December 30, 2011

First of all, it's been since June 24th since I wrote my last blog. I'm a slacker, and should probably just go ahead and take the next 6 months off too, maybe write once a year--on my birthday. But since I never listen to anyone's advice, including my own wonderful advice, I will post this one. Plus, I know Seth Anderson is anxiously updating his facebook feed waiting to read this silly nonsense I am about to spew out.
It is so hard for me to not write a blog about Creps's Quality Bakery in my hometown of Ligonier, Indiana closing as of tomorrow. I know there's a very limited audience for that, but I do so love their donuts. To all involved with the bakery, thank you for being my breakfast just about every morning my junior and senior year of high school and every time I was back in Ligonier during college. It's truly sad to see such an institution close. But I digress...the real reason for this blog begins now.
It's almost the New Year. What that means is there are a lot of people writing a lot of lists of the best of 2011. Best TV show (Community), best CD (Switchfoot's Vice Verses), best movie (either Super 8 or The Muppets--I'm torn) and so many more useless lists. People also make lists of their New Year's Resolutions. That's what I am going to do here, to put in writing what my plans are so you all can mock me, encourage me, or tell me what a darn fool I am. (Sorry, I got interrupted by having to make piggy noises for the twins--don't ask...where was I?) Oh yeah. I am also going to make a list because I'm oh so very creative. Here, without any further adieu, here are my 2012 resolutions.

1. Allow interruptions.
I'm sure most of you know I am the father of two great insane almost 3 year olds. I will be the first to admit that I get frustrated with them, perhaps sometimes a little bit too easily. I can get so focused on what I'm doing that I forget to allow myself to be interrupted by these two. They are what matter at the end of the day, at the end of my life, and I don't want to allow my busy-ness to get in the way any longer.

2. Be More Helpful Up In Here
The hardest transition I made in 2011 was leaving Radio Hospital to take a job at Hostess. I still don't always believe it was the best decision for me, but it's the path I chose and I am going to have to see it through now. The reason it was so hard was because I went from sleeping til 9am, working til 6pm and coming home to sleeping til 2am, working til 3pm and coming home exhausted. Because of this, I have not always been the most eager participant in helping Jill with standard everyday household stuff (laundry, dishes, cooking, changing diapers, etc). I'm sorry that becoming used to my schedule is taking way longer than I had hoped it would, but in 2012 I resolve to make myself a more helpful member of this here family (or as Carrie would say, famimy)

3. Get More Involved in Church, and with my God
Pretty self explanatory, but a continued theme of my plans for 2012 and this blog is to get off the sidelines and be an active participant in something bigger than myself. Since we all know the world is going to be ending on December 21st this year, it's a good idea for me (and for you, dear reader) to get actively involved with a church, so on that faithful day you will have somewhere to go when the walkers come (Oh, side tangent, why are they 'walkers'? Why does no one go, hey, they look a lot like zombies? Sorry...the writer responsible for that has been flogged). This year, I am going to read the new Tony Dungy devotional book daily and also do more to get involved in the Community at church. I'm so sick of sitting on the sidelines.

There are more, but I am already going to have a hard enough time keeping these, and I have Jonah screaming at me to make him Macaroni & Cheese. A hero's work is never done. So here's to you, 2011. I don't have the fondest memories of you, a lot of bad things happened, but I'm not cheering your departure the way I do when Jason Harris stops posting on my facebook page.
For some reason, I am very optimistic about 2012. Even if the world ends, I know that John Cusack will be there to help us all. And doesn't it give you a sense of peace knowing that? I know it does me.

God Bless you all. And I will write more this year...I will write more this year...I will write more this year.

Paul

Oh, and by the way, is anyone interested in listening to an online radio station playing mid to late 1990s "Christian music" (ie. Supertones, Plankeye, Plumb, etc?) I'm thinking about starting a Statement Retro Radio Station this year, and was just wondering if I would be entertaining myself and Sprout and no one else?