I'm still working on some of the old resolutions (like improving my posture -- this one's a toughie), but I've got two more this year. I'm keeping it pretty simple:
- Meditate
- Try archery
Why meditate? Well, when I do yoga, it really clears my mind and re-centers me. Meditation does the same. It's easy to start practicing, because I can just do it at home. Surprisingly the difficult part is putting 15 minutes aside to do it. But we should all have at least that much time every day to ourselves. I'm getting a couple meditation CDs on Amazon to help me start. Oh, and there are also a ton of health benefits to meditation.
Archery... well, I've just been wanting to try it and haven't gotten around to it yet. I enjoy the focus and concentration of target shooting, and archery also seems sort of meditative in its own way. I found an outdoor shooting range in El Cajon, for both archery and firearms, so I'm going to drag the honey and maybe some friends out with me.
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays everyone! Share the love year 'round!
Ok, this sounds dumb, but I find this tip very useful. I can't believe I've been so inefficient with bananas all my life.
This is one of my favorite Christmas memories. The time is December 1996 -- it was my freshman year in a mostly Jewish college, 3,000 miles from home. I lived in a tiny 2-bed dorm room with my roommate Coreen, from Alaska. We were probably both a little homesick, culture-shocked (more about the east coast-ness and the college life than being the minority non-Jews).
We were both of the mind to get a little Christmas tree for our room. Neither of us had cars, so we took the campus "Bran Van" to Home Depot, which was a few blocks from the van stop. Home Depot only had full-size trees. What the hell, we thought. So we lugged the tree a few blocks back to the stop, called the van, and squeezed the tree inside, with the other passengers eyeballing us like we were insane (that's not to say they weren't at least partially correct).
With a trail of pine needles behind us, we brought it up to the third floor and started decorating. We didn't have money for much besides ramen and microwave popcorn those days, so we made some popcorn strands and fashioned ornaments from construction paper -- snowflakes, paper chains, spiraly things. All the while drinking hot chocolate with candy canes and laughing about something. It was fun, and a little wacky. Our ginormous tree in the window really lit up that side of campus. People visited us just to check out the Christmas tree. And we'd go to our friends' places to watch them light another candle on the menorah.
I don't have as much time to make all my ornaments now, but every time I get a tree I think back to the first one in DeRoy hall at Brandeis. We named it Ralphie.
Last year, before making my 2009 New Year's resolution, I decided to take a look at my 2008 resolution and evaluate my performance.
So often we get into the habit -- or at least I do -- of making a resolution, thinking about it for maybe a few months, and then it kind of just disappears. I've found it helpful to take a look back and see what went right and what could use improvement.
Last year, I narrowed down my 2009 resolution to one goal: Achieve a better work-life balance.
I had been in a miserable job that was sucking the life out of me. I took on every responsibility I could, with the hopes of getting my "big career break". Later, I realized that it was never really attainable at the organization, mainly for political reasons and just by the nature of that company.
In terms of career and how it relates to my personal life, I've learned a boatload this year, so I feel successful with this resolution. Several times in my life, I've robbed one area (life) in order to focus on another area (work), thinking that I'd get back to life once I'd won my successes in work. I'm not quite sure how to articulate this, but I don't believe this works. At least, not for me. I realize now that I need to live as a whole person. There will undoubtedly be times when I shift focus to particular areas of my life, but in general the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" principle never paid off. At work I probably would have been more successful if I actually worked less -- and was able to somehow adjust their expectations of the job, and also their level of respect for marketing and for me.
I've also learned that transformations in my life rarely happen as a result of a particular incident. It's more of a gradual process usually. I realized that I'm not a very patient person. I need to have more faith that things will just work out. That if I continue to strive for excellence in my job (and life), that the right opportunities will come along.
So, last year I left my insane job and started a new (saner) job. The funny thing is, at my current job, I didn't have to fight for the respect and the position I felt I deserved. I'm working normal hours. I'm definitely feeling more balanced.
Next post.... 2010 resolutions...
Get ready for the year-end lists! I'll start with my favorite books from this year (not published this year - books that I read this year).
Best Cookbook
Actually, this deserves the distinction of being the best cookbook I've ever read. Simple Cooking, by John Thorne.
Best Cookbook Runner-Up
I thoroughly enjoy The Flavor Bible, by Karen Page and Andrew Dorenburg.
Best Novel
I really enjoyed Brooklyn: A Novel, by Colm Toibin.
Best Guilty Pleasure
Well, it's not really guilty per se, but it's a quick, fun read, and it sucks you in. Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven, by Susan Jane Gilman.
Best Non-Fiction
A Voyage Long and Strange, by Tony HOrwitz.
Best Makeup Guide
Ok, ok, I've only ever read this one makeup guide. But I found it quite useful. If you've never learned how to really apply makeup, this is a go-to manual. Easy, lots of pictures, and comes with techniques and product recommendations. It's not just a commercial for Bobbi Brown products.
Best Business Book
The Product Manager's Desk Reference, by Steven Haines.
Best Travel Guides
For an authentic experience, try the Slow Food association's travel guides. They are only available for some countries. I used this guide for Italy and it led me to some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Truly.
Happy reading!
Since I'm going to San Diego soon, I looked at Groupon's website and saw teeth whitening for $185! Total score after looking at the Yelp reviews. Usually I wouldn't but I just inquired it to my DDS and she wanted to charge me $500. I haven't bleached my teeth since I got my braces off and it's time for a re-bleach!
Via MSN, Esquire magazine is running an article on the lazy man's guide to last-minute shopping for a girlfriend. It's a guide to finding the right gift in the stores a guy is already in. I always sigh when men's magazines give away bad ideas. (Btw, Men's Health seems to be the most accurate when it comes to women tips). So I am going to do my part for the men in my Vox neighborhood and improve upon Esquire's suggestions. :-) I am a Taurus... to a 't'... which means I can be rather picky about gifts.
Esquire tip: At the Grocery Store: Option No. 1
Get a gift
bag and some tissue paper (look near the tops of the aisles) and fill
it with miniature candies, gossip magazines, and a best-selling book
that wasn't written by Dan Brown.
Hapa tip:
Don't even think about "wrapping" your girlfriend's present in a gift bag. The message a gift bag sends is "LAZY". It's ok if the gift is a really weird shape, but try to avoid it. If you must, go get it wrapped at a store or something. A gift, when presented beautifully, makes the recipient feel special.
Now, the grocery store isn't the best place to find a gift. But if you're stuck with that, let's hope it's a Whole Foods or a Bristol Farms. Then you can purchase some gourmet treats, such as truffle oil, imported cheeses, olives, etc. Or, if they have sushi-grade fish, you could purchase all the stuff necessary to make sushi, and maybe a non-scented candle, and have a romantic sushi dinner for two at home.
Not all women love gossip mags, so if she doesn't, then it kind of sends a message of, "I think you're superficial, and what else do chicks like, anyway?". And if you're gonna get candles, get them at a fancy store. Those grocery store candles do not smell or look like a gift.
Esquire: At the Grocery Store: Option No. 2
Cake mix, with which you then bake her a cake.
Hapa tip:
See number 1. If you want to buy her a cake, go to a European bakery. One that uses really good ingredients. For example, one of those boutique-y cupcake places, St. Tropez bakery... something more expensive than Duncan Hines. However, if you want to make the cake (nice touch!), find a recipe on Cook's Illustrated, or some good cooking magazine, and do that. Doesn't have to be a cake, but try to do it from scratch and pick a recipe that doesn't look overly complicated if you haven't cooked much before.
Esquire: At the Drugstore: Option No. 1
Most drugstores
sell products from the high-end cosmetics company La Roche-Posay. Get
her the moisturizer, body balm, and face wash.
Hapa:
Take a look at what she already uses -- cosmetics are highly personal. Or, if she's got any beauty/fashion mags lying around, flip through them to see if any pages are dog-eared for stuff she wants to buy. I do buy plenty of my cosmetics stuff from drugstores, but I would tend to buy Burts' Bees or various specific brands.
Esquire: At the Drugstore: Option No. 2
A gift bag filled with candy. Nothing fancy, the stuff she actually likes: candy.
Hapa:
Nah. Cupcakes. Or fancy chocolate (which cannot be purchased at a drug store). Another drug store option (if you must) would be a bunch of toiletries in travel size, in a travel bag -- if she travels. It's nice not to have a separate travel size of all your toiletries so you don't have to pack it each time. If she's into baths or relaxation, lavendar bath salts would be a pretty nice little gift, I think. Pack it up in a basket with a bottle of wine, an eye mask and some relaxing music.
Esquire: At the Hardware Store: Option No. 1
A flower (orchids are always nice) and a nice pot to transfer it to before you get home.
Hapa:
This is actually a good tip. It would be even better accompanied with a bottle of champagne! Btw, Home Depot will transfer the plant to the pot in the store for you (for free).
At the Hardware Store: Option No. 2
If you don't already live together, consider the symbolism of having a key made for her. No gift packaging required.
Hapa:
Not too bad, but this only works when you're asking her to move in to your house. Not really a Christmas thing. If you need another hardware store idea, maybe a wreath or a fruit tree (planted). And if she digs power tools (there are a lot of crafty women around), that would be an awesome gift.
Esquire: At Kmart: Option No. 1
A picture frame, into which you insert a picture of the two of you.
Hapa:
Well you'd better not give her the gift receipt, because then she'll know you shopped for her at Kmart. Actually, I'm cool with Kmart, but a picture of the two of you is a little on the cheesy side. We could improve this gift by doing a digital photo frame (also sold for cheap at Fry's Electronics), with some photos of the two of you, as well as photos of her and her friends and family. Then you score points for putting all the people she cares about (not just you) into the frame.
Esquire: Kmart: Option No. 2
A Wii.
Hapa:
That would actually be a pretty rad gift. I'd be stoked. You can get them for cheaper at Costco, though.
Esquire: At Kmart: Option No. 3
Several of the
practical — and surprisingly attractive — Oxo Pop containers. Fill
them — really fill them — with something she'll enjoy. Like candy. Or a
note letting her know that her real gift is on the way.
Hapa:
I'd love this gift. However, if she's not into cooking, I wouldn't recommend it. But I really love those containers. Sometimes you can find these and other nice kitchen stuff for super cheap at T.J. Maxx, Marshall's and Ross.
Happy shopping!
So since I am buying and selling (still) on Amazon, I winded up selling my CatGenie for $225.00... which includes like $400 of stuff I've bought - including a $100 cartridge resetter. Shipping it is going to be a bitch, but whatevs, it's better than me throwing it away and getting nothing out of it. I went to a store down the street and got more boxes. Since I'm going to San Diego/Mexico, I bought them a new hi-tech kitty box:
Have a spare minute, want to procrastinate?
Click here to vote for Bucky in his holiday photo contest.
This was the holiday...
I made these cute little placecards that look like wheat sheaths, which ended up taking a lot longer than I thought, but I can use them again eventually.
Here's the day's menu. I did end up dropping one dish mainly due to time constraints (the green beans). I took Wednesday off to prepare, but it still ended up taking a little longer than I thought.
My turkey process was very simple - easiest part of the meal. I brined the turkey in saltwater for six hours, patted it dry, then let it air dry in the fridge, uncovered, for 24 hours -- that gets the skin super crispy. It took about 2.5 hours to cook, starting breast-side down for 45 minutes, then each wing side for 15 minutes, then the breast up for 30 minutes, basting with melted butter on each turn.
I just got through all the turkey leftovers, upon making a turkey tetrazzini the other night. And the bones made a bunch of rich turkey stock.
Here's some cranberry grappa jelly that I made. I wanted a homemade version of the canned jellied cranberry sauce. Everyone else seemed to prefer the whole berry cranberry sauce, but there's still a place in my heart for the jellied. The dish wasn't hard to make, but a little time-consuming because you have to strain it, and let it set in the fridge for several hours.
And the honey and I when it was all done... whew...
