What to look forward to in 2012?

I need something to look forward to in 2012.

Gym Membership?
Pro: It's healthy and fun, at least for awhile! I can get partial reimbursement.
Con: I already have a free "gym" (the treadmill sucks) in my basement (and it's in my unfinished basement) and the novelty will likely wear off the gym membership.

Vacation?
Pro: We have plans to either go to the Portland brewfest in July or to do a brew tour around Vermont with our friends.
Con: That's a long way off.

Summer landscaping/gardening?
Pro: We are moving the garden this year to be more convenient, and because I can't get rid of a tomato leaf spot that crept into the garden a few years ago. I'm looking forward to planning that out.
Con: We need to finish off one big project: the back garage stoop. It's basically adding some decking and a step, then finishing off with some rocks and low maintenance plants/bushes. It's a crappy area-shady and in need of some height. I hate Arborvite, and refuse to plant it there. My other options are limited.

New hobby?
Pro: I need to buy a sewing machine to deal with some basic hemming, etc. That could lead to some other fun decorative things. I also have a stockpile of some good cozy material that would make great pajamas. It's already about 15 years old, because I've never taken the sewing initiative.
Con: Cost and I don't know how to sew.

Happy Holidays

We are just back from a 10 day Caribbean cruise. It was extremely relaxing! You may notice my new Facebook profile pic. But of course, no vacation goes unpunished. I have two grant proposals coming due, two grant reports due, two project budgets to revise for reapproval, and of course, very little done for the holidays!

My holiday to do list:
1) Cards-this will be done sometime before Jan. 5th. :-)
2) A few more outdoor decorations
3) Grocery shopping
4) A few more gifts-did a lot of shopping last night with no car, just the bus. My arms were sore.

Chris baked cookies for me last weekend so we had time to join friends for the (diappointing) Packer game. Wasn't that nice? We did peanut blossoms, fudge and toffee.

For Christmas with my FIL, et al, we are repeating the cooking class Chris and I took in Antigua. It's called "Cooking with Rum." I'm buying the groceries, the instructor gave us the recipes, and we are all going to cook the food. There are six of us, and I have a reasonably large kitchen, so it should be fun. We'll have 1-2-3-4 rum punch to drink (parts lime juice, sugar, rum and water) and finish with espresso martinis. They were my favorite after dinner drink on the cruise. We've now had 30 of the 34 "designer" martinis on the ship's martini menu. :-)

I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season. Cheers!