first. But let me know how it goes.

Finally feeling Christmasy! Maybe I should do a little shopping?

Counting the days in a different way

In addition to my 101 days countdown (983 left!), I also have another little countdown going.

As of today, there are 199 days until my wedding - I have gotten into the 100's! That's just over 6-months of time until I am walking down the aisle of the biggest party I have ever thrown. I've been engaged for nine months now (whoa, really?) and it wasn't until about two days ago that I had any feeling of "uh oh, better start getting to work on this thing".

I don't have a dress. I don't have bridesmaid dresses picked out. I haven't decided on a florist. I haven't arranged a tasting. I haven't ordered invitations.... the list goes on and on. I don't know if it was a moment of reality setting in that suddenly made me nervously start looking into things, or what, but there is a lot to do! There is no question in my mind that it will all get done. Actually, I am not even worried about it, though I do get the "going crazy with wedding plans yet?" question every time I turn around.

In case you were wondering if I was Bridezilla yet also, the answer is "No. It's under control. I actually think I am in good shape, as long as I start making decisions."

Perhaps this all came about because I officially set the date for my huge fundraising Gala at work yesterday. April 19... exactly 2 months before my own big day. The bright side: I won't have to worry about the Gala for a whole 2 months leading up to my wedding and can just concentrate on the nuptials. The downside: I might be worrying about wedding stuff now because I know I am not too far away from doing nothing but non-stop Gala work. Hmm... I may have just found my source of feeling rushed.

#60

Skype account set up!

User: maureencavanaugh

(clever, huh?)

Just Like That

It took no time at all. I was moaning and groaning and complaining that I didn't want to spend my precious time at home with my family cleaning out my closet and the dresser I still have living in my parent's house.

Less than 10 minutes. Over 40 items went into the Salvation Army bag. ROCK.

Still have to do my Brooklyn closets and dressers, but it was a good start. It didn't cut down on my sacred family time, and hopefully it does some good for a few people in the near future. Appropriate for Thanksgiving weekend, huh?

How am I supposed to concentrate?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, an absolutely wonderful holiday.

It is one of those times when families get together to celebrate being together, rather than gift giving. A holiday where the most "pressure" surrounding the big day involves making sure the turkey doesn't dry out and that there will be enough pie to go around. That's it. The only traditions to follow are your own. There are no church services required, only the prayers you are inspired to give.

I like this holiday. There is something warming about the idea of waking up to a house that already smells like turkey. About figuring out the best way to cram 15 people around a table. About spending time with family and friends with only "eating" on the agenda. About getting in touch with all your friends who also make their way home for the holiday.

And of course, waking up at the crack of dawn the next day to start holiday shopping. :)

With all of that going on, how am I supposed to be able to concentrate on work today? GET ME HOME!

The best thing about having goals...

The best thing about having goals is having friends who want to help me achieve these goals. My friends honestly make me very, very happy.

There is something unexpectedly uplifting about having a friend shoot me an IM saying "Hey, I can help you out with #100" or getting an email saying "Hey, here are some great recipes for #49 and #50". Even the little messages with questions like "why are you doing this?" or "why would you want to put Goal #whatever on your list?" I like that it strikes up conversation or thought in anyway, and I love that I have received messages showing interest from friends.

So, friends: What are YOU going to help me with? :o)

The Tragic Tale of #54

Goal #54: Organize my iTunes files.

Yes, well, what if you plug in your iPod only to have the screen tell you that iTunes has been erased and all of the settings need to be redone. Right down to the preferred language settings.

Insert unnecessarily loud, exasperated sigh here.

Not quite sure how this happened, but I guess it gives me a chance to rebuild my library and organize it as I go! Hello there, silver lining.

On another note, saw FELA last night. You should go see it too.

This is NOT an update for #19 or #22

Well, not exactly. A little bit, but no.

#19 in my list pertains strictly to Broadway shows. The only ones that count are in the 39 theaters that hold the "Broadway" title by producing professional grade performances for audiences of 500 or more in the very small, but jam-packed theater district in midtown Manhattan.

#22 on my list is about community theater. The heartwarming productions that showcase non-professionals, ranging from the hopeful actors fresh out of school to the mom's who want to have a creative outlet and put on a show. Maybe they have a theater space they use, maybe it is the stage at the Town Hall. But it is sure to be endearing...

There really isn't a category on my list for off-broadway productions, of which I see many each year. I love off-broadway theater because you can really find a range of productions that can either seem absolutely professional, or like a student showcase. You never really know what you're going to get, and I fully support that!

So, I am going to start keeping track of how many off-broadway shows I see during this challenge. It won't count toward any of my goals, but I think it would be interesting (for me, anyway) to see what the numbers look like if I actually start keeping track.

Number one in my list was last night with Playboy of the Western World, presented by The Pearl Theater at New York City Center. Start counting!

Sage advice, as forwarded from Dad...

I think this was just meant to be a cute little email chain, destined to clog your inbox until the end of time like every other email you receive with a subject like that says FWD:fwd:fwd: in it, but I think this is cute! Of course, I melt over babies. This is no secret. I even have babies on my checks and return address labels. But this good life advice too, and maybe even a few things to keep in mind as I go through my list of 101 Things in 1001 Days...


Don't take life so seriously!

DANCE



KISS A LOT !



RELAX IN NATURE




HAVE FUN


AND BE HAPPY!!!!

Progress so far...

Well, there really hasn't been any. But don't think I am slacking already! I am formulating my game plan and coming up with a plan of attack.

You know what's funny? I was working on this list for close to two weeks. What I thought would be a fairly easy project turned into a major undertaking, just to come up with 101 things to write down. Really, it was much more difficult that I had anticipated, and I ended up carrying around a notebook everywhere I went so that I could write down and ideas that came to me.

I was practically celebrating when I finally hit #101 at work and I knew that I was officially at "Day Zero", and my new project could begin the next day. Yet, as I was typing up the list and putting the items into categories, it struck me that some of these ideas are not as striking as others. I'd hate to think that I am already regretting some of my goals because they don't quite stand up to some of the more exciting or ambitious ones, but I couldn't help letting my mind wander in that direction. My justification is that some of the items on my list are things I have been meaning to do for YEARS, and this is my chance to make sure that I actually put my thoughts into actions. The argument, I suppose, would be that I am really just more boring than I thought I was. Hmmm...

Watch, the "boring" ones are the only ones that WON'T get done. Ha.

THE LIST.

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009
End Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012



Now, THE LIST:

Friends & Family
1. Plan another Girl's Weekend with the GODDESSES in my life (0/1)
2. Spend a weekend with just my Daddy (0/1)
3. Do something with each of my brothers that they LOVE to do (0/2)
4. Write a "just because" email to a friend, at least once a week for three months (0/1)
5. Organize a reunion of either the J-Crew or High School friends (0/1)
6. Visit an out-of-state friend or family member I have never visited before (0/1)
7. Visit Jodi & Oscar in Barcelona (0/1)
8. Read 5 books recommended by a friend or family member (0/5)
9. Do something to truly surprise a friend (0/1)
10. Let a friend convince me to do something I would normally have no interest in doing (0/1)
11. Reconnect with someone I have not even spoken with in years (like, since high school or something) (0/1)
12. Teach someone something that I love to do (0/1)
13. Convince at least 5 friends to create their own 101 in 1001 list (0/5)

Artsy Stuff
14. Pick up drawing again and complete 5 works that I am happy with (0/5)
15. Take someone to see their very first Broadway show (0/1)
16. Go see a full opera at The Met (0/1)
17. Do something in a theater again, other than administrative work (0/1)
18. Create an artistic way to display these goals (0/1)
19. See one Broadway show for every month of this challenge (0/33)
20. Attend a Gala or Benefit as a paying patron for an organization I believe in (0/1)
21. Be part of a spontaneous performance (0/1)
22. Go see three community theater (non Broadway or off-Broadway) productions (0/3)

Personal & Community Wellness
23. Go to the gym every day for one week, three times (0/3)
24. Go to the gym 3x per week for one month straight (0/1)
25. Workout or exercise BEFORE work 3x per week for 3 weeks (0/1)
26. Take a hip-hop class (0/1)
27. Transfer $20 into my savings account for every goal completed from this list ($0/$2,020)
28. Pay off credit cards in FULL (0/1)
29. Run a 5K (0/1)
30. Take myself on three full dates...by myself (0/3)
31. Bring flowers to all of my grandparent's graves, twice. (0/8)
32. Do a "detox" program for at least one week (0/1)
33. Be absolutely decisive for two days straight (0/1)
34. Get back to the point where I can do splits in all directions again (0/3)
35. Get a bike and go riding with Andy (0/1)
36. Let Andy try to teach me to roller blade again (0/1)
37. Volunteer at a soup kitchen for an entire day (0/1)
38. Do at least one walk for a cause (0/1)
39. Do something (volunteer or donate) to support a children's charity three times (0/3)
40. Do 20 random acts of kindness (0/20)
41. Tip 100% to an exceptional waiter or waitress (0/1)
42. Help in a major construction project like helping a friend remodel a house or volunteering for Habitat for Humanity (0/1)
43. Donate blood five times (0/5)
44. Do five things to be more "green" in my day-to-day life
45. Purge drawers and closet of all clothes that I don't wear anymore and donate them to the Salvation Army (or throw away if they are junk) (0/1)

Home & Office
46. Cook dinner every night for two weeks (0/1)
47. Bring lunch to work every day for 2 weeks (0/1)
48. Eat breakfast every morning before work for 2 weeks (0/1)
49. Make a great meal using tofu (0/1)
50. Find a fish recipe that both Andy and I will actually eat (0/1)
51. Organize all my files and work spaces at work so that anyone would be able to find what they were looking for (0/1)
52. Reorganize the guest room to make it a usable room (not just a crash pad with a bed) (0/1)
53. Start a little windowsill flower pot and keep it alive all season (0/1)
54. Clean out my itunes and music files (0/1)
55. Learn to make five ethnic dishes from scratch (0/5)
56. Do something AMAZING and unexpected at work (0/1)
57. Create a filing system for bills, important documents, etc., and actually maintain it (0/1)
58. Make all of my coffee for one month -- cannot buy a single cup! (0/1)
59. Buy or get a planner and USE it for the entire year (0/1)
60. Finally set up my own skype account and skype with 10 different people (0/10)
61. Find a way to organize jewelry (0/1)
62. Complete a major sewing project (0/1)
63. Refinish a piece of furniture by myself for my some-day house (0/1)
64. Perfect a signature dish that no one else can have the recipe for (0/1)
65. Have an at-home liquor cabinet that is ready for any visitor to request their favorite drink (0/1)
66. Perfect three of my dad's best recipes (0/3)
67. Read and learn about the major Jewish holidays and traditions (0/?)
68. Play hookie from work all day long for no reason...and don't feel bad about it (0/1)
69. Make creme brulee well...and in at least three variations (0/3)
70. Read or watch the news twice a week for at least two months (0/2)

Just for Shiggles
71. Become a "seller" on ebay and sell at 10 things (0/10)
72. FINALLY learn Catalan from Jodi's CDs and book (0/1)
73. Find somewhere to practice or re-learn sign language (0/1)
74. Learn to mix standard drinks (like martinis, old fashioneds, mojitos, rum runners) (0/?)
75. Sing in front of people again (0/1)
76. Move back home. (0/1)
77. Go camping for at least two days (0/1)
78. Learn a new game that I don't know how to play (tennis? chess? pinochle?) (0/1)
79. Watch 10 classic movies I have never seen before (0/10)
80. Learn about and be able to locate five new constellations (0/5)
81. Sit outside and watch the sun rise three times (0/3)
82. Go somewhere that's "haunted" (0/1)
83. Make a special appointment at a spa (0/1)
84. Learn to drive stick (0/1)
85. Take a pole dancing class (just for fun, not future career training) (0/1)
86. Go skydiving or another extreme sport I have never done (0/1)
87. Read the Old Testament in its entirety (0/1)
88. To to a religious service of five different religions (0/5)
89. Submit at least 20 Yelp posts (0/20)
90. Go snorkeling again (0/1)
91. Win something! (a contest? the lottery? something!) (0/1)
92. Go to the Bronx Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo (0/2)
93. Find a fragrance (I've never worn perfume) (0/1)
94. Find the perfect pair of jeans that I feel great in and buy them, no matter what (0/1)
95. Go out wearing something I would not have considered wearing since college (0/1)
96. Spend a while day pretending to be someone else... and get away with it (0/1)
97. Have close contact with an animal I've never been around before (like swimming with stingrays or riding an elephant - and zoos don't count) (0/1)
98. Take a class with Andy (0/1)
99. Ride a mechanical bull at a filthy bar (0/1)
100. Learn at least five chords on a guitar and be able to transition between them (0/5)
101. Take a flying trapeze lesson (0/1)


WISH ME LUCK!

The rules I go by...

So, I am still not ready to post my list of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days, but as I get closer and begin to categorize the list I DO have, I think this might be a good time to lay out some ground rules.

Some of the notes on the list may look similar. This is not cheating, as I am setting the rule right now that none of the goals can overlap one another. For instance, a workout before 10am doesn't count toward the general workout goal. The two are listed separately for a reason, and I intend to keep them as such.

Hopefully, this keeps things interesting.

Let's try this again

Sadly, this is not the first time I have tried my hand at blogging. I was actually really good at keeping up with it for the first 5 days, but then it fell apart. The old blog still exists, but it is sad. Don't even bother.

My usual excuse for why I can't keep up with a blog is work. I get too busy at times to even make it home for dinner or get more than 3 hours sleep, so how can I be expected to keep up with a blog?? (Coincidentally, this is also my excuse for not going to the gym. But that's valid, right? Right? Anyone?) But this time will be different... I tell myself. This time, there is an actual goal involved.

I have been working on a Day Zero Project list for myself - making a list of 101 things that I want to do in 1001 days. That basically gives me 2.75 years to complete all of these goals, starting the day that I finish my list. That's the hard part. After working on this list for about a week, I am up to 90 goals without seeming to be able to figure out the last few. Arg! I don't want to cheat and put on things I am already working on or that I know I will do over the next 1001 days. I was reading other people's lists and thought terrible things about them when I saw lame goals like "get a haircut" or "be nice to my brother". And I don't want to include things like "get married" or anything else that is currently in the works. I feel like that's cheating.

So hopefully I will figure out a few more things so that I can finish my list over the next few days and get this puppy up and running. And by doing so, I will be making this list public so I will look like an ass if I either fail to keep up with the blog, or if I fail to get anything on my list accomplished, and mama doesn't want to look like an ass. That's my motivation. For now.

Fingers crossed.