Happy New Year!

NaBloPoMo sends me monthly email updates reminding me to blog and telling me what the next month’s posting theme would be.  Not that I’m so anxious to go through THAT again (maybe one day but not just yet, bigger and better things on the horizon that I will need my precious time for). Regardless, I received such an update right before the holiday that the theme for January is “change” and I thought HOW FITTING.  With the messiah of change taking office in a mere 15 days, and a new year upon us I would think we all have change on the brain. You may want to change your life, change your career, change your health, your wealth, whatever it is I’m sure the desire is heightened during these times. I’m confident we all have high hopes for this year - for our families, ourselves, even our country and our new President.  I know I do.

In lieu of typical resolutions, which I don’t make anyway and even if I did I wouldn’t keep them (I love my vices too much), I’ve decided to make a list of things I’d like to work on in an effort to pave the way for the best life I can have and be the best me I can be.  (SO CORNY RIGHT?!?)

Anyway, I figured if I put them out there on the internets there’s really no getting away with not trying.  Because a year from now I’ll be all “What did I blog about a year ago?” and I’ll go the the archives and see this post and be “Shit, I really suck!”  And then I’ll drink too much scotch and fall down the stairs and crack my head open and die and I probably wouldn’t be wearing any underwear and that’s not good so I should just suck it up and try to do the following 8 things this new year.  

Let’s hear it for change:

1. Be completely me, all of the time, no matter how scary or ugly that may be sometimes (hilarious and dead sexy all of the time).
2. Get rid of those things in my life that either no longer make me happy or do not have a positive influence on my life (including clothes and shoes!).
3. Figure out exactly what it is I want to be when I grow up, even if it means taking drastic measures to find out what that is.  With great risk comes great reward. 
4. Learn how to do something by the end of the year that I do not know how to do today.
5. Be the best friend, daughter, sister, cousin, lover, etc that I can be.
6. Visit a place i’ve never before been, even if that place is only 10 minutes away by car.
7. Keep myself, my mind, and my heart open to any and all possibilities and opportunities that present themselves to me (see #3).
8. Laugh. And then laugh again. And then laugh some more.

Bonus:  At the end of the year, be able to look back on this list and confidently check each one off (no cheating!)

I know this may sound a little overzealous, but while 2008 wasn’t the WORST year it certainly wasn’t my best. For this reason I am looking forward to 2009 and all of the wonderful experiences that are in store - I have a feeling I’m in for a crazy ride.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted (ha!) as to what goes on (wouldn’t want to have to dip into the scotch)!

Mamba hopes 2009 bring you everything your incredibly awesome hearts desire!

In the words of Sam Cooke (er, Al Green):

What have I been doing?  Well, let me just tell you about today.

I met Michael Phelps. (There’s more!) Unfortunately, I can’t tell you the details of my encounter just yet. I’ll explain why later.  For now all I have to say is that he seriously looks like Eli Manning. HOT!

My annual family Christmas party is on Saturday. This is like, my favorite day of the year. Seriously. My family is awesome, and there is never a dull moment. We talk loud, laugh loud, eats loads, and drink even more. I learn something new about my family each time I see them, and this is not at all meant in a bad way. Anyway, each year we do a “grab bag.”  Basically we buy a $25 unisex gift and pick numbers to see who opens the first gift. After the first person opens their choice, the next person can either steal the gift the first person opened or unwrap a new gift of their choice. And so on, and so on. The higher your number, the more choices you have. If you haven’t been able to follow the rules so far, go here for a better description and GET WITH THE PROGRAM!  

Last year someone put a carbon monoxide detector in the pile, WTF?  The best part is that one of my cousins actually needed that, so he stole it from my aunt!  Lucky her!!  Welcome to my family.

I picked up my present for this year’s Secret Santa today and when I tell you there is a great story attached I am making an understatement.  Apparently people think I should be keeping this gift for myself, but I’m not really sure. Unfortunately I can’t give you any details because it may ruin it for certain people that read this blog that are also in the grab bag.  So, sorry to be so hazy but I do promise to explain. On Sunday. After the grab bag is over. 

In order to make up for my vagueness, I wanted to share this with you:

This is just today, people.  AND I upgraded Wordpress to 2.7, AND totally fucked it up, AND fixed it.  BY MYSELF.  All by myself mang!  

Back.  With a vengeance.

I’m so high-fiving myself right now.

It’s both humbling and inspiring to read his words, and I will let them do their own justice.  I felt though, at the opening of the usually crazy shopping season, that maybe some people would be looking to possibly make a difference in other people’s lives instead of the usual retail insanity that takes place, and stories like Matt’s really tears at my heart strings.  And if you don’t want to give directly to Matt and Madeline (why wouldn’t you?) he’s set up his own charity to help families faced with similar situations.  

This holiday season is different from any that most of us have experienced in a lifetime.  I wonder if in twenty years, when I look back, what will stick with me most: the gift certificate I got to spend at Sephora or the knowledge that $20 went to a little girl’s first Christmas.  Did she have a Merry Christmas?  I hope so.  And I hope that maybe I had a little something to do with it.  

If you are interested in learning more about Matt or Madeline, or their charity, go here.

Be thankful, and happy holidays.

Aside from being stranded in the middle of the ocean as shark bait, this scenario is my worst nightmare. Home alone in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, and a crazy lunatic is banging down the door?  Thanks, but no.  I’m out. Under the bed, hiding in the attic, the woods, whatever.  But, of course, this movie is full of hysterical people barreling directly towards the danger.  I found myself tightening my fists throughout the whole movie.  While I will admit the buildup left a little to be desired, I thoroughly enjoyed this flick, and if you are in the mood for a good scary movie, give this one a shot.  

Check out the trailer (I love trailers!):

It’s so nice to be with family and laugh harder than usual.  I love it!  Tomorrow I will have a real post for you, but tonight I am in my tryptophan coma and I can’t pull it together to be witty.

Love you all, Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving y’all.  I hope you get to have some yummy turkey (wish mine was fried)!  

PS - Mamba totally sucks at Fantasy Football….or does she?