Week 32... New Beginnings

Greetings:

Well, a New Year is upon us and with that, a "Resolution" can't be far behind for most people.  New Beginnings, if you will.  I'll start there and see where we go.

Happy New Year

Wikipedia says:  A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit.  A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings.  People committing themselves to a New Year's Resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year.  This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

Now, check this out...  Regarding the success rate, Wikipedia says:  A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year Resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning.  Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

Can you relate to those stats???  Have you "been there, done that?"  I think we all have well, most of us.  And losing weight and/or working out have to be the "Grand-daddy(s)" of them all.  Year in and year out, we go down (again, most of us), but with the best of intentions.  Just saying.  Whatever yours is for 2013, if you even have one, I wish you the very best in "hangin' in there."  The odds are just against us.  Maybe I should define determination...  just kidding.

One Last Time...

For us, 2012 went out with a bang and a horn!!!, as we stayed home, had a few people over for dinner (ribs, baked beans, mac & cheese, coconut cream pie), libations, and games.  And at the stroke of midnight, the "poppers" popped, the "horns" blared, the "champagne" flowed, and a few "kisses" were to be had and not just Hershey's.  I should point out that as per Donna's rules for the evening, we were ALL to wear HATS for the entire evening.

Having some fun along the way...

Later in the evening, several Choco-Shots came to be...

...Which resulted in this particular "shot"

And as Donna said, the last few minutes of 2012 was swept up in a neat little pile...

Moving Forward... 

I've made no secret of the fact that I need to lose some weight (or, a pound a week: ha!!!).  You know I do love me some Mexican Food & Libations dang, it's just such good stuff.  Well, part of my plan, my Resolution, if you will, as I said a few weeks back in Cha Cha Cha, is to take Dancing Lessons with Donna.  We have found our Dance Studio that we will be using and I anticipate being able to start, hopefully, in the first week or so of February.  I am very excited and I think she is too about that and think it might be a fun way to try and lose some weight.

Kind of keeping the "New Beginnings" thing going:  I read a really good book during the Holiday break, No Easy Day, that I could not put down.  An easy, entertaining, and quick read.  I have not read a book in a while and really enjoyed this one.  But having finished it, I went out last night and bought my next "Puzzle Project."  Ha!!!  Another 1,000 piece Thomas Kinkade "scene."  WARNING!!!  Pictures coming in the weeks ahead.  Otherwise, I'm really excited for my/our "New Beginnings."  Stay tuned...

Code WORD(s) For "Train Wreck"

ugh, that would be:

 Houston Texans Football!!!

Holy Smokes!!!  When you lose your last 3 of 4 games of the season and look really bad in doing so, being STOKED for the Playoffs is a little hard to come by.  But, the Bengals come in here Saturday to square off with the Texans for the 1st Round in this year's Playoffs.  The Texans are favored, but just barely.  The Road to the Super Bowl just got a lot harder.

Market Watch:  After two weeks, Facebook is pretty much "stuck in the mud," as it closed yesterday at 27.77, staying close to where it has been for a while.  

The End:  As usual, Thank You very much for stopping by Slu's World.  I appreciate it very much.  I hope your New Year is filled with lots of smiles.

Be safe, be smart, and always smile...  It's "Happy Friday"

adios...  vaya con dios