Can We Talk 2

New Day, New Year

         OK. So, no resolutions have begun. I stayed up late binging on Thin Man movies on TCM. They were showing six; I only watched four. And I did it without booze or popcorn. I had Sprite Zero. This morning, when I finally crawled out of bed, I had pie with black coffee for breakfast. So there to a happy, healthier new year.

         I'd like to do all the usual things that people want to do. Lose some pounds, be happier, healthier, richer, etc. I made one small resolution last week which I've already started. having to do with tidiness. I do want to lower my A1C. It's still in the safe zone, barely. My doctor is riding me about it because I have other risk factors which could push it over the line to pre-diabetes, like my gender, age, and family history. If I can lower it by just a few decimals, say by March, he'll back off. The way to do that is a combination of more exercise, reducing fats in my diet, and losing a few pounds. That's specific enough, but not too grueling to manage. Give up all ice cream, now that's just unreasonable. But if the day's fat intake has been low, maybe it would be okay. On the other hand, that last thought could be dangerous thinking. I've got to evaluate my thoughts every time I'm tempted.

         Finish a novel is probably too big a command for my feeble brain. I've tried that before. Instead, maybe I should just pick one and work on it for noticeable improvement. That shouldn't be too daunting. I could make loftier goals for writing. However, I think I should stick to something I've come close to doing already, and just go a bit further.

         I do have to reduce my spending, and start saving for a rainy day. I need a budget in my head, so I know when I'm getting close to my limit in certain categories. For most of my life, like a lot of people, I just lived from paycheck to paycheck. I paid what had to be paid, like utilities and car repairs. Now there's no rent to pay, no mortgage. The car is paid. I don't have any debt. Nobody else has his name on my checking account, so my money is not being spent without my consent. For the first time, this past year, I've had discretionary income. But it's not going to last. Something always goes awry. I have to be practical.

          don't want to make a list of things that I'll just end up breaking within the week. I want to set some targets that I can and should be setting all the time. I might make some resolutions the first day of every month.

         Meanwhile, I held a Southern style New Year's Day. For dinner, we had black eyed peas, turnip greens, iced tea, as always on this day, with some leftovers--roast beef, salad, and homemade crab dip.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !