Resolutions? Goals? Aspirations?

I've read some blogs where New Year's "resolutions" have been thrown out the window in favor of "goals." And I'm liking it. So, pardon me as I dub your ideas and share a few of the goals I have for this year 2007:

1)Learn how to swim--in the deep end without floaters. It gets a little embarassing hanging out in the shallow end with the toddlers. This is something I should have learned to do when I was a kid. Nobody's self-conscious about their body or hair then. In my younger days, I took a few lessons randomly then finally went to a school where it was an organized activity. It was fun before the older girls would entertain us with stories of people who died in that pool. I was in a vulnerable state of mind and couldn't go back after that. So I dropped out.
**I've already signed up for a swimming class at school. Not sure if I can stick it out. I'll need more than a year to work on this.

2) Successfully complete 2 sems of full-time classes at my school. It's a juggling act but it's got to happen.

3) Spend my summer in a different part of the country and visit at least 2 or 3 new cities on my list.

4) Save X amount by the end of the year. If I'm successful, then I know exactly where to put it.

5) Take the GRE 1 or 2 times, dig up more info on my top ten, and compile grad school requirements. By this time next year, I'd have narrowed the choices down.

P.S. I wrote these down on few weeks ago on old-fashioned pen and paper.

Baby Steps....

Dear T,
You'll probably never read this. I just want to say thank you one more time. Thank you for listening and giving me very practical suggestions (which worked!). I'm glad to know that I have gotten closer to my goal; baby steps that slowly move me forward. It was the one positive spot in an otherwise dreary day. You were the right person to tackle the issue because of your knowledge and approach. I appreciate your non-judgemental attitude. You possess the right skills and you have a heart. I'm sure there are many others out there who feel the same way I do.

:-) GND

Moving

Moving is a bitch.
We've all been through it. First, you start out with a long list of requirements. Then go out on the exciting search for apartments. Depending on the budget, area, and rental market, you may have to adjust some requirements. It's really stressful! Do you pay more for convenience and a quicker commute? Or opt for affordability further out? The nice neighborhoods will always cost more. Is it worth it saving $$ to live in a sketchy area (even if it's temporary)? The idea of living in a high-crime area that's regularly featured in the news is not appealing at all. On the other hand, paying a fortune just because a celeb and some millionares live in the area code isn't practical. The hunt is on....

School has started, and I have a crush on one of my teachers! He's young, Latin, and very eloquent. It's a history/ethnic studies class. I got into class late today and it was so full that some of us were standing in the back. I'm not even registered for it, still on the waiting list. Well, I hope to get in 'cause it seems very interesting.

I went back to my first post of the year dated January 2nd and I'm glad to say that I am fulfilling some of my resolutions. Right now I'm focusing on getting a ticket home for Christmas. Haven't been home in years and I've vowed that I need to go this Christmas. So I've gotta make the sacrifices and hope it works out.

Beginning or End?

Sunday: debated as either the beginning or the end of the week.
Some go to church, like one lady I bumped into on the elevator wearing a suit and cheerfully throwing a "God Bless You!" my way. I don't live in a religious city so it's uncommon to have a random person say 'God' or 'Jesus' in conversation. I'm often surrounded by people into Buddhism. Also haven't been to church in at least a year; a major life change coz I spent years living in very religious communities.
Others are recovering from hangovers.
Some of us shuffle into Starbucks at an unholy hour to get a caffeine fix before work. I don't want to get deep into that. It's interesting to see and hear different reactions when I tell people I'm back in school. Most are encouraging. I hear a number of the older people say they wish they had a chance to go back, but now it's too late. (I disagree about it being too late...) But life's circumstances can lead you down that path. Parents sacrifice resources for their kids. Others ask me why? Everyone has certain ambitions, could be getting a GED or PhD; banking six-figures or, hell, anything; being CEO or even landing a job in a prestigious company; becoming a parent and/or making a great marriage match; owning a beautiful home, getting published, a Pulitzer, a Nobel, etc...There are broad definitions for 'making it.' Does it ever end? Say, you're aiming to be a manager in your department and, boom! you are, won't you start looking at for the next thing up? Or are you complacent? Like most people, I'm dealing with both internal and external pressure to progress forward. And I was in my dream house last weekend for a hang-out: it was spacious, sparkling, new appliances, 2 floors, winding staircase, big kitchen, fab views... I even took a picture in the bathroom (marble, anyone?) I'd fit in perfectly!


P.S. I believe Sunday is the beginning of the week.

I'm like totally excited! I got accepted!

Major pet-peeve:
People who say 'like' or 'totally' about 10 times in one sentence. It's such an airhead expression.

Yesterday, I got great news. I was accepted into a school program in my city for this Fall. I didn't think I would get in this year coz I got a denial letter before, so I had plan B and C in place (one involved moving to Hawaii for a few months). Main reason for denial was a couple of prereqs I hadn't done, so I was taking the classes at the local community college. Another thing is the program has limited spots. As most people abroad can attest, it's difficult to balance studies and work. I'd been away from school for a while so my study skills were rusty, anyway I passed my classes! Yay! Actually got an A in Philosophy (the teacher was generous in giving extra credit). As for Chemistry, I'll just say I'm glad I don't have to repeat the class. It's over.
Now, the process of planning for school begins. I'm rather excited about it coz it's taking me closer towards my future plans and ambitions. I remember those last months at home when everybody would ask why you were leaving home and what you wanted to study. At the time, life seemed simple. Now, I realize how much work and effort must be done for plans to succeed. I have renewed respect and love for my parents. I'm feeling optimistic right now and I'm fulfilling my New Year's Resolutions. I hope #1 will happen this December holiday. I've done part of #2 in changing hours, I'm planning to move from that place at the end of the summer. I know it's time to move on to a new phase.

Another highlight: Brazil winning Croatia 1-0. The Croatians put up a fight and were better than I thought. But in the end, Brazil is it!

Thumbs down: The Armenian scandal and the way State House is mishandling it. It reeks of high-level corruption and is doing considerable damage to us and our country. Every other day, I meet somebody who's taking a trip to Kenya and they ask questions. It's guaranteed that many will cancel their holidays as the travel advisories roll out once again. And that brutal attack on a high school boy in Nairobi and the way his situation was mishandled by the school officials is so sad. Tafadhali, enforce the Sexual Offences Bill right now and put the cruel perpetrators away from society.

New Year, new beginnings

So now the holiday celebrations are dying out...time to sober up and face reality. Usually, I would say to hell with resolutions, but I have to confess that they make sense. It's a chance to have a new beginning--you can distance yourself from the past with time (if you want to). It's about the hopes and dreams we have for our lives. I've finally got a blog of my own! So I can check that off my list. There are a few other things I wanna do this year:

1)Go home to Kenya--I've been away too long. It's the whole thing about time and money--you'll usually have more of one or the other. When going to school, there are summers and holidays off but on a student budget, that ticket may as well cost a million bucks. And then when there's a steady income, there just isn't time to take off coz you've got to put in hours to keep getting those checks. Anyhow, I hate getting that feeling of just floating--like where do I belong? And then you have images of how things were like years ago but I want to see the reality now.

2)Change in work environment and/or hours. Still exploring the options.

3)Get back into school--back to homework, research papers, and spending time around people my age!

4) Gain some weight! oh yeah, you heard that right. I need to eat better and take better care of my body. I went to see a doctor for a check up a month and a half ago and I was shocked when I stood on the scale; I have lost a lot of weight. I have not been this size in years--since high school. I didn't notice at first, people would make comments, then my clothes became loose kind of hanging on me. It's a combination of lifestyle and stress--living the fast life. I know that most people would resolve to do the opposite--and true, that would do some people good. But the bottom line is what's healthy for you? I'm so sick of the obsession to be super skinny--I believe that there are many body types and frames and some people are skinny naturally, others are curvy and big and look fabulous. The fat distribution in your body depends on whether you're male of female, your genes, ...etc

5)Continue to have a sense of fulfillment with my life and goals, keep close to my family and friends and those important to me; nurturing the spiritual side because it matters.