Bridget = Me therefore Me = Bridget?

1** lbs (have no idea, as am in beautiful zen-like place where do not own scale, also trying desperately to hold on to empty stomach skinny feeling, a welcome after-effect of the Death Virus), alcohol units 0, cigarettes 0 (although never smoke, so would be shocked if this number reached above 0), exercise completed 0 (but have good intentions for later, so is good)

Last night I was feeling tired, depressed, and worst of all, bored.  I tried to watch the NCAA Final Four, but it turns out I don't really care.  I could've watched a movie but nothing on Netflix really seemed interesting, plus I knew I'd fall asleep.  Oddly enough I felt like reading. Earlier in the day I walked down to the waterfront and forced myself to sit there until I finished The Subtle Knife no matter how hard the wind tried to blow me away.  This made me remember the joy of reading, but I wasn't really in the mood to read any of the random non-fiction books I've accumulated on my bookshelf to read.

So I did something I almost never do.  I decided to re-read a book.  And you've probably guessed, that book is Bridget Jones's Diary.  From page 1 I knew I'd made the right decision.  The book opens with her lists of things she "Will" and "Will Not" do in the new year (aka resolutions). This, of course, weaves a cohesive thread through a lot of her diary entries the rest of the year.  A brief selection which proves Bridge and I are about 90% the exact same person:

"I WILL NOT:
* Drink more than 14 alcohol units a week
* Behave sluttishly around the house, but instead imagine others are watching
* Spend more than earn
* Fall for any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, commitment phobics, people with girlfriends or wives, misogynists, megalomaniacs, chauvinists, emotional fuckwits or freeloaders, perverts

I WILL:
* Reduce circumference of thighs by 3 inches (i.e. 1.5 inches each) using anticellulite diet
* Save up money in form of savings. Poss start pension also
* Make better use of time
* Not go out every night but stay in and read books and listen to classical music
* Get up straight away when wake up in mornings
* Go to gym three times a week not merely to buy sandwich
* Make up compilation "mood" tapes so can have tapes ready with all favorite romantic/dancing/rousing/feminist etc. tracks assembled instead of turning into drink-sodden DJ-style person with tapes scattered all over the floor

The last one in particular really made me giggle and realize how similar Bridget and I are because at least once per day I think to myself, "I need to make an exercise/dancing/driving/empowering etc playlist on my iPod."  I digress.

I'm not stupid enough to make a list of yearly resolutions because I've had plenty of practice not achieving lofty goals.  However, it is good to have goals, so I thought why not try Bridget Jones-style this week and see how it goes.

Sunday goals
* Complete at least 3 loads of laundry (have already done half a load. Yay for small steps!)
* Clean kitchen
* Make those damn red lentils that have been sitting on the counter for an uncountable number of months with so much promise
* Make cookies for office (to thank them for help during last week's Death Virus and car fiasco)
* Resume workout regime after 1 week off due to Death Virus (in form of yoga, treadmill, and/or elliptical)
* Make Peach, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad that Jenn introduced me to last year and have been craving (and for which I bought the ingredients even though some of them may have come from Chile instead of locally...am bad environmentalist)

Weekly goals
* Continue workout regime at least 3/5 week days and 1/2 weekend days
* Bring lunch to work 2/5 days
* No pre-packaged frozen/boxed meals until at least Friday (when frozen Kashi pizza is acceptable)
* Blog in witty, brilliant, Bridget-fashion about success/failure of goals
* Read something not-on-the-internet every day for at least 5 minutes
* Buy birthday presents for people in March (i.e. Mom, niece)

As incentive for these goals I just dropped an embarassing amount of money at the grocery store, and since I'm broke, cannot justify spending any more money on food for the rest of the week. Of course, lunch with officemates is inevitable, so really eating a brought-from-home lunch even one day will be an improvement.  Honestly, I have serious doubts about not eating pre-packaged meals because I'm often so exhausted by the time I finally get home and ready for dinner at 8pm. And STARVING. But we'll see.  I'm going for meals that are easy to make and have ample leftovers.

Stay tuned....