New Year's (non)Resolutions

Here we are again, a new year. It is 6 days in - have you broken your resolutions yet? I am not making any this year; even if I don't break them, the idea of a New Year's resolution in July seems kind of silly. It seems better to just start a new form of improvement or a better habit whenever you think of it, rather than waiting for a specific time of year.

That being said, I did join a gym, sort of, and started a work out plan. We have a community center a half mile from our house that has a pool (outdoor, and only open during the summer), a weight room, a cardio room, a running track and basketball courts. The only thing it is missing, from our point of view, is a racquetball court - we still have to drive to Conway to play. Benjamin stopped by to pay up and get our passes this week, and this morning, I managed to leave my nice warm bed (it was only 20 outside) at 5:20 and go work out. If I can keep it up, I intend to go several mornings a week to work out. Walking Miikka is good, but it doesn't really get my heart rate up (too many stops to check out trash or sniff an invisible spot). I don't need to lose weight (although I won't mind if I do), but I do need to get back into shape - sitting at a desk all day isn't great for one's hiking endurance! And I want to be in hiking form, because I want to do more hiking this year. We were able to go hiking at least once every month (except one, I think) this past year, and would like to do that again this year. Hopefully, we will also be able to add a few more overnight hikes to the day hikes.

Another intention for 2010 is to read 100+ books again. I read 109 in 2009, down from 2008 - but I was unemployed for the greater part of that year. My dad read 91 books, or 35, 296 pages last year. Maybe I should keep track of pages too... Anyway, you can check out his book reading, and see some great pictures, at his website. I have added a link to my web places so you can check up on him.

Cuteness for the New Year

Here is Miikka in his favorite spot - the corner of the couch. It has been so cold lately that he is usually curled up in a little ball with his nose tucked under his tail or a paw...not that he minds the cold when he is out running around in the yard.

When I take up his spot on the couch, he just sits on me.

One of my mom's cats, Sadie, contemplates the pile of gifts under the Christmas tree. Several of them had her down as the giver, but alas, none as recipient.

Sadie likes to hang out and watch TV with a beer - not very ladylike there, Sadie!

Christmas Sparkle

One of the many fun activities we did while in Bellevue for Christmas was to visit the Bellevue Botanical Gardens light show, Garden d'Lights. This is a large, and even though I am not given to using words of such magnitude, splendid, display of lights.

When it started 10 or 15 years ago, it was just a few clumps of lights that were designed to look like grapes in an arbor, and a few flowers. Well, it has certainly grown since then.

The entire gardens have been decorated, with flowers, trees, and fantastical creatures. Volunteers spent thousands of hours putting everything together, and they did a great job.

I tried not to use my flash, so the poor crocodile is a little blurry.

It was a great way to get into the festive season!