It would seem that I would (or should) be writing my NEW resolutions on this day; however, I have decided to report on last years, and write the 2010 resolutions next week. Here we go!
Resolution2009#1: Read More.
Being that this is an ambiguous sort of goal, I had set a number at 18. I am not at home right now to count, but I know I at least came close on this one. I spent a small fortune at Borders, but found it was well worth it. Most of the books I read were Non-Fiction, which I think makes them count for more, because I was learning at the same time. Some random titles that I read this past year, and would recommend:
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
A delightful read that not only covers Sesame Street, but also doubles as an unofficial bio for Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. There's also a lot about the early days of PBS and children's television in general.
Emperors of Chocolate
This book should not be read unless you have a handy supply of your favorite candy nearby. It goes through every little detail of the forming of the two chocolate behemoths in America, Mars and Hershey, while also covering how the two interacted. This was my second time reading it, and it was even better the second time around.
More Than a Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL
I will admit that this book is only of interest if you actually like sports, specifically football. I do, and definitely feel better informed having read it. Some other sports related books I completed this year were The Yankee Years by Joe Torre, Black and Blue: a History of the NFC North, and multiple biographies of some of my favorite Wrestlers.
There were also a few Christian Living books, as well as some John Grisham novels, and more Sports magazines than you can shake a stick at. While I realize those are not books, they did take a lot of my reading time, so they should count for something.
On to Resolution2009#2: Scrapbook at least through 2008.
The only scrapbooking I accomplished this year was Chicago: The Musical. Alas, all of 2008 is still sitting in stacks in my scrapbook bin or even some still on the cameras. Lazy me.
Resolution2009#3: Reduce Debt.
This one is tricky. I don't think I actually reduced my debt load, but I did realize that I have a problem, and have taken steps to insure that I won't fall deeper. Hopefully by 2011 I'll have begun to reduce it.
Resolution2009#4: Get Married.
Whoops. Guess I was reaching just a little on this one...although I would have failed even if the goal had been to simply get a girlfriend.
Resolution2009#5: Make an Appearance on Couchcapades.
Never happened, but that's Libby's fault.
Resolution2009#6: Update the Blog.
In 2009, I updated this thing a total of 13 times. That's a little more than once a month, and if you cut out the Resolution entry, it was just 12 times, for an average of ONCE a month. Pathetic. Next year, we'll shoot for double that.
Resolution2009#7: Exercise Regularly.
I went jogging ONE time. I walked to church twice, and work once. Wow. 4 times. EPIC FAIL!
Tune in later for the 2010 Resolutions.
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resolutions. Show all posts
Friday, January 1, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cookies for Christmas
As I gear up for another round of New Years resolutions, I'm reminded of my old ones, specifically the one where I pledged to update this regularly. Unless "regularly" now means once every 3 months, I'm doing a terrible job. Look for me to rectify that in the coming days/weeks as I strive to get into the habit of telling the world about my life. The "world" being Mary Ellen and Lindsey, as they are apparently the only readers.
On to the subject of this blog: Christmas cookies! Yum!
On one Saturday in December every year my parents house is filled with a number of aunts and grandmas and such who are intent on making every kind of cookie imaginable. I usually try to make an appearance, not so much for the baking part, but more for the taking a bucket of fresh cookies home part.
That day just happens to be tomorrow.
Kevin
On to the subject of this blog: Christmas cookies! Yum!
On one Saturday in December every year my parents house is filled with a number of aunts and grandmas and such who are intent on making every kind of cookie imaginable. I usually try to make an appearance, not so much for the baking part, but more for the taking a bucket of fresh cookies home part.
That day just happens to be tomorrow.
Kevin
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Wondeful World of Books
So as per one of my resolutions, I have been reading quite a bit lately. So far this year I have read:
Starr: The Bart Starr story
Black and Blue: A history of the NFC Central Division
and three quarters of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
You might have noticed that all the books are about real people and/or places and/or things. This is because I enjoy reading about things that actually happened. It somehow makes it worthwhile in my mind to spend time reading if the final result is that I'm smarter than I was before. This isn't to say that I won't read non-historical books. The next one on the queue is The Appeal by John Grisham, and while John has written more and more historical books of late, this one is in the mold of his originals...ie, it's about lawyers.
Basically, I just have to be entertained by it. If I don't feel forced into reading it, then I'm not opposed to it. There has been several times over the last few weeks where I was distracted by other things and simply could not read. It wasn't because the books were lame or boring, because they definitely weren't. The fact of the matter is that I view reading as a pure entertainment option, although I'm not opposed to learning something along the way.
One problem that has arisen from this is that I can't afford all the books I want. I would absolutely love to read about WWII. Borders has a number of books about the Russians and Germans and Italians before and during the war. I'm fascinated by all of them...just by reading the blurbs on the inside cover. Some day I plan on reading many of them, limited partially by the time I have for reading, but mostly by the cost. In addition to the WWII books, I have always enjoyed reading about the civil war. The current book I am most interested in acquiring is Team of Rivals which is about Lincolns cabinet.
Anyway, I'm off to read more about Sesame Street...and I hear Grisham has a new book coming out in February...
Kevin Sieg
Starr: The Bart Starr story
Black and Blue: A history of the NFC Central Division
and three quarters of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
You might have noticed that all the books are about real people and/or places and/or things. This is because I enjoy reading about things that actually happened. It somehow makes it worthwhile in my mind to spend time reading if the final result is that I'm smarter than I was before. This isn't to say that I won't read non-historical books. The next one on the queue is The Appeal by John Grisham, and while John has written more and more historical books of late, this one is in the mold of his originals...ie, it's about lawyers.
Basically, I just have to be entertained by it. If I don't feel forced into reading it, then I'm not opposed to it. There has been several times over the last few weeks where I was distracted by other things and simply could not read. It wasn't because the books were lame or boring, because they definitely weren't. The fact of the matter is that I view reading as a pure entertainment option, although I'm not opposed to learning something along the way.
One problem that has arisen from this is that I can't afford all the books I want. I would absolutely love to read about WWII. Borders has a number of books about the Russians and Germans and Italians before and during the war. I'm fascinated by all of them...just by reading the blurbs on the inside cover. Some day I plan on reading many of them, limited partially by the time I have for reading, but mostly by the cost. In addition to the WWII books, I have always enjoyed reading about the civil war. The current book I am most interested in acquiring is Team of Rivals which is about Lincolns cabinet.
Anyway, I'm off to read more about Sesame Street...and I hear Grisham has a new book coming out in February...
Kevin Sieg
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009: And so it begins.
For my first entry of 2009, what else could I possibly write about then New Years Resolutions? Thanks to the amusingly inspirational Danielle Ryan, I have to decided to actually make some this year.
My first resolution, which I proclaimed to my roommates a couple nights ago, is to make at least one New Years Resolution. I think I already succeeded with this one, so let's move on to the "real" resolutions for '09. For the record, they are going to be in no particular order, as I haven't actually thought of any yet, and will be written out as I think of them. Here goes!!
1. Read more. I used to read all the time, but since my introduction to the PS2, it has definitely fallen by the wayside. The new goal is to read at least 18 books by the end of the year. "Books" shall hereafter be defined as being of at least 150 pages in length, and have to be at least 75% words...I know 18 seems like a smallish number, but I believe in attainable goals, as the whole point of these things is too make you feel better about your life.
2. Finish scrap booking at least through '08. Right now I'm in June 0f '07, so not so far behind, but still, it'd be nice to catch up to within a year...
3. Pay off my debts and keep total balances due under $1,000 at any given time. Again, $1,000 may seem like a rather large margin of error, but considering that's only $250 per card it would be an improvement. Baby steps. Maybe next year we can knock it down to $500 or less.
4. Get Married. No, I'm just kidding. But it would be nice to get a girlfriend and maybe even a fiance?
5. Make an Appearance on Couchcapades. This one is entirely dependent on Libby, so hopefully he reads this. Most of you probably don't even know what Couchcapades is. Google it. Those are the guys I live with.
6. How many of these are you supposed to make? Number 6 will be update this blog regularly. I've never been all that good at keeping things updated, but we'll try to turn over a new leaf, to borrow a cliche phrase.
7. Exercise...at least once a week. Again with the wimpy goal, but like I said, attainable is good, and it'd be a vast improvement over exercising 4 times a year, which is the current ratio...also "exercise" shall hereafter be defined as any strenuous activity that lasts at least 20 minutes and has no other goal but to be exercise. This means that work, musicals, shoveling snow, and walking to the grocery store DON'T count.
That seems like enough. Tune in next year to find out how I did.
Burger Me,
Kevin Sieg
My first resolution, which I proclaimed to my roommates a couple nights ago, is to make at least one New Years Resolution. I think I already succeeded with this one, so let's move on to the "real" resolutions for '09. For the record, they are going to be in no particular order, as I haven't actually thought of any yet, and will be written out as I think of them. Here goes!!
1. Read more. I used to read all the time, but since my introduction to the PS2, it has definitely fallen by the wayside. The new goal is to read at least 18 books by the end of the year. "Books" shall hereafter be defined as being of at least 150 pages in length, and have to be at least 75% words...I know 18 seems like a smallish number, but I believe in attainable goals, as the whole point of these things is too make you feel better about your life.
2. Finish scrap booking at least through '08. Right now I'm in June 0f '07, so not so far behind, but still, it'd be nice to catch up to within a year...
3. Pay off my debts and keep total balances due under $1,000 at any given time. Again, $1,000 may seem like a rather large margin of error, but considering that's only $250 per card it would be an improvement. Baby steps. Maybe next year we can knock it down to $500 or less.
4. Get Married. No, I'm just kidding. But it would be nice to get a girlfriend and maybe even a fiance?
5. Make an Appearance on Couchcapades. This one is entirely dependent on Libby, so hopefully he reads this. Most of you probably don't even know what Couchcapades is. Google it. Those are the guys I live with.
6. How many of these are you supposed to make? Number 6 will be update this blog regularly. I've never been all that good at keeping things updated, but we'll try to turn over a new leaf, to borrow a cliche phrase.
7. Exercise...at least once a week. Again with the wimpy goal, but like I said, attainable is good, and it'd be a vast improvement over exercising 4 times a year, which is the current ratio...also "exercise" shall hereafter be defined as any strenuous activity that lasts at least 20 minutes and has no other goal but to be exercise. This means that work, musicals, shoveling snow, and walking to the grocery store DON'T count.
That seems like enough. Tune in next year to find out how I did.
Burger Me,
Kevin Sieg
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