The Obligatory New Years Post

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Why, hello. Have you missed me, dear Internet? Have you spent hours Googling and searching and scrolling through mindless crap just waiting for me to reappear? What? You were with your family eating turkey and opening presents? What do you mean I’m not the “most important thing in your life?” I feel so betrayed.

So I didn’t really keep up too well on my early resolution to not post for a few weeks. It was actually harder than I thought. Something funny would happen like finding a cockroach in my mother’s wine glass and I would want to start up my computer and tell you all about it. And a few times, I strayed. But I really am back now. Sort of.

As most do after the end of another year, I attempted to come up with some new resolutions to improve myself and my life. I really don’t love the idea of resolutions. I think that if you want to change something about your life, you shouldn’t wait for a certain date on the calendar to do so. But, I am a follower, so here are a few things I’m planning to focus on in 2008.

Be a more patient person: I need to stop expecting everyone to go at my pace, and instead learn to be a bit more flexible. Or else I need to surround myself with Megan-clones. Except then I would probably be annoyed at how often I would have to look at my own ass.

Expand my design and photography skills: In 2007 I discovered the artist in me does exist! Really, it does! I was never good at drawing or painting or singing or acting, but I can take a mean snapshot. In 2007 I want to continue expanding my knowledge by taking a real design class and enlarging my collection of camera lenses. Because I have lots of free time…right…

Try to be less blond: This is an oxymoron, as I am a blond. I will probably always be a blond, as that redhead experiment didn’t go so well. But lately it’s been taking over my life. I’ve fallen on my ass running to catch elevators, I’ve mixed up dates of important meetings, and basically have been acting like an all-around ditz. It must stop. So I’m going to try and be more organized, less cluttered and less blond. Except for my hair. I’m not going through that again.

Listen to more/better music: I’ve already started with the 2007 playlist, but I need to listen to more music that fills me up, instead of music that just fills up dead air.

Find something outdoors that I love, and do it: I’m thinking about starting to ride horses again. Just thinking. And hoping. And wishing. And praying.

Blog when I want to, not when I have to: I’ve already started this one, lets hope it sticks.

End of Year Playlist

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Oh. My. God. I am so tired. Like, seriously, exhausted. And just because my husband got off the plane from Tennessee last night and headed directly into work, right after we had the police sweep our house because our front door was WIDE OPEN for 5 straight days, and didn’t get home until 6 this morning does not mean that I can’t complain about being tired. Because I’m effing tired. Damnit.

So, we got in last night from the holiday with Trent’s dad and we’re heading back out tomorrow to spend my dad’s 70th birthday and New Year’s Eve with my parents. Another day, another flight with a toddler. After this week I intend on sleeping for about 100 years. Give or take.

As I frantically packed and made dishes for my three (count em, 1-2-3!) potluck-style Christmas parties last week, I decided I was in much need of a soundtrack of some great music of 2007. I had big plans to come up with a fabulous list of tunes, music to make me look like the modern, glorious, hipster mother I aspire to be. But I didn’t have time. So I did the next best thing. I picked a few tunes from the wonderful NPR All Songs Considered 2007 Songs of the Year List. I also added a few of my own, and let me tell you, this is a damn good playlist. You should all download it, it’s all on iTunes. Or email me and I’ll send you a CD. But then you’ll feel very guilty about not supporting these awesome bands. They’re that good.

* To hear most of the songs in their entirety, click here. God bless NPR, Amen.

Rilo Kiley – The Moneymaker — It will make you want to shake your moneymaker, but not in that nasty hip hop kind of way…more like you would if you were selling drugs in Argentina. Oh, and just skip through the first 30 seconds of the video…

Lily Allen – Alfie — This song describes my life in a way that should be fairly easy to understand for any listener. Who wouldn’t love “Oh dearie me, my little brother’s in his bedroom smoking weed…” to a mix of techno and circus music?!

The New Pornographers – Myriad Harbor — This is just how I feel when I’m in New York.

Feist – I Feel It All — You probably have heard 1,2,3,4 on an iPod commercial (or my horrid My Space page), and this tune has the same feel, just a little less kitchy. Still got a great bounce though.

Andrew Bird – Imitosis — Violin picking? Who knew I’d like that? And that it would sound so awesome. And the mumbling. I can sympethize with mumblers.

The National – Green Gloves — This song makes me think of my friends…especially the ones I don’t see alot of anymore. I miss you guys! And I love you! And I hope you’ll have a drink for me! (Song starts about 2 minutes in, you may just want to use the NPR clip above, it’s better quality)

Amy Winehouse – You’re No Good — I know, I know. She has scary hair. And teeth. And she’s probably going to die of a drug overdose. But the really talented ones are always troubled…and oh my lord, this woman is so, so, so talented. And I miss baritone sax’s in mainstream pop.

Flight of the Conchords – The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room — Every woman is dying to hear “You’re so beautiful, you could be a waitress” and then have a guy do the robot.

Robert Plant and Allison Krauss – Please Read the Letter — Is it weird that Trent’s dad got this CD for Christmas and it’s on my top song list?

The New Pornographers – The Spirit of Giving — Technically this is teeny, tiny bit older, but it’s new to me, so it counts! My new holiday theme…

Lucinda Williams – Can’t Let Go — Another not-so-new song, but I don’t care. My list, my rules. Just try not to tap your feet to this one. I dare you.

Lucinda Black Bear – Kites — All the Lucinda’s made my list, by name alone. But this one is a great mix of folk and electric, and the lead singer sounds a bit like the spawn of Neal Young and Thom Yorke.

Radiohead – All I Need — Speaking of Thom Yorke, I have to agree with NPR listeners, this was one of the best (if not the best) album of the year. It was hard to pick one song, and I went back and forth on weather to pick a more mainstream one that more of you would like. But then I gave up and picked one I love instead.

Listen and head the glory. Or ignore me, like you usually do. But this time I have backup from NPR. And that’s, like, serious stuff.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Party Cabaroke

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Mikayla and I threw a Christmas party for Trent and Heath’s business. The party involved bowling, bar food and beer. When we couldn’t get a cab home, Mikayla found a card for a cab she had used a year or so ago. Turned out the cab was actually “cabaroke.” What is cabaroke, you ask?

I think I need to put that guy’s business card in the shredder…

7 Facts (i.e. to keep Inger happy)

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Every once and a while I get tagged for one of these things where you reveal seven facts about yourself. I usually don’t respond because, well, don’t you all know everything there is to know about me? But Nicole tagged me, so I’ll try…

1. I have extreme OCD when it comes to Christmas lights. I don’t consider myself very stylish or critical of others’ personal style, especially when it comes to home decorating, but when the Christmas lights come out I turn into a raging psycho. I used to be obsessed with white lights, but I’m slowly starting to come around to multi-colored. This was a very big step for me. But if you have lights that are all one color, like all red or all blue, I will be the one outside your house with eggs and toliet paper. Just a warning. Same goes for blinking lights or people who light up the trunks of their trees, but not the branches.

2. I married a person that is the exact opposite of my type. In general, I tend to like artsy, punk-rocker-ish, angsty types. Very Jonathan Rhys-Myers. Whenever we’re out at bars and my girls will be checking out guys I’m always the one going, “what about that one, over there, with the blue hair and piercings.” I think it’s the Catholic school girl in me.

3. I have somewhat forsaken diet soda. I’m over it. Regular tastes so much better.

4. I am a movie junkie. I could sit around all day and watch movies, even crappy ones, if only that child of mine required less maintenance.

5. Sometimes I worry I’ve made the wrong choices in my life. And then I worry that people will find out I’m worrying and be mad at me.

6. This was my Christmas card this year. I made them myself.
Christmas Cards

7. I’m a horrible cook, but a fairly good baker.

That’s all. What are seven facts about you?

An Early Resolution

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This has been quite the year for me. A new job. Growing into a not-so-new mom. A new family business.

And during all of these changes, during the ups and downs, I’ve always shared most everything on this website. Photos and stories and lots of grumples. You all have been a wonderful support system, and I love that every day I get to talk to all of you, no matter how far away you are or how insane I may be.

Well, today I’m starting a fast. Most bloggers spent the last month NaBloPo‘ing all over the place, where as I’ve always posted pretty much every day. The only time I’ve really taken a break was that 2 weeks when I had a baby and then cried a whole lot because EVERYTHING HURT!!! So, for the first time in a long, long time, I’m going to abstain from posting on this site.

Already it’s hard, as today is Lu’s 18 month birthday and I really, really want to write her a letter, but no. I can’t. Not today. I need to make myself step away. If not for my sanity, then for those around me.

Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I just need some time to remember why I like doing this in the first place and get inspired. I always said I wouldn’t write unless it was fun, and lately, it hasn’t been. This has started to show in my posts, and I am just not the kind of person that can half-ass anything. If it’s not going to be great, I don’t want to do it at all.

So while I’m gone, you should go check out this site. Or this one. Or this one. Or this one. They update almost daily, so you should get your fill. Miss me lots, and if you really want me to come back, I’d recommend clicking on the ads to the right. It’s always easier to come back to something when you have some incentive…especially the monetary kind.

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