Holes In Thoughts

Sunday, December 23, 2007

2007 Recap

I don't read many horoscopes. Actually, I don't read any, except for Free Will Astrology, mostly because it's next to the funnies in the Tucson Weekly. I like it because it's often irreverent, and doesn't 'rate' my days. One day, I'd love to see one of those astrology columns give 8% of the planet - those with a particular sign - a one-star day: "Your life is abysmal right now and you should probably look into buying some Cure records. There is no fix for this. You are screwed."

Anyway, despite all that, my reading was fairly prescient, or at least relevant, this week:

You worked your ass off in 2007. Am I right, my fellow Cancerian? In fact, you threw yourself into your hard labors with so much dutiful fervor that you sometimes lost sight of the fact that they were mostly just preparation for bigger and better assignments. Luckily for you, I'm here to snap you out of your amnesia. Please begin immediately to formulate a vision of how you will make the transition to those bigger and better assignments.

Now, I did work my ass off this year. For about half of it I was averaging 60 hours of work per week, and peaked at points at 90. In the first half I was a teacher, which qualifies for overwork bitching by itself.

Despite the work I put in, I have to say: 2007 kicked ass. 2007 was the best year of my life. Let's view the highlight reel, shall we?

January: Still working as a part-time teacher and part-time designer.
January: Tucson had a snow day, so I didn't have to go to school.
February: Rekindled my interest in new music via blogs.
February: Found out how awesome burlesque shows are.
April: Saw two Phoenix Suns games (versus L.A. and Dallas), and they won both, plus a scrimmage in October.
May: Registered ImpulseMedia.com and registered the name with the State.
Got out of debt.
June: Decided on four names for our kids (Méria Jael and Artemis Ella; Aaron Isaac and Michael David).
June: Went hiking for the first time in almost a decade.
June: Bought my first good camera.
June: Got a $1,925.24 bonus.
June: Had full medical benefits for the first time since being a dependent.
July: Began keeping a proper inventory of our things.
July: Bought my first really nice phone/mp3 player.
August: Celebrated 5th anniversary of my first date with Rachel.
August: Began really coming to terms with being Catholic.
August: Moved into a place that is actually pretty nice.
September: Threw my first great party.
September: Made more freelance design money in 6 months than I'd made in 6 years.
September: Bought my first new car.
October: Had my taxes done by a professional for the first time.
October: Began real work on Leelu.
October: Began finding that I really like non-fiction, after not reading for a long time, and completed my three-month examination of my own political beliefs.
October: Bought my first real gigging-quality music gear.
November: Began working full-time from home in my dream job.
November: Bought my first new computer.
November: Began climbing to get into shape.
December: Published my 200th blog post (104 in this year alone).

Of course, there were some things I had wanted to do, but didn't:

Didn't get into proper shape, really.
Haven't been eating very well.
Developed insomnia.
Didn't finish Ignition.
Didn't finish home inventory.
Didn't get all my auto records into the computer.
Gave up on the truck and gave it to Jordan.

But despite all the cool stuff I finally got to buy, the job, the fact that I'm now more or less middle class - all of that needs to be put into perspective in just the way that horoscope did. I need to keep everything working well - in particular, keep doing a good job at work. Now that I no longer have to worry about how I'll be paying for groceries, I need to start learning how to eat and live well, how to keep my friends, make myself better, etc., etc.

Labels: 2007, memory

posted by Steve @ 12:39 AM 0 comments

Monday, September 19, 2005

True Story no. 4: A Sleaze moment with Steve

From about 1999 to 2002, I worked at a smoothie and sandwich place for a couple years called Caribbean Squeezer's. It was run completely by college students with the exception of the owner-slash-boss, Jeff. As such, shifts changed constantly. I was a very senior staff member there by mid-2001, and was a single, available guy.

At this time, a girl I liked at the time came in towards the end of my shift. She was at the stage where she thought I liked her, but was still doing that whole "I might be interested but I'm not letting on" thing.

Since the schedule was always changing, she asked, "when do you get off?"

"All the time, baby. All the time."

She looked like a deer in headlights, but my co-workers were laughing hysterically. Er, I did not date said girl... But it was totally worth it.

Currently listening :
Elevator
By Hot Hot Heat

Labels: joke, memory, random, sex, stories, true, work

posted by Steve @ 1:43 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

One more try at a blog.

I've started a lot of journals in the past. In some cases it was because I as a bored/moody/lovesick teenager. Later, it was to catalogue my trip(s) to Japan between 2000-2004.

This time, I'm writing as to get my thoughts down. I am blessed with an active mind and cursed with a terrible, lazy memory. I have more ideas than I can keep in my head at once, and both the good and bad vanish very quickly from me. Hence, this blog.

A few rules for myself: nothing I'd find boring to read. I will link when appropriate. I will write well. I will write twice weekly. I will not censor myself despite the fact that my parents/in-laws might read this. I reserve the right to break my own rules.

Currently listening :
Feel Good Inc
By Gorillaz

Labels: blog, memory, nostalgia, rules

posted by Steve @ 4:30 AM 0 comments

About Me

Name: Steve
Home: Tucson, Arizona, United States
About Me: I like to think about things, and I occasionally like to write what I think.
See my complete profile