New Year Resolutions

Every year we do it. And every year, we forget to follow through. What were your resolutions last year? Any clue? Oh well. That's what it's all about, right? We get a fresh start every year, another chance to achieve success when it comes to resolutions. It's kind of like the 24-hour clock - a fresh start at 00:00. :-)

Heidi's 2006 Resolutions

• Be smarter about eating & exercising. Mom & I have a pact to exercise for 30 minutes a day (Mom tried to reset the goal to 20 minutes a day... which I guess I'll let her do since she's getting so old & feeble. Ha!) Every day we miss costs us $2. We decided to put that toward next year's Christmas presents. Thank goodness we'll get so much saved early for '06 gifts! Haley & I have tried a similar pact before (without the money). We tried to quit fast food cold-turkey. You can imagine how that turned out. I did it while I was in Amsterdam... of course the fast food was replaced by other just-as-naughty junk (can you say chocolate sprinkles?!?!). We should try that again... at least for a short period of time.
• Train the dogs. Jon is working so hard to learn all he can about Jacks. Right now, Cooper & Kona are doing really well; but the hellions in them come out every so often. We still have to chase them across the street when anyone is working on or looking at the new houses. Just imagine when people move in. They already know come, sit, and down at 3 months! (well, kinda); so they're very smart and definitely capable of learning much more. Today, Kona even did a GREAT job of heeling on the leash. It's amazing that one week ago, she froze anytime you put the leash on her.... or jumped up into your arms. Cooper still freezes, refusing to move. Today, he started chewing through the fabric on the leash. That's my boy.
• Reconnect with friends. I'm already really proud of myself on this one (for a couple of friendships that have been rekindled recently). Just today, I caught up with my friend Jonathan (Yay, JC! ... and he's getting married in June to sweet little Donna) when he caught me online on my secret AIM identity. Who knew anyone would still have me on their buddy list with that old sign-on?!?!? Anyway, I'm also looking forward to doing a better job keeping up with all of my friends from Ashe, the Hill, and statecollage. I'll have to actually make friends here in Statesboro to be able to connect with them in the first place. That's part of my plan, though. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones. :)
• Make a scrapbook. Just one. The first one would make me so happy. And maybe it would lead to me working on a second one! I've got so many pics & little reminders of all kinds of events in my life (from the very small to the very large, and all very special!). I really need to organize them and get them put together in a book! Why is it, though, that Haley is the one with the creativity? I think I have some creative talent... and then I try to make something. It's sad... really very sad. Oh well, I'll just steal her stuff (and that of other scrapbookers online!).
• Be a better Christian. I need to learn from the example that my sweet little parents set. Read the Bible, pray often, and get your sorry butt in church! (Okay, Mom would never say that... but Dad might.) Anyway, I'm going to renew my effort to be more spiritual. Otherwise, I'm in trouble.

I know there are a lot of other things I need to do/work on (multitasking, effectivity, to-do lists, find my passion, learn to dance, motivation, learn to host family get-togethers, etc.). But I feel like these five are a good start... especially since I'm not very likely to get more than one or two of them accomplished. I'm also going to take one second to actually feel proud of myself for a new year's resolution I actually did: staying more up-to-date on current events & the news. Perhaps it may seem unconvential to some of you (oldtimers!), but I have actually done really well in keeping up with what's going on in the world with a daily e-mail of the headlines from the New York Times. So, even with just a small little success, I feel like it's always worth a shot! Ready, set, restart!


"If you're willing to buy flooded houses, you can find some great bargains." F. Patrick Quinn III, a New Orleans real estate developer, today's NYT.

And to satisfy your craving for pics (oh, sorry, is that just me?):





Sweet little Cooper sleeping under my chair in the office.











And his pretty sister, Kona.








Finally, the pic that is currently starring as my background on my PocketPC (aka, my new best friend). This one was snapped on Miranda's camera and sent to me later by Jason (aka Rufus). Jess... didn't your camera have some pics on it that you need to send me? :-) Love you guys!!!!!