2011 plans

I don't have a list of resolutions, but rather I have a few goals for myself this year. They're nothing ground breaking, but just a few things that I'd like to do or want to do and few things that I should do. One of the benefits of my new job role at work is that I'm going to be traveling more -- which can be good and bad -- but I'm going to make the most of it. I want to get out and see more of the places that I wind up in (first up: Orlando!) and also as a bonus, I want to get my Gold status back on American Airlines. I know that's a stupid goal, but the security line at my local airport is RIDICULOUS and with status, you get to bypass it and enter with the First Class travelers. That will save more than an hour with each trip, so that makes it a worthy goal for me.

Also, I'll be exhibiting at more comic conventions this year, the first of which is the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle. I was invited to join this show after the Phoenix Comicon last year (which I also plan to exhibit at again this year) and I'm really looking forward to it! I've never spent any time in Seattle, so this is a great excuse to see the city, sell some crafts, and add another city to the list of Places That I Have Been.

Some of my personal goals are simple (and seemingly stupid from the outside) but necessary. I REALLY need to get a new bed and see an orthopedist about my messed-up back. I'm hoping that both will help significantly to reduce my pain and maybe even help my headaches! I also want to ride my bike more and take advantage of our lovely neighborhood, which means riding my bike to Blockbuster instead of driving there (approx. 1 mile each way). I've also been really inspired by some of my cute friends (like Shannon) who have been putting together cute outfits every day. Lately, I have been so blah about everything that I am always in the same uniform of jeans and t-shirt. A decent outfit can change your whole mood, which is something that I need.

I also need to get a new car. I love my beat up old Honda Civic, honestly, I do. It's been the most reliable car I have ever owned and it's served me loyally for coming up on 10 years. But now it's time for a break and it's getting to the age where it's going to nickel and dime me to death. It's time for it to be the second car and be used gingerly, just for around-town trips and leave the heavy lifting to someone else. My mom's old Accord ran for something like 19 years before it started having major issues - and even then her mechanic bought it from her, because he could fix it up on his own time and make it run well enough for his needs. Hondas are sturdy little cars, but I want to let mine retire into a comfortable routine (no more weekly trips to LA, etc.).

Another small goal that I have is to make money from my crafts. Not huge money, but money enough to have a few bucks kicking around in a savings account for a rainy day. Right now, I price everything really low, so that it will sell -- mostly because before I had just been trying to make back my money on time and materials. But this year, I'd love to kick it up (just a small) notch and have a little profit on top of it. Even just $5 of profit would go a long way for when there's concert tickets that I want or some other relatively small thing that could be had for $50 or so.

Mostly, I just want to enjoy myself more this year. 2010 was difficult for a lot of reasons and I just want to get away from that. To have time (and energy!) to relax and de-stress and spend time with the people that I love doing things that are fun and not always sweating the details. I think I'm in a good place to make that happen and I just want to keep the momentum going. Onward, 2011! Let's do this thing and make it awesome!