History of the New Year's Resolution

Sunday, December 31, 2006

The first day of the year is one of the world’s oldest holidays. According to historians, Babylonians have been celebrating the new year over 4000 years ago. This ancient civilization has been credited by some to have originated an annual tradition that still prevails: the New Year’s Resolution.

The 23rd of March was considered the first day of the Babylonian calendar, and a common resolution by the people was the practise of returning items borrowed over the course of the past year to their rightful owners. Typically these were household items such as farming equipment.

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March. However, as a result of tampering by various emperors, the calendar soon became out of synch with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the first day of the year.

It was not until Julius Caesar established the Julian Calendar in 46 BC that the calendar was finally back in synch with the sun. The first month of the calendar was named in honour of the mythical figure Janus, the God of All Beginnings. Janus was a symbol of beginnings and endings, whose two faces allowed him to both look forward and backward in time. A common resolution in ancient Rome was to seek forgiveness from enemies of previous years.

Today, health-related resolutions top contemporary New Year’s resolutions. Many pledge to lose weight, exercise more, and quit smoking. A close second are financial resolutions that include plans to increase savings, conquer debt, and avoid excessive spending. Rounding out the list of today’s common resolutions are those pertaining to relationships, including making amends with friends and family, practising more patience with coworkers, and striving towards better communication with others.

Now, if only today’s resolutions were as simple as returning a borrowed item, many more would proudly claim to have followed through on a resolution. However, though those who succeed remain small in number, they are nevertheless an inspiration to all and this keeps the tradition of the New Year’s Resolution alive.

Maui Oct 24 - Nov 02 2006

Saturday, December 30, 2006

When people think of Hawaii, the word "budget" is not the next thing that comes to mind. But it can be done. I did Maui on a budget! The key is research and planning. There are a few options when it comes to accomodation.

If you're going with a bunch of people, renting an apartment is definately the way to go. But if you're a solo traveller such as myself, consider looking into the few, very few, hostels available in Hawaii. Do your research. There is plenty of information online with feedback from other travellers' first-hand experiences.

Thanks to my friend Christin, I knew to stay in Lahaina Town. There are many other towns on Maui but Lahaina was a little less pricey. What a great little place. Decently priced and full of history. I stayed at Patey's Place on Wainee Street. Yes, they are strict: no alcohol, no drugs, no loud music, kitchen's closed at 10pm. But it is very safe and very clean. I guess they have to be strict to keep things in order. The staff is great; I became good friends with two of them, Aaron and Annemat.

Aaron, who's from California, took me around the island in a 2006 Mustang GT. It was awesome to be driving around Maui with the top down. The weather was perfect and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Words cannot describe what I saw. You're just going to have to see it for yourself.

Anna, from Holland, was so much fun to hang around. I miss her. She taught me how to surf; she is a wonderful person. We had fun shopping and singing and driving around in her surf van. We got into a small fender-bender. As you can see, it was easily fixed with some ducktape!!! She's still in Maui. She'll be leaving for Australia in the new year. After a couple of months, she'll be heading to Fiji then to Bali. Anna is on a surfing tour. How awesome is that!! Hope you're having fun girl!

Mom in Malaysia

A map indicating where Mom is. Missing her and wondering what she's up to. Right now she's probably sleeping cos' it's about 12 or 13 hours ahead. Wish she was home. Wish she would call more. Now who's the parent.

Another 25 days till she is home.

A Few Friends from School

Here are some pics taken on the last day of school. We all got together at Pauper's on Bloor.

Kiara, Raquel, me, and Anne.
Kiara's a friend of Anne's.
Raquel will be at CIBC in January with Cat.
Anne will be working at CAMH.
Everyone's right downtown, except for a few of us north of the city. Boo.





Delme
We'll both be working at IBM come January.

My good friend, Cat. We bonded from the time we met. She is a really great person. Good people are hard to find. She's definately a keeper. She'll be working at CIBC right downtown during the co-op term. Lucky!!!

Hobie and Mark.
Hobie has been a bartender for most of his life. His idea of technology is the pocketsize paper notebook and pen he carries. He's come a long way since the first semester.

Mark, such a funny guy. He just wants a good girl; so if anyone's interested, get in touch! He's an English major, rocker, and poet (I just made that up cos' it sounds good.)

Mom On Vacation

Friday, December 29, 2006

So Mom is in Malaysia right now. She left on the 27th and will return on the 24th of January. It's the first time she's travelled on her own since a very long time. She arrived safely but not without incident.

Crappy Air Canada did not take care of my mom. They wheeled her, along with four other passengers requiring assistance, onto the boarding platform. They got the other passengers on but left my mom waiting while all the other able-bodied passengers boarded the plane!!

After all passengers boarded, they PAGED her!!!!!! Finally someone realized that she was waiting outside in a wheelchair. Nevertheless, that made my mom feel like a piece of lugguage. Didn't any of the stewards have some sense of decency?!!!! I am absolutely appalled at their level of service.

Upon landing in Beijing, she was transferred to the hands of Air China; they really took care of her. Mom was impressed with the way they treated her. It was such a contrast. One person took care of her throughout the entire transition. They even had a porter at her service from the time she left the plane. He helped with her luguage and made sure she was safe with Mark, my cousin, before he left.

I wrote an email to Air Canada. Surprisingly, they replied. Here is the reply:

Response (Leslie Anne Macalister) - 12/29/2006 05:20 PM

Dear Ms. Low,

We were disturbed to learn of the situation you have described in your email.

Please forward your mothers full name and flight details in order that we may do a thorough investigation of your concerns.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Leslie Anne Macalister

Customer Solutions Customer

======================================================================

So let's see what happens next.

Anyway, I'm glad Mom is safe. I'm sure she's going to have a wonderful time with all her family and friends. I know they'll take good care of her. Pop and I, as well as Leia and Smokey miss her very much, and it's only been a day.

When Did Dating Get So Difficult?

It used to be simple: boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. Or was that only in fairytales? Though we may wonder when did finding that special someone become so difficult throughout the year, never is that question more contemplated than over the holiday season.

As the sole single, uncoupled person sitting at the dining table, we may ask ourselves, “Why am I still single?” Not that we do not relish our freedom, our ability to travel to foreign lands on a whim, or the no-questions-asked when we delight in a newly purchase pair of Jimmy Choos or a 36” LCD flat-screen TV.

But sometimes the happy single does wonder.

Over the past few years, the single person has been presented with a mish-mash of dating advice and strategies brought on by the reality that many are waiting a lot longer than our historical counterparts to settle down and get married. We are dating more than we used to and some, newly single, find themselves back later in the dating game.

Many dabble in a variety of different ways to meet that special someone. With the availability of online dating and the now-becoming-acceptable dating services, there seems to be alternatives to bars and clubs.

However, still plaguing the single person are the overwhelming rules and strategies for dating that “experts,” without solicitation, dispense.

It began many years ago with The Rules and more recently there was He’s Just Not That Into You. Women flocked to purchase these books in hopes to uncover one of the greatest mysteries of mankind—the thought patterns of the male species. Some may have even referred to these books as dating manuals.

However, attempts to compartmentalize unique real-life situations to the ones described in books rendered many, not only frustrated but, to question their own thoughts and actions.

Though these more popular books have women as their target audience, men were not exempt from being targeted as well. Askmen.com has a section on love and dating with hundreds of articles that help men, for instance, “avoid the friend zone.”

It doesn’t take an expert to realize that what ends up happening is that, though both are sincerely interested in one another, she “keeps herself busy” while he “pretends that he is just not interested.” With both parties doing their own thing, no connection is made. No one is willing to make the first move so as not to “lose” the “game.”

That’s right. It has become a game where each player calculates each and every move in anticipation of what the other person might do. Neither is willing to take the risk.

No one ever said love would be easy. In love, we’re taking a chance, exposing our vulnerability, and there are no guarantees.

Love is not about rules or playing it safe; it’s about respecting yourself and the other person. Know who you are and what you want before getting into a relationship.

You must create a life for yourself before you can share it with someone else.

Once you’ve done your homework, go out and have fun. Throw away the rule books because there is only one rule: to love and respect yourself. Always remember who you are: your values, your needs, and your goals and dreams.

With a new year approaching, why not try something new; take a chance and make that connection. The great woman you just met probably does not have plans for the weekend, even if it is after Wednesday; and he would love to have a night away from the boys. You never know, the risk might be worth the reward; there just may be a fairytale after all.