1. Oxford’s Word of the year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to ‘capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media’. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

I’ve certainly heard it but when I do, I think of how we felt about TV in the 70s and 80s. LOL. I don’t feel like I do because I stay away from social media when I feel it’s becoming too much. I don’t “doom scroll” and I’m pretty good at limiting. I think as far as terms go, I might would say “180” because I think 2024 saw a big shift (or at least i hope) for our country. Maybe anyway.

2. It’s National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)…will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year’s Day menu? 

LOL No way, but I would if someone challenged me. As noted, we have some folks coming over so tomorrow, I’ll probably just lay low, depending on how I feel. We don’t have any major menu items for this day; I made my copycat Carrabba’s soup yesterday so I will probably heat that up with some sourdough bread. It’s about to get cold again so that will suffice.

3. What’s something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Stability brings me joy. Knowing things – money-wise/job-wise – are solid allows me to fill in the other gaps with friends, family, and fun. And yes, I will hope to embrace that this year.

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What’s one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

I do! I hate this month BUT the way I am trying to combat it, first and foremost, is to get OUT of that mindset. Don’t keep thinking “Ugh, January” and start sinking myself into good stuff like work and family and making progress on things. We have some projects like a new door lock, some painting, and the firepit to do so that might help.

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

Eh, no. I always said I dislike resolutions because a. every normal person makes them and so few stick too them and b. I’m naturally anti-everything so I avoid those things. For me, every year I want to improve myself personally: read more, get a better job, be better to people. That’s a solid goal, if you ask me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I never did truly feel the holiday spirit this season. We watched It’s a Wonderful Life and I did cry, but I didn’t have that typical moment of sitting near the tree and listening to music and feeling that love for the season. It’s interesting because I saw a lot of memes about that this year and I wonder why others felt this lack also. Obviously it’s something you have to achieve for yourself, despite outside forces. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it.

That said, I also didn’t feel the stress of having everyone home that I have in years past. I used to hit a moment where I wanted to just be alone; no husband, no kids. But I found myself to be a lot more tolerant and maybe it’s because they’re older. I only had one frustrating moment Monday morning because the kids were being annoying to one another; maybe they hit that moment themselves.

I wrote all that on Tuesday and then didn’t even post! I got up Wednesday and ran with my daughter, then started on making lunch and putting away Christmas. I got almost everything away except the tree, which is ready to go. That’s on my list today.