Well, here you go.

A few things:

1. Thank you to Lyndsay and Lauren for coming over at midnight to help film this.

2. I actually managed to do 3 things from my list in this video:
a. fold a fitted sheet
b. make myself laugh [normal- happens all the time]
c. make my friends laugh

3. I did not, however, read a book from start to finish in this video.

4. I usually don’t make videos longer than 4 minutes, but sometimes tutorials are a bit lengthy. Sorry bout it.

5. Don’t judge my bookcase. I know. It’s a sickness. But I’m a writer. It’s my “job.”

6. Thanks to Janet for teaching our group of friends to fold a fitted sheet and for teaching us that other thing too [regarding my lip and wax and let's not talk about it]. I will always consider you a sensei of sorts.

7. I got a FlipCam for Christmas! No more lisp when I make videos! Yay!! [though I don't know why it's wide screen. rude.]

8. This was kinda fun. What other video blog ideas do you have for me? Bring it.

No New Year’s Resolutions for me. Not a one.

I can’t do it this year.

I couldn’t recap 2009. And now I can’t pressure 2010.

I’m gonna shoot you straight, blogmie.

I’m a failure. A total ultimate no-way-around-it failure. [I know. I'm shattering your belief in my personal perfection. Sorry.] But it’s true. I’m terrible at a lot of things. [And this isn't false humility begging for comments about how great I am. Seriously. Don't do it.]

Cause there are things that I’m good at. Examples? If you insist.

• folding fitted sheets,
• cooking,
• painting my own nails,
• playing soccer,
• making myself laugh,
• making my friends laugh,
• reading books from start to finish,
• and a few others.

I’m willing to confess that I’m good at some things. But using January 1st as a launching point towards a better Annie has yet to be one of them.

AnnieBlogs: Failing at New Year’s Resolutions Since 1980

I kid, but you get what I’m talking about, right? This is just me saying that maybe this year, instead of making resolutions that I ABSOLUTELY promise I will complete and then proceed to fail miserably and being so discouraged that I failed again, I’m just not going to do it.

Now listen. Resolutions may work great for you because you are disciplined and enjoy the restart of January 1st. I think that’s awesome if that’s you. I can appreciate that you are that way.

I’m just not.

And I’m not going to treat January 1, 2010 as any more than another day. We had a great weekend in Nashville (an absolute deluge of engagements over Christmas [which is awesome], brunches, parties, birthdays, new friends moving to town, etc.) and I didn’t sit down one time and make “goals” or “plans” or “resolutions.”

Because I just want to LIVE 2010.

I don’t want a list to complete or a set of resolutions to accomplish. I want 365 chances to really live.

Sure, I have things I want to see happen this year. I have dreams. Goals. Plans.

But I’m going to try something different in 2010. I’m just going to give those few things to God. And I’m not going to put pressure on this Annie to do anything more than live today well. For God. For others.

AnnieBlogs: LIVING TODAY WELL since 2010

I like that.

It seems we are all in agreement.

This sweet little bird is more than just a graphic on a header.

He is a mascot. A symbol. Dare I say…. a best friend?

Maybe. But I don’t like to rush these things.

I did go ahead and frame a picture for my bedside table. But like I said, I don’t rush these things.

His name? Well, after much ponderation [I made that word up, but I like it], I have decided that this is not just my bird. He’s our bird. So we’re gonna use every [male] name you suggested. Ready?

Meet our mascot bird: Rufus Theodore Oliver Pierre Percy Beaker Gerard Harper Kyle Guster Jimbo Darcy.

That is a fancy name for a fancy fowl.

But because that name is a memorization nightmare, we’ll just call him Mr. Darcy (the bird) for short.

It really makes a lot of sense. Cause the only other photograph on my bedside table is this one.

And right now is when I’m going to need you to stop judging me and instead use your energy to find me a date with a real boy so that I can take this picture off my bedside table and replace it with a picture of a real boy who lives in Nashville though I think it will still be appropriate to have the photo of Mr. Darcy (the bird) because that really won’t be a threat to any human male that starts falling in love with me.

Amen.