Removing the season

Tis the season to rip down all the decorations and put my house back together. 

It amazes me every year when the tree is out, the furniture put back where it belongs that we have all this room! I can swing a cat in my library right now, if only it were in here right now. 

The more floor I saw today, the more I wanted. We began purging. Slowly at first, then momentum started. I began going through the bookcase pulling out old volumes that have no apparent purpose anymore - I really don't think I need parenting manuals for toddlers anymore. 

Unless....?

NO.

Nick nacks and trinkets, old papers and pamphlets, this room is jammed with crap. We are a society of crap, I just wanted to jump on the bandwagon. I secretly want to be a minimalist, but it's not in my heart to purge that much. At least now I can see floor, I can see the wall under the window. I can now look around and imagine what potential this space has. Oh what to do with it...

More crap!

Every January 6th we take down Christmas. Always the day after Kim's birthday. Kind of a tradition around here. But this year the 5th will be a nuts day and we aren't waiting. Instead of rushing Monday and Tuesday nights we did it all today. When I look around though, it seems as if there is a huge whole in the heart of the house. We do holidays to the nines around here, remember Hallowe'en? Every time we take it all down it's the same thing. We miss the crap. Now we're simply left with pictures of the kids, artwork of various sorts, bookcases, plants, and the normal everyday accumulatives of life. 

But something new this year, there is finally a place to put that chair that has been floating around the house for months.

Cheers.

New Year's Resolution time

Here's my resolution - stop making them. Or, if I do make one, put a time limit on it. Like say, one hour. That's about how long they normally last anyway. Last year it was to quit smoking. Yeah, that worked well, I just lit one. 

We all make them, and nobody ever keeps them. We resolve to get into shape, quit bad habits, be a better person, blah blah blah. Why bother? Why this particular date on the calendar to change your ways? Why not just be that person you want to be all the time.

Maybe this year I will make a resolution or two that I know I can keep. Maybe I will resolve myself to stop eating foods that give me heartburn. Not because I think I should, but because heartburn really sucks! Maybe I'll quit smoking - really, I will. Not on New Years though, there's a party to be had. Maybe sometime during January when I can't breathe anymore. (lecture coming, I can smell it). 

Maybe I'll resolve to make a better go of things at work, be a better manager, work harder to make a difference. Or, maybe I'll just decide to ride the rails and see how it goes. There's the solution - make two resolutions - one in either direction. Then you can't go wrong.  Give yourself a fallback position.

Maybe I'll resolve to be more active. This is something I know I want if not need. I want to get back into shape, I want to get out there and play ball, hockey, run, bike more. This is the only "resolution" I think I can keep. Just in case I fail I entered the contest to carry the Olympic torch. They announce the winners in May, If I get it I will have until December 23, 2009 to get into good enough shape to run with the torch. What I hear now is I have until May to be a lazy slob. After that I have to change my ways. I needed motivation for this one, the resolution didn't have the punch to get me off my ass. Maybe the Olympics will!

I also resolved to make more money this year. The jury's out on that one, I just haven't figured out how to accomplish this one yet. Stay tuned.

I resolve to be a good husband and father. This one isn't too hard, I love my family and would do anything for them. However, This one too could always use a fallback resolution. I could say that this year I will stop giving of myself and be a little more selfish. Nah. Then I'd get a reputation.

I do resolve this year though, to be more green. Drive less, recycle more, walk more, turn off lights, et al. My kids are wonderful with this concept, they're the green generation. They're the enviro-cops around here. And we listen! Growing up everything was eventually landfill fodder. I can't believe how much we recycle now, all thanks to the kids. Someone should buy me a Chevy Volt for my next birthday. Start saving.

Finally, I resolve to end all war, famine and disease in the world. 

I know this is impossible globally, so I'll start in my house. I will play arbiter, keep the fridge full and make sure the kids are healthy. This is probably the only resolution worth making. Take care of your family and they will take care of you.  Because, at the end of the day, they choose your retirement home.

Happy New Year.