Goals (Not Resolutions) for 2005

I hate New Year's Resolutions.  They're so stupid.  Why do you need to have a new year to resolve to do something?  Why can't you just make a Tuesday Resolution?  In fact, I hate practically everything about New Year's and New Year's Eve and the social pressures of "what are you doing for New Year's?" It's such a stupid, meaningless holiday that often costs way more than even a reasonable holiday should cost. 

Anyway, aside from that rant, I do have certain things I'd like to do in 2005.  I don't usually do my goals on an annual basis -- I do them more on a "before I turn [insert age here], I'd like to [insert activity here]."  But anyway, there are some specific things that have been on my list a while, and so I'm going to put them into print here (or cyber-print).  

I’m posting my goals here so as to be accountable.  I know I don’t have a high readership, but if I have anyone calling me on my bullshit, I’m more likely not to be full of said bullshit. So here we go.

 Goals for 2005:

• Learn to play bass guitar – I've had gift-certificate lessons sitting around from my sister since Christmas 2003.  It's not that I haven’t meant to use them; it's just that with school, moving, etc., I've just been kind of busy.  I know, that's a complete excuse and I need someone to call "bullshit" on me.  It's hereby said – it will get done in 2005.
  
  
• Graduate – I'm close, just 9 credits shy as we enter 2005.  Three of those credits will be snapped up by late January and then I've got just two classes, plus my capstone, to go.  I'm targeting this to happen in May 2005 (everyone's invited to see me graduate with one of those important-looking hoodie thingies on – clearly, I'm mature enough to have earned this higher degree of education).  So it's a seemingly "easy" goal to accomplish, but, well, hell, you try it while you're working a full-time job and juggling a life.  Yes, I have a life.  Well, such as it is.
  
  
• Write a Book – I've been talking about writing a book (or books) for a while now.  I write so much for my job and for the past two-plus years I've been babbling on NotTheRock.com, so it's about time I put a fair chunk of my babble between two covers and fasten it all together.  Ideas include one about consulting, one about grad school (tm, NicHul!), one about everyday things I want to comment on (a book version of the musings), one based on the state of America for young people today (based on my award-winning essay), or perhaps just a random fiction endeavor.  Whatever I settle on, I am pledging here to get something down on paper before the end of 2005. 

Well, that's all for now.  I think that's plenty to keep me busy.  And I don't want too many more things the be held accountable for.