30 Days to Make a Habit

I wrote the above on Twitter two weeks ago and got a number of disagreeing responses. This doesn't really matter, and is probably an entirely different post (because he so is, and I'll tell you why), but the point is, Will Smith is smart. As I was typing that Twitter post, I was watching him on Jay Leno, and he said something that made a lot of sense to me.

He says he attempts to set an example for his kids by reading everyday and running everyday. His philosophy is, if you do these two things, almost everything else falls in line.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Read everyday. Run everyday. Simple. I'm adding write everyday as well, and that takes me to my next three ambitions for 2009.

Read everyday. Not a lot. Just a little. Right before sleeping. I'd like to finish one book a month. Totally doable.

Run everyday. To be realistic, everyday is four days a week in my mind. And running is walking. Or yoga. Or running. Whatever. Movement of some kind. At least a little.

Write everyday. This doesn't mean write on this blog. This just means write somewhere. (I have been posting daily at Cool Stuff, so there's that.) This really isn't a problem. In fact, it's a gimme goal.

So far I've kept to these. Okay, it's only the 11th, but I'm all for celebrating baby steps.

I'm also attempting to make four Blurb books and to cook more.

Hey, it could happen.

Reality Check. I need to read more.

I traded in my books for a laptop. Literally. Figuratively. Compulsively. Without really thinking about it or meaning to, sometime over the last two years I began to spend all my reading time online. Reading online. But still.

This is a surprise from someone who once broke up with a cute boy about 2 minutes after he said, "Books are over. Reading fiction is a waste of time." Oh yes I did.

And I'm here to say, even though it may have seemed so in my own household, books are so not over. Not so much (now that phrase is over, according to this 2009 list of "Banished" words.) But books, no. If they ever went away for some reason, they're back.

Just like depressions are good for design, they're great for the permanent art form of alibris.

Seriously.

Mark my words. 2009 is going to be the year of the book. Watch for it.

(Also this book by Guy Kawasaki. It's awesome. Even if it's not fiction. In fact, it's not fiction at all. And in this case, that's what makes it great. Check it out.)

(Double also, I noticed that Monica has resolved to read more this year. And I noticed this on the Mom2summit flickr feed. They're having a big contest over the next 10 days. If you post a photo representation of your resolution, you're entered to win a free pass to the Mom2Summit in Houston in February. I'll be posting resolution shots everyday. I have 12 after all.)

Being So Resolved

Each year, everyone in my department at work writes secret goals and puts them in a sealed envelope to open the next year and see if they met them. Kinda like 'The Secret' meets a time capsule. The theory being that there's power in things written down... even if you don't remember them. Like magic. But I was thinking about it, and it seems if there is power in words you forget, surely there is even more power in those you deliberately write down to remember.

And since 'tis the season to make a resolution, I'm going to make 12. Like the 12 days of Christmas. Or the 12 months of the year. I know it sounds a bit overwhelming, but I do better when I have more to do. Plus they're totally doable. And I want to do them.

The first one has everything to do with this space right here. The Queso. And Cool Stuff con Queso. And Hurricane Tracking. I'm resolved to doing more here in 2009. This will include a redesign and a lot more entries. The last part of last year I found it very difficult to make time to spend time here. And I was always pretty sad about that. But since a number of these 12 will be supported here (they're somewhat woven together), it makes sense that this one should be the first.

I feel super motivated for all things to come in 2009. In fact, I was ready to start before it started.

The week between Christmas and New Year's has always been one of my favorites. It's such a great combination of laziness and ambition wrapped in long open days. And on Monday of this week I was so excited about what is to come that I packed up every bit of holiday around our house, boxed it up, and put it away to make space for what's next.

I can hardly wait.

2009 Rules.

Here's to the greatest year yet!

All the best from the Mayes home to you and yours...

Cheers!

Black Eyed New Year's Rockin' Peas con Queso

This is a bit of a repost, but I've had some requests...so here goes.

I wouldn't say we're traditional, but we firmly believe that some traditions are sacred. Case in point: the New Year's peas. So if you cook nothing else this year, you only have a few hours left to cook these. It's silly simple.

The Peas Stand Alone

Black Eyed Peas
Water
Cooked bacon
Onion
Worcestershire sauce
Red wine
Salt/Pepper

Soak 2 cups of Black Eyed Peas overnight in H20. (Or buy them pre-soaked from Whole Foods or whatever). Rinse off and put in large pot. Stir in at least 6 cups of H20, 1 cup diced/lean cooked ham (or bacon) (or bacon + bacon drippings, if you're feeling really crazy), 1 chopped onion, 1-3 Tbs Worcestershire sauce (and/or a generous glub of red wine!), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper. Cover, simmer for 2 hrs.

Then eat them for good luck, for goodness sake! I'll be eating them in this lovely red bowl.

Tomorrow we're trying them with queso. Oh yes we are. I'll let you know how that works out.

Hey a color is an adjective, lady.

Me: So you know Santa is coming in 14 days right?

Harry: Yeah.

Me: And you know he'll bring you a treat or two if you're a really good boy.

Harry: Yeah.

Me: And you can ask him for what you want, and he'll maybe bring it to you. I mean, if the elves can make it, and if it fits in his sleigh.

Harry: I know.

Me: So what do you want?

Harry: Rock and roll.

Me: Really? What kind of rock and roll do you want?

Harry: Brown.

I have a theory that people who are hard to shop for are genetically disposed to be this way. In other words, all the boys in my family will be receiving coal this year. Fair waring.

Elvis Has Left the Building