It’s all in how you look at it

January is upon us. Seems strange, just a while ago we were all still barbecuing, swimming and wearing less to get around. Now from outside to more inside activities we go. I forget where I was when I read the most depressing day of the year is the second Monday after New Year’s day which falls in 2008 on Monday January 14th. The point of this being the most blue of the days on the calendar is by now the holiday anxiety and occurrence of the fun, excitement and gatherings is long gone. So too are the decorations, the decadent foods and time off. Yes, now we’re back to the daily grind and it’s some time before an extended vacation break for many of us working or hitting the books. I used to be in the camp of seeing this time of year as dull, dreary and down right a drag.

As I said in the headline it’s all in how you look at it. Did I enjoy the holidays just past? Sure, I try every year to get some fun and fellowship out of the holidays. They come and go every year and every year the Christmas holidays just past create in many of us a post partum condition. There’s really no reason for it. It’s just how we’ve conditioned ourselves. January is a month that gets a bad rap. Real bad. We all seem to go around like January is somehow more depressing, most depressing of the months that come after it. Is it really? I get the cold weather is not everyone’s cup of tea. I understand it’s a long month that requires us being inside more. There is more to January than meets the eye that’s appealing if you give some thought to the subject. Now’s a great time to see where and how you want to achieve goals this year. January offers us time inside to contemplate where we want to see our growth personally, professionally, academically or all three. We have time inside to be with our friends, families and those important to us. Create some special moments. Create some interesting inside activities.

The boys and I have used this time recently to catch up on some classic movies. We work and school all week and if we hit it just right there’s one, sometimes two nights where we can just kick back. I am not a proponent of the boob tube but I do like the idea of us all catching up on some old movies. Actually, I’m the one catching up, the boys are starting up, seeing for the first time many classic movies such as ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ – my vote for the best movie of all time. The other night we also watched ‘The Bells of St. Mary’s’ with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Catching up on some lost ‘Honeymooners’ episodes was also fun and while we all chuckled I thought of dad who roared at the sight of Jackie Gleason and Art Carney having exchanges. Besides classic TV night we play some board games, read together and create some fun and interesting dinners / snacks. One recipe I received from a client and friend is for ‘zoup’. That’s not a misprint. ‘Zoup’ is a combination of a soup and stew thus the name. Easy to make, check this out, I’ve had it and it’s a home run.

Zoup
You’ll need:

1 16oz can crushed tomatoes
1 12 oz can chicken broth
1 onion ( minced )
2 tbspoons of Olive Oil
2 carrots ( peeled and diced )
3 stalks of celery ( diced )
2 cloves of garlic ( diced )
½ tablespoon of salt, pepper, oregano and fresh parsley
1 can potatoes ( rinsed and diced )
½ pound of mild Italian sausage, remove the casing and roll into small gumball sized shapes.

In a fry pan brown the sausage rendering the grease.  Set aside.

In a large pot heat your olive oil, add salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, carrots, onion, garlic and celery.  Let clarify.  Then add your potatoes, crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.  Let stand about fifteen minutes on medium hit and finally add the Italian sausage.

Let stand about 30 minutes then serve with crusty Italian bread.

Great stuff.  Fun, easy and delicious and a great winter meal. 

Many of the activities for us parents may change but certainly don’t end. CYO and other athletic organizations are in full swing as are scouting both boys, cubs and Venture crew. This is great as it keeps kids and parents occupied and doing wholesome things during the winter months. I usually take these months and try and rack up some more time visiting mom, straightening the house ( funny when we’re in our homes more the things that need doing often stare back at us until we get up the nerve to fix them ). Finally, January is a great month for me to do more of one thing I really miss during the holidays and other seasons. Sleep. January is a great month to catch that afternoon cat nap or hit the sack early is a wonderful thing that’s great about winter. Just like the bears, hibernating in January and the cold months is a great change of pace from the scramble routine of the rest of the year.

Take the down time and unwind. It won’t be long before we’re all gearing up for Easter and spring time. Easter is extraordinarily early this year coming in on March 23rd. So we’ll all be busy soon enough. Put a new spin on your January thinking. Relax, get your work in order and enjoy a month that offers more than you think. See ya around town.