I don't generally wait for New Year's to make resolutions. At any given time of year, I'll decide I'm going to do something and then do it. Lately, however, I've been feeling like I've got too many things that need to be done, but instead of doing them, I procrastinate and whatever it is I'm not doing just gets more in need of being done. It's time to make a list.
First Item: I need to get a new roof. This involves finding a few reputable contractors, getting estimates, and then getting the roof. Also, this involves a lot of money, because I'd like to get a metal roof if it's at all within my financial reach. I would like to get the new roof this spring.
Second Item: In view of the First Item, I need to reestablish my good financial habits. While I'm not spending money that I don't have, I am like a cricket spending a lot of the money that I do have instead of saving it like a good little ant. (I hate ants.) I've developed a full blown case of Nikon Acquisition Syndrome, which will be kept at bay with all the goodies I got over Christmas. I have a demanding automobile, which is getting ready to demand a new radiator, but which won't be kept at bay much longer. Anyway, I need to be a good little ant again.
Third Item: I would like to start cooking more. We eat out too much and I've had the same small selection of recipes in rotation for too long. To that end, we got a couple new cookbooks today! I'm going to try new things and expand my repertoire of standards. Maybe I will even learn to make omelettes properly, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Fourth Item: I will look for an engineering job. I will get my resume in order (again), submit it here and there (again), and finally start going to the local IEEE meetings and network (something I've been meaning to do for the last, oh, two years).
Fifth Item: Clutter! Argh, the clutter! It's taking over! I got started on this item today. I cleared off the stuff that's piled up on the little sofa in my office. I found some of the Christmas cards I received last year. Tomorrow I will clear off my desk.
So, Happy New Year! Akemashite omedetou! May your resolutions be easily achieved and may the Year of the Pig be good to you.
422 words | January 1, 2007 06:51 PM | Because I saidWe need a new roof worse than anything, and it would *have* to be metal or our house would look ridiculous. But we're poor, so I jiust keep glopping tar on the bad spots...
Posted by: john m at January 2, 2007 06:49 AMWell, I'm not poor, but I might be after paying for a metal roof! I'm lucky that my house is a boring rectangle shape and not very big, which should limit the cost somewhat. Unfortunately, I don't have easy roof access, so real-time patching isn't an option.
Posted by: 100 word minimum at January 2, 2007 11:21 AM