Current Status

Julia's school work is going well. I will be starting a new job on Monday with OpenSystems here in Charlotte as a Scrum Master/Business Analyst. We have gone on several interesting trips of late.

We have been to Atlanta to spend time with family which was nice. We saw the Metropolitan Opera at the Regal, "Macbeth" which was quite impressive though be warned that the tickets are more expensive than regular movie tickets.  The singers were very impressive.

We went to Chimney rock near Ashville to hike for a day before I start the new job and are looking forward to going back later in November. Hopefully to do Chimney Rock and Ashville in the same time. It was exhausting but I managed to do it. Julia, of course, is in considerably better shape.

Charlston is a neat city. We used AirBnB to stay with a neat lady by the name of Elayna. She is an artist and has three artistic children as well. If we use the site on more time successfully somewhere else, I highly recommend it. We went on a 'ghost' tour of the local dungeon as well as a generic historic tour of the city. Like Savannah, this one has only been scratched on the surface and I think we need to do at least one, maybe two more trips before we've even begun to do stuff there. There were far more elements of the confederacy on display than I'd like...this is where it begun after all, it did give me ideas for a series of short stories in the Forever West universe that I might write next year. Especially if I sell any copies there. We saw several galleries and really enjoyed the market there. We bought a small beach print. We also ate at a fantastic restaurant Julia picked called the Fish House which had a view of the aircraft carrier and a frigate at sunset. Julia also spotted some porpoises while we were at the beach and the waterfront.

Building a Home

I think first and foremost, congratulations are in order for my little brother Brett Ricks, who just last Saturday got married to the lovely Tory Pitts.  He is the seventh of us to be married, though Julia and I may still be the last to have kids; since we're waiting until she graduates.  I don't know much about Tory but given the pictures it is obvious they are very much in love.  Alas, the ring ceremony is a bit too soon after my bout of unemployment to be able to attend in Salt Lake this coming Friday, but I will certainly be there in spirit.

We have slowly been putting our apartment together.  We've put up a new shower curtain (power drills are harder to use than it looks!), wall hangings, my old bed, and a lot of bookshelves.  We still have to set up the TV and speakers and get a new couch but we're going to Ikea this coming Saturday. Julia is an excellent cook and we're enjoying dinner together.  So far our activities consist of lots of netflix and internet and reading together.  We don't know a lot of folks here, but we're slowly changing that.   We've been watching Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Being Human, Metropolis, and lots of Family Guy.

Julia during the day works on school and getting her Search Engine Optimization business started.  She's been listening to Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and helping me with Forever West.  Right now, I plan to submit it to Baen with her first corrections and hope for the best, and continue during the year making editing improvements to self publish it myself.  I've been working and writing and releasing a few stories at a time to Amazon.  I'll be making physical copies of the books as soon as I've finished reediting my first round of stories for an anthology.

Otherwise, life is good.  There is strong reason to believe I'll be going perm soon.  We're looking forward to visiting Atlanta this coming weekend, and then Julia's uncle in South Florida for her spring break.

Snow and Valentine

We had our first weekend in Charlotte last weekend and it was very nice.  Saturday we ran a lot of errands including car maintenance and some shopping.  Whilst waiting we found a small but neat European bodega. We also went to the local library which is very nice.  We put some books on hold and then went home.  For date night we ate a very nice meal in, and Julia cooked some Salmon which I argue was as good as any restaurant we have ever eaten at.  Sunday we stayed in and it was very very nice.  We watched Dr. Who and the first five minutes of Southland Tales...and decided not to watch Southland Tales.

We also got hit by the Ragnarok snowstorm and I worked from home Wed, Thur and Friday.  I was going to work from Star Bucks Wed, but finally figured out how to get my work computer to work on our internet at home.  It was awesome.  We were quite comfortable and ate well and enjoyed each others company.  No mail. No stores.  We were a lot luckier than some though, since we had power, heat and water the entire time.

Friday we went to Atlanta and went to Wayne and Helen's wedding reception.  It was full of lanterns, sparklers and glow sticks with some fantastic Gelato and other deserts. Saturday we had our valentine's day dinner at Leon's and celebrated Skip's birthday with Carrot Cake.  Sunday we had a fantastic egg and hashbrown breakfast and then came home. 

Trip to Washington D.C.

We've been slowly moving in and getting used to Charlotte.  I'm enjoying taking the train to and from work, which saves me $2 a day on parking fees.  The monthly deal would save me more of course, but since I only have to go into the office three days a week that doesn't quite up.   Not that I have anything at all to complain about mind you. Indeed, I'm enjoying my job quite a bit, and am hopeful to go Permanent in the next few weeks.

We left early Saturday morning and were able to see the Natural History museum at the Smithsonian.  It was really incredible.  I particularly enjoyed the David Koch evolutionary science center, which was colorful and historic.  It did an excellent job of presenting the evolutionary progression of mankind and exhibited a profound understanding of our natural development.  It was exactly the kind of center for science that all museums should be.   We later went to the Castle and saw several souvenirs and random knickknacks the museum had collected over the years.   We also walked to the Jefferson Memorial, which was quite a profound spiritual experience for me, especially reading the quotes on the walls.  Those quotes are far away from the Mall of Washington though, across the Potomic and disconnected with the mires that the White House, the Supreme Court and the Capital Dome have that seems to ignore the populace at large.  We went back to the hotel and enjoyed an evening of peace.

Sunday was all about the Kennedy Center and the Marienski performing Swan Lake.  It was quite good.  We had dinner at the Bistro Francais, which quite expensive but good.  Besides, its our two year anniversary of knowing each other so spending a little was worth it.  Afterward, we came home and watched the Super Bowl.  Which is to say, we switched back and forth a lot between the puppy bowl and commercials.  The half time special was decidedly better than last year.

Monday we drove part of the way out of the city to avoid being caught in rush hour traffic, where I worked for four hours from Starbucks in Barnes and Noble.  Julia worked on school work while we waited.  We got back Monday night and a grateful and well adjusted Sacha was very glad to see us.  On the whole, it was a fantastic trip.

Life in Charlotte

My what an interesting few weeks.  We have started life in our new apartment.  The move went well, though we had to bump it once due to rainfall.  That meant I spent the week in a new but empty apartment.  The next week I loaded everything with Skip on Saturday and drove the U Haul to Julia's parents place that night.   Alan, Phillip, Diane, Julia and I loaded up the truck on Sunday.  Skip helped secure my stuff and I learned his techniques using cord on securing Julia's stuff.  Apparently I did a good job since I was complimented on it.

To get there in time for the movers to unload the truck, I had to leave at 3:30 in the morning, which set a pattern of odd hours for the whole week.  I got an offer to do a focus group in Atlanta on Thursday but to do that and get my 40 hours still in, I got up at 5:30 on Wed and Thursday and 6:45 today.  But after that I intend to spend the weekend celebrating my Birthday and Julia agrees with me.

The new place is quite nice.  We've run errands and begun unpacking but found time to be together.  Dinner is an important ritual for each day.  For example, Wednesday, even though I had to work 12 hours I took a break in the middle ate with her and then worked the remaining two hours at Starbucks while she did her school work.  I'm looking forward to next week being a bit calmer.

2014 Goals

It was the best of years.  It was the worst of years.

The Good: Wonderful marriage to my beloved.  Fantastic Honeymoon in Kona, Hawaii.  1 week in Portland Oregon.  Fun at Dragoncon.  Finished Forever West, best novel yet.  Trip to Miami.  Quality family time w Carlsons and Lawson/Huffman.  Wrote 2-3 good short stories.  Vastly improved in Naked City Readings.  Julia surviving Strategic Management.  Julia getting 4.0 in Fall 2013.  Julia internship 2013.  Job at Wells Fargo.  Jeckle Island.  Escaping the Library of Death.  Almost at Tier 1 Reserve.

The Bad: Strategic Management.  Family Drama.  Crypt Keeper.  Dragons on Tarmac.  Violation of the Drama Directive (STTNG).  Ikea Beds.   Spiders in the Sugar Factory (inspiration not the actual poem.)  Longest unemployment gap ever.   The Library of Death. Julia being laid off twice.

The Ugly: Red Anvil Creative.  Red Anvil Tagging.  Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast.  Strategic Management.  Back and Forth from Charlotte.  Pointless interview in Miami.  Pointless interview in South Carolina.  Nasty disappointment after nasty disappointment during gap.  Problems that many loved ones and friends had without being able to do anythings.

Goals for 2014.

Tom
Given how many I was not able to make, even with mitigating circumstances, especially upon missing the primary goal of weight which I have missed for two years in a row, I am reducing my goal count to 5, avoiding any bucket list in 2014, and keep it simple, maybe adding a few incidentals if on track in July.

1.  Get to 250 lbs and stay there.
2. Do 8 Belly Dancing Classes with Julia.
3. Finish "I, Ashera" poem.
4. Get at least 1 of Minor PMP/Minor BA Cert/Scrum Cert.
5. Project Schlurp.

Julia
1. Maintain A's in MLS.
2. If no full time job, take 2 classes each semester.
3. Maintain food journal 82%.
4. Project Meep.
5.Get a job or Make Red Anvil Tagging work.

Marriage
1. Date night 1/week.
2. Continue communicating properly.
3. Trip 1/month
4. Reach Reserve Level 4.
5. Teach Tom to Cook.
6. Successfully do move.

2013 Goal Review

Goals 2013

Physical

Primary: Get to 250lbs by July 20th. - Shifting to End of year.  Can do.  Will do.

D+. Mitigating Circumstances.

Secondary: Go to 60 Yoga Classes.

C. Started out strong, ended weak. Mitigating Circumstances.

Mental

Primary: Read the following 6 books:

B+ 4 out 6.

Secondary: Learn 48 French phrases.

F.

Emotional

Primary: Abstain from Paranoia

A-

Secondary: Continue optimism

A.

Spiritual

Primary: Write one poem a month in soul forging. A-

Social

Primary: Take Julia dancing 12 times in 2013.

B-. Mitigating.

Secondary: Hang out with friends at least once a week. A+

First Life: Retired.

Second Life

Primary Goal: Finish Forever West by the end of the year. A+

Secondary Goal: Write Tossing Grenades at Windmills in National Novel Writing Month. N/A

F. While mitigating, still choked.

Third Life

Primary Goal: Operation RUR schedued for production in an actual physical location charging money for admittance at least once by the end of 2013.  N/A

Secondary Goal: Film Project Chaylite in 2013 or another short film.

Scuttled due to lack of interest w. partner.  A on my part.

Fourth Life

Primary Goal: Initiate Project Horribly Inappropriate and remake yearly investment budget in RAA.

Completed.

Secondary Goal: Project Red Attack Tagging viable for its intended goal.

Parameters: Website, trial with 5-6, hire 1-2 agents.

Current: N/A

Fifth Life

Primary Goal: Project Chysalis II.

A+

Secondary Goal: Decide and Enact the Year of the Kane Eagle.

Completed.  A.

Sixth Life

Primary Goal: Write in Eagle as Phoenix Once a Week.

B-. Mitigating.

Secondary Goal: Operation Evict Reed.

N/A.  I've looked but no outlet visible.  Will keep looking.

Incidentals

Earn my PMP.

**Investigated.  Defaulting until 2014 due to advice.  Starting document recreation in 2 weeks.

Write the script for Earth and Sea and Star and Sky.
**Not done but doable. 

Write the League of Christmas Darkness Dodecaology.
**C.


Reach the half way mark in the Egress fund.
A+

Somehow make the Mosaic Inglemia campaign idea work.
A

Average: B.  Would be C+ or F but mitigating circumstance were extreme.

Julia's Goals

1. Get straight A's in her classes toward her MLS degree.

*A+. One B+ and 3 A's and the B+ was psychotically hard.

2. Lose 10lbs by July 20, 2013.
   C-. Great effort but no results but still looked fantastic. (Julia gave herself an F...I strongly disagree)
   
   3. Stay physically afterwards and maintain that.
   A-. Julia gives herself.
   
   4. Obtain a full time job.

B+

Average: A-

Marriage Goals

1. Remain patient and communicative in our relationship.

A.

2. Datenight at least once a week.
   A.
   
   3. Successfully complete and ENJOY the wedding.
   A+
   
   4. Decide Starter City.

A+. Prep city decided (Charlotte). Goal city decided (Kona). Plan B not so much.

Average: A+

Life Goals - "At some point"

1. See the Louvre.

**2015.

2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.

** Goal to see all by 2018. Egypt pending political situation.

3. Learn a martial art.

**Done

5. Assemble a band for a tour based on music written by me.

6. Start a successful business.

Started in 2011. "Success" is determined in this case by an operating profit of 400% invested capital or $10000. 2011-2015. Otherwise 'failure' and goal removed from dock.

**I'm trying a lot here, but the results aren't being kind.  But I still have 2 more years.

**Red Anvil Tagging has a great deal of potential given invested capital.  This could prove an exception since it is a separate business than Red Anvil Creative.

7. Learn a musical instrument.

Slated 2016

8. Sculpt something memorable.

9. Create or help create a graphic novel.

**Completed. [And also permanently dead :( ]

10. Own a plane, sailboat, taught or ultralight and learn to pilot/sail it.

11. Write seven novels.

**5 of 7 done. 

13. Go on a cruise.

2015-2016.

14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING.

16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)

17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)

Slated 2019-2020.

18. Have a room with a secret passage

23. Be in a flash mob dance number.

2015

26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)

Doing.

27. Ditto the sixth.

Doing.

28. Ditto the seventh.

Doing.

47. Finish 7 films. (3 out of 7 completed).

2016.

48. Enter a remote controlled airplane tournament and place in the upper half.

49. Enter a competitive Kite contest (the kind with the razors on the wings.)

50. Blow something up with Dynamite. (Legally)

52. Hypnotize someone.

Done.  2013.

53. Firewalk.

54. Visit the Library of Congress

2014.

55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [1 of 7 done.]

1) Project Chrysalis and Chrysalis II are go.  


If the right door opens....(ie interesting goals that either depend on another person or a significant amount of wealth that may never happen but that I want to write down)

29. Marry the Right Person. [2013]

Done

30. Establish a business empire dedicated to a not for profit foundation.

31. Visit (but do not live in) Space.

32. Buy my own island.

35. Create a functional and profitable news network that actually produces what is independent.

36. Create an institution to focus on pure research.

38. "" Neurological regeneration.

39. Paid Angel agents to quietly and anonymously do good.

40. Create a series of libraries (10) dedicate to principles original to libraries. Secular sanctuaries and temples to knowledge.

43. Breed dogs to live twice as long

44. Create 3 patents.

45. Own and that is entirely self-sufficient w. energy, food and other items.

46. Become a Father.

Slated 2016.
Bucket List (the Bucket in the Bucket….IE, I no longer care about this but might change my mind.)

4. Competitively enter a fencing competition

51. Join the Masons.