1. Lose 23 pounds, bringing me down to my high school track and field weight.
I am still down exactly 21 pounds as of this morning. Three days spent at a YMCA camp followed by the Patriots home opener tailgating bonanza killed me.
2. Do at least 50 100 200 push-ups and 50 100 sit-ups a day.
I did not miss a day in September.
3. Practice the flute for at least an hour a week.
I practiced for 15 minutes this week, the first bit of practice all year. Maybe it’s the start of something great…
4. Find a wine that I can drink every night or so.
Did not drink any wine in September.
5. Complete my fifth novel.
I am three chapters into the new book. I had to rewrite the first two chapters about ten times until I got them right, and even now they still might not be right. My half-finished novel occasionally calls to me, urging me to take the path of least resistance and finish it.
I refuse. This new book will be better.
I have a lot of work ahead of me.
6. Complete and submit one children’s book to my agent.
Still done. Revisions of the story continue, and a new story has been written. I meet with my critique group next week to hear first impressions.
7. Complete the book proposal for the non-fiction collaborative project that I began last year.
My photography partner and I have ironed out our differences and are ready to move forward. Unfortunately I am devoting most of my writing time to the new book. But I still hope to have a proposal written before the end of the year. Still possible but less likely.
8. Complete an outline for my memoir
Done. The writing of the memoir continues.
9. Convince my sister to write on http://107federalstreet.blogspot.comat least once a week and do the same myself.
I’m not giving up, but I feel like giving up. Maybe it was wrong to choose a goal that depended so much upon another person.
10. Drink at least four glasses of water every day.
Done.
11. Complete at least one of the three classes required for me to teach English on the high school level.
I am scheduled to take the high school English certification test in November.
I will need two more classes, plus a passing score on the test, in order to be certified to teach middle and high school English.
Since I originally needed to complete three classes and now only need two, I feel like this goal is accomplished, since it was only through my persistent efforts with the Department of Education that one of the required classes was eliminated.
Anyone buying this rationalization?
12. Try liver.
Nope.
13. Publish an Op-Ed in a national newspaper.
The piece that I have written for The Millions, an online magazine offering coverage on books, arts, and culture, might be my last chance at completing this goal, though I may still repackage a blog post in the form of an editorial and shop it around.
14. Participate in The Moth as a storyteller, at a live show or on their radio broadcast.
Done. I will completing in the the Moth’s GrandSlam event on October 17.
15. See our rock opera (The Clowns) performed on stage as a full production or in a dramatic reading format.
Our reading is scheduled for November 5 and 6. You can read all about it and find out how to purchase tickets on the theater’s website by clicking here.
16. Organize my basement.
Progress continues, but a full day will still be required to complete the job. December break is my target.
17. Land at least one paying client for my fledgling life coach or professional best man business.
Done! In fact, I met with my client today!
18. Rid Elysha and myself of all education debt before the end of the year.
Still waiting on the funding.
19. Replace the twelve ancient windows on the first and second floor of the house with more energy efficient ones.
Still waiting on the funding.
20. Make one mortgage payment from poker profits.
No poker in September. I remain stuck on a little less than 25% of a mortgage payment so far.
21. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.
