With non-Easter weekend approaching- we non-believers are non-celebrating- it is a good time to discuss the good things on the horizon….spring wise … as one atheist, one agnostic and two undeclared as of yet-unfully educated-ers….we are going camping and canoeing this…”holiday, for the rest of them” weekend. Forget the egg dying. I mean, does the bunny lay the eggs or is it Jesus, I’ve never been clear about that. I bought the boys chocolate bunnies a few weeks ago, because we do love chocolate, but there ends our celebration. So coming soon to a Watson near you….musical theater summer camp is a real thing and I am so excited about that. Mame the summer musical is also underway, and for us is a family affair. The pool is up and chemicals are being balanced as we speak. Sandwich season is in effect as of today. All in all things are up up up! Happy Spring everyone.

As we enter into month 2 of my 35th year, I will share more of my “35 Things to Do in My 35th Year” list.

1. Read 35 books. (1 down…2 if you count my script….I don’t. ) I’d better get a move on. : )

7. Make 35 Fun/Lifestyle lists. Like “35 things I love that will never love me back” or “35 movies I love to watch.” (1 down, 34 to go.)

8. Take 35 photos of either 3 or 5 (and have them printed).

9. Get a slack line, and learn to walk it. (join the circus like you wanted to…when you were a kid.)

10. Get a massage. (indulging in self indulgence is harder than it sounds sometimes.)

With only 11 months to go, I suddenly realize I have a lot of work to do….so I’m going to get to it!

It’s almost show time for Brian. The boys are halfway through their art class. I’ve gotten a part in the new show at the Art Center and rehearsals start this week. 5k training is progressing. Otherwise, not much going on. I like the idea of doing not much, when there is not much going on…..so as to really have, not much going on. It makes you feel happy that you celebrated the down time, while there was down time to celebrate. Tomorrow, we hike and make art. I’ll finish painting the inside front door. And we’ll clean the house to prepare for the Chinese New Year- I have decided to celebrate that this year. It’s the year of the Rabbit- my year! (everyone elses too, but I’ve just decided to make the most of mine- yahoo!)

I decided to create a list of fun things to do and accomplish this year. Calling it 35 things to do in my 35th year……

Here I will share the first five things. They do not need to be completed in any particular order, they just need to be completed.

1. Become a Trailmaster. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a Trailwalker program. After hiking thirty of their trails (from their list of trails) I will earn a badge.

2. Run 3 5k’s. Brian and I have been training. We are on week 4 of 8. After which we should be able to run a 5k.

3. Do 35 sketches or drawings. (this one is easy)

4. Learn to play Dust in the Wind on the guitar, plus two other songs. This is harder, because I chose it before I got my ukulele and I love my uke so much I have pretty much ignored all my other instruments since I got it.

5. Learn to screen print t-shirts. I have always wanted to do this, but I’ve just never taken the time (or invested the money in the supplies.)

I love the idea of making a fun list to accomplish. I plan on having an amazing year!

(Thanks Brian for the nice shiny new look.)

This week has some fun in store. Aside from the Youth Art Class, and the play rehearsals for Brian. my friend Dianna and I are teaching/facilitating a Mask Making Workshop. We’ve got about 9 people signed up (which I think is super cool). I absolutely love making masks. The desire of the students/participants was to make masks representing Goddesses. I decided to make my own versions of Goddess Masks. Photos are mask demos I made. I wanted to try different techniques- specifically not using paper mâché. the foundations of these two masks (Tree Goddess and Sky Goddess) are drum roll please……..masking tape and cereal boxes. Then painted with acrylics. I love how they came out. I hope the class is a success. I’m currently working on a demo, Goddess of Cellular Reproduction, I am not joking. I can’t wait to see how it comes out.

We finish our week with a bowling birthday party for Cory. He’s turning thirteen. MAN! I cannot believe that.

Just doing a bit of work around here. Don’t mind me.

It was a great 2010. And a great start to 2011. So many things are happening. Brian is in a new play. I am assist-teaching a youth art class at the Art Center. Cory and Danny are participating in the class. I had a birthday and 35 is going to be amazing (I have decided.). Cory has a birthday coming up. Not to mention the Fencing class C&D are taking once a week.

It is all good, good.

In honor of my birthday I have compiled a list of 35 things I am going to do in my 35th year. It is a fun list which I will share the next time I post. (another thing I hope to be good-better at this coming year).

1. Save shopping for the last minute. I’m talking for realz! No sooner than five days before the day. Oh and if you’re mailing packages-forget it! They are going to arrive after December 25th.

2. Relax. Twinkly lights, songs to sing along with, cookies to bake, What! Nothing but fun.

3. Knit something. For sure. Or crochet.

4. Catch up on your reading. Indulge really. Try to read a book every two days. All the “best of the year” reading list are popping up everywhere, pick some and settle in a comfy chair.

5. Watch holiday specials. It’s really the only chance you have. White Christmas at Easter just makes you look crazy.

6. Bake shit with cinnamon. It smells good. It tastes good. It’s good for you.

7. Wear cute scarves and hats. And mittens, don’t forget your mittens.

8. Gear up for the new year. Think of all the things you are planning on, thinking about, planning on doing. : )

9. Start new projects and make a mess of the house. This one only works if you’re not planning on having company that would care what your house looked like, for the holidays.

10. Drink plenty of green tea, orange juice and take your probiotics and… Breath deeply- it’s like hugging yourself from the inside.

Boy, it is the most wonderful time of the year. Yeah! We’ve been getting plenty of hiking in. The boys are ready for their youth theatre Christmas production of the Chritmas Charole. Brian tried out for a new play at the art center. I finished my ornaments for my ornament exchange- I made snowmen. (Danny helped) The tree is up and decorated. The shopping list is made though I am in no real rush to shop, that will get done in time…no worries. We’ve been filling up on holiday movies- online of course. Elf is the top of the list this year. We are six trails away from being badge earning Trailhikers, boy am I excited about that. Those badges will look good on our Xmas backpacks…oh! Did I say too much? HA! No one reads this blog but me……right Watsons?

Side note….We are sending best wishes to Loni, who is battling a big battle. Fight hard Loni! We’re behind you all the way.

for some, the holidays can be overwhelming…..but for me, no. I am hosting a friends and family Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to it. Maybe it will crash and burn and we’ll all end up at Denny’s ordering the grand slam, but I am hopeful that it will be fun and the food will be delish! And we will all feel happy and unstressed.

wishing you and yours the same thing too.