Tonight is the last Sunday night before “school starts back.”  It’s the last day of Christmas vacation.

Christmas vacation is so hyped up, so exciting.  Ever since I was a young child, I absolutely loved Christmas vacation, I counted down, I became giddy with excitement.  I’m sure I’m not alone, but Christmas vacation may possible have been the greatest thing in my life.

Therefore, the last night of it is very depressing.  Not crying on the floor unable to move depressing, but nonetheless a bit sad.  No matter how the actual vacation was, the build up was certainly exciting, and now there is almost an entire year until the fun begins again.  (And yes, I will insist upon waiting for Thanksgiving to pass before beginning to celebrate the Christmas season next year…I refuse to start on Labor Day).

Now all we have to look forward to is a few months of dreary weather.  In Cleveland this could go on for up to five more months—in St. Louis probably only three, but still…what is there to look forward to now?  I think that’s why so many people make New Year’s resolutions.  Resolutions give us something to focus on, something to be excited about.  Many people focus on living in the now and enjoying “the moment.”

It might be better if Christmas (or winter break, if you don’t celebrate) took place more towards the end of January.  That’s when we need it!  Frankly, the end of November is interesting enough in the US with Thanksgiving—we don’t need another major holiday in a month, especially a holiday that is followed one week later by yet another holiday! We need to spread these things out.  February has Valentine’s, but that’s not a really fun holiday after grade school (too much pressure), then there’s St. Patrick’s…boring…Easter is a good one, but doesn’t always mean much more than a long weekend.  There’s Memorial Day, and then summer– when most people get at least a bit of vacation (us school people quite a bit more, but it seems that most of my friends take time then for some sort of vacation), so that’s covered, then Labor Day, Halloween…and so on.

But that’s how it is calendar wise, and I should just accept it.  My issue really is that it’s over now.  I don’t WANT to return to work.  I would prefer to keep sleeping in, enjoying my flannel sheets, and being generally lazy watching bad 80’s movies on ABC Family.

Oh, well.  That’s life!  I’d rather return to work than be back in middle school again.  I’ll keep that thought in mind to prop up my spirits.  Tomorrow I have 6 or 7 private students.  At least I’m starting slow!

Side note:  I wasn’t happy with my new theme, so I’ve chosen a different one.  I’ll be messing around with it a little bit, but I hope you’ll like it.  I especially like how the front page shows several recent posts instead of one at a time.

Prompt: Core story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)

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My central story:  I am an optimist.  I enjoy life.  I laugh.  I overanalyze things.  I’m full of contradictions.  I need to be more comfortable with new things.  My appearance is important to me, as is my health.  I write better when I take more time, but I hate revising.

A thread I may not have noticed until today? I don’t think there is anything I’ve really missed…I am not so different than other people? (If you have thoughts, please comment!)

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this month of reverb10…I know I did.  The project pushed me to make my blog, and perhaps myself, into something a bit more than it was, though it made my blog seem a bit disjointed.  I guess my blog is going through some growing pains.

I look forward to a fantastic 2011!  If I’ve gained any new readers, I hope you stick around   If not, well, thanks anyway!

Happy New Year to you all!  2010 was much better than 2009 for me, and I hope 2011 is even better.  I hope the same for you all.

Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

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(december 29, almost caught up!)

I’m definitely seeing a theme of my year.

Defining moment or series of events:  well, that’s EASY.  Joined the gym, met Joe, signed up for a year of personal training with him.  Couldn’t have changed my life more completely!

And yes, I’m still the same person I was before, I just am more committed to a “healthy lifestyle.”  I still love to read, listen to NPR, play the violin, etc.

When I started training with Mike, in our initial interview he asked me “How long have you been committed to a healthy lifestyle?”  I thought that was funny, because until that moment I didn’t realize I was.  Last night I was invited to a good friend’s house for wine.  I asked if I could bring anything—she suggested I bring a snack.  I brought carrot sticks and hummus…and we ate all the carrot sticks!

And I’m skipping December 28th’s post because it is too similar to my New Year’s resolution post I’ve been working on for awhile

(fyi december 28th prompt—in case you want to try it yourself–

Prompt: Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.)

HBBC: December 25: 7 f/v: 1 point, December 26: 0 points, December 27: 7 f/v: 1 point, December 28: 0 points, December 29: 1 mile walk: 1 point, workout with mike: 4 points, 7 f/v: 1 point, total: 6 points, December 30: 4 mile run: 4 points, workout with mike: 4 points, 7 f/v: 1 point, total: 9 points

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

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(December 27 prompt)

I love this prompt as it really speaks to my outlook on life.  Like the earlier post about a sense of wonder, finding joy in ordinary moments is a similar concept.  I find joy in many small things.

If I had all day to ponder this prompt, I’m sure I’d come up with tons of ideas, but right now I am thinking of winter smells and sights (fireplaces/snow), Christmas decorations and lights, and children playing the violin.  But I’m having trouble thinking of joyful ordinary moments—hmmm….

In all honesty, what brings me the most joy is my adorable cat.  She is so warm, furry, squashy, and pleasant natured that it is impossible not to feel joyous when I see her sleeping on the corner of the bed or rolling around on the kitchen floor.  I know that’s not one moment, but many, throughout each day.  It is amazing how much a pet adds to my life!

I call her Fatty—and this picture represents a joyful ordinary moment in our lives together. 

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

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(december 26)

This year I completely changed my outlook on food and how I eat.  With the help of my personal trainer, Joe, I revamped my diet to include tons of veggies, lean meats and fishes, and whole grains.  I ate large quantities of salmon, tuna, mahi mahi, couscous, brown rice, whole wheat bread, spinach, lettuce, broccoli…and really learned to enjoy eating those things.

BUT.  Those things are forgettable. 

What is NOT forgettable is the lobster mac and cheese at Herbie’s.

Each week Chris and I go out to eat and have a “cheat meal” where we eat what it is that we have been craving and denying ourselves (let’s not get into a discussion over whether said denial is appropriate or healthy, leave it BE).  We discovered a wonderful restaurant in the Central West End called “Herbie’s” that serves a mean martini, according to Chris, and…though it is not on the regular menu, often has a special called Lobster mac and cheese.

Heaven.  Each bite is a bite of heaven.

Twisty, cheesy noodles, with truffle oil and crunchies on top.  It’s seriously the greatest thing I have ever eaten.  Words cannot do it justice.  As I type this my stomach is rumbling, GROWLING, for the mac and cheese (which shall be denied until our next visit…). 

The first time I ordered it…was one of my first “cheat meals” on THE DIET.  It was approximately a month in.  I felt guilty…dare I eat this most delicious meal ever?  Would I be able to go back to eating fish, rice and broccoli after experiencing this meal?  The answer to both questions …a resounding YES!   (suggestion:  pair the appetizer size with the herbie’s house salad for a complete meal).