Tag Archives: New Years Resolutions

New Years Lame

Posted on January 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

New Year’s Day always feels like a Sunday to me, and not a holiday Sunday, just a run of the mill Sunday.  Imagine my delight when I realized it would be followed by a Friday!  Thank you, calendar.  Now I can make a Lame Post Friday Post.  This post will be heavy on the half-baked philosophy, so buckle up, butter cup (I don’t know why I said that).

 

I thought I should put a picture in.

I wanted to use the picture of Bette Davis in All About Eve, where she says, “Fasten your seat belts, It’s going to be a bumpy night,” but I couldn’t find it in my Media Library and I don’t know how to download a photo from the internet on my Chromebook.  But I digress.

 

A friend posted a meme on Facebook saying that the new year really begins in spring, when the earth reawakens from its winter slumber. My friend saw the point but preferred having the new year begin as it does now.  Given that the calendar is an entirely human construct and that Facebook is a specious source of rules for life, I think both the meme and my friend are right.

There are many points in the year when we can feel a new beginning. For example, fall and the start of school feels like New Year to many. Spring is indeed an awakening that can refresh us. And personally, as we meet goals and challenges, we often feel a rush of relief and renewal. For example, after I complete a 5K or a murder mystery, I feel like, “Ah! Now I can concentrate on other things.”

The above paragraph was what I put as a comment on the post.  I followed it by, “Oh dear, this is sounding like a blog post.”  So I copy and pasted it to WordPress and saved it. I thought I might expand upon the idea, but I see I am over 322 words.  I think that is sufficient for a Lame Post Friday post.  Now I must get on with 2026.

 

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I Lollygagged About Making My Resolution

Posted on December 28, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Some people are making New Year’s Resolutions.  Others are loftily saying they refuse to have self-improvement dictated by a calendar; when they see something that needs fixing, they fix it.  Still others feel they are already perfect (you know who you are).  Of course, everybody must do what works for themselves.  Personally, I believe in making a New Year’s Resolution right around Thanksgiving.  Then you have a perfect excuse to overindulge during the subsequent holidays:  “I can eat these cookies; I’m going on a diet January 1st!”  Alas for me, I neglected to do so and had to overindulge with no excuse.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I get more coffee.

What could be more festive that Joan Crawford with an ax?  At least candy is seasonal.  For accuracy’s sake, I point out that I am nobody’s mommy.  I was Mama Q to the boys in my national guard unit, back in the early ’00s, but that was a long time ago.  But I digress.

I think New Year’s Resolutions can be a useful tool.  New year, new beginnings, new hopes.  They don’t always work, of course, but then nothing works all the time in every case. What a lot of pressure to put on a little bitty resolution, not to mention to our own psyches.   “I WILL improve my life, starting on this arbitrary date, and if I do not, I am clearly dirt!”  To me, that is not a helpful way to do it.  Then again, “I will NOT make a New Year’s Resolution, because they clearly do not work!  I will stay just the way I am, so there!”  Well, that is fine if you are one of those perfect people I mentioned earlier.  A friend once said she had some goals.  I like that.  Words matter, and to some of us, having a goal can seem much more attainable than a Resolution (the song about “A Resolution! On Independency!” from 1776  is playing in my head).

Some people have no perception.

I guess this has been a whole lot of half-baked philosophy, more worthy of Lame Post Friday.  Then again, many people find themselves confused about what day it is this time of year.  As regular readers know, I am no stranger to confusion.    I would like to just mention I have made this entire post with a whanging headache (autocorrect thought I meant “changing.”  I would like it to change!) (and autocorrect seems to think autocorrect is not a word, but does not change it) (again, I digress).  Thus I prove to myself that I can so make a blog post when I have a headache.  There goes another excuse!

My skull is screaming.

I close with a shot from The Screaming Skull, another beloved cheesy horror movie, with or without robot heads.  I see I am over 400 words.  Wow!  That must be some good coffee I made!

 

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One More Friday Lame Post

Posted on December 31, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

There I was, drinking wine, watching Columbo on DVD (a Christmas present!), and I suddenly realized:  I don’t want to make my Lame Post Friday post on Saturday!   What’s a blogger to do?  Pour another glass of wine and blog away while Peter Falk continues to track down the killer.

“Oh, one more thing.”

I said earlier today I might write something about New Year’s Resolutions.  Many people these days get all huffy when you bring up New Year’s Resolutions (you know who you are).  “I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions!” they aver.  “When I see something about myself that needs improvement, I make that change.  I don’t wait till January 1st to do it.”  Their implication, of course, is that they really need no improvement, how presumptuous of me to imply such a thing.  It could be, and how envious I am of such self confidence!

However, the “make improvements any time” school of thought makes me wonder if New Year’s Resolutions are not a gigantic excuse to behave very badly for the latter part of December.  One could add “or longer!”  although I like to think most of us would feel a little silly saying something like, “I can’t start a diet in July; I must wait till January 1st!”

I guess I don’t really have much to say about New Year’s Resolutions,  not even Columbo’s  “one more thing.”  However, I see I am over 200 words.  That works, especially on Lame Post Friday.  Back to Columbo!

 

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Decorations Past, Future Plans?

Posted on December 30, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am not waiting for my dining-room-table-top to boot up and get to WordPress, I am pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus on my Tablet as I sit lounged on my comfy couch.  Full disclosure: I am not as comfy as I might be, because I keep doing crap to irritate my back.  I know, I know:  lift with my legs, not my back!

Anyways, it is Friday morning, and I thought I would try for some semblance of a blog post.  A comment yesterday complimented me on my Christmas decorations.  I confess, they are not great this year, but I can share some pictures of previous years and call it a Throwback Thursday Post.

Look at all our toys!

2017 was a good decorating year, it seems.

A less cluttered arrangement.

It is nice to look at these pictures and think, “Maybe next year…”  Then again, I think I thought that last year.

Backing up from the previous shot.

I have long had it in my head to get my house thoroughly cleaned and organized.  I make a little progress, then get discouraged and slack off.  I suddenly have the thought that it is time for New Year’s Resolutions. Could I use this sort of motivation to jump start my efforts?

Hmmm… This could start me off on a whole big thing on New Year’s Resolutions, which have become a kind of a controversial topic.  Sounds like a good idea for Lame Post Friday, a post I hope to make later.  We shall see.

 

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Lame Post New Year’s

Posted on January 2, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

We had a delightful New Year’s Eve with the result (but really, who knows where to place blame and what good does it do anyways?) that I had a wanging headache this morning. Once the headache passed, we had an enjoyable New Year’s Day. Now I must make my blog post. On the brighter side, holiday or not, it is Lame Post Friday.

I have been thinking about writing a post pondering the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. New Year’s Resolutions have fallen into disrepute. Some people proudly proclaim that THEY do NOT make New Year’s Resolutions. The more honest admit to setting self improvement goals when appropriate, in disregard to what the calendar may say. Others just let the statement stand, along with the implication that they are perfect, with no need for resolution to improvement.

The other day at work, a lady was asking about New Year’s Resolutions. She said she liked them, because she liked the idea of a new beginning. I, personally, like them, because it makes me feel that I can improve myself and my situation.

This year, I have heard the thought that we should let up on ourselves and not add the pressure of Resolutions to our current COVID anxiety. This is a chance, the thinking goes, to be gentle with ourselves.

How about this for a New Year’s Resolution: I resolve not to judge others for whether they do or do not make a New Year’s Resolution. I will even refrain from judging them for judging me, as they may, for my making and failing to keep mine.

And as others have said, may your Happy New Year outlast your New Year’s Resolutions.

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I Am Not Resolute

Posted on December 31, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am not making any New Year’s Resolutions.  Every time I think I am going to do this or that to improve my life or myself, I don’t do it.  This morning I wrote down a simple list of a very few goals for the week.  I got home from work, sat down on the couch and commenced to whine.

Actually, I did not whine.  I chatted with my husband.  We watched a couple of episodes of Dateline we had on DVR, during which time I crocheted and Steven cooked dinner.  I even paused one episode long enough to take a shower, so I don’t stink (at least not literally, no promises about being a stinker). Oh, I also wrote in the TV Journal this morning and started writing a letter, both of which were on my list.

Gee, that’s not so bad.  The only thing I did not do was a load of laundry.  What am I beating myself up for?  Look, I’m even making my blog post, a task I have recently had problems with.  Let us not go overboard with this, “I’m such a hopeless wreck” stuff.

Still, it might be a good idea to stick with my No Resolutions resolution.  You see how easily I can turn a simple list of goals into self disdain.  Maybe I should make a resolution not to do that any more.  Waaaaait a minute!

 

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We’ll Call This Wuss-out Wednesday

Posted on January 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

“Oh shame! Oh degradation!”

I open with this picture from Dirty Work at the Crossroads, the melodrama that my husband ,Steven, directed at Ilion Little Theatre some years ago, because I am, as I was on stage, hanging my head in shame.  In the play, it was because the villainess in yellow was about to expose my deep, dark secret.  Right now it is because I am making yet another foolish blog post.

In my defense, it is too cold for any Mohawk Valley adventures!  Actually, that is not strictly true today.  It was supposed to get up to 21 degrees.  That is practically a heat wave.  I could have gone for a nice walk or even a run, if only I had had enough oomph.  And here we come to the ugly truth about me.

Too cold for adventures, I tell you!

I had meant to write something while at work today.  I thought I might wax eloquent about things I MIGHT do.  Kind of a Preview of Coming Attractions.  Instead I worked on a letter to a friend, wrote a few more notes on my new novel, and worked on cryptogram and crossword puzzles.  Um, I did all this while on breaks, so any co-workers reading this don’t need to go squealing on me to the bosses.

Do you suppose that I am getting old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!  Of course I am older than I was yesterday; everybody is, that’s how it works.  The fact is, although I spent most of today feeling less tired than I felt yesterday, I am once again VERY TIRED NOW.  Dammit.

This is what I feel like doing.

It is early January.  I declare it not too late for New Year’s Resolutions (oh don’t go snootily telling me you don’t DO New Year’s Resolutions; I am not up for an argument).  I shall make one now.  Better blog posts!

Incidentally, the above photo is our dearly departed doggy, Spunky.  I included it because he looks so relaxed and happy to be resting.  It makes me think of another change I’d like to make in 2018.  I want to find another doggy friend.  Now that would be something to blog about!

 

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Not Just Slacker: Sagging!

Posted on December 31, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ah, what a lousy week for my blog!  Post Christmas let-down, a fender-bender, foolish post after foolish post… and I am damn tired today!  I was going to start a new feature of Sagging Saturday when I remembered I already had one called Slacker Saturday, which is an accurate description of me today.

I had thought of making a post about my goals for 2018, although that would be inviting the scorn of people who Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions (you know who you are).  Well, why shouldn’t I set goals for myself, and since the calendar is about to turn over, why should I not call them goals for 2018?  Being the dithery, indecisive person that I am, I naturally hesitate to do so.  What if I set these ambitions for myself and fail to follow through?  How foolish will I look and feel?  I suppose no more foolish than usual.

My main goal, which I set for myself again and again throughout the calendar year, is to Write More.  On Facebook this morning, I saw a couple of videos of people who decided to do something every day for 100 days:  doing something they were scared of, going to the gym.  I thought, hey, Work on My Novel.  So when I went to the store this morning, I purchased a nice new notebook and got started.

Did I make a good start?  I can’t tell you that.  I’m sorry I told as much as I did.  It’s not so much the fear of looking foolish I mentioned earlier.  It is the fear of Once You Talk About Writing It, You No Longer Feel the Need to Write It.  So I shall say no more.

My headline now seems less apropos.  Perhaps something about Day One of a Hundred would have been better.  But I am still sagging.  Hey, it’s still a holiday week.  I’ll try to perk up and do better in 2018.

 

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Red Wine, Red Blood, Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, ready to get this New Year’s Eve party started.  I only lacked my husband Steven (the only other guest expected since Spunky the dog was already here) and all the food I said I was going to fix.  I thought it would be a good idea to open a bottle of wine, so I could sip a little while I chopped and mixed.  And then things got ugly.  A short time later, I was posting the following on Facebook:

“So I open a bottle of wine, so I can enjoy a libation while I fix the snacks. Somehow a chip gets broken off the rim of the bottle, and I cut my thumb! It’s bleeding big red drops (although a very pretty color)! I get a Band-aid on it and go to cry on Facebook, and it’s STILL bleeding! I fortunately do not bleed on my laptop. I employ pressure and elevation for a short time and it seems to have done the trick. Then I see my thumb is bleeding from two places. Two Band-aids later, I wonder if I can be trusted with a knife.”

It really does seem OK, but you know what a drama queen I am (it’s a little awkward to hit the space bar with the band-aids on my thumb)  (it is my right hand, by the way).  I thought it might be a good idea to make my blog post before attempting any further culinary adventures.  I’m even thinking in a vague sort of way of sending out for pizza and making all the fun party snacks I planned tomorrow instead.

In the meantime, I had meant to write my blog post about quite a different thing.  I was going to talk about resolutions vs goals and strive for some profound thoughts about improving myself.  Or I was going to get all introspective about the passage of time and change and our own perceptions of what makes a good year.  I even had some vague notion of musing on these artificial milestones we invent for ourselves:  Why is one revolution around the sun called a year?  Who even figured out how we got back to the same place in the planetary ellipse?

And here I am, doing what once got a professor really annoyed with me:  writing about what I’m not going to write about (in my defense, he only wanted a two page paper; how much could I say in that?).  My thumb is fine; my wine glass is almost empty.  However, I feel disinclined to begin cooking or refill the glass, because a little dog (above-mentioned third guest at the party) is snuggled up next to me so cozily, I hate to disturb him.  Happy New Year, everyone.

 

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Turns Out Polonius Was Right

Posted on January 1, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is New Year’s Eve, although as the previous two posts may have pointed out, it will probably be dated January 1, 2016.  I can’t worry about that now.  I must make my post!  (Said with a dramatic gesture.)

It is not Lame Post Friday, my usual place for half-baked philosophy, yet what better time can there be to wax philosophical than the threshold of another year?  Oh, you can probably think of lots of times (you know who you are). Why do I even bother with these rhetorical questions? HELLO!  THAT ONE WAS RHETORICAL TOO!!!

There is some controversy about the efficacy of New Year’s Resolutions.  Many people firmly eschew them. Others embrace them with fervor.  (Look at me articulating with the E words: “efficacy,” “eschew,” “embrace!”)  I personally am of two minds here.

Part of me says, “Take any opportunity to improve yourself, you need it” (yes, I often talk to myself in the second person).  And for another reason, how can you worry about self-improvement during the holidays?  Start a diet with all those Christmas cookies and candy around?  Clean the house amidst all those decorations?  Work on that novel when you have shopping, wrapping and partying to do?  It’s madness, I tell you! (Again, with dramatic gesture.)

The other part of me says, “You’re setting yourself up for failure!  You’ll never stick to it, and then you’ll feel bad about yourself!”  Quite frankly, I think this is a spurious argument.  Say I start a diet in January then eat a pan of fudge brownies in February.  Does this mean I have to wait until next January to start another diet, thus wallowing in self-loathing for 10 months?  Well, I guess that would give me a chance to eat a lot more brownies…

My real problem is that I feel all self-conscious, like I’m doing the cliche, obvious thing, having a New Year’s Resolution. None of the cool kids are doing it.  And by “cool kids,” of course I mean the unusual, alternative, unexpected kids.

And then I come to the stunning realization:  EITHER WAY, I’M FOLLOWING A CROWD!  Some people make New Year’s Resolutions, some do not.  Whatever I do I’m wrong.

Or, whatever I do, I’m right.

Happy New Year, everybody.

 

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