The 52nd Week of the Year

Hey, look at that. 2nd post in 1 month. This must mean I'm finally committed to pursuing my passions and preventing my hobbies from falling by the wayside because of work and other distractions. Or I left work at 5:01 and nothing is on TV during the awkward 5 days between Christmas and New Year's Eve... believe what you want.

The 52nd week of the year - always a wash, isn't it? It's the time when you (I) sit around claiming you're going to be healthy after stuffing yourself on Christmas, but you know you're going to drink and eat much later than you should on New Year's Eve, so why start now, right? Better to kick off the new year with a fresh start (and a fresh 10 pounds around your waist). Nothing is ever accomplished during week 52. No one is at work, so even if you are you can't do much. No one is in the city to play with. There's leftover, stale junk food from Christmas that you told yourself you won't eat, but it's just sitting there.. staring at you.

... The best idea is to celebrate New Year's Eve the night after Christmas. Then we could all just get on with it. Jesus could ring in the New Year... by swinging on a disco ball in the middle of Times Square. Why hasn't the Catholic Church seized this amazing PR opportunity?

L.L. Bean Christmas Catalogue Models

Anyway, the inspiration for this post was actually a really fantastic Christmas weekend. Just like the old days - quiet Christmas Eve at Grandma's and lively Christmas Day at the Roti house (but no meatballs this year. What gives?)

Christmas Traditions:

1. March of the Wooden Soldiers

2. Football

3. Christmas Eve e-mail from Dad: "Kris, do you have anything for Mom's stocking?"

4. Knicks season opener (okay, maybe that's not a Christmas tradition)

5. Grandma's Chocolate Cream Pie

6. Mom's string beans

7. Italian red wine

8. More wine

9. Gift-giving chaos, followed by organized chaos with each gift opened one at a time by the respective family member (Welcome, John) in descending age order

10. And, most importantly, DAD'S CHRISTMAS SUSPENDERS (please note: 52-year-old-Matt really needs bigger suspenders than 30-year-old-Matt).

(was going to try to write this to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas," but I don't have all day).

Grandma: "Another puzzle? Seriously?!"

So as we enter a new year, here's to celebrating the ordinary; the traditions we've grown to love without rhyme or reason ("I'll build a bamboo bungalow for two..."). Whether silly or annoying, hysterical or delayed hysterical (that's when you don't laugh until you're sure Mom will laugh with you), we can count on the quirks and family oddities. Which means, in essence, we can count on our family to welcome us home.

A new look for 2011

I know what you're thinking... "oh great, she's going to go all 'new look, new me' on us..." I won't! Promise!

But it is, at least, appropriate to reflect on last year's new year's resolutions, twist logic to convince myself i've accomplished them, and then forget about them and make some new ones. As I look back through old blog posts, though, lucky for me (and you) I didn't write down any resolutions for 2010. Whatever they might have been, I can say with confidence that they probably did not come to fruition. For me, 2010 was the year of playing catch-up. Just trying to keep up with all of the changes in my life without losing my sense of self. It was my first year in about 19 that I didn't go to school. I moved into a new apartment in a new area of the city. I officially began my career. And with all the change, i reluctantly allowed my passions to subside (party at least). Less running, less reading, less afternoon coffee shop frolicking. And as I begin a new year and think of what changes for the better I recommend for myself over the next 12 months, I realize the importance of the parts of my life that I had written off as optional - the hobbies that have sunk to the bottom of the priority list to make way for longer hours (and happy hours). They don't define me as a person, but I can't fully be me each day without them. So here they are:

1. 1) lead a healthier lifestyle - running, spinning, yoga, fruits and veg, more sleep, less alcohol
2. read more for pleasure - yes, it's important to read The Economist, but if i want to skip it and read A Tale of Two Cities (again)... no big deal! (at least 1 novel per month, preferably 2)

*side note: i'm deathly afraid of losing all conversational skills and becoming mind-numbingly boring, so the aim of this resolution is twofold.

I also hope to travel more, but that's always on the list! Here's my book list for the near future:

1. The Tipping Point -- almost done, LOVE it. Thanks Ash!
2. Why We Need Love -- from a local West Village book shop - spotted by Kaila, so it must be good.
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- my friend Em swears by it, so I figure I'll give it a go. And any book as popular as this one deserves a read, regardless of whether I enjoy it - there's something about it that appeals to millions of people, and I want to know what that is!
4. That book by the NYU guy that everyone loves but I don't remember the name.
5. Something random that I would not usually read. Any thoughts?
6. Sarah Palin - Going Rogue. OH WAIT. THAT'S A JOKE.

On that note, here's to 2011 and a new decade. May it bring us all more happiness and good fortune than the last.