2008!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love new beginnings? New years and new journals are my favorites because I'm so curious to see what will happen in the upcoming year and what events and people will fill the blank pages of my new journal. As luck would have it, this new year I'm also starting a new journal!

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about my new year's resolutions this year; they kind of just fell in to place. Not that they'll be easy per se, but I feel pretty good about my ability to achieve them. If I don't complete them perfectly, that's okay, because sometimes it's okay to shoot for the stars and miss.

My Goals for 2008
1. Learn sign language. Yes, for the reason you think, but not just because of the reason you think. Even if whatever is happening with Anthony doesn't last long, sign language is a good skill to have. My classes start on the 15th and will be once a week for a couple months.
Side note: whenever I'm having a hard time expressing something to Anthony, my first inclination is to try it in French! Seriously!

2. Learn to play the guitar. My dad gives us money for Christmas, we buy what we want, then he wraps them, and we open them at Christmas. This is the second year he did this, and both times I wanted to buy myself something I wouldn't have bought otherwise (last year I bought a Playstation 2 and a dance video game), this year I bought the guitar. My lessons start next Thursday and will be once a week all year (though there will be breaks).

3. Read the complete works of William Shakespeare. My friends and I have read 1 and 3/4 plays (all of Othello and most of As You Like It), so I'm counting those as having been read, but all the others I'm going to either reread (Romeo and Juliet, for example) or read for the first time. My mom gave me a beautiful book with all his writings, so I'm all set to accomplish this goal! The first play I'm reading is Comedy of Errors. It's my first time reading it, so I'm pretty excited.

4. Lose 20 pounds. I need to lose a lot more than this, but I figured this is a good start. I had this goal last year and actually achieved it - I had lost 26 pounds before my cruise in August. Unfortunately, I gained a lot of that back due to lack of consistent exercise, stress, and eating out more than ever in my entire life. This year I'm starting out in a better position that last year (I didn't gain it all back, fortunately), and I feel pretty committed, but not obsessesive. You'll still see me eat pizza and chocolate and bread and... I'm getting hungry, so I'll stop that list!

5. Keep the Sabbath Day holy. This may be bad to admit, but I don't have a testimony of doing this. I understand the reasons I've been told all my life, but they don't really mean a lot to me, so I'm going to gain a testimony of it through doing it and through prayer. *Ahem* Of course, because I'm still me, traveling and other exceptions will still exist. *Ahem* I just won't break the sabbath habitually. *Sheepish grin*

I would also like to work on my posture again this year (it was a 2006 goal), but since I had a hard time quantifying my progress last time, I'm just making it something I'd like to keep in mind, and not an actual "goal".

Plans for 2008
1. Trip to Portland in February. I'm beginning to realize the perks of deciding to stay at this job; a new laptop, getting to drive a cool, huge truck, and a trip to Portland to name just a few. As part of my new job duties, I became a member of the National Hearing Conservation Association and get to go to the annual convention which is being held in Portland this year. One of the reasons I'm going is to meet with my contact at the new account I established; she's based in Portland. I love Portland, so I'm super excited for this all-expenses paid trip!

2. Trip with my mom, Cassie, and her mom in August. We don't have all the details planned (we really need to), but we're leaning towards Chicago. I've never been there, so I'm excited to go somewhere new. Of course, we may end up going somewhere else, but frankly, I'm happy to go pretty much anywhere - especially if I've never been there before.

3. Utah Shakespearean Festival. Since I'm staying put, I'm planning on attending this annual event with my family again this year. I'm especially excited to see Othello, since I've only read it (just a couple months ago) and can't wait to see how it's interpreted by the director and actors.

4. Traveling all over the state. This is another work perk. One of the accounts I set up has locations all over the state, so I'll get to travel a lot this year. Did I mention the tricked out truck I get to drive? It's so huge that I feel like I'm climbing Mt. Everest to get in. Fortunately, we're installing a step (not the correct term, but I'm drawing a blank) so I'll be able to get in more easily. I am a bit nervous about driving such a huge truck - did I mention that I'll also be towing a 35-foot trailer with thousands of dollars worth of equipment???

5. Spending lots of time with the people I love. I am so extremely blessed with such amazing friends, a loving family, and wonderful coworkers. I know this year will bring a lot of interesting, fun, educational, and just dang good times with them (you) all.