It's a new dawn, it's a new day

The new year is almost upon us. Each year I can't help but wonder, on the eve of that first day, how my life will change over the course of the next 365 days.

Last year, our new year's day was spent buying a car. Neil's Saab died on Christmas Eve and we replaced it a week later. Nothing like starting out 2010 with a car payment. But we managed, and it's going well. It wasn't the devastating blow to our finances I had feared. We got a nice car out of the deal with an affordable payment, and for that I'm grateful.

So, how will 2011 turn out? I guess there's really no way of knowing is there? I do know this year has the potential to be quite different from what we're used to. Things will most likely change. How drastically they change will be the surprise and I look forward to finding out.

The unknown ... is an adventure.
Maybe 2011 will be the start of ours.

But being that it's New Year's Eve Eve (and I probably won't have enough time to do this tomorrow) I should probably get my resolutions down in print. Normally I don't make resolutions because they usually end up broken. But this year one of my promises ... is to keep my promises.

So here we go, my resolutions for 2011:

1. Be a better friend. Ask questions. Listen. Be understanding.

2. Be a better wife. Relax. Be patient. Relax. Be patient.

3. Take more risks. Be confident. Work harder. Believe in myself.

4. Stick to my goals. Be resilient. Be strong.

5. Worry less. Worry less. Worry less. Worry less.

Fog lights required

I am in a Christmas fog.

It happens every year, like a lazy depression. Not actually depression, but more of a "winding down after the hype." There is so much build-up to Christmas day, with all the preparations and gift-buying and decorating. The holiday spirit lives in our house for a solid month, a crescendo of excitement and wonder. Then Christmas day happens and it's over, just like that. As soon as the last present is unwrapped we usher our Christmas Spirit out the door, where it sits homeless and frightened until the next December rolls around.

Every high has a low, and every low is hard to climb out of. But the good thing is this seasonal low is met with a new year, meaning new chances and new promises. Most of those promises I make to myself will undoubtedly be broken, but at least, like every year, I'm going to try. Who knows, maybe this is the year I succeed.

My first plan of attack: actually go back to spin class no less than twice a week.

My second plan of attack: work out with my husband so we can hold each other accountable.

My third plan of attack: have my implant removed.

My fourth plan of attack: have my cavities filled. 

My fifth plan of attack: pay down my debts.

And there you have it. All these plans are worth turning on the lights and slowly driving my way out of the Christmas fog bank. Now if I could just accomplish them all from my couch ...

Snickerpoodles?

Christmas is a time of year that fosters the need for baking. I'm not much of a baker myself, so many of my attempts are as basic as possible. We're going to a friend's cookie exchange party on Monday night that requires me to make seven dozen cookies, so I needed an easy recipe. Neil and I both love snickerdoodles and I was so happy to discover their simplicity and frugality (because I'm cheap).

Neil helped me make the dough and together we assembly-lined five big batches of it. I quality-tested each one, you can rest assured. The doughs are chilling in the fridge tonight and will be baked tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait!

We also have to bring copies of the cookie recipe to share with everyone at the party. I retyped the recipe into InDesign and included a screen shot of the nutritional value from the website I stole the recipe from (ssshhh). I organized them two on a page, created a PDF and sent it to Neil asking him to print some copies for me.

He comes home with this:

My husband sure is Mr. Crafty. I love it. Takes a lot of the pressure off of me to be creative all the time. I have always admired his ability to go above and beyond in everything he sets his mind to. Even a task as simple as printing copies of a recipe is no exception.

It was a fun night to spend together, baking and laughing. I love these moments.

I've been benched

This month I gave blood for the second time in my life.

I whipped out my blood donor card to show them, with pride, the A+ blood type proudly printed for all who cared to see.  I'll admit it. I felt pretty important. It's not every one who can walk in to a donation center and actually hand over a physical part of themselves. Usually it's an old pair of jeans or a computer monitor. Nope. Not me. They don't want my old jeans anyway. But my blood ... that is valuable. That can actually save a life.

So I got greedy.

I thought since I'm such a natural at blood-giving, I'd try my hand at platelets too. I asked to have an extra vial of blood drawn to test for my eligibility. I was excited because it takes two hours to donate platelets and you get to watch a movie while a machine draws your blood, spins it in a centrifuge to separate the blood parts it needs, and then puts the unneeded blood parts back in your body. What a trip! Not to mention you're even more special and needed as a platelet donor. (I mean really, that's why we do this philanthropy stuff, right? So we can feel better about ourselves?)

So my blood went off to the lab, and I pumped out a pint of whole blood for my donation in record time before continuing home ... to wait for my acceptance letter to the world of platelet donation.

The letter came last week.

"Dear Ms. England, Thank you for your support of our Blood Donation Program ... However your Complete Blood Count collected at that donation was out of the standard range. For your own safety you will not be eligible to donate for a longer period of time before your next donation. Your platelet count is below what is required to participate in our platelet program."

I've been rejected. Not only from the platelet program, but now I have to wait longer before I can make another whole blood donation. And from the looks of it, I'm going to need my own donation of platelets since my count is now so much lower. There was a hint of sarcasm in that by the way.

Back in March of this year I had a CBC run and my platelet count was at 167, well within the range to donate blood and platelets. Fast-forward nine months to December and my platelet count is now 125 (the eligible range is 150 - 550). This could be because I gave blood back in September. It could also mean I'm B12 and Folate deficient. I may also have leukemia (no, I don't ... but I could).

Anyway, so here I sit ... sidelined from heroism when so many people need me. Stay strong everyone, help will be on the way ... once it gets some help of its own.

All I Want for Christmas is You

It's December again.

Wow.
December.
No one asked if I was ready for you.

Neil and I spent Thanksgiving at Mt. Shasta with his family. It was cold, but we had a chance to take the dogs down to the partially frozen lake so they could get some wiggles out.

We also went up the mountain to hunt and kill a Christmas tree. The trip is never without frustration, but always ends with a happy result. A very beautiful tree in our living room, complete with lights and Star Trek ornaments.

And so now we begin the process of budgeting for as many Christmas gifts as our meager paychecks will allow. Neil and I have opted out of presents for each other so that we can still give to our families as well as save some money. It's such a fun time of year, presents or not. So we put the Christmas decorations up early and are enjoying the feelings as long as possible. That's really all we need for the season. That, and each other.

We are so thankful for the amazing year we've had and for everything we've been blessed with. We don't know what the future holds (who really does?) and it may or may not come with significant changes. Next year our lives may or may not drastically change; life as I currently know it may evolve into an entirely new path of adventure. Or it may not. But if it does, I welcome it. Bring it. I can't wait.