Monday, January 10, 2011

Goals for 2011

I know, I'm a little late.  I’m a procrastinator…


After some consideration I present to you (dun dun dundun!) my goals for 2011!

1. Get a new car. This is happening. I have a down payment and a good credit score. My inspection and registration and all that jazz is due in March, so I’m getting it before the end of that month. HAPPENING. SO EXCITED!

2. Pay off my lowest balance student loan. If I wasn’t saving for the car, this would be done already, but whatevs.

3. Take a trip not relating to a family visit to somewhere I’ve never been. This will probably be a solo trip (practice for big trips I want to take in the future). I’m thinking San Francisco, Boston, or somewhere. (I’m going to try to get to DC this year too, but I’d be visiting my cousins, so that doesn’t count!)

4. Continue with the health goals from last year. I want to go back to yoga class (hopefully sooner rather than later), get toned, and lose 5-10 more pounds. I’m in a healthy range now, but I’d like a little bit more of a buffer.

5. QUIT JOB #2. This is a HUGE goal. I’m hoping for 6 months, so I’ll have the summer free. As much as I like the extra cash, it’s exhausting. I want to be able to spend time with friends and go away on weekends without having to remember to request off.

6. Learn some web programming. I have a book for dummies, and my step dad is sending me some other stuff. Maybe eventually this could be another source of income, but it really will help out with my current job-job #1, that is.

7. Cross something off my life list. I don’t know what yet. Maybe this will the year for sky diving?

8. Read the books in my book pile. There are so many. Some I started, but never finished. Some I bought and forgot about.

These goals are in addition to the ones that aren’t completed from last year. I haven’t forgotten about those. Yet.  Good luck to everyone who's set goals for this year!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Frivolous Dreams

I’m buying lottery tickets today. And whenever I resolve to buy lottery tickets my mind gets away from me. I fantasize about what I’d do with that kind of money. I’m getting them for myself and one other friend and we’d split the money. It’d be over $100 million. Each.


I’d pay off my debt, my brother’s, both my parents, and give at least a million to my aunt who’s been above and beyond supportive of me my whole life. Then I’d quit both my jobs, hire a financial advisor, buy the best camera I can find and plan some kind of trip. Somewhere sunny.

And even though the chances of winning even $2 are slim to none-there’s still the hope. The hope that I could change my life and my family’s forever. To have a house and a space of my own.  Being able to explore and find my passion and help others without having to worry about student loans and car payments. And not having to work. There’s that, too.

Good luck to anyone who chooses to play.  Someone's gotta win, right?
 

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010 Achievements

Happy 2011 everyone!

If you remember, I set forth some goals for myself at the beginning of the year.  So here's what I've achieved:


  1.  Go to gym/lose some poundage/get healthy(skinny)  Yes!  I joined the gym across the street from my house and started doing yoga and Weight Watchers in September.  I lost around 15 pounds, and would like to drop a little more.
  2. Start a blog. Hi!  Thanks for reading my mostly mindless ramblings!
  3. Pay off credit cards. I've got one left to go, and it should be done by April.
  4. Get passport.  I did this the Monday after Christmas (nothing like waiting until the last minute!), so I'll be getting it in a few weeks.
  5. Cross 2 items off life listI started yoga and bought vouchers for rock climbing and aerial acrobatics.  I haven't used the vouchers so much, so I guess I didn't completely achieve this one, but it's okay.
  6. Find an apartment.  I'm putting this one off because I have to get a new car and I want to continue to pay off debts.  Maybe this will happen next year if I can find a roommate.
  7. Get organized (I'm terrible at keeping stuff in it's "home").  This is a continuing goal.  I've gotten a lot better about things.
  8. Volunteer (My main cause is the National MS Society, but I'm interested in finding others as well).  Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to do this.  Between working two jobs and still trying to have a social life, it kind of fell through the cracks.  I did, however, donate to the USO, the Kristen Brooks Hope Center, and took part in the James Garfield miracle, so I think I did alright.
  9. Clean out clothes.  Also ongoing, but I did donate two big bags of clothes that I don't wear to one of those clothes drop boxes. This one happened to support the MS Society.
  10. Go through boxes from last move.  I did this some, but I hate going through old stuff.  I don't know if it's stirring up bad memories, or deciding what's not important any more, but I don't like it.  I'll finish in the Spring.  I'll make myself get into one of my cleaning moods.     
 
 
I hope that everyone had a happy and fun New Year.  I spent mine watching a drag show at a gay bar.  So. Much. Fun!  I'll be sure to post soon with my 2011 goals.  I just haven't 100% decided what I'd this year to bring yet.