Happy New Year! (January Goals)

1. Finish the goddamn rain barrels. Seriously. They need to be done. Even if I have to pick up the power tools & do them myself. These are 95% done. We need to make a trip to the hardware store to get something to fix the downspout so that it will drain into the rain barrel. We have a trip planned this weekend.
2. Get in 27 workouts (which means I can double-up if I miss a day due to illness or stress). I totally did this. I worked out a total of 27 days – and had a couple of days of doubling up workouts, so I definitely achieved my goal. Check it out!
3. Make delicious, healthy, creative meals with my December grocery budget of $200. This went fairly well – more on this later.
4. Learn to make something new that will reduce household costs One of the cats had a small…accident…on the carpet upstairs and we were out of resolve. So I made some stain remover. And internets? It worked AWESOMELY! It was non-toxic, made with simple household ingredients, and completely removed the cat vomit stains. I will never buy expensive stain removers AGAIN! (so easy – mix equal parts baking soda & salt, add several drops of white vinegar & enough water to make a paste. Apply paste to stain & let set. When dry, brush it away.)
5. Read 5 new books. I did this – with a little help from all of you! I read:
   1. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl (recommended by Emily)
   2. My Life in France by Julia Child (recommended by Alisa)
   3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
   4. The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time by Douglas Adams
   5. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books, although The Road wasn’t the most cheery holiday book ever! On of my 2009 goals is to read 50 books that I haven’t read before (I read 42 new books this year.) I have 9 books on my bookshelf right now – so I’m ready for that challenge!

And now – on to my January 2009 goals! (Can you believe it’s 2009? CRAZY!)

1. Go the whole month without using my ‘overdraft protection’ in my checking account. (Personal Finance)
2. Use my Mondays in the manner for which they were made work-free (Writing)
3. Run 50 miles (Fitness)
4. Get a minimum of 3 servings of fruit/veggies each day (Food)
5. De-clutter house – get a Goodwill box together (Household)
6. I usually only do 5, but I’m adding an honorary sixth today – Don’t burn down the house & kill the pets (Also household & personal safety). So far, the house is still standing & no one is dead. Barely. (Had a bit of a kitchen problem this morning.)

I am hoping that the rain & wind will die down a little this afternoon for my run. I’m feeling a little woozy from this morning’s kitchen incident mixed with too much beer. 🙂

Happy New Year! I hope you all have a WONDERFUL 2009. I know that my 2008 would’ve have been as good without all the wonderful people I’ve connected with & met through this blog.