Is it safe to come out?

A new day has dawned; the holidays are over!!! The new year is within eye-shot! Like I mentioned in an earlier post, the Christmas spirit eluded me this year. I gave an honest try, baking somewhere around 300 cookies last week, but my steam sputtered out early to until I didn't even have the energy to go to Midnight Mass at the cathedral 5 blocks from my house. Sorry, God, but between not being able to afford Christmas presents, getting a heating bill for twice my average amount due to the recent cold snap, and being too broke to get home for Christmas, I'm inclined to convert to Judaism just to avoid ever having to deal with this crappy holiday again. Blah.

So let's just pretend the last month didn't happen, shall we? Yes. Looking ahead with slightly more optimism, we can convince ourselves that an arbitrary change from 8 to 9 does actually reset the clock to a brighter tomorrow. If nothing else, it's one number closer 2012, to which I say, "Bring it on."

Now, I normally boycott New Year's resolutions on account of my irritation with putting any special significance for life changing decisions on any particular, arbitrary day. However, this year I have decided to partake in this cultural phenomenon. I resolve to seriously reduce my environmental impact, questioning every decision in terms of what's best for the environment. I've always been militant about recycling and only eating organic/free range (my mom totally did it before it was cool), but there are so many more ways I can do better. This line of thinking was sparked by my future mom-in-law giving me one of those super hip metal water bottles, easily my favorite present this year. I was so excited, because oh my god, I have an easy alternative to plastic water bottles now, yay! Even though I always recycle them, this is even better! Now, what else can I do? Well here's a list of things I vow to attempt:

• Completely turn off and unplug everything in my apartment for at least 2 hours every day
• Insulate my windows to cut down on heating use (and cost, double win!)
  
• Get off my ass and go to the farmer's market every Saturday for local produce
• Invest in a Diva Cup to minimize my monthly gift's impact
• Utilize candle light
  
• Watch less TV
• Turn off my computer at night
• Patronize enivronmentally conscious stores
• Sacrifice my individually wrapped string cheese sticks
• Cut down, if not completely eliminate, my sushi consumption
  
• And finally, the hardest one of all, ween myself off smooth, hairless gams
  

Alright, here's hoping for a better, greener and more gainfully employed year for all.

Good riddance 2008, you lousy bastard. 2009, I welcome you with green, open arms!