2012, Here We Come

[€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.