A Toast to Birthdays and New Years!

It's the last day of the year 2014. It's almost time to sing the old Scottish ditty by Robert Burns, Auld Lang Syne, so we can think of good deeds and old friendships from 'old long since'. Tonight we will raise that cup of kindness to toast to our good health and remembrance of all that mightily, plentiful good that happened, and that we made happen, throughout the past year.

I don't have to think back or reminisce about all the good things that happened this year. It would almost be a chore to try and think up all the many good things that went on.  I'm perfectly happy being grateful for it all and not making a list. I have such good momentum going on, I don't need to turn and look back over my shoulder to see what happened in the past. There is too, too much to look forward to on that path in front of me.

Should I really be feeling this silly-giddy at my age? I turned the number 59 today and it seems like such a good number, I can't help but give a grin. It's been a good year and it feels like more is to come and staying grateful might be the way to make more come my way.

So raise that cup for the past year and look to the future with silly grins. You will be surprised how much better things turn out when the corners of your lips are turned upward. Well, it seems to work for this fifty-nine year old.

Happy New Year!
TT

All in a bow

I delivered an order of 10 dozen cookies this morning. That isn't a bad way to kick off the end of the year - with a sale. I got the call yesterday morning asking if I could get an order for an Insurance Underwriter Company that was having an after-Christmas party at the office at noon today. Sure, yes, I can do that. And I did. I got the ten dozen cookies baked, cooled, packaged, yesterday and delivered first thing this morning! The paperwork is filed and its all done. A little something while on vacation and how nice since it was the very last thing I had on my mind.

Otherwise the days have been quiet, the weather gray. Bright spots have been taking care of the two boys, but I'm not used to watching episodes of Pokemon and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2). I snuck in some reading and managed cookie baking and it all worked out for the three of us. I have the last day of the year to look forward to tomorrow and that will wrap things all up in a bow. Besides, I always wait for the very last day of the year to turn a year older so I guess I'll take care of that tomorrow. But that's tomorrow.
TT

Why wait

I'm on vacation all week. That would be a good thing. I don't have to venture outdoors in this freezing weather. I don't have to watch a clock to be here or there at any specific time. I believe this morning is Monday but it can get very confusing with all the holidays thrown around this month. And then there is the fact there are only a few days left to this year. I'm not sure that has any bearing on anything significant. Or does it?

Just about everywhere you look, there are warning signs about the coming year. It's almost as if there isn't any other time you should be thinking about your next best thing to do. Have you noticed how many more commercials there are about weight loss and exercise equipment? I know the gym will be packed and I'll have a hard time getting a machine to use come January. I'm having no trouble now but then this year isn't over yet. I think Boodini is on my side when he couldn't come up with an inspiring keyword for the upcoming year and sensibly asked why there was a need for one. I would think that word would change constantly or else, maybe, you aren't trying very hard, or not really interested in what that word might mean.

So change it. It's not about a word, but words, right? Moving them around, changing them up, and always, always thinking up more. Who wants one word? Who needs to wait for a New Year to start something that is important. If something is worth the effort, why does it need to wait for a New Years resolution that only comes once a year? Why isn't it going on now? What is everyone waiting for? And after you get started, if you find it isn't the right thing, change it up. You don't wait a whole year (I would hope not). You never get anywhere or create any momentum if you aren't doing, in motion. Motivation doesn't happen while you're sitting around thinking. It's all in the doing. No matter how good or badly something is done, you can only find the next inspiration by doing it. And that doesn't mean waiting for the New Year or a Monday or the beginning of the next whatever that might be.

Enough of the soapbox. I'm on vacation and I will make the best of it all week long. Does the week happen to start a New Year? Yes. Is it significant? Sure. But you won't catch me waiting for any specific day to get doing what needs to get done.
TT

Much better

The morning has turned cold and rainy so I have holed up (again) upstairs with my laptop. You would think I would get so much work done with all the time I spend but it doesn't add up. There is minimal work done and more flitting here and there, reading parts of articles, and then dragging them into folders to read later, which never seems to happen. I think it will happen but then I think I should be working and not reading more articles and then I don't work but then I don't read either. I'm still trying to figure out where that time goes...probably out the window with the cold and rain.

I think I need to get up, away, for a time (and this would be prime time), drive myself to the gym, because outdoors isn't going to work, and get a run done. Much better than flitting here and there and still not getting anything done. Much, much better.
TT

I like

The weather started out not too badly. It was a little overcast, the street was wet, but it wasn't raining. It wasn't even sprinkling and since I couldn't get anything else done at that time of the morning I went for a run. It wasn't anything great, spectacular, it was only a run and I felt good afterward. But by the time I was dressed to leave the house, the weather was starting to turn. My short drive was met with howling wind and windshield wipers swiping back and forth at a fair pace. And then it got colder even though it was only mid-morning.  

The day started out nice enough to get outside and stretch my muscles. Then before I could get outside again for a short trip it was all changed for the worse. I came home and have been locked away as if I'm trapped ever since. I'm not, of course, but what a great reason to stay indoors. And that's what I'm doing. Staying inside. Watching the weather through indoor windows. Doing a little reading and a little typing and a little laundry. 

It must be a pretty good day when I can start with a run and spend the rest of the day, well, spending it anyway I like. Right now, with the weather out there, I like inside.

TT 

Splendid

The holiday was splendid! It was splendid. Yes, there was food, there were too many gifts. We laughed and had a good time and spent time - together. 

It was a splendid holiday.

TT

It's Christmas 2014!

Good Morning, Christmas Day!

Everything that needed to be done is done. The lights are twinkling, the gifts are wrapped, and the shrimp are ready to be prepped. Before I make my way into the kitchen, I should go through the menu one more time so I can get it all straight in my head. This is what was decided for the Christmas Feast this year.

Appetizers

Broiled Shrimp on Skewers

Oysters Rockafeller

Oysters on the Half Shell

Artichoke stuffed Mushrooms

Main Course

Roast Beast (beef - but it's a beast)

Breaded Shrimp

Roasted New Potatoes and Carrots

Broccoli Au Gratin

Horseradish and Cocktail Sauces

Homemade Yeast Bread

Butter

Dessert

Tiramisu

It's nothing truly extravagant but it's all the prime choices for just about everyone that threw around their suggestions. Now it's time for me to get into the kitchen to prep up these niceties. The tiramisu is already prepared and in the fridge from last night, I need to go out on the deck to retrieve my oyster shells to wash as serving dishes for the appetizers, and broccoli can be par-cooked for the gratin. It's not really too much. Oh, and oh yes. Later this morning they will all be coming over to open the gifts and get this party started!

Good morning, Christmas Day! Hoping a Safe and Happy Holiday to All!

TT

Riding the wave

Where am I? What day is it?

All of a sudden I feel like there is a tidal wave behind me and I better get moving! There are only a few things left to do before the big day but time is a tickin'. I need to get these details completed while still making it to work. It's a matter of having only so much time to prioritize with all the things left to do and how that all works out. It's that wall of water behind me.

There really are only a few details left to take care of, but I can't forget the details. There are a few more things to grab from the grocery store, some gift wrapping to do, and then cleaning up the house. I will need to go through and give it a good wipe down but that will wait until tomorrow. I only work a half day and that afternoon would be the best use of that time. That means finalizing the menu today (already got the families input) so I can grab the grocery items today. I can fit in the gift wrapping this evening without a problem. Then with that all done, I can sit back and ride that giant wave to shore.
TT

One present?

The weekend was an entire flurry or activity and still so much more to do. I think I can call gift shopping done. I can rethink it over and again for a month of Sundays but it will have to stay where it is at this point. Grocery shopping is almost complete. Those last minute items that just have to be fresh will be picked up in the next day or so. It is all coming together.

I need to get to wrapping gifts since I have only one wrapped that is alone under the tree at this point. Mr. L noticed. He pointed to it.
"What's that?"
"A present."
"For me?"
"No. It's for Papa."
"It's not mine?"
"No. Not that one."

There were no other gifts under the tree. He noticed. He looked up at me. He knows about this wrapped gift idea because he just unwrapped a bunch of them on this birthday a few days ago. I felt I needed to add..."That's the only one right now. I'll put more under the tree later."
He didn't respond. I guess it was thinking about it. I mean, he just turned three. He tried to misdirect me when he said, "I'm six."
"No, you're three."
"I'm three?"
"Yes, you're three."
"I'm three."
Only a few minutes later, he told me he was six again. It hasn't sunk in, I think. He'll get it. Along with the gifts I haven't wrapped for him and everyone else yet. It's all coming together. I think it's sinking in.
TT

Mr. L turns three

This is the month of celebrations and we are ticking off each one as they happen. Last night we all gathered to watch Mr. L blow out the candles on his cake and open gifts. It was last Sunday we got together to celebrate his Dad's birthday. We are coming around the bend to Christmas, my birthday and New Year!

I believe we were all impressed with the amount of birthday presents one little boy received before Christmas. He also helped his Dad make this favorite meal...pork ragu.

Awesome-ness!  Good choice!

And Mr. L even helped decorate his own birthday cake.  What a guy!
He was actually feeling a little under the weather but made it through, feeling slightly better by the end of the evening. Happy Birthday to you!
TT

No holiday blues allowed

When I woke up yesterday morning, I was feeling that,"oh no, I'm running out of time" feeling. It was mostly due to the fact I knew I was needing to get out there and shop among the masses - on the last Saturday before Christmas. I was building up anxiety over the imminent situation of wandering for this and that, not finding what I want, and getting stuck in traffic for hours. I was letting the feeling get out of hand.

I went to the gym. A short, easy run and my head started to clear. I had an idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to get. I marched forward and headed out to the spot that opened the earliest. I found this, I found that. This is perfect, ring it up. I got a phone call from Jay..."Where are you, and how is it going?"
"I have one other shopping area to visit and I hope to have it finished by noon." It was 10:30.

It got done. I was home by 12:40. The traffic I imagined being in the middle of, was all traveling in the other direction as I headed home with a clear shot. I tried to stir up the holiday blues but managed to knock them out before they could fester. They only survived as far as my run and after that I was off and running(he-he). Let's get to wrapping!
TT

March of the Ginger Cookies

Yesterday afternoon, I proceeded to roll out my Ginger Cookie dough and start baking. I already finished the batch of Peanut Butter Cookies I wanted to make, so it was time to flour the table and pull out my nifty rolling pin. I also grabbed a small cookie cutter, a couple of sheet pans, and set the oven at 375 degrees and was ready to go.

The kitchen was smelling great and if  a drummer boy was present he could have kicked up a beat and had a true march going on with all these Ginger Men. Heck, we could have had an entire parade - a Christmas Parade!

Wow! Maybe I need to step away from the kitchen for a bit. I'm getting a little cookie delusional.
TT

A tin of cookies?

I got a text last night from my younger son, Dante. Office potluck is Friday...do you think you can get me a tin of cookies I can bring? Smile
Sure, I should have them for you tomorrow.
Great! I'll come by after work.

I already have a head-start on these cookies. Even though I gave all the Chocolate Hazelnut biscotti to Sonny (my older son, on his birthday) I kept back some of the chocolate chip, oatmeal, and some of the sugar cookies the grandkiddo's decorated. After work today I will make up a batch of peanut butter cookies and this morning I got a batch of gingerbread dough cooling in the fridge. They should be ready to roll-out this afternoon. That will make a good variety of cookies.

I am still thinking I need to make the pecan sandies and I didn't make any half and half cookies (half vanilla, half chocolate) or roll them into pinwheels instead (out of that same dough). I'll see. I still have time. Do I? I haven't finished shopping yet!

Sure I will.
TT

Getting it done

I need to get myself organized. It's time to take out that list again and check it. I believe if I were to evaluated what I have done so far, to what still needs to be done, there are some things still left undone. It will be my undoing. I need to do something about it and the clock is ticking.

I will see what's what and what's not and do what I have to do. Simple.

I only need to figure out what and when to do it all.
TT

Baked all weekend

Along with two-day breadmaking weekend, I managed to squeeze in some time to bake cookies. Between the hours of waiting for dough to rise, mix, and then rise again, I was able to bake some of my oldest son's favorite cookies for his birthday, which was yesterday.

Chocolate Hazelnut biscotti was the first to be completed. Then it was Chocolate Chips with walnuts. He asked for some oatmeal (with raisins and walnuts), too. I whipped them all up and they were baked and ready for his birthday. I also put aside a batch of sugar cookie dough in the fridge. I had a feeling I might have a chance to use it and I had something in particular in mind.

On Saturday, I was asked to watch the Big Boy and Mr. L. Here was the opportunity I was expecting. I grabbed my cookie cutters, separated an egg yolk into four different containers and mixed four different food colors into it. I had small paintbrushes for the egg yolk paint and also some sugar sprinkles. I rolled out the dough and let the boys cut out shapes while I put them on cookie sheets. When each sheet was filled with cookies, I gave one sheet to each boy and let them decorate the cookies.

Here is the result...I don't think I've seen finer Sugar Cookies than these in a long time.

The best cookies I've seen in a long time!
TT

Panettone - Part Two

I started the day by taking out the dough that has been rising in the fridge overnight. It's time to split it in half and it takes a sharp knife to cut through this heavy, rich dough. This isn't your fluffy, light, deflate when touch it type of dough. No, no. This is solid with all that butter (3 sticks) now cold and holding it all together.

Let it rest at room temperature for about an hour and a half. During that time I soaked 1 2/3 cups golden raisins for 30 minutes, patted them dry and added them to 1 cup candied orange (I used pineapple instead) and the zest of a fresh lemon and orange.  The dough becomes softer and pliable after it rest and feels great as I pat it out to an oval shape.  

Sprinkle the fruit and press it into the dough, then roll it up, pat it out again and repeat with the fruit. When that is done, tuck the edges underneath and form into a ball.

Now we need another 2 hours to rest and rise. I'll be baking these free form, like they did before they invented the nifty paper molds you can get on-line.  That is, you can use the paper molds if you order them in advance to having an urge to experiment with making your first panettone ever. I didn't have the time to wait. I'm waiting enough with all the rising, resting, rising, resting...Let's get to baking!

Ta-da! Baked, sliced and oh, so yummy. This bread is crusty sweet, and rich! I can see where the cylindrical paper molds would make it taller and light, but there is no denying the flavor in this bread.

 

It took the two days from start to finish but this breadaholic got through a recipe rated difficult without any real hitches along the way. It was a process, it was a little challenging, but it was what I was looking forward to doing. Sometimes, even if you are not sure the outcome, you just have to put in the work and go for it. 

TT

Panettone - Part One

I started some baking this morning.

This is getting organized with my ingredients galore. I'm starting with this panettone I can't help getting excited over. It's a multi-process task beginning with a sponge or a starter with 1/3 cup of warm water to activate the yeast for 10 minutes...the first dough activates yeast in 3 tablespoons of warm water...

The sponge on the left is ready so I mix 1/2 cup of flour into it and let it rise for 30 minutes.

Ah, yes! That is what I want to see. In 30 minutes my sponge has doubled. Now it's time to go on to my 1st dough. Add the risen sponge to 1st dough yeast and add 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Yes. Mix it all together.

Now leave it covered for an hour. Let's see how that works out.

Yes. Yes...an hour later and it's now looking like this above! So far, so good. Now the second dough. Take this first dough and add (yes, this is rich) 3 egg yolks plus 2 whole eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 tsp salt, 2 sticks (yeah-2) unsalted butter, 3 cups flour.

Mix together in your mixer, then scrape down all the sides and paddle and replace the paddle with the hook attachment. Mix at medium with the hook attachment for about 10 minutes then transfer into an oiled bowl. Tightly cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours.

 Goodnight, sweet prince. I'll see you in the morning...to be continued.

TT

No yeast!?

I love bread. I can't help it and I freely admit it. In this day and age when you are looked down upon for glancing at a single carb I can't help but stare when surrounded by steaming loaves. I brazenly will spend 30 minutes in any bakery making up my mind over the rye versus the whole grains versus any other offering of fresh baked splendor. I'm a breadaholic. I am one of those that will devour a good quarter of a fresh, crusty loaf before I get it home. That's me.

Because of my admitted addiction, it shouldn't be surprising I am having thoughts of making panettone. What?! Where has that thought come from? Do I even have any idea about where to start?
I've seen the specialty bread appear a couple of years ago in the grocery store. It caught my eye and I wondered about the Italian Christmas specialty. It wasn't until a few days ago, I took my thoughts to some serious consideration.

I started searching for recipes. If I need to find something I've never made before, I like to compare and read a lot of different recipes. So I started reading. Ah...here's one from Mario Batali. He should know what he's doing. I read through the recipe and thought, "Wow, that is really so simple. He went from start to finished product in about 45 minutes." I didn't stop there. I kept searching two, three, four, other recipes. I realized Mr. Batali must have an error in his recipe. He was making a bread without any yeast! I wouldn't think a proper panettone is made without yeast! I mean, it is bread.

I settled on a recipe I found that actually has you make a sponge (activated yeast with 1/2 cup of flour), a first dough, a second dough, and then finish. It takes some time (much more than 45 minutes - more like over 15+ hours), while it rises overnight. After combing through so many recipes it looked to be the best. I really think I'm going to give it a try.

I can't wait! I'm looking forward to that swirling, tantalizing smell of bread fresh out of the oven. I'm imagining it filling the house with all of it's warm and comforting aroma's. I can see myself cutting and tasting that first bite of...

Yeah. Breadaholic, for sure.
TT

After, not before

Looking at my calendar this morning, I quickly counted backward from December 25th. I had that song about the twelve days of Christmas going through my head and thought I should know when it starts. I had a shot of adrenalin pulse through my chest as I thought there was a possibility I missed it. I'm not sure what matter that would make, but it was only the briefest of spells. As I counted backwards I came up with December 13th and my small jolt was nothing to worry about. Ah, fine, today is only the 10th. But I couldn't leave it at that, now could I, since I had no idea what I was going to do with the information. So, I did some research to see if that day was accurate.

No. Nope. Not in the least. The twelve days of Christmas are not BEFORE Christmas, like some type of shopping days countdown. They are the twelve days AFTER Christmas to anticipate the time between the birth of Christ and Epiphany, or the day the Kings arrived. You know the Kings, the three kings, of Orient (they) are. I didn't know that. I bet a lot of people don't realize these twelve days are after and not before. I'm not sure anyone even gives it a thought. I wonder how many people still recognize that song. Either one...the Twelve Days or We Three Kings. Now, I have Christmas Carols running through my head.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
TT

Always making a list

I hear this month is all about making a list and checking it twice. I am notorious for making lists. I don't wait until December. I don't mean I make my lists for December all year long but that I always have some sort of list in the making. Do this, don't forget that, what about that other thing - they all go into a list. I also have mental lists. I'm thinking about that, need to remember this for later, I should do this after that. I've gone to the point of downloading free apps on my phone just for this purpose.

This morning I was going through my electronic list of reminders.

• ZZ Ward
• Check cookie ingredients
• Return extra ornaments to Hobby Lobby

I've returned the ornaments for credit and I checked what I had for cookie ingredients (I added my missing items to my grocery list appl).  Check and check. The ZZ Ward is a reminder to sample her album. I heard a song of hers, but always forget to check it out while at home where I can purchase - hence the reason it being on 'the list'.

I have a feeling the list will expand a bit before it's complete. I am even thinking of making Jay a list but I'll hold off for now. He's doing pretty good on his own right now. He will only lose his list. I'll e-mail any reminders to him later. I better put that on my own list. 

• Remind Jay of items on his list

There.  I'll check the list in a day or two. 

TT

'Tis the season

The weekends are to recharge, spend time getting to the things that don't seem to get done during the week, and then have the moments to take it in and stay still. After tumbling into that free time, rushing headlong into those put-aside activities, it should come to that peaceful point to sit back and take a look around at all that was done.

It was about holiday decorating this weekend. I have collected a dated holiday ornament every year since 1978. If I do the quick math (let me open that calculator) that totals 36 ornaments which I would line up in their boxes on a prominent shelf near the tree. There were some years I bought more than one because I just had to have a few more that I liked that year. Every year I displayed the ornaments and joked with my boys how I would decorated my entire tree with them after they were grown and moved away. I've done that a few years already. I've taken each and every one of those ornaments out of their original boxes, put them on the tree for the holiday season, and them replaced them all back to their safe places. It was pretty special.

I decided this year I couldn't use them. Some of the boxes are getting soft, some of the ornaments are starting to show their age, and it didn't seem wise to handle them as much as it takes to use them in this way. I went out and found simple, ordinary ornaments to fill the tree (all half off-how 'bout that).

The tree is up. It's glittery and great. It didn't take long and all the original dated ornaments are safe. I got the things I didn't have time during the week done and still had time to sit and find a special moment to stay still. I'm feeling very recharged.
TT

What to do

I'm not sure what I'm going to do today. I've already straightened up the kitchen and there is a load of laundry going. I've balanced Jay's bookkeeping and wrote some checks, then updated his sales figures. That already sounds like I've done a bit of stuff but it's barely 7:20 am and there is a load of things that I should do. I certainly have the time!

I will make another run through the house to get it straightened up. I've become the ultimate homebody, with all the upgrades and work we've done to make the house comfortable. I'd rather be here than anywhere else right now and having it clean elevates that feeling. What better time to get things done than when everything else around you is neat.

There is time for this and that today. I think I'll figure out what to do first and go from there.
TT

This month

This is the month of birthdays and holidays. December is jammed packed with more reasons to celebrate than any other all year long. There, of course, are the reminders to shop. The anticipation of black Friday, cyber Monday, and didn't I see another for some sort of all week thing? My e-mail inbox is flooded with advertising totally over 20 a day. That's a lot of mail I can (thankfully) click one button so they all show as 'read' without actually opening. I've managed to actually read the one e-mail that was real but if I've missed someone, it might have looked like an ad. I didn't mean to erase you.

I'm hoping my real e-mail to my sister today didn't get erased. It's her birthday today to start off this month of continuous celebrations. I remember my mom being a little upset with me when my oldest son was born on 12/14. She made the comment that I had now filled every week in December for her. My sister the first week, my son the second, Christmas on the third week, and then mine on the last. I didn't think that much about it at the time but she had her hands full!

I know it now, since that same son that filled the second week slot had a son, Mr. L, and his birthday is 12/20. Let's just squeeze another celebration, another cake, into the mix. You can never have enough cake, right? The run down is amazing...12/5, 12/14, 12/20, 12/25, 12/31, 1/1....

It's a month of birthdays and holidays. It has started, and as of today, it's on!
TT

Gold star

I managed to write for 45 minutes yesterday. I get a gold star for actually spending the time working on fiction instead of writing notes about what I should write. My prime way to get around writing is by making notes and writing down ideas and reading articles. I have pages and pages of notes that pertain to the theme and characters. I have questions and answers about how this should work and how that might be a way to get an idea across, but the actual story has remained the same hollow batch of words since I plugged down my first draft.

Could this 45 minutes be considered progress? And their lies the problem, don't you think? Why is that even a question. I know I am going to get a rewrite completed the same way I got the first draft completed. I may be taking the long way around to get there but I am a newbie, a rookie. I am trying to figure out my process and believe it or not, I might be getting slightly closer to what that is for me. Forty-five minutes of actual story work is what it is. It's just another step closer to getting it done and no more or less.

Everything doesn't need a gold star.
TT

No bugs

It's the middle of the week, third day of the month. Day three and if I had to report about my subtle change idea and how it's working out, I could say yesterday was different. It wasn't really something I can say I did to change it but I had to let the pest control man in after work. That would be considered very different if we hadn't had him here about 2 months ago. We asked him back yesterday because there were telltale signs of a possible small invasion (if you call seeing one dead roach on the floor and one small alive one in the sink an invasion). In any case, small or not, we don't want anything to do with the critters, so we had the bug guy come back and do some more eliminations. That changed things slightly for me yesterday afternoon. No real work on my part unless you count taking everything out from under the bathroom and kitchen sinks. Then I put them all back this morning.

Now that I'm thinking about it, that does count. That was definitely a change from any normal, regular, routine. I had to talk to the guy, let him in, wait around for him to spray and squirt. I unloaded, cleaned, reloaded, the stuff under the sinks and didn't see a single critter, dead or alive, anywhere this morning. It took up much of my afternoon (and part of this morning) in a different way.

I am counting this as a subtle change. God bless bug guys.
TT

Now

If yesterday was supposed to be some sort of opening day for making changes to my regular routine, I totally blew it. I didn't do anything to change what I always do each weekday. I came home, complained about the fact that I had no idea the temperatures were supposed to go down during the day instead of up, then curled up with a book and called it a day. I guess I should at least give myself points for reading. Nah. That's a regular thing. That isn't making subtle changes. That isn't modifying my routine to include the things I keep saying I want/need/should be doing. The only difference yesterday is I read for a longer period of time.

I didn't display much resolve yesterday. But then, that was yesterday. Maybe it's a learning curve and there will be some colder than I thought days which might be best for pulling out a book for a longer stretch of time. That might be the only subtle change I needed to make for that day.  Which was yesterday. Stay focused. Now, there is today.
TT

ONE

Today is acting as if it's the New Year. There is a big, giant one on the calendar with an attitude of get ready, set, go! Oh wait, that might be my attitude and not the calendar. I might be thinking it's a good month to start off some new resolutions without all the hoopla surrounding resolutions. Besides, the ones made on the New Year never seem to last anyway, so this might be a way to think outside the normal perimeters. And since this is my ball game, let's not call them resolutions at all.  How about doing some simple change-up things considered goals for this month.

At least that is what I am thinking. And it's a Monday, and the first, and as good a day as any to begin. I have some ideas of what I might do and today seems to be the day to get started. It's the day with the attitude and the big, giant one.
TT