The thing about New Year's Eve is that for a lot of people, it's the day before they start on some big endeavor that they think will change their life. Tonight, as I type this, many people are getting ready for dinners and parties and saying things such as, "Tonight is my last night of smoking!" or "As of tomorrow I am on one huge diet. See ya later, carbs!" It goes on and on. People vow to date more or to find a new job, to read one non-school book a week or to finally take up scrapbooking.
It's all over the television as well. The Style network has a keen talent for practicing upon other people's insecurities. All this week was an Extreme Makeover marathon on channel 118 in New York City. If there was ever a time to get that nose job, 2007 is it! Between re-runs of "How Do I Look?" and "Clean House" there are ads for eHarmony.com and Jenny Craig, NutriSystem and Special K (what is "Protein Water," anyway?). Leave it to the Style Network to remind you that you are a lonely, overweight slob with no fashion sense. Never fear, though, because with a few hundred dollars you can fix all that.
The one thing I'm loathing about the new year is that my gym is going to become overrun with people who have resolved to lose weight. I first discovered this phenomenon back in 2000, when I lived in the Upper East Side. Back then I enjoyed a hip hop funk class on a regular basis with about 5 other girls. The class was an insane workout and my dance skills actually got better as the weeks wore on. Then Y2K came and went and everyone who was happy that the civilized world didn't come to a screeching halt decided to come to the New York Sports Club on 91st Street. Suddenly my cozy dance class was full of lumpy housewives in stretch pants with two left feet. It took a good month before the madness cleared up and the class was back to normal.
As for me, I don't have a lot of resultions this year. In 2005 I resolved to become a better tap dancer, and I did just that. Then Broadway Dance closed, and now I have six months of classes at Ripley-Grier studios to look forward to. Ripley-Grier is a nice enough studio, but it's practically right next to Madison Square Garden. That's a long haul from my abode in Gramercy.
In 2007 I'm aiming small. I would like to improve my knowledge of fine wines, particurally Bordeauxs and other French varieties. I want to sing more, and I don't just mean karaoke. Perhaps I should focus on finding a good deal on a guitar. I really need to stop gnawing on my cuticles, too. My running is going great, so maybe I should do a 10K before my 27th birthday in June?
Here's a piece in today's New York Times that tells people to go easy on the resolutions.
If you must insist on losing weight this year. 1) Stay out of my gym, because I grunt loudly and on purpose when someone gets on the treadmill next to me. And 2.) Sign up for this weight-loss challenge on iVillage.
Spent a little more than planned on ungrateful relative this Christmas? Tips on how to stave off some of that debt.
My work here is done. Hope everyone has a great holiday!
