The End of the Year: Time to Assess, Appraise and Amend

This is the time that I sit back and reflect on what I want to accomplish in the coming year. In order to think ahead to the New Year, I find it beneficial to look back at the past 12 months and recognize the strides I have made. It is in these past achievements that I find the courage to take on new challenges or at least figure out a way to cause minimum damage.

What I have accomplished:

I learned to fix a flat. Yes - a flat! Okay, had I not cancelled my auto club membership in a fit of anger over the fact that they charged my credit card three times in the same year for their annual dues, I would have not had to learn to fix a flat. I could have easily waited on the side of the road for their contracted tow truck to come and save me. In my defense, I tried to make up with the auto club from my cell phone when I discovered my flat, but they don't forgive that easily. Apparently, they cannot immediately reinstate ex-members who have yelled at them or possibly cursed at them. Anyway, without the aid of the auto club, I had to be resourceful. So, I looked inside my emergency road kit that the dealer gave me when I bought the car and found this stuff in an aerosol can that re-inflates tires. I sprayed it into the tire and in seconds my tire was t flat no more. I was on the road again without having to to find my spare or figure out how the tire jack works.

How will this help me in the future?

First: I am going to sue the auto club for leaving me abandoned because of a dispute where they overcharged me three times. You would think that when I pointed out the mistake (nicely at first - I swear), they would have bent over backwards to make up for it. I naively thought they would offer me a six months free membership. Instead, they tried to say it was my fault and yelled at me which made me angry enough to cancel my membership. Idiots. I am pretty sure that one of those lawyers who advertise on TV will want to take my case. They all say they go the limit to win the case for the "little guy." I think I sort of qualify for that.

Second: I have also learned that when a relationship with one auto club ends, it might be a good idea to forge a new relationship with another auto club or at least become friends with a local mechanic or tow truck driver.

What I have accomplished:

I baked my first cake from scratch: I know many of you think this is a trivial accomplishment, but to me, it is the same as if I scaled Mt. Everest or sailed around the world all alone on a catamaran. Yep, it's that big a deal. You can read the details of this accomplishment here. I am very proud of this cake-from-scratch moment. When that oven timer went off, and I placed my cake creation on the counter to cool, I did a victory dance around my kitchen. Okay, the need to dance might have been brought on by the effect of the brandy that I poured to help me through the baking trauma experience, but still I was dancing with pride. Now, when I am at my book club or talking with domestic divas, and they ask "Can you bake?" I can say with confidence, and without that tic in my eye that occurs when I lie, "YES, I can bake!"

How will this help me in the future?

This experience taught me that I while I can bake, I should probably never attempt it again. Yes, once was nice, and it did give me bragging rights, but I can't take the pressure. Women, who spend hours baking pastries and pies, have asked me to bake for meetings and dinner parties. I can't compete with these Martha Stewart wannabes. It's too much! After my cake-from-scratch success, I tried baking again so I could continue to fit in with the home baked goods crowd. I made these gooey cookies, but all the goo fell to the bottom of my oven, and it started to burn and smoke up the house, and I had to grab the dogs and evacuate for two hours. For three days, anything that went in that oven came out smelling and tasting like burnt brown sugar. So, for the benefit of my family and anyone who has to taste my cooking, I have once again sworn off baking. I truly feel that my sacrifice will make the world a better place.

What I have accomplished:

I now know how to program my GPS. Yet, another "so-what" achievement, but I never liked to use the GPS. For years, I was more of a wing-it as you go driver. Unfortunately, my sense of direction is not the sharpest in the world. In fact, it was sort of the family joke. When my husband or daughter was unsure of the direction to take on a road, they would ask me, and if I said "left" they went "right" and vice versa. While this primitive navigation method did a good job getting us to our destinations, it did little to promote family harmony. However, my new GPS gets me where I have to be on time without the emotional abuse. I admit that the first try at the GPS was not the best. I plugged in the restaurant address where I was supposed to meet a friend, and this nice man's voice in the GPS led me turn-by-turn to the supposed location.

At the end of the designated route, the man's voice announced, "You are here."

I looked around and said, "Uh, no! I'm afraid you are wrong. Look where we are! We are in the middle of the woods!" I turned the screen toward the trees so the man in the GPS could see. "I'm pretty sure my friend does not have a nature walk and picnic planned. Re-calculate the route now!"

After smacking the GPS a few times and then pressing some buttons, the GPS did re-route me to a new location. That first experience was a hard one for both the GPS and me, but we are now friends, and he gets me where I need to be without any problems.

How will this help me in the future?

The GPS has opened up my driving world. With my GPS, I go anywhere without an ounce of hesitation. The man in the GPS even helps me avoid traffic jams. I feel as if I can take on any traveling challenge, and as long as the man in the GPS wants to travel with me, I have no limits. Could I make one suggestion to the GPS companies? You should make the GPS like "Kit" in the "Knight Rider" car. A good GPS should be able to converse with a driver. Some chit-chat or a little gossip would really make the time on the road fly.

I am sure these are not my only achievements for the year, but they are enough to get me started so that I can make 2011 the best year yet.