The other day, I resolved not to write a post about New Year’s resolutions.
Like most resolutions, it did not last long.
So — with apologies for my inabiity to stick to my guns — here is my New Year’s resolution story.
In 2025, Westporters should resolve to:
Not go to the gym. Instead, leave it for people who actually want to work out. Even during the 3 weeks in January that all you resolution-makers crowd the gym, before slipping back into your slothful ways.
Park in the back of the CVS and Trader Joe’s parking lots. There is much more space. The risk of accidents is far less. And you can pretend you’re getting all the exercise you would have had, if you went to the gym.
Plenty of room here. Even if one guy created his own space.
Make your kids ride the bus to and from school. Unless there is an absolutely, positively, honestly, really damn good reason to drop them off early, or pick them up.
Not pretend not to notice when your dog poops. Sure, it’s easy to be “deep in conversation” with a friend (or an imaginary one via Bluetooth), while Spot does his business at Winslow Park or the beach. But if there is any karma in the world, you’ll eventually step in someone else’s Fido’s business, somewhere.
Another resolution: Don’t leave your bag for someone else to toss.
Ask your lawn crew to park in the driveway, not on the road. Yeah, it may be inconvenient to ask them to move, if you’ve got to leave. But our roads are crowded enough, without having to maneuver around trucks and trailers that take up half the lane.
Ask them to use electric blowers between May 15 and October 15 (and maybe pay for them yourself). After all, it’s the law. A toothless one, right. But the law nonetheless.
Patronize the places you don’t want to close. When The Porch at Christie’s announced it was shutting down, a commenter wrote, “I didn’t go there much, but I really liked it.” Business owners like it when people who like them actually go there. It helps keep them, you know, in business.
If you love a restaurant, dine there. Or at least order out!
Walk or jog facing traffic. This is one of the first life lessons my parents taught me, after not to stick my fingers in the fan. And while we’re at it …
Wear light clothes when you walk or jog at night. And if there’s a sidewalk, use that instead of the road. Duh.
Those are my resolution suggestions. What are yours?
Click “Comments” below. And please: Resolve to use your full, real name.
(Here’s one more: If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please resolve to support it this year. We rely on our readers to keep us going. Just click here. We resolve to thank you profusely.)
My New Year’s Resolution: Be kind.
May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s Resolutions.
Not be fooled by Dan’s April Fools post.
The No Right on Red sign at the intersection of the Post Road and Myrtle Avenue is not a serving suggestion. Consider resolving to more regularly acknowledge this.
On a related note at the same intersection, if you’re a pedestrian, resolve to NOT push the “walk” button but then just opt to dash across the road when you spy a gap in the traffic – before the “walk” signal illuminates. It might be called a “smart light” but it has its limits. It doesn’t know that you just made a run for it. But all the drivers quietly sitting there watching that little countdown pedestrian crossing clock sure do. The thing now has to go thru its cycle. While we’re needlessly trapped there watching our lives ebb, you’re a block away, jogging towards your resolution to have the perfect beach bod this year.
❤️
Another resolution to add: Don’t feed the birds at the beach. Seagulls are perfectly capable of getting their own food.
nor the ducks and now pigeons at the library, it is harmful to feed wild ducks!
Resolve not to take Dan Woog and 06880blog for granted. Make a freakin’ contribution!
One note: Every parent I know who picks up their kids from school is doing it out of necessity, not choice. For example, at our school, kids are dismissed at 3:45, and sports or activities usually begin by 4:00 or 4:30. Taking the bus simply isn’t feasible—it doesn’t arrive until 4:15 or later, making it impossible to get them where they need to be on time. Trust me, most parents aren’t voluntarily cutting their workday short at 3:15 to sit in a carpool line just for fun. It’s a logistical challenge we’re all juggling because we have no other option.
Parking in a legitimate spot when visiting Starbucks.
Wow Dan! 100 percent on point! Totally agree! Happy New Year!
Tom, If you talk to Barbara, tell her I said hello.
It’s actually a law that one must use a sidewalk if one is provided…
Duh is right Dan. How many of us have confronted a walker at night wearing dark clothes with his/her back angainst oncoming traffic – Defying any car to dare hit them. How stupid or at least ignorant. Yes drivers need to be careful. Pedestrians have the same obligation.
Be patient and don’t go through red lights. Particularly at the annoying Exit 17 northbound ramp!
Dan writes beautifully, thinks beautifully and has beautiful thoughts at all levels of importance.
Per CT Traffic statute – Sec. 14-300c.
Pedestrian use of roads and sidewalks. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder adjacent to a roadway is provided each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of such roadway and if such roadway carries motor vehicle traffic traveling in opposite directions each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk only upon the left side of such roadway.
Legally, is there a difference between “shall” and “must”? Asking for a friend …
In Westport – and Westport only – “shall” now means “if you feel like it”. Thanks again, RTM!
Common sense and CT common law, see Ranger v. Dublin (1974), dictates that pedestrians, walking on a road with no sidewalks and vehicular traffic, shall always walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. That is, unless you are the Staples BOYS!! cross country team.
I never get around to getting my New Year’s Resolutions complete until February. And then I sometimes forget to.
Not having any resolutions as your resolution is sure fire way for success.