I think I 'm ready for a real post.

2009 began with a New Years Party that was heaven for me. I find entertaining to be very stressful and I rarely host parties any more. For fifteen years I flat out refused. Then I met Joy and Tim and we started a tradition of having each other to dinner once or twice a month. I enjoy their company so much and we are very relaxed together, although our meals tend to be somewhat "formal." We eat at the nice table and serve in courses with good wine. Thirty two guests came to my house for New Years... many neighbors, some I'd never met, Cheryl, Karen & Ken, a couple of family members and a few couples who have become a New Years tradition with us. The food was great, the people were wonderful. Nobody got sloppy or threw up on my front yard. Only the weather was wretched. It was sooo cold and icky. Most people walked here and had to negotiate the high winds coming and going.

I'm excited about the year ahead. Big changes are coming and I can't even see my way through them. I just know how ready I am. My calendar looks like a summer schedule, where every weekend is booked, only this time it's not the weekends. On Wednesday I'm starting a special diet called "Transitions." I believe more in changing eating habits than dieting, but this particular program begins aggressively and then the retraining begins. It's based on glycemic index, which on paper I believe is the most sensible way to eat. My relationship to food and managing my diet has always been a passion for me. I've done a lot of research on hormone balance with food and the glycemic index is the most sensible way to manage mood and well being as well as weight loss. It's not particularly easy, but what is? And I am ready for a challenge. So Wednesday is my first meeting of twelve and the beginning of a week of detox. Detox means eating only fruits, (raw) vegetables and herb tea for one week. We are going to save SO much money on wine and Starbucks, I'll be able to buy another mini cooper with the savings, providing I'm not in prison from the effects of withdrawal.

We had our first monthly Iron Chix meeting on Saturday. Iron Chix is an open group of about twenty women connected by friendships who are registered for the 2009 Iron Girl Triathlon . We will meet monthly, hire speakers who will talk about different aspects of Triathlon, such as how to change a flat tire and how to change your clothes really fast so as to save time. My neighbor Mary is the person who started the group last year with four other women. She and I met walking our dogs. The Iron Chix women get together when they can to train. I met three women who belong to my health club and we are going to swim and take classes together. A couple of other women get together and ride the bike course once a week when the winter weather breaks. I'll be there. It's a tough, hilly course. I used to ride it for pleasure. I was once quite the cycling beast.

I signed up for two glass classes starting in February. One is a class I've been wanting to take for a long time where I will learn a beautiful decorative technique. The second is a six week class focused more on creativity and art as a practice. A goal I have this year is to find ways to reduce the price of my product to make it more affordable. These products I intend to sell through etsy and indie craft mafia shows. A second goal is to show my higher end product in some local galleries.

My earrings are selling really well at Weisser Glass Studio in Kensington. The mirrors are moving more slowly, but then they are ten times the price of the earrings. I'm going to get some of them back and post them for sale on my website, which is ready to go except for I need more stuff on it. How ready is that?

Jessica and I have been working hard on our relationship... talking, talking, talking, talking, more talking, talking. It's hard but necessary for experiencing our love.We are doing really well and enjoying our hugs once again. I'm so happy to see the softness returned to her eyes. Steve's Europe travel starts up again this month, which has started to feel normal. He's been home a lot over the holidays and is progressing really nicely on making my glass cabinets.

I feel so fortunate to be facing a future that calls forth a good, healthy, positive lifestyle. I am lucky to have the freedom to focus on these goals and plans in a time that is so uncertain for so many friends. I send you all my very best wishes for this coming year ahead. I'm looking forward to reading your blogs!