Today was one of those quietly spectacular days.

You know the sort --

I got up extra early, and felt as though I had the city to myself. Stepped out into that icy, spectral hush and discovered my first CSA delivery waiting on the front porch.

Made it to the gym by 6:30 and did a really challenging spin class before work, then got in to the office 20 minutes early.

Where I was quietly, effortlessly efficient.

Went to Weight Watchers and learned that I had lost 3.6 lbs this week.

After work, took the pups for a long, meandering stroll over the public library to pick up the books I had on hold.

Came home, cooked a lovely, simple dinner with some of my fresh-from-the-farm vegetables.

So you see, really quite unremarkable, but nearly perfect from end to end. And now I leave you with a peek at my pile of delicious, now that it's all unpacked.

I've been wanting to try out this recipe for blackened salmon for a while, but I'm sort of finicky about my fish. I like to buy wild-caught fresh stuff, and, well, that's tough to come by in Michigan. But today I dashed into Whole Paycheck to see what they had, and lo! It's time for the Copper River catch!

The Copper River king salmon are, by far, the best fish in the world. I'm not even kidding. (I paid 29.99/lb. for this shiznit*, so really – not kidding). The river is long and wild and icy and it makes for salmon with the most beautiful deep red, firm flesh and really high omega-3 oils. Soooo good...

I raced home to whip up the recipe. It's really simple, assuming you have a good spice collection. 15 minutes later, I had these stunning blackened filets with the crispy skin just falling off and zomg yum!!!!

Why did I wait so long to get a slow cooker?

My house smells. so. good. I have about 3 quarts of spicy marinara simmering in the slow cooker, and it's like all my worldly sorrows have evaporated. Who knew that a sense of well-being was so readily available...in a fucking crock-pot!

I haven't been big on the New Year's resolution thing for a while, probably for a whole bunch of deep dark reasons that I don't need to get into now. But I am big on milestones and symbols and celebrating new beginnings, and now seems as good a time as any to pause and take note.

A few things that I've been mulling over:

1) My resolutions will not be about weight loss (or 'gettingbackinshape', weight loss' kissing cousin.) If anything, I resolve that 2008 will be the year when I stop using my weight as a proxy for everything in my life that I'm dissatisfied with. I'll find someone to fall in love with when I'm thin, I'll go out more when I'm thin, I'll start going to the gym again when I'm thin (one of my favorites!) After all, I was almost as self-conscious and hung up about my fat when I was comfortably wearing a size 4 and running marathons. No, instead I resolve to be a little less critical about my body, whatever it may look like.

2) I resolve that this year I will honor my love for good food and good health and sustainable living. I want to engage more with what goes into my body, learn more about the kind of cooking that I like to do, and stop eating the processed crap that's gotten me halfway through law school.

3) On a similar note, I resolve to make physical activity a priority again. I miss feeling strong and healthy. I would like to run another marathon this year.

More to come on this front later. In the meantime, I'm gonna go run some errands.