That time of year

So here we are again, at that time of year where we set goals for the year to come.

Looking back, I've done OK-ish on the goals I set for myself in 2006. I weigh a little more than I did at the beginning of the year, but not so much that I feel bad about it. I'm in no better shape, although I probably exercised more this year than I have in a long time.

Spiritual goals did a little better. I wrote a novel, and in the process discovered how to make the necessary adrenaline rush of procrastination work for my creativity instead of against it. I had a moderately successful meditation practice; like my exercise program, I didn't succeed completely, but I certainly did sit more than I ever had before.

So for 2007, I only have one goal: healing. Of course, it breaks down into many tasks, but that's the big strategic goal. (Can you tell we've been doing strategic planning at work? I've got the whole yucky bureaucratic vocabulary stuck in my head, like an earworm that won't let go.)

I want to eat well and exercise regularly. I want to meditate and start up a yoga practice. I want to write every day, both creatively and therapeutically (if you can even make such a distinction). I want to learn to be happy where I am, and grateful for what I have, and to learn to turn my yearnings for other and better things into action towards those things.

Oh, hell, I just want to perfect myself in the upcoming year. Not too big a goal, right? :)

Happy New Year, everyone. Thanks for spending the year with me.

Who am I again?

Oh, dear. This says it all:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Baroness Elsie the Loquacious of Withering Glance Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

(via Snay )

One more fad diet

Since this has turned into the year I tried a bunch of fad (and other) diets, how can I resist closing out the year with one more?

I was reading this post about Potatoes, not Prozac at Big Slice of Life, Small Slice of Cheesecake, and I immediately recognized myself in the list of symptoms of people with sugar sensitivity. So I figured, what the hey, and ordered the book.

I'm definitely in for this one. The first step of seven is to eat breakfast with protein every day. I'm doing it along with the second step, which is to journal your food, noting the time you ate, what you ate, and how you felt physically and emotionally. The goal is to get a better idea of what foods trigger what moods.

The weight loss part of the program is fairly far into it (it may even be step 7 - I can't remember). But the thought of actually getting myself into good emotional shape by eating well is powerfully attractive. One need only read posts like this to know how easily I'm affected by what I eat.

So let's see if I can stick with this one. The joy of it is that I'll work with each step until I'm mastered it, and only then move on. I can't possibly fall behind.

I like that.

One year

Today is the first birthday of this blog. I was planning on writing a nice summary of the year, something profound. But this morning I feel like crap, so maybe later.

Anyway, happy birthday, blog. I'm glad we're still together.

What's in the pretty box?

For my last birthday, I got bifocals.

For this birthday, I got my first mammogram. (Sounds like a toddler toy: NEW! From Fischer Price: My First Mammogram!)

What'll it be next year, hip replacement?

In training

I've been an indexer for almost 20 years, since 1988. I've done database indexing, magazine indexing, and currently have a side business where I do book indexing.

The scary thing? I've never had any formal training.

I'm sure one or more of my library school classes touched on the subject, and book cataloging is similar is some ways. But I've never had anyone take me by the hand and say, "Here's what you do."

So I signed up for a distance learning course that starts whenever I get my registration confirmation. I have 6 months to complete it, so I don't feel too crazy signing up for it right before the holidays.

I'm anxious about it. What if I find out I suck as an indexer? I'm long past the point where I believe that anyone is going to find hidden genius in me. I'm just hoping to get a better understanding of how to formally apply the principles I've been working with intuitively.

I hope it's going to be fun. I dread the thought of it being a chore ...

Back on the wagon again

Well, so, the diet got sacrificed on the altar of NaNoWriMo, but I'm working slowly back toward the good side.

I was going to do a mini-caffeine detox, after a week of pumping my favorite mind-altering substance to finish up the novel. But I woke up this morning with the beginnings of a migraine, so that got nixed.

But I did pound the water today, and pounded the hallway between my desk and the bathroom as well. I'm sure the people manning the info desk thought I had lost my mind ... Although they know me well enough to just assume I was going back on plan.

I was going to roast veggies tonight, but Hubby had dental work done today, so I hate to make anything that smells good that he might not be able to eat. It can wait.