Bring it on 2010

I'm very technical when it comes to the new year. The joy and romance and tradition that many people put on means very little to me. It simply means that it's 2010 now instead of 2009. In that mindset, I rarely set up any kind of resolution system, for I feel that resolutions are like so many rules--made to be broken. However, I did get a wave of inspiration this morning, a romance that I'm pretty sure was the result of sitting and thinking that at any time my wife and I will have a permanent house guest. The idea of living for two has been a mighty powerful force that comes in waves and knocks me around, rolling me on the floor of reality and stealing my breath. So with young Prindle soon to be arriving, I've been thinking of ways to enrich my life in ways that benefit ore than just me.

33 Push-ups daily
50 Sit-ups daily
Write 2500 words per week
Write/revise one poem/song per week
Schedule one photo shoot per month
Memorize at least one hymn per month
Learn a new song per month
Prepare one sermon per month regardless of my obligation to preach it
Read at least one Ellen White book

Other ideas went through my brain, but I wasn't sure how to put them in a way for me to quantify. For example, I want to put more focus into the martial arts, maybe get to the point where I'm picking up a new discipline. I want to be the best dad in the known galaxy. I want to record music and make podcasts. The list is already large enough that people could tell me that it is too much, but I figure that if these are worth doing, then I can and need to make them happen.

Walking the Streets

Yesterday's post was lame city. I as looking at it again and thought, "What kind of weak description is that for the first leg of the trip?" I was a bit low on time, but still. So today, you'll at least get to see what I saw even if they are often tilted slightly to the left.

Anyhow, Washington was really cool. My only regret so far has been that I did not take near enough pictures. We moved around at such a fast pace that I didn't really get to shoot near as many things as I would have liked. Alas. These are some of the things I saw just walking about. The place was packed. We tried to get in to see a couple of what I'm told are awesome places, but lines were around the block, so I settled for just seeing as much on foot as I could.

It was chilly. In the forties, and the wind was blowing like mad. Most students did not bring much for a jacket (surprise). And I don't think I had walked so much in years. A solid 2 1/2 hours on foot, not to mention the rest of the standing around waiting for students and working my way through the Holocaust Museum.

Well, I suppose I should get some work done around here.

Writing for Fun

It's a weird thing, writing for fun. For over two years, I've worked here and there on little writing projects that have ranged from my Substitute Chronicles and short stories to my attempting a full-out novel. I've loved it. It's a great time. However, as I work closely with my stupendous writer friend, I realize a massive difference: I don't know what I'm doing. I don't mean that I don't know how to write, though I could make the case as my writing are dwarfs to his Balrog. I mean, I don't know what I'll do with anything if I ever get it finished. I have no goal or vision for my pieces.

I guess this is an issue with a lot of my hobbies. Whether it's writing, photography, music, or otherwise. Because they are fun, I lack serious motivation for any of them. I've never sincerely thought of making money off of any of my hobbies, and therefore, I stagnate or switch from one thing to the next without much thought to what will happen to my creations. They stay with me, I know that. My first sci-fi novel attempt floats in my brain a couple times a week, but I've not the foggiest on how to work with what I have.

I suppose that the pure pleasure of doing things is enough to continue in them. But it would be nice to feel a bit more driven.

Nothing to Say.

I can't think of much to say today. Maybe I'm just tired. Anyway, take a picture, and I'll talk to you later.

Compensation Photo

Since I've been slipping on the writing front, I wanted to throw up something (hurl) even if it isn't writing oriented as compensation.