2012, Here We Come

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I couldn't help but look.

I did do more visiting with people in 2011. GD helps push us in that direction.

I did put one costume for sale on Etsy. It didn't sell, but I did sell a special order, and I have high hopes for next year, now that I have the materials ready. I'm also indulging my creative side for other projects.

I use a lot of tools in my parenting kit, including Patience, Playfulness, Optimism, Joy...and they need sharpening constantly. I resolve to keep smiling amidst hard days because he deserves the best mom I can be.

Honestly, these last 6 months have been very trying for me, and it seems my tools have grown mostly dull. I've been feeling irritated and selfish in the face of Theo's growing demands and stubbornness. To put it simply, this is Hard, and I RESOLVE to be better, for all of our sakes.

I want my house to be cleaner. Theo is actually surprisingly good about cleaning up. I resolve to exploit his good example to inspire me to be more thorough. He teaches me so much...

How did you do this year? What's on the list for 2012? Before the world ends, at least.

[Alex]

I had nothing in there so I did good (my demotion did come through and I, as planned, parlayed that into a near immediate promotion on a track that I am more interested in).

[€uroMeinke]

Heh, I was just looking at this thread - since I never got around to committing to my 2011 goals - I seem to be on a 2-year cycle with these things:

Mine were:

For 2010 though I think I'll be focusing on some time management - it's always been a challenge for me in that I think I would do fine if we had 40-hour days, but these 24-hour one's are taken up with sleep, work, commuting, and tending to the animals, etc.

Specifically, I'd like to make sure I get some quality time in with Lisa. The new job and new hours seems to have cut in on our available time together, so I'd like to make sure the time we have is well spent.

I'd also like to make sure I take some time for myself, sort of reinstating the concept of the "artist date" though I dread writing those words, but it's real easy for me to put myself 2nd, which usually just means I get resentful and that doesn't do anyone any good.

I'd like to read more in 2010. I think I started 4 books in 2009, and all are sitting unfinished on my bedside. There's some new Murakami coming so maybe that will help.

I'd like to also be a better son to my mom, whose had a number of odd health issues lately. It would be nice to see and chat with her outside the most recent medical tragedy.

Work is work, not sure what I can or want to do there. I like my current boss, but don't think she can do much for me. Perhaps for me it's just being willing to explore some other options/opportunities that may come my way.

I would like to get back on the Metro - hate driving, just wish I didn't have to get up so early to make the Metro happen. But I have a webex account so I should start leveraging that and reduce my windshield time.

Otherwise, I'm still in on the eating good food, visiting swanky places - and I'll add exploring new places, new music, and art.

2011 was a tough year, my mom passed, Lisa had multiple surgeries, I started a new job, and started this month by totaling my car in an accident.

Time management remains a big issue for me, still never seems like enough time, and this year was filled with unexpected time commitments. I'm hoping 2012 will settle down some and let me refocus on this one. Especially in regards to time with Lisa - I hope for more fun and less stress worrying about the latest crisis.

I started 2011 in the same reading slump, but thanks to Lisa and a new Kindle I find I'm making more time to read - the new Murakami and TC Boyle help.

As for being a better son to my mom, I'm grateful I put this on my radar. Her last days were painful to watch, but in our last months together, I felt closer to her in many ways than I ever had before. She shared many brutally honest stories that made me appreciate her more as a person and not just my mother. Looking to 2012, I think I'll be refocusing some of that energy forward to my oldest niece who is now living in Long Beach and expecting her second child in 2012. I hope we can grow a bit closer in the year to come.

Work? Well, I kept my eye out for opportunities and took one. I love my new job and want to make sure I continue to excel at it. I hope I can also make some new friends at the workplace. Leaving my last job of 25 years makes this one seem lonely at times, so I want to make sure I'm building my professional relationships here as well.

I'm also working in Orange County now, so I'll be back in a car again - at least I start this year in a fun ride, our new Mini.

As for other hopes for 2012 -

I turn 50 this year, and while I may not be able to do anything big on the actual day I plan on some hedonistic celebration sometime in the year.

I'd like to keep writing, I find it's an activity that gives me great pleasure regardless of the intended final product - poetry or procedures, I just like doing it.

There are still some challenges to coming in the first months of the year, but I really hope those are easily overcome and I can turn my focus away from "getting by" to "getting better." I have a large to do list for our home and hope I can start ticking items off that list.

Oh and as usual, I hope to experience plenty new art, music, food, and share them with my friends who appreciate such hedonistic activities.

[Kevy Baby]

I want to grow up.

I know that sounds like my typical flippant remark, but I actually mean it. I have just let life come to me as it has and not really made much effort to guide things where I wanted them to go. But then to do this, I guess I need to decide where I want it to go.

I am actually ashamed of my complete lack of motivation right now. (For those who don't know, I was let know of my job in mid November.). There are a lot of things I COULD do, but nothing that I can think of that I WANT to do.

So, obviously, one of my goals for 2012 is to get a job. Despite the economy, I know I will get one soon, but whether it is something that will inspire me or be at the same pay level as before remains to be seen.

But this apathy is not just about employment; it extends to my personal life as well. It has been a long time since I have felt inspired to want to make my life better. I have had a LOT of free time over the past six or so weeks and really have done nothing with this time.

Not sure what I can do to turn this around: just thought I would start making myself accountable.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Honestly, these last 6 months have been very trying for me, and it seems my tools have grown mostly dull. I've been feeling irritated and selfish in the face of Theo's growing demands and stubbornness. To put it simply, this is Hard, and I RESOLVE to be better, for all of our sakes.

What's the expression? Parenthood is the hardest job you'll ever have?

Maybe it's just T turning on the 'adorableness' around people he doesn't see all the time but he's adorable. And in a world full of "I have to babysit my son while his mother does..." you (and GD) really show that not all hope is lost in the parenting world.

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I want to grow up.

I am actually ashamed of my complete lack of motivation right now. (For those who don't know, I was let know of my job in mid November.)

I didn't know. I'm sorry

For 2011:
I spent most of 2010 in some sort of injury preventing me from really working out. I will go back to the gym and focus on my health.
Continue my education in ways that will allow me to branch out from tech support. So.Over.It.
Travel more, beyond Vegas. Maybe even go see E in F'in UT.

I lost 25lbs this year, gained some back with the holiday eating but I'm confident that will drop back off as soon as the end of the year pasts.

Never made it back to school, still so.over.IT but I am learning more in my job that can expand where I go in the IT world that isn't just helpdesk.

I went to see E in F'in UT TWICE. Once was fun (boy was that fun!). Shot my first ever gun (did you know they will let someone who has never shot a gun shoot a P90 for their first?!). Second time wasn't for fun but ended up being fun. The hospital didn't bat an eye at two men spray painting team logos on their bodies in the tiny bathroom.

I have also gotten better with establishing boundaries with my parents and finally ended a toxic friendship.

For 2012:

Continue to focus on my health, lose some more weight, gain some muscle and strength and fully quit smoking.

Continue to expand my career knowledge.

Continue to expand my social circles. I'm getting much better, coming out of my shell and making some socialize outside of work with friends at work. I need to get the courage to go volunteer somewhere to give something back and also to meet new people. This means I need to keep coming out of my shell.

[Not Afraid]

Posted on 1/3

WOW! I was working at P&P at this time last year. So much has changed! I left there - and while it was a really good decision, it did take me a while to get back on my feet again. I went back to pet sitting and started making jewelery seriously. I did my first craft fair in May and I haven't stopped since! While the dog walking still pays the majority of the bills and keeps me super busy, my creative life has sure been a fulfilling one! The first show I curated opened at the beginning of December and has been a wonderful experience! I know I'll be curating more shows, but, if I do that, I need to find ways to encourage the sale of art.

My goal in 2011 is to keep growing that part of my life and see if I can figure out a way to make that really work for me. I'm not sure that is actually realistic, but I'll certainly give it a shot.

Who knows where things will lead. It's sure been a fun ride this past year! I'm looking forward to what 2011 will bring. Rain or shine, the experiences are so worth it.

on 1/10 I found out I had cancer. Looking forward, indeed!

It's been quite a year (to put it mildly). But, I'm still alive and kicking some ass and hope to do some more of it. I survived 5 surgeries, a car accident that totaled the car, made some decent money (and had a great time) selling my jewelry, and started yet another business.

I doubt this year will be less eventful, but the events could be better. However, there will be some more BIG changes. Let's hope they go well and give me something to write about next year.

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by lashbear

2011's resolutions are:

• Get myself down to 110 Kg or smaller. 100 Kg would be good.
• See several European countries.
• Removing some of the clutter in our unit to make it more liveable. Surfaces, sweetie, surfaces !

First one - Fail.
Second one - resounding success....
Third one - Done !!

Resolutions for Lashbear 2012 are:

1. Get back to that 100-110kg goal. Since i have been given a second chance to live (like Harry Potter) I need to realise this is not a gift that can be given too often. Time to get with the program and make sure I have the best chance of staying with you all for a long time.
2. Move to Forster. Can't say too much on this one, but hopefully all will be revealed soon.

That's all. The fewer items to concentrate on, the easier to achieve them, methinks.

[Kevy Baby]

For those of us who never did well at metric, 100-110 kg works out to about 3527-3880 oz or .1102-.1213 ton

[Alex]

And 6.3 kilometers.

[Alex]

Here's a resolution I probably won't keep.

My sister has some condition that doctors haven't figured out that is causing her legs to cramp up terribly (unable to walk terribly).

My mom just recommended a homeopathic treatment that "works instantly." And I didn't say anything.

So my resolution is that in 2012 when I see people pushing homeopathy I will only mock, to their face, those from whose vaginas I've never emerged headfirst.