ACreativeLife

Resolutions - Day 364

Crazy busy day.  I wasn't going to work today, but ended up doing just that, since I had a bunch of work and personal projects that needed attention before the long holiday weekend.  Then off to run a slew of errands this evening, which took much longer than I expected, but I got everthing done.   So now maybe I can relax this weekend with reading, my  blogs, writing, and photography projects (and probably some exercise and a little house cleaning thrown in). 

The past few years I haven't been in the mood to go out to the bars and restaurants on New Year's Eve the way I use to.  Most recently I've been relaxing at home, ringing in the new year in a simpler more spiritual way.  This may in some small measure be a sign of age, as I just don't bounce back as quickly anymore after an evening of eating, drinking and partying.  Recovery that use to take one day, now takes a couple days.  Maybe that's good in at least one respect:  it forces me to stick with my two drink limit during an evening out.  More healthy and no hangover!

So, I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the New Year - especially in regard to moving my new blogs, writing and photography projects forward.  And my two tabby buddies, Bugsy and BJ will be right here with me!  For now, I'm going to finish my newspapers and reading then hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 363

A day just for me!  Since my vacation is winding down, I decided to just relax and do some reading and napping.  Things will start heating up again next week with work, though not nearly as busy as it was before the holidays. The House and Senate won't be back until the end of January, so I should have time to get caught up with the projects that I didn't finish the past few weeks. 

January will also be prime time for work on my two new blogs/websites (for my resolution project and my photography business).  I should be able to finish most of the work on the new sites next month, though the photography site will be on-going, as I update it with both new and older photos.   The past couple of days I've been procrastinating on both projects because I have so much work to do on them - but I'll get back into it tomorrow and Saturday.  For now, I'm going to get off here so I can do more reading, then hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 362

I've said it before and I'll say it again: as much as I love to travel, and spend time with family and friends away from my home, I love to return to my home much more.  I think as I've aged I feel this a little more deeply, but also it's tied to the fact that I have found a home, garden, and a place (city, region) that I love, and I appreciate that with my whole heart and soul.

I had a wonderful vacation this past week, but I was relieved, tonight, to set foot in my house and greet my two kitties, who I'm sure were lost the past week without me.  There's no conceit in those words, it's just a fact.  My two tabbies and I bonded many many years ago.  If I didn't have to go out and earn a living, most days I'd rather be with them than anywhere else.  I miss them as much as they miss me when I travel.  Actually, I think everyone is relieved tonight!  I'll sleep in my own bed with a cat wrapped around my head like a pair of ear muffs, and another one prowling around the house, poking his head in my bedroom over and over again to make sure I'm still home.

So all is good.  I'm home.  Bugsy and BJ are happy.  I'm looking forward to getting back into my routine, finishing projects, starting new projects, and greeting the new year in just four days.  With that I'm going to get off here, read my newspapers and hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 361

New Year's Day is just four days away and I'm excited about the clean slate that the new year will bring.  It's an opportunity to close out old projects, launch new resolutions and take on-going projects and goals to the next level.  This past week I've been determined to end the year in a blaze of glory regarding my resolution to exerise for at least 30 minutes each day.  I wasn't able to exercise for a couple weeks this month due to a cold/sinus infection, but now that I'm better I've been working out on the treadmill for a hour or more each day.  It feels great both mentally and physically to be back at it.

Next year, I plan to make daily exercise one of my main goals again - increasing my daily exercise from 30 minutes to an hour.  I'm looking forward to great variety in my exercise program.  Variety this year helped to stave off boredom and keep me interested.  For the next few months I plan to focus on indoor swimming, biking, weights, Yoga, and some walking outdoors.  In the Spring and summer it will be wonderful to move everything outdoors again:  swmimming, gardening, tennis, biking, walking, gardening, and so on.  It should be great fun.

For now, I'm going to do some reading then hit the sheets so I can get up early - more time on the treadmill tomorrow, then I'll get on a plane and head home (it's been great to have a week to relax with my family and old friends, lots of restaurants, shopping, good food and conversation).  This past week has also afforded an opportunity to do some reading, and it's again time to pull out my latest read, The Historian.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 360

Sunny but cold day in Omaha, a great day to work on my blog, one of my favorite past times.  I started this blog a year ago for a number of reasons and have stuck with it, posting everyday.  It's served a number of purposes:  a tool in my effort to write a book about how to achieve New Year Resolutions (I used my own resolution to exercise for 30 minutes daily as a case study, and I did stick with my exercise program all year); as a way to connect with friends; as a place to show off my photography; and as a place to write more frequently in an organized way.  This blog served all those purposes and much more.

It's been great fun, but most importantly it's helped me to achieve my goals and resolutions, and to move my book project farther along.  I firmly believe there are several key ingredients in achieving goals:  think through what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it on a regular basis; keep a journal (write things down - committing your thoughts to paper helps you to devise a workable plan, and make your goals a reality); show up everday (half the battle is just showing up each day!) and stop procrastinating.  Those are just a few of the things I've learned along the way, and they do work.  This little blog has helped me to do all of those things, and in turn I've either achieved my goals and resolutions, or I'm in a position to move them to the next level in 2006.

Evidence of that are two new blogs that I'm developing.  I've created iresolveto to help me finish my book about how to achieve New Year resolutions; and as a way to connect with people who also want to achieve their goals in 2006.  I also created kimsimpson/photography, so I can post my photographs online in a comprehensive gallery for both work and my own personal creative projects (I'm also hoping it will serve as a catalyst to shoot more in 2006). 

Great fun.  With all of that in mind, I have a lot to do.  So, I'm going to get off here and dedicate some time to these new blogs today, and throughout the week.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 359

Lovely Christmas day!  Christmas 2005 turned out to be a very nice day spent with family opening gifts, dinner, good conversation, and movies - this year The Aviator, Hide & Seek, and Skeleton Key.  I love the holidays and am always happy to seem them arrive, but just as happy to see them go.  Though full of pleasure (especially at seeing others open gifts you've given), it's a very hectic time of the year.  I'm hoping January will be somewhat calmer. 

Amazingly, just six days left in 2005.  How quickly the year has passed.  Time to get busy with my new resolution blog, and resolutions for 2006, but more on that tomorrow.  For now, back to the movies.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 358

Merry Christmas!  Nice day spent with family, relaxing and more of the same tomorrow.  I'm not planning to stay on here long tonight.  Have been reading my book The Historian, and I plan to hit the sheets early tonight, so I can get up early tomorrow and hit the treadmill again for an hour or so.  I'm trying to get back into the swing of things regarding my work out routine.  With that in mind, I'm folding up my tent here.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 357

I decided today to just relax.  I stayed in one place (my mother's couch) and puttered with some of my creative projects.  I've wanted to set up a blog/website specifically for my New Year Resolution project, so I worked on that off and on today.  It was nice to just chill without phones, faxes, television etc.  I did get the blog set up:  iresolveto.typepad.com.  It will be fun to have a one dedicated site for my goals and resolutions and for essays and other tips dedicated to achieving New Year Resolutions.  It's part of my effort to write a how to achieve New Year resolutions. 

Next year, I plan to dedicate this blog to general writing, photography, and other musings & things going on in my life.  Obvioiusly I'm enjoying blogging - next step make my writing less mundane and more interesting.  With that I've done work on my blogs for today.  I'd like to spend some time with the book I picked up a week ago, The Hisorian.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 356

Long day, short post.  Started out as a nice day running around Omaha's Old Market area with my family.  Shopping and coffee shops, it was fun.  Tonight was another story altogether.  My Mother's orange tabby cat, 'Tabby', unexpectedly had a seizure and heart attack and died in my arms on the way to the vet hospital.  Really really sad, he was such a sweet, pretty cat.  I know animals don't last forever, just like their human counter-parts, but it's still hard to lose them when their time comes.  Very sad.  Tabby's death was a real drain.  I'm pooped, so I'm going to hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 355

Finally, vacation has arrived along with time to relax with family and friends.  I'm putting aside my 'To Do Lists' for a few days so I can catch my breath.  It looks like the weather is going to cooperate in the 40's and 50's both in the Fredericksburg area and in the Midwest, which is nice.  I don't have to have snow and a 'White Christmas' to enjoy the holiday season.

I am hoping in the next few days to do some reading, hit a few coffee shops and just generally relax.  I would love to spend some time updating my blog, and working on my photography - that's not work to me, it's fun, and does serve as relaxation.  In any event, I'm pooped - not much sleep last night, so I'm going to hit the sheets early tonight.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 354

Vacation officially starts now!  Hurrah.  Still have a bunch of stuff to do, but it's all downhill.  I'm really looking forward to relaxing, doing some reading, and working on my photography projects. With that in mind, I'm going to get off here and finish up.  I'm looking forward to getting back on track with my work outs, starting early tomorrow morning, and would like to finish some reading tonight.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 353

Crazy shopping day.  I made the mistake of heading to the stores to finish some odds and ends.  Everybody else in Fredericksburg had the same idea, but it worked out ok, since most folks seemed to be in a good mood (and not mean and crabby the way folks sometimes get during the holidays because they're stressed out).  To avoid that stressed out feeling I stopped by my favorite coffee shop, the Hyperion Cafe in the old part of Fredericksburg - it was a nice break, and even did some reading.

So, the race is on.  Seems there are never enough hours around the holidays to get it all done, but it does get done.  I've shifted some of the work projects that I wanted to finish this week to the first week in January - may handle a few late next week.  In any event, it will just reduce my stress level tomorrow (it certainly worked the trick today).  That said, I still have some things I want to finish before I tackle my newspapers.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 352

Where did this month go?  Actually where did this year go?  New Year's day is just 14 days away.  It's been an incredibly busy, productive year - a 'great' year in most respects.  Now we're entering my favorite time of the year, a period in which one can 'wipe the slate clean' - start anew on January 1.  Personally, I've been racing to finish a slew of old projects that have been on the back burner for some time now.  Most projects will be done, once and for all, before the end of the year.  Others will be finished in January, while still others will evolve to new stages.  It really gives me a sense of accomplishment to work my way through this whole process. 

In fact, I've already started brainstorming about my 2006 New Year's Resolutions and goals.  In 2006 I plan to:

• Increase my daily exercise program from 30-to-60 minutes daily (including biking, swimming, Yoga, Tennis, weights, gardenng, and walking).
• Expand my photography business, focusing more on children, sports and pets.
• Create a dedicated photo blog for my business (a blog expands on my main website)
• Flesh out and write my book on New Year's Resolotions, I Resolve To . . . (and maybe put up a blog specifically for the project).
• Continue working on my list of home, yard and garden projects.

These are just a few of the goals that I've been noodling.  With all of this in mind, I really believe that people get hung up and never pursue their New Year's Resolutions because they make too many, get overwhelmed, bored, scared, or worse they never really figure out 'how' to pursue their resolutions in a realistic, step-by-step way.  I've been doing this for so many years, and have refined the process to the point that it doesn't really bother me to juggle a half dozen key goals (plus other smaller projects that come up throughout the year). I've also read dozens of books on the topic, and have worked my way through my own goals in 'trial and error' fashion, keeping the good and tossing the 'less good' (when it comes to errors there is no 'bad', if you learn a good lesson that sticks with you).

I firmly believe the key to achieving New Year Resolutions boils down to 5 Do's and 5 Don'ts.  High on my list of Do's:

1. Dare to Dream:  Open your mind to the possibilities.
2. Decide:  Make a firm decision (resolve) to pursue your goal.
3. Define:  Define specifically what you want to achieve, making your resolution something that can be measureable, with timelines and deadlines.
4. Develop a Plan:  Create a work plan that will enable you to break your goals 'To Do's into manageable daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly chunks.
5. Do It Daily:  Spend 30 minutes each day planning, doing, achieving.

High on my list of Don'ts:

1. Don't give in to fear.
2. Don't get overwhelmed.
3. Don't grow discouraged & weary.
4. Don't give in to endless procrastination.
5. Don't give up.

I've devoted a lot of time this year to thinking about these ideas, and to tracking my goals and resolutions on this blog.  Much of the time it's been pretty mundane, but it does help me to come here and write about my progress (or lack of progress some days).  I firmly believe 99 percent of the battle is just 'showing up' and making an effort.  When you do that it's amazing what you can achive!  So, as 2005 winds down, I'm reviewing what worked, what didn't, and what I achieved.  I want to to apply those lessons learned  to my resolutions in 2006.  More on that in a future post.  For now, it's getting late and I still have newspapers to read before I hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 351

Today was a day for me.  A day to just do 'stuff' around the house, take a couple naps, do some reading.  I've been going a such a breakneck pace for such a long time, I just decided to let the day 'be whatever it was' and it was nice to just work on things at a relaxing pace.  Tomorrow, however, I do have a lot of 'stuff' to do:  work, holiday, home, creative, you name it.  I have a lot of things to finish before I hit the vacation trails.  But, it will all get done (maybe not in the optimistic timeframe that I originally projected, but it will get done, alwasy does).  With that in mind, I'm going to do a little reading, then hit the sheets, so I'll be fresh for tomorrow. Better 'get to it'.  (p.s. I'm back on my work out schedule, post-sinus infection, and feel much better!).

Resolutions - Day 350

TGIF!  I am so glad the weekend is here - and very soon, my vacation!   Short post tonight.  I'm going to be off and on this computer all weekend trying to get work done, so I'm not staying on here late tonight.  I'm still trying to clear the decks of old projects, to make way for new projects in 2006.  I love this time of the year, not only because of the Christmas holidays, but also because the New Year always presents a fresh start.  Just 16 days until New Year's day - looking forward to it!

For now, I'm going to hit my newspapers and my reading,  I started a new book, The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, which has really been interesting so far.  Going to try to read more of that tonight and this weekend.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 349

Just a few more days of crashing, then I'm done for the holidays.  What will be, will be, regarding how much I accomplish in the next week.  Then some time off. I had some lofty goals and I got through the bulk of my 'Things to Do'.   Work, and creative projects aside, the next few weeks I do want to take a look at how I fared with this year's New Year resolutions.  What worked and what didn't.  What I achieved.  What's left to achieve.  What I can do better.  What needs to change, or can stay the same.

All in all it's been a great year.  I did exercise most days for 30 minutes which was my main goal.  Next, in 2006, I'd like to increase to an hour and expand my Yoga, swimming and weight lifting (along with walking, stretching and my bike).  So, have a lot to evaluate, then move on to new 2006 goals - just 17 days from now!  Can't wait . . .

With that in mind, it's getting late.  Would like to do some reading before I hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 348

Amazing, Christmas is just 11 days away and New Year's Day 18 days away.  This year passed so quickly, it's wild how fast time flies.  Now that all my work events are done I'm starting to get in the holiday spirit.  I had to skip most of the holiday parties this year because I was sick, but I'm feeling much better now.  Antibiotics work wonders with sinus infections.  I'd never be sick if I didn't get these darn things, but I guess it goes with allergies (no matter how hard you try to control them with medication and prevention).

I made some time today to work on plans to expand my photograpy business.  I'm going to give myself the first couple of months in 2006 to put everything in order before I start marketing and working on bookings.  I have a ton of stuff to do, but  I'm really starting to get excited.  Sometimes a spark of an idea can really start to 'gel' and turn into something big and successful.  I'm really ready for some new creative challenges.  It's also starting to occur to me that I can maintain my current political clients and build a much larger photography business - without too much problem, timewise.  I haven't filled a couple client slots after projects were finished, so I should be able to handle the added work load without too much problem.  Lot's to do, I'm psyched.

For now, my newspapers are calling.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 347

Huge sigh of relief!!  My last work events of 2005 are now complete and I can ring out the year with a much less frenetic pace.  I still have a ton of work to finish, but it's all downhill from here.  I'll finish as much as I can before I begin my vacation next week, the rest will wait, and will all get done when I return.  And I'm really looking forward to working on my photography and writing projects in coming weeks.  I'll write more about that very soon.  For now, I'm exhausted.  I'd like to read my newspapers and hit the sheets, very soon.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 346

Thank goodness back to work today, and I'm feeling quite a bit better, though not over this cold and sinus infection (unfortunately).  I did get caught up with a lot of work projects heading into tomorrow - which is going to be a crazy day with back to back events and meetings/appointments from 9:30 AM until around 10:00 tomorrow.  Friday is my last day in DC for about 10 days, so I can definitely get through two more busy days up there.  I'm hoping to mow through the rest of my projects before my vacation officially starts next Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to a little quiet time.  Soon, very soon.

With that in mind, just 13 days until Christmas and 20 days until New Year's Eve! I'm confident that I'm going to clear the slate of all the old projects that I want to get out of the way in 2005.  I'm really looking forward to 2006 and moving forward with the next phases of my photography and writing projects.  Should be a lot of fun.  Since there are 98 days until Spring officially arrives, I have plenty of inside time to work on my creative projects this winter. 

For now, the fun has to wait.  I should read my newspapers and hit the sheets soon.  Going to be a long day tomorrow.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 345

Another short, short post, since I spent most of the day sleeping to rid myself of this awful cold/sinus infection.  I really want to have much better (more productive) week this week.  With that in mind, I'm heading back to bed.  Lots to do this week, so it will be early mornings, the more rest I get, the better off I'll be.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 344

Very, very low key day.  I decided to forego time in the darkroom, holiday parties, work, and home projects, so that I could relax (mostly sleep) -- in an effort to get rid of this cold/flu.  Going to be another busy week next week, and the countdown is on to try to finish all these projects before I begin my vacation on the 21st.  Just 22 days until New Year's Day 2006.  The clock is ticking.

I didn't even try to do any exercising today.  I think my exercise program is going to have to wait until next week.  At this stage, I think exercising would just make me feel worse.  So, relaxing was the gameplan for today.  Tomorrow, I am hoping to wrap Christmas gifts, tackel a few home projects, do some reading, and a little bit of work-work.  For now, I'm going to get off here to do a little reading before I hit the sheets.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 343

Seems every year at this time I get a cold or sinus infection.  It's almost like clockwork. I've asked my allergist what I can do to try to prevent these things, and he's said there's really not much you can do besides washing your hands, taking vitamins, eating right, the usual stuff that I already do.  Guess I just have to suffer through.

In the meantime, I'm falling behind on some of my work and creative projects, but I should be able to get everything done in the next couple of weeks.  Just 23 days until New Year's Day.  Needless to say, my New Year's Resolution to work out for 30 minutes each day has taken a beating this week - being sick makes it hard to keep up with work outs.  I'm looking forward to getting back to them next week (hopefully the worst of this cold will be gone by then).  For now, I should read my newspapers and  hit the sheets soon.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 342

Loooong, looong day.  Short, Short post.  Was up at 3:15 a.m. and on the road by 4:45 to beat the traffic into D.C. for a breakfast for one of my clients, which went well.  Actually everything went well today:  lunch with a friend, got most of my work errands and tasks done in D.C., finished my Christmas shopping, hit the National Democratic Club for drinks with friends and a holiday party for another client.  I'm so tired right now I can't see straight.  Next week and the first part of the following week are more of the same, then I can relax for 10 days or so. Thank goodness.  The holiday season is definitely exhausting (and I don't try to attend all the events - can't imagine how tired I'd be, if I attempted to do that;  age showing here).  For now, before I pass out in this chair, my bed is calling.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 341

Another day of cold and flu symptoms. Yuck!  I hate being sick.  I'm hoping this will pass the next couple of days.  I have meetings and events back to back all day tomorrow, starting at 8:00 A.M.  With that in mind, this is going to be short post tonight.  I'm slowly working through my pile of work, but not finishing everything as quickly as I had hoped.  Still optimistic I'm going to clear the decks before 2006!  For now, sheets are calling.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 340

Thankfully, this flu seems to be the 2-3 day variety.  Thera-flu has helped a lot and I'm feeling a little better, so I slogged through some work I had to fnish today.   That's the one big downside of being self-employed.  You have to keep going with work even on on the days you really should be in bed.  But this too shall pass.  I'm going to keep plugging the Thera-flu and putting in sheet time this week so I can get rid of this bug, whatever it is.  In the meantime, my work outs have fallen off the map, but I'm not going to worry about that until next week when I feel better.  For now, I'm going to hit the sheets very soon.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 339

Flu season seems to have arrived, least in my case.  I woke up this morning feeling horrible and by 4 PM packed it in with sore throat and chills.  I'm going to hit the sheets again in a few minutes with the hope that tomorrow I'll feel better - too much work to finish in the next couple of weeks.  For now, bed is callng, forget the newspapers.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 338

The end is here, of a long working weekend.  Today, I enjoyed a Nikon Seminar in DC about digital photography.  It taught me a lot of new things and reminded me how much there is still to learn about this new technology.  I've spent the last 35 years honing my photography skills - my focus has always been on on film photography, at least until the recent convergence of digital photography.  I know I'm not going to learn everything there is to know about 'digital' overnight.  But it's still a humbling, exciting, interesting, passionate experience.  The one message instructors left us with today:  'don't forget about the photography (the images) while you're focused on the technology' (digital, photoshop, etc.).  I agree with that.

So I look upon the coming year(s) as an exciting time...a time to learn, grow and try a lot of new things.  For now, it's late so the growing will have to wait for another day.  My reading is calling.  Better 'get to it'!

Resolutions - Day 337

Working weekend, so not much to write about except work, work, work.  I'm hoping by the time the holidays roll around later this month, work will have slowed down a bit for the holidays.  I was hoping to begin to carve out more time for photography work - looks like I'm just going to have to 'do it', make the time.  A little good news on that front - tommorrow I have a photography seminar on digital imaging in DC, so that will be interesting and fun (barring any snow to make the trek to DC wet and slippery; it's just raining right now).  Early morning, so going to hit the sheets early.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 336

Calmer day than yesterday thank goodness.  I still have a ton of work to do, so looks like I'll be working all day tomorrow.  Typically work slows down at this time of the year.  Not this year.  It will all get done, but I sure am hoping for a break, at some point during the Christmas season. 

The one bright spot today, I went to the store and bought some Christmas Tree lights for my outdoor shrubs.  My house is the one lone house that doesn't have holiday lights, so I thought I'd join my neighbors this year.  I have so many shrubs and Christmas trees around my house and property, I figured it was time to give it a try.  I only bought one string of lights though (for my fronts shrubs), bet I'll have to head back the store for more, once I get going!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day both with work and home projects (hope to finish wrapping my Christmas gifts).  For now, it's time to finish my newspapers.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 335

Ever have one of those days when you just should have stayed in bed?  Today was one of those days for me.  I know.  This too shall pass.  Obviously, not a good day to focus on my goals and resolutions, so I'm going to put that off for a better day.  Still have some work to finish this evening.  Better 'get to it'.

Resolutions - Day 334

Sunshine's back, so I might have an opportunity on Friday afternoon to get out in my yard to mulch and clear the rest of the leaves that have fallen.  As soon as I get them cleared, another bunch falls, but hopefully this will be the last of fall leaf clearing until Spring clean-up. By Friday I'm going to need to get out of this house for a break.  I've been crashing since last weekend on work, creative and holiday projects - and working out here in the evenings.  I need to get out the house, do some yard work and head to the gym.  With that in mind, I'm going to get off here, so I can do a little reading and hit the sheets at a decent hour.  Still lots to finish before the first of the New Year.  Better 'get to it'.