2010 First Quarter Review
Goal #1- Lose Fifty Pounds
Grade: D
Ouch. As of this writing I’ve just gotten back from vacation in Atlanta. While there I ate pretty badly, and gained back a few pounds. The end result is that I’m weighing in at 235.6. That means in the first quarter of 2010 I’ve only lost two pounds. My goal was five pounds a month, but I didn’t even average one. Clearly this goal is pretty close to a complete failure.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that I have nine more months to lose weight. The first quarter was a bust, but I haven’t given up and will continue to diet and exercise in my quest to get back to high school weight. I’m positive I can do it and I am resolved to redouble my efforts.
Goal #2- Get In Good Enough Shape To Go Rock Climbing
Grade: A
If weight loss was challenging and frustrating in the first quarter, then getting in shape was the exact opposite. I’m blown away by the changes in my body over the last three months.
I started going to the gym January 1st. At the time I was doing 30 minutes on the eliptical machine. I began with setting one on a program called Kilimanjaro. When I got off my legs were wobbly and I was breathing so hard I thought I’d broken something. Contrast that to this morning. I did the same Kilimanjaro course, but now I’m on setting eleven, and I run for 40 minutes instead of 30.
Bear in mind that each setting is noticably harder, so going up ten settings in three months is a huge accomplishment for me. I feel the difference. This was most notable when I made my trek to Bullfrog Pond. I’d never have survived a hike like that in December, but now not only did I do it but it was done in good time.
Cardio is great, but if I really want to get in shape I knew weights were going to be an important part of my workout. In January and February I was getting up at 7am, and this gave about an hour to work out. With forty minutes on the eliptical I was getting almost nothing done with weights.
In the first week of March I started getting up at 6:30am. Since then I’ve had an extra half hour, so I’m doing upper body on Mon, Wed, Fri and lower body on Tue, Thurs, Sat. The end result is that after one month I feel stronger, more tone and a lot more fit. Weights started off as a chore, but now they’re a part of my routine. I now work out for 1.5 hours six days a week, and on day seven I do cardio and then go for a strenuous hike.
I’m very proud of how well I’ve done working out so far. If I continue this level of dedication I can’t wait to see where I am at the end of the second quarter. Go me!
Goal #3- Get Back Into Paintball
Grade: –
This one is difficult to score, because paintball season is just now beginning. Because of the rain in Sonoma County I wouldn’t have been able to play in January, February or March. I have gotten in shape, which means that I should be able to start playing soon. Still need to lose more weight though!
Goal #4- Finish and Submit The Bond of Jhordil
Grade: A
I’ve been busting a crazy amount of ass on the novel. I’m still averaging 10k words a week, and am deep in the midst of the 4th draft. This one is far superior to the others, because I’ve taken much more time to plot out scenes and work on characterization prior to starting the prose.
Instead of just writing a chapter and moving on to the next one I’ve created a detailed source document that covers the entire plot. In writing it I’ve found a number of inconsistencies, and instead of going back and rewriting whole chapters like I did in the 1st through 3rd drafts now I can fix them in the source document. Once everything lines up in the source document I can begin belting out chapters, knowing that they are cohesive and tell a good story.
The end result is that I’m very happy with the progress on the novel. I had no idea going in how much work it would be, but I also didn’t know how rewarding I’d find the whole process. I love writing. Even if I never get good enough to be published I’ve found my life’s work. This is what I’m meant to do, and I’m going to do it!
Goal #5- Submit Twelve Short Stories
Grade: B
Thus far I’ve written two short stories, and just finished the final touches on a third. I was supposed to have three done by the end of March so I’m a little behind schedule. Hence the B grade.
The good news is that the stories are stronger than those I’ve written in the past. The more I write the better I get, and I can’t wait to see where I’m at in the last quarter of this year.
Goal #6- Learn How To Use My Expensive New Camera
Grade: A
I was a little nervous when I bought my new Canon Digital Rebel in early January. It was expensive, and I was worried that I wouldn’t use it often enough to justify buying it. I’m very happy to find that I actually use it more than I ever would have expected.
I’ve taken a ton of pictures at each of the places I hike, including Armstrong Woods, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Northern California Coast. I also used the camera to shoot about four hundred pictures at work. These were used to create a five minute movie, which I submitted for the Culture Jam at work. My department liked it so much they gave me a $50 gift certificate!
I also used the camera when I went out to Atlanta. I snapped a ton of pictures of Madison, at the Zoo and at Amicalola falls. All told I’ve taken about fifteen hundred pictures so far, and am learning a great deal about photography.
The camera was a far better investment than I would have expected, and I’m sure I’ll be using it for years!
Goal #7- Visit Yosemite
Grade: –
This is another difficult one to rate as its sort of pass/fail. I haven’t made it to Yosemite yet this year, but I still plan to go. I have made it out to a number of other campgrounds, and am doing more hiking than ever before!
Goal #8- Find a Gamer Chica That Makes My Heart Sing
Grade: A
In January I started seeing a girl from work. At first I didn’t believe we had much in common, but the more I’ve gotten to know her the more I realize we are startlingly similar in many ways. She isn’t a gamer girl per se, but she does play video games and is at least familiar with RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.
We’ve been seeing each other for around two months, and while its far too early to know if we’ll go the distance I can say that things look very promising. I really like this one. She’s a blast to hang out with and seems to get me. So I gave myself an A on this goal!
Goal #9- Add $200 A Month To My Savings
Grade: D
This year has decimated my savings. I just shelled out money for taxes, a trip to Atlanta, my car insurance and a new couch. Add in the money I spent on the camera and my savings have all but evaporated.
The good news is that as of April 1st I’m back on a budget. If I’m diligent I should be able to do $200 a month to savings, and when I get my bonus in August I should be able to make up the $600 I should already have put away.
Goal #10- Pay My Car Under $3000
Grade: –
This is another one that’s difficult to score. I haven’t paid a lot of extra money towards the car this year, but I did have the rate readjusted to 3.99%. This means that out of my $200 payment each month about $180 goes towards principal. The balance isn’t dropping as quickly as I’d like, but its $5800 as of this writing.
I get a second bonus in December, and if I pay it directly to principle it should put me close to the $3000 mark by the end of the year.
Goal #11- Be Nicer To myself
Grade: A
This is another goal that I’ve excelled at. For the first time in a very long while I’m not beating myself up over every little mistake. I’ve found peace and self-acceptance, and its helping me accomplish all the other goals. I know I’ll always be a perfectionist, but learning to forgive myself and focus on tomorrow has helped me more than I ever could have guessed.
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