Way back on January 5, I wrote about my goals for 2006. And as the year winds down, it’s good to look at the list and see what transpired. (It might be best to open the original post in a new tab or window, just to keep track.)
Goal: Ride at least one century (100-mile bike ride).
Status: Met
Notes: I ended up riding five centuries this year, which is more than I thought I’d do. I rode my first one well before my goal date, and things got better from there. And as of this writing, I’m at over 3,600 miles for the year – not bad, considering I didn’t start riding regularly until March, and that I missed a good chunk of time in September and October due to a rib injury.
Goal: Get my weight down below 200 lbs. (I was down to 198 back in August, right before my shoulder injury).
Status: Met
Notes: I dropped below 200 sometime in late-June, and have stayed below 200 since. My low was 189, and I’m currently at 194.
Goal: Cook more.
Status: Inconclusive
Notes: I did cook some new things, and tried a few new ingredients. But I didn’t end up cooking a whole lot more than I did in 2005. This must change.
Goal: Try at least one recipe from every cookbook in the house (good for at least 25 meals).
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: We have a lot of cookbooks – and when I don’t cook as often as I’d planned, then it’s tough to hit ’em all.
Goal: Watch more movies.
Status: Inconclusive
Notes: We certainly watched our fair share this year, that’s for sure. But did we watch more? I don’t think we did.
Goal: Ride Skyline Drive.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: I’m not really disappointed in this, because I rode in some beautiful areas: the Blue Ridge and Berkshires, to name two standouts.
Goal: Be more tolerant.
Status: Inconclusive
Notes: Maybe I was, maybe I wasn’t – it’s tough to say. Any takers on this one? Third-parties? Anyone?
Goal: Help the Democrats win in 2006 without killing all my “sanity†time.
Status: Met
Notes: I helped with a fundraiser for Ned Lamont, and did some election day coordination for Phil Mendelson (DC Councilman), yet still had time for classes, bike rides, and other stuff.
Goal: Excel in school.
Status: Met
Notes: Did well in my classes.
Goal: Keep enough “me†time in the week to allow myself to properly recharge.
Status: Met
Notes: I don’t really feel like I met this, but I didn’t get sick too often in 2006, so that’s a clear sign that my body got the recharge time it needed.
Goal: Be a better friend.
Status: Met
Notes: I think I met this one. I was there for a friend who went through a trying breakup (lotsa phone time with the friend). I reconnected with college friends I hadn’t spoken to in years. I spent good time with DC-area friends, and I made new friends in PPTC.
Goal: Read a book a month.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: This could read “Utterly Failed.” Outside of my class reading, I don’t think I read a single book from cover to cover this year. It’s really sad, and I’m gonna shift myself into better gear for 2007.
Goal: Complete my CD inventory and get the collection insured.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: Memo to self: this must get done soon.
Goal: Play more guitar.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: Much as I had a lot of “me” time, not much of it was spent playing guitar. Pity, too – I have some lovely guitars to play.
Goal: Get out to the slopes more this winter.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: When winter doesn’t materialize, it’s tough to go skiing. When winter finally arrives here, I’m gonna make it a point to patronize the local hills. And I have trips to Utah (January) and Austria (February) planned for this season.
Goal: Be a better mate to sprite.
Status: Inconclusive
Notes: You’d best ask her this one.,
Goal: Cut down on the clutter: reduce, recycle, donate to Goodwill.
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: I have a lot of stuff to take to Goodwill, but haven’t taken it yet. That’s what the week between Christmas and New Year is for, right?
Goal: Smile more.
Status: Met
Notes: I have the laugh lines to prove it.
Goal: Take advantage of the local resources more often (read: visit the Smithsonians I have yet to visit).
Status: Did Not Meet
Notes: Even though I rode my bike in far more places in the greater DC area, I can’t say that I truly took advantage of more truly local resources. At least I made it to the National Museum of American History before it closed.
Goal: Take better care of my fingernails.
Status: Met
Notes: Fewer broken and torn nails – counts as a plus to me, though there’s more I can do.
Goal: Be better at saying “no.â€
Status: Met
Notes: I had more “me” time, didn’t I?
Goal: Don’t over-extend myself.
Status: Met
Notes: And I need to remind myself of the same in 2007.
There you have it – quite the list, a lot to chew on, and a lot to use for 2007 planning. I’ll have those goals posted soon – including some whoppers.
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