Well, here we are, properly into the new year. Christmas decorations put away. Fully back at work. Ready to face to new challenges. Get started on new projects...
But first, some quick thoughts about preparing for Christmas--a short mission de-brief, if you will...
Now, this may come as a surprise to exactly no one, but I keep track of Christmas gifts using a spreadsheet. After forgetting that I'd bought a couple of gifts during the year, I decided I should probably create next year's spreadsheet sooner rather than later so that I can log any gifts bought throughout the year.
Then I thought, after a decade of spreadsheets, that I needed a template. So I set that up.
You know what I added to it?? A budget line item for having lights installed along the roof of my house. I don't want anything fancy, but I can't do the lights myself anymore and I do miss having them. I'm gonna call for a quote come the end of September.
I did find the gifts in time, by the way, and both recipients were pleased with them. :0)
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In other news, National Pizza Week started yesterday, January 8th. Sooo...make sure you have some pizza this week. Last year, we covered National Pizza Day in February, but apparently there's a whole week and it's happening now.
According to the site...while pizza's been around since the Greeks and early Egyptians, pizza as we Americans know it didn't really come to fruition until post WWII when soldiers returning from Italy brought the recipe home with them.
It was tweaked from its original version of flat breads topped with olive oil and spices, to the saucy, cheesy variety topped with meats and veggies Americans love today.
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Teeth Update
I've been mostly happy with the bottom set of teeth I now have. The serve their primary function of allowing me to talk and smile without feeling self-conscious.
They do have their drawbacks, however, such as being a trap for food while I'm eating. After being such a stickler for keeping my teeth clean for so long, this is a bit annoying. As a result, I tend to take it out when I'm at home.
Also, the "claw" on the right side that holds the device in place tends to pop off when I'm chewing (putting pressure) on the claw on the left side. I don't have molars on the upper right side, so I haven't been able to chew on that side for close to a decade, although...
A couple of weeks after my last post about my teeth, I got the top set of teeth--the aforementioned back molars. Unfortunately, I can't wear them until I revisit the dentist. The faux-gum on the outward-facing side is a few millimeters too high, so when I chew, that hard substance jams into the top of my jaw space where the bone meets the cheek. Not fun.
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Jack Ryan, Season 3
DD and I plowed through Season Three of Jack Ryan and WOW. This season had me on the edge of my seat pretty much through all eight episodes. The writers did a super job. We enjoyed season one and I wasn't overly impressed with season two, but they came back and knocked season three out of the park.
I'm looking forward to season four, and I'm half-tempted to seek out some of the original novels in the mean time.
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You might be expecting my 2023 fresh start goals... I've usually shared them by now, but I'm still pondering and/or planning some of them. They are coming. >pinky promise<
I read last week that 80% of folks who make resolutions give up by mid-February. I think I've proven over the years that I'm in the 20% even though there are some goals that I may not complete to the fullest extent of expectation. But I didn't give up.
One of the reasons cited right at the beginning of the article as to why people fail is because people don't implement the right habits to achieve said goals.
Funny enough, I read Atomic Habits by James Clear at the tail end of 2022 and have been working on a post about what Clear has to say about developing habits. Look for that in the next month or so.
I hope your new year has gotten off on the right foot. Take care and we'll talk on Thursday.
