I did something remarkable this week. I accidentally came up with a New Year's Eve resolution. This is a remarkable event for me because I've always viewed New Year's Eve resolutions as a bit of a sucker's game.
Where the trusting and feeble minded are tricked into confessing their greatest faults to family, friends & grocery store cashiers.
Cashier: Any New Year's Resolutions?
You: You bet! I'm fat.
Stranger: Oh! I couldn't help overhear. I'm fat too. Plus I drink way too much.🤪
Cashier: I just need to get outside and walk more. (translation: I had to sell my car to pay off debts owed to an underground gambling ring that specializes in reality competition shows. I was sure the Masked singer was the Idaho potato man..)
For that first week of every year, that first week of January, we become weirdly, freakishly, absurdly honest.
I contend that this is why any couples who meet and get along from January 1st to January 7th have a 100% chance of being together for the rest of their lives.
If you meet while one of you is vomiting up the night's fun and the other is smoking 3 cigarettes at a time to try and get through the pack before midnight - you each have a pretty good idea of what what you're getting yourself into.
If summer romances are flings, New Year's Eve romances are forevers.
Neither of which have anything to do with my own resolution, which I am about to share with you because I am indeed feeble minded.
My resolution is to adhere to a fairly strict routine. (translation: I'm in jail)
Just kidding, it's just an ankle monitor.
Just kidding.
I'm going to adhere to a fairly strict daily routine so I can be more productive with my work and my relaxing.
Just so you know how very serious I am about this, I have 35 posts going back to 2013 declaring that I am going to relax more.
I'm going to do less and achieve more. Which as I type it out loud, I realize sounds very much like a sales pitch to myself.
I'm shortening my work hours from 12 hours a day to less than that.
I want to get more work done in less time by being more focused.
Is this scene familiar? You Google something for a bit of quick information. How long you can leave raw chicken on the counter for example. It should take about 2 minutes online to get this information.
3 hours later you know how to trim a house cat to look exactly like a lion using Asian fusion cutting techniques you learned on Youtube.
And you decide on cookies for dinner because the chicken is now questionable and you don't have time to cook anyway because you're Googling cat rescue organizations.
I'd also like to have a quitting time. There are a LOT of positives to running your own business and I wouldn't do anything else but the one thing you don't get is a quitting time. Or dental coverage. Or office gossip or free toilet paper and pens.
I've decided 6 o'clock p.m. is my quitting time for the work that makes me money.
From 6-7 I'll keep working but on stuff that needs doing in my life or house.
Betty needs her Ring doorbell setup? I'll do it between 6 and 7. Groceries? Between 6 and 7.
And THEN from 7 o'clock on I can do whatever I want but if I watch television or a movie then my laptop, phone, ipad, notepad, and power tools all have to be safely stored away. Seed catalogues and flipping through Niki Jabour's Growing Under Cover are allowed.
I'm hoping 3 months of this will help me with that whole work/life balance so many people talk about.
I wanna be like this guy.
This is day 3 of my resolution.
I'm currently writing this post at 8 p.m. at night.
Also I'd like to start eating bologna sandwiches on white bread for lunch every day. And I should probably take more of an interest do laundry. And wash my hair. I need to moisturize more.
I need to use less words when I talk to people, listen more, NOT brush my legs with a boar bristle brush when they're itchy, and wear more argyle.
p.s. It just seems stupid to do all this and not get bangs. So let's add those and eating breakfast. Anyone wanna go on a date?
Jody
You're funny! As a self-professed scheduler nut I'm all for having routines and sticking with them--with wiggle room for You tube, coffee with friends, scrolling IG. However with a new puppy since Dec 22 my schedule has gone out the window and my to do list is very much lacking in completed check marks. At times I get frustrated but I am loving getting to know Ned and training him and me. Karen, I give you even more kuddos getting through the first year with Philip and puppy-dom and still putting out great blog posts. Thank you. Now you go do you.
Karen
Well Jody, as it happens it's 6:53 and I'm still working. But replying to your comment is the last thing I'm doing before shutting it all down! Funny you mention Lip, because it was when I got him that everything went downhill and out of control, lol. Now that he's older and is willing to lay around a bit more I can finally get a bit more on track. Love the name Ned so much. Good luck! :) ~ karen!
dundastan
Hi Karen, it was nice seeing you and King Phillip (2 'L's?) earlier today.
I make one resolution every year and that's to make it through to December 31st alive and kicking. I figure I can break that one only once - and if I do, what can people do? Kill me?
Oh, I'm a liar; I also made a resolution to keep my weight under 300 pounds this year as well.
Karen
One L, :) Unless preceded by hel, and followed by ion. ~ karen!
Laurie from San Francisco
Hi Karen-
That was so funny. I myself are doing a dry January, which seemed impossible, but it's going ok. And, to stop using plastic... that's not going as well.
Happy New Year!
wendy morison
I LOVE BANGS! Go for it! I have had them pretty much my whole life and I have a very nice forehead...not a wrinkle. So of course because you do Phil's hair...you'll cut your own. It's something else to ..do..but so much fun to see the instant change...and makes us immediately look younger. It lets you know how fast your hair grows too! I love doing the thing hairdressers do when they trim up with the scissors. So much fun! You will have to post a b4 and after pic!
Circus Peanut
Clown car!! You are my people!!
Cherie
My one N.Y. Resolution was to walk every day. That worked for a few days and then this part of BC got an atmospheric river (read that as heavy, heavy rain.) Two steps out the door and both my 1 1/2 yr old Sheltie and I already wet and miserable, well, I am anyway, so back into the house, dog in the fenced enclosure and me with a hot cuppa. There is a myth perpetuated by British Columbians that the West Coast is Nirvana, warm all year and while it might rain once in awhile it's better than snow. Unsuspecting eastern Canadians - by which BCers mean anything east of the Rockies -- come in droves, usually in the lovely summers, buy the line, sell their houses and move lock, stock and barrell dreaming of houses by the sea and patio parties in December. Born and bred British Columbians have a grand old laugh at our expense. Never snows! Ha! The 1996 snow fall in Victoria was the highest ever recorded in one day in a Canadian -- maybe any -- city. And it has been know to rain for 6 straight months. All by way of saying, I'm happy here on my computer, drinking my coffee in my warm house while my pup wanders around in her large fenced area barking at.... Whoops, gotta go. Our neighbours and barking canines aren't a good match.
Karen
You can't fool me. As it happens 2 of my immediate family members moved to BC. Rain or not, if you like to be outdoors, forest, mountains ... there really is nothing like it. :) ~ karen!
Cherie
Oh, oh! You caught me. There is that.
Marilyn
Yeah, I say good luck too! You are deserving of that.
Pamela (that weirdo in the 🌵)
I adore you Karen. I’m jealous that I can’t be your next door neighbor and catch a glimpse of your latest front porch decor. However, since I’m on a perpetual crusade to keep my weight in check, it would drive me crazy to smell the exotic aromas from your kitchen. It would certainly mean twice the trips to the gym!
Take time for you.
kelly
My resolution was to laugh more, so it's quick success when I read your posts! Crack me up....
Anyhoo, if you're doing budget sammies, add a few dill pickle chips to that bologna on white bread (with mayo). Delicious. I Love Lucy re-runs are on a lot, so is The Office, and some youtube dog and cat video shorts....so I meet my daily goals.
Mary W
AND to make the sandwiches even better and add crunch - no not lettuce, but a fat layer of potato chips! So good and very NY resolution friendly. No one has ever announced they were giving up chips - at least none of my friends. None of my friends are skinny, either.
Deb from Maryland
LOL!
Anne M
Aw geez, I hear ya. Quieting that noise is a huge effort - I agree, worth a try.
If the stress of change gets too hard, I find it helps to bury my face in a pile of soft sweaters and screaming until the veins stick out on my neck. Hey, a little extreme but feels great afterward!
'Wishing you a year of whatever relaxes YOU.
Karen
That does not sound extreme at all. It sounds sensible to me. ~ karen!
Connie
LMAO as I read this.... Thanks for the delight first thing on a dreary morning! You are a treasure.
Karen
Hi Connie! Well thanks. :) Speaking of treasure, I've always wanted a metal detector. ---- See, now this is why I find it difficult to relax. There really are too many fun things to learn, figure out, break and fix. ~ karen!
Gayle M
Yep. You're worth it, as they say. Everyone reading here is worth it. So grab the steering wheel of your clown cars, friends, and make it the ride of the life you really want. In the end, no one wishes they had worked more and "funned" less. Happy (balanced) New Year, Karen!
Chris W.
Clearly, me time is different for everybody. So I found that the easiest way to land on that is to try things that interest you - with no stress involved. I think that's key to spending time with yourself - don't feel guilty that you're not "doing what's expected of you". For me, it's cooking, sewing, quilting, and various needlework - never cleaning. That's stuff I get finished before I decide what I'm going to do with the rest of the day... the me part of my day. Best of luck with your resolution!
Karen
Oh lord, lol. I do and do and do and do. I LOVE to do. Finding things that interest me is not a problem, lol. Putting things away and just sitting for an hour - that's where my problem lies. :) ~karen!
Sherie
Love your post! I met my husband on NYE 34 years ago and we just celebrated our 32nd anniversary. We also got married on NYE in Vegas. It was a hell of a party!
Karen
Seeee?! Congrats. ~ karen!
Lynn
So happy to hear you have decided on personal Karen time. It is something most forget in these times. All need this time , it recharges our batteries so to speak.
I do my best to keep myself from falling down the rabbit and gofers holes. They are like sink holes you never know when they will open up 😉.
I prefer a soak with salts , lights turned off with a candle or two going. No electronics or noise other than possible nature.
It might take you awhile to adjust to me time but benefits are astounding.
Best to you Karen in new year.
Karen
Problem is - I like doing. I LOVE doing. But I also understand that the body and mind need a bit of time off every day so I'm giving it a concerted effort. Again.😆 ~ karen!
Randy P
Good onya mate! As some bloke from the Land Down Under might say to you. THE most important thing a person can do in my aged senile opinion is to make time for themselves.... cuz ain't nobody gonna do that chore for them. I was fortunate enough to live long enough to retire in 2014. Celebrated birthday #74 last Thursday and can confirm that while age does NOT give one wisdom, it does provide one mighty amount of perspective. If I could find anyone willing to listen to me I'd tell them - "Don't sweat the small shit... and it's ALL small shit." You only gotta make YOU happy. Oh, Google Maps says I can make it to your place in a about 8 hours, so just pick the local eatery you enjoy and tell me what day you'd like to go on that date. Betula and Namu sound like fun?
Karen
LOL, Namu is good, haven't been to Betula in ages. ~ karen!
Happy
Love. It
ALLLL. However. Your pictures would improve dramatically if you changed up your lighting, try warmer softer lights to start.
Pamela (in the better lit SW US)
This will cause serious OCD and that 6 to 7 time slot is booked.
For me, on a personal note, I imagine moving to Spain and opening the drapes would most definitely bring in better, warmer light than any Canadian winters will ever provide plus prove to be far more exhilarating than clicking through hundreds of articles on relighting one’s home and hoping to awaken to flash sales on Amazon when using the search term “warm lighting.”
I see no flaws in your style or design preferences except that, you are the only woman out there, who gives Martha Stewart anxiety attacks about coming in second.
Karen
And well, there really aren't any photos in this post aside from a random cat and Fred Flintstone. Maybe it's Fred who needs better lighting. Although I'm sure he had a lighting director so that seems unlikely. ~ karen!
Vicky Radley
In a world full of depressing news you always make me chuckle or laugh out loud. I think you are fabulous.
Karen
Thank you Vicky. I think you're pretty great too. ~ karen!
Mary Jones
Gawd!! I think I love you!
trish
read that 10mminutes ago still laughing thank you Karen and good luck !
Karen
Agreed. ~ karen!