Re-resolving

So, first blog of 2009, and in true cliche fashion, I thought I'd start the year out with my resolutions.

First, I thought I would look at back on last year's and see how I did. (That's the both the advantage and disadvantage of a blog. There is a record of everything.)

1. Play piano more. Hmm. I might have played the piano more than the year before, when I didn't play it at all, but I'm not sure I really did much, particularly lately. I did have a three-month spree when I wrote a bunch of songs, so maybe I get half points on this one.
2. Learn to cook a few more dishes. I may have actually gone backwards on this one. The height of my culinary prowess was opening cans of Campbell's soup. I think I ate more soup this year than an entire hockey team in Alaska. I did go through a phase where I made instant pudding, box corn muffins and baked pre-made cookie dough...Does that count?
3. Keep better track of my spending. Well, to be honest, I looked, and if I failed at any of these the most, it was this one. I had no friggin' clue, till yesterday, and it is a bit ridiculous how much I spent on eating out and my stupid hair. Seriously. It's out of control. What was I thinking. We're in a ressession.
4. Take my Christmas tree down before the end of January this year. I actually can't remember, but I think I may have made this one. Wow. That's a real victory.
5. Buy a new plant and keep it growing. Not even close. I didn't even buy one, much less keep it growing. I did plant flowers again this year though. They are dead, and still sitting on my balcony. It looks like something out of the Adam's family, especially compared to the greenhouse next store.

Given how well I did last year, I was tempted to make resolutions such as, "put gas in my car the next time it is empty" and "do something occasionally." The problem is, I'm too much of an overachiever, so I'll keep shooting for the stars and landing in my parking lot.

Here are this year's:

1. Work on my book, which has had six pages for six months.
2. Buy the equipment to record some songs ... and record some songs.
3. Clear out my apartment of all the junk I've accumulated. Really, what do I need a broken printer, 20 empty CD cases and a 2008 Grey's Anatomy calender for?
4. Lose the weight I gained in Berlin, even though everyone is very nice and says they don't notice. I do.
5. Read more.
6. Spend less. Really.

So there ya go. I'll keep you posted on how well it goes this time.

Lessons learned: Resolutions are easier written than done.

Groggy

It's been awhile, my friends. I'm not even sure what happened to December. I feel like I slept through it, and I'm just waking up a little groggy. I barely remembered my password to log into Blogger.

I won't lie, it's been a hard month and I haven't felt like writing. But it's almost over, and the New Year is coming, so I will have a chance to make new resolutions and devise new plans. I'm hoping 2009 will be a healthier, more-financially stable, less dramatic year for me than 2008, but we will see. One can wish. And pray.


Lessons learned: There is a threshold at which defeat stops being artistically inspiring.

Resolved

I'm back in California now, starting the New Year by jumping into work again. Speaking of the New Year, this morning on the news some source was discussing New Years resolutions and how they never work. Well, speak for yourself, because I've actually followed through with quite a few of them in recent years (I gave up the ones long ago about being nicer to my sister or ending world hunger). So I'm still going to make a few this year. My strategy is to make a bunch and figure I'll do at least a couple:

1. Play piano at least once a week;
2. Learn to cook a few new dishes;
3. Keep better track of my spending. (A previous resolution was to save more, which I've done, but I still don't think I know how much I spend).
4. Take my Christmas tree down before the end of January this year.
5. Buy a new plant and keep it growing.

So that's it. I'm more optimistic about some than others. I probably won't let you know how it goes.

Lessons learned: I'm going to have to keep resolution number 4 to keep resolution number 1.