Ok, the "Part I" portion of the title is very hopeful; I'm assuming there will be a Part II but I may get very involved this week in doing absolutely nothing so I really shouldn't be making any promises.
2011 has been a hell of a year. I survived my first year of teaching in a challenging school environment, which is an accomplishment in itself. I spent the time frantically trying to keep my head above water in an environment where I had a 6th grade student who had already been arrested twice (extra-curricularly), another 6th grader who has already punched a fellow student in the face twice (two different students on two different occasions), no classroom of my own, and the prospect of teaching drama/theater to students who not only have never seen a play before, but who, for the most part, really don't want to be in my class. Add that to the levels of mold, dust and general ick in our nearly 100-year old building, and it all makes for an interesting time.
Why yes, I have taken to drinking, why do you ask?
I've found other ways to cope. I will, for example, continue take my solace in my version of porn, i.e. "US Weekly" magazine. I'm sure next week's headline will be how Hugh Hefner, age 84, has proposed marriage to Some New Blond, age 24. (It's true love, natch.) I am beyond pleased that Paris Hilton has ceased to be a weekly contestant in the roulette wheel of fame-dabblers, although I still really wish Kim Kardashian would just go away already. (Yes, Kim, yes. You have a tushy. Can we move on, please?) I sympathize with my friend Sandra Bullock, whose husband cheated on her with a woman who looks like a highly-tagged bridge underpass, circa 1985. I continue to be frightened of Courtney Love. (Please, doll, I'm begging you -- lay off the plastic surgery, stop dressing like a bag lady in an episode of "Beverly Hills, 90210" and for G-d's sake, eat a sandwich.) I continue to be frustrated when size-2 actresses like Salma Hayek and Halle Berry are described euphemistically as "Curvy." And I'm still hoping someone, somewhere can explain Justin Beiber to me.
And yes, George Clooney. Now and forever. And Nathan Fillion. Oh, and Jon Hamm. Yes.
I know it's a bit early, but here, with no particular rhyme or reason, are some thoughts and resolutions for 2012:
- I need to figure out why my cat seems to hate me.
- Stop fantasizing about my Friday night glass of wine on Tuesday, 8:30AM-ish.
- Un-bookmark "Goop" from my web browser. It's just Gwyneth Paltrow pointing out all the things I do wrong, suggesting $154 pillows for my guest suite, and showing pictures of the luggage that Louis Vitton very kindly sent her for free. And how I MUST stop by this little patisserie the next time I'm in Paris on a layover from my thrice-yearly tour through Spain.
- Stop buying containers of plain, fat free kefir. Yes, it has probiotics. Yes, it's a good source of protein. Yes, I feel rather worldly saying "kefir." But the plain truth is that I don't drink it, despite good intentions and over the last three months I've had three different bottles languishing in my fridge. Give it up. It's not going to happen.
- Stop feeling bad about not watching "Glee."
- Start watching "Glee."
- I must repress the enormous irritation that develops whenever someone uses the phrase, "At the end of the day..."
Yes, yes. World peace. Economic stability. Hybrid cars. I realize there are bigger issues out there, but I'm starting with the small and do-able. For now, I'm just hoping Jon Hamm comes out with a calendar or a pop-up book or something. Small steps.
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Tags: Lifestyle, Pop Culture
