Friday 31 December 2010

An introduction of sorts

My New Year's resolutions
Hm. It does seem a bit silly, this – I mean, what's so different about 31st December and 1st January? I won't change over the course of a few minutes. I will still be the same loud, book-loving, sometimes inexplicably rude, but also obedient and nice-when-forced- to, chocolate maniac next year, no matter how many grapes I eat or whom I think of when a woman with too much make-up on and her co-host say (or rather scream) the zero on Slovenian National TV.
But even while I' writing all this, I know that deep down (I've always wanted to say that I feel something deep, deep down), I am thrilled at the prospect of leaving all my bad habits behind me and becoming, well, a shinier version of myself. It is nice to imagine myself with prettier hair (this hasn't got to do with any of my resolutions, it just always springs to my mind when I think about the future), better grades (study, study, study), nails that are not entirely bitten and ugly as a duck and bed made every morning. Oh, yes, and regular exercise. I am turning into a computer-chair potato.
And I can come back at the end of next year (it seems so far, faaar away) and see if I have managed to keep at least three of my resolutions. There is probably going to be one concerning chocolate (and there is no way I am sticking to that one), one or two about reading serious books (because, according to my overly-responsible sister, Vanity Fair (by Thackeray) is not brain-stimulating enough for a girl my age) and one about taking regular exercise. I am a bit of a procrastinator and a lazy, lazy girl. I am almost lazier than my dog, and his idea of straining to get some food is jumping up onto my leg when he notices I am about to eat some cheese.
This may all seem like reinventing the wheel, this coming back next year, but to me, it is pretty new. I've never actually given much thought to this New Year's business – sometimes I found myself writing 2007 instead of 2008 in March, but it did seem like a good idea to get me started on this blog. I need to improve my English, bit by bit – reading is definitely not a problem but writing is a bit trickier.
So, anyway, what do I plan on doing next xear?
Hmmm. I'd like to read at least 75 books. Yes, it does sound like a lot, but if I don't read all these nice books I've bought these last few months (my TBR pile just keeps growing and growing and my mum keeps telling to just go to the library), I never will, it seems. All the grown-ups I know are too busy or too tired or too... the point is that I'd rather look back at the end of next year to what I've done and see that I've read a few classics than a few hundred hours spent on Facebook. Facebook is cool, great for communication and everything, but not all of us fifteen-year-old girls like to spend time in bathrooms and take pictures of ourselves. I am actually quite proud to be a kind of a geek.
That's number one.
Now, let's see. Chocolate. That is a tricky one. I could try to eat chocolate only one day of the week. Or, I know! I'll eat only white chocolate. In Croatia, it is a bit hard to get some yummy white chocolate – I haven't seen a white chocolate Milka bar in quite a while. I hope this doesn't sound like I like in a cut-off country where vacuum cleaners are a new invention or something, but it's true. This may not sound like much of a sacrifice to a person who doesn't know me, but if you saw me and chocolate…
Oh, and those Mozartkugeln I got from my grandma don't count. :)
Exercise. 20 sit-ups (I do hope this is the right word for it) every morning and every evening. Hm. And some running, maybe, with my dog? No, he certainly wouldn't be thrilled if I included him into my exercise programme. Let's just say it this way – I'll be more active next year.
I will to try to smile more often.
I will eat an apple every day (not in the form of an ice-cream).
I will do my homework when I get back from school, not at 5 am.
I will be gentler to my grandmother. She is a nice old lady and it does not matter that her adding me as a friend on Facebook will make me even more socially dead than I am now.
 I will stop feeding my dog cheese. He is becoming fat.
I will be nicer to people I don't like. I could make it a hobby. It's fun, in a way.
That's about it, I think.
I hope someone will find this at least a bit interesting (I am not going to beg for comments, don't worry) since it is important for learners of English to get some feedback (is that the word?). Happy New Year!