2014: The Year of Possibilites

For the past several years I've been creating resolutions based on the '# year we're in. It was 13 for 2013, 12 for 2012, 11 for 2011...got it? Like many others, despite my resolutions varying in difficulty even the easy ones seemed to be unaccomplished by the end of the year. Many of my goals even crossed years. I get it- sometimes "fleeing Monterey" takes way more time than you'd think just to make sure it's where you're really supposed to be. Shoot. I'm still waiting for Prince Charming...have been since 2010. 

But then sometimes? Well sometimes I'm just slacking across multiple years and it's better to give up. Case in point? I've got t-rex arms. I've got it. I am accepting the fact that I will probably die before I ever complete 5 unassisted pull ups. Or 3. Or a single one.

Needless to say, I'm mixing it up in 2014. I figure this will be another big year for me so why not go crazy and mess with tradition? The mix-up? Rather than making 14 goals for this new year, I'm capping it at 12- one for each month. As in a set goal to have done at the conclusion of each month. A mere 28, 30, or 31 days rather than 365 to get something done. Maybe with a short fuse I can get more done?

Hey. It's a new approach. And yes, it's a new year. So right now, here's how my 2014 is looking to shape up in terms of goals/resolutions:

January: Re-Prioritizing My Time
February: Face to Face (Life's Too Short for Other's Drama)
March: Letting Go
April: Spotlight Katie O.

May: It's Okay to Ask for Help
June: Blog Time
July: For the Love of Food
August: It's Not About Me

September: Getting Crafty
October: Time to Go 'Sploring
November: A Picture a Day
December: Expanding Traditions

Within each month guidelines will be established prior to the first. So...I encourage you to support my goals where you can- hit the gym with me, don't let me skip Bible Study, give me volunteering info, or be a new recipe taster.

Ready or not, 2014 is here and I'm ready...are you?

Job Search 2014

It's sort of tough to avoid the inevitable when visiting with EVERYONE they ask what's next after Italy.

Well, although I still have no idea what path I'll take, I actually spent today in my pjs (it's too cold to leave my bed) applying for jobs. I feel like I'm in the same exact place I was 4 years ago when I finally reached the "must flee Monterey" mark and flooded the government job site with my resume.

Like I did today. 

More jobs are being posted, which is encouraging, but still it's hard to apply for positions when I know how hiring goes...they post because they have to, but already have the person in mind. Not to mention all these jobs sound the same despite being different titles and different agencies. And yet should I end up in the job, it won't be like what they told me it would be...

Mom, Dad, all jobs I applied for were stateside.
Nina, you'd be happy to hear lots of them are near you.

So just to keep things in perspective in between rating my skill set with each application, I've been putting together other options, just in case I decide this government deal can't go on past 8 years of service:

COA #2: Join the circus. Marry a carnie. Eat cotton candy daily. Lots of traveling. Optional pet lemur?

COA #3: Apply to be the next Bacholorette per a former colleague's advice. (May not end up with a ring on my finger or someone I want to be with, but the $ should keep me good for a year or so...right?)

COA #4: Launch Nico's modeling career. Full marketing attack- toys, children's books, feline clothing, sing-a-long with Signore Neeks in addition to his trademark calendar.

COA #5: Open up a coffee shop/bakery. Small place with daily menu of tasty muffins, scones, cookies. Quality coffee served one hot cup at a time.

COA #6: Run off to Kenya. Dig wells. Adopt adorable babies. Get a parasite. And skin cancer.

COA #7: Work for the private terminal at the airport (i.e the rich people's one). Meet a millionaire. Marry him and wait for his money to come my way. (Brought to by the same person as COA 3.)

COA #8: Liquidate all my funds. Travel the world. Wherever I end up when my last dollar, euro, pound, whatever is spent, I've found my new home.

COA #9: Run for Congress. I mean, how difficult can it really be?

COA #10: PhD school. Although my coworkers said I shouldn't apply if that's what I'm calling it...

3...2...1...Buon Anno Nuovo!

Less than 24 hours remain in 2012. More than enough goals remain unchecked from 1 January. Actually, if I'm honest, a few still remain unchecked from 1 January 2011! (Damn pullups.)

Rather than wallow in defeat, I'm going to celebrate my 50% completion of my 12 for '12.

I....wrote my adorable girls (Caroline, Kiery, & Catherine) monthly, visited 3 new countries, completed level 4 of Italian, volunteered over 50 hours, ran a marathon, and learned to cook 3 new Italian dishes.

Not quite as satisfying as a few of my 2011 goals (flee Monterey & get a cat come to mind) but accomplishments none the less. Best part? In no way do these 6 completed goals (or the ones left waiting to be accomplished) even begin to define my year, let alone sum it up.

So, on the eve of another year...the one in which I turn 3-0...here are my goals partially to motivate, but mostly to keep me honest once the next 365 days have past. 

1. Obtain and maintain a weight in (classified) range.
2. Streamline rent payments
3. Running of the bulls
4. Monthly trip (3+ hours away)
5. Finish bedroom decorating by 31 January
6. Be social once a month
7. Blog more
8. Run a sub 2 hour half marathon
9. Learn to drive manual transmission (roll over from 2012)
10. Not ignore Ravi's illuminated dashboard lights
11. Write the CI girls monthly
12. 3 Unassisted pullups (3rd year on the list)
13. *Classified*

Yeah, this has gotten a little more sophisticated from the night Lindsay and I sat at the Brit writing our 10 for '10 goals on Sierra Nevada coasters! Same rules apply though- some of my goals are "classified" but rather than blocking them out I'm counting on the fact that our brains are not wired the same way and you can't decipher the visual I've picked for the goal.

Wishing you a fabulous sparkly 2013!

<3 Katie & Neeks