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Well, here we are … I had just gotten used to 2011, and now it’s 2012.  Like last year, I’ve made resolutions — actually the same ones as last year, but also a new one as well.  I like to think of them more as goals than resolutions.  Hopefully I’ll have better luck with them this year.

Operation Clean Up 2011 was only partially successful.  My house still looks like a mess.  Our finances aren’t in great condition, but they are better than they were at this point last year.  And I’m lucky enough that there’s a gym on the grounds where I work, so I work out 3-4 times a week during my lunch break.  I still haven’t lost the weight I was hoping to, but I do feel healthier and the workout is a great break in my day.  It helps me feel calmer so I’m not so stressed out at my job.

At this time last year, I was still waiting for some company to come to its senses and hire me.  Then the call came in February to start temping at one of the major studios.  Temping wasn’t permanent employment, but it was exposure and experience, which is exactly what I needed.  It renewed my dream to be back in the entertainment world and rejuvenated my senses.  It wasn’t until June that I’d gotten hired in a permanent position, and the W-2 I just received showed that what I made working half a year last year is almost as much as I made working the whole year prior to that.  Del & I have decided to pretty much go cold turkey on the credit cards and have been paying cash for almost everything while we pay down the credit cards.  It’s made us a little more budget conscious and puts me more at ease that we’re not continuing to add to the debt.

As for our house, I’ve decided that what I’m lacking is structure.  I see so many things that need to get done, that it gets so overwhelming to know where to start.  My newest idea is to actually take a calendar and schedule the areas I want to work on each weekend.  Break it up into a bunch of small tasks instead of everything all at once.  The boys’ room one month.  Our dining room another.  Felicity’s room.  The living room.  The office.  What things are being kept and put into the garage versus what’s ok to donate.  What to start on first?  Good question.  It’s sort of like a Catch 22.  Can’t clean up the living room unless there’s space for all the toys.  Can’t make space for the toys until we clear out all the old toys out of the boys’ room.  You can see how this could get overwhelming.  But I’m going to attempt to do it a little at a time.  Wish me luck.

And as for the health goals this year, yes, I want to lose weight.  I’ve seen a few Dr. Oz segments where he mentions different supplements to help you lose weight.  The first one I’m planning to try is Evening Primrose, which contains GLA, and according to what I’ve read, is supposed to help your fat cells release excess fat.  I just hope I’m not one of those bozos it doesn’t work on.  So here go my positive thoughts: release the fat, release the fat, release the fat.  Felicity also got me hooked on watching The Biggest Loser.  I keep the trainer’s voices in my mind while I’m on the elliptical machines at the gym: last chance workout, last chance workout, last chance workout!  I was into it so much that once I almost yelled out, “LAST CHANCE WORKOUT!!” in the middle of the gym.  Yeah, that would have been good.

And my final goal for this year: I’ve decided to enter a writing contest.  I found out about this contest last year, but there wasn’t enough time to write something to submit.  I’ve kept it on my mind and decided, this year I will enter it.  Submissions are due sometime in the Spring, so I will be using this time to work on it and hopefully have it ready by then.  I’ve got most of the story worked out, except for the ending.  I know how I want it to end, now I just have to figure out how to get it to that point and then the writing can begin.  I feel like working out the story logistics will be the hardest part, and the actual writing will be the easiest.  I’ve been taking advantage of the quiet time while I sit in traffic on the way home to think about the story and work out the details.  If nothing else, it at least keeps the drive home less stressful. 

Here’s to accomplishing goals in 2012!!