Dear 2015,

I thought yesterday and still today about what would be a meaningful and lofty New Year's resolution.  I don't typically make resolutions, as keeping up with the things I normally desire to do is enough for me.  But as today unfolded, I found a couple of things that I now would formally like to resolve to approach with caution, if not avoid altogether.

Resolution #1 - Approach the sun visor in the car with extreme caution!  Let me preface this by saying I've employed the use of a sun visor for the entirety of my career as a driver.  I, like my Dad, am extremely sensitive to the sun in my eyes.  Therefore, I very frequently use my sun visor.  I use it folded straight down to keep the sun out of my eyes when it is directly in front of me.  I twist it to the side to avoid the face burning glare that can sometimes occur.  Seeing how it's not a complicated instrument, I wouldn't have considered it to be resolution worthy.  Today's unfortunate incident taught me otherwise.  As Jeff finished adding air to the tires in our vehicle, we were backing away from the air pump.  (By the way, the QT Store in Oro Valley has free air if you find yourself in need of some.)  The reverse motion caused a shift in the angle that the sun was hitting our windshield, so I attempted to adjust the sun visor.  Well, here's where the danger commenced!  The visor had somehow become a bit stuck in its present position and was hesitant to be moved.  I was rather persistent in my desire to move said visor to keep the sun from blinding me.  In this visor verses Stacey tug of war, the visor cried, "Uncle!"  Of course it didn't have the decency to make this audible, so therefore I was caught rather off guard when it suddenly gave up its position.  This, combined with my heroic efforts to move the visor, created the perfect storm of circumstances in which the visor popped out of its little holder and popped me right in the face.  I must say, I was quite surprised at the strength of the hit a visor can muster.  That little sucker hurt!  I know you must be wondering what valiant efforts my first responder, studly husband did in response to this attack on my person?  I would like to say he immediately ripped the offending visor off in a fit of rage at the injury it had inflicted upon me.  But alas, he was too busy laughing till he cried to be of any assistance whatsoever.  I'm pretty sure he spent more time studying the steaks that were on sale at the grocery store we went to after the fact.  I know, a man has to keep his priorities in order and all. (Those better be some good steaks, that's all I have to say about that!)

Resolution #2 - Aluminum foil is not your friend!  So the first responder, studly hubs bought those steaks.  He smoked them in a handy smoker/pressure cooker his mom sent us for Christmas.  (Quite a handy little kitchen appliance, might I add!) He cut them up and added them to a quite yummy salad that we enjoyed for dinner.  After the lovely dinner was over, I proceeded to begin cleaning the kitchen.  One of the first things I wanted to do was to cover the remaining salad and put it in the fridge.  I considered using Saran wrap for the job, but since the bowl was plastic, I didn't think that it would stick.  So, I decided to use the old standby, aluminum foil.  Like sun visors, I've used foil for years.  Never have I thought to approach the aluminum foil with trepidation.  I grabbed that box of heavy duty foil all willy nilly and tore off a big ole piece to cover my salad bowl.  With a fling of the wrist, I draped that shiny square over that bowl and proceeded to position it accordingly.  In my haste to preserve tonight's dinner for tomorrow's lunch, I managed to run my pinkie finger along the edge of said foil. In case you're like me and are ignorant of the dangers inherent to foil, let me enlighten you. Foil has a very sharp edge! This edge can run stealthily across your skin, fileting it in the process.  This is what happened to me. First, for just a second, I pondered the chance that my finger had been cut completely off.  Then, I took a deep breath and totally whimpered like a child.  Next, I inspected the damage and found that bright red blood was already beginning to pour from the wound. Once again, I know you are thinking that first responder, studly hubs jumped up and instantly began administering first aide with the utmost care and concern!  Uh, not so much.  Instead, from his position on the recliner, he commented that he'd never heard of someone cutting themselves on aluminum foil and that I should apply pressure to it to stop the bleeding.  So much for the crazy measures to which I picture him frequently leaping.  I must say, however, that he did complete the kitchen clean up, and in the process very bravely faced the sinister aluminum foil that was out to kill us.  I took over his spot on the recliner and held my pinkie finger in a paper towel, applying pressure while it continued to bleed and hurt a lot might I add.

So, those are my resolutions for this year.  Being that resolutions are about improving oneself, I think they fit the bill.  I will face the new year with less red whelts on my forehead and less gashes on my pinkie fingers.  Please use my story as a cautionary tale!  Avoid sun visors and aluminum foil! 

Happy 2015,

Stacey