There are good and bad habits - I guess the bad are referred to as "vices" and usually refer to things like, smoking, drinking or doing drugs.
I never got into any of those things - I can safely say I have never done recreational drugs, not even pot. I never wanted to smoke after my mother at the age of 10 asked me to light her cigarette with the car's lighter while she was in the grocery store shopping. I thought you had to inhale to get it to light - I cannot even describe what the smoke felt like in my throat. And as for drinking - I don't do much of that, I can easily go 3 months without having a glass of wine or any other liquor.
What is my vice? I like to get my nails manicured weekly and every 3 weeks to get a pedicure. My manicure is nothing special - I always get a natural looking color like Mademoiselle or Sugar Daddy and I may go a little more risque with my toes; especially in the winter when no one sees them but myself.
So my Monday ritual will usually include having my nails done in the early evening so that my hands and nails look presentable in the office.
It is the end of the Christmas season and time to put everything away for another 11 months.
I had put away all the Santa Clauses earlier during the week; but, on Sunday I put away the candles that were in each window and the lights that framed the living, dining room and kitchen windows.
As I like my home to be decorated for each season there are still snowmen, sleds and reindeer throughout the house letting me know that it is winter.
Christmas was different; but, good - new traditions are starting and I learned that I can definitely cook Puerto Rican style.
Yesterday Ryan turned 12 years old - and we celebrated the event by going to Esposito's in Valhalla for dinner and cake.
Traditionally we allow the birthday person to chose what they would like for their birthday and Ryan chose to eat out with his parents, siblings and grandparents. It was a great meal and he enjoyed it; as well as, the gifts he received.
I picked up his favorite cake at my bakery - a Napoleon cake that feeds 20 although we were only 8; they don't make it any smaller. I know it won't go to waste they will finish it up.
Everyone had a good time - we all went home with leftovers and Ryan enjoyed marking another year on this earth.
Well the weathermen were right and we had snow that began on Thursday night and lasted into Friday morning.
When I woke up there was about 6 inches outside and the paper was not delivered and the plows were going up and down the community.
I was glad that I was still on vacation and didn't have any place to go - but, I am most grateful for living in a townhouse community where we pay to have our snow shoveled and removed.
By 3PM I went out and cleaned my car and moved it so that my spot could be plowed - I was concerned that a good job would not be done because two of my neighbors were still away and their cars would not be moved. Also, the boys who lived next door would not come out and move their cars.
I was pleasantly surprised when the snow removal team actually shoveled the snow off the sidewalks and parking spaces, then placed it in the road to be removed by the plows. No need to worry about climbing a 3 foot pile of snow to get to the car!!!
The first really major snowstorm of the season due to bring 6 to 12 inches of snow to the Hudson Valley where I live.
I am grateful that I have a nice warm house, that I stocked up on milk and there are plenty of things to eat in the house and that I have a new book that I am reading.
Also, I am still on PTO or vacation - so I am not anxious about getting to the office or responding to messages.
For a change it is okay to enjoy what Mother Nature has "dumped" on us.
Biologically I will never be a grandmother; but, I am grateful to Gerard and Carrie who let me fulfill that role with their children Ryan and Callum.
Callum especially is that grandchild that I biologically will never have; but, who enables me to be a grandma in every way but blood.
I was lucky enough to have New Year's Day lunch with them at a restaurant on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Callum keeps me on my toes, talking the whole time and being very attuned to my moods.
He is a lovable, sweet boy and I am grateful to have him in my life and to share him with his parents.
Aren't we lucky that every year we can begin again? Today is January 1st, 2014 - Happy New Year!!!
Today is a day that we can take stock of ourselves and determine what changes we want to make in our lives in the next 364 days. How lucky are we that we have that opportunity to clean the slate and begin again.
I have been writing this blog now for a couple of years, it began with a weekly comment to then daily rantings. I have decided that in 2014 I will continue to write daily; but, instead of rantings the focus will be on being grateful.
There is more good in our lives than there is bad; but, more often than not we focus on the negative and not the positive items in our lives. My thought is if we focus on the positives the negatives will become insignificant - what a novel idea.
Today I will be grateful for living another day and being healthy and blessed with a great job.
