January 29, 2012

As I started to say yesterday, I don't really want to make my blog political--although I do think about politics. I also think about religion, and sports and family and values, and books and movies and what to make for dinner and health and prejudice and . . . well, you get the idea. I want to write about all those things. I guess when I sit down to write, I will be writing about what's at the forefront of my mind at the time.

Earlier today, I went for a walk. At the beginning of the month, I decided to set a few goals for myself for the year--not resolutions because for some reason, resolutions get broken. But goals are something to strive for and you can have some little setbacks with goals and still continue to strive for them. So I set a few simple but specific goals with the intention of improving my health. Goal #1 is to take a brisk 30 minute walk at least 4 times a week. I have a wonderful walking companion named Samson whose schedule coincides with mine 100%, who walks at a pace even faster than mine so it pushes me and who doesn't expect me to talk to him while I walk so I can listen to my ipod guilt-free.












I have a friend who wistfully tells me that she doesn't like to walk by herself and that we should walk together but I know that will never work for me. I have a hard time walking with most other people. The only people I actually like walking with are my kids because they understand that I need to walk fast to feel like I'm doing myself any good and they will actually take Samson's leash.
Goal #2 is to drink at least 64 oz. of water per day. I started out at 32 oz. but that didn't seem like enough so I upped it to 64. I've heard that this is one of the best things you can do for your health so I decided that it didn't seem so hard and that I would give it a shot.
Goal #3 is to limit my wine intake to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No wine Monday through Thursday.

I also set a goal of eating healthier, but I have to make that one a little more specific in order to make it effective. And I think I will build on my goals each month. Maybe I'll add one thing each month while continuing to keep up with the things I've already begun.

I also wanted to set a goal relating to creativity. My creative juices have been stagnating for a long time. Maybe for February my goal will be to write this blog at least four days a week. Sounds like a good creative goal.

today 1/28/2012

My daughter encouraged me to start a blog today. I had thought about it before, but I wondered--would anyone read it? Does it matter? I guess I would like to think that someone might read it. I guess I'm a little afraid that no one would really care what I have to say. But should that stop me from saying what I have to say or thinking what I think?  No. I decided, no. I want to write. I always have. So here goes. . . My thoughts. Post #1 I used to be a Republican and now I can't imagine why. I don't intend for this blog to be political but right now, we are in the midst of a fight for the Republican nominee for president of the United States. I can't even imagine why Newt Gingrich is being taken seriously as a candidate for this nomination. After the whole brouhaha over Clinton's indiscretions in the White House, Newt Gingrich, who cheated on not one, but two wives who were diagnosed with terminal or at least difficult illnesses, is being considered to have the character to be president of the US. WHAT? I heard an interview on the Colbert Report with Maurice Sendak (the author of Where the Wild Things Are) that I thought put it well ." The man is a despicable, vile creature"--(I think he said human being but I'm not so sure about that). How soon we forget the indiscretions of the past.
Actually, I hope that Gingrich and Romney are the candidates that the Republicans put up against Obama because if they are, I think Obama will win for sure. Romney doesn't see anything wrong with the fact that he makes about $56.000 a day without actually holding a job. And only pays 15 % taxes. Wait. He makes almost 150% of what I make in A YEAR PER DAY and he doesn't even work???? It makes me sick.