Sunday Review

I just noticed it's after the end of June, which of course marks the half way point in 2009. Although they were intentionally NOT resolutions, I thought it fitting to look at what i'm doing by comparison to my "what i'll do" post from the start of the year, particularly as i'm in the directionless part of my life cycle right now.

- I said i'd eat better. At times I have and at times I haven't. Day to day I feel I eat well.

- I said i'd exercise. I am. The weights aren't getting touched but the cross trainer is more of what I need in any case.

- I said i'd play the piano. I haven't played it enough. I need inspiration to get back to it and learn some pieces other than those I learnt 10 years ago. Nonetheless, I bought the piano which was certainly a big step.

- I said i'd improve my guitar skill level. In general I think I am, although I still get frustrated on a day when I simply can't seem to play. It's like a jab telling me it'd be risky to attempt this on stage, which is something I like to do.

- I said i'd get a proper living room sound setup. This isn't that important to me right now, so i'm not doing it yet.

- I said i'd figure out my next career step. More confused than ever.

- I said i'd make more effort to understand important but far away happenings. Not much change here but I am trying to read more of the news, objectively as possible.

- I said i'd cook more varied meals. I've cooked better versions of the same sort of meals so far but I'm moving in the right direction. I have the kit I need now.

- I said i'd isolate myself less at work at lunch time. I haven't changed this and i'm still not sure I want to. I'll continue to think about this.

- I said i'd move into a terraced house giving me more space. Technically I did that although not in the way I meant. I semi regret not sticking to my guns here as my move to a first floor apartment within a terraced house has left me without a garden and downstairs neighbours. I miss having an outside of my own and I can't help be concious that every step I take is audible downstairs. Thankfully I don't seem to be annoying them yet and they're very friendly towards me. I certainly now have all the space I need and am making good use of it.

- I said i'd try harder to meet people. I can't say that i've done this, unfortunately.

- I said i'd try harder not to have "that argumentative tone" in friendly conversation. I think i've made progress here but I found myself doing it to quite an extent a few weeks ago. It's definitely a defensive defence mechanism. Will keep trying.

- I said i'd get into the local music scene. Good fortune meant I had friends gigs to attend regardless so I got to see some good bands. The scene in Leicester is very weak now though. I don't feel much urge to go out seeking new live music now. I think I may be going through a late 20s shift in interest.

- I said i'd visit more of the UK. Most of what i've done towards this has been within the last month, but I visited more of the Devon and Cornish coastline - Westward Ho! and Newquay. Planning to return to Newquay for a camp and bodyboard in August. Want to explore further north and the Welsh coast before too long. Running out of summer and running out of leave from work. Rediscovering camping has certainly been a positive too.

- I said i'd educate myself more on libertarianism but I didn't. First I came to understand that the term isn't specific enough. What I meant was the anarcho-capitalism, free marketeering etc. I never fully reconciled a belief in it and i'm less convinced that it's the only answer. I listen to Free Talk Live much less because as I may have mentioned before, I was finding listening to 6 hours a week of it was getting me down. I've recently started listening on a more occasional basis, certainly still agree with a lot of what is said, but I've come to see that touting these ideas whilst living firmly within the norm makes for a poor argument. Not the place to go into detail here though.

- I said i'd throw out every VHS cassette. I've done very well here although not quite there. I managed to give away all of my pre-recorded tapes to one person who seemed very pleased to be getting them. If they were for resale at a car boot sale I couldn't care less - very happy not to have binned them. What I did bin is about 2/3 of my recorded tapes. Felt great to throw away the tens of tapes holding stuff that I now have on DVD such as American Gothic and Red Dwarf. The remainder are things I don't have on DVD and don't really want on DVD, but maybe want to watch one more time before binning. I did however bin all the Friends tapes. Realistically I know that i'm never going to marathon through Friends at this point. Catching it occasionally on E4 and T4 on C4 is OK with me.

- I said i'd weigh less than eleven and a half stone. This morning I weighed 11, 13. Weight fluctuates with food and drink more than most people seem to realise, and by tonight i'll probably be 12, 4. In general the number is trending downwards and some muscle conversion is also definitely occurring. I'll be interested to see if I hit 11, 7 any time this year though.

- I said i'd drink less. Rather unintentionally, I have done. Not getting wasted much any more, which was more the point here. I will however almost certainly get wasted at a reunion style event next weekend. Swings and roundabouts people.

- I said i'd clean up more. I just can't stand doing it. I try to tidy more, but actual cleaning only really happens when it absolutely needs to.

- I said i'd find the best view in Leicestershire. I'm fairly sure it's Bradgate park looking down from the peak. It's dull compared to almost any view on the Cornish coast. I'm about done with Leicester, but I can't really move to Cornwall. Also, that's *too* remote. More on that i'm sure.

- I said i'd stop using stand by (on my TV) and I did until I moved, after which I forgot. It wouldn't hurt me to start doing that again now so i'll try.

- I said I wouldn't cave in to climate change propaganda beyond career supporting lip service. I am now involved in an environmental challenge. However that is career supporting, and i'm largely able to retain my genuine feelings on this publicly.

- I said i'd walk more and further. Absolutely am doing and will continue to.

- I said i'd code something outside of work. I haven't yet but i'm thinking about it again right now. Just don't know what to work on. Coding is a solution to a problem, not a starting point. Need to focus on *why* to code something first.

- I said i'd keep plants alive. None have died yet, to my credit, but I should still be watering them more and feeding them a bit.

- I said i'd visit Japan... Then I realised that the economy was in the shitter and visiting anywhere was prohibitively expensive at the moment, let alone somewhere that far away. Postponed.

- I said, finally, that i'd learn every country on the map. I didn't do that and I don't think it's very likely that I will, but I am trying to look at maps more.

Fair amount of tasks accomplished on that list. Not too shabby.