2009 Goals

[ase]

Yes, it is very cold out. I'm living in layers and something like denial until it gets less cold.

WordNet defines "resolution" as "the trait of being resolute", and goes on to define resolute as "firm in purpose or belief". I didn't make resolutions this year, because resolutions are things to stick by. I'd rather have goals to work toward. Resolutions are so pass/fail! Goals can be partially accomplished. Anyway.

Unlike so many people, my 2008 did not suck vacuum, so I can't bid adieu and don't let the door hit you on the way out with the same vivaciousness so many people did. I started - and continue in - a job I like, I got my driver's license, I moved to a nicer apartment and traded up roommates in one stroke, I got to drive down country roads singing "Are You Out There?" and "thnks fr th mmrs" at the top of my lungs, I travelled (a very little bit), I voted, I strengthened my financial footing, I reflected on what it says about me that I would rather whine about not having a car for eight months straight rather than make and keep a tighter budget, or give up putting money in the bank. I served dad and Second Wife Christmas dinner. There's a lot of things I didn't do, but '08 was a vast improvement on 2007.

My 2009 goals are all about personal growth and cultivating a lifetime. I'm selfish that way.

1.) Take GREs. By or on 1 March 2009.
2.) Get in the habit of exercise. I would like to emulate my birdlike aunt J and be in excellent health at 65.
3.) Travel. It'll be good for me.

The minor goals:

1.) The savings will continue until morale improves.
1a.) And there will be no guilt about those plane tickets I'm buying this weekend.
1b.) I will not buy a car unless I get to keep putting money in the bank.
2.) Clean my room before it's a pigsty. Recycle, donate or toss items I'm not using: if I need it later, I can buy it later, and skip tripping over junk in the dark.
3.) Instead of complaining I don't like my social life, go out and do something about it.
4.) Don't piss off the conservatives. I know more of them than I think I do.
4a.) Obama is a politician. Try not to beat wildly optimistic people with their broken dreams when Obama does not, in fact, walk on water.

Comments

[ashcomp.livejournal.com]

Goals; I like that. Need the same kind of determination about exercise. And the room I need to clean is the office--though it's actually had a start. Much more to do.

Bill Clinton, much as I liked a lot of things about him, disappointed me any number of times. And I didn't even care about his sex life, except for the utter stupidity. I'm sure Obama will find ways to disappoint as well. But I don't want the job, no ways nohow. And I sure like what I've seen so far.

[ase.livejournal.com]

Obama doesn't inspire me to apologize for my fellow Americans. This is a vast improvement over the other guy.

[wmslawhorn.livejournal.com]

As the weather is getting colder, the rest of the country is now seeing how easy it is to walk on water, just wait til it freezes...

[ase.livejournal.com]

There's a joke involving 25 F highs and the Reflecting Pool somewhere in here, I know it.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yay for 2008! (yours, at least. I haven't assessed mine yet. ;-) Oh, and yeah, no need for resolutions. I don't think I've ever seriously made any. Nor really changed years with any sort of catalog of the previous or anything but nebulous hopes for the new. Probly did more of that sort of thing at the beginning of each academic year when that applied.

Your 2009 goal 1 definitively answers my question in a previous comment. So, cool. Feel free to ask for any advice, though I'm assuming you'd be comfortable asking anyway. And who knows if I'd be of any help at all

Goal 2 is great and reminds that I need to ballroom dance. Someday I will no longer need a babysitter. ;-P But more seriously, have you ever seen some of those old people who do ballroom? Wow, are they in shape. I aspire to be one of them in 50 years.

Goal 3 is awesome -- come visit us? Here or elsewhere, we're likely to have a free room/bed/floor with comfy cushiony things if nothing else.

minor ones:
1) very good idea, and one of the reasons I want a job after Feb. -- I like having and continuing to grow savings. have spent time partially living off savings and don't like it (when tom was already here and I was still finishing up PhD and we still kept our 2 bedroom townhouse there...)
2) um, yeah, gotta clean the house here -- finish unpacking for starters ;p
3) hmmmm...that is a good one. I just wish I had the time or energy for it. might all be moot soon anyway, and that's not a good time to prioritize
4) hee hee, isn't that true of us all? there were 2 presidential elections that were way close -- that means there are tons of us in both camps
4a) I keep reminding myself that he is just too damn good to be true. I'm sooooo soooooo thrilled so far. And I have a crush on him. But yes, there is no way he is everything I want him to be. He is not going to save the world or even the USA. I know this. It's just so nice to see him doing everything and so competently. ;-)

sorry for going on so long!

[ase.livejournal.com]

Thanks in advance for any GRE assists! Mostly I need a cheerleading squad. Too bad you can't solve the babysitting problem by dancing with both your men. :-) Let me see what happens with Europe: I'm wondering what it'd be like to do a two week waltz around the continent and islands, but talk about extravagant! Now that I have some, I don't want to wipe out my savings.

Money is a necessary evil. Today was payday, and tonight my checking account has grocery money for the next two weeks. Maybe. I'm really looking forward to getting tuition reimbursement in May.

It's a crying shame that everyone is so happy that the Obama doesn't suck like a muddy bog. We may be waist deep in the big muddy, but the fool who got us there has been pushed off. Hopefully Bush Jr. will enjoy a quiet retirement, with no newsworthy action.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Well, GRE assists and anything else having to do with applying to grad school. I can definitely cheerlead! Go Ase Go! ;-D

If you come to Europe, you've gotta come visit. But yeah, it's expensive. Oh well.

I know, I'm all excited that Obama is competent. It's very sad. But I'm still excited!

[hourglasscreate.livejournal.com]

I'm only going to comment on the Obama one. You're right. I think most of us are actually aware of it, but after 8 years of Bush&Co (tm) It's just such a relief not to have same o' same o'. I'll tell you the one thing I've heard about Obama that *does* concern me (and I don't even know if it is true) he apparently attends a church with a racist pastor (as in whitey is the devil) that makes me nervous.

[ase.livejournal.com]

I'm reserving judgment until he's actually been in office for a while. See what he does with a hundred days or so. And won't it be nice to have a President whose big scandal is that his preacher (not him) is inflammatory? And who might actually not authorize torture? Rev. Wright is staying in Chicago, AFAIK, so it'll be interesting to see who Obama listens to in DC.

[charlie-ego.livejournal.com]

Good goals. I like them a lot. On the minor goals:

1b: Yes. I did our budget the other month and cars are a money sink what with insurance and registration and needing new tires.

2: Oh, if only I had the willpower to do this! Every month or so we get rid of half a grocery bag worth of Stuff and buy more than a grocery bag's worth.

3: I feel like this is harder than it looks once one leaves school. One takes the risk of attending a lot of social events that are not really all that interesting.

4: Oh, if only all the liberals and conservatives I know made the same goal! (the conservatives on the opposite side, of course ;) )

4a: If we can't beat them upside the head, can we at least laugh at them? (I have to admit that as a centrist who wasn't particularly fond of either candidate, I actually like him better than I thought I would, except for the bailout(s). Which I knew I would hate.)

[ase.livejournal.com]

These are goals; they're not guaranteed. But #2 in particular is worth some effort.

One takes the risk of attending a lot of social events that are not really all that interesting.

I figure that, if I go once and hate it, well, I'm lucky enough to live near a big city: the next week, I can try something different.

If we can't beat them upside the head, can we at least laugh at them?

You can, but it may not be wise. (If I publicly mocked every example of mind-blowing lack of attention, I would be banned from science fiction fandom in all forms for all time and lose street cred for being mean to the mentally ill.) I advocate pointing to pre-2008 records and mocking people for not doing their homework. And maybe saying, "well, he's a politician. What were you expecting, roses and candy?"

I have an ostrich solution to the bailouts. Unless they come loaded with provisos to prevent a repeat - like caps on corporate salaries and compensations - I have nothing nice to say on the matter. I work my butt off so the government can throw my tax money at Wall Street? What the heck, feds? I don't think I'm on board with this plan.

[filkferengi]

Good goals! Good luck with them!

GRE stands for great, which is how you'll do! S{tudy}, ase, S{tudy}!