Hello from Houston, my friends. It has felt strange not blogging for such a long time, but life has been a whirlwind since I stumbled off the plane from Paris and stepped into the Christmas frenzy that was Houston on December 21. I must confess to having felt totally overwhelmed by the crowds and the traffic and the fact that I was woefully unprepared for the holiday that was looming like a dark cloud on the horizon. I knew there was a small mountain of assorted boxes that had been arriving at Mark’s office for several months, but I had no recollection of what I had bought for whom. When we unloaded them at our townhouse, I had fun opening them all up and realizing I was in better shape for gifts than I realized. It was also fun that several of the packages were to me from me with great affection. I love those gifts. Don’t you? Anyway, by managing my family’s and my own expectations of Christmas 2012, and by giving myself frequent reminders that having the family together was better than decorations and food and a mountain of gifts, I was able to enjoy the holiday and (more importantly) avoid a melt-down.
After an extended and wonderfully relaxing stay at our Austin house (formerly known as “our lake house”) I have returned to Houston and begun making lists of all that I need to do in order to re-establish some order and prepare to live here for the next several months. It is quite a change from the life of leisure and few responsibilities that I was living in Paris, but it feels good to have a bit more purpose in my days. It also feels good to resume a workout regimen that will help to undo some of the damage wrought by French salted butter and other sins.
My goals for 2013 include eating more plants and less meat and getting more cardio in my workout. What about you? Anything more original to offer?
Cheers to a new year of living each day fully, and finding lots of reason to drink champagne, even if we are not in Paris!
Mais Oui Paris 