happy new year!

happy new year, gentle readers. I hope you enjoyed the merriest of holidays. JD and I are back in town after driving from georgia yesterday, (with cats in tow). They are getting to be very good car riders, except I think Oliver is learning how to cast spells, because last night he was riding in the way-back with his nose smooshed against the back window, and the headlights went out in the car behind us, and the person had to pull over, and I think Oliver was responsible. He is also very good at opening the doors at my parents' house--a cat of many talents. (Can you tell that I read some Ramona [as in Quimby] over the break? I love Ramona!) I think my life to date has been governed by Beverly Cleary, Madeleine L'Engle and Milan Kundera. Every time I re-read their books, I am able to sense the impression that they have made on my life--existential and otherwise. I need to read more fiction.

So it is now 2007, and I am excited. I still have a lot of crap from 2006 to attend to, but I want to take this opportunity to turn over a new leaf. I have many resolutions, but generally speaking, I want to live my life better: do do things on time, to get more involved, to stop flaking out. My OC tendencies tend to flourish around the new year. I become conscious of and nostalgic about my activities: my last shower of 2006; my first hair washing of 2007, etc. but thus far, I am embracing my neuroses, as well as the opportunity for a fresh start. True, nothing really changes, except you have to remember a new date. But a '7' can look so elegant--I'm excited to write it!