Ah, the beginning of one other 12 months! In a groggy haze on New Years Eve, I promised somebody (or was it myself?) that I’d be good this 12 months. I stated I’d draw up my New Yr’s Resolutions – notably after the roller-coaster 12 months I had final 12 months. Effectively, a promise is a promise. I am unable to very effectively begin the New Yr by breaking the decision that I used to be going to write down my New Yr’s Resolutions, can I? So, right here it’s, damaged down into months being the management freak that I’m.
JAN – Donate outdated PC to a Deserving Relative
In any case, to present is extra rewarding than to obtain (however not fairly as rewarding as to purchase). So I suppose it is au revoir to my X86 sitting within the nook of my examine. Now, who ought to I give it to? Who will respect my very first, very personal PC? My 91 year-old Gran so she will study to kind? Or my 5 year-old niece so she, too, can fall in love with Frogger and Pacman I grew up with as an alternative of enjoying together with her PlayStation 2?
FEB – Begin RDO (Rostered Day Out)
Negotiate with The Boss to work (offline, after all) within the park someday a month. I wish to really feel the breeze in my hair, the inexperienced grass underfoot and the occasional hen droppings on my head. I wish to be happy as I put together my each day standing report. I wish to fake I am unshackled even when the worth I’ve to pay is grass stains on my go well with. Only for as soon as, I wish to reside just like the fortunate b!@#$%^s on these TV adverts.
MARCH – Take a look at Drive a Scorching Spot
I could be savvy. I could be cool. Simply because I haven’t got the most recent 3G video bluetooth- enabled mixed PDA/Cellphone (but) does not make me a techno geek. I’m techno smooth! Within the month of March, I shall borrow The Boss’s Centrino laptop computer and take a look at drive a Scorching Spot. I shall sit on the café downstairs from work, sip espresso, decide at my friand and browse cyberspace to verify my share portfolio efficiency (yeah, as if). This would be the final testomony that I’ve lived – no, that I’m actually residing – as a result of I can work with out being sure to power cables. I can say to the remainder of the world, I’ve a WiFi life-style.
APRIL – Flip Multimedia PC into Karaoke Machine
In April, I shall make actual use of my all-in-one multimedia PC. I will not be content material simply utilizing it to tape reveals from TV, watch DVD with 7.1 channel output and play all my shoot ’em up video games. I’ll go one step additional. I’ll remodel it right into a karaoke machine…in time for Australian Idol II. It used to life be in it. Now, it is singing be in it. I even have proof. The Google 2003 Yr-Finish Zeitgeist confirmed that Australian Idol was the preferred web question in Australia (www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html). See, I’ve proper there with the in-crowd. I contributed to the unbelievable stats. Go, Cosima! You go, lady!
MAY – Clean Up Digital Recordsdata From Community/CD/Floppies
Sure, like Autumn pruning, this housekeeping activity is boring however crucial. Additionally, I am unable to afford to attend till Spring to begin the digital file Spring Clean. On the fee I am archiving, triple backing up and ghosting my recordsdata, I am going to accumulate one other submitting cupboard stuffed with CDs between Autumn and Spring…on high of the three cupboard fulls I have already got. Perhaps I am going to get a 200 GB exterior onerous disk…
JUNE – Cease Finish of Monetary Yr Insanity
Oh, how I would like to hate June…however all these end-of-financial 12 months bargains! “Purchase one thing now for a ultimate likelihood to assert tax deductions this 12 months!” I can already see the commercial headlines. This June, I cannot succumb to temptation and purchase/improve a cell phone, PDA, laptop computer or digital camcorder. Should inform self: “opposite to self-imposed perception, I cannot spontaneously combust from a light dose of STAS (Wise Know-how Adoption Syndrome)”. I’ll sponsor a World Imaginative and prescient youngster as an alternative. At $35 a month or $420 a 12 months, it is cheaper than a brand new PDA, laptop computer or camcorder. And tax-deductible too!
JULY – Increase My Horizons…Open air
There isn’t any cause to huddle myself in the home simply because it is chilly. I need to cease enjoying these video video games. In any case, it is hardly wholesome to fake I’m any of the next: James Bond, Lara Croft, Tony Hawke or Harry Potter. Go open air and benefit from the recent, chilly air. I’ll journey a motorbike, bushwalk or hike. I’ll strive bungy leaping, sky-diving, parasailing, abseiling…Yeah, proper! Who am I kidding?
AUG – Take Time Out to…Organise Picture Album
One thing tells me the acute sports activities problem from July won’t take. So this month, in my winter of house-bound discontent, I shall take to organising my picture album. I nonetheless have pictures from my 1998 journey to Europe in three completely different shoeboxes (unsorted). I suppose that is hardly stunning since I nonetheless have the 1999 Paris (my favorite) calendar hanging within the kitchen. So this month, I shall organise and scan all my pictures from the final century…and take down the Paris calendar (sob, sob).
SEPT – Set up PC Security…Correctly
Set up the most recent virus-protection, firewall, surge safety, backup software program and vigilantly verify for updates. I do know I have been fortunate up to now…goodness is aware of I’ve dedicated too many “set up and ignore” sins. Higher not push my luck. In any case, I would not need my 23 episodes of 24 to be worn out in a single foul swoop earlier than I’ve had the time to bask in my round the clock Kiefer-Sutherland-thon 강남 셔츠룸!
OCT – Subscribe to One thing Helpful
I’ll cease compulsively subscribing to websites providing the most recent bargains. As we head into the final quarter, I want extra motivational websites that give me suggestions, recommendation and quotes on the right way to really feel higher, work higher and be higher. I want inspiration delivered straight to my inbox (since know-how nonetheless cannot ship it on to my head). Inspirational messages like this Walt Disney quote: “For those who can dream it, you are able to do it.” Hmm, fast-track promotion, right here I come!
NOV – Get Rid of Techno Junkie Dependancy
Because the 12 months begins to attract to an in depth, I need to curb my habit to all of the techno gadgetry. Final 12 months, I failed miserably and ended up with three cell MP3 gamers: a regular 128MB MP3 participant, an improved mannequin with voice recording (a characteristic I’ve not but had the chance to make use of) and a 1.5GB cell juke box (simply because I want one thing to carry extra songs to tackle a deliberate 10 hour journey up the coast…which I nonetheless have not booked). This 12 months, I need to do higher. I heard there isn’t any higher option to remedy an habit than taking on a…interest. Now, is there something non-tech I would like from eBAY?
DEC – Finish of Yr Appraisal
As with every good New Yr’s decision, we should monitor our progress and evaluate actuals to our plans. Month by month, I wish to know whether or not I’ve saved to my phrase. For instance, by 31 Dec 2004, I do not wish to see that X86 nonetheless sitting within the nook of my examine. Wait, I appear to recall saying one thing about eliminating that X86 final 12 months, or was it the 12 months earlier than that, or was it 1994? No matter. There’s at all times 2005.
I hope you have had an opportunity to attract up your New Yr’s resolutions. All joke apart, a clever lady as soon as instructed me: “A aim is a dream with a deadline!” So, what are you ready for? Get out your PDA, hearth up Phrase, plug within the camcorder and set these objectives. Most of all, benefit from the 2004 roller-coaster journey!