Revolutions/Resolutions

First we go to the dictionary

rev·o·lu·tion (rv-lshn)

n.

1.

a. Orbital motion about a point, especially as distinguished from axial rotation: the planetary revolution about the sun.

b. A turning or rotational motion about an axis.

c. A single complete cycle of such orbital or axial motion.

2. The overthrow of one government and its replacement with another.

3. A sudden or momentous change in a situation: the revolution in computer technology.

4. Geology A time of major crustal deformation, when folds and faults are formed.

res·o·lu·tion (rz-lshn)n.

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.

3. A course of action determined or decided on.

4. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the U.S. Congress.

5. Physics & Chemistry The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts: the prismatic resolution of sunlight into its spectral colors.

6. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image, as on a video display terminal.

One thing about resolutions is that there is nothing forcing you to implement them. They are just nice little ideas in the back of your head (or in my case a "To Do List" posted on the internet). Now revolutions, that is definitely an out with the old, in with the new situation. I am not sure I am ready for a complete overhaul at this time. Maybe in certain areas of my life, but not as a whole.

Here is the list of things I neglected to do in 2007 (in order of regret of not doing them) along with excuses for not doing them:

1. Use my passport. I have had my passport for many years and I have yet to use it. I will leave the country this year. Even if I have to sell plasma weekly to afford it. I am leaning towards New Zealand. It's pretty expensive but the weather rocks year round. The passport has not been used, no trips have been scheduled. Why? I bought a new car and my much anticipated raise at work has yet to be seen.
   
2. Interact with real people (not on the internet) atleast twice a week (this is for my "parole officers" Em and Megan). I worked on getting out of the house more frequently. At least a few times a month. Sometimes even once a week.
3. "Do cool shit, every damned day, or die trying" Tom Peters This one was tricky. It depends on what you define as cool shit. At the end of the work day, sometimes all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV or surf the internet. I don't think that really counts.
4. Sell that $300 pair of jeans. After dealing with a rather crazy customer this summer I am not sure that I want to go that route. I did a bunch of custom work for a really laid back client and that suited me. The only jeans I made this year were for myself, which is something I barely have time to do lately.
   
5. Officially start a small business. DBA Spinsta needs to happen this year. Didn't happen. I looked at how much money I was making and it still falls below what the government allows by quite a bit.
   

And now for this years list ...

To Do List for 2008

(in no particular order)

1. Travel: It doesn't have to be out of the country. New Zealand will probably be postponed until 2010 because my traveling buddy has a house to pay for. Now that I have a new car, I am thinking road trip. I would like to go back to some of the places I stopped during the geology road trip from hell (GEO 660).
2. Continue to work on my goal of tolerance.
3. Teach more sewing classes. I enjoyed the 3 sessions I taught and the classes I had the opportunity to assist with.
   
4. Interact with real people (not on the internet). As more of my friends move away I realize that I want to spend more time with the people that are here. I will also need to branch out before I end up alone. I should also cut back on my internet stalking habit.
   
5. Read more books or start listening to audio books (I can do that while I sew).
6. Make more money at my day job. I feel that I am being under compensated for the work I do. I should either be given more money or I plan on doing less work there.
7. Learn to share. I don't like sharing. I never really had to.
   
8. My new bike: I need to fix a few things on it and I want to be able to ride it farther (or at least to Megan's house and back).
   
9. Expose myself to the best things humans have done and try to bring those things into what you are doing.
10. "Do cool shit, every damned day, or die trying" Tom Peters