2008 Resolution
January 8th, 2008I have been thinking slowly what I want to accomplish this year. I realized the resolutions and goals I had since 2~3 years ago are still carried forward…mainly because some of them are not something I can do once and be done with…
But it’s still discouraging when I realize I have not made much progress. Regardless, I am an ambitious man–albeit extraordinarily lazy–and set goals I must. But first, I think I can divide my previous goals into several categories:
Life
I think I need to manage better people skills. Remember dates, names and be prepared. Over all, better person and better husband if I am to even consider a junior someday–are you reading this, Michelle? Last year was busy with bunch of events so I think I excused myself in many things. Not so this year.
I guess I should also include working out…Â For some reason, I keep thinking metrosexual but I think that’s not quite what I am looking for. Anyway, good luck everyone.
House
Renovation is more or less done I want to put some more finishing touches to the basement floor so I don’t have to look at the imperfection. There is also the doors I want to replace but that’s something I have to wait until weather gets better.
- must: doors will be done sometime in Spring, I hoep.
- must: second floor kitchen still need to be plugged with cement so that’s another half day job. Probably sometime this month.
- hopeful: water pipes?
- may be Garage or at least a roof is something I am also considering as a side project in the summer. Ideally, it should hold snow without eating up too much space so we can park two small cars…if we are lucky.
Writing
Last year, I wrote and submitted a short story to online-zine though I have to wait until March for the output. In fact, one of my goal will be to finish editting the draft several times and re-submit it for another online publication (baen, I think). Hopefully TOTU’s input on my first draft will be helpful for my final revision.
- must: 2 or more revision of Sacrifice
- either write Musume into a short novel or finish P:E
- may be another NaNoWriMo
Drawing
In 2006 I briefly tried a private lesson and even one Chinese class but I lost my motivation about few lessons and life caught up with me. Last year though, I somehow convinced Romano to try out for the Jump comic competition and we came out in 50th percentile with Musume. A load of rush as I clearly lacked drawing skills, even simple inking or shading or colouring. It’s something but I feel I didn’t contribute as much as I could in terms of drawing component in the team competition–I do feel I shared the pain and joy so I am not saying I dumped all the work on Romano; I clearly worked hard too.
This year, I am debating whether to commit more time on writing or do spend some time on drawing. Or both? I know having several books on drawing hasn’t helped me, nor having a drawing utilities… I think I do definitely need some help to get started so I can be at a level where I can just improve myself afterwards.
- Cartooning I course at George Brown, in that regards may be the key. Most likely I will take this if Michelle takes her baking class on Monday. May be, otherwise.
In the end, I have to practice and exercise drawing utilizing the books I collected over the years: atlas, how-to books…etc.
Language
I didn’t do much in thie category last year. I wanted to learn Japanese 3~4 years ago and even tried/failed JLPT-1. I think I told myself I shall learning Chiense and Japanese before I turn 30. I am not 30 yet but I am starting to get real close to that number. Obvious benefit for me was reading manga and anime…and I guess that still holds true.
Recently however, Michelle mentioned Spanish may be more benefitial since all her family more or less speaks it, it’s easier to learn than Cantonese–possibly–and I can even use it here in North America. So I will be looking into that this year.
- either Japanese or Spanish
Game Development
Last year I finally participated in ToJam. It was fun but the end product didn’t seem much. Then in December, I got back into XNA that I first heard about 6~7 months ago. So that more or less sets my guideline.
- must: Learn XNA then Develope Space Pirate game for PC and possibly XBOX.
- may be participate in XNA competitions–though I know I missed the first one this year already
- may be learn Silverlight. I know this is not really in game category but I know potential is there.
Job
I still need to do my certification, which I have put in the backlog for over 1 year now. .NET and possibly database and/or java.
- must: .NET MSCD, two exams hopefully. One in winter and another in fall.
- possibly Java one for Web Developer. Again, in winter right after .NET one.
- may be DBA related certification
… I clearly have way too much planned; most of the goals have been carried down over the years. I can see that there were some aspects that improved slightly but still far away to go. So how will I know when I have made a concrete progress?
- Life: When it’s Summer and I can not see my tummy + Michelle has no life-threatening grudges against me.
- House: I guess when we are ready to sell the house..heh.
- Drawing: WhenI have either created a comic/manga/webcomic and have more than 5 readers who were strangers.
- Language: When I can comfortably communicate with Michelle in either of those languages
- Game Development: Release the Space Pirate game online and hear at least one criticism and one support from total stranger; and may be also participating another online/offline competition..and win!
- Job: After those 2+ certifications; checking out job descriptions of some postings and working towards that should also boost my self-confidence…
I can see myself participating in several competitions already: Anime-con cosplay(probably not competition), ToJam, NaNoWriMo…
In the end, my ultimate goal is to take over the world…so I guess I need to do my baby steps if I ever hope to get there.
