I realized tonight that I never made new year’s resolutions this year.  Not that it really matters — some of the typical resolutions that people make I’ve already got under my belt (go to the gym regularly), and others I have been planning anyway (do a triathlon).  I suppose there could be some things on my list, though, like: 1) go to bed earlier (that one’s for you, Dad);  2) try to slow down a bit (Dad will like that one, too, actually); 3) entertain/cook more (I’m off to a good start with that one — I’m about to have my third dinner party in less than 10 days); and 4) go through my mail every day (rather than weekly, or even monthly, as it sometimes happens). The idea is to make them realistic rather than set myself up for failure.  Any other ideas for resolutions?

Unless something really bizarre happens between now and midnight, I will have made it through 2006 with no jackasses of which to speak.  Yes, it’s true, there was a blip a few months back, but after giving it some thought, I’ve chosen to take him out of the running.  The incident in question was so insignificant compared to last year’s stories that it really isn’t even in the same ballpark, plus the person responsible for said incident was quite non-jackassish in general.   So, I apologize, dear readers, for the lack of entertainment value, but I have to admit that I’m quite pleased.  It probably helped that I was dating someone for the first five months of the year.  Anyway, here’s to hoping that 2007 will also be jackass-free for me as well as for all of you.  In the meantime, if you have your own 2006 jackass stories to share, by all means do.

I’m off to a "make-and-take" hors d’oeuvres cooking class with Mom and Stephen, which I will bring to my dinner party tonight to serve as an intro to beef tenderloin and truffled mashed potatoes.  Have a happy new year, everyone!  See you in 2007.

Welcome to the world, Maya!  It was very kind of Erika to hold her in for an extra day just so we can share a birthday.  I already told Maya not to allow anyone to get her any combination bday/chanukah presents — it’s never too early for such important advice.  Congrats again to Erika and Jeremy!

It’s my birthday too, yeah!  Gotta love when your first phone call of the day is Matt singing that song to you (thanks, pumpkin!).  36 is off to a great start so far, and now I’m off to the gym to continue on the right path.  Next on the agenda is brunch with some family, then grocery shopping for dinner tonight (tapas and paella) and birthday festivities out on the town.  If you’re a loyal reader and are in town, let me know!

than at the beach.  Let’s hear it for global warming, folks.  Okay, so there was no sunbathing involved, but John and I headed out to Kismet for a great walk on the beach and a gorgeous sunset.  I forced him to listen to cheezy Christmas music in the car on the ride home (I’m a bad, bad Jew).  The rest of the photos are here.

Once again, it’s gotten kind of quiet around here.  Mea culpa.  Just frantically trying to wrap things up before the end of the week — gifts for some work folks, last minute holiday shopping, and, of course, the gym and various plans.  Monday I took an early look at the newly opened Stand (didn’t love it, but then again they had only been open for two hours at the time) and then hit Bowlmor (I still suck at bowling).  Tuesday was the Gothamist holiday party at Cronkite Pizza (got to have some more of that delicious mushroom and truffle pizza — same owner as Fornino), and last night we saw Little Children at the Angelika.  Tonight, I’ll be making a batch of toffee and relaxing a bit.  Can’t wait.

How is it that the weekend wasn’t long enough to get half of the things done that I needed to do?  I did accomplish some things — had a tough workout, made some soup, some homemade granola (a holiday gift), did two loads of laundry, and did some errands, but I didn’t finalize my new Gothamist contributors (ack!), sign my work holiday cards, or make butter crunch toffee (another holiday gift).  If only I could have one more weekend day . . .

Let’s see — it’s a combination of the following:
work
food events
holiday parties
catching up with friends
writing for Gothamist
hitting the gym
Lost addiction

There’s still more Paris to recount, but I’ve been writing for Gothamist for a while tonight, so I don’t really have it in me right now. 

Had a solid weekend — not too busy, but not too slow.  Friday night I had drinks after work with Gabriella, then we joined up with some beach house types to see our friend Jenn do some stand up comedy (she rocked, by the way).  Saturday morning I stopped by to visit Jon at the Real Food Market,  then headed out to Park Slope for brunch at Jay and Catherine’s in honor of Skooz’s visit to NYC.  I got to meet Jonathan and Jen’s most recent addition to the family (welcome, Nadia!), then went off to meet my brother and his friends for a bit.  I headed back to the big island to meet Connie for coffee, than relaxed a while before meeting up with Jimmy for a snack and a holiday party.  At about 11, Rob and I hit Momofuku’s Ssam Bar, which I had been meaning to try for ages.  It was delicious — the late night menu rocks, but I’m looking forward to going back with a larger crew so we can try more things (pork butt, anyone?).  Today was quiet — a trip to the gym, weeding through Gothamist contributors, reading the paper, and a few episodes of Lost.  Jen came over for a bit to catch up and taste a product I’m sampling for Gothamist, and I’ve been writing since she left.

I am trying hard to slow down a bit.  This year, I’ve been very proud of the amount of time I’ve dedicated to the gym, but I need to dedicate some more time to just relaxing.  Alone.  I’ve been so tired lately, and I was talking to my friend John about it the other night.  "Of course you’re tired!" he exclaimed, "You have the busiest social life of anyone I know." 

It’s true.  I am a social creature by nature (as you’ve probably figured out if you’re a regular reader or a friend), and I find that just by making plans in advance to catch up with everyone I want to see, my schedule gets booked up very quickly.  As I look ahead to the coming week, I’m free one night — tomorrow — and that’s only after hitting a food event right after work.  It counts as free because I’ll be home by about 8:30 or 9, leaving me some downtime.  Wednesday night is a class (so it doesn’t count as a social event), but the other nights I have work stuff, holiday parties, and plans, or some combination thereof. 

I’m hoping to make sure that I block off at least two nights a week to myself from now on, possibly more.  How much time do you deliberately block off for yourself — is it enough?