Assigned blog topics: ALL CLASSES

Here's your first set of assigned topics:

1) How did you spend your winter break? Did you do anything special? Did you go anywhere fun? Did you stay home and relax, unwinding after last semester?

2) What goals do you have for this new year, 2010. Forget resolutions - I hear that if you make a resolution, you won't stick to it. Goals are at times more realistic, and therefore easier to achieve.

Feel free to answer these in one post, or in two. These have to be answered in the first 3-4 weeks of school (so, in Jan), but I don't have a preference in order.

Here are my answers:

1) Winter break was quiet, but it was nice. The first part of the winter break was spent preparing for Christmas Eve. I made bunuelos and carrot cakes to give out (I make some mean carrot cake! lol), and my son and I sang and danced to Christmas songs. He was getting over a cold so we didn't go out much. But it was a nice slow-down after the fast-paced fall semester!

We were originally scheduled to go to Disney World for New Year's - it was to be my first time ever at Disney for New Year's. However, my son got sick (again) and we decided to cancel the trip, especially since the temperatures began dropping drastically in Orlando during those days. Instead, we stayed home (my husband kept his time off) and we did a winter-cleaning in the house. My mom came over a few times to baby sit so we could run errands, and we spent New Year's Day with both our families. It was nice starting 2010 surrounded by family.

2) I have several goals set for this year. I want to make more time to spend with my family and friends. The new year began a bit sad. My friend lost her husband (he was 33) to Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. She has a 2-year-old son, my son's age. It impacted me tremendously, and it reinforced the fact that we don't have "la vida comprada" (our life purchased - my dad used to say this a lot). Things happen and life is short (along with all those other comparable cliches). I want to spend more time with my family and I want to let them know how much I appreciate and love them - before it's too late. So that's my number one goal - make time for my family and friends.

The other goals I have are becoming healthier and writing more. I have carved out some gym time twice a week, and I want to do more outdoors stuff with my son. My hope is to improve my health (and, as a perk, lose weight, too). I need to make healthier food choices, cook more at home, and exercise. I also want to dedicate more time to writing my memoir. I have about 100 pages written, and I haven't even reached the middle! So I really need to dedicate more time and get myself out of this "rut." I know I'll have more time in the summer, but I don't want to wait. I want to try to write at least once every day, even if it's for ten minutes.