We've entered into a new year, and that means it's time to put forth my New Year's Resolutions. But as stated years ago, I shall not be looking to the future, but to the past. And now, my after-the-fact New Year's Resolutions for 2009.
1. Buy a House - Perhaps the most impressive thing I've done in ages, I am the co-owner of a magnificent piece of property. Three stories, a front porch, a back yard, and an endless list of problems to solve. It's one more thing crossed off the "You're an Adult" list.*
2. Acquire a New Dog and a New Cat - Jack and Admiral Goonie-Face of the S.S. Polyphemus joined our clan in 2009, rounding out the trio of pets. Despite some early apprehensions, I feel that both have shown themselves to be irreplaceable additions, fitting in quite well with our odd family. The only downside I can see is that when the revolution comes, they'll outnumber us and easily overtake us with their chants of "2 legs bad, 4 legs good".**
3. Learn to Ride a Motorcycle - A long time coming, but the freedom of pedal-less two wheels is finally mine. A little hard work, two Saturday mornings, and I'm all set to hit the open road.
4. Purchase a Motorcycle - Obviously the next logical step, following number 3. The cute little '82 Kawasaki 440 has enough power to haul me around with Tara on the back, yet is still small enough to make me look like a bear riding a tricycle. That's what we were going for. But seriously, it's a lovely bike and perfect to start with. I'm sure I'll trade up at some point, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for it.
5. Keep the Same Job and Earn a Promotion (With Raise) - Where in the world did I pick up this work ethic??
6. Take the LSATs and Do Well - 168, 96th Percentile. I don't get tired of saying it.
7. Begin to Acquire a Respectable Wardrobe - A few months ago, Tara found an estate sale that she wanted to check out. It was in Beaver county, for judge J. Quint Salmon, who had passed away at the ripe old age of 101. A tall, well-to-do gentleman, he had acquired quite a wardrobe of fine suits, many from Brooks Brothers. In a wonderful demonstration of serendipity, his frame happened to be very similar to mine, and we left the house with 3 Brooks Brothers suits, a generic tuxedo, and a magnificently beautiful Brooks Brothers tuxedo (which I wore last night). Each individual suit was $20. Combine this with Tara's penchant for buying me good looking clothes, from shirts to shoes, to the Christmas presents of monogrammed cuff links and a monogrammed pocket watch, and I have quite a formidable closet of style.
8. Become More Adept at Home and Vehicle Repairs - I always liked a definition of the word "boat" that I once read, which stated "a hole in the water into which you throw money." Get rid of the water and you have a house. Just like "The Money Pit" or "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House", a house is nothing but task after task. But so far we've been able to do all of the repairs, updates, etc., on our own. We're having a professional do the roof, but we've busted walls, put up new walls, replaced a toilet, replaced the thermostat, torn out a closet, and fixed screens, all on our own. And the motorcycle is a similar story! I changed the oil and replaced the battery, with no problems. Next up, replace the handlebars.
9. Acquire a Hobby/Collection - This one came via my sister Brynn whose birthday present to me was a dollar bill signed by Johnny Yong Bosch, aka the Black Power Ranger from the movie. This kicked off a collection that now includes dollar bills signed by Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh's Rob King, Pittsburgh Steelers' Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Pirate's Andrew McCutcheon, and PNC Financial's CEO Jim Rohr.
It's been a good year. Here's to 2010 being even better.
*In high school, and for a period after that, I created a mental list of what would constitute "adulthood". Basically a line in the sand, after which I would be an adult. It was pretty simple, and I think it actually just constituted ownership of a dog and a residence. That means that I now embody the definition of adult that was decided by my younger self. I am an adult. But I don't see it. Everyone else does, but I don't. My sister and her friends came over to our place for New Year's Eve because, as she put it, "you guys are more fun that REAL adults." I wore a tuxedo. I own a tuxedo. Oh, god. I really am an adult. When did this happen? I'm still the same awkward, immature, self-conscious person I was 10 years ago (which, incidentally, was at age 16. I'm not just an adult, but I'm old, too!!). I feel like I know less than I did then, I'm more confused, slightly less awkward, and the only thing I've learned is that nobody feels as old as they are. Those of you out there who are older than me, do you feel like an adult, and if so, when did that acceptance occur? Was it a warm embrace, a realization that you're well-prepared to handle life's ups and downs, or was it a savage wrenching of everything you know and love, a confusing cacophony where black became white, up became down, and you found yourself naked and alone in the cold? Suzie, Jen, Mia--I'm looking at all of you. Post a comment!
**Our only hope is that the revolution will fall apart due to in-fighting over the proposed sub-clause of "two eyes bad, one eye better".
3 comments:
I didn't really feal like an adult until the first time I killed a man... and didn't feel a thing.
one eye is better, unless it keeps trying to escape, then pretty soon it's going to have no eyes.
In order to stalk you more efficiently, I'm gonna need you to update this blog a bit more often.... k, thanks, bye.
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