A Little Late: New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions:
In the spirit of a new year, I’ve decided to follow suit and create some resolutions. I’ve basically spent the first 12 days of 2008 pouting. 2007 was undoubtedly the best year I’ve ever experienced. It’s going to be pretty impossible to beat…I was content with myself, travelling a great deal, getting into my favorite schools, meeting wonderful people, and becoming closer with people I was already friends with. The New Year got off to a mediocre start, but instead of pouting and whining about it, I’m going to applaud the things in my life that I love. My mother always told me “happiness is a choice.” I’m not sure that I agree entirely—It definitely can be on a superficial level but I don’t know that you can chronically choose to be happy. Anyway, I’m going to be happy (at least superficially) right now.
These are a few of my favorite things:
1. Cream colored ponies
2. Crisp Apple Strudels…
3. Quoting musical theatre around those who may or may not know that I’m quoting musical theatre
4. Wearing mismatched clothes that are comfortable (like now, for instance)
5. Walking. It’s been the best part of the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008. I have rediscovered the beauty of walking/working out. It is lovely. It’s my time to myself, my time to reflect.
6. My new Kreuger coffee maker. You just pop in a little packet of cocoa, tea, or coffee and out comes happiness!
7. My room at home and at school. I love my roommates, but I don’t feel like you get any sense of who they are from their little sections of our room. Mine might be ADD-Katharine-Infested, but I love it. It’s cluttered and musical and bright and cluttered and filled with letters and pictures of my favorite people.
8. Jon McLaughlin and Jason Robert Brown. These two men take jazz-piano to a new greatness. I’m about to sound really cheesy, but their music literally feeds my soul. I had another wonderful solo piano-playing experience in Tuthill this morning. The room was quiet and dark, and the extended grand Steinway was almost beckoning for me to sit in front of it and play. Pianos are possibly my favorite things in the world. They are impressive enough just on their own—a wonderful shape, clean, classy, inviting. The fact that they make music that I can’t explain is just a bonus. I know I’m not making any sense right now and that I sound like a crazy person, but that’s because I am. Point of story is Jon McLaughlin and JRB use pianos properly and I applaud them for that.
9. Film Scores and my discovery of Dario Marianelli- I’ve already discussed his work in Atonement in great detail, but I love it.
10. “Ode to a Butterfly”—Nickel Creek. This instrumental-only piece makes me giggle with happiness whether I’m in a good or bad mood.
11. Theatre that is well done. Kudos to Neo Futurists theatre for creating something provocative yet great. Goodness knows the effort to strike that balance is my greatest struggle.
12. Being proven wrong. If you know me at all, you know that I loathe and despise failure. At the same time, being proven wrong is incredibly healthy for me. There’s one class that I’m taking currently that I thought was going to be dreadful and the first class actually proved to be wonderfully helpful and fun. It’s not my favorite class, but it’s not as hokey as I thought it was going to be.
13. Clutter and the possibility of cleaning. Clutter is comfortable for me. My poor roommates are probably ready to kill me, but since most of my belongings—clothes, products, food, and bedspread—are absurdly bright colored, it’s nice having them all strewn about. I’m currently considering turning half of my section into a closet. I literally desire to put rows and rows of rods in my little corner to create a closet large enough to house my vetements.
14. French. I love it when people speak it, sing it, anything. I love French movies and French music. Take me to Paris. Or Nice—ahhh I love Nice! I think it’s time for another European excursion… Anyway, the language is just the best. One of my favorite things is when people can’t think to explain something properly in English, so they use French almost abashedly…as though it were too suggestive and mysterious to use.
15. Travel. I love planes, trains, cars, bikes…I just like moving. My mother made the observation over the holidays that I’m never happy where I am—I’m always searching for the next best thing. But isn’t that how people achieve? I definitely can be happy where I am but I’m rarely content. There’s a difference. Anyway, I love travelling and exploring new places and possibilities of future residence…
16. Millennium Park and Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. Kudos to all major cities creating parks to link their Arts District buildings together.
17. Banjos. Yes, banjos. My friend’s letting me borrow his, and I’m in love with it. It’s beautiful and it creates the most bizarrely wonderful sound.
18. Skinny lattes at starbucks. Basically, I’m ordering the same thing, but they have a wonderfully simple name for them. Rather than ordering a nonfat, no whip, sugar-free cinnamon dolce latte, I can just ask for a “skinny” cinnamon dolce latte. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m enjoying one now. It’s delectable.
19. Art in public spaces. The Cultural Center in Chicago literally produced a booklet of all the sculpture and art in the city so you could give yourself a walking tour. How ridiculously awesome is that?
20. Boots. I love my new boots. I have two pairs and they are both beautiful. The look awesome with almost everything and I got them on sale. Don’t tell.
21. Blogging! I love it. I love blogger, blogtalkradio, non “blog” official blogs…they’re all great. Mazeltov to all who express themselves at least somewhat eloquently and rant-free on the internet.
22. “Green Finch and Linnet Bird.” Besides the fact that I love the word “linnet,” this song is beautiful. “If I cannot fly…let me sing.” I love that!
23. Those who understand, appreciate, and encourage art.
24. Goofy voices.
25. Coats.
26. Hot cider brought to you by very kind friends when you feel disgusting and sick.
27. BBC Radio—I’ve listened to it all morning. It is lovely. Along with this I shall add my love for TED talks and Podcasts of books—free audible!! (I’m listening to Pride and Prejudice now…)
28. The posters for Atonement and Caramel. I want wallpaper made out of them.
29. Making documentaries. I have a camera I checked out of the library only after I realized I don’t have any tapes…I need to fix this, but then I can start making videos (which I love..) When I do, I’ll send you kids links!
30. Classic film heroines. Judy Garland and Katharine Hepburn kick androgyny’s butt. End of story.
I think that’s enough happiness for now. I also saw a Lesson Before Dying at Circuit last night…I’ll definitely post a review of that tomorrow!