New Rules & Resolutions for 2012

Happy 2012, everybody, and welcome to my first entry of the new year!

I am not a fan of making New Year's resolutions, readers, because, with rapidly accumulating life experience behind me, I now recognize that most of us (all of us?) fail at making ourselves do things we don't like to do.  The trick to changing behavior is truly to want to do it (and not just want to want), and if you already want to do it, you shouldn't have any difficulty doing so.

If that makes sense and you agree, raise your hand.

That said, I have decided to make some new rules for 2012.  Some of these are only tangentially related to sewing, but I'm putting them out there anyway.  This way, they're official, and if you see (or hear about) me breaking them, I fully expect you to call me on it. 

1.  No dogs in bed

This is a rule that has been too long in the making -- or not making.  When we had one dog (Freddy), I could handle sharing my bed with a dog, since a) he's a deep sleeper, and b) he usually sleeps somewhere down between Michael's legs.  But Willy, pictured up top, tends to sleep on my side of the bed and is a restless sleeper.  He likes to be under the covers, that is until he decides he needs to be outside the covers, at which point he exits the bedding and loudly flaps his entire head to shake himself into semi-consciousness.  It looks like this.

This is the "wind up."



This is the flap. 



It sounds like a helicopter because his ears are as big as his head.  Think Dumbo.

Well, I've finally put my foot down.  Last night I moved their crates into the bedroom, and sent the dogs into them at bedtime.  Freddy made only one attempt to climb into bed.  Willy made roughly eight, till I finally locked his crate till morning.  Fortunately there was no whimpering.

I will no longer share my bed with dogs.  I need my beauty sleep!

2.  No more sewing machines

I may need your help here and I hope I can depend on your support; I'm aware that fully half my readership share my sewing machine addiction to various degrees.   I honestly don't have room in my head to deal with another sewing machine -- it's more about mental space than physical.  In fact, I may be asking your help soon to decide which machines need to go.  I have ten and I'd like to slim down to eight.  Actually, it's the tables that are driving me crazy.  They're not beautiful (Featherweight excluded) and you can't just stick one on a shelf.

3. No more dolls

Do I really have to explain this?  I mean, I now share my life with a life-size plastic three year old.  If I were to wake up one morning and find her gone, would I feel sorry or relieved?  I have to meditate on that.  Oh, yeah, I should also add, "no more wigs" or maybe just "no fake hair" regardless of what it's rooted in.



And now a few resolutions...

4. I will return to ditching -- if not daily, then weekly.

I got lax over the last few months, I know it.  More stuff started coming in then going out, which is the ultimate violation of the daily ditch discipline. 

5. Less coffee, less sugar

I don't eat a lot of refined foods but, like many people, I have a real emotional attachment to these two.  I'm not going cold turkey or anything, but I can definitely cut back to a few times a week rather than every day.  It relates mainly to sleep rather than weight (though I'm not immune to the love handle), but either way, less would be a good thing.

6. I will stay off eBay

Obviously, this relates to some of my earlier rules and resolutions.  I can't help it if I happen to stumble upon some diamond in the rough on the street -- I have to walk, don't I? -- but I can certainly stop visiting this addictive auction site.  It's one thing if I'm purchasing something I need, but most of time, it's things I can very well do without, even if it happens to have "Singer" in the title.  I should probably add thrift stores and flea markets, but one thing at a time.

OK, readers, I think that's it so far -- I don't want to make promises I can't keep.  Of course, if you're aware of some I might not have thought of, just tell me: I can take it.

In closing, do you share your bed with dogs -- the canine kind?  If so, does it disrupt your sleep?  Other than eliminating caffeine and chihuahuas, what other secrets do you have to getting a good night's sleep?

Have a great day, everybody -- followed by a deep slumber!