(Branch found in our front garden, December 28th, 2007)

I've been mulling around what resolutions I'd like to make for 2008 -- you know, other than the usual lose-weight-be-more-healthy-get-organized ones I tend to make every year. For 2007, I promised myself that I'd post something on this site every day, and it looks like I'm going to make it (assuming I manage to stick to it for the remaining 2 days of the year, and so far, it's looking good). And since I do believe that one of the best ways to turn a resolution into reality is by writing it down, I thought I'd share some of mine with you here:

1. Continue to shoot a photo a day. This will likely mean that I'll also end up posting daily, but this year, I won't beat myself up if I skip a day.

2. Create a journal page a day.

3. Read a book a month. When I lived in London, I was a voracious reader (long train commutes tend to make that happen), but since returning to Houston (a city that, for all its good points, seems to base its growth and evolution on some sort of anti-rapid-transit philosophy), I never seem to find the time to pick up a book. Not this year, baby.

4. I'm giving up alcohol for a year. I know. I KNOW. It was an accident, really: I made a flippant comment to Marcus about the possibility of our giving up alcohol, and he was all, 'Well, I can do that,' and looked at me meaningfully; to which I responded, 'Well, I can do that,' and looked at HIM meaningfully, and now it's become this sort of Big Competitive Thing. I fully except that at some point during the year, one of us will crumble, and the other will exclaim, 'oh thank GOD,' and pour both of us a drink; however, I'll be damned if the Crumbling One will be me. So. Ahem. No alcohol for 2008.*

I think that should be enough, don't you? For those of you who are making resolutions, feel free to use the comments to record them -- you know, to begin the actualization process.

* For those of you who are reading this aghast and agog, assuming that this may be the end of rum punch as we know it, never fear: I'm allowed to make it for parties, and allowed to taste it when I do, to ensure it tastes right. Further, Marcus is allowed to cook with wine. I therefore foresee weekly parties, where coq au vin will feature heavily.