parisian party

You know how there are those who make New Year’s Resolutions, and those who don’t? Well, I am DEFINITELY a “don’t” and here’s an almost unbelievably blatant example of why: Every year my husband makes a list of New Year’s resolutions, and actually does them. The morning of our first New Year’s together, I remember thinking that all his resolution talk was just the normal promises that you make after a hard night out ( “I promise I’m never going to drink again. I’m going to renew my gym membership, etc. etc.”). But then, later that June, he came in with an armful of plywood, and when I asked him what that was all about he said, “One of my resolutions was that I’d take up woodworking this year, remember?”… (me: “Um, no!”)

So, as usual, right around New Year’s he starts bugging me about how I never make resolutions. Every year I remind him that I practice the “Don’t Start Me to Lyin’” philosophy- why would I make a resolution when I’m bound not to keep it? I would be working against nature, really. It just goes against my “Kim-ness” to make New Years resolutions… OK, so flash back to 3 weeks ago. It’s the middle of holiday party season, and I’m feeling generally foul and sluggish after working I-don’t-know-how-many weeks of holiday “do’s”. I tend not to have much more than a glass of champagne while I’m working (which I rarely get to finish, btw), but usually after breakdown, the team will go out for a beer or two. During the holiday season, this often ends up being more like 2 or three (or more). One morning, I tossed a teensy-tiny little idea out into the universe, “Hey, after the New Year, maybe I’ll cut back on the biére blanche a bit.” Not out loud, not really a resolution, just a little thought to myself. Well, Christmas finally arrives, and we’re all up North at my husbands family’s house exchanging gifts, and guess what that wicked Père Noël left under the tree for li’l ole me? A Philips PerfectDraft Beer Machine! Its black and silver, about the size of an espresso machine and sits on your kitchen counter top. You buy these little kegs, pop them in, and the machine keeps them at the perfect temperature (3°C, in case you were wondering…) and pours a perfect beer every time! Gorgeous! Unfortunately, it is absolutely impossible not to pour yourself a little something pretty much every time you walk by the kitchen. We’ve both promised not to buy a refill keg until our next dinner party, but until then- I’m just happy that I didn’t make that resolution!