A New Year Begins

Happy New Year!
This working life in the States is taking its toll on me, so I was in bed before midnight last night, but not until after a lovely dinner with some friends.
Even though I had taken the day off teaching, I woke up very early.
But I lay in bed leisurely scrolling through news stories and Facebook on my phone.
My friend Pam has a theory, a superstition, that whatever you're doing on the first day of the year, you'll continue to do throughout the year.
So, I took a nice 4-mile run in the 32-degree weather, through the streets where we used to live in Grandview Heights. It was definitely warmer than yesterday when a biting wind drove Sheila and me into a coffee shop where we could sit and chat.
But not today. I had to make my New Year's run.
While perusing Facebook earlier in the day, I'd see my friend Sally who works at the YMCA had invited everyone to a water fitness class on New Year's Day.
In for a penny, I figured I might as well go to water fitness class too. Sally said she was afraid only two people would show up, but I was not alone in wanting to start my day off with fitness.
There were 24 of us who showed up for the New Year's Day class.

I'm in the front center with a blue noodle. 

I hadn't taken a water fitness class for years and thought it wouldn't be challenging, but it was fun and I know my muscles will feel it tomorrow, especially the arm work lifting buoyant weights -- actually fighting to keep them underwater. The water in the Y's pool is always a lovely warm temperature and I loved being in the water again.

Fresh from an hour-long workout. 

Like Elizabeth Warren on the campaign stump, Sally took a selfie with each of us.
We move on from another housesit today. We've been challenged by the rambunctious puppy Molly, a sheepadoodle who galumphs throughout the house and doesn't know how her body moves yet.

Molly -- queen of the couch

We're going to stay with our friends through Grace's wedding.
Hope you all have begun the New Year in a way that brings you joy.

First Day Wrong Turn

Are you familiar with the superstition that whatever you do on the first day of the year,  you'll be doing throughout the year?

"Whatever a person does on this day will influence his activity for the rest of the year." 

That's according to the website New Year's Superstitions.
So every year, I try to make sure that I run on the first day of the year.
But what do you do if things have already gone awry after the stroke of midnight. One of the first communications I had after midnight was a spat. And no, we didn't talk through it and reach a resolution. Instead, I went to bed (finally) angry.
I got a call this morning from a friend whose New Year started off badly too.
When I woke up early, my stomach was upset. I wish I could say it was because I drank too much, but I only had one glass of wine. So instead of a run, I spent the morning in the bathroom.
Now, the hour grows close to noon, and I wonder how the rest of you turn around a new year that starts off badly?
I suppose, I could assume that I'm getting the bad out of the way and the rest of 2016 will be joyful.
Hope everyone else is having a lovely first day of the year.