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New Years Wishes and assorted randomness
by diana 
'Cause I'm feeling happy, warm, fuzzy, and untrammelled.
Follow up:
Greetings, oh faithful handful of blog followers!I'd like to take this opportunity to pass along my heartfelt wishes that you all have a better year in 2010 than you did in 2009. Specifically:
May your haircuts make you more attractive than you thought you were.
May you get the first cup of joe from the freshly-brewed coffee at the office at least once a week.
May you discover what completes you and embrace it, even if it's a craft that others smirk at, like tatting or crochet.
May you neatly avoid the mud puddles when you've just washed your car.
May your alarm radio wake you to your favorite tune.
May you have pets who constantly remind you that you really are the most important and wonderful person in their world.
May you remember who you are and where you came from, thank those who shaped you, and pass on the joy in your life.
May you not get cavities from reading this post.
May you succeed in at least one of your genuine New Year's resolutions. (If you only succeed at one, you've made progress.)
May you recover your childish enthusiasm for outdoorsy freedom, which includes but is not limited to long hikes, fresh air, pretty flowers, snow fights, and trying to convince the dog to come back because he's enjoying it, too.
May you tackle and complete at least one project which improves your home.
May you say, "I love you" to at least one person a week, whether they need it or not (because you do).
May you plan your life around those activities which fulfill it instead of just planning your fulfilling activities around your work.
May you read books you must rave about to others, whether they decide to read them or not.
May you feel comfortable in your own skin.
May you not be ashamed or too proud to cry when the occasion calls for it. Crying requires more strength than not crying.
May you do something nice at least once a month anonymously.* Pay someone else's toll. Buy a stranger dinner. The possibilities are limitless. Just remember: if it isn't anonymous, it doesn't count.
* Thanks to my cousin Laura Chapin for this idea. Brilliant!
May you pause occasionally, look to the heavens, and wonder at your own insignificance.
May you try to give your pets more attention than they think they need. (Good luck!)
May you buy at least one expensive, frivolous artsy item which brings joy to your life--then wallow in it.
May you be gentle to others, even when they attack you or make you crazy. It isn't about you; it's about them. Stop taking it personally and try to help them find peace.
May you enjoy the music you love regardless of what others may think of it.
***
I'm sure there's more where that came from, but you get the idea.
I just finished my fall semester (last Wednesday, at 4:30 pm MST, when I hijacked a hotel wifi signal to email my last paper in), and am in full holiday mode now. We just got back to Colorado Springs last night.
Mother and Daddy,
On our way through East Texas, we pulled off Highway 59 at Appleby and went to visit you. You weren't there, of course. I thought you might not be--I suspect you're either in Tennessee with Noel and Shannon, or you're in Galveston--but it was worth a shot. We were on our way to Houston, but thought it would be nice to take you to lunch in town or something. Alas.
The place looks good, although it still looks strange to me without the old oak by the original pond and the other quasi pond (by the road) gone. I walked around, rung doorbells, knocked, tried doors, peeped in, and admired the fleur de lis furniture in the living room. I made friends with the little tiger-striped teenaged tomcat who came out to greet us. (Oh and...the side door to the water heater (?) was standing open. Not sure why.)
Here's hoping you--my family and friends all--have a safe, happy, and prosperous new year.
d
12/31/09 05:56:20 pm, 
9 comments
Thank you for the good wishes, and I wish for you the same and more. It's up to you to decide what "more" is.
I like the idea of anonymous acts of kindness. I keep practicing them; I hope I never get so good that I don't have to keep practicing. (For anyone who wants to start, keep in mind that feeding expired parking meters is illegal in some places.)
Dave
That's yet another of the universe's great mysteries to me: WHY would feeding expired parking meters be illegal? (And does that include feeding your own expired parking meter?)
d
In the case I heard about the charge was something along the lines of "obstructing official business." A 62-year-old woman in Cincinnati fed some meters to try to stop an officer from writing tickets on cars whose time had expired. A car parked at an expired meter is already illegaly parked. Feeding the meter would be an attempt to cover up the crime, regardless of who did it. Also, the time between the meter expiring and it being fed would be free, and we can't very well have that now can we?
Dave
Happy New Year and all the best of all the stuff that is important and good to you - love your list!!!
Linda
We made the appt. in plenty of time, and were out of the office before the appointed time arrived, then drove accross houston to an asian restraunt to have lunch with some Cambodian friends we have here in Nacogdioches. They had noted Friday nite that we were going to H on Monday, and since they were going on a buying trip that same day, they (she) invited us to meet them. We waited for 45 minutes, and had a leisurely and enjoyable meal with them. Then we went to a mall, and bought me a new shirt, and Mother a couple of outfits. got home about 9:30, but alas! Smiley didn't mention you had been here.
We had just gotten back fdrom Tennessee, after taking the Northern route through the snow covered mountains to North Carolina, then to Montgomery (all in one day--both stops werre business stops for the house) . Spent the night in Montgomery, then businesss next morning , then on to West Montgomery for the night. We could have made it in, but Mother was just gettiing over her illn ess, and I was MAJOR in the throws of it. We got home sometime on the 23rd.
Once again, so sorry we missed you. Noel and Shannon are in Holyoak, don't have any idea of their plan s. You may have the chance to see them,. I just haveno idea. Love you mjuch. D
We weren't planning to take the extra time in the beginning, to going to Houston and dropping by to see you for a bit en route was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Sorry we missed you!
Love,
d
Lorraine
Still sorry we missed you. Love you much. Daddy