New Years resolutions and considerations

2011 is almost gone and 2012 is about to take its place in about less than twenty-four hours. I hope 2012 will be a better year than 2011.  The current year had its good moments, but it could have been a better year though.

I have many thoughts about 2012 in which I want it to be a good year, and the only way it can be a good year-is that I have to make it happen myself.  I have a feeling that a lot is going to happen in the upcoming year and I hope it is good. There are several things that I have been thinking about, some of them are resolutions but some are considerations:

1. Not multitask as much and take one day at a time. Lately I have been doing a lot of multitasking due to the holidays and nearly exhausting myself. Even tonight I have been multitasking: doing two loads of laundry, surfing the net, playing an online game, and even chatting online with a family member. I need to only concentrate on one thing and remind myself that Rome was not built in a day.
2. Like multitasking, I should not overload my mind on so many things, and only concentrate on the most important thoughts.
3. Sometimes I just got to take a deep breath and get my thoughts together, and not let unpleasant minutiae get to me. As my late father said: "consider the source," which was the best advice he ever gave.
4. I should always think positive no matter what. 
5. If I want it to be a good day, it is up to me to make it a good day.
6. I should always make time for exercise, even if I am not in the mood, I need to make the time.
7. I need get at least 8 hours of sleep, drink plenty of water, just only drink two carbonated beverages a day, and remember to practice portion control.
8. In order to save more money, I should only buy the things I need, and make more of an effort to save my pocket change. I also need to cut out cable television, which I hardly watch anymore.
9. I have accumulated so much stuff (i.e. old clothes, toys, kitsch items) that I really don't need anymore. All this stuff is taking up a lot of space in my apartment and I seriously need to downsize. I have already made some progress on this: during the past two months I have donated old books from college, old history and craft magazines, and some old toys to the local thrift shop.
10. No matter what, I should always consider this mantra:

I wish everyone a wonderful and awesome 2012! Remember it is up to you make it a great year!   : )

Hole in a cloudy sky

I went out to the store during a lull in the torrential rain and wind today. On the way back home, I saw a patch of bright blue within the clouds. I thought my eyes were giving me problems or I was coming down with a migraine, but it was a blue sky peeking out from the moving clouds. I only had seconds to catch this photo, because the clouds were moving real fast.

Wishing a Merry Christmas!

Saw this house earlier tonight-lights were on and in every part of the house and in the front yard. Some of the lights were even flashing and blinking. It reminded me of the Griswald's house in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Lights

One of the things I like during the holiday season is seeing Christmas lights and displays. Seeing such a sight brings joy and wonder, as well as a smile.

Apartment balcony lights brightly shining.

Colorful lights at the Ronald McDonald House.

'Christmas under the sea' store display.

Glowing apartment porch lights.

A big pufferball ornament at the local art gallery.

A shopping mall display with a gift wrapping reindeer.

The same mall display, which was sadly tucked away in a corner where it could be hardly seen.

Lighted Christmas tree decorated with baby toys, bottles, and bibs.

Apartment tower balcony lights of various colors.

Lighted toy duck display during the day at the beach.

Lighted Jack-in-the-box display at the beach.

I hope these pictures brought you joy, wonder, and a smile too. Merry Christmas!!

Crashing Waves at Winter

I have always have found the sight and sound of the ocean a calming sight.  During the Summer, I soak my stressed and tired feet in the soft and salty water. Going to the beach is a stress reliever of sorts. Earlier this week during a long and grueling holiday shopping trip, I decided to go look at the ocean.

The Virginia Beach oceanfront is usually very quiet during this time of year. There are some couples walking on the sand or people tossing sticks to their dogs, and nobody in the water. The sand is piled high above like a cliff and gives a breathtaking view of the Atlantic ocean. You kind of feel that you are at peace there.

The cloudy winter sky and the ocean.

The lovely sight of crashing waves.

Crashing waves against a cornflower blue, yellow and pale orchid sky.

The sight of crashing waves calms me.

No one can outdo the beauty of the ocean.

I feel like I am in a Impressionist painting.

Full Moons

I have always liked the sight of the full moon, when it is glowing on a clear night or when it is trying to shine through moving clouds on a cloudy night. I try to take a good picture with the cell phone, but sometimes it can be hard. 

Full moon trying to shine through the clouds as seen from my bedroom window, Spring 2011.

Finally a clear shot of the full moon through my bedroom window, Spring 2011.

Another clear shot of the moon shining through the bedroom window, Spring 2011.

A glowing full moon amongst bare branches, December 2011.

Whenever I see the full moon, I think of the song "Silver Moon":