New Year's Resolutions

I've added yet another new year's resolution to my list, although I wonder if I can technically call it a list when there are only two items on it...but I digress.

New Year's Resolution #2: Instead of sitting in a chair at work, sit on a balance ball.

OK, so if you're not laughing yet, you are obviously suffering for the inability to imagine this scenario. Picture a 5'2" Asian, tail wobbling around on a big purple balance ball, barely within eyeline of her computer, typing away.

Are you laughing now?

So in case you're wondering, no, I have no been recruited into a new aged hippie cult, nor have the Georgia budget cuts caused a lack of office chairs. I have just been realizing more and more that my career has me sitting on my tail way too much. Near the end of the day my lower back is aching, and this comes from someone who takes yoga twice a week and sees the chiropractor once a week. So in an attempt to challenge my weak abs and force myself to hold correct posture throughout the day, I've brought my purple balance ball to work. My abs ache, but my lower back doesn't, so I'd say I may be on to something. I don't plan on bringing my ball to meetings, nor keep my door wide open for all to see. I am not attempting to become the circus freak show at UGA. We'll see how long I can maintain a professional environment with my big purple ball. Perhaps dressing up in a black suit everyday would help balance it out.

Speaking of resolutions, I'm curious how many of you have made and actually kept your resolutions? I never make resolutions on January 1st, instead, it's within the first 2-3 months, a continual working draft. I'm happy to report that I've kept four resolutions:

1. Quit smoking -- after sustaining the habit for five years, 1-2 packs a day, I have hesitantly moved myself from the category of smoker to recovering smoker. I doubt I'll ever be a non-smoker (unless your my insurance company) since I miss it terribly. I'm in that romantic phase of fondly remembering smoking in my first NYC bar in Manhatten, and smoking a clove with some chickory coffee and beignets in New Orleans. I have to remind myself on a monthly basis that smoking is a horrible habit that took me a long time to shake. Resolution duration: 6 years

2. Take the stairs -- Unless I'm in an unfamiliar place, I always take the stairs. Even if it's hot, or I'm tired, or I'm lifting something heavy, I now take the stairs. Resolution duration: 3 years

3. Curb caffeine -- You may not believe me, but I was drinking about 12 cups of coffee a day, in addition to any tea or soda that contained caffeine. In my defense, my allergist had me on *ten* different medications. Add that to some other medical conditions, and my brain just wouldn't function without caffeine. I dumped my super large coffee cup (which held about 4 cups) and stopped visiting Starbuck's (their larges are about 4 cups as well). Over the years I've whiddled it down slowly, from 8 cups, to cold turkey, then back to 8 cups, then to 6 cups, to 4 cups. I'm now averaging 1-2 cups of caffeine (not just coffee), and sometimes splurge and have 3 cups if I'm on vacation and I need a boost at the end of the afternoon. Resolution duration: 2 years

4. Be friendlier to morning people -- I am not a morning person. I have a theory that the part of my brain that is patient and friendly, awakens appoximately 2 hours after the rest of me wakes up. I do not strive to be a morning person, but at least now I no longer plot their demise when they attempt a conversation with me. I no longer glare whenever someone enthusiastically questions me about my plans for the day. Ok, almost always. Resolution duration: 3 years

What resolutions have you kept?

The Northern States

The Northern States -- also known as anything north of Tennessee, since most of Virginia lacks the percentage of rednecks Georgia has.

I'm fresh from my NJ/NY trip. As if NJ/NY wanted to impress me, it snowed the morning after I arrived. I felt like I accidentally stepped into a Pepperidge Farm commercial, minus the Milano cookie smell. Then to further dazzle me, the weather was actually warmer than it was in Athens. I found myself stepping out with narry a jacket or gloves. I'm beginning to think that winter in the south being warmer than the north (or even Germany) is a big myth. I have yet to experience almost frozen toes, and numb fingers outside of Athens, Georgia, where to my chagrin, I have to wear thermal underwear under my polar fleece Santa-colored puffy pants that I know makes my husband's heart skip a beat. I mean, who doesn't love a lady that's layered in polar fleece? ;-)

Anyway, weather aside, my trip to the north was fabulous. I drank my first Cosmo at my first swank NYC restaurant, before my first Broadway show. I fed Central Park ducks (some that were overly hostile) a real NYC pretzel on my way to MoMa, to see the very famous and very fabulous Starry, Starry, Night. I already miss the smell of the snow-kissed pines, and the buzz of the city, but I must admit, there's no place like home. Especially if I move to Germany.