Welcome to 2013

It’s a new year. 2013 is all of five days old. And I’m exhausted already. But it’s a new year. A completely arbitrary starting point, of course, but an opportunity to ‘start afresh.’ What do I want to do with this year?

Frankly, I haven’t had any chance to think about what I want to do with this new year because the old year just won’t let go! The end of the fall semester always means playing catch-up with all the things that I put off doing because I was busy teaching. I look at my to-do list and it makes me want to cry. But what can I do?

Well, it’s time to put up or shut up. There are things I want to accomplish this year and there are things I have to accomplish this year. Right now, the have-to-dos out-weigh the want-to-dos, but I’m making a point of continuing to slog forward on the want-to-do list. Luckily, with want-to-dos, I’m willing to work on them at funny hours, because I want to do them.

Have-to-dos get done at work. I have to get the elemental analyzer running properly (that’ll be Monday’s task). I have to catalog some fossils (to do on Wednesday). I need to grind up some teeth and fish scales (not sure when I’ll do that, but I will). Oh, there’s data to normalize. I can do that remotely from home. That might wait until someone prompts me. Class preparation: Sadly, that will likely wait until classes start. I just don’t have time to think about it right now. And there’s a couple of papers to review here. That won’t be too bad. Oh, and those every-Tuesday for the next nine weeks talks. Yeah, I need to get on that! I have five of them mostly ready now. I’m in good shape.

Now for the want-to-dos: Finish the rewrite on my novel “Prince of Herongarde.” I can do that, if I can just shake this migraine. Blog every day. Yeah. That’s what you’re reading. Progress as a swordsman (or should it be swordswoman?). Getting there. I’ve had health problems of late, but I’m not going backwards. That’s good. Do some more sewing. I have been offered a couple of challenges. I like challenges. I’ll get ‘er done, but maybe not this month.

Naw, I’ll get to it. I’ll get to it all. I just have to accept that January will be the month of the have-to-dos and postpone many of the want-to-dos for later in the year. I have to remind myself not to get frustrated and surround myself with people who will encourage me when I get down on myself. I think I’m ready. Are you?