Like many other pseudo-dedicated yet well meaning individuals, I have set a half-hearted new years resolution to get in shape.
Like "Get in Shape, Girl".



I'm not sure why the new year is the most socially accepted time to drastically change something about yourself or your life. It's not as if you're entire being -- the particles that swirl and dance within you -- are any different after midnight on the last day of the year. In fact, for most of the people I know, the new year is a terrible time to change!

You're piss poor due to Christmas shopping and time taken off of work for the holidays.
It's freezing outside -- not to mention probably full of slushy precipitation, which is not the most advantageous conditions for starting your fab fit life.
You probably feel terrible because you've nearly eaten yourself to death in the gluttonous tradition of the holiday season.

Logically, it would appear that you should allow yourself ample time to adjust from the crazed frenzy of the holidays before making any life-altering changes in your daily grind.
Yet, we raise our hands and holler to the almighty that this year will be the one. The year to break that bad habit, to build your business to the next level, to finally clean out the attic, and -- yes, to get in shape.

A census by USA.gov reveals that the top new years resolutions are:

• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Save Money
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Eat Right
• Get a Better Job
• Drink Less Alcohol
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce Stress
• Take a Trip
• Help Others

Sound familiar?

So why did we pick such an in-opportune time to create change?
Actually, the new year didn't always start on January 1. In fact, the ancient Babylonians began the new year tradition almost 4000 years ago at the time of the New Moon after the Vernal Equinox -- The first day of spring.
Early spring is a logical time to start the new year. A season of rebirth, of planting and harvest, of creation. January 1 is purely arbitrary.

So who screwed it up for the rest of us? I think it's safe to say it was the Romans, who continued to celebrate the new year -- but in late March. The Roman calendar was constantly being altered by various emperors and the calendar soon lost it's synchronization with the sun. To remedy this fault the Romans declared January 1 to be the new year, so that they could keep track of the seasons.

So as you begin your brisk morning run with the slush soaking into your socks this January 1 -- you can curse Cesar and his cronies for their meddling. To all a good night, and a Happy New Year.

Batteries Not Included

.
You know you've reached the end of childhood when you receive household appliances for Christmas

Oh fine -- I'm being a bit melodramatic. I asked for household appliances actually! A great toaster oven / coffee maker / grinder / can opener that mounts underneath the kitchen cabinets!! Whooo!! Anyone need any of my old ones?

My Beautiful Christmas Family

Christmas has come and gone for another year, I have to say this is probably the most anti-climactic Christmas I've ever had. I opened some great gift cards and an $200 Ikea shopping spree for my new apartment -- all amazing -- but when i was done opening gifts I realized I had nothing to play with. Nothing to rip open furiously -- paper flying everywhere -- to spend the next 3 hours configuring my new toy while my Mom herds together chunks of discarded wrapping paper.

Is this how you become an adult? By gauging your Christmas spirit in terms of gift-joy? Who knows, I certainly don't plan to grow up anytime soon. In fact, I'm very skillfully ignoring the inclination that I should be searching for a J-O-B to put my recently acquired Public Relations degree to work.
Pish Posh -- that's for grown-ups.

Batteries Not Included

I've also found that there's this strange limbo-land at the end of college where you're unofficially not required to buy gifts apart from your immediate family. And even they might forgive you if you plead poverty.
Your best friend for nearly a decade? -- school loans are creeping up.
Your roomate? -- rent is due next week.

Ahh yes, it's strange -- but this series of one or two years at the end of your education somehow make you infamously exempt from buying each-and-every-single-person-you-know a gift. Oh sweet days of Ramen Noodles and pizza, how i love thee.

So while I may not rip open an Evil Kenievel Super Stunt Bike, it is a Merry Christmas -- or a Happy Christmas for you British chaps.
So I bid thee adieu -- I'm going to play with my toaster oven. Batteries not included.

Chicago's Monumental Monday

This past Monday was a historic day for Chicago in 2008. What, you may ask, is the infamous news? A new tax law? Another CTA fare hike? We've already birthed the next president of the United States. What more could you ask for?

Chicago has hit a new earmark it most likely wished to miss: With just shy of two weeks to go in the year, the city clocks it's 500th homicide in 2008.

The yet unidentified victim was slain Monday night; her death aiding the city in scoring the most homicides since 2003. Surprisingly this is still historically low compared to the last four decades in Chi-town history.

Why are there so many murders in what, I think, is one of the greatest cities in the country? Perhaps it has something to do with the country itself? If you tripled the population of Japan and how many murders it has, the United States would beat it by 10,000 murders.

Our culture idolizes men who gained power through the use of armed combat with firearms. Just look at Scarface or The Sopranos. Cowboys and ethnic gangsters are the heroes of our most popular stories. Our celebrities like 50cent or the characters from the Godfather solve problems and assert power with firearms. On the other hand, European and Asian cultures shun violence. They even edit episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before their children view it so as not to promote violence.

In Chicago, the gang culture is glamorized by celebrities as well. The battle between People and Folks becomes a game played with drugs, money and your life. If you aren't willing to sacrifice your life for the gang wars then you're not good enough to play with either faction. In fact, it's almost impossible to walk down the street and NOT notice one-sided tattoos, flipped hats, or pulled clothing denoting your allegiance. Left for People, Right for Folks. This prison identification has moved to the streets of Chicago and created a warzone where all neutral parties are caught in between.

Sexy, yes -- Peaceful, no

If you're not from Chicago and want to know about the gang culture, this site is short and concise.

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/police/pf.html

Perhaps the problem is that there isn't enough outrage from the people. For most Chicago residents, murder is about "them", not "us". In 2002 less than 7% of Chicago murder victims were white, and 65% of victims had previously been arrested by police. Also, most murders take place is Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. The Hundred Blocks, Bush, South Shore, Englewood -- there's some places you just don't go unless you're from that hood.

Put short, the murder rate here isn't the outrage it should be.

One reason is that, for many Chicagoans, murder is about "them," not "us": Fewer than 7 percent of last year's homicide victims were white. And 65 percent of the victims previously had been arrested by Chicago police (although most often for nonviolent offenses). As the map at right suggests, the disparity is geographic as well, with most murders taking place in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods.

We Start and End with Family

Today was the Family Christmas Party. It was big.
I have a large, Italian family that knows how to EAT!


There's presents and a white-elephant grab bag where everyone brings a neglected/useless piece of functional crap that is wrapped in pretty bows and exchanged in a fit of laughter.
Thankfully, the traditional childrens' musical performance has recently been retired.

Besides the music and family hugs there is, of course, food. Lots of food.
Cheesy artichoke dip, buffalo cracker spread, pizza bread, Italian wedding soup, pasta pasta pasta -
and my personal favorite....Tripe (for those non-Italian heathens it's cow or sheep stomach in a tasty tasty hot broth)

It's not long after we arrive until everyone's belt buttons are bursting at the seams.

My family is from a small town on the east coast of the United States and, honestly, not much changes from year-to-year. The biggest changes are those in the lives of the younger cousins. Moving out, going to college and acquiring new boyfriends is the usual news. -- (I say boyfriends because my family is overwhelmingly female) --

Then there's always the one family member, the black sheep, usually an outlaw (read: in law not widely assimilated into the main body). They tend to put their nose into the business of those who would rather hear from anyone else, and bitch and moan until Christmas traditions are completely rearranged to their unacceptable fancy.

Although, while this material makes up most of the more interesting banter of the evening, it is soon forgotten in the loving goodbyes and sincere well wishes of those heading home.
Whether you're close to your family or not, they make up a part of you that can never be changed. You're born with your family, you bury your family, and they'll be there to bury you. While I now live farther away from my roots, I always return home for holidays and various momentous occasions.
Because I love my family and honestly believe that they are one of the best families I could ever have. In fact, I have never seen another family as great as mine. Not to knock anyone else's family of course, I'm sure they're great in their weird and quarky ways.

But as my Mom always says: "I love to visit, but I'm glad I live in OUR house with OUR problems and OUR own weird ways!"

Review Session -- JustThrive

I've recently discovered this website www.JustThrive.com and have been using to...well...run my life.

Thrive brings all your credit card, checking, savings, retirement, and investment accounts into one place so you can easily see what you have, what you owe, and where you can grow. The site helps you get organized, gives you advice and tells you how to maximize your savings, investments etc.

There's also fun (and practical) "financial health" ratings and assessments.

For example: "You can survive 1 day without a job!"
or
"You can buy a home worth $62,480"

Thrive also keeps track of all your spending and reminds you to pay your bills. By analyzing and sorting your purchases you can see where you spend the most -- the site also advises you where to cut down to increase your spending:saving ration.

For example: Last month I spent exactly $234.54 on food -- then it breaks it down into grocerys, restaurants, fast food ect.

Now common sense would say: "Why the HELL would you plug your bank accounts and credit cards into some random website?!?!?!?!"

I DID check out the site with Chase bank first. They're also endorsed by VeriSign Secured, TrustE Privacy, and SmartMoney.

Anywhoo, give it a try. I'd LOVE to hear what you think!