formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Monday, December 29, 2008

On Rambling Aimlessly... Oh, and Goals, Too...

I’m blog-blocked. Again. Damn, but I hate blog-block. I can’t think of a thing to post about. Of course, I should be doing some work and not thinking about blogging anyway. I even cleaned my disgustingly messy desk yesterday so I could sit at it and work, instead of deepening the crater my ass has made in the sofa lately (laptops are grand, aren’t they?). I’ve found that when I work (also known as blogging, emailing, and tramping around the Internet) from the couch, I wind up slouching, down and to the left, until I’m in an incredibly uncomfortable position from which I have difficulty extracting myself. I don’t know why I can’t just sit up straight. Oh, and I put my feet up on the coffee table, usually with my left leg crossed over my right… then I find that my right knee locks and unlocking it is excruciatingly painful. And when I finally unlock it and cross my right leg over my left, my left knee locks. My body hates me. So working from the couch is really not good for me. If I keep it up, I’m going to look like a crippled Quasimodo.

After I cleaned my desk yesterday, I made a list of things I want to accomplish in 2009. Note that they are not resolutions. I hate resolutions. Mostly because I tend to break every single one of them about a week into the new year. I suck. So this year I’ve made a list of goals. Goals are better, I think, because you don’t feel like a complete failure if you take a detour from your path to the goal… the goal is still in sight (or you can leave a trail of breadcrumbs… or dog treats, which I always seem to have in my pockets). But falling off the resolution wagon bites.

So, back to my list. I stopped writing when I got to my 43rd goal. Since I only accomplished, oh, about 3 goals last year (and one of them was to drink a lot of wine... because it's good for the heart, you know), I got to thinking that maybe I was being just a tad overly ambitious. Anyway, one of my goals for this year is to take my work more seriously. I’ll start that on the 1st. Another goal is to improve my financial situation… which could be helped by taking my work more seriously… on the 1st (you know those resolutions at which I suck? One of them is always to procrastinate less... go figure). Another goal is to make my body hate me less… or was that for me to hate my body less? Anyway, I want to look less like a crippled Quasimodo and more like Rebecca Romijn. Oh, wait… we were talking about goals here, right? Not miracles… my bad.

I narrowed my list down to about 15 things… some of them will be easy, like taking Ryan camping over every holiday weekend between Easter and Thanksgiving (and we’re even thinking about maybe taking a camping trip to sunny climes over Christmas next year). Some will be less easy, like training Sundance to walk off-leash nearly 100% of the time. Some will be downright difficult, like losing the baby weight (shut it… like I said before, even if she is 9, she’s still my baby). But I don’t think I listed even one goal that's unattainable… with a little work and focus... which is clearly not my forte. So wish me luck! You know I’ll keep you posted on my progress (or lack thereof). Because rambling aimlessly is the best way to cure blog-block. Obviously.

29 comments:

Jane! said...

Goals are good. I only have one - to make some goals.

Um... you are supposed to have a topic in mind BEFORE you start blogging?? Who knew.

San Diego Momma said...

I am also suffering from lack of blodder (blog fodder)...so I think this goals for 2009 thing is a nice start.

Although I hate goals like I hate resolutions!

Maybe that's why my ass is so cushiony.

zipbagofbones said...

Best of luck to you on your resolutions...er...goals! I need to make a list, too. So far, my goals are "have a less sucky year" and "find a way to count bacon as a vegetable", and while both would improve my quality of life, I have a feeling I should be more specific and realistic. Thanks for the kick in the pants!

Michelle said...

Ok i have to be honest here, your description of you sitting on the sofa slouching down and to the left, left me in tears!! Of joy!!! Anybody that can make me giggle is a friend of mine! So we are now officially friends!! I am going to think of a way to lose the slouch!!! It's one of my 2009 goals!!

As far as goals, oh i have plenty of those!! Mostly running goals, but also to be a better person. I think i can, i think i can!!!

Thank you for your nice comment girlie!!! Your the best!!!

J Cosmo Newbery said...

I always knew you had a good heart - I didn't realise it was the wine though. Will you share your training regime?

Lee said...

I rely on "Pruno - The Wonder Blogger Declogger". Works wonders for me.

Are they what the politicians call "aspirational goals"?

SSP said...

for being blocked, you sure are creative....and hey, give yourself a little more credit for acheiving one of your goals last year - drinking more wine is nothing to scoff at!! I have plenty of blog fodder....but no time to put it into orderly sentences.......BFE TX is lovely this time of year!!

Unknown said...

Good luck!. I try to keep my list to about three things at a time and then make a new one. That way, shifting priorities are covered. You should keep the wine thing on your list though. You don't want to mess that up.

♥ Braja said...

I've never made a resolution in my life. I don't know what to say after that... :)

hebba said...

GOALS! GOALS! GOALS! Now you're speaking my language. i live for goals!

Melanie Gillispie said...

I'm comment blocked.

Ronda's Rants said...

I have made my list as well...and I am checking it twice! I am ptrying to put realistic goals...no more world domination!
Cometo Florida next Christmas...great campground at Fort DeSota!

♥ Braja said...

btw, I think we *were* born from the same mother :)

Shauna said...

Hope you had a Merry Christmas! ♥ Hugs :) Shauna

Red Cup Mom said...

Check out this goal book at Dave Dee... it's a freebie... scroll down to the way bottom and see his worksheet. Deceptively simple. I didn't print it, but I saved the link.

http://www.davedee.com/prosperity.pdf

Setting goals and making your way to them is hard. Don't worry about your blog block!!!!

Sam_I_am said...

do a 101 in a 1001. That's a lot of goals. You already had 43 ;-)

HLiza said...

I'm in tears now after reading your post..you're so funny. Hubby's next to me and he kept looking..what's so funny (you know they always think a funny post must have pictures!)..

Keep us posted on the goals..and how many you've missed along the way..

amuse me said...

Thought I would never change a tire in my life and thought I would never make resolutions -- oh, guess I still won't because I'm going to set goals. Love that.

Femin Susan said...

Hi......
Your blog is really interesting... Keep posting.... Wishing you " A Happy New Year''

Sometimes Sophia said...

I like the rambling aimlessly part... the part that opens a window into the workings of your mind. I blog about dumb stuff because it's funny and humbling to admit how pathetic I am at times. Your goal "to make my body hate me less" really resonated with me. I've never made a list of goals, but am definitely considering it now because of you. Good luck with yours!

Heather said...

Love the goals!! And I LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOVE the description of you on the couch. When I lounge around reading, I always find myself in the most uncomfortable positions, and when I try to get up, I honest-to-God find myself LIMPING. I'm 24 years old for Pete's sake. I should NOT be limping!!!
Anyway, I will be making my goal's list (much better than resolutions, for sure) this week. I'm sure I'll share a few once they're on paper!
Good luck with yours. :)

Zuzana said...

Diane, I wish for more of your "blog blocks", as apparently when you have them, you write the most funniest post ever!
Good luck with your goals in 2009, they seem very realistic to me. I so love your style Diane!
By the way, I have to add that I have so enjoyed seeing your blog following grow; now you have 40 followers! I remember when you at the most got 10 comments.;)
You rule my friend and you are a very talented writer, I am happy the world is taking notice.;)))

Andy - Instafather said...

I agree with Protege- I hope you get more and more followers... partly because of gems like this one:
I want to look less like a crippled Quasimodo and more like Rebecca Romijn.

Jenners said...

As always, your blog blocks turn into very readable and amusing posts!

I like the idea of Goals vs. Resolutions. Not that it matters to me -- I tend to quit them all regardless of what I call them. I'm going to try and post about my 2009 Meager Attempts At Self-Improvement as perhaps public accountability will help me out.

You are awesome!

gwenlyn said...

Goals are good and "bloggers block" must be a computer virus because I've had it too. One of my goals for '09 is to remedy this! Thanks for pushing forward nonetheless, Diane!

Anonymous said...

Good Luck and Happy New Year!

Brittany said...

I am blocked as well. I feel like i should make some sort of resolution list, but yet....I won't. I don't keep them anyways.

Paul Eilers said...

My goal is to make some goals.

And yeah, I'm slouched down on the couch too, with my laptop. Sure beats sitting at my desk, eh?

Connie said...

Thanks for stopping by today. Obviously we both had soooo many choices this New Years and didn't want to offend anyone so said no to everyone and stayed home. Yeah, right. Any who ~ I am a BIG list maker. I live by the list. Can't make it through the day without a list. I am lost without a list. Here's my Jan list.
#1 Drink a glass of red wine a day.
#2 Take the laptop to the kids after school crap so I can keep up with blogging.
#3 Read one hour before bed as often as possible ~ 5 times a week optimal.