freakingID

Email my sister at least once a week.

Done!

One portfolio item added per week.

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One new screencast added per week.

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Morning pushups: 3 sets

• 2009-11-30: 30 x 00 x 00
• 2009-12-01: none
• 2009-12-02: none in the morning. Maybe this evening?

One multi-vitamin daily.

• 2009-11-30: Taken.
• 2009-12-01: Oops. Missed it.
• 2009-12-02: Taken.

One math section (minimum) daily.

• This could be a slow math week, since the Six Month Plan is in flux.

Get to work on time (8:00 a.m.)

• 2009-11-30: 7:41 a.m.
• 2009-12-01: 8:01 a.m.
• 2009-12-02: 7:53 a.m.
• 2009-12-03: Off work.
• 2009-12-04: Off work.

Daily progress on Data Genie

• Nothing yet

Daily progress on novel

• I’m leaving this here, but don’t expect much progress daily.

Trees out the front window are better than a house.

I’ve heard it said that in many parts of the world, when asked “What do you do,” people answer things like:

• I hang out with my friends and family.
• I play games.
• I sing.
• I grow flowers.

Lemony Snicket house.

In America, however, people almost always answer from the perspective of their job, such as:

• I’m a banker.
• I’m a barista.
• I’m going to school to be an accountant.

An attempt at composition doesn't help West.

I think that’s kind of sad, that people define themselves by their jobs. I know I’ve done that all my life, as well. I’ve grown up with the notion that you are largely defined by what your job is. I think a lot of us (at least in America) are that way. That’s why there’s this general feel that a Janitor is somehow a lesser person than a Banker. It’s not true, but that mentality is pervasive, even in our movies and stories.

Vertical composition gives a different feel.

Some people love their jobs, and really are defined by them. There’s nothing wrong with that. It may be the main reason they get up each day, because they’re so excited about it.

East. Big deal.

I’d like to feel that way. I’ve felt that way in the past, but then been let down. I generally have a larger vision and greater expectations than my employers. That’s not their fault—I just want to be doing more, making more of a difference, making things beautiful.

Onward.

Maybe someday, if you ask me what I do, I can answer “I hang out with my family, write songs, play music, grow flowers, and oh, yeah, I also do some work here and there.”

Getting control of what you do for work, for income, is probably the single best move you can make towards stabilizing your happiness.

Our zebra sentinel guards the walk.

I’m in the middle of a negative experience. I reached out for support to those who could help me turn things around, but it’s not going to happen. They were understanding and supportive, but recently they’ve been hit with their own bitter flavor of nasty happenings which almost certainly put my needs on the back burner—or perhaps even under the stove.

Don't go West, young man.

My usual sense of hope and excitement slowly slips away more each day. Actually, I picture a logarithmic curve representing this loss, gradually accelerating, and I’m in the nearly-vertical portion now.

Time to turn this arc upside-down.

When this happens and I see no means of controlling the descent, I often seek something else in my life I can control and make changes there, whether they need it or not. For some people this might mean going to get a haircut, but for me it’s more like ruining perfectly-good relationships or some other drama-inducing behavior.

Our house is pretty cool.

I’m determined to not let that happen this time.

Toward the rising sun.

If I were single with no children, I’d have already released myself from this negativity, and the category of this post, “Walk to Work,” would have a whole new meaning. Financial responsibilities to my family hold me in this cell for now, though.

I also have a responsibility to be a good husband and father, though. Recently, I’ve been an indifferent grouch to my wife and kids, not really teaching the good life by example. So, while I have to keep things rolling in for now, it’s imperative that I put together an exit strategy. Hence, the six month plan.

Do I really have to go?!

The details are irrelevant. It’s a matter of getting my ducks in a row. What matters most is this new sense of hope and excitement…