In which I totally forgot to tell you guys!

Image by Wade Tregaskis via Flickr

So I wrote up an an article for Super Dudes Power Squad, where I compared The Real Ghostbusters with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Go ahead and check it out!

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In which I contemplate the ideal life.

I'm not going to lie.  This feels like an assignment from Freshmen Philosophy class, where we have to read Plato's Republic and ponder how it applies today.

But why not?

So I guess I'm going to start by wishing for more wishes.  That is, to have the ideal life, one needs sufficient money.  How much money that is will obviously vary, but for me, a good rule of thumb is: can we take that amazing trip this summer, and still be in good shape if we're suddenly both unemployed when we get back?

So, let's take what I just said, and break it down: I want sufficient money, and I want to travel.

How do I make this money?

I'd love to be a writer.  I know the first step is to own it and say, "I am a writer," but I haven't felt to urge to write poetry in ages, I never finish my fiction (I'm a repeat-loser in NaNoWriMo), and my essays?  All right, let's be honest: how many of you are actually reading this?  It's a standard confidence issue, and it's one I try to work on.

Question for my fellow bloggers: what do you do when you hit the "publish" button and the question hits: What was the point of that?  Who cares?

Needed for ideal life: confidence.  How to get?

On this point, I am open to suggestions.

What do I hope to get from my travels?

I never got to study abroad in school, and of course all one ever hears about study-abroad is that it "changes your life" and "expands your horizons."  I'm an adult now, and as such, my personality and whatnot are pretty much carved in stone.  But I wouldn't object to some life-changing horizon expansion.

That's tough, though.  For our honeymoon, we spent two weeks in Italy.  It was amazing, but we spent the bulk of the trip running ragged, trying to fit a lifetime's worth of tourism in.  And that was totally worth it, but it doesn't tell me a whole lot about what it's like to be a part of that culture.  Oh, sure, there were bits and pieces -- if you want to eat dinner at 5:00, for example, your best bet is to find a place that serves lunch late -- but I picked up maybe three words of the language, and I'll never develop a taste for tripe.  I didn't even pick up very much inspiration to write (see above), and when you're surrounded by some of the greatest examples of art, culture, religion, and mythology in the world and have nothing to say...

So, in the broadest sense, I want to come away from my travels a better person, and I want to have more, and more important things, to say when I put pen to paper or fingers to keys.

Needed for ideal life: self-improvement

That's a goal unto itself, isn't it?  I want to be a better person, which means I have to figure out exactly what that means.  And I think that is a blog post for another day.

Needed for ideal life: inspiration

But one can't sit around waiting for inspiration to strike, can one?  After all, this whole post was based on a prompt I found somewhere (I couldn't tell you where) and set for myself.

On the other hand, this whole post is so much navel-gazing, which is far less interesting than the history and patronage of the Borgias and Medicis.  So there's that.

Conclusions

 Well, there's certainly more I can think of that would contribute to an ideal life, but this is a good start, especially since both elements come down to the same two goals:

Write more and improve yourself

And I suspect that, given who I am, each of those will encourage the other.

I am open to advice or stories.

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In which I get ready for another year

Image via WikipediaJolie at Jolie Guillebeau: Paintings and Musings apparently mentioned to Havi at The Fluent Self a ritual in which one makes a list on one's birthday of x items one wants to do in the next year, with x equaling one's age on the birthday.
On Monday, I turn 27.  Here are some things I'd like to do by the time I'm 28.

1. Learn to ride a bike.
2. Get my driver's license 
3. Get my own domain and move my blogs there.
4. Obtain at least one new pen-pal
   
5. See one of the American sites on my list of Things to Do Before I Die
6. Go somewhere I've never been before (the above does not count)
7. Read one of the books on the same list.
8. Watch one movie from the AFI 100
9. Watch a second movie from the AFI 100
10. Watch a third movie from the AFI 100
11. Come up with an idea for an ebook.  Not necessarily write the thing, but come up with the idea.
12. Actually win NaNoWriMo
13. Read a book off my reading list (Not counting #7)
14. Read a second book off my reading list
15. Read a third book off my reading list
16. Read a fourth book off my reading list
17. Read a fifth book off my reading list
18. Read a sixth book off my reading list
19. Read a seventh book off my reading list
20. Read an eighth book off my reading list
21. Read a ninth book off my reading list
22. Read a tenth book off my reading list
23. Submit a piece of writing for publication
    
24. Buy an outfit that makes me look amazing, and not freak out about the price
    
25. Attend a Flyers home game.
    
26. See the Pacific
    
27. Join something: a club, organization, or team
    
28. Attend a cherry blossom festival
    

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In which I consider the year ahead: a personal ad.

Yes, we're well into 2010.  That doesn't mean I shouldn't think about what I still want from the year.

So:

What I want:

Meaningful work.  It doesn't have to be a full-time job (multiple part-time jobs or plentiful one-shot work is just fine with me).  But it has to effect people who don't live in the same apartment as me, and it has to be in at least in a neutral way, preferably in an ideal way.

It ought to involve writing, at least tangentially.  Editing is fine, too. If I can make some money off my blog, that would be awesome, but I don't expect that to be a major source of income this year, at least.

As a sub-request, I need the focus to keep my blogs updated more frequently, and to apply to positions I come across online

How this might work:

My current opportunities could prove fruitful.
You, my dear readers, could take advantage of my talents.
Friends whom I've helped in the past can spread the word.
I could fall in love with something I find online.
Something else I haven't thought of, and I'm open to suggestions.

My commitment:

I will work hard with my current opportunities.
I will stay current with invoices.
I will mention that I am available for hire in public fora (hint hint!).
I will apply to jobs I find online.
I will make blogging a priority, instead of viewing it as a selfish luxury that has to wait until everything, ever, is finished.

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In which I evaluate the past week.

I recently read this article at Marc and Angel Hack Life about the end-of-week review.  I figured I'd give it a try, and if it works, great -- maybe I can use it to increase my blogging production!

So:

What did I learn last week?

At a certain point, it ceases to be sangria and becomes marinated fruit salad.  This, in itself, is not a bad thing.

What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week

After eating at one of our favorite restaurants, Chris mentioned to me that it would be great if we found a similar recipe.  I found such a recipe provided by that restaurant!

Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why?

Going to the gym when it was crowded and having to stand around "hot" while waiting my turn to cool down.  I ended up just walking home the long way, and it really annoyed me.  I won't be going at that particular time again.

What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week?

 Emailing our videographer with our music selection.  I've been putting it off for way too long.

What can I do right now to make the week less stressful?  

I'm doing it!  That is, I'm working on my blog so it's one less thing to worry about.  I always feel like it's a luxury I have no right to work on, because other things are more important... but then the blogging doesn't get done at all.
 

What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week?

 
That's private.  Suffice to say I'm keeping it in mind.

What was last week’s biggest time sink?

The new TV! I've already been avoiding it.  

Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped?

Sure -- there's a bookcase needs building that I should have put together last week.  When it's done, we'll have one fewer box and a heck of a lot fewer piles. 

What have I been avoiding that needs to get done?

Noted and on my to-do list.  I've mentioned two already.  

What opportunities are still on the table?

I've bookmarked several interesting jobs.  I should apply to at least one this week. 

Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to?

Yeah, but I suck at it.  How can you hold an interesting conversation with an old friend when the two of you no loner have a shared frame of reference? 

Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’?

Chris, for working so hard. 

How can I help someone else this coming week?

It's a surprise. 

What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years?

Do work that is meaningful and/or enjoyable, cultivate a social life, and travel more. 

Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals?

Not especially, and in at least one case, not for want of trying.

What’s the next step for each goal?>

Keep applying for jobs, attend local events, save money. 

What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week? The Lost premier!  OK, it's not really related to my goals, but I'm really looking forward to it!

What are my fears?

 Nothing I'm going to share publicly at this point.  Well, heights and clowns, but you know...  

What am I most grateful for?

Loved ones, health, and written language. 

If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with?

Chris, my family, and as many of my friends as I could squeeze in,


So... would you be interested in seeing more of this?  Are you willing to do your own?

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Personal Ad: In which I need a social life.

What I'm looking for:

A social life.  People to hang out with.  A non-solitary reason to get out of the house, and people who will be glad to see me when I do. Some kind of routine in life where people notice whether I show up or
not.

How this might work:

The church around the corner could turn out to be inclusive of non-Catholics
The library could have some good programs now that the holidays are over
Some of my friends could magically get jobs in New York
I could get a job and magically make friends with my coworkers

My commitment:

To seek out local events
To attend the church regularly
To get my local library card
To accept any invitations I can
To extend invitations once I finally have people to invite

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In which I seek a Blogging Buddy (a personal ad).

Cover via AmazonDarren Rowse at Problogger did his 31 Days to Build a  Better Blog program a while back.  I'm not doing so well at the 31 days part, but looking at it as 31 steps has been immensely helpful.

Day 15's task is to find a Blog Buddy -- a fellow blogger with about the same level of success as you who will share resources, trade guest posts, give feedback, link each other back and forth, and so on.  Ideally, this partnership would elevate the talent -- and readership -- of both bloggers.

So, my personal ad:

Small- to mid-size blogger seeks same for Blogging Buddy.   Review, writing, and day-in-the-life blogs preferred, (as that's what I do), as well as personals finance, green, happiness, and dog blogs (Which I enjoy reading, but don't really write about as much), but not mandatory, although I prefer your topic be something of which I have at least a vague understanding.  

Buddy should read my blog(s) regularly and allow me to do the same, and comment regularly and expect me to do the same.   Links should be exchanged, particularly when we write things relevant to each other.

I'm willing to guest post for you with sufficient notice, and I would likely be calling on you for the same.  Proper credit and links would be given, of course, and I'd expect the same in return.

Blunt feedback is welcome, although kindly-phrased feedback is even better.   I want someone who will kick me in the pants when I slack off, so while I'm willing to do the same for you, if you're not serious about this, don't bother.

In return, I'm willing to provide the types of feedback requested (although not fine-tooth-comb proofreading or copy-editing -- that's very time-intensive and I charge for that!).  Your blog will end up on my blogrolls on the sidebars fo my blogs (and I'd hope for the same).

Any takers?  Preference would be given to people I know IRL, but it's not a strong preference, and there's no rule saying I -- or you -- can't have more than one Buddy!

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