Here goes another round...
So, okay, wanted to do this sooner, but the Internet Wars at home and a few other things have made getting this done a lot more difficult. Meh. But, I'm here now.
So, yeah. New Year and stuff. Let's see how I did over last year with my wanna-be goal-type stuffs...
1) "Financial self-sufficiency." Yeah. No. Mind you, starting off 2010 I'm in a much better financial position than I was starting off 2009--I work full-time and am making more than I was last year. I have narrowed the roadblock to financial independence to one thing: Child care. Conservatively speaking, I bring in about $1200-1300 a month after taxes. All by myself, I could live on that without much worry. A modest living, probably, yes, but definitely doable. Heck, even with just me and Adrian, we would probably be all right. Except that childcare can easily add up to $200 or more a week for a daycare, especially one with flexible hours. That's two-thirds of my paycheck RIGHT THERE. Essentially, to make it on my own AND pay for childcare, I'd need to have at bare-bones-minimum an additional $500-600 every month, and that doesn't leave much wiggle room. Government assistance would be grand, except finding the damned forms is like a needle in a haystack, and calling my case worker is essentially an endless black hole of me leaving messages, so no luck there. And getting a second job isn't really an option because it requires MORE childcare--unless I can come with a work-at-home gambit that doesn't require constant web access because with Dad deciding to take it away for two weeks or more at a time whenever he feels like it means my connectivity is spotty at best. A roommate would probably help, but s/he would have to step into the role of "instant parent," and most people I'd feel comfortable enough to live with probably aren't suited to that. Hrm. More to work toward for this year.
2) "Actually get at least one post in during each month, even if it's something random and silly." Hey, I actually pulled this one off, go me! ^_^ Let's see if I can keep it up.
3) "Acquire at least some basic proficiency of one new language." Success here too! I've acquired a basic mastery of Latin. I don't know if I want to tackle anything new for 2010--maybe just build up my masteries that I already have.
4) "Finish a non-costume project for myself (knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, etc.)." This didn't happen. Sigh. Hell, I wasn't even able to complete a costume project for myself. But, maybe this year I'll get a "me" project done.
5) "Continue to produce at least one art project per month." This one I did do. I was late a few times, but I have something for every month. I'll see if I can keep it up this year too.
6) "Of course, be a good mother to my son--and continue to be a mother of one. And, y'know, a good girlfriend, sister and aunt too." Hmm. Half points here. Entering 2010, I still only have one child, but I did spend eight weeks of 2009 pregnant. Also, I am entering 2010 now as a single woman. Ryan and I decided to call it quits shortly after Christmas. Without going into too many details, he couldn't handle the stress of my family life (which probably won't be changing anytime too soon), and I wasn't getting toward any sort of a permanent commitment from him. It's amicable, and we still want to be a part of each other's lives, but, y'know, time to move on in that department, I suppose.
So, if I must set goals for this year, what shall they be? Continue working on Numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, I'd say. That, and I think I want to see about completing a full translation of the Alethes Historia--I know you all are waiting for it with bated breath. XD
So, that's all for now. Perhaps more year-in-review stuff to come later.
So, yeah. New Year and stuff. Let's see how I did over last year with my wanna-be goal-type stuffs...
1) "Financial self-sufficiency." Yeah. No. Mind you, starting off 2010 I'm in a much better financial position than I was starting off 2009--I work full-time and am making more than I was last year. I have narrowed the roadblock to financial independence to one thing: Child care. Conservatively speaking, I bring in about $1200-1300 a month after taxes. All by myself, I could live on that without much worry. A modest living, probably, yes, but definitely doable. Heck, even with just me and Adrian, we would probably be all right. Except that childcare can easily add up to $200 or more a week for a daycare, especially one with flexible hours. That's two-thirds of my paycheck RIGHT THERE. Essentially, to make it on my own AND pay for childcare, I'd need to have at bare-bones-minimum an additional $500-600 every month, and that doesn't leave much wiggle room. Government assistance would be grand, except finding the damned forms is like a needle in a haystack, and calling my case worker is essentially an endless black hole of me leaving messages, so no luck there. And getting a second job isn't really an option because it requires MORE childcare--unless I can come with a work-at-home gambit that doesn't require constant web access because with Dad deciding to take it away for two weeks or more at a time whenever he feels like it means my connectivity is spotty at best. A roommate would probably help, but s/he would have to step into the role of "instant parent," and most people I'd feel comfortable enough to live with probably aren't suited to that. Hrm. More to work toward for this year.
2) "Actually get at least one post in during each month, even if it's something random and silly." Hey, I actually pulled this one off, go me! ^_^ Let's see if I can keep it up.
3) "Acquire at least some basic proficiency of one new language." Success here too! I've acquired a basic mastery of Latin. I don't know if I want to tackle anything new for 2010--maybe just build up my masteries that I already have.
4) "Finish a non-costume project for myself (knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, etc.)." This didn't happen. Sigh. Hell, I wasn't even able to complete a costume project for myself. But, maybe this year I'll get a "me" project done.
5) "Continue to produce at least one art project per month." This one I did do. I was late a few times, but I have something for every month. I'll see if I can keep it up this year too.
6) "Of course, be a good mother to my son--and continue to be a mother of one. And, y'know, a good girlfriend, sister and aunt too." Hmm. Half points here. Entering 2010, I still only have one child, but I did spend eight weeks of 2009 pregnant. Also, I am entering 2010 now as a single woman. Ryan and I decided to call it quits shortly after Christmas. Without going into too many details, he couldn't handle the stress of my family life (which probably won't be changing anytime too soon), and I wasn't getting toward any sort of a permanent commitment from him. It's amicable, and we still want to be a part of each other's lives, but, y'know, time to move on in that department, I suppose.
So, if I must set goals for this year, what shall they be? Continue working on Numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, I'd say. That, and I think I want to see about completing a full translation of the Alethes Historia--I know you all are waiting for it with bated breath. XD
So, that's all for now. Perhaps more year-in-review stuff to come later.