January, January

Month of resolutions. I try not to make resolutions as much as I make plans. Plans are fluid and accept that life and priorities change with experience and additional information. Examples of this year's goals*:

1. Return to a lifestyle of financial awareness and active saving. Having reviewed our budget, I propose we attempt to save an additional $200/month over what is going directly to the 401K and whatever our investments are earning. Bonuses will continue to go directly to savings, unless otherwise earmarked. From savings, we can talk to the financial planner about broader and more expansive goals. (Yes. M & I have a financial planner. It's called "recognizing your boundaries" and not wanting to shove everything under my mattress.)

2. Trend toward smaller portions and healthier foods. M and I enjoy cooking and eating, but there's no reason we can't go back to having a reasonable amount of leftovers to tide him over through the week while I'm away.

3. Travel. This summer's goal is Scotland & Ireland. I want to go see Scott soon. M needs to get some stamps in his passport, and my new one is going to feel so empty.

4. Make peace with my job. 2010 was extremely frustrating, with the re-org and a new management structure to get used to, and a shifted region, and new responsibilities. My 2009 review was somewhat bitter, as I felt that my shortfalls reflected and resulted from my team structure as much as myself. I've had a year to fix those performance points, and hopefully my 2010 review will look a lot better. Still hoping for Sr. Engineer -- still expecting it not to go through. If I'm going to stick this out until M graduates, I need to find a way to focus on the parts of my job that I love. (Easier said than done when one is staring down two consecutive working weekends.)

5. Continue to make measurable progress on the house. (Oh, sub-lists, you are endless here.)

6. In the same vein of creative a sustainable financial plan, and reining in our unhealthier food choices, we've agreed to look into a cleaning person for a couple times a month. I can keep up with laundry, and M does dishes, but we can't really do the deep cleaning necessary to keep a house clean while I'm working this crazy job. There's also a serious amount of apathy towards housework in both of us.

7. Visit The Outside (tm) more. The quest to get out of the office more renews!

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* Disclaimer: By no means an exhaustive list.