If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try again

AKA: New Year's Resolutions, Part 2007.

I did ok with last year's--I submitted some pieces, wrote consistently, got to fiving, read two science books, did my one activist thing plus a few, and got my spending under control. Not too bad, really. The Diet Coke thing continues to kick my ass. But maybe that's ok. It keeps me humble.

Sort of.

Did I actually get to fiving? Yes, I did; and it's kind of funny, because I overshot it a bit by accident. I filled out my workplace United Way payroll deduction form thinking I was donating $40/month. Then, a week after I'd submitted it, I bolted upright at 2:00 am one night thinking--Wait a minute! $1000 over the course of a year is more than $40/month!

So, yeah. I sort of accidentally donated twice as much as I intended to.

This should be interesting. But at least I finally got to five per cent. And the United Way has been positively gushing about the whole thing, sending me letters and calling me at home to say thank you. But seriously--it's less than we pay for cable. Is that what passes for generosity these days?

Anyway. In the ongoing spirit of "If I Post It Publicly, I'll Be Too Embarrassed To Cop Out Entirely," here are this year's Resolutions. Because I'm like that. I believe that people really can change, even fundamentally, and that includes me:

1. Write a book. A whole book. I even have a novel idea echoing around in my head that seems promising, though it needs to be fleshed out more. And not all in one go--I've always known I'm not the NaNoWriMo sort--but in every-other-week increments so it has breathing and resting space. In the off weeks, work on shorter pieces to keep those going. (I have one that's driving me bonkers because I know it needs something major but although it's been sitting in draft format for two months I haven't got a fucking clue what it is. But I've got to get it done and in the mail so there will be something Out There when the next rejection comes in, which should be any week now.)

2. Back by popular demand, read two science books.

3. Do two whole activisty things. Two! In 365 days! How will I manage it? Also, look into sporadic volunteer opportunities.

4. Stop drinking the diet coke, you pathetic idiot. (Talking to myself.)

5. Occasionally use the floppy limbs attached to the bottom of my torso for something other than curling up on while reading a good book. AKA, get some exercise.

6. Last year's resolution for spending was to average $70/week. Which ought to be more than enough, and worked out to be more than enough last year, so I'll keep it; with the proviso that the unshopping thing I wrote about recently might supersede it when it's done.

Posted by Andrea at January 3, 2007 6:19 AM under Me

EMAIL this entry

(comments fields are below this section)