2009 Year-End Review and 2010 Goals

So, 2009 has just ended and I have not written a blog entry in a very long time. Bad. I told myself I'd write more and I end up writing even less. Oh well... time for my annual year-end review. Here goes...

2009, I would say, was leaps and bounds better than 2008. 2008 saw the death of both my grandmothers and an aunt, bad career choices, and many failed attempts at... well... so many things.

2009 was a good year, to say the least. It had its ups and downs but at the end of the day, I can look back on it with a smile on my face.

Negative:

• Still lots of unaccomplished goals. Business plans halted because of my current job. Also was not able to do the things I set out to do like learn a musical instrument or take up a fitness regimen. I keep giving the excuse that I'm too busy with my work. I just need to manage my time better.

• Lack of creative output. Everything from my writing to my drawing seemed to be a at standstill. I told myself that for this year I would make 20 new artworks and 20 new short fiction. Artwork count: 0. Short fiction count: 0. Yes... that bad.

• Flood. Ondoy. Long story short, my room was severely damaged. I managed to save my PC, my DSLR Camera, and the bag I normally bring to work containing my wallet, phone, IDs, and (thankfully) my Passport. Everything other than these found themselves drenched overnight in murky, smelly, muddy, sewage water. Yuck! 200++ books, diplomas, Wacom Pen Tablet, noteboooks full of ideas, drawing books, and many more... all had to be thrown out. Tragic! Outside my room, my sister Ria's stocks, my mom's kitchen, my sister Maita's fabrics, and my dad's documents were among the many material fatalities. Thankfully, nobody died or got sick. Our loyal driver and my Mom's staff swam to our house to help us bring stuff up. Thank goodness for small miracles. Crazy experience, simply unforgettable. But as they say, if it doesn't kill us, it only makes us stronger. I like to think of it as material bulemia. Been hording a lot of things, now it's time to purge. Letting go is so hard...

• I gained weight!

Positive:

• Travel!!! Yes, this year seems to be a very good year for travelling. I went to Donsol to swim with Whalesharks with my sisters and cousin for summer, then Hong Kong with my sisters, Mom, cousin and aunt in August. Then, the company sent me on a trip to the US, so I decided to do a little side-trip to New York! Meaning: BROADWAY!!!! Got to see "Phantom of the Opera," "Wicked," "Wintuk" (by Cirque Du Soleil), and the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular." Travelling is now officially another vice for me. It goes alongside books, video games, shopping, the theatre, and food. Geez! Why can't I just be content with cheap vices like a pack of cigarettes?

• Fiancial Stability. So, with a job comes a monthly paycheck. It's such a comfort to know that my salary will show up in my ATM account twice a month. It's not much but it is enough to get me some small luxuries that help keep me sane. I'm thankful for that.

• Diet. I tried out the General Motors diet and managed to stick to it for the entire week (I did not crack!). Sure, I almost lost my temper during an interview and I almost turned Mr. Hyde a couple time, but I did it and came out more disciplined and more patient than before. And guess what... I DID lose weight. A significant 5 lbs in one week without actually starving. So, I gained the lost weight back the next week. Point is, it can be done. I've proven it to myself. I've also learned to appreciate salads more now.

2010 looks like it has a lot of opportunities and possibilities in store for me. I have plans that I intend to pursue. It's not going to be easy but it will not be impossible. I've decided to do a lifestyle change. No, I'm not going vegan or anything as drastic as that. I just need to work on being more healthy: Be more conscious of how much junk I eat, exercise more, sleep more, and splurge less.

So, I present, the Things I Need To Accomplish In 2010 list:
Some of them are big goals, others are small and random, made just for the heck of it...

1. Start my business. I won't go into details here. But here's what I'll tell you: This venture has been on hold for an entire year. It's high time I actually push for it. No excuses.

2. Write at least 20 short fiction.

3. Create at least 20 new artworks.

4. Finish writing a whole novel.

5. Read works by at least 20 local authors.

6. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

7. Enroll in a class that's physical (fencing perhaps? how about pole-dancing? maybe some matrial arts?)

8. Go out on a real date (Yes, I've never been on a real date my entire life. It's sad, I know.)

9. Learn a new language (at least enough for me to check in a hotel, order from a restaurant, and go shopping)

10. Visit a new city in the Philippines.

11. Visit a new city outside the Philippines.

12. Be able to drive to work and to Greenbelt (even if I don't have my own car yet)

13. Lose 20 lbs!

14. Be a contributor to a Stock Photo/Image site.

15. Learn Flash (actionscript) and make a full-Flash website

16. Learn a musical instrument.

17. Write an article that will be published

18. Learn to cook a mean dish

19. Submit an entry to the Don Carlos Palanca Awards

20. Submit an entry to the Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards

21. Write a short fiction in pure Tagalog.

22. Write an article or essay in pure Tagalog.

23. Make a stop-motion short film.

24. Get a full Spa treatment.

25. Visit a museum

26. Go for an annual check-up

27. Flirt with someone

28. Reconnect with an old friend

29. Make a new friend who has not been introduced to me by an acquaintance, who does not work with me, and who does not interact with me on a regular basis.

30. Make an oil painting that I can proudly display on my wall.

31. Try an exotic dish

32. Vote in the elections

33. Take 50 artistic photographs.

34. Read a book belonging to a genre I don't normally read (no fantasy, no historical or paranormal romance)

35. Watch a vintage movie.

36. Listen to an album in a genre I don't normally listen to. (No Symphonic Metal, no showtunes, no rock, no '80s, etc.)

37. Watch an episode of a local TV series and actually make an effort to learn the story.

38. Play Talecraft at least 5 times this year and come up with great output.

39. Compliment somebody and actually mean it!

40. Watch 5 Tagalog movies I haven't seen before.

41. Go to a bar or club and enjoy myself.

42. Come up with a delicious alcoholic concotion.

43. Learn to sing.

44. Give a significant amount of money to charity.

45. Conduct an investigatory-project type experiment.

46. Write a research paper.

47. See 3 stage shows

48. Write a heartwarming letter or message and send it out in a balloon or put it in an airtight bottle and toss it to the sea

49. Cosplay or costrip

50. Travel to a different place and act out a different persona.


So, there you have it, readers. I hope you help me in accomplishing these goals for the new year. And I hope you all have a new year filled with adventure and dreams come true!