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January 01, 2008
Happy 2008!
So what if the end of 2007 was rough? So what if I got dumped, couldn't go home for the holidays because I had to work the whole damn time and spent Christmas day, my one day off, cleaning my apartment because I hadn't been able to for a week? Who cares if I spent New Year's Eve sleeping on the couch because I ordered (and constructed) the wrong size bed?
It is 2008, man! And I am so excited!!
Every day I wonder that the above is truly my view.
And Saturday, Neeta came over and we made my first fire in the new place.
And today, I accomplished a few of my ringing-in-the-new-year fun items, including yoga, a walk, blogging, and making dinner plus lunch for the rest of the week.
Dinner, which was Coq au Vin minus the coq basically, SO GOOD:
And the soup is still going, but I got to use my new, handy-dandy page holder Christmas present from my parents:
And for the rest 2008?
I have high hopes, as it sounds like a lot of you do out there in the blogosphere, yay!
My main resolutions center around my health and getting myself out there, but there is one real personal one I would like to work on: Getting Rid of the Guilt.
I think I've written about this before, the constant shadow, weight of guilt tainting the everyday. I know I'm not the only one. I shouldn't have said this, eaten this, done this, thought this, ad nauseum.
One lesson 2007 has taught me, though, was a hard one. Guilt isn't just something you suffer through internally. If you are like me, you vocalize it. To your friends, your family, your significant other(s). You seek forgiveness, even if it's just for a wrong you did yourself, not them. And most often, they tell you it's OK and help you move on.
But sometimes they don't. Like elephants, they remember, they hold onto what you've admitted you suck at, or want to work on. Whether they're your coworkers, your friends, your lover, your family, sometimes they remember and bring up later as evidence that you yourself believe you are lesser, so why shouldn't they?
Thus my two-part goal for 2008. Lower the Guilt Level to yellow, and go radio silent when it comes to vocalizing it.
Anyway, I am super excited, and am looking forward to some travel, some getting out there, and some healthy living, all with a minimum of guilt this 2008.
Which, me being me, I inadvertently started out with the most decadent mushrooms you can imagine (for which, of course, I feel no guilt!), and the scrumptious recipe for which I share with you now, Coq au Vin, minus the coq:
Sauteed Mushrooms with Thyme
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small shallot, minced
1 1/2 lbs small white mushrooms, halved
Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/4 cup dry red or white wine (or water)
1. In a skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the shallot; cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Raise the heat to medium. Add the mushrooms; season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, until the mushrooms release their liquid, 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Uncover; raise the heat to high. Cook, tossing, until the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the thyme and the wine (or water). Cook until the skillet is almost dry, 1 minute. Serve hot.
Serves 4.
Posted by jen at January 1, 2008 09:55 PM
Comments
Looks like a good start. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Dagny at January 2, 2008 10:25 AM
No it doesn't--that serves 1! It looks so good, I can't wait to go home and try it.
I know the end of 2007 was rough, but a lot of good things happened, too--don't forget to wallow in the glory of graduation!
Posted by: Lucy at January 2, 2008 11:31 AM
sounds like 2007 sucked for a lot of us - here's to a better '08!!
Posted by: brenda in toronto at January 2, 2008 12:57 PM
happy new year dude. i am with you on the guilt problem. it's a biggie but i know we can overcome it. :) hope you've gotten off to a great start so far. this year perhaps we will find boys that actually deserve girls as awesome as us. and if not, fuck 'em. :)
Posted by: carolyn at January 2, 2008 01:23 PM
Sounds like a great plan. I learned to stop beating myself up a couple of years ago and I'm a lot older than you. It really does feel good. I started by asking myself, what purpose does it serve if I beat myself up about something? Hmmmm, nothing....
Posted by: Barbara at January 2, 2008 02:56 PM
Guilt so sucks. I am with you on that!
And I am totally trying those mushrooms. They look delish.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Librarian Girl at January 2, 2008 06:01 PM
Happy New Year, Jen!! I love your goal for the year. You certainly deserve guilt-free living.
Posted by: Ursula at January 2, 2008 07:31 PM
If you could only see what we see! You would be resolving not to be so damn proud of yourself all the time.
Posted by: Anne at January 2, 2008 08:12 PM
You are awesome, your view is heaven, and for the new year I look forward to eating delectable things from your kitchen that will cause me to compromise my pescaterian beliefs. And for which I will NOT feel guilty!
Posted by: Neeta at January 2, 2008 08:47 PM
A very happy new year to you. Congrats on the new place, looks fab. I predict you will be a 100 years old, laughing in your rocking chair telling the bed story. I'm in the unsettled place, too. I need a new job, am terrified of cold weather, etc. Sucked it all up. Didn't wait for the New Year, resolutions never work for me. So, I call it the new me. You can start yours in your new place, since you moved in last month. The new me has a good, wool coat, 3 pairs of winter boots and job offers in DC and IN. We are both going to *rock out loud* But I so totally want a fireplace now! :) T
Posted by: Tracy at January 4, 2008 05:08 AM
Hi! I wandered in from crazyauntpurl and I'm heading off to lawschool this fall and I thoroughly enjoyed your posts about law school and life after (even though I am now very very scared about working till 11PM on one's birthday etc), so thanks Ms.sunday underpants!
Posted by: yj at January 14, 2008 05:03 AM