End of Year Goal Summary 2012

Report:

Physical: C-

Mental: B+

Emotional: A+

Social: A-

Spiritual: A-

First Life: A+

Second Life: A-

Third Life: B-

Fourth Life: C

Fifth Life: A+

Sixth Life: A+

Incidental: A

Bucket List: B

Overall Grade for 2012: B+

Physical

Critical Goal: Reach and largely sustain a weight of 250lbs. - Weight - 270lbs. Mostly a failure, halfway at times, multiple efforts at losing weight, finally getting traction towards the end, but end result still the same. Especially since this was the most important goal of the year, I give this a D+

Important Goals:

[Redacted due to Circumstances beyond my control] C-

Increase Aerobic Endurance by 50% (Test Jan 15, 2012) - 25% C

Flat Abs (Subjective improvement of 100% based on comparison Jan – July – December 2012) - F

Bonus

Do the Warrior Dash at least once - C [Illness prevented, slated for Feb 2013]

Play in some physical competitive league/sport/tournament thing - F [Julia Override: C-]

Mental

Critical Goal: Read the following six books: - A-

*The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx-Completed

*The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith-Completed

*The Federalist Papers-Completed

*Infinite Jest (Replaced with the Pale Blue Eye]-Completed

*The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keyes-(Replaced with Declaration of the Rights of Man) - Mostly Completed.

*Common Sense - Completed.

Important Goals

Learn 3 New Non Social Skills (Likely Dancing, Cooking and Something Outdoors) - Dancing, Vocal Performance, Wine Tasting (Just Starting) - B+

Read at least 10 books from the ‘classics’ list - B-

Bonus:

Write a review for each book read in terms of a goal on my review blog to keep track - Behind on this. B

Read 10 books from the top 100 Sci Fi list of all time (Or bestseller if I’ve read them all) - B+

Emotional

Critical Goal: Develop an optimistic attitude (Or at least make significant progress towards such) - A+

Important Goals

Laugh at least once a week - A+

Empathize with someone of another perspective at least once a week - A+

Stop talking about people that I no longer want or need to have anything to do with on a regular basis - A+

Bonus

Learn to control my attitude at will - A

Experience prolonged joy - A+++++

Spiritual

Critical Goal: Refine my personal spiritual beliefs to decide what it is I really believe about God. Post to my spiritual blog by the end of 2012 - Done. Writing Tomorrow. A+

Important Goals

Read the spiritual text of a major world religion - F

Meditate often - A+

Go to Alchemy - N/A

Social

Critical Goal: If appropriate come April 2012, Operation Bitter Apple - Not appropriate, replaced by Operation Caramel Apple

[WTF Caramel Apple? BA Not Needed. Operation Julia is Awesome replaced.] A+

Important Goals

Reach Level 20 - A-

Take 6 Swing Classes and Go out Swing Dancing at least 6 times - Postponed due to finance and scheduling. A

Attend at least 5 FL ‘Events’ - B-

Bonus

Take an Improv Class - F

First Life (Retired)

Critical Goal: None. A ‘retired’ life by definition has no critical goal.

Important Goal

Run 3 ‘mini arc’ games of 3 sessions each. - A+

Record any games played in my RPG blog. A

Take at least 10 yoga classes. - B+ [Included Julia and have made it a habit]

Bonus

Attempt to run a PBEM for 6 months - A- (Ran, players lacked interest in sufficient numbers)

Run another mega plot on Dark Metal mush - B

Wrap up Belan’s arc successfully - A+

40 Karma increase for Bob in Shadowrun Missions - F

Play in at least 2 Larps - B [One murder mystery]

Pay an Homage to Byeard M by running one of his games at a con - A+

Establish ties to Portland Gaming community. - Starting City Variable, N/A

Second Life

Critical Goal: Finish the first draft of Novel Five (Starting March 2012) - A+ [Scope expanded in size, first half on track to finish by end of year]

Important Goals:

Finish Play/Poem “Tenth Muse” by March 2012. - A (Dropped due to professional reasons)

Write 2 Feature Length Movie Scripts - B - 1 Completed. 1 Technically written but being redrafted.

Start the Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast (by April 2012) - B. Major effort, but kind of a mess. Considering dropping entirely or restarting much later.

Bonus

Sell something written to a ‘gate keeper’ that is a professional or semiprofessional publication. - A+

Write 5 Horror short stories - 5 written - A+

Write 3 Sci Fi short stories - A+

Write 2 Non supernatural stories - A+ [Albiet Write Club Pieces.]

Write 1 entirely inappropriate story - Nothing (in the spirit this was meant) F

Write an entry for each Write Club monthly venue - B+ [Missed one]

Join Atlanta Play writes - F [But will next year.]

Write 10 Episodes for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky. D- [Nothing written, but solid inside my mind.]

Write $200000 worth of Grants for Mythic. $60000 so far. B

Establish ties to the Portland Writing community. N/A. Starting city variable now.

Third Life

Critical Goal: Produce Unfood (or at least have it Produced) - Made effort. On ice. B-

Important Goals

Get involved with another web series either as writer, crew or elsewise. - A [one shot]

Take an acting class - F

Film footage for “Earth and Sea and Star and Sky” - F

Bonus

Be an extra in at least one short film - F (But potential likely in project)

Read at least 20 hours for GARRS - A+ (Done.)

Take another sound class C+ [Personal experience counts for something.]

Help with sound in at least one short film A+

Enter something in some film festival somewhere. F

Participate in the 48 hour film festival in some capacity Proved unworkable but tried. B-

Establish ties to the Portland Theater Community. N/A. Starting city variable now.

Fourth Life

Critical Goal: Only take Project Management jobs as my ‘day job’ A+

Important Goals

Make a $5000 profit for Red Anvil Amalgamated - Exactly $100. F.

Hire an Accountant in March 2012 D+ [Not needed but also not done.]

Get the CAMP or the PMP by the end of 2012 Unknown. D-

Bonus

Get at least 4 paid VO gigs. Nothing. D- (An audition)

Get at least 5 paid gigs for Emergency Documentation. D+. Tried.

Join and interact with the least Reality Deviant Chamber of Commerce I can find in the Atlanta Metro area. F.

Start or Join MOD team. D- (Conducted research)

Participate in Video Game Jam 2012 - NA.

Establish ties to the Portland Business community. NA. Starting City Variable.

Fifth Life

Critical Goal: Finish reading and applying the principals of the core books (US, TAS, and Unknown Book #3) A+

Important Goals

Find a patron(s) B+

The Year of the Phoenix (decide by Feb 2012) A+

Learn Self Defense A+

Sixth Life

Critical Goal: Decide to implement and then implement EITHER Operation Dark Hammerfell or Operation Montoya Hammerfell - Operation Montoya Hammerfel - B+

Important Goals

Monitor and Follow Up on Traffic Stop of Evil - F

Help those trying to make the world a better place indirectly at least 5 times in concrete ways - A+

Avoid voting for War Criminals - A- [The alternative was worse]

Seventh Life (In Reserve till 2027)

Incidental Goals

These goals are all, by definition ‘bonus’ that do not fit into a particular category OR are implementations of Life goals, which are Important.

Go to Dragon Con A+

Go to Anachro Con A+

Go to Mardigras (if I win my bet with myself) A+ [Replaced with Savannah at New Years]

Go to FC A+

Obtain 5 Physical Objects (An annual tradition at this point): Fix the Bumper, Fix my Teeth, Ereader, Running Stilts (Once I reach 250), and a fifth item to be determined in July 2012 at the mid year goal check. - 3 of 5. B

Go to Canooga - F

Go to at least one Anime con. F

Go to Play It On Con. F

Complete 70% of all bonus goals - B-

Complete 80% of all bonus goals - F

Complete 90% of all bonus goals - F

Get a tattoo based on the Gathering of the Seven - A- [....didn't get but don't get me started]

Life Goals - "At some point"

1. See the Louvre.

**Keep. Slated 2014.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.

** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.

**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

D so far.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

Slated 2014

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.

**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.

**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2012

A-

13. Go on a cruise.

2013.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

Slated 2016.

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

Slated 2012 [F] Will try 2013.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

On track so far. A+

27. Ditto the sixth.

Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

A+

28. Ditto the seventh.

**Kept in reserve until 2027.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).

Do unfood in 2012. [F for 2012, A over all]

Zombie Buddies counts (doesn't say my films even if that's what is meant) A+

48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.

49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)

50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)

51. Join the Masons. - Slated 2014 (if possible)

52. Hypnotize someone. - Slated 2013.

53. Firewalk.

54. Visit the Library of Congress [Slated 2013]

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person. [A+ On track 2013]

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation. [???? Maybe.]

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space. [Space X Rocks]

32. Buy my own island. [Not likely Dr. No.]

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent. [I am not Ted Turner..but who knows.]

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.

Pending Thanksgiving

Details on the wedding are still taking shape but at the moment it is looking like we will be having it some time in July of 2013. We are also considering many options including eloping and then having a reception after the fact, and focusing most of our effort on the honeymoon, which I like personally. Still, as far as I am concerned this is largely Julia's affair so I want to make sure she has sufficient resources and flexibility to get what she wants and that there won't be regrets after the fact. Thus far, I think we're meeting that objection and the current plan is the elopment but nothing is set in stone until invitations go out. :D Well...or it actually happens :D This last weekend I hung out with her folks after being invited to dinner. We had Paiaiya (sp?) since ...(I really don't know what to call my prospective in laws? Proto Mom? Proto Dad? Mr. Carlson? Hey dude? First name really seems inappropriate) Julia's father invited me to dinner and they wanted to test out the charcoal grill. It was quite good. :D Julia and I also had a rather nice dinner at Ray's on the River. We also finished watching season 1 of the New Dr. Who AND (coincidentally enough) the second season of Buffy. I am selling Julia on Angel, which she has never seen and I think she will quite like, but we shall see what we shall see. :D We also had a very nice talk with Mom and Skip and Grandma Saturday night when Julia came over. We're currently taking Swing Lessons (we've had two so far) and I'm greatly looking forward to applying it in some places. Before that, we've also seen Skyfall (the most recent Bond movie) which I'll write a review on my review blog for eventually, and had a blast taking Yoga together. We're doing the sessions sporadically given how much work Julia has in her classes, but we both enjoy them when we take them. We have also enjoyed quite a few walks and talking about the future.

Freedom Day V

Thanks to Wayne and Helen for making this very memorable. Julia helped plan it. Thanks also to all those who offered their moral support but couldn't make it (especially Adam and Holly who came to the Shelter but weren't able to join us after the fact.)

There were some negative events earlier that day that distracted me (a friend decided our friendship apparently meant nothing) but the conversation and the meal was awesome. Later, Helen and Wayne invited us to a party of a friend of Helen's who had a band (that so far as I know has no name) though I think a working title might be Endless Jam Band...they were quite good though and it was this awesome party in this awesome old house which was decorated to the nines. We were planning on ending the evening at the Shelter which would have been a kind of dance Halloween Party (Wayne was a Speed Demon, Helen was Danica Fitzpatrick the race car driver, Julia was Little Red Riding Hood (the interesting version ;) ) and I was Harry Dresden. Alas, in the course of moving from the impromptu party to the Shelter, we hit a flat tire (a rock the size of Cleveland). While we waited for a tow truck, Wayne directed us to a nearby bar called, "The Church" which could not have been more thematically themed if I had tried. It ended up being an even better ending than I could ever have dreamed, with a vibrant party, the best Sangria in the city, fantastic costumes (including two poison ivy's and a guy dressed up as a squirrel with an inflatable tail, two guys dressed as swat officers that pretended to be actual cops for thirty seconds etc) and choir robes that you could dress up in. At some point I'll be posting a picture of me in my Dresden hat wearing a choir robe...:D

Earlier that day, Mom, Skip and I all drove out to see Julia and Todd. The baby is doing well and is still very very cute. They were both happy to see us and we had a lot of fun talking with each other though we weren't there for very long. Still, I was glad we could do something for Julie's birthday on her birthday. There was cake and Raging Burrito which is pretty awesome. :D

Last night, I hung out with Julia's family. We had a magnificent northern french (ie practically German) dish prepared by Julia's mother and then talked seriously about some wedding plans. When I made the list it made me realize that a) I have a BIG family and b) I have a LOT of friends, though the schedule of so many people might be extremely random. A few amusing bits included trying to explain the Mythic Imagination Institute, Handfasting and Stonehenge on Mom and Skip's front lawn. :D After everyone else scattered to do their own thing, Julia and I watched the original 1930's Frankenstein and the Woman in Black. Both were quite good, but what really shocked me was the fact that I realized I had *NEVER* seen the original Frankenstein. In fact, I might not have seen Dracula or the Wolfman now that I think about it. And I call myself a cinephile?

I've started reading "The Atrocity Archives" by Charles Straus. Quite good. Writing going well. Podcast going...ok. First episode got a lot of hits, second not so much but I'm taking the long view and will do it for at least a year. The irony of course being that the second episode is a LOT better than the first. Skip mentioned some things that make me think it may be hard for people to get to, so I'm going to try embedding it in my writing blog instead and seeing if that works.

Sergey has started up the Archer/Venture brothers group again which will be very fun to participate in/watch. Julia and I last Friday watched two more episodes of Buffy and she treated me to dinner at There and Main, a VERY nice restaurant in downtown Roswell. We're also jointly doing Yoga near Perimeter Mall and its pretty awesome. Its rather relaxing and it is good exercise too. I want to make arrangements to do it at least twice a week.

Always stuff going on, but that should cover the big things.

Trip This Weekend

So I suppose the big news is that I asked Julia to marry me and she said "Yes." We are officially engaged. The date is not yet set.

We stayed at the Sautee Inn, which was nice and a bed and breakfast. They serve breakfast at 9am every morning which means sleeping in is a no go. Still, the place is gorgeous (1890's house) with antiques everywhere. It is the perfect place to get away from it all and the couple that runs it is very nice.

The first night we went to the festival hall in Helen, where they do the Octoberfest. It was fun, with lots of people in German costumes and the chicken dance. Julia and I each had a single drink and then went back. It was really more of a trip for flavor rather than enebriation.

After a huge breakfast the next morning we went on two hikes. The first was to Ruby Falls which has a gorgeous water fall after a half mile hike. The second was to Brass Town Bald, which had a hike to the summit I didn't take the first time I went there due to the super intense fog. They had a hokey but moderately cool museum and movie theater at the top, so we learned...all we ever really wanted to know about it, but the view was spectaular and that's where I asked Julia to marry me.

Upon return, ate in Helen (don't remember the name of the place, sorry,) but the food was fantastic. Julia got a bracelet made of stones from different parts all around the world. The glass blowing shop was fantastic as usual, though it was interesting this time because the guy who worked there basically was spouting communist libertarian propoganda (and yes, that is a weird combo but that's what he was doing) but his skill was on display for all to see and the guy is a real master. I got a box I plan to open in 20 years from the 'random box' pile.

We went back and had a lovely evening watching the stars and rocking. And other things. The next morning after breakfast we headed back and I dropped Julia off at home.

Life is going to become interesting after a while. :D

3rd Quarter Goal Check

So just looking at this list...HOLY @$@#$@# WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?! :/ :D

Right, so there are some mitigating circumstances....unemployment, illness, meeting someone incredible....some insanity the second time around...so...the world is not like I anticipated at the beginning of the year...at all...but...my life is chaos...I should have known this.

Bottom line, setting goals is an art. Last year I underbid my abilities and properly, goals should push your abilities...but I like...TRIPLED the number of goals I set...so let's get a report of what these are looking like and a plan of action...it's still something I take seriously, and will make the best salvage effort I can.

Critical Goal: Reach and largely sustain a weight of 250lbs.

**This was my most important and first goal, and I've failed it utterly thus far. I'm exercising 30 minutes a day but I just started. There will be no mitigating circumstances allowed in this goal...so its likely to be at best a C...which makes the whole year a C in some ways, but its more important I reach the goal than I make it when I wanted, which means starting and taking a C as better than an F.

Important Goals:

Reduce Toxicity by 20% (Test Jan 2012 and Dec 2012 at least)

**Pretty good but without insurance, I've been unable to measure. I...think I'm doing good?

Increase Aerobic Endurance by 50% (Test Jan 15, 2012)

**BAHAHAHAHAHAHAA. This one I can blame on illness...but I am better than my low after my illness. With current plans I hope to get up to 25%. I'm recalibrating this goal to that.

Flat Abs (Subjective improvement of 100% based on comparison Jan – July – December 2012)

**BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Fail. I'm pushing this off the list.

Bonus

Do the Warrior Dash at least once - Illness nixed this. And tis once a year BUT I'm shooting for Zombie thing in Feb...and if I can feel that I can make this at the end of the year, this can be a pass.

Play in some physical competitive league/sport/tournament thing - ZUPER FAIL! :D And strangely I don't care...

Mental

Critical Goal: Read the following six books:

*The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx - A

*The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith - A (AND *YE* GODS...why did I make myself do this?!)

*The Federalist Papers - A

*Infinite Jest - Swapped. Next time I pick a 1000 page book, make sure it has years that let you follow the plot. Replaced with The Pale Blue Eye. A

*The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keyes - On Track

*Common Sense - On Track

Important Goals

Learn 3 New Non Social Skills (Likely Dancing, Cooking and Something Outdoors) Slated as Yoga, Wine Tasting and Swing.

Read at least 5 books about a single major contemporary sport (Not the Olympics) Fail. And really? I don't care.

Read at least 10 books from the ‘classics’ list - Doing good. 4 so far. Likely seven-eight by the end of the year.

Bonus:

Write a review for each book read in terms of a goal on my review blog to keep track - I'll need to go back and do this. But I'm closer but not reading as much as I should.

Read 10 books from the top 100 Sci Fi list of all time (Or bestseller if I’ve read them all) - I've kind of cheated by finding classics and sci fi in one thingy. Good progress but unlikely to pass.

Emotional

Critical Goal: Develop an optimistic attitude (Or at least make significant progress towards such)

-So Far So Good! ....I hope...:/ :D

Important Goals

Laugh at least once a week

-Pass in SPADES! :D

Empathize with someone of another perspective at least once a week

-Pass.

Stop talking about people that I no longer want or need to have anything to do with on a regular basis

-Who? PASS! :D [Yay!] @96.5%

Bonus

Learn to control my attitude at will

Pass.

Experience prolonged joy

Pass. IN SPADES WITH SPARKLERS! :D

Spiritual

Critical Goal: Refine my personal spiritual beliefs to decide what it is I really believe about God. Post to my spiritual blog by the end of 2012.

**Almost there.

Important Goals

Read the spiritual text of a major world religion

**I've put this on the list every year for 3 years....I'm taking it off.

Meditate often

**Done.

Go to Alchemy

**Well, I had the money, but by the time I had it, Alchemy was sold out. :/ I'll give this a "Close."

Social

Critical Goal: If appropriate come April 2012, Operation Bitter Apple

**Made irrelevant. Replaced with Operation Scout.

Important Goals

Reach Level 20

**Made irrelevant, but 15 isn't bad.

Take 6 Swing Classes and Go out Swing Dancing at least 6 times

**Down to the wire but likely.

Attend at least 5 FL ‘Events’

**4 down. 1 to go.

Bonus

Take an Improv Class

**No.

First Life (Retired)

Critical Goal: None. A ‘retired’ life by definition has no critical goal.

Important Goal

Run 3 ‘mini arc’ games of 3 sessions each.

*1 3 arc done. 2nd arc has had 2 sessions.

Record any games played in my RPG blog.

*Done.

Take at least 10 yoga classes.

*Starting tomorrow.

Bonus

Attempt to run a PBEM for 6 months - PASS! And...wow did it die painfully.

Run another mega plot on Dark Metal mush - PASSish...when the staff went fruitloops I went out, but the plot was ready and getting started. Going back soon to try and salvage.

Wrap up Belan’s arc successfully - Pass.

40 Karma increase for Bob in Shadowrun Missions - Le NOPE!

Play in at least 2 Larps - Le NOPE!

Help run games for SEIGE 2012 - E for Effort.

Pay an Homage to Byeard M by running one of his games at a con - PASS!

Establish ties to Portland Gaming community. - N/A due to scrambleness.

Second Life

Critical Goal: Finish the first draft of Novel Five (Starting March 2012)

**At 40K. Possible to get to 100K by the end of the year, but I'd rather have GOOD than CRAP so we're going to measure this at 69K (half way mark) instead.

Important Goals:

Finish Play/Poem “Tenth Muse” by March 2012. - Pass. Because....What I wanted to write wasn't what I thought it was, and because that story isn't mine to tell.

Write 2 Feature Length Movie Scripts - 1 done. Er....2....well...er...who knows. I'm not hopeful...but Amendment 28...is ...kind of....not even close, but it will be awesome...looks a likely C.

Start the Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast (by April 2012) - FAIL! But still starting...tomorrow probably.

Bonus

Sell something written to a ‘gate keeper’ that is a professional or semiprofessional publication.

-PASS! Smoke and mirrors qualifies for the latter.

Write 5 Horror short stories

-PASS!

Write 3 Sci Fi short stories

-2 of 3 so far.

Write 2 Non supernatural stories

-If you include acid trippy then PASS.

Write 1 entirely inappropriate story

-Not done yet.

Write an entry for each Write Club monthly venue

-........no comment.

Join Atlanta Playwrites

-Not yet.

Write 10 Episodes for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky.

-Huh. Dunno. Who knows? :D

Write $200000 worth of Grants for Mythic.

-It's not like I haven't been willing or trying....it's a bit of a swamp castle...but i keep slogging.

Establish ties to the Portland Writing community.

-N/A

Third Life

Critical Goal: Produce Unfood (or at least have it Produced)

-Officially shot in the head. I still give myself a pass.

Important Goals

Get involved with another web series either as writer, crew or elsewise.

-Kind of done.

Take an acting class

-No.

Film footage for “Earth and Sea and Star and Sky”

-Maybe.

Bonus

Be an extra in at least one short film

-Nope. But I did boom.

Read at least 20 hours for GARRS

-Done.

Take another sound class

-I count live experience. :D

Help with sound in at least one short film

-PASS! :D

Enter something in some film festival somewhere.

-MAYBE.

Participate in the 48 hour film festival in some capacity

-MAYBE.

Establish ties to the Portland Theater Community.

-NA

Fourth Life

Critical Goal: Only take Project Management jobs as my ‘day job’

-PASS!

Important Goals

Make a $5000 profit for Red Anvil Amalgamated

-Er...cough cough cough...er....cough.

Hire an Accountant in March 2012

-FAIL!

Get the CAMP or the PMP by the end of 2012

-Likely fail....but I have a plan.

Bonus

Get at least 4 paid VO gigs.

BAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAH.

Get at least 5 paid gigs for Emergency Documentation.

BAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH!

Join and interact with the least Reality Deviant Chamber of Commerce I can find in the Atlanta Metro area.

On target for Nov 2012.

Start or Join MOD team

BAHAHAHAAHAH!

Participate in Video Game Jam 2012

Fail.

Establish ties to the Portland Business community.

N/A

Fifth Life

Critical Goal: Finish reading and applying the principals of the core books (US, TAS, and Unknown Book #3)

Finished.

Important Goals

Find a patron(s)

In Progress

The Year of the Phoenix (decide by Feb 2012)

Oh my yes :D

Learn Self Defense

PASS! :D

Sixth Life

Critical Goal: Decide to implement and then implement EITHER Operation Dark Hammerfell or Operation Montoya Hammerfell

Dark Hammerfell it is.

Important Goals

Monitor and Follow Up on Traffic Stop of Evil

FAIL.

Help those trying to make the world a better place indirectly at least 5 times in concrete ways

PASS!

Avoid voting for War Criminals

FAIL! But really...better than a Roberts Court.

Seventh Life (In Reserve till 2027)

Incidental Goals

These goals are all, by definition ‘bonus’ that do not fit into a particular category OR are implementations of Life goals, which are Important.

Go to Dragon Con-PASS

Go to Anachro Con-PASS

Go to Mardigras (if I win my bet with myself)-FAIL! (Bet won....too expensive...illness exuses)

Go to FC-PASS!

Obtain 5 Physical Objects (An annual tradition at this point): Fix the Bumper, Fix my Teeth, Ereader, Running Stilts (Once I reach 250), and a fifth item to be determined in July 2012 at the mid year goal check. - PASS! FAIL! PASS!

BAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH! Unchosen and thus...FAIL.

Go to Canooga-FAIL

Go to at least one Anime con.-FAIL

Go to Play It On Con-FAIL

Complete 70% of all bonus goals-Likely FAIL

Complete 80% of all bonus goals-FAIL

Complete 90% of all bonus goals-BAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA

Get a tattoo based on the Gathering of the Seven-Still trying. About to change course.

Life Goals - "At some point"

1. See the Louvre.

**Keep. Slated 2012-2013. Likely 2013 but 2012 may have great deals that show up.

-Shifted to 2014.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.

** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.

**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

WELL....It's still POSSIBLE...but 0 is a low number.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

Slated 2014

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.

**Completed. [And also permanently dead :( ]

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.

**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2013

13. Go on a cruise.

2014. October unless I find a really cool themed one before or after.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING. [Small chance of 2013]

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

Slated 2016.

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

Do in Spring 2013 unless an opportunity comes before hand.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

-Doing.

27. Ditto the sixth.

Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

-Doing.

28. Ditto the seventh.

**Kept in reserve until 2027.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).

Shooting Unfood Dead. Counting In The Head. 4 of 7 completed (Well...my contribution).

48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.

49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)

50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)

51. Join the Masons.

52. Hypnotize someone. [2012-2013 likely. Learning.]

53. Firewalk.

54. Visit the Library of Congess

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person. [....:D ]

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.

2012 Mid Year Gold Check

It has been an unusual year, with two set backs (related) and one astoundingly positive advent.  Specifically, I am yet again unemployed (though I have some good leads) and had an illness that might...or might not be resolved.  Things go astonishingly well with Julia.  Our trip to Savannah was spectacular but I hope to make a  rather substantial update later this week.  In the meantime, its that time of year again...

2012 Goals

Summary:

Physical: D-

Mental: B+

Emotional: A

Social: A+

Spiritual: A-

First Life: A (Bonus Goals boost from B)

Second Life: A (Bonus Goals boost from A-)

Third LIfe: A (Bonus Goals boost from A-)

Fourth Life: D+ (Bonus Goals boost from  F)

Fifth LIfe: A

Sixth Life: A

Physical

Critical Goal: Reach and largely sustain a weight of 250lbs. - Weight - 270lbs.  Total and abject failure - F

Important Goals:

Reduce Toxicity by 20% (Test Jan 2012 and Dec 2012 at least)- Generally OK at this.  B

Increase Aerobic Endurance by 50% (Test Jan 15, 2012) - Untested.  F

Flat Abs (Subjective improvement of 100% based on comparison Jan – July – December 2012) - F

Bonus

Do the Warrior Dash at least once - Incomplete due to illness

Play in some physical competitive league/sport/tournament thing - Unadvanced - F

Mental
Critical Goal: Read the following six books: - A
*The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx-Completed
*The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith-Completed
*The Federalist Papers-Completed (Not reviewed yet but tomorrow)
*Infinite Jest
*The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keyes
*Common Sense

Important Goals
Learn 3 New Non Social Skills (Likely Dancing, Cooking and Something Outdoors) - Initiating Cooking this month, Dancing in August, Hypnosis at 50% - B+

Read at least 5 books about a single major contemporary sport (Not the Olympics) - Dropped.  Boring.

Read at least 10 books from the ‘classics’ list - 30% - B

Bonus:
Write a review for each book read in terms of a goal on my review blog to keep track - Behind on this.  B

Read 10 books from the top 100 Sci Fi list of all time (Or bestseller if I’ve read
them all) - B

Emotional
Critical Goal: Develop an optimistic attitude (Or at least make significant progress towards such) - A

Important Goals
Laugh at least once a week - A

Empathize with someone of another perspective at least once a week - A-

Stop talking about people that I no longer want or need to have anything to do with on a regular basis - A

Bonus
Learn to control my attitude at will - A

Experience prolonged joy - A++

Spiritual
Critical Goal: Refine my personal spiritual beliefs to decide what it is I really believe about God. Post to my spiritual blog by the end of 2012 - Some progress.  B+

Important Goals
Read the spiritual text of a major world religion  - Narrowed to 3.  B+

Meditate often - A+

Go to Alchemy - N/A

Social
Critical Goal: If appropriate come April 2012, Operation Bitter Apple - Not appropriate, replaced by Operation Caramel Apple

Important Goals
Reach Level 20 - N/A

Take 6 Swing Classes and Go out Swing Dancing at least 6 times - Postponed due to finance and scheduling.  August.  A-

Attend at least 5 FL ‘Events’ - 2.5 so far.  A

Bonus
Take an Improv Class - ?

First Life (Retired)

Critical Goal: None. A ‘retired’ life by definition has no critical goal.
Important Goal

Run 3 ‘mini arc’ games of 3 sessions each. - A+ for Effort.

Record any games played in my RPG blog.  B

Take at least 10 yoga classes. - B+ Scheduled/Finance

Bonus
Attempt to run a PBEM for 6 months - A-  (Ran, players lacked interest in sufficient numbers)

Run another mega plot on Dark Metal mush - In the works - A

Wrap up Belan’s arc successfully - A-

40 Karma increase for Bob in Shadowrun Missions - Not yet started

Play in at least 2 Larps - Not yet started

Help run games for SEIGE 2012 - N/A

Pay an Homage to Byeard M by running one of his games at a con - A+

Establish ties to Portland Gaming community. - Not started

Second Life
Critical Goal: Finish the first draft of Novel Five (Starting March 2012) - A+

Important Goals:

Finish Play/Poem “Tenth Muse” by March 2012. - A (Dropped due to professional reasons)

Write 2 Feature Length Movie Scripts  - 1 draft written, another being researched - A+

Start the Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast (by April 2012) - Delayed due to Voice Over Novel lessons from Bernie - Est Late July 2012.  Graphic chosen.  Potential bumper chosen. A+

Bonus
Sell something written to a ‘gate keeper’ that is a professional or semiprofessional publication. - F
Write 5 Horror short stories - 3 written - A
Write 3 Sci Fi short stories - 1.5 - A
Write 2 Non supernatural stories - Nothing.  F
Write 1 entirely inappropriate story - Nothing (in the spirit this was meant) F
Write an entry for each Write Club monthly venue - When posted. Done.  - A
Join Atlanta Playwrites - No cash.  NA
Write 10 Episodes for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky.  Slated for later.  N/A
Write $200000 worth of Grants for Mythic.  $30000 so far.  C.
Establish ties to the Portland Writing community.  NA

Third Life
Critical Goal: Produce Unfood (or at least have it Produced) - Script was flawed.  Fixed.  Slowly working.  B.

Important Goals
Get involved with another web series either as writer, crew or elsewise.  - A
Take an acting class - F
Film footage for “Earth and Sea and Star and Sky” - Slated for later.

Bonus
Be an extra in at least one short film - F (But potential likely in project)
Read at least 20 hours for GARRS - A+ (Done.)
Take another sound class F
Help with sound in at least one short film A+
Enter something in some film festival somewhere. A
Participate in the 48 hour film festival in some capacity Proved unworkable but tried.  B-
Establish ties to the Portland Theater Community. NA

Fourth Life
Critical Goal: Only take Project Management jobs as my ‘day job’ A+ (So far...)

Important Goals
Make a $5000 profit for Red Anvil Amalgamated - Exactly $100.  F.
Hire an Accountant in March 2012 F.
Get the CAMP or the PMP by the end of 2012 Unknown.

Bonus
Get at least 4 paid VO gigs.  Nothing.  D. (Taking classes.)
Get at least 5 paid gigs for Emergency Documentation. D+.  Trying.
Join and interact with the least Reality Deviant Chamber of Commerce I can find in the Atlanta Metro area.  F.
Start or Join MOD team. D (Conducting research)
Participate in Video Game Jam 2012 - NA.  Was on my birthday.  I give myself a pass on this.
Establish ties to the Portland Business community. NA

Fifth Life
Critical Goal: Finish reading and applying the principals of the core books (US, TAS, and Unknown Book #3) A+
Important Goals
Find a patron(s) B-
The Year of the Phoenix (decide by Feb 2012) A+
Learn Self Defense A+

Sixth Life
Critical Goal: Decide to implement and then implement EITHER Operation Dark Hammerfell or Operation Montoya Hammerfell - Operation Montoya Hammerfel - B+
Important Goals
Monitor and Follow Up on Traffic Stop of Evil - F
Help those trying to make the world a better place indirectly at least 5 times in concrete ways - A+
Avoid voting for War Criminals - A (so far)

Seventh Life (In Reserve till 2027)
Incidental Goals
These goals are all, by definition ‘bonus’ that do not fit into a particular category OR are implementations of Life goals, which are Important.
Go to Dragon Con A (slated)
Go to Anachro Con A+
Go to Mardigras (if I win my bet with myself) F
Go to FC A+
Obtain 5 Physical Objects (An annual tradition at this point): Fix the Bumper, Fix my Teeth, Ereader, Running Stilts (Once I reach 250), and a fifth item to be determined in July 2012 at the mid year goal check. - 2 of 5.  C+
Go to Canooga - F
Go to at least one Anime con. Pending.
Go to Play It On Con. Unlikely.
Complete 70% of all bonus goals - Unlikely
Complete 80% of all bonus goals - Impossible.
Complete 90% of all bonus goals - " "
Get a tattoo based on the Gathering of the Seven - In the works.
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2012-2013. Likely 2013 but 2012 may have great deals that show up.

2013 more likely.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

F so far.

7. Learn a musical instrument.
Slated 2014
8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2012
A+
13. Go on a cruise.
2012. October unless I find a really cool themed one before or after.
Failure so far.  Will use loop hole for 2013. 

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
Slated 2015.
18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in Winter 2012 unless an opportunity comes before hand.  ...Potentially deputized for a greater cause.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

On track so far.  A+
27. Ditto the sixth.
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

A+

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
Do unfood in 2012.

Zombie Buddies counts (doesn't say my films even if that's what is meant) A+

48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.
49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)
50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)
51. Join the Masons. - Slated 2014 (if possible)
52. Hypnotize someone.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess


If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)
4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.

A Lot Can Happen in a Month

Well, a lot can happen in a month.

I think the biggest thing that is happening is that things are still going strong with Julia.  We just spent most of the weekend together including seeing the Avengers, the Ren Fest, Cinco de Mayo and a lot of Tudor watching.  Let me tell you, those are some messed up people. :)  Still, we love each other very much and greatly enjoy being in each other's company.  This has been very helpful since Julia has gotten some disappointing news career wise of late and I've got unemployment looming in the near future.

So, I'm not going to go into the details as to why, but I put in my 2 month resignation several weeks ago at my current job, and have two weeks left.  I must say, even though the numbers on the economy are high, I'm not getting calls from ANY recruiters.  Now, I judge the health of a job search by how many recruiters are calling me, and none have contacted me for weeks.  I'm looking, but have no interviews lined up.  That tells me a couple of things but the main thing it tells me is that this likely to be a long stretch of unemployment. 

Fortunately, I've got alternate ideas.  I'm starting my own small tech writing company (which will do freelance side jobs, nothing where it is my primary source of income) as well as voice over work.  I have almost all the ground work in place to do so and I'm very optimistic on these plus some crazier ideas like selling stuff for the Amazon Kindle.  We're not talking huge amounts of money here, but it will be something.  The gaps in contracts chip away at my finances and this is a way to keep things stable.


Long term I am very very optimistic though and fortunately with Mom and Skip's help the damage from this round of things will be reduced. 

Writing is going well but I'll write more about that in my writing blog.  Julia and I went to another steam punk event that they had in Avondale estates a few weeks ago.  It was quite fun.  I've discovered I like Steam Punk quite a bit but I need a decent outfit and we need to get Julia one.  It'll probably have to wait until my next job though.

 I've also met her parents, and they're great.  I'll be eating dinner with them this Saturday and Julia will be cooking for me the first time.  Apparently she's quite the chef.  I know her crisp was very good. :)

We're going to Savannah later this month.  The reservation was made when I felt it far more likely I'd have a job and is too late to cancel but I might need to shave a day or two off it.  Also looking forward to the Family reunion after that. 

Interesting times.

Life in Love

The biggest news is that Julia and I are officially an item. We went on a trip to Jeckyl Island, and it was, bar nothing, the most romantic weekend of my life, and...honestly, I'm pretty damn sure the best all around weekend. There are individual days that are pretty amazing (the first Freedom Day comes to mind) but as a Weekend, nothing immediately comes to mind that could top this.

There was lots of sand, jellyfish, kissing and walking on the beach. No one was stung.

Wrote a poem about it [Link pending] on my poetry blog which I think sums it up better than a straight chronology would.

Slowly picking up the pieces of things that got dropped due to health. Insurance is for crap and isn't paying for much of anything beyond a tiny portion. I'm appealing. I'm not optimistic, but I'm holding off on naming names until they officially prove themselves the people I suspect them of being. Needless to say it will be expensive. Ridiculously expensive.

This last weekend Julia and I went to see the Hunger Games. It was very good.

I am way behind on my goals. So much so that I felt a 'progress report' was in order, but only abstractly focusing on the critical and core goals, ignoring bonus for now.

Physical

A- Weight and tone improving, but health is lessened due to illness and I need to work harder to recover.

Mental
B+ Behind on the reading but not impossibly behind. The dancing thing strides so many categories I think it moves to #3 goal at the moment after the novel and optimism.

Emotional: A+ Love will do that for you. But also other areas are doing spectacularly well.

Spiritual: B. Thought has been given. Nowhere near reading a major spiritual text. Generally on track but no actual progress except contemplation (which is important.)

Social: A- This will be the most changed category in the July realignment. Bitter Apple is no longer applicable. FL events on track. Situational progress, even if radically different merits this an automatic A-. (IE Love changes things....a lot.)

First Life (Retired) A-. Mainly for effort. Nailing people to a game date is like hammering jelly, but I'm trying enough that I give myself a good grade on this. Still need to do Yoga. After dancing. Bonus goals help make this fantastic.


Second Life: A. Would be A+ if I'd done more short stories. Would be A- except that "Forever West" is going FANTASTICALLY even if slower than desired.

Third Life: C+ This one is kind of dead, in part through no fault of my own (script readers who have lives), lost contacts, lack of contacts etc but a recent conversation with Ace Talkingwolf who did the robot for Unfood went VERY well and sounds promising.

Fourth Life: B. Behind schedule but still making a serious effort. Critical goal VERY on track. I'm not going back to TW work unless I'm starving. Given my current living arrangements, that isn't happening.

Fifth Life: A.

Sixth Life: B.

Summary: B+. An A- on some scales. I am behind. But in many areas I'm working hard, and reviewing my goals I've realized many things I'm fretting over are 'bonus' goals. I can still make the important ones and I've had some legitimate circumstances which are mitigating circumstances.

Summary of Summary: Life is good. It can be better. I will make it better.

Things

1) "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is to love and be loved in return."

2) Health issue. Might be Gallstones. Might be that plus more. Nothing life threatening unless I ignore it.

3) Work sucks, but has some awesome people I work with, including my bosses. But they might be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully I did not contribute to that. We'll see. Life will be interesting in the near future.

An interesting month and a half

Wow. What an interesting six weeks. Since this is the 'chronicle' section of my life, I guess I'll summarize.

First, I had a 40th birthday. It was fun, but also embarrassing. Participation was not as high as I hoped. I got over it.

Second, I have had several nice dates with an awesome girl named Julia. We went to Anachrocon, saw some awesome bands. Slowly learning the costume thing. Moved in with the folks. They've been very helpful. Had an emergency that took me to the hospital.

Trying to be more optimistic so I'm keeping this brief. :)

Questions that Need Answering

So I’m going to keep this relatively short, because I keep making it overly complicated.

First things first. In terms of the ‘crowd source’ questions I asked folks:
I’m getting a Kindle. The final thing that decided it for me was the audio reader. The nook is awesome, but the Kindle has one or two bells and whistles that matter to me more.

As far as the sport I’m going to research, that’s going to be Football. It was a close call at the end between Baseball, Soccer and Football. I decided that ultimately football did indeed appeal to the war gamer in me, and also I like the NFL more than I like the Baseball owners. I especially like the Green Bay Packers who are actually owned by their city…and are unique in both sports. In fact, I could be wrong but they might be unique in all professional American sports. Certainly major league ones. Though, if I am wrong, I’ll learn more. I still lack a favorite AAA college team to root for, since I’m fairly certain BU is…not. TAMU is fun but it just doesn’t feel like my school and BYU…yeah.

Move is going well. I’ll be heading out Tuesday. It is…not ideal in some ways for me and ideal in others. I have a fixed plan in mind and a destination. It isn’t perfect but it will work. I think. I’ll post more musings like that on my birthday.
Writing going well with a few hiccups but mostly well. A bit behind on exercise but that’s in part because of how busy I am. Also a bit behind on dancing. I’m going to wait until Feb or March when I don’t have so many expenses and probably just hire a tutor directly instead of taking classes to match what I’m doing. The voice over classes are awesome and it will definitely help me make it a viable business on the side.

All for now. More to come later.

2012 Goals

Last year, I set my goals a bit too low. On the one hand, that was a justifiable attempt to focus my efforts on less things to do them better (which worked). On the other hand, I did not use my full capacity. First of all, I can write a lot more, and was until I got morally crushed by the ‘workshop’ at World con. Second, I had met almost all of my goals by early December, with the exception of the script. Goals need to be something that are attainable, but at the same time push you to your limit. One should seek, and strive and always attempt to exceed one’s grasp, per the poem. And I agree with that philosophy.

So this year for each goal category, I’m setting up three kinds of goals. The ‘Critical’ goal will be the most important, without the completion of which, that entire category is essentially a failure. There will also be up to three ‘Important’ goals which should be met because they establish quotas for very long distance goals that will take many years to complete. The final category will be ‘bonus’ goals, which I believe would be nice, are something I want to do, and can be something that will help me become a better person etc.

Physical

Critical Goal: Reach and largely sustain a weight of 250lbs.

Important Goals:

Reduce Toxicity by 20% (Test Jan 2012 and Dec 2012 at least)

Increase Aerobic Endurance by 50% (Test Jan 15, 2012)

Flat Abs (Subjective improvement of 100% based on comparison Jan – July – December 2012)

Bonus

Do the Warrior Dash at least once

Play in some physical competitive league/sport/tournament thing

Mental
Critical Goal: Read the following six books:
*The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
*The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
*The Federalist Papers
*Infinite Jest
*The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keyes
*Common Sense

Important Goals
Learn 3 New Non Social Skills (Likely Dancing, Cooking and Something Outdoors)

Read at least 5 books about a single major contemporary sport (Not the Olympics)

Read at least 10 books from the ‘classics’ list

Bonus:
Write a review for each book read in terms of a goal on my review blog to keep track

Read 10 books from the top 100 Sci Fi list of all time (Or bestseller if I’ve read
them all)

Emotional
Critical Goal: Develop an optimistic attitude (Or at least make significant progress towards such)

Important Goals
Laugh at least once a week

Empathize with someone of another perspective at least once a week

Stop talking about people that I no longer want or need to have anything to do with on a regular basis

Bonus
Learn to control my attitude at will

Experience prolonged joy

Spiritual
Critical Goal: Refine my personal spiritual beliefs to decide what it is I really believe about God. Post to my spiritual blog by the end of 2012.

Important Goals
Read the spiritual text of a major world religion

Meditate often

Go to Alchemy

Social
Critical Goal: If appropriate come April 2012, Operation Bitter Apple

Important Goals
Reach Level 20

Take 6 Swing Classes and Go out Swing Dancing at least 6 times

Attend at least 5 FL ‘Events’

Bonus
Take an Improv Class

First Life (Retired)

Critical Goal: None. A ‘retired’ life by definition has no critical goal.
Important Goal

Run 3 ‘mini arc’ games of 3 sessions each.

Record any games played in my RPG blog.

Take at least 10 yoga classes.

Bonus
Attempt to run a PBEM for 6 months

Run another mega plot on Dark Metal mush

Wrap up Belan’s arc successfully

40 Karma increase for Bob in Shadowrun Missions
Play in at least 2 Larps
Help run games for SEIGE 2012
Pay an Homage to Byeard M by running one of his games at a con
Establish ties to Portland Gaming community.

Second Life
Critical Goal: Finish the first draft of Novel Five (Starting March 2012)
Important Goals:

Finish Play/Poem “Tenth Muse” by March 2012.

Write 2 Feature Length Movie Scripts

Start the Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast (by April 2012)

Bonus
Sell something written to a ‘gate keeper’ that is a professional or semiprofessional publication.
Write 5 Horror short stories
Write 3 Sci Fi short stories
Write 2 Non supernatural stories
Write 1 entirely inappropriate story
Write an entry for each Write Club monthly venue
Join Atlanta Playwrites
Write 10 Episodes for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky.
Write $200000 worth of Grants for Mythic.
Establish ties to the Portland Writing community.

Third Life
Critical Goal: Produce Unfood (or at least have it Produced)

Important Goals
Get involved with another web series either as writer, crew or elsewise.
Take an acting class
Film footage for “Earth and Sea and Star and Sky”

Bonus
Be an extra in at least one short film
Read at least 20 hours for GARRS
Take another sound class
Help with sound in at least one short film
Enter something in some film festival somewhere.
Participate in the 48 hour film festival in some capacity
Establish ties to the Portland Theater Community.

Fourth Life
Critical Goal: Only take Project Management jobs as my ‘day job’

Important Goals
Make a $5000 profit for Red Anvil Amalgamated
Hire an Accountant in March 2012
Get the CAMP or the PMP by the end of 2012

Bonus
Get at least 4 paid VO gigs.
Get at least 5 paid gigs for Emergency Documentation.
Join and interact with the least Reality Deviant Chamber of Commerce I can find in the Atlanta Metro area.
Start or Join MOD team
Participate in Video Game Jam 2012
Establish ties to the Portland Business community.

Fifth Life
Critical Goal: Finish reading and applying the principals of the core books (US, TAS, and Unknown Book #3)
Important Goals
Find a patron(s)
The Year of the Phoenix (decide by Feb 2012)
Learn Self Defense

Sixth Life
Critical Goal: Decide to implement and then implement EITHER Operation Dark Hammerfell or Operation Montoya Hammerfell
Important Goals
Monitor and Follow Up on Traffic Stop of Evil
Help those trying to make the world a better place indirectly at least 5 times in concrete ways
Avoid voting for War Criminals

Seventh Life (In Reserve till 2027)
Incidental Goals
These goals are all, by definition ‘bonus’ that do not fit into a particular category OR are implementations of Life goals, which are Important.
Go to Dragon Con
Go to Anachro Con
Go to Mardigras (if I win my bet with myself)
Go to FC
Obtain 5 Physical Objects (An annual tradition at this point): Fix the Bumper, Fix my Teeth, Ereader, Running Stilts (Once I reach 250), and a fifth item to be determined in July 2012 at the mid year goal check.
Go to Canooga
Go to at least one Anime con.
Go to Play It On Con
Complete 70% of all bonus goals
Complete 80% of all bonus goals
Complete 90% of all bonus goals
Get a tattoo based on the Gathering of the Seven
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2012-2013. Likely 2013 but 2012 may have great deals that show up.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

7. Learn a musical instrument.
Slated 2014
8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done. 5th slated for 2012

13. Go on a cruise.
2012. October unless I find a really cool themed one before or after.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
Slated 2015.
18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in Winter 2012 unless an opportunity comes before hand.
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

27. Ditto the sixth.
Started 2012. Likely perpetual but since goals must be achievable, transform this to a tangible in 2012 Mid goal check.

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
Do unfood in 2012.
48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.
49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)
50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)
51. Join the Masons.
52. Hypnotize someone.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess


If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)
4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.

Report Card 2011

Goals for 2011.

Social

Make One Person As Happy As Possible (Besides Myself)

**Grade: A+

Visit with the Family at least once (likely to be the Family Reunion)

**Grade: A+

Spend Quality Time with Friends at least Twice a Month


**Grade: A+

Do a Good Turn Monthly

**Grade: A+

Initiate Social Activities at least once a Quarter (Group Dates do not count for this)

**Grade: A+

Career (AKA "The 4th Life")

Gain a Stable Permanent Job I Like To Do That Pays Well

**Grade: C (A for Effort, F for results)

Set up a consulting business for side Project Management Work

**Grade: A+ (Paperwork laid down, Decided to implement in January due to the creation of Emergency Documentation)

Continue Project Chrysalis with Mythic Imagination Institute

**Grade: B+ (I am no longer in charge of Project Chrysalis but I am doing Project Peabody for them and its going gangbusters)

Take the PRP in June 2011

**Grade: F (Deferred to 2012 for more actual rather than contrived experience)

3rd Life

My Project: Project Dance Of Joy (Film)

**Grade: A+ (Re: As cover for party.....heheheheheh...I love it when a plan comes together.)

**Grade: F (But on the other hand, I no longer have any interest in doing this film)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Pi Project Management and Writing

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel 4.0 Project Management and Writing

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Affiliated Projects: Sentinel Podcast

**Grade: N/A (Sentinel is no longer a part of my life.)

Learn To Edit

**Grade: A+

Finish Editing Dueling Morons

**Grade: A+ (Somehow I managed to make this come together)

2nd Life

Write 75000 words

Grade: A+

Decide if I like the 5th novel by the 15th of Jan. If not start another by Feb 1. If not then 5 Short Stories + 1 Feature Length Film

**Grade: A+

Finish the Graphic Novel (Est 5000 more words)

**Grade: A+ Finished. This project is on hold because the artist has a project of her own that takes priority.

Affiliated Project: Maintain at least 90% post rate on Nerdgasm

**Grade: A (Whilst participating in Nerdgasm, my posts were right on track)

Help at least 3 people with their writing, either to start or to help them edit.

**Grade: A+ (Albeit only one of the original 3 I had in mind was one of the three I actually helped)

1rst Life - Retired.

Publish T7 Project (Now mostly done.)

**Grade: F (I just ran out of steam on this, but it was an A as a life lesson, because sometimes it is wiser to just walk away from something)

Physical

Get at least 3 more belts in Karate
**A+

Decide then: Either 2 (5 total) belts in Karate OR Start a New Martial Arts OR Start Yoga

**Grade: Incomplete (Injury + Unemployment made this impossible to complete. I will be able to do yoga in 2012 however…)

Continue Weight Training OR Start Cross Training OR Start Free Weights

**Grade: B

Cardio 2 additional times per week

**Grade: B

Mental

Read 12 Non Fiction Books

**Grade: A- (10 of 12, working on 2 more.)

Read 12 Non Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction (at least 2 of which should be classics)

**Grade: A-

Read 12 Sci Fi/Fantasy Fiction

**Grade: A+

Do Something to improve my creativity

**Grade: A+ (Pushpush + Write Club + Helping others)

Learn a New Skill

**Grade: A (This was originally meant to be cooking or something similar, but ended up being other more hard to define social and spiritual skills which I still feel qualifies)

Spiritual

Read at least one major religious text of a religion that is not my own that I have not read before.

**Grade: B+

Meditate/Pray at least 3 times a week

**Grade: A+

Emotional
Be More Generous

**Grade: A+
Be More Kind

**Grade: A+

Stop Talking about Dark Things

**Grade: B

Withdraw From Politics as Much as Reasonably Possible

**Grade: C

Incidental

*Go to Gencon OR San Diego Comicon OR World Con OR Dragon Con

**Grade: A+
Go on at least 6 'weekend' trips, ideally at least one per month.

**Grade: A+

*Go to NYC for at least 3 days (will count as one of the above trips)

**Grade: D (Double Unemployment prevented this, on the other hand I had the chance to go to OWS in its early days and did not go so I still count it a low grade)

*Make CONCRETE plans to go to France in 2012 (or 2011 if realistically possible)

**Grade: F (Double Unemployment excuses, but does not change the failure in this category. I may still go in 2012, but 2013 is looking more likely)

*Spend at least 20 hours at the range improving either pistol OR rifle OR shot gun skills.

**Grade: F.

*Obtain the Following: A decent couch, a gaming console of some kind (likely a Wii), 10 DVD's for my permanent collection, a piece of original art and something to advance one of my other goals in a meaningful way.

**Grade: A+

*Do at least one major good deed entirely anonymously. (Besides acknowledging completion of the goal in the assessment)

**Grade: A+

*Finish the Graphic Novel script and work with Liz to edit as needed.

**Grade: A+

*Finish the 4th Novel with Ken and help him market it as needed.

**Grade: A+ (Even if this does seem now dead, we finished it and I did some marketing)

Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**Keep. Slated 2012-2013.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2017.

3. Learn a martial art.
**Done

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition.
**Bucketed. I’m no longer really that thrilled about this goal.

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

"Start" in 2011-2012. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.
**Grade: A- Started, but not really started at a full level.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.
**Completed.

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.
**4 of 7 done.

13. Go on a cruise.
**2012.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
**Grade: A+ (Started.)

27. Ditto the sixth.
**Grade: A+ (Started)

28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).
**Reshoot of Dueling Morons does not count as another completed film.

If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person.

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long
**Strangely some people are surprisingly responsive to this. This might move to more realistic within 3-4 years when/if I own a house.

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Early December Musings

Forgive me Father, for it has been more than a month since my last conf…blog entry detailing my life. So, the good news first. Contrary to rumors that you might have heard, I have, in fact, found a job. I am working as a contractor through Apex with GP. But most importantly, it is a Project Manager job, which means that there is an excellent chance that my days of being forced from contract to contract as human flotsam as a Technical Writer might be over. We shall see. The current position is supposed to be contract to hire, but no one seems entirely sure yet what this role will be. The good news though is that there is a lot of work, at least for a while, so spontaneous endings are less likely.

Having said that, with two layoffs in the same year, the extremely strong position I started in is almost entirely gone, which means that I’m probably taking Mom and Skip up on their offer to share living space with them for a while. It is slightly frustrating, to need to do that at 40 years of age, but they are being very accommodating and turning two rooms into what is essentially a mini apartment. Plus, since we’re in a depression, I should be grateful I just had a job, much less that I could find one quickly. The fact that it is in a field I enjoy and see great potential in, so much the better.

Still, changes need to take place. I am seriously pursuing two alternative lines of income so that I will always have money coming in regardless of my core employment situation. One is voice over work. I’ve taken lessons, bought equipment and recently acquired a manual. My goal is to start soliciting work by the end of January once I’ve finished the final elements of training. (I could look right now, but my equipment isn’t quite up to speed, and there are insider ‘tricks’ that I can learn so I’m not spinning my wheels thank you very much.) The second, ironically, is as a technical writer. Technically (pun intended), however, what I’m actually doing is emergency documentation of any kind, its just that the technical writing should consistently pay the best. The key here however, is that it is a moonlighting job that I control and will not depend on. It’s a business, not a career, and that makes a huge difference.

I have some other projects I’ll be starting next year on again, off again to make money, but these are what one might call “R&D” rather than the level of magnitude I’m working on with the above. One of the best perks of the new job is that I can start exercising again, but while I might be going back to Atlanta Kick, the Karate is going to be secondary to the Cross Fit. I’m hoping to start tomorrow. More details on that as it comes.

I also have some very interesting plans in general for next year, and I’m basing almost all of them around contingencies that do not depend on income. The writing is going well, and I’ve finished 5 of the 7 projects I have for the ‘wrap up’ of the Red Anvil Productions podcast. I’m doing another Podcast, but it will be Tossing Grenades at Windmills and primarily focus on promoting my novels, starting with my first which isn’t really (I think) Publication worthy but still worth doing something with, and the podcast seems the perfect venue for that. I haven’t given up on film, even if I am opening up on a new chapter of it. Still, life is interesting, and I’ve reforged bonds with old friends and made several new friends. This has been a difficult year, but not as hard as the last. The next is shaping up to be one of the best yet, and while I will be advancing my professional career, I also intend to do my best to make my 40th year one big party, since quite frankly I think I deserve one, and what else is there to life when you’re a bachelor with no immediate prospect of marriage or children? Having said that, who knows what the future will hold. I know all kinds of highly interesting roads are open before me, and I intend to explore them all.

Good luck and God Speed.

Status Update

Things are going moderately well. Current major projects I'm working on are setting up to majorly revamp the Red Anvil podcast at the new year to begin to promote my writing more, finish the Unfood script, finish the final few works for the old podcast, set up the LLC for my 'emergency documentation' business, and setting up for voice overs.

The 'emergency documentation' business is basically an idea I had which Allison agreed was a good business model where I promote my skills as a tech writer at high rates when other writers (or more importantly their own people because they didn't hire one) screw up their documentation and they need it done in a short period of time. I'm fast, I'm skilled, and I operate well under pressure. Why am I doing this when I want to move out of tech writing you ask? Because this time I'll be the boss, and if a client lets me go in the middle of an agreed contract length, they'll still owe me the money. More importantly, it will be done as moonlight work in the background whilst I seek out Project Management work full time. I'm in control of it, not the other way around.

The voice over work has been piecemeal, learning what I need plus reviewing class notes. Should have my demo reel done this week (final obstacle is learning about a Mixer which for these purposes is not as hard as I would have thought.)

No major job leads yet, but I have been told I'm likely to have a phone interview early next week which is good. It also looks like I'm moving in with the folks at the end of the year. As soon as I get a years worth of PM experience in a contract I'll get the PMP and then I should be ready. If I get a perm job, I'll be working for 2-3 years which should greatly solidfy my resume and make things ready to move.

Solid plan in place. I'm quite sure something will get in the way to mess it up, but I'm flexible in thinking and good at getting up when knocked down. We'll see what happens.

Trip: Final Days

The final three days were mainly a lot of driving with some hotel room staying. I mainly wanted to get home as quickly as I could, though the cough manifested itself at some inconvenient times, namely when I was trying to take a nap. Seattle seems like a very nice city, but it seems in some ways comparable to Atlanta, even though they are also obviously different in many ways. They're both quite pretty, and the people inside of both of them seem rather nice, but I didn't feel that connection like I did with Portland, and it is not like I talked in depth to anyone. Maybe its the architecture or something, or some intangible factor, who knows...

There was some drama with a lack of a phone connection, but I figured out how to connect to Roaming by modifying the settings on my phone...this when a call to tech support couldn't get the job done. I'm moderately proud of myself. Hooray, I'm Einstein....really. I am. :)

I've had a lot of time to think about things. Mainly, before I can go to Portland I need a sustainable career and income. And that means both Project Management and side streams. Voice Over work and maybe some other items. I'm going to get the ball rolling on that tomorrow.

I kind of went a little mad out there in the desert and the vast wilderness spaces out there. I'm going to be around people as much as possible during the next few days, and drive as little as I feel I can get away with. Got very little writing done but I need to finish my writing assignment for Push Push (both of them, Write Club and the sub plot for the script class, which is turning out to be hideously cool), I Fenris, a Review for ATL Retro, and then the script for Unfood. I'm expanding it to a feature. No, I doubt I can produce a feature, but we'll figure that out when I'm done with the script.

I feel better, more confident though it cost a lot. Fortunately, I'm getting help from my family. They are indeed very helpful to me, both in terms of material support and morale. I am glad I've occasionally been able to be there for them, and I am glad I appreciate them. It is also a reason I try to be there for others as well, because I know what it feels like when that support ISN'T there as well, at least for short durations.

Job search has several promising leads, up to three job interviews in the early part of next week if all goes well. I'll keep you posted.

Day 5 and 1rst half of Day 6

Wyoming: Despite my humor at Wyoming's expense, it is much prettier than I remembered as a child. Harsh winds make a harsh land. Lovely to see all of the windmill's. All kinds of windmills. All over the place. Lots and lots of windmills. And farms. And trucks. But mostly lots of rocks, piles of rocks and grass. I will say this for Wyoming though....I could get NPR EVERYWHERE crystal clear.

Idaho: Eastern Idaho is kinda blechier than I remembered. Western Idaho is more barren than I remembered but still absolutely lush farm country.

Utah: Say what you want about Mormons, if I wanna terraform a planet some day I'm hiring them. I've been in many western states, and Utah was greener and flusher than other places. They really did change that land. For the better in my opinion.

Oh, and I saw first bill board I'd ever seen for an adult club in Salt Lake at the edge of the state. Looks like the anti pornography campaign is having a limited effect.

Oregon: Most of it I saw in the dark. Lots of mountains. LOTS of mountains. Self serve gasoline exists only in Indian tribal areas. That's right. If you want you gambling fix or to fill your own gas tank go to the nearest reservation.

I don't need to see their library, because there is a veritable shrine to the God of Books in the middle of the city. HOLY @#$@#$$# COW! To sustain a book store of this size, the people of Portland must be among the most literate on the Earth, and you can tell, because the city WORKS. It is clean. It has a street car. It is having budget problems like everyone else, but you can sense the lack of corruption and cronyism that exists in Atlanta and even to a lesser degree that I could sense in Boulder. Boulder was very nice but you could ...feel...the occasional little petty projects here and there. Portland has homeless but they treat them well.

After reading the paper and how the police are treating the Occupy Portland folks as compared to other cities, it is OBVIOUS the people here care about others. It isn't perfect. There are still lots of homeless people but they are not shunned or herded or shamed away.

Corporations are here like everywhere else but they are TAMED and kept in their proper place. The signs are not garish and are blended in to the rest of their architecture. Religion is here but it is also TAMED and kept in its proper place. The christian who attempted to say he would pray for me was both respectful and had a tinge of not wanting to offend. I'm a Christian and while one should never be offended for one's belief's one should be ashamed at the reputation most Christians set...and here they have to because of the percentage of athiests and 'no religion' ists. Blatant abuse of society in the name of "God" is not tolerated here as it is in Atlanta.

Even hate radio was 'tame.' In the most rural parts of the state, the guy spent 5 minutes talking about the need for rational thinking courses and to be polite. Same message that is everywhere in the country about 'change agents' etc (though he obviously was one himself but whatever.)

And it has a streetcar!

The main problem I have now is that this week has been totally exhausting. I may have a solid lead, maybe even a job on day 1 upon return if an interview by phone goes well Monday....but I may not have the energy to return in 3 days. We'll see.

Regardless, I'm still pushing on to Seattle tomorrow.

I hope to have the energy to go out and mingle tonight.

The Rest of Day 4

Wyoming.

Day 3 (2nd half) and Day 4

I have arrived in Boulder. Let me tell you, if the character and atmosphere of the city were the qualifiers for what I was looking for, Boulder would be a very strong candidate indeed. I think the thumb nail version of what Boulder feels like is what would a city look like if the Hippies and the more benevolent Corporate Democrats came together.

My first experience with the city was a toll road that saved me thirty miles on my trip. But I didn't encounter a toll booth, I just drove into the city. I had to call my step dad and ask him to look up the max charge. Apparently they photo'd my licences and will bill me $6. I can live with that, but it seems a little sneaky...they made no bones about the fact that it was a toll road but how much they charge was ambiguous...

So the hotel I ended up picking was called The Root of the Mountain motel. It is basically a series of cabins created during the depression and kept in pretty good working order but its insanely close and within walking distance of the Pearl Street mall. And it is reasonably priced. Got into a nice conversation with the woman who checked me in about politics. She's from New Zealand. She told me to check out www.soverignman.com (or some such thing, I'll check that out later but it sounded interesting).

I was told to check out Old Chicago Pizza. It was indeed most awesome. Unfortunately due to illness I wasn't that hungry, so I only had one slice of the personal pan pizza. The pumpkin ale was...er...yeah. :) Cerveza de Calabaza no esta bien....at any rate, I ran into many interesting people at the mall. Including a guy playing a dijiourdo (that is not spelled right but my parking lasts an hour so I'm not going to look it up), a weird guitar player who had drawn a circle in the ground with tarot cards and was dressed as the Fool calling himself Ecoman who was trying to make songs to save the planet, a woman who was either on acid or (sadly more likely) schizophrenic and homeless that was politely ignored by everyone around her (I seemed to mildly freak her out by looking into her eyes, I guess she wasn't used to that), and a bunch of homeless(?) guys(vets?) who asked for my leftover pizza. One of them gave me a dufflebag belonging to Captain Howard G. Barak...I didn't ask one of them was he...since they all seemed a bit young to be captain and it seemed rude...so now I have someone's duffle bag and am not entirely sure what's appropriate to do with it...

At any rate, I decided to use the following criteria before I got wise (see below)

Women: A- This was going to be B namely because most of them were college age or stared at me like I was a Rapist until I went home and it was all dark. Very few street lights. At first I thoguht Boulder might be trying for the open skies initiative but then found out that they have outsourced streetlights to a corporation. Oh. Well that makes sense. Let me tell you, I am 6'5" and know Karate, plus I had a duffle bag I could use as a ...weapon or something. Sure I was breathing like I'd run 500 miles, but for 15 seconds I could wail on you like Frankenstein....only a Fast Angry Frankenstein and *I* was freaked out by how dark it was, I couldn't imagine how a woman on her own must feel....but the next day there were more women my age etc. So it rounds out.

Architecture: A+ Not only is it cool but there are VERY few corps in boulder, plus the ones that are here I like, like Steve Madden and Google (Google has an office in Downtown boulder, how cool is that?). Some weirdness though, like cookie cutter victorian houses...yes, that's right. Still, I like that kind of thing.

People: (Women count as people :) ) A-. Nice, friendly, helpful, open. I just didn't really 'connect' with anyone who wasn't either paid to be nice to me by serving me or that first woman I met from New Zealand. But this lack of connection is made up for by the fact that the people here are just COOL :) I like them....like the female owned groundskeeping people cleaning up outside of the library who have dogs and obviously love their job....they're like movie characters only better because they're real :)

Library: I judge a city most by its library. Boulder's library is a temple to light and knowledge. They have fish tanks and fully stocked shelves and internet kiosks and it is QUIET and there is sunlight and they have kindle functionality. In short, it is the way a library should be, and they have funding and it shows. The Decatur library used to be that way, but it is in decline.

Unfortunately, the most important qualifier...did I feel a sense of 'destiny' here?

Not really. :/ This would be a wonderful place to live, but that feeling I had before of 'meant to' in February didn't really click here.