ho ho ho for the new year

Music: You Are Free by Mates of State

This New Year's Eve, I slipped while cleaning the bathroom, fell down and injured my hip, and sent my mom into a panicked frenzy. Not really the best way to end the year, but at least I can't say I didn't end it with a bang.

Good riddance 2010. I thank God that you're finally over.

And now, hello to you, 2011. I hope you'll be more bearable.

***

Other people make New Year's Resolutions; I write a To-Do List. That way, I won't feel half as bad when I fail to accomplish everything. It's stupid, I know, but that's how my brain works. It thinks it can fool itself with technicalities. Pfft.

Here's my To-Do List for 2011.

1. Finish at least two books per month. I've noticed a trend with my bibliophile self. I usually finish around five to seven books between January to March, and then one to two books from April until the MIBF on September. Then I will speed up on my reading again, and will finish around three titles by October's end. By the time November arrives, I'll be struggling with the last book I'll be able to pay attention to until the year ends. I am going to try and put an end to that annoying habit this year.

2. To help me do #1, I promise NOT to buy any book the whole year, except during the MIBF (because it's tradition). That way, I can pay attention to the books collecting dust in my book shelves, titles in my to-read pile that I always put aside when a new title attracts my interest.

3. Finish the novel I'm writing. Writer's block or plain, simple laziness, it has to end. I WILL finish this novel before 2011 ends, even if it kills me. Hopefully, it doesn't.

4. Finish the rest of my 26-Things-I've-Never-Done-Before. I've already done three (which includes wearing a ridiculous short dress and matching high-cut boots) and it is my goal to finish the remaining 23 before my 27th birthday. Because, well, I seriously need to get a life. This will probably include zip-lining and riding a roller coaster, which will either give me a heart attack, or mentally scar me for life.

5. Start a business with my sister. This is currently three years in the making. I feel Jeya is just waiting for the right opportunity to whack me in the head because I keep procrastinating about this. I better sit down with her and talk this over, before she finds a wooden bat to hit me with.

6. Share the gospel. I've been a sorry excuse of a Christian, and I need to change that. Yosh. Lord, please help me.

7. Fall in love. This is different from getting a boyfriend, though that will be a bonus, of course. I think I'm ready to start taking chances again. That, and Gia (and everyone in my family) won't stop bugging me about getting one so that she can go next. The logic she gave as to why I need to be the first one to get a boyfriend amongst us three still befuddles me. And no, my dear stalker, I still will not even consider going out with you. Leave me alone!

8. Be nicer. In general, I mean. Which means less sarcasm, more smiles, and less killing intent and murderous thoughts to those jackasses who...uh...cough. Not that I have high hopes on this one, but might as well list it down. Who knows? It's the start of a new decade!

Edit:

9. Renew my driver's license. I know. This should be in my to-do list for the month, not the year. But unless I write it down here, I'll never get around to actually doing it. And Happy Car (yes sister, you can continue calling him Diego, but I'm calling him Happy Car) is waiting to be driven by yours truly. And I can't do that with my license expired like that. I don't want to go to jail (or bribe some corrupt traffic aid enforcer).

10. Write a full-length play. What kind of thespian would I be if I don't write something longer than ten pages for a script? Enough with the one-act plays and drama sketches. I'm writing a full-length play this year and force my actors to do it!