Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

Hey, y'all! It's twentyten up in this piece!

Honestly I'm not that excited about the new year, but am grateful for an opportunity to start fresh. A whole year's worth of days...365 days...52 Mondays, is plenty of time to start over and stop and start over again. 365 days to try to get it right...again.

Since 2010 is a pretty good number, 10 being symbolic of completion and rebirth and all that, I decided to take a look at my first posts of the year over the past 5 years to see how much I/things have changed, or how much my outlook has changed over time. Just as I suspected, I'm the same person. That's a little frustrating, since I'm always (apparently) on a mission to change something about myself. According to my previous first-of-the-year posts (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). I'm usually either over resolution lists or making ones that I end up not satisfying, still trying to lose weight (less weight now, but still), and still hoping to achieve the same things. I'm a little more mature I guess. Definitely more optimistic. And way, WAY more social. So there is definitely growth. Which I guess is most important. You know what they say about life being about the journey not the destination? I'm in a place right now where I'm really trying to enjoy the journey--not focus too far off into the future. To live, really live and enjoy today.

I cannot end this post without highlighting how much my 2009 recap post isn't much different from the previous one. So here is my first-of-the-year post for 2010, which is my 2009 post with some minor updates. Note the changes:

Until 2010, HomePeeps!

Fun as they are and as much as I would love to make one, there will be no list of resolutions for the new year this time around for HomeGirl. It would just make me feel like a failure by the year's end. 2009 has been a good year, as are most. As usual, I have enjoyed the awesome times and endured the not-so-awesome times. I have learned a lot about myself as time and life reveal more of who I am to me. Some of these revelations are awesome and a couple are disturbing and surprising, but it's all me. I will not even try to make a list or suppose I have any inkling of what the next year will bring, because some of the things 2009 brought my way? I would not have imagined...ever. One thing I can say I will do in 2010 is try to do better in general. I can definitely try.

See you guys back here in the new year!

Resolutions '06

I didn't do a great job keeping to my 2005 resolutions, but if at first you don't succeed...
I considered giving up resolution lists, but I'm a Virgo...we love lists. So rather than give it up, I've decided to make more realistic resolutions this year. So now, without further adu, here is my list:

Resolutions '06:

1. Spend less money on books and lattes and more money on facials and manicures. I love my books too much to stop buying them, but I will utilize the public library more often, and only buy the ones I'd most likely re-read. And I have to start making my own coffee in the mornings to justify the swanky Starbucks thermos I bought a few months ago. And what girl doesn't benefit from regular facials and manicures? I'm too tick'lish for pedicures.
2. Wear skirts and dresses at times other than when I'm a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding. I have cute legs, I don't know why I don't show them more often.
3. Improve my guitar skills. Ever on my list. I'm self-taught so far. This year I will take classes.
4. See more movies while they're in the theater.
5. Read more non-fiction.
6. Wear my heels. My closet is full of high heel shoes that I wear rarely or only on special occassions. I'm 6'1" with no shoes on. What's an extra couple of inches?
7. Use up all cosmetics products before purchasing new ones. I have like twenty bottles of half-used lotions, hair conditioners, mascaras, shampoos, etc. All that equals money down the drain and that's not cute.
8. Go to church more often. Last, but not least. I can prob'ly count on one hand the number of times I went to church on a Sunday in 2005. Going to church on the regular has been a real struggle for me becasue I've never been into the whole Simon Says thing that goes on in a lot of Black churches: "Raise your hands!" "Shout Glory!" "Turn to your neighbor. Say Neighbor..." I feel awkward sometimes like I'm the only person not following instructions. Sometimes I wish I could just be Catholic. 

Revision to New Year's Resolutions

1. Become a runner. Incorporate running into an exercise-for-weight-loss regimen.

2. Improve my guitar skills.

3. Re-read the books from my junior/high school summer reading lists. Read books more often.

4. Go to church more often.

5. Learn to play the harmonica and the ukulele.

New Year's Resolution Progress Report

*=Made no effort
**=Made initial effort, but no real progress
***=Making good progress
****=Achieved goal

Resolution 1-Become a runner **
I have lost 8 pounds. I have worked out, but not consistently for more than a week at a time. Need to get back into the groove. When My work schedule slows down again, I'll be able to make more time either later in the morning or early afternoon to get a run in. In the mean time, I'll get an FM radio to improve treadmill experience.

Resolution 2-Improve my guitar skills*
I have every intention of working to improve my skills. I have done a great job keeping my nails trimmed though. I think I'll paint them black to really get into rocker mode. Maybe that will help.

Resolution 3-Re-read the books from my junior/high school summer reading lists
This one doesn't get a rating 'cause I have to finish reading about B. Obama first.

Resolution 4- Go to church more often*

Resolution 5- Learn to play the harmonica*

So, I haven't done an excellent job, but I still have 10 months to go.

Drum Roll...

This is the last day of the first month of the new year. Progress toward any of my resolutions...so-so.

Here they are:

1. Become a runner (Took the place of my "Lose Weight" resolution. Hopefully, the running will take care of the weight. Plus, Austin is such a runner's city with all the nature trails and 5ks...and they just built a trail not 5 miles from me. Plus my dogs could use more exercise too.)

2. Improve my guitar skills (I think it'd be fun to be able to play like Billy. Then we can sing with our kids...our two-legged kids...folk tunes and conscious reggae of course.)

3. Re-read the books from my junior/high school summer reading lists (I think I owe it to myself to actually experience a few of the books I read back then.)

4. Go to church more often (Why not?)

5. Learn to play the harmonica (We have one, and I'm pretty good already, but I'd like to take a class or something...really learn how to play.)