Friday, December 22, 2006

10 Holiday Tips

Someone sent me these tips. Perhaps you might want to adopt one or two of them...

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine
single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than
single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but
now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every
sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or
something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's
later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk
or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a
sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to
control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party
is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?!

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of
eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each.
Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin.
Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one
dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean,
have SOME standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the
party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather
to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other,
totally worn out and screaming,

"WOO HOO what a ride!"

Thursday, December 14, 2006

What would you do?

So, I have a friend who has a rich dad and father-in-law. Both are in their 70's and have more money than they can spend. One uses all his money on himself by buying a new car, eating out at fancy restaurants, tip heavily, go on elaborate trips, ...etc. But, the other one is frugual, stays home, eats home cooked meals, looks for bargains before making purchases, ...etc.

I think you get the idea of both personalities. If you were at their age with lots of money to spend. What would you do? Spend it all on yourself before you die or be a penny pincher and pass on your money to others? Why did you choose one over the other?

- AV

Friday, December 01, 2006

Learning to Relax

It's a little over a month since I last blogged. I thought about giving it up due to a lack of time, but I met some nice people so I'm thinking about keeping it up...for now anyways.

I don't like to have lots of free time to do nothing. I'm under this notion that life is short so I try to get involved with lots of things all at once...and this stresses me out.

Here's what I''m involved with at the moment. These are not listed in order...

1. There's my regular job
2. Involvement in 3 volunteer organizations, one of which I am the president until Dec. 31, 2006!
3. Projects within each volunteer organization
4. Taking a class to learn video editing which is finally ending soon!!!
5. Visiting my parents
6. Going to the gym
7. Having dinner with the family regularly

Did I forget anything??? Oh yeah, having time to myself to relax. The only time I have is in the evenings after I'm done with all these other tasks so I can relax, but that means I won't sleep until midnight and I'm tired in the morning. The whole cycle starts over the next day and so on...

Been doing this for so long over the years that I might have developed a ulcer or something.

Well, I am finally trying to learn to relax. So what if I don't finish my homework, complete a project, or arrive on time because I have to look out for my health. I'm even trying to relax while driving which is amazing because I'm usually a speed demon on the roads.

Any tips you have to relax, pass it on my way.

Thanks for listening. (Breathe in, breathe out)

- AV