Resolution Rock

I'm now entering the third year of this website. Neat! And since I've done resolutions both of the last two years, that means this is A Tradition. I'm in favor of traditions when they mean I don't need to think of a topic. So let's get this party started. Or, um, whatever.

1. I resolve to eat more different things. That's pretty vague, I know. Last year, I tried claiming I'd eat twenty different cuisines over 2002, but that turned out to be a lot of work, besides which it involved bookkeeping. I was considering something along the lines of not eating anything for two days in a row, but then I'd have to occasionally stop and say things like "Did I eat salsa yesterday?" So I'm going to keep it light and general. The goal is just to be in less of a rut, foodwise.

2. I resolve to work out a bit. Not necessarily a lot. But I'd like to be slightly more, y'know, muscly.

3. I resolve to take fewer days off from this site. I averaged, let's see, 3.961538 updates per week. And I want people to think of this as an "every weekday" place, which seems like it would require more. If I had any sense, I'd write stuff ahead of time so I don't find myself getting home at 2:00 am too tired to write anything.

4. I resolve to keep up on current events more. I've been a news junkie before, and I'm pretty good at it. And you'd think, with the Internet right here, I'd be able to get back in the swing of things. My goal is to know more than what's on The Daily Show.

5. I resolve to get a better apartment. Seriously, this time. I made the same resolution last year, and I've gotten two raises since then. So the only thing standing in my way is laziness. Which, to be fair, is a powerful force. But I don't think it's as powerful as the lure of living in a place I like.

6. I resolve to stop sounding apologetic when I explain that I don't drink. Because let's face it, if I wanted to drink alcohol, I probably could. But I've seen a lot of drunk people (you have no idea) and I've never been tempted to join them. So forget it.

7. I resolve to get out of debt. Mostly. I probably won't pay off my car this year. But I've got some credit card debt that I could pay off if I concentrated for a month or so. And I think that would be a good idea.

8. I resolve to go to a doctor. I've got medical insurance, you know. I've had it for five years. And it has been brought to my attention that one of the things you do if you're sensible is to get regular checkups. I think I should give that a try.

9. I resolve to get completely caught up on books waiting to be read. I should have this taken care of in the next two or three weeks, but there's nothing wrong with that. Unless you have something against cheating.

10. I resolve to only play games I enjoy. That doesn't sound like much, but you have to keep in mind that I work at a game company. In the course of business, there's a lot of game-playing, and I sometimes find myself generally not enjoying what I'm doing. I think that anytime I find myself thinking "I wish someone would hurry up and win so I can get back to work," that's a sign that I'm not spending my time in a way that leads to either maximal fun or maximal work efficiency.

11. I resolve to smile more. Or is that too 1960s?

12. I resolve to cook more. I cook more than I did five years ago, but I could probably cook more. Right now, I have to plan ahead for each instance of cooking: I buy a steak, and then I have a steak the next day. I buy eggs, and then I make eggs. I'd like to get to where I can expect to have food in the house.

13. I resolve to establish a catchphrase in a transparent attempt to increase my marketability. People will identify with me if I have a catchphrase, and then I can become a beloved Internet Character, like Seanbaby or the 404 Not Found screen.

14. I resolve to go to some concerts. Dude, it's Seattle. There are concerts all the time. What's with the not going to concerts?

15. I resolve to get more art. I might wait until I have that new apartment I mentioned, but I'd like some art on my walls. I might get a big garish portrait of myself, because that's what supervillains always seem to have.

16. I resolve to get some sleep. Right now!