Posts (page 2)

If you could pick a cartoon world to live in, which would it be?  Why?
Submitted by Scio, Scio.

My 6-yr-old daughter would want me to say the world of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. So, yeah, why not.

This one should help reach several of my physical goals: keep my blood pressure in check, reduce joint pain, reduce acid reflux, look sexier for my wife (ok, that wasn't a goal, but it should have been!)

• Eat healthier by eating volumetrically--fruits, veggies, whole grains--more volume, less calories
• Schedule daily long walks--at least 1/2 and hour. Do it at lunch during the week whenever possible.
• Schedule trips to the gym--one weeknight and both weekend mornings?
• Learn how to do strength training (and do it, of course)--can't live on cardio alone
• Work with Dutch to build bitchin bikes for the whole family (maybe a trailer style ride-on for daughter)
• Schedule largest meal of the day for lunch?  I don't know if this helps, but I'm thinking I'd have more time to burn off the calories--and I'd reduce acid reflux.
• Get to chiropractor--need adjustment to help get my body in work-out order.
  

My current list of daily priorities:
1. Work--it's really unavoidable
2. House--got to get it into shape before we all go crazy
3a. Wife--she needs, and deserves some attention.
3b. Daughter--she depends greatly on me.
4. Exercise--start as low-impact as possible

I don't know how I forgot this one earlier--it's almost all I think of these days...

• Clean out and organize the garage next weekend.  At least 2/3s should be lumped into "garage sale" or "donation" fodder.
• Go thru winter clothes in closet and drawers.  If I didn't wear it this past winter, it's gone.
• Get antique hutch appraised and sold for bookoo buck.  And spend some of the cash buying more practical living room storage: armoire for coats and bags, bench with shoe storage, mobile electronics storage/charging, etc.
• Install pull-down ladder in ceiling for attic access.
• Install plywood flooring in attic for storage space
• Clean out and organize utility room. And make room for freezer?
• Clean out office
• Clean out linen closet
• Keep daughter's room organized and useful
  

Wow, this is a tough one...I'll do the best I can:

• Pay down all revolving debt by the end of 2010--a big chunk of the debt will be paid off by the end of this year, but we still need to clear a pretty big chunk after that.  I'm fine with mortgage debt, and even car payments, but credit card debt is killing me.
• Increase percentage of retirement account after next raise--maybe add another 2% or so each year.
• Start a real college savings account for my daughter by this Xmas--ask for contributions from grandparents instead of more toys
• Re-establish a real budget by June of this year. And stick to it.

A follow up from my last post, here are my top goals (some edited for clarity):

• Get rid of all our crap (totally forgot this one in my brainstorming post!)
  
• Save at least 25% of our net income
• Lose 40 pounds
• Teach my daughter the joy of learning
• Travel extensively
• Follow through with one of my crazy-great ideas
• Get my novel published

So, these are the fruits of my effort to brainstorm some large-scale life goals.  Next, I'll narrow them down to my key goals.

• Artistic:
  Do you want to achieve any artistic goals? If so, what?

• Attitude:
  Is any part of your mindset holding you back? Is there any part of the way that you behave that upsets you? If so, set a goal to improve your behavior or find a solution to the problem.

• Career:
  What level do you want to reach in your career?

• Education:
  Is there any knowledge you want to acquire in particular? What information and skills will you need to achieve other goals?

Maybe an MFA in creative writing, perhaps a doctorate--so I can become a professor

• Family:
  Do you want to be a parent? If so, how are you going to be a good parent? How do you want to be seen by a partner or by members of your extended family?
  
  

Teach the joy of learning, provide the skills and knowledge needed to make value judgments without imposed values, ensure safety, ensure health, provide opportunities for fun and friends, be fun, celebrate the joys of being a dork in spite of peer pressures

• Financial:
  How much do you want to earn by what stage?
  
  

• Physical:
  Are there any athletic goals you want to achieve, or do you want good health deep into old age? What steps are you going to take to achieve this?
  
  

Lose 40 pounds, keep blood pressure in check, reduce joint pain, live without corrective lenses, reduce symptoms from allergies, reduce acid reflux flare ups

• Pleasure:
  How do you want to enjoy yourself? - you should ensure that some of your life is for you!
  
  

Travel extensively, go see live music,  make interesting new friends

• Public Service:
  Do you want to make the world a better place? If so, how?

What is your favorite term of endearment? 
Submitted by lostdwarf.

Sweet monkey

What's one of your favorite quotes? 
Submitted by Georgie-boy. 

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
Dorothy Parker

If you could write like one fiction author, who would it be?
Submitted by Marilyn.

Ooohh, good one.

William Faulkner--as if he got tired of writing Southern Gothic literary novels all the time and decided to write speculative genre fiction instead--or maybe a Cozy mystery.