Why do we insist on making a vow to ourselves to change things that haven't been going right and decide the best time is at the year's end and not while the year was happening? 2008 is about the best clean slate I could ask for. And even though I suppose it’s pretty generic to post your resolutions on your blog, I need to…to keep me in line

1. Never watch Beaches again. Reminds me too much of a friend I miss dearly.

2. Here’s the most common of all: Lose a total of 30 pounds by next year. Since I’ve already lost five, I’ve got 25 more to go. I wouldn’t mind a few more inches lost, of course, along the way.

3. Get over the things I can’t change. That’s a big one.

4. Travel. No excuses of money, time or if I can get people to join me. I just NEED TO DO IT.

5. Get my dream lens…at all costs. A new camera won't hurt either. I'm behind the times.These are kind of boring. I know. But they are all a long time coming.

These are in no particular order but obviously when we write things down, we go in order of what popped in our heads first. So you be the judge. Plus I’m pretty sure I’ve got so many flaws, faults and habits that warrant changing. And goals I need to reach. But I can only do these five at a time. Or at least I hope.

It happened. It finally happened and I could just die. My own grandmother, bless her, teasingly asked me on Christmas, “Have you found a husband yet?” Though I laughed, I was also in shock! She usually doesn’t say such things. But she is nearly 100. She can say whatever she wants! She also said she was going to go to the wedding if I found a husband. To that I caught myself saying and quickly back-peddling, “I better hurry then!”

My Granny Rose is a trip. I can’t even get mad at her for it. I just laughed, vented to my mother, laughed some more and then quickly joined eharmony. Yes. I have succumbed. But the communication was free over last weekend so I haven’t completely committed financially yet. I say yet but I’m not so sure that’s the site to use anyway. And currently I've had response but I can't respond back until I shell out the dough...

I’ve heard more people say a few other sites (I just realized I probably shouldn't list them here because of commercial stuff or something) but I’ve had poopy results with all the others as well. Maybe I just need to start putting my mindset on being open to relationships again. Officially.

I’m happy that I’ve gained confidence in being a single chick with a career. But come 2008, I’m not really sure if that’s me anymore. When is just you no longer enough?

I just don't get it. What possess people to throw glass bottles, leftover drive-thru and plastic cups out the window?

Right after the Skillman and Audelia exit in East Dallas there is what looks like a pond of trash. Only the fish are bottle caps, beer tabs and snot rags. When I take this exit to random places, I look to my left while at the stoplight and want to barf. It isn't just there. Sometimes you see it after you have made the left turn and then the median right at Skillman has the same fair only not as bad. I don't travel that way nearly as much as I used to, but I can't imagine the situation has changed much.

I can't believe people actually think it's a good idea to toss such things. Who actually stops at a light or drive along their normal route and say, "Hum. I need to chunk this. That median looks good..."

It takes a very (un)special person to make that decision.

Sometimes I want to do a stakeout at that stoplight and see who has this sickening habit so I can throw it back. And then run of course...Run very fast....

I grew up with wonderful Christmas mornings. My family spoiled me in every toy or item of clothing I wanted. My mother would cook early that morning after opening the presents and my father and I would play a board game or chess.

Now that I'm older, times have changed a little. The dinner is still yummy but we don't really do the gift exchange bit anymore. I guess it's that old "Christmas is for kids" bit. But I still bought some gifts for my parents. One of which was my father's favorite movie, Time Bandits.

Another reason this year was different is that my mother needed help in the kitchen. I guess as a child she didn't really ask for help and I know what you are thinking -- I should have just offered. But trust me. She wasn't for lots of folks in the kitchen while conjuring her foodie magic.

This year dad and I helped her. She can't really stand for long periods of time because of arthritis. But she still wants the dinners to be wonderful. Just like in years before. And they always are. Never disappointing...

But I promised that next year it's my turn. It's about time anyway! I'm almost 30! Next year I'm doing the dressing and other favorite casseroles. Dad will cook his famous cabbage and greens. And mom? She won't lift a finger. That is unless it's to phone the local restaurant to make sure the turkey is ready on time. What? You think I'm really going to attempt cooking a big old turkey?

So far I've received five "Merry Christmas" type text messages. Two of them are from numbers I don't even recognize. As the years wander on, we lose touch with people. And then what happens is you delete those numbers that never call, or you never call and then something like the holidays happen...

And all of a sudden you are swimming in digits that don't even ring a bell...

Here we were buying those energy saving bulbs only to find out that in the end it can poison our environment. Did you know there are traces of mercury in these things?! The normal person would just chunk them, as I planned to do. But apparently we need to read the box. Imagine that. But who in the world reads the box of a light bulb? It specifically says not toss the little buggers into the trash. We must get in our cars, waste $3 plus gas we can't afford, drive to the nearest chemical collection joint and dispose of them there. All the while hoping, wishing and praying that they won't break.

My friend Hollywood was kind enough to invite me to Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street last night. Since it was an early preview of the movie, there were the normal radio hosts from local stations. My favorite station of course was there -- 105.3. Sam the Mailman was giving out Pajama Grams. If you haven't seen these wonderful things, they are pjs delivered in lovely hat boxes.

Anywho there is this really excited chick sitting behind me. She kept yelling and yelling and yelling to get free stuff. She was really about to bust a gut to answer Sam's Tim Burton trivia questions in order to get the pjs. He asked what Tim Burton movie starred Alec Baldwin. When she didn't answer right away, I nearly fell out of my chair to say BEETLEJUICE!!! Since the girl exclaimed that she wanted to answer the question prior to me answering it, she felt the pjs were hers. If you know me, you know I wasn’t about to let that happen...

I've started working out before I go to work. I dread it and actually at the same time I look forward to it. I know in the end I'm doing what I need to do to stay healthy and drop some much needed poundage.

I usually get there and no one is on a single piece of equipment. Those are the happier times. Glorious in fact. But sometimes I come in and there's this dude in red trunks pounding like a race horse on the treadmill and rocking out to ESPN. Don't get me wrong. I like sports. But I don't like sports first thing in the morning. I've got to have my dose of Diane Sawyer instead. And Robin Roberts of course. I'm not in the mood for hearing about last week's college game...

To me there is no better holiday song than Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne." It's bittersweet. It's familiar. It's heartfelt. And takes place on Christmas Eve.

Dan Fogelberg died yesterday at the age of 56 after battling prostate cancer. Sadly ironic that his death was around the holidays. And so young. I'm a fan of his other tunes as well, "Leader of the Band" of course, like I hope you are too, but I can't think of one song I didn't love. And his lyrics will always haunt even though he's gone...

"We drank a toast to innocence,
We drank a toast to now.
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,
But neither one knew how.
We drank a toast to innocence,
We drank a toast to time.
Reliving in our eloquence,
Another 'auld lang syne'......"

I had to share this milestone: Tiger Lily can fetch.

Well more like when she feels like it she grabs her favorite fluffy ball, looks at me with it in her mouth and with hopeful eyes, expects me to throw it so she can go after it. She brings it back, for the most part. And it takes about six good throws before she's bored and just ends up demanding that she sit on my lap instead.

But as good starts go, I'm happy with the progress...