Sunday, January 5, 2014

Sunday Salon: One Little Word

Hello out there!  Can anybody see me beyond their snow banks???  It seems the entire US is covered in snow and suffering frigid temps, and I know you are probably sick to death of it already.  Down here, we are having weather in the near 80's, and we are a bit sick of that too.  If I put on my jeans BECAUSE IT IS WINTER DAMMIT, then I pay the price by sweating.  I hear we may get a little cold snap in a day or two, for a little bit anyway.  I might get to wear a jacket.  I know it might anger you all, but I'd pay money to be snowed in for just a day or two.

So I hope we all made it through New Year's Eve safe and sound and full of energy and hope for 2014.  We spent it with friends, gorging on clam chowda and lobsters (our friends are from Boston), and wine and champagne and very interesting Puerto Rican egg nog (!).  I was going for broke, because on the 1st, I snapped that Fitbit on and began tracking my calories.  Again.  It feels good to be back in the saddle.  (Silly question...am I the only nut that runs up and down the stairs and in circles around my house at 9pm trying to hit my goals????)

Several people had mentioned this inspirational idea, born from Ali Edwards, about adopting "one little word"...a word carefully chosen by each of us to welcome into our lives for the year.  A word to focus on, to meditate on, to guide us day-to-day.  I think this is simple yet powerful.  You can choose to join Ali's year-long workshop, or you can embrace it privately.  My word this year is going to be STRENGTH.  I'll be working with my trainer to up my weightlifting (I love lifting weights), but I'm also talking about strength of will (against food, sitting on my rear end, and too much wine), and strength to guide and nurture my kids without losing my mind.  Check out the website.  It is a very good thing.

With the new year, I also decided I wanted a way to track the movies I watch.  Please know that I am SO not a movie reviewer, but we watch a lot of them, and at the end of 2014 I'd love to say that I watched this many movies and these were my favorites.  So look for my Facebook posts from Letterboxd.  It's free and easy to use, and if you join or are already on there, friend me (youvegottaread).

Damn I'm long-winded today.

I also wanted to promote my sister's new website she is running with two other cinephiles.  It will be supporting the film scene in the Twin Cities where she lives, but has movie reviews and discussions for people who not only love the blockbusters but also indie films off the beaten path.  These three know their stuff.  The site is called Joyless Creatures (a term director Werner Herzog used for critics...I think this is hilarious!!!).  Check it out.

Have I been reading?  Well, I'm trying without huge success.  I am about halfway through reading "Lost Girls:  An Unsolved American Mystery" by Robert Kolker.  This was a Christmas gift from my son, and it is really good.  True crime is so much my brain candy.  I'm also still listening to "Native Son", with maybe 3 discs (out of 15) left.  I have no earthly clue what I'm going to say about this when I'm finished.  I'm sure to not do it justice.  It would be an excellent book club pick.  Every time I put on my headphones I think my brain is going to explode.

OK I'm going to shut up now.  Wishing you all a really great Sunday, and for many of us this will be the last day of vacation. This is a sad and happy thing all rolled into one!    

 


17 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

They won't even shovel us out; the service sent an email saying they don't send out crews in temperatures this severe! gaaaaaah

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

It's chilly in Mississippi but no snow predicted anywhere as usual. I love looking at everyone's white pictures :) I guess I might not think those photos were so beautiful if I was trying to live in that snow :p

Anonymous said...

I disagree with you completely - I'm THRILLED that we don't have snow and I'd be way depressed if we were snowed in. I'm sitting here with my windows open in my house, sunshine streaming in ... I am a happy girl.

I don't watch too many movies but I joined letterbx and followed you! I like the idea of the site.

Unknown said...

I miss some winter, but I'm very happy on the few days it's below 70 here...ha ha.
It's been a nice winter break, but the girls were home almost 4 weeks all total. Their lives are now at school, and on the way towards independence, a happy and little sad fact.
I like your word for the year.

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) said...

1) The snow and cold is wonderful for awhile, and I definitely get the feeling of wanting to be snowed in for a day. The part that is so hard when you live here is that winter feels like it will never end and is not nearly as romantic after you've shoveled out for what feels like the millionth time :)

2) I love the word strength. I think it applies to lots of areas of life.

3) I have Lost Girls but haven't read it yet. I love true crime too, even though it's rather brutal sometimes.

Happy Sunday!

bermudaonion said...

It's cold here and I'm thankful we didn't get snow.

When Carl and I went to Asheville in December, I was pacing around our hotel room to get my goal and yes, he thought I was nuts.

Amy said...

omg, it's like ten years of living in SoCal and I am FINALLY grateful for our winter (which is like yours kind of--more like a spring!)

I LOVE the word strength for your word of the year. LOVE. I might steal it simply because it is the opposite of how I see myself and therefore extremely attractive, lol.

I'll check out letterbox'd!

Iliana said...

Happy Sunday Sandy! I visit Ali's blog every once in a while and think the one little word project is really neat. Good luck with your word! I'm trying to enjoy Sunday as much as I can as I have to go back to work tomorrow after a holiday break.

Ti said...

It's been about 70 here most days but the dryness is really becoming a problem. Brush fires this early on is really not something any of us want to deal with. No snow in the mountains means water rationing this spring so I am really hoping for a miracle here.

I love your word. Strength is a good one. If I chose a word it would have to be Peace or Self-preservation because I just cannot have a repeat of what went on last year.

I have one more week off and I am hoping to just chill and make the most of it. I will not think about work. I will not.

Anonymous said...

Strength is a good word.
I rate movies on imdb.com but am not familiar with Letterboxd. I'll have to check it out.

Heidenkind said...

Followed you on Letterboxd!

Anonymous said...

We're having a fairly mild winter - cold, but not a ton of snow like normal. So I'm not too jealous of you and your warm weather....yet. Will have to check out Letterboxd - haven't heard of that before.

Unknown said...

Happy New Year! I'd love a bit of snow, but I'm very glad I'm not experiencing that arctic storm I keep seeing on the news. I'd love a bit of your 80's weather!

I LOVED 'The Native Son' so it is great to see that you are listening to it. Such a powerful book isn't it? I hope you enjoy the ending!. Have a wonderful 2014!

Belle Wong said...

We were supposed to have a snowstorm last night, but it never really arrived. I'm staying in today regardless :) Lost Girls sounds like an interesting read.

Literary Feline said...

It's a comfortable 73 where I am in California right now, Sandy. I feel for those in colder climates with all the ice and snow.

Strength is a wonderful word, Sandy.

I want to keep better track of the movies I watch this year too--although I'll probably do it on my blog and not on FB. It'd probably be easier on FB because then I wouldn't feel the need to review them.

How exciting for your sister! I will check out her website.

I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Love the one word idea. I read Native Son a couple months ago and went back and forth on how o felt about it. It's powerful but disturbing. Love the movie tracking idea too!

Beth F said...

If you saw my fitbit stats you'd know that I don't pace around to get my goal. LOL. Anyway, I would hate it to be 80 in January. I don't love the heat. Ok, I don't love subzero either. I need to move to San Diego.