New Year's Resolutions

Where have the weeks gone??

For the last several weeks, actually, the whole month(!!!), my life was all about the holidays.  It was all about shopping and prepping for Christmas. 

You see, Giuseppe was once divorced and holidays are difficult for divorced parents, even if the children are grown.  So this year, we decided to host everyone in his family, extended and all.  Come one, come all!  It made him very happy to have everyone over in our little apartment.

That meant (for me at least) an increase in shopping on all levels -- food and presents.  I cooked and baked like my life depended on it.  Thankfully, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were wonderfully celebrated.  Tonight, New Year's Eve, is all about celebrating.  Just the two of us.  No friends, no entertaining.  I'm thrilled that I don't have to cook.  I just don't think I have much left in me!  It's time to drink up and celebrate another great year.

New Year's Resolutions

I have been pondering what I could do to improve myself in the New Year.  Usually I have a few resolutions and make a list so I can remind myself come Valentine's Day of the commitment I made in the name of self-improvement.  Exercise?  Blah!  Eat less??? Why???  My brain must still be in holiday OD, because I can't think of anything right now.  I COULD promise to travel more, but that's already self-fulfilling.  Giuseppe and I have several trips on docket.  I think a good resolution is to try a new wine every week.  Something I would normally not have and write about it.  Yes!  Now we're onto something.  What will YOU resolve to do better and more or less of in 2013???

I am scheduled to teach a class on the wines of Molise at the end of January.  Molise is one of the 20 political regions in Italy.  I was asked by a former colleague of mine to conduct a wine tasting of this region.  Why Molise you ask?  Because the group is an Italian-American cultural group dedicated to Molise.  Molise was up until 1963 a part of Abruzzo.  It has slowly achieved it own independence and has 3 designated quality regions.  So far, life is winding down with the holidays and picking-up with research.  It's work of the best kind.  In the next several weeks, I'll be pounding the pavement looking for Molise wines that are imported and available for tasting.  I'll report back on my findings.

Until then, have a VERY Happy New Year celebration!