My 2009 New Year’s Things I’m Aiming For

I realize that this is the time of year that many people post their New Year’s resolutions. Personally, I think making something a “resolution” puts way too much pressure on what are mostly just wishes, hopes, and yes, sometimes goals. I know that life is much too fluid to think that what want, or what life will allow for me, will be the same at the start of the year as later on. So, this is my “aiming for” list. If many of these things get done, frankly, I’ll be surprized, but it’s nice to have a target. I might not hit the target, but at least I’ll be pointing (more or less) in the right direction. (These are in absolutely no order at all.)

Get back in a gallery: It’s been over a year since my work has hung on a gallery’s walls. That’s much too long. However, to that end…

Paint more art: I need to paint a lot more art than I did last year. At least, I need to paint more gallery art. Fewer commissions and freebies. I’m not the fastest artist, and I can’t be frittering away the little time I have.

Paint at least three rooms: The house’s interior hasn’t been thoroughly painted for a few years. I don’t think it will ever be thoroughly painted again. Still, I need to devote some time to get a few rooms done.

Paint the exterior walls: While the past two years have been devoted to painting the eaves (there is only a small 4-6 week window of opportunity when the temperatures cooperate), I’ve yet to do the walls. They should be easier, what with the bulk of it being roller work, but they are more expansive. Not looking forward to it.

Replace water heater: The water heater is way past its warranty. While I don’t have any complaints, I still remember the joy of having one crap out on the family when I was kid. Not fun. Need to replace it if there’s still money available.

See Mary*/the girls more: Last year I was pretty much just an eventer. Holidays and birthdays. That’s not enough for my preferences. Each and every one of these women bring me smiles and contentment when I spend time with them. Who couldn’t use more of that?

Grow the blog: TIB is getting set to do very well provided I don’t screw it up. In the five months it’s been running, the growth has been steady and impressive. That is due in no small measure to all of you cybers out there. Thank you. Now all I have to do is continue to try making it interesting.

Write more: Aside from blogging and emails, I love to write. I’ve just recently fallen back into writing in the screenplay format, and I’ve just been so happy about that. Since the opportunity to apply those screenplays to any career will be, at best, inconvenient given my location, I’m just doing it for fun. And I’m having a lot of fun. You can try to make a screenwriter into an author, but no matter how that turns out, the screenwriter will want to come out to play. I love that format (what can I say).

Sleep more: More and more studies have been coming about concerning the importance of getting enough sleep. Last year, I didn’t get nearly enough. I need to make an effort to devote about 1/3 of my life to the task of sleep. Apparently it will improve my health, make it easier to control my weight, make me happier, and (despite the down time) be more productive. I like all of that. And I like the sleep thing, too, on its own merits.

Finally get new glasses: In the past three years I’ve got two updated prescriptions for glasses, but I haven’t gotten any new specs that I can wear. Some of it is due to time, some laziness, and a large part was a side-effect of my dad’s illness and passing. I’ve been wearing the same lenses since 1989…I need new ones. I’m just not looking forward to the headache and unsettled feeling you get with a vision correction.

Add soil to the back yard: This is something I started last year, but I was too conservative. I need to build up the ground around our tree roots. I’ve already replaced one lawn mower because of those roots, I don’t want to do that again this year. Besides, the dirt is cheap.

Shovel out my room: I can’t remember the last time my bedroom looked neat. The rest of the house is fine, but my room is a wreck. But I’m torn. I recall that when it is neat, it seems like I’m in someone else’s room.

Plan for when I’m not here: I run the household accounts for both myself and my mother. Though it was made easier by the prep work my father did long before he was ill, it still took a while before I got everything settled into a rhythm. Well, I’m no spring chicken. I need to codify the things that need to be tended to when I’m no longer able to (for whatever reason).

Visit my hometown: In 2008, I visited my hometown for the first time since…oh, about 1980 or so. It might not be big and splashy, but it is my hometown. I wouldn’t mind seeing it and some of the family again.

Be a better friend: Considering how distant most of my friends are, I think I do OK, but I know I could do better. I’ll need to work on that.

Again, spend more time with Mary*/the girls: What can I say? They really make me happy.

Try to keep my hard drives clean: Too often, I slack off and let media build up on the drives in my DVR and my PCs. I need to be more mindful of that, because it’s just a pain to clean them off in a hurry when I really, really, really need the space. I do plan on buying me some time with a 1TB secondary drive, but I know that won’t last long. Maybe a 1YB drive will last me a bit.

Keep smiling: It cheers my friends and confounds my opponents.

And I think that’s a fair start. Doubtless this list will have additions, deletions, and other alterations as the year progresses. But, at least I have things to shoot at…er, FOR.  For.