About Those New Year's Resolutions

A few weeks ago I made a list of things I'd like to accomplish or improve upon in the next 12 months.  Some areas are going well and others I haven't given a second thought to.

1 -- Learn how to put an accent mark over an e.  I haven't done this one yet, but someone wrote a comment about how to do it.  I'll check it out before too long.  If I'm successful, watch out.  I'll work in words like saute and entree everywhere possible.

2 --  Learn how to cook pork chops without them tasting like a rubber shoe sole.  I've tried, but I think they still taste awful.  Of course, I've never really liked pork chops, so that could be one reason I think they aren't very tasty.  David and Bo eat them without complaint, so maybe they taste like some other part of the shoe that is a little more savory.

3 --  Learn to fold a fitted sheet.  Please.  You didn't think I'd get on that one this fast.  The sheets are still going straight from the dryer back on the bed.

4 --  Lose weight.  This one is one I'm actually working on and have lost a few pounds.  Not enough to write home about but enough to stick with it.

5 --  Get better about grading papers.  I'd say I've improved a little on this one even though the bag of papers I took home over the weekend didn't get graded until Monday night.

6 --  Write down funny things the boys say.  I still have every intention of doing this, but I haven't made a new list.  Tater tot says things like, "I have a pretty good remembery," and Small Fry puts a "t" on every word that ends with "n," so we here words like "againt" and "int."

7 --  Spending more time with Zeus.  Every time I can spare a few minutes I sit down and love on him.  I know without a doubt that his days with us are numbered.  That's all I can write without going all to pieces.

8  --  Cut down on the diet coke.  I still drink this nectar of the gods during the day.  My second graders know how much I love it.  In fact, I was teaching a lesson on writing a passage that included three big details, each one having a smaller detail to go with it.  The topic was "If I had $100," and they had to think of three things they would do with it.  One of those little cuties wrote that he would buy his teacher all the diet cokes he could.  His small detail was "She would probably faint if she didn't have any."  Oh, they know me well.  BUT, once I'm home, it's strictly water.  I try to get three or four big glasses in before I go to bed.  Of course that means I'm up about ten times a night.

9 --  Slow down on the white chocolate peppermint mochas from Starbucks.  I've cut these completely out.  In fact, I've been making my own coffee each morning and drinking it on the way to school.  That being said, I feel a strong craving for the 'Bucks, but I'll  go back to my regular coffee with a little milk.  I am always impressed when the person in front of me orders a skinny-venti-caramel-latte-no-fat-no-whip-no-this-that-and-the-other or something like that.  It fascinates me to hear people like that order their drinks.  And then I walk up and say that I'd like a grande coffee in a venti cup so I'll have plenty of room for milk.  Those people must wonder why I even come in.  Nonetheless, my goal is to drop Small Fry off at school with enough time to slip in for coffee, but we've been running rather late since we started back after Christmas.  So sorry.  I'm not sure why I decided to spend so much time on my coffee-doings.

10 --   Find a way to get my right eyelashes to curl.  Thanks to a faithful reader, Marty, I know about a product she swears by and I've ordered one for myself.  I can't wait for it to get here.  Get ready, eyelashes, you're about to meet your match!

Okay then.  There you have the riveting updates of my plans for the year.  I have high hopes for some.  Others, not so much, but as Kit from Pretty Woman told another "co-worker" toward the end of the move, "Goals.  Do you have any goals?  'Cause you gotta have goals."

Carry on, friends.

Comments

[Kelley]

To eat better and move more in 2012.
I got a come to Jesus talk from my doctor in December after she handed me a Rx for cholesterol medication.

Baby steps!

I've also cut back my Caribou (that's the MN version of Starbucks) to once a week. Coffee from home just isn't the same some mornings.

[Angela]

I started a diet at the beginning of January. I now eat low fat, low sodium, lower carbs. I cook everything myself, no more lovely pre-packaged meals or cans. I am eating real food, like a responsible adult type person is supposed to eat. I no longer graze on Japanese noodles and other junk foods all day long. My husband has been losing weight like mad, and I am gaining weight. I had an OMG moment at the nurse practioner's office last week when she told me not to worry about it, just keep eating this way. I have NEVER had a health care person tell me not to worry about gaining weight. :) As for cooking a tender pork chop, I might be able to help. I don't care for them much myself. I cook pork loin sometimes and it was always tough. I tried something my Momma does and it worked great. Throw the meat in a medium high skillet, brown it just a tiny bit on each side, pour in enough water or broth to go about 1/4 the way up the side of the meat, let the liquid start to steam, cover, and turn the temp down to medium. Avoid peeking as much as possible. Let the liquid cook out of the pan and you can get a little more color on the meat after it's dry if you think you need it, but be careful or you will dry the meat out. This really does work, just cook it slow and low and covered.

[Tater Mama]

Angela, thanks for the tip. I will most definitely try your Mama's technique the next time I cook pork chops! And I think I'd like to talk to your nurse practitioner!! :)

[Tater Mama]

Kelly, I agree. Coffee from home just isn't the same. I had enough time to stop by Starbucks after dropping Small Fry off at school, so I did and it was pure bliss!

[Marty]

Oh, I'll be SO disappointed if that curler doesn't work for you!! I wanted to ask if you'd gotten it.

It's the important things in life. Diet Coke and eyelash curlers.

[Tater Mama]

Marty, I'm expecting it any day now and I can't wait! I'll let you know how it works. Thanks so much for the tip!