You Say You Want a Resolution

Let's see. New Year's Day. It's time to look back on my 2003 resolutions and see how I've done.

I resolved to "eat more different things." That's pretty vaguely defined, but I still didn't do it. I did experiment with a few different brands of frozen microwave dinner, but I didn't get particularly experimental with my food choices. I've resigned myself to being unadventurous with my cuisine, but I'd at least like to pick something I like from the standard places. So when people at work say "We're having Thai for lunch," I know there will be something I'll like.

I resolved to "work out a bit." And I did. Not a lot, mind you, but I did quite a bit of walking, and walking counts as exercise. It does too!

I resolved "to take fewer days off from this site." I don't think that panned out, especially because I almost gave the whole thing up a couple of times. And then for the last couple of months, I dried up to essentially doing one post a week. In 2002, I posted 206 entries, and in 2003 I did only 153. So I didn't make it there. It turns out that the year I posted the most was actually 2001, the first year I was doing this. I had 228 posts that year, which means I've posted fewer every year. I hope to at least reverse that trend in 2004.

I resolved "to keep up on current events more." And I'm doing that. I'm reading the White House Press Briefings every day, and I'm also seeking out news from the Democrats and also independent sources. And even the lunatic fringe, too. Well, I'm on the Internet; the lunatic fringe is easy to find. My point is that I know what the Daily Show is talking about.

I resolved "to get a better apartment." Done! I'm sitting in it now, and it's much nicer than my old place. It's in a more happening neighborhood, and it's got a fireplace, and there's room for all my books. You should come see it.

I resolved "to stop sounding apologetic when I explain that I don't drink." That sounds weird. Did I really sound apologetic? I don't know what I was thinking when I made that resolution. I guess I was successful, though, because I don't say I'm sorry when I don't take a drink.

I resolved "to get out of debt. Mostly." Meh. I didn't really do this, because I'm not all that deep in debt. It's all revolving debt, and I make my monthly payments, so I don't have debt collectors bugging me. Still, I really ought to get around to paying off the credit cards.

I resolved "to go to a doctor." I did this, but only on a technicality. What I meant was that I should go get a physical or something, because I have medical insurance through my work, and it seems wasteful that I'm not using it. I didn't do that. However, I did go to the emergency room when I broke my ribs. So I did see a doctor, even if it wasn't the kind of doctor I meant.

I resolved "to get completely caught up on books waiting to be read." Done! In fact, I'm caught up right now. Earlier today, I went to the big cool used book store in the neighborhood, but I couldn't find anything. Clearly, I need more books.

I resolved "to only play games I enjoy." That should have been "to play only games I enjoy," I think. Although that looks wrong, too. The "only" modifies "games I enjoy", not "play." anyway, I mostly achieved that. I still occasionally get roped into games I don't care for, but it doesn't happen as much.

I resolved "to smile more." I think I smile more than I used to, so that should please all the hippies.

I resolved "to cook more." Oh, absolutely. I make steak, deviled eggs, and other foods on a relatively regular basis. So there!

I resolved "to establish a catchphrase in a transparent attempt to increase my marketability." I didn't really do this. I mentioned deviled eggs a lot, but I should have turned them into a beloved catchphrase. Like "Hey, anybody want some deviled eggs?" The answer, by the way, is "yes." My deviled eggs are great.

I resolved "to go to some concerts." I guess I did that, but not really as many as I wanted to. Luckily, I'm now in the heart of Seattle, so I should be able to up that number in 2004.

I resolved "to get more art." Oh yeah, I did that. I bought some art, and I also bought frames for the art I already owned. In my bedroom, I've got five nicely-framed pieces. I've got an original Raphael (not the Impressionist, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) drawn by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird at the San Diego Comic Con a year or so before the Turtles made it really big. I've got a cool piece by Evan Dorkin showing the cast of Hectic Planet, which is a fairly obscure comic book. I've got two pieces done by random artists on the streets of big cities. I bought one in Rome, and it's a watercolor of the Coliseum; the other one I bought in Kuala Lumpur, and it shows a palace. And then I've also got a blown-up version of the cover of a magazine I used to edit. It's my favorite cover, because I had the concept and did 90% of the work. And it looks cool. Also, I got a really big thing that shows pirates, but it's not framed yet. Add to all that the fact that my new roommate has lots of cool art, and you can see how my new apartment is heavier on the art.

I resolved "to get some sleep." And I did, too. Yay sleep!

So let's see.Out of sixteen resolutions, I achieved twelve of them. That's not bad! It just goes to show the value of defining your goals really broadly.