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.