Monday, January 4, 2010

Back in the New Year

MOOD STATUS: "Excited". Pumped up to run off all those holiday carbs this morning.

Hey, all!

Happy New Year!

I thought I'd ease into my normal blogging schedule this week and start by just catching up with everyone.

So as not to bore anyone...here's the condensed version of MY holiday time off:

Christmas: I laughed, I cried, I prayed, I ate, I...
got me a pair of chocolate brown UGG boots.

Oooh, how did that slip out? :)

Ha! Well, the hubby did get me a pair of UGGs, and I can happily tell you that I'm loving life now that the temperature has dropped to 23 degrees. Brrr. But my feet are toasty warm!

New Year's: I laughed, I cried, I ate some more, I watched the movie UP twice, I skied a few days, I lit some sparklers and actually stayed up to see the ball drop. Woo-hoo.

Skiing went a THOUSAND times better this time than it did last year. After last year's fiasco of tripping my 60 year old ski instructor and testing his saintly patience, I begged my hubby not to make me take another lesson this year. I'm THAT bad.

(And yes, it's embarrassing.)

So I did not, but I did ask for shorter skis (ANY help I could get) and that really made a difference. I'm still on the bunny hill, but I'm not falling.
And I must say I looked darn cute in my new goggles.

I also started reading a new book about writing that I LOVE. It's spot on. Will talk about that on Wednesday.

So how was your Christmas and New Year's? Do anything fun or interesting?

38 comments:

Prixie said...

sounds wonderful!

my Xmas and New Year were quiet and peaceful - just what the frantic mind state ordered!

New look on the blog?

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. Congrats on the Uggs and the skiing progress. Must treasure life's little treasures.

Sarah Forgrave said...

My holidays weren't quite as exciting. I got sick on Christmas Day, and it's still lingering, even after the new year.

Uggs and new goggles...sounds like you're set to look good around the lodge. :-)

Maria Zannini said...

Ref: So I did not, but I did ask for shorter skis (ANY help I could get) and that really made a difference. I'm still on the bunny hill, but I'm not falling. And I must say I looked darn cute in my new goggles.

Sounds to me like you have the makings of a new story. *g*

Unknown said...

So glad you had a wonderful holiday - I did too! Enjoy those toasty boots, you lucky girl :)

Keri Mikulski said...

Sounds like a great holiday!! :)

Revised, ate, family time, repeat. :)

Happy 2010!

Linda Kage said...

Sounds like a good break. Can't wait to hear about that writing book, and good luck Skiing. Practice makes perfect, right?

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Is it The Art of War...? Just had to guess. If so, I love it. Not a skier, but I'll go for those boots any time.
~ Wendy

Tamika: said...

Uggs! You rock Jennifer! I wish Texas got cold enough.

Ny holidays were fabulous, hubby continues to spoil me rotten.

Happy New Year!

Lesley Speller said...

Come on! Share! What book is it?

I want to go skiing. I've only ever been once and I was truly awful. Like I almost fell off a giant cliff awful... But I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again!

Kristen Painter said...

Way to go on the skiing! I suck at skiing, but I excel at drinking cocoa in the lodge. ;o)

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Can't wait to hear about that book!

I'm not good at skiing. Have only done it once and basically just rolled down the hill three times. Less than a year later, the friend who tried to teach me got in a motorcycle accident and lost his leg. While I know the two events aren't connected, I can't think of skiing without thinking about him and how I knocked him over when he had two good legs. Not really sure why that's impacted me, but it has. :0)

Terri Tiffany said...

I tried skiiing once! In college--in Vermont of all places and about died throwing myself to the ground a dozen times to stop. Send me lessons:)
Didn't have as busy a holiday time as you--went to see my mom and spent most the time in an old folk home. How is that for excitement? We walked all 5 floors to see the door decorations. I about died from the thrill.

Candee Fick said...

I've only tried skiing once. As a first year teacher, I chaparoned an 8th grade ski trip. There's nothing quite like spending the morning in ski-school on the bunny hill then having students convince me I was ready for a real hill.

I lost count of how many times I fell down, got laughed at, and/or got sprayed with snow from their skis as they stopped to, er, help me up. Again.

Now, when my daugher goes skiing with her special education class, I chaparone by bringing a book and staying in the lodge.

Chicki Brown said...

Sounds like a lovely holiday. Glad you're no longer falling ...

I can't believe it's warmer in Jersey than Atlanta!

Susan R. Mills said...

Sounds like your holidays were fantastic. I can't wait to hear about the book you found.

Tana said...

Sounds like you had a lovely time, and I got a black pair of ugg's with whip stitching up the back. ;) Sounds like you ski like I do. I so hate indulging hubby in his quasi dangerous sports. There's an ugh! I can't wait to read your post on wed.!!!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Oooh, sounds like you had a great break! I stayed up to watch the ball drop, too, and had the opportunity to sleep in late the next day.

Skiing sounds hard. I've never tried it but my characters in my new WIP enjoy skiing. I might have to pick your brain :) Happy New Year!

Jen said...

Your holidays sound like fun! I didn't get UGGs but I did get some lovely flower print Wellies :) Now if we could just get some of that snow in Atlanta I'd be all set with being waterproof from head to toe!

I went skiing once. Found out the hard way my gloves are NOT water proof. Never touched the bunny slope. Went straight to the Intermediate. Fell all the way down twice then, due to soggy gloves, went in the lodge and drank coffee!

Happy Monday,
Jen

Tracy Loewer said...

I'm all for being the queen of the bunny hill. There's no shame in that - some of us just value our lives more than others. :)

Happy New Year!

Carla Gade said...

My holidays were great. Sounds like you had a nice time, too! Now I'm off to a new year of writing. Yippee!

Blessings,
Carla
http://writingtodistraction.blogspot.com

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I had a great holiday! It sounds like you did, too. It also sounds like you are not alone in your inability to ski well. Add me to the list - I can't ski either. :-)

Renee said...

My Christmas was white. My New Years was white. My feet are constantly froze, UGGs sound perfect. lol

Actually my holidays held a sense of peace that has been lacking the last several years. And I got to spend time with all my kids, since the oldest was snowed in too. I also got to spend a good amount working on manuscripts.

The laughing, crying, praying is a daily given for me.

Happy New Year.

Heather Sunseri said...

Oh, Jennifer, my husband forces me into those skiing lessons as well! I'm plenty happy on the bunny slope.

Glad you had some fun!

Renee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie said...

I think we need pics of you skiing!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Oh yes, the eating merry-go-round has finally ended here too.... glad for that. :O)

P.S. I am a chocolate brown kind of gal too...

Patti Lacy said...

LOVE this blog! In your style, I ate chocolate and praised the Savior and sang and laughed and cried and square danced and slept late and snuggled into our cozy nest.

My golden UGGS go great with all my brown stuff!!

See ya in 2010!!!

patti
www.pattilacy.com/blog

Jennifer Shirk said...

Prixie: Ha! Yes, you like the new look?

maria: I think you may be on to something. :)

I see I'm in good company and most of you stink at skiing as much as I do. :) Whew!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Patti: squared danced? Now that sounds like a hoot!

Prixie said...

yeah, me likes. it is easy on the eye!

Kristi said...

Just found your blog and LOVE IT! I look forward to following more!

Good luck with the skiing - I never could do it and after many uncontrollable rolls down the mountain (intentionally to stop myself)...I picked up snowboarding. To me...much simpler and more enjoyable. But it does lead to a very cold back side!

Chelle Sandell said...

So glad you enjoyed the slopes this time...and still married. LOL. And I'm loving my new UGGs!!

Kimberly Franklin said...

Sounds like you had fun this holiday season! Happy New Year!

Jill Kemerer said...

Every time we went skiing, the lift would hit me in the head as I attempted to get off. Not pretty. Still...skiing is fun! Glad you got your UGGS!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Chelle: You got UGGs, too? Sweet!

Jill: You getting hit in the head with the ski lift almost made me spit my water out!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

spilled oil on my Uggs - guess I have to get a new pair. :)

Nishant said...

Congrats on the Uggs and the skiing progress. Must treasure life's little treasures

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