My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the earthquake/tsunami disaster. It is incomprehensible how many were lost. My hope is that some rich philantropist funds and puts together a database for the missing in hopes that family members that were separated and are still alive will re-unite.

The holiday season and New Year began both wrong and right for Erika and Grubster. Potholes in the road of life. It is a process, this is what we must remember. Re-birth constantly occurs within ourselves and between us. I will leave it at that but say that I had a wonderful time on the 'Eve with Grubster. He took me ice skating at the Depot rink (www.thedepotminneapolis.com). It was wonderful, innocent, yet so romantic. Especially when we tried to ice dance and toppled over one another! A young man at the ice rink made a very sneaky marriage proposal on ice. When they were announcing the winners of the weekend getaway drawing, the announcer told everyone to get off the ice for the announcement. Next thing we knew the young man and young lady went out on the ice and the man got down on one knee. It was so beautiful to watch the tears fill her eyes as they exited the rink.

Shortly before the countdown, the concession stand was about to close. I ended the year in the worst possible BTD way: with a hot dog. Before that, at the Marriot Courtyard (connected to the rink), Grubster and I sat by the fire with a hot cider filled with Amaretto and Chambord (me) and Amaretto and Captain Jack (him). When the Zamboni machine tooks us away from the ice, we again went for a second drink: Port wine (me) and beer (him). The bar was smoky. A strange drunk man began to pester Grubster, first asking him if he voted for Kucinich (WHAT?), then went into how the two of us need to be nice to each other (good advice), then how if there's ever anyone who makes our lives miserable he can hook us up with someone to ruin their career or break their legs or arms (OK.....) and how he's in the mafia and how his life is much life that of Tony Soprano's (oh dear).

This had to be the strangest encounter I've ever witnessed. We walked away trying to figure out if he was for real or just pulling our leg. Either way, I don't think I want to know, haha. Mind my own business...........well, we hypothesize he was repressed/bi-curious or something and regrets settling down with a wife and kids, and now longing for alternative adventure, trying to get that sense of adventure from my boyfriend. I mean, really, why else would someone come up to him and say, "Kucinich! You voted for Kucinich, right?" then corrects himself by going into how he is a republican himself when he realizes that Grubster wasn't aware of who Kucinich was b/c he didn't follow the primaries. Very strange and random indeed. For better or worse, Grubster falsely goes off on the Gaydar a lot. It's kind of funny.

Well, today we had a wonderful lunch at French Meadow. Grubster ate the omelet special and I ate the zone omelet. I felt as if I was truly starting the New Year off right. We then ordered a slice of capuccino torte for Grubster's birthday. It was rich and we could not finish it. But it was good.

This year, my health resolutions are as follows:

-Positive thinking!

-Adhere to the BTD more consistently but forgive self for wandering off the path from time to time.

-Cook more at home in order to explore alternative grains and minimize harmful additives.

-Drink more water!

-Utilize healing herbs to promote inner harmony and balanced energies

-Take BTD vitamins and other supplements more consistently

-EXERCISE! Seriously, Erika, it's time! Only 2 1/2 more years till my thirties. Must build bones and heart muscles.

-Meditation/deep breathing/prayer once daily, ideally in a group setting

-Curb procrastination

-Do at least one colon/liver cleanse this year when it is convenient

So far, those are the biggies. I hope everyone else had a safe and fun holiday season and appreciates the blessings in their lives. May all your New Year's wishes and resolutions hold true.