I went to the best class at Healthworks yesterday! Even better than the trampoline class I tried Friday (which was interesting, but not completely my cup of tea, especially without a decent sports bra-- ouch!). NIA combines yoga, tai-chi-y moves and modern dance, and it's so relaxing and invigorating. I was a little concerned the dance moves would trip me up (I mean, I have a hard time with some of the low impact aerobics moves... stupid grape vine, it gets me every time!) but it was so in tune with my own style, it felt very natural. And a good part of it is free movement. It was almost like dancing at a Hartley party, movin' and groovin' with my own vievish style. If anyone's interested in going to this class in Concord with me on Saturday, please let me know.
I finally beat the first SSX board, woohoo! I'm still no gamer, but I guess I'll keep at it now that I've finally made some progress.
Tonight is New Year's Eve, and we're heading to Amenia for the annual bacchanalia. Gotta remember to bring my wings (you too, Lilymab!). And the funfunsillywilly peppermint pig (thanks Janeen!). Today I must remedy my raggedy toenail polish after I get back from the gym, and perhaps indulge in some other spa ministrations. And a nap, I should definitely take a nap, so I don't fall asleep before my New Year's kiss!
Here's to a rockin' New Year's Eve, and to a peaceful and prosperous 2002!
I finally know what all that Jar Jar Binks brouhaha was all about. So so annoying. I guess they were aiming for a silly character that kids would latch onto, like the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. But the Ewoks were so gosh darn cute, just like little teddy bears, they were practically (or probably intentionally) tailor-made to become cartoon characters, lunchboxes, stuffed toys, etc. ad nauseum. I know I loved them. Ah well, they'll have a couple more tries to turn some other Star Wars character into kiddie product licensing gold.
Of course, I fell asleep halfway through the movie, so I think I'll go and watch it now. Or maybe I'll play some SSX now that I have my own PS2 memory card (thanks Kwami!). I just started, and I haven't been able to win the final round of the first board yet. So frustrating! I'm no gamer (I'm really good at Pitfall; anything more complicated than that is a challenge for my spazzy fingers), but I'll press ahead. As soon as I can make my way through the shortcuts without smacking into a tree every 5 seconds, I'll be golden.
So, it is now not quite 6am and I'm wide awake. I hate when that happens, especially on a Saturday.
Although, there is a certain appeal to waking up early. The stillness of the morning, especially in this hustley-bustley city, is peaceful and exhilerating. No honking car horns from the usually busy intersection right around the corner, no people shouting. Just the cold, still air and the occasional bus whooshing down Mass Ave. This different-but-not-different pre-dawn landscape, foreign yet so familiar, is eerily dream-like. It's a sly feeling, catching this elusive moment. It's like I've captured the day before it's even started.
Today we're traveling to Maine, after we pick up my sister and uncle from South Station. I just tracked their train, which is supposed to leave Washington, D.C. at 6:20am, and it's already 16 minutes late. Damn that Amtrak! I'm certainly glad I don't have to take any kind of mass transit this weekend. It's bound to be insane wherever you are and wherever you're going.
All of my presents are wrapped, my laundry is done (so I don't have to suffer the humiliation of bringing dirty laundry to my parents' house), and the bathroom is clean, more or less. So, now I just have to vacuum and tidy a bit, pack up my clothes, and get some snacks and drinks for the car ride. Maybe I'll even go to the gym for a bit of exercise before the Christmas food-fest begins (buuurrrrp!).
Well, the sun is up now and I'm antsy to start my day. I hope all of you little Vieveketeers have a merry and peaceful Christmas. See you next week!
Finally, all of my Christmas shopping is done! And I didn't get anything at any sort of mall or department store. Those places are evil, especially this time of year. I did go to Downtown Crossing for a bit yesterday, before I completed my shopping in Harvard Sq., but it gave me the freaky heebie-jeebies (so many people, all with that weary "Get me the hell out of this insanity!" look about them) so I didn't stay long. I still have to wrap everything, but that's the fun part.
I feel very tired today. Woke up before 7am, as usual, but I didn't get to sleep until 1am, and that's just not enough sleep for the Vieve. It's making me think about skipping yoga tonight... I know I should go, and I'll feel better if I do, but... *YAWN*
I did go to an aerobics class yesterday, which made me feel terrific. It's the old lady class, but it's so much fun I really don't mind being one of the only pre-menopausal women there. Then, after my shopping, a few people came over and we watched Muppet Family Christmas and baked some more cookies (my favorites were the Ninja Stars). If only every day could be like that...
Only 2 days till we're in winter wonderland. Time to wrap!
Advent calendar update: a buzzy, happy bee holding a basket. I imagine it has Royal Jelly in there, but who knows.
Grumpy slump update: better. Not out of the woods yet, but I've been taking it easy this week, trying to focus on myself and feeling better, and it seems to be doing the trick. Of course, now I have a bunch of work work piling up, but I can tackle that next week. It's not the end of the world if it waits a bit longer. I just need to keep reminding myself of that. The panic and badness still peeks out every once in a while, but I know it will get better. Ride the wave, ride the wave...
Mmmm, Copley Square Vanilla tea is the best.
Advent calendar update: a little man in a rowboat with a Christmas tree in the bow. Very sweet.
Grumpy slump update: unchanged. But I have high hopes it will get better soon. At least things aren't any worse.
I did manage to buy some Christmas cards today (3 kinds!) and as soon as Lukas finishes his snooze on the couch, we're going to work on them. I have so many to send out, which is kind of daunting. But at the same time, it also means that I have lots of friends, which is definitely a happy thing.
Tomorrow I go for my first dentist visit in about 4 years. I deperately need my teeth cleaned, and I also have an ouchy tooth that might need some bonding or some such thing. It will be lots of moolah, since I have no insurance, but I'll just have to suck it up.
So, as I mentioned yesterday, I've been in quite a grumpy slump lately. Feeling overwhelmed is a good part of it, I think. I had so much work for a while there, and while I was busy with that so many other things piled up to the point where I felt frozen. So instead of getting my shit done I just stressed about it, and fought against my feelings. Which only made everything worse. Panicky, crazy, totally freaky. I'm still feeling overwhelmed, but I gave myself a good talking to last night as I was watching Adult Swim (Brak! The best show they show on the show shower!). And I realized, sometimes you just have to ride the wave. So I feel overwhelmed and tired and cranky, so what? I already feel crummy, why make myself feel worse by getting angry at how I feel? It sucks, but it will pass. I'll just do whatever I can do, and not beat myself up about the stuff I can't get to right now. It's not the end of the world if the carpet doesn't get vacuumed, or I don't make Christmas cards, or whatever else my crazy brain decides is a priority. Just ride the wave, and it'll get better. Thank you, Kwami Swami, for helping me see that for myself.
Enough epiphanies, time for an Advent Calendar update! Today is a cute little kitten, wearing snow pants and holding a big snowball in its paws, with a sly feline glint in its eye. It seems to have lost its mittens too.
I still don't know what to get Lukas for Christmas. If you have a good idea (that's not too expensive), please email me. And don't tell me to buy a watch fob or sell my hair, I've read that story.
Parties parties parties galore! Last weekend was the November birthday party, which was smashing, and this weekend was the Hooper Street holiday bash in Brooklyn, hosted by the always vivacious Alix. The couple of hours I spent trying to puke my guts out aside (damn that Jack!), it was rockin', as always. A few key people were missing (ahem, Kikster...), but it was good to see everyone who made it. (Ivan, the ass-slappin' crew, et al.) Thanks, Poopyhead!
After we left Brooklyn, we meandered our way up to Westchester, where we searched for Lilymab's birthplace in Pleasantville (we almost succeeded) and met up with Momo, Rockstar Aaron and Kent (sorry, Kent, I'll have to think of a nickname for you too!) for lunch/breakfast. Then we journeyed to Providence to drop off Dan the Man, and then finally back to Cambridge. Lukwam and Mabster went to the Phoenix Landing for some booty-shakin', but I chose to stay home and watch Iron Chef (Sweetfish Battle, blogger-san!). I'm hoping that this weekend has re-energized my spirit, I've been in quite a grumpy slump lately. Time will tell.
Of course, one of the first things I did when we got back was open my advent calendar. Sunday was a little smiling moon with a Santa hat, and today is a shooting star with a person riding its tail. I have to say, this is THE BEST advent calendar I've ever had-- every day so far has been a whimsical and completely original illustration. I think the jaunty, smiling mushroom man is my favorite so far, but they're all so fun, it's hard to choose.
Almost time to get back to work. I hope this week will be more productive. With Christmas coming, the number of distractions has increased exponentially. I'll do my best to calm those damn jinglebells that keep ringing in my head. "Send cards!" they tinkle. "Make cookies!" they ring. "Buy presents!" they clang. Oh the noise, noise, noise, NOISE!
