2008 // 2009

[seventhe]

This is one of those posts I've been writing in my head for weeks -- you know the feeling, right? Like you've got something to get out, somehow?

Here are my resolutions from 2008. Kind of funny, reading this over.

Things Accomplished, Lessons Learned, and General Happenings in the Land of Sev for 2008

1. Taking two very difficult graduate-level electives while working full-time is not a very good life choice.


2. Grad school is a lot easier and more enjoyable when you take one easy class at a time rather than two difficult ones.


3. Even with one easy class, I still just don't like grad school. Lesson learned.



4. I can run 4 miles without stopping at a 10:00/mi pace or faster.


5. I actually have asthma. Lesson learned.


6. Doing moderately intense weight-training helps weight loss / weight maintenance like nothing else I've ever tried.


7. I can lose weight, and keep it off. I've met my target goal from last year's resolutions. I've also learned that the scale isn't a good way to track these things, and that I should concentrate on losing fat, not losing weight.


8. I can eat healthy, and eat less. I can enjoy a few beers out and still maintain my weight, too.



9. I can make things happen at work with sheer determination, if I need to.


10. I still need to find better motivation and a better organizational system at work.



11. Sometimes I cannot help everyone.


12. Sometimes explaining things to people or trying to rationalize life does not help. I cannot fix everything by trying to explain what might be going on. Sometimes people do not want to hear it, and I need to realize this.


13. Not everyone will like everyone else.



14. Sometimes being honest with a friend is difficult, especially when they are being butt-headed.



15. I enjoy being a grown-up. I enjoy treating problems like a mature adult. I get angry and irritated when others do not do the same.



16. I'm not really a bad drummer. I like playing drums.



17. I can find time outside of work to write, if I need to.


18. I can find time once a week outside of work to draw.


19. My writing really slacked the second half of 2008.


20. I did not start Beacon. I worked on it with my brother, and made some progress, but not of the right kind.


21. I enjoy writing crack fanfiction.



22. Life's not too bad when you work at it a little.

Resolutions for 2009

1. Put positive energy into the world every chance I get. Every day, do something that shares positive energy, no matter how small.


2. Encourage others to share positive energy and cut down on their negative energy, without becoming a total jackass about it. Maybe I just mean "encourage by example"...



3. Find a better balance between (a) my personal belief that it's not my place to tell others how to behave or how to live their lives -- a "no-meddle" policy; (b) my natural tendency to stand up for people being picked on, no matter the situation, because I can and should and no one else will; (c) my personal policy of 100% honesty and my fervent belief that if you don't tell someone something explicitly you have no real right to specific expectations regarding their behavior -- communication IS key, and assuming ALWAYS fails; and (d) my general sense of laziness when it comes to inter-personal relationships since I suck at communicating about feelings.



4. Re-worded from last year's: Find way to be honest with people without being insulting. I AM getting better at this, though.



5. Write every day in January 2009.


6. Draw every day in March 2009.



7. Get back into drawing once a week after March 2009, whether it's with cockeyed_art or just on my own.


8. Try to write once a week, ideally outside of work.


9. Write for each of my claims once a month.


10. Finish a few WIPs, including HNtDB.


11. Write 200,000 words total in 2009, for getyourwordsout.



12. Start Beacon as a webcomic, hopefully in March 2009.



13. In February 2009, reformat the laptop, refurbish the desktop, and organize files / folders / photos / songs / programs.


14. Also in February 2009, revamp seventhe.net: install a fic/writing archive, update the picture archive, and install some sort of webcomic software.



15. Run at least one 5K -- an actual, outdoor, registered race -- of any kind. Preferably, run this 5K under 30:00.


16. Run a 10K -- 6.2 miles -- without stopping. Preferably, run this under an hour, but let's not get crazy.


17. Run a mile under 8:00.


18. Continue weight-training at least 3x per week. Focus on periods of *gaining muscle* and *losing fat*, specifically, since you cannot do both at the same time and they require different kinds of eating habits.



19. Attack the study and turn it into the kind of place I can actually work in.


20. Attack the upstairs and the basement -- make both more user-friendly.


21. Work on making it look like I actually live here, rather than just sleep here.



22. Start my graduate project in Spring 2009, and get a significant amount of work done in Summer 2009.


23. Think about taking two classes in Fall 2009 -- they'll be easier, because one will be a core class, and it could cut down on the time it will take to get this friggin' degree.



24. Stay out of the drama at work, no matter how much I feel I could help a situation or give useful advice to someone.



25. Record a demo with Bogdog in Spring 2009.


26. Play at least one show out with Bogdog in 2009.


27. Reach our 50+ song list goal with Snafubar, ideally in Spring 2009, and record a demo once that has been done.


28. Play at least one show out with Snafubar.


29. Practice drums at least once a week. Ideally with one of the bands, but if there are no practices, play one night for at least half an hour with headphones.



30. Beat Secret of Mana at hilldo's house.

I think 30 resolutions is more than enough for me right now. Ha ha ha. *dies*

Also, wrote over 1000 words yesterday! JanNoWriMo continues to be a success! XD

Comments

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Technically out, but I figured since you were thinking of reformating/organizing your comp, I'd refer you to The Most Useful Program Evar (especially if you have tons of photos):

Bulk Rename Utility

S'good.

Oh and for music? Tagscanner is pretty awesome. Since I use a freeware music program, and all. Sometimes you just need stuff like that. XD

~Cendri

[lassarina]

You accomplished a ton this year. I am so very proud of you. I also have total faith that you will KICK ASS in 09.

[churched.livejournal.com]

Very organised and very resolved. My 2008 can be summed up by, "put down the tissues and got out of bed, almost." And then I spent the last two weeks of it finally realising how much I weigh and trying not to freak out.

2009 started good. Did a lot of writing. Had my first real allergic reaction!

Also, when Bogdog has its first gig, let me know, I can be a groupie!

[shanaqui]

Geez, Sev! I only have six and they feel weighty.

[jennyclarinet.livejournal.com]

I too have been writing such a post in my head. I will get it up at some point, hopefully. Of course, one of my resolutions is to spend less time on LJ, so maybe not.

30 is a lot! But self-improvement is a worthy cause.

[yi-sen.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I cannot help everyone.

Amen.