2011

While I did a pretty good job with this year's resolutions, I realized that that fact is based more on my feelings than any real tracking. I'm going with much more quantifiable resolutions for 2011.

Learn to cook 1 meal a month
We eat at home more, but I still can't cook. I figure if I can master 12 dishes there will be enough variety to keep things interesting.

Lose 15 pounds
It's a classic for a reason.

Fully fund my emergency fund
I have a number for this one but I'm not willing to share it with the internet. I crunched the numbers last night and it will take a lot of hard work and penny pinching to even come close to this goal. But that's what goals are for.

Eat 1 fruit or veg a day
I have a terrible diet and this is one step in the right direction.

Check off 1 Life List item
If I hope to complete my life list before I die, I need to average one or two items a year (assuming I live to a normal age).

Finish 6 house projects on our to-do list
There aren't many small projects left on the list, but I'm still hoping to make things around the house nicer.

Live by the One In/One Out & Would You Take it to England rules
The one in/one out rule is simple: if I buy a new shirt, I get rid of an old one. Repeat for everything in my life. I'm going to be a little bendable on this (see below for reason) but overall I'm going to try to live by it to limit the clutter.

The would you take it to England rule is pretty much this: ask myself, "when we move to England, would this be worth transporting overseas?" If the answer is no, don't buy it or get rid of it.

Start dressing like an adult
I've already gotten rid of many, many t-shirts with comic book characters, bands and other silliness on them. That happened because I realized that there are a lot more photos being taken of me - well, not me, my kid, but I'm holding him and look like a man child myself. The first step of this was getting rid of all t-shirt that I couldn't wear to work and/or wouldn't want a photo taken in. That got rid of 30 or so t-shirts, leaving about 25 in the closet (yes, I had a lot of shirts). The next step is to start upgrading my clothing.

Complete the $10 challenge
This is my cryptic resolution of the year. I started a year-long secret challenge back in August. So it will be complete August 2011 - either as a success or a failure.

December 2010

The year is coming to an end and I'm already thinking about next year's goals. But before I move on and forget a whole 12 months of effort, let's look back an check the scoreboard.

Uncompleted goals
Be less fat
I'm ending the year around the same weight as I started it.

Kind of completed goals
Eat better
I care more about what I put in my body and I read labels more, but it's hard not to grab some fast food or a candy bar every now and again.

Become dinner party people
I socialized more this year, but I'm not sure anyone but me noticed.

Completed goals
Eat out less
We're down to eating out for date nights or emergency "long day at work/have no time/have no energy" dinners.

Become handy
Except for major jobs, I feel confident that I can do most things around the house.

Pay off my car loan
I have the title in hand. I did the math: I paid off a 42 month loan in 22 months, and it cost me $400 to $450 in interest. I'll be paying cash next time.

Be good
I can say that I've been a good, attentive father. I love the kid, I try to help the wife as much as possible and family life is going well.