New Year Resolutions

A few new years resolutions I cooked up the other night at work.  If I've learned anything from Mr A's classes on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), I learned that goals - good goals - should be measurable and achievable, which is why I think all of these are realistic for the coming year of my life.  The only one that's questionable is starting confirmation classes, because sometimes I feel like I'm already way overcommitted and I'm not sure how I would work that around my work schedule.  I'll have to look into that more.  But everything else, I already have a plan! 

last sunset of 2011

Finish the Kona Marathon
This one has been on my mind since June, but I haven't really dedicated myself to training yet.  Now that the race is about 6 months away, it's time to start bucking up and sticking to the plan.  I am going to use Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Guide: Novice 1 - a woman I know who recently ran the Honolulu Marathon recommended this to me.  If I don't start in January, then I absolutely must be in February. 
I also think that running in the early morning would work best with my schedule, so this might help realize another goal I have of becoming a "morning person"!

Take the PRAXIS I
I took the GRE last year thinking I was going to apply for traditional grad school, but my thoughts return to teaching.  Therefore, since the information is fresh in my mind (thanks to Mr A) and since I'm not under any pressure or time constraints, I think it would be wise to take the PRAXIS I and get it out of the way...just in case. 
I will start seriously looking at graduate school options in the fall of 2012.

Finishing writing my book
I've been doing well with this.  I'm about 30,000 words deep right now.  The more I write this story, the more I question whether or not this is really the right story to send to a publisher.  But, the important thing is that I learn the discipline of writing a novel and that I have a solid draft done by the end of the year.  If nothing else, it will provide Granny with some reading material.

Read Pride & Prejudice
Speaking of reading material...
I downloaded this onto my kindle last night.  I'm on chapter 6.  So hilarious.  And a surprisingly easy read.  For some reason I thought this was going to be Dickens or Tolstoy and I was going to be muddling my way through each page.  Not even.  I will never doubt Ruth's recommendations.  I can't believe it's taken me this long to start.

Be a Coffee Master
This is a program through Starbucks which will make me a coffee sommilier of sorts.  I think it's fun, challenging, and it gives me something creative to focus on at work (which, because of the nature of a barista's job, can tend to get monotonous)

Start confirmation classes
I've now come far enough in my spiritual journey that I am ready to recommit myself to the Roman Catholic Lord I love.  I didn't do it in high school because I wanted to wait until I was sure.  Now that I'm over my obligatory crisis of faith, it's time to seal the deal.  But, the classes take two years and (like I said above) I'm not sure how it will work with my already crazy schedule. 
I know...I know...God should be first priority!  The guilt alone will probably force me to make it work!

Call or write my cousin at least once a month
I've been so out of touch with my cousin Amber lately and even though I think about her all the time, I rarely take the time to reach out and connect with her.  In light of recently deleting my Facebook account, I know that I need to go the extra mile for our relationship.