Packing in Anticipation of How Much I Dislike Packing

Today, I am re-visiting one of my New Year's resolutions:

* Be 95% packed and ready to go a few days before my flight leaves for Brazil

Packing is always so much more overwhelming than I anticipate. Even when I anticipate that it will be bad.

For the past week I have been slowly slogging away at it, in between wonderful visits with old and new friends, visiting new places (such as Bossa Nova, where I tried a fabulous fruit smoothie with ginger), re-visiting old ones (Kerbey Lane on South Lamar), seeing movies (Avatar)...

Making a pile of "potential" clothes for Brazil and then dividing them in half. Taking a few more out of the pile the next day. Then adding a t-shirt (or two) I just had to buy from Target.

Slowly checking things off my list of things to buy: shampoo & conditioner, Advil, Uno (when it doubt, teach kids how to play cards), Extra Strength Hua Tuo Medicated Plasters, Emergen-C and God knows what else.

Figuring out what art supplies, jewelry, books, photographs I deemed impossible to live without during the next for months (I have some interesting ideas of "necessary" items).

And so after returning from a lovely evening of catching up with two girlfriends, I decided it was time to see if the massive pile of stuff accumulating on the futon would fit in my suitcases...I rolled up all the shirts army-style, just as a friend returning from boot camp taught me. I started feeling hopeful.

And, amazingly, everything fit. With room to spare. Woo hoo!

Even my beloved yoga mat is in there, wedged diagonally, taking up a lot of space in the larger suitcase. It looks pretty reasonable considering how long I'll be gone.

Now, the reality check is that there is a bit more to add. And I haven't weighed the bags yet either. I also feel like a total overly prepared dork. Still, I'm feeling some weight off my shoulders as I anticipate my last 4 days in Austin.

Chutney, Samosa & New Year's Resolutions

Late in the afternoon my boyfriend and I biked to Mozart's.

 My friend was meeting us there because I guilt-tripped her into it. "I don't know, it's chilly outside," she said. "But it's New Year's day! So you gotta do it," I said until she relented.

The lights all over the deck made me happy and I whipped out my camera and wandered amongst people drinking coffee to grab a few shots.

I was happier still when I snagged a table inside while my boyfriend waited in the insanely long line. And unfortunately dealt with slightly snooty staff, likely overwhelmed by the steady stream of customers.

When my friend showed up, I was making a list of New Year's Resolutions. "You know, I've never done this before," I said, "For some reason, I'm usually not into this sort of thing."

"Perhaps," she said, "It's because you're about to embark on an adventure."

And so, because I felt the need to mention this meeting, I asked her what she wanted her alias to be on this blog. "What's your alter ego name?"

The three of us ran through lists of animal names and checking out their translations in Hindi and Portuguese..."Well, you've got an alias already," I said to my boyfriend, "My boyfriend."

"I want something better than that," he grumbled.

And so, after much deliberation, they chose their aliases...

Meet Chutney and Samosa!

And then Chutney and Samosa reviewed my New Year's Resolutions.

Here's the list:

* Go from proficient to fluent in Portuguese
* Eat more veggies and less wheat, dairy & sugar; Drink more water; Eat smaller portions of food
* Continue to develop my personal yoga practice
* Write & update my Brazil blog on a regular (if not daily) basis
* Take lots of photos & carry my camera(s) with me whenever possible
* Get 8 hours of sleep every night
* Spend less time on the internet
* Become more disciplined in my daily activities (i.e. get things done efficiently as opposed to procrastinating and having less time to play later)
* Be (more) financially savvy
* Get out of my head (spend more time getting comfortable in the right-brain)
* Be open to all the wonderful people I'm about to meet and all the wonderful people I'm lucky to already know
* Learn, learn, learn
* Listen (more)
* Dress up more often and wear pretty shoes
* Come up with a good exercise routine and stick to it
* Find a fantabulous job that plays to my strengths and passions AND compensates me damn well when I graduate
* Be 95% packed and ready to go a few days before my flight leaves for Brazil
* Let myself be happy and creative and open to new experiences & personal growth
* Continue to cultivate mindfulness
* Have fun!
* Practice loving kindness with others and myself
* Find (at least) one thing every day to be grateful for [I'm grateful to Chutney for adding this one]

I'll have to check back in on my resolve in a few months and see how these resolutions are going...

And so, what are y'all's resolutions for 2010? What's on your list?