Job is OK. Julia's search is OK. Definitely glad she dropped the tech class of death. There were...problems...there, but she is wisely waiting until after she graduates to really complain about it.
January and Feb were austerity months, largely due to all the stuff that hit us, but March is a little bit better since there are three pay periods, which is nice. We're going to Miami in preparation for the eventual move.
The car sat idle most of the month but we finally got it fixed. Got a surprise from the dentist...AGAIN but both he and my insurance have actually gone above and beyond to work with me, and I am very pleased with that. The world is a different place....and being nice, even when you REALLY don't want to pays off.
Wish I could say the same about everyone, but until we move I'm keeping that...low key for now. Writing isn't going perfectly, but its going. Podcast is still there. A new mike is on the way. Things will be tight with conferences, biltmore and Miami but in the long run everything but Miami is
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Introspection Day
The idea behind Introspection Day is to consider what I believe, why I believe it, and what is worth fighting for and what is worth leaving behind.
It is also a great time for considering plans for goals and fleshing out how to do them.
Here are a few:
The trip to Miami is going to also be the focal point for going there. We will get a cheap metropcs phone w a Miami number and a PO box for our resumes which will go a lot farther w recruiters. Julia will be searching for federal jobs in Feb and also attending some library conferences in San Fran and Boston to network.
For the three print books I want to have Spiders in the Sugar factory done for may, Forever West done in August (requiring a map and second cover) and Billy's First bolt gun in October.
Red Anvil Creative is looking pretty anemic but I will try one final time for some new customers/clients in Feb before declaring that one a total loss.
I have an arrangement with Margaret Logan (who did the first cover for Forever West) for Timmy Saves The Whales, which, if she . Signs the contract will be done in July.
I believe the Khan academy course I will take this year will be entrepreneurs (warranted for a new business that will actually work)
I ashera isn't going well but in theory I am doing a single verse each week. If more progress isn't made soon i may kill it
The writing efforts are going OK and covered here.
I hope to do a bonus goal a month.
1) Read a book on Chinese history
2) snail mail 100 letters
3) fix the code on human ignorance virus
4) type in the Irish poetry book for project Gutenberg
5) learn to speak w a Cajun accent
6) write 3 scripts (weekends)
7) Visit 4 cons
8) join a face to face gaming group
9) run a 20th anniversary mage virtual game
10) do a 48 hour film festival film
11) Finish all payments on the earring
12) Obtain a mike and set up a dedicated vo rig.
1) Read a book on Chinese history
2) snail mail 100 letters
3) fix the code on human ignorance virus
4) type in the Irish poetry book for project Gutenberg
5) learn to speak w a Cajun accent
6) write 3 scripts (weekends)
7) Visit 4 cons
8) join a face to face gaming group
9) run a 20th anniversary mage virtual game
10) do a 48 hour film festival film
11) Finish all payments on the earring
12) Obtain a mike and set up a dedicated vo rig.
I am going to have to reduce the computer classes to 3...they are MUCH more difficult than i thought but worth it
Monday, February 2, 2015
Nibbled to Death by Ducks
We're still OK, but the tooth operation, ticket, car battery, new tires, car insurance in a block of 6 months and car registration in two months plus a new company policy that doesn't let me make up at work...and it means things are tight. Not impossible, but tight. Fortunately, there is an extra pay cycle in March and early estimates of taxes looking hopeful...we should be able to repay the housing fund and rebuild the reserve.
Looking forward to spending Introspection Day with Julia. I'm sick. Which means this will be short. Been traveling back and forth to visit Mom and Skip because they are moving. It was nice seeing them before they do. I helped them move a bit. Was sick on the way back. Kind of horrific, but I got here in one piece and lived.
All things told, life is still good. Nothing will ever be perfect, and at some point I'll have spare funds to advertise forever west a bit. I also need to get a mike so I can resume the podcast. Fortunately, thanks to Matt I have another few months in reserve.
Looking forward to spending Introspection Day with Julia. I'm sick. Which means this will be short. Been traveling back and forth to visit Mom and Skip because they are moving. It was nice seeing them before they do. I helped them move a bit. Was sick on the way back. Kind of horrific, but I got here in one piece and lived.
All things told, life is still good. Nothing will ever be perfect, and at some point I'll have spare funds to advertise forever west a bit. I also need to get a mike so I can resume the podcast. Fortunately, thanks to Matt I have another few months in reserve.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Months on The Road
When you include Thankgiving, all the trips in December and the new trips we are making in Jan to visit Mom and Skip and Grandma before they move to San Francisco, the miles add up. Julia and I are both tired but there are still three more weeks left. Goals are slow bit steady and should be ready by Introspection day. It was a little empty without the cat bit we did enjoy a quiet night at home w each other while we watched the last three episodes of Homeland.
Sleep is good. They are keeping a closer eye on extra hours at work for a while which is less money but good timing since it will gice me more time to relax...still, in a limited duration contract I always keep a close eye on things amd there is less work than people. If things increase in circumstances,, time to begin looking immediately.
Friday, January 2, 2015
[Goals] 2015
Tom - This year will kick things up. Got enough goals last year that I will increase what I do this year. All must be planned by Introspection day on the 31rst-5th of Feb.
Goal of the Year
Write and complete 50000 words in NANOWRMO
Primary Goals
1. Write one story a week til Nov. After edit, submit at least one in four for publication five times.
2. Get 35 points towards Scrum Professional.
3. Get Perm Job in Starter City.
4. Do 6 courses in self taught CS degree.
5. Create print books for at least 3 books.
6. Keep physically fit. Increase Run time to 10 minutes. 100 push ups. 50% plus bench.
Secondary
1. Get three clients for RAC. Have one be near or almost near successful.
2. Do another Not for Children's Book.
3. Pay no more than $10 in the political rant jar.
4. Do one Khan not related to CS.
5. Finish Exodus in I, Ashera.
6. Complete the Arrow.
Bonus Goals: Compile list of 12 by Introspection Day.
Julia Goals
1. Be nicer to myself.
2. Graduate w. 3.8 GPA.
3. Get a perm job I want.
4. Continue w Food Journal 80% of time.
5. Got to at least one, ideally both conferences.
6. Get a little help from my friends.
7. Continue improving relationship w Tom and communicate more.
Couples Goals
1. Move to Miami successfully.
2. Go to Europe
3. Go to Miami on scout trip.
4. Have 4 trips. (Currently likely Biltmore, Spiletto, San Fran and...???)
5. Communiticate.
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**2016.
2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2019. 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.
Not looking good on this one...
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.
2016.
14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING. [Small chance of 2014]
16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)
17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
2019.
18. Have a room with a secret passage
2019.
23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in 2015??
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Doing. Transforming.
27. Ditto the sixth.
Doing.
28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
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)
51. Join the Masons.
2017.
52. Hypnotize someone.
Completed 2013.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess
55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [1 of 7 done.]
1. Finding Joe screening.
29. Marry the Right Person.
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 2017.
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.
Goal of the Year
Write and complete 50000 words in NANOWRMO
Primary Goals
1. Write one story a week til Nov. After edit, submit at least one in four for publication five times.
2. Get 35 points towards Scrum Professional.
3. Get Perm Job in Starter City.
4. Do 6 courses in self taught CS degree.
5. Create print books for at least 3 books.
6. Keep physically fit. Increase Run time to 10 minutes. 100 push ups. 50% plus bench.
Secondary
1. Get three clients for RAC. Have one be near or almost near successful.
2. Do another Not for Children's Book.
3. Pay no more than $10 in the political rant jar.
4. Do one Khan not related to CS.
5. Finish Exodus in I, Ashera.
6. Complete the Arrow.
Bonus Goals: Compile list of 12 by Introspection Day.
Julia Goals
1. Be nicer to myself.
2. Graduate w. 3.8 GPA.
3. Get a perm job I want.
4. Continue w Food Journal 80% of time.
5. Got to at least one, ideally both conferences.
6. Get a little help from my friends.
7. Continue improving relationship w Tom and communicate more.
Couples Goals
1. Move to Miami successfully.
2. Go to Europe
3. Go to Miami on scout trip.
4. Have 4 trips. (Currently likely Biltmore, Spiletto, San Fran and...???)
5. Communiticate.
Life Goals - "At some point"
1. See the Louvre.
**2016.
2. Travel around the world on a one way trip. Japan, Australia, India, Egypt, London, Italy and Hawaii.
** Goal to see all by 2019. 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.
Not looking good on this one...
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.
2016.
14. Organize a convention on SOMETHING. [Small chance of 2014]
16. Build a house (not necessarily my own.)
17. Own my own home (all own, no mortgage)
2019.
18. Have a room with a secret passage
2019.
23. Be in a flash mob dance number.
Do in 2015??
26. Live the fifth life (who knows what that is)
Doing. Transforming.
27. Ditto the sixth.
Doing.
28. Ditto the seventh.
**Kept in reserve until 2027.
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)
51. Join the Masons.
2017.
52. Hypnotize someone.
Completed 2013.
53. Firewalk.
54. Visit the Library of Congess
55. Complete 7 Projects of Significance. [1 of 7 done.]
1. Finding Joe screening.
29. Marry the Right Person.
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 2017.
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.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
2014 - Year in Review
It was the best of years. It was the worst of years.
The Good: Wonderful marriage to my beloved. Washington D.C. Visits to Atlanta. Visit to Miami Beach. Visit to Florida Keys. Second visit to miami beach. Visit to New Orleans. Visit to Biltmore. Visit to Charlston. Elaynia. All going well with family visit. AirBnB. Goals met. French video store. Red Tower. Guardians of the Galaxy. Double Dates w. Wayne and Helen. Weekly video games w Greg. Kilroy stories. Kilroy Godhood. Overcoming Class of Doom. Publishing GMVZ. Publishing many of my stories. Team B. Walking together on the nature trail. Homeland. Game of Thrones. Picking a starter city.
The Bad: The possession of Petunia. Soggy Paper Plate. Facebook. 2014 Election. Grammar Nazi. Time to find job B. Wells drama. The world in general.
The Ugly: City on a shelf. Tito. The Phantom of the Lobby. Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast numbers. City of Hope.
Goals for 2014.
Tom
1. Get to 250 lbs and stay there. - A-. Finally.
2. Do 8 Belly Dancing Classes with Julia. Changed this to walking weekly since this proved untenable. A-.
3. Finish "I, Ashera" poem. Bad poetry is awful. It just is. This will be a multi year project but I've made a good dent. B+
4. Get at least 1 of Minor PMP/Minor BA Cert/Scrum Cert. Got TWO. A+
5. Project Schlurp. A+.
Julia
1. Maintain A's in MLS. A.
2. If no full time job, take 2 classes each semester. A.
3. Maintain food journal 82%. A-
4. Project Meep. A+
5.Get a job or Make Red Anvil Tagging work. A
Marriage
1. Date night 1/week. A
2. Continue communicating properly. A-
3. Trip 1/month A-
4. Reach Reserve Level 4. A
5. Teach Tom to Cook. C
6. Successfully do move A
The Good: Wonderful marriage to my beloved. Washington D.C. Visits to Atlanta. Visit to Miami Beach. Visit to Florida Keys. Second visit to miami beach. Visit to New Orleans. Visit to Biltmore. Visit to Charlston. Elaynia. All going well with family visit. AirBnB. Goals met. French video store. Red Tower. Guardians of the Galaxy. Double Dates w. Wayne and Helen. Weekly video games w Greg. Kilroy stories. Kilroy Godhood. Overcoming Class of Doom. Publishing GMVZ. Publishing many of my stories. Team B. Walking together on the nature trail. Homeland. Game of Thrones. Picking a starter city.
The Bad: The possession of Petunia. Soggy Paper Plate. Facebook. 2014 Election. Grammar Nazi. Time to find job B. Wells drama. The world in general.
The Ugly: City on a shelf. Tito. The Phantom of the Lobby. Tossing Grenades at Windmills Podcast numbers. City of Hope.
Goals for 2014.
Tom
1. Get to 250 lbs and stay there. - A-. Finally.
2. Do 8 Belly Dancing Classes with Julia. Changed this to walking weekly since this proved untenable. A-.
3. Finish "I, Ashera" poem. Bad poetry is awful. It just is. This will be a multi year project but I've made a good dent. B+
4. Get at least 1 of Minor PMP/Minor BA Cert/Scrum Cert. Got TWO. A+
5. Project Schlurp. A+.
Julia
1. Maintain A's in MLS. A.
2. If no full time job, take 2 classes each semester. A.
3. Maintain food journal 82%. A-
4. Project Meep. A+
5.Get a job or Make Red Anvil Tagging work. A
Marriage
1. Date night 1/week. A
2. Continue communicating properly. A-
3. Trip 1/month A-
4. Reach Reserve Level 4. A
5. Teach Tom to Cook. C
6. Successfully do move A
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Much Happening
It has been an eventful couple of weeks. Three weeks ago we had a delightful thanksgiving dinner with Julia's parents and then spent Saturday and Sunday with Mom and Skip. We spent the last weekend in Charlotte in November and will be spending every weekend in Atlanta or traveling in December. That is a lot of driving.
A lot of monumental decisions have been made, the two biggest of which are that Skip is now working for Google and they are moving to San Francisco. Julia and I have decided to spend six months starting in Feb to focus our job search in Miami. The odds of us moving there are very high, especially since my current contract will be wrapping up around July.
We are spending time with each other, with friends and with family. There has been such drama on Facebook this year, particularly with Petunia and Soggy Paper Plate that I am deleting my facebook account, letting it reset for 90 days and starting a new one in April.
Complications have included a difficult to replace headlight on my Prius, North Carolina's bizarre and arcane registration and title language, my missing phone (now replaced and on which I write this) and one of Julia's teachers having an unnatural and obsessive standard of grammar that I have never encountered. We got the paper done, we are waiting to see how the paper will be received but I am optimistic.
Julia is now enjoying her vacation and I am doing moderately well at my job. Julia will be doing a lot of baking, and I am preparing Grenademan vs the Zombies and Forever West for sale on Amazon as ebooks.
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