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By Jim Buice
For the Clemmons Courier

Here we go again. Another year. Another resolution. Another diet.

Sorry, not going to do that. Again.

After the dramatic diet of 2019 — and achieving a goal losing 30-plus pounds in the first half of that year — I continued to maintain until caving during the Thanksgiving/Christmas deluge of gatherings and gaining back a third of what I lost.

Ten pounds. Not bad but a little disappointing considering the fast start.

In 2020, perhaps not being as dedicated after the blazing beginning the previous year, I still kept things in the same range the first two months and was about to get serious in March — when the pandemic hit and all the restrictions took hold. That included closing all the gyms, meaning no workouts and no racquetball, my best way to burn calories.

I did start walking and playing more tennis, but a couple of months later I blew out my knee and eventually had to have surgery. The combination of the pandemic and knee surgery meant more time on the couch than I ever expected. But I still had to eat.

By the end of 2020, I started to pick up my physical activity, but the net result was another slight gain, this time for five pounds — meaning over the course of two years that I had added back half of what I originally gave up.

Then came Year 3 of the continuing weight loss saga with yet another resolution — this time to drop 5, 10 or 15 pounds — just so no pounds were added again.

And I succeeded, at least on the second part. I didn’t add any pounds in 2021, but instead of losing 5, 10 or 15 pounds, the final number was shedding only 3 pounds at the official year-ending weigh-in.

Still, I’ll take it, and I’m making the resolution to not put this item on my list for the new year. So, if not that, what?

I checked out the internet and saw the most recent top 10 common New Year’s resolutions. Not a lot of surprises in there: 1) Exercise more; 2) Lose weight; 3) Get organized; 4) Learn a new skill or hobby; 5) Live life to the fullest; 6) Save more money/spend less money; 7) Quit smoking; 8) Spend more time with family and friends; 9) Travel more; 10) Read more.

Of course, I’ve covered the first two consistently over the last three years, and all the others sound more than worthy to do this year or any year — except for smoking since I never started that one.

But here’s another one that has come along in recent years that many of us, including yours truly, might want to consider — less wasted/mindless time scrolling a phone or other electronic devices.

One night recently, I was sitting on the couch with my phone in one hand, laptop in my lap and the wide-screen TV turned on in front of me. My wife walked by, laughing and shaking her head at my sad predicament.

Then, the next morning, which happened to be New Year’s Day, I turned on the television as I frequently do after rising and getting the morning coffee. My Spectrum cable box sent a signal to the screen saying, “Please Wait.”

I did for a few minutes before turning the TV off and back on again, repeating the process a couple of times.

The next time, it finally came on to the Spectrum News Channel 1. I then punched in 11 to get the local news channel but realized I hit the number 1 a third time, so instead I got Channel 111, which was just starting an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” an American horror anthology TV series created by Rod Serling in the late ’50s.

OK, I get the message. I think I’ve got my new resolution for 2022.

• • • • •

When it comes to updating calendars, everyone has his or her preferred method to keep track of upcoming appointments, meetings, etc.

Being an “old-school” guy, I still use a calendar book to write in who/what/when/where items.

A week or so ago, I made an appointment for an interview with a company executive, and he asked me to send him an “invite.”

Well, I thought, I can do that, but I had just sent him an email with the date and time to confirm. Seemed like an unnecessary extra step to me.

I told him that I don’t use Google Calendar but would be glad to send a reminder — text or email. He said he’d sent me an invite later, which I didn’t need anyway. He later sent one with the wrong date. Oh well.

I give.

Maybe “old school” isn’t so bad after all.