New Years Resolutions

I made New Years Resolutions this year. Hooray! It's been a while, and even longer since I kept them. But here it is...

1. I am resolved to seek out joy
2. I am resolved not to yell
3. I am resolved to cut my cc debt in half
4. I am resolved to say *thank you* at least once a day

I think that's a nice little list here...it's well balanced, a little mental betterment, a little material betterment. Actually, I wish there were 5 points on the list, it would seem a bit more, concise. But hell, as it turns out, I'm not particularly concise in my overall life - and those 4 are plenty already. So there it is, my little list - and I'm pleased with it. I feel like it's enough of a challenge to keep me motivated, but not too much for me to say, "Eh, chuck it!" about 3 months in.

I started a new little moleskin in fact, yesterday - I'm going to write down the thank you's. I think it will help remind me to do it first of all, and then secondly, how great to have a record at the end of the year of all the things I have to be thankful for! I started it early, but then again, I figure, "hey, I get to make the rules here!"

All in all, things are going very well out here in the West. It's a whirlwind for sure - but as always, full of fun! The holidays were lovely. We got to spend most of Christmas Eve (after I got off work) with B's family. His folks have been out of town for months, so it was great to be there with everyone and all cheerful and well fed :) Then we had our own sweet Christmas at our house, with a fire in the fireplace and stockings full! I sure do love that man. THEN, at 11pm, we left for Lyons to surprise my mom, Jenni, Anna, Anna's fella' Ryan, and mom's dog Gilly (Mrs. McGillicuty) at the cabin. They weren't expecting us until Christmas Day, so lots of screaming and excitment ensued when we finally arrived. We stayed up until 4am (making that a 21 hour day for me) playing Apples to Apples and laughing. Good times! Two more days in the cabin saw lots more game playing, some movie watching, a little hiking, a wonderful visit from Princess Aly, her prince, and their two delightful dogs, who got along quite well with Gilly. What a wonderful time was had. Missed my dad of course this year, but we did finally get him on Skype, so got to see his face at least. :)

I'm working at Curious of course, and currently assistant directing a gorgeous production of RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay Abaire, under the force of a director, Christy Montour Larson. I am learning so much every day from her, and from this extraordinary actors - the play's intense and emotional, and such an honor to be a part of.

B's had great news lately - the man can't be stopped! He'll be playing the lead in Paragon Theatre's production of LOVE SONG. It's a quirky and very cool play, and it opens on Valentines Day - our 3 year anniversary. Then he'll do The Golden Goose, another great children's play, at the Mizel Center...and another short film role, AND a national internet commercial. Plus, next week, his daughter will be out here visiting us for a bit. So much great stuff going on - and so much still in store!

So there it is, friends! As always, thanks so much for reading. Have a very, very Happy New Year, and I sure hope that 2009 is the year we get some good hanging out time in!