now every time I pick up the phone I hear soft, sad purring

Thanksgiving weekend. first holiday without. listening to music. living breath to breath.  hope to survive Christmas.

In the car ride home to Bismarck today I put together a list of goals in my head.  Instead of attempting to keep track of time limits, I just sorted them into short and long term.  I am already accomplishing many from the short-term list, the long-term is looking ahead to the begining of next year.

Short-term:

*Update this blog 3 days/week: I actually would like to see 4 posts a week, but at least 3 quality.

*Work out 4 days/week: I've averaged this over the last few weeks, but I need to be a bit more consistant. The other part of this goal is eating right.  I have been eating healthy food--the only real bad choices I've made are skipping meals if I'm preoccupied.

*Complete organization and upkeep of my apartment:  normally I clean once a week but through the holidays I'm not going to be around every weekend and I've already entered a slide from Thanksgiving.  I may be the first person in this building recycling glass and plastic.  Hell, I don't think I've even seen an aluminum bin but I refuse to believe it isn't somewhere. Then again, I get strange looks for bringing my own bag to the grocery store.

*Set up a solid home network: I need to fix my desktop box; put together a file server; and get it all connected to my turntables and television so I can spin and run milkdrop (visualization package) to the beat.

Long-term goals:

*Sell enough business to get recognized at my company's 2009 Christmas party.  This is the toughest item on the list but can be accomplished through serious dedication and hard work.  Due to the current economy many places that may previously have been locked down are more apt to discuss their water treatment programs.

*Finish at least one piece of art per month. 

*Learn a second language.  I feel like I should work my French to a higher efficiency, but I have more interest in Arabic or Russian.  (I just checked and it looks like all the state college offers for language is Spanish.  Furthermore, looking over other classes there isn't anything above Organic II lab for chemistry, multivariable calculus for math, and Physics II lab for physics.  Oddly enough, they have some interesting classes regarding Nuclear Power Technology but they're all online :wtf:.  I'd be interested but online-nuclear power teaching raises quality of education questions.  Nuclear technology from The Learning Annex, perfect.)

*Get a sewing machine and learn how to tailor/mend clothing.  I brought a few things to a local tailor and the cost was pretty high for simple things I can do easily.

The list seems esoteric, but when your only other option is the bars it's a good way to stay off the bottle.

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