i recently signed up for one of the lamest things ever but i have to admit i find it kind of funny. automated blogs are so weird.

but hey, this isn’t about me being lame, it’s about being excited about 2007. so i was looking at my new year’s resolutions from last year, and i did alright in some places, not so great in others.

looking them over though, other than some minor adjustments, this list is so good and so tight i might have to just make some minor tweaks and try to keep them all going instead of making any drastic changes.

so here they are, again, mostly for my own benefit:

–be smart
last year:read at least as many books as last year, do more and better writing, renew my subscription to harpers at some point, keep notes on all the crap i read and the ideas it’s (supposed to be) inspiring. dig deeper.

this year: alright, i actually read a 5-year low in number of books in ’06, but i mostly blame the beast that is don quixote. that’s behind me, so i should be able to crack the 1.5/month (18) mark again this year. that’s my goal. and also to do more reading about the reading i’m doing to get the most juice out of all the great literature i’m wading through. also, i’ve become a total crossword addict, which doesn’t hurt either.

–be social
last year: get outside of my comfortable circle of friends more, but not at the expense of spending time with the people i love. talk more to people i don’t know already. stay in better touch with the ones i’ve known for ages.

this year: i’m kind of over the feeling that i’m obligated to expand my circle forcefully. my circle is pretty large, and it’s awesome, and it expands naturally over time. in terms of being social though, i do want to make sure i don’t start settling in too much just because i’m content staying in with my wonderful girlfriend five nights a week… i do probably have to push myself to keep getting out enough. i’m just about to turn 26, and that’s far from the point where i should become socially isolated.

–be active
last year: keep playing lots of volleyball when it’s nice at the beach. ride my bike to work once a week. stay trim.

this year: the bike thing didn’t work out at all. and i’m probably slightly less trim from a lot of beers at a lot of parties and football games. so if i ditch the bike thing and just work on losing a few pounds with some regular exercise and i’ll be golden. can’t wait for volleyball season to start back up either.

–be adventurous
last year: go to some new restuarants. switch apartments. go on spontaneous outings. use those frequent flier miles to go somewhere i’ve never been. take a road trip in a new direction.

this year: didn’t switch apartments, but that’s a good thing because ours is pretty perfect still. did go several places i’ve never been (buenos aires, santa barbara wine country). did not take a road trip anywhere crazy. so for this year i’m hoping to just replicate my successes… some cool trips with jessica, more explorations of what LA has to offer, and maybe throw in a road trip if i can, we’ll see.

–be better
last year: move up in the ranks at work because i’m doing great and deserve it, not just because another year’s gone by. push myself to contribute more at this place i spend five days a week.

this year: did alright. i’m not promoted yet, but it takes longer the higher up you get and i’m making progress. if i can be proactive and a little more detail-oriented — the two things i’ve always had trouble with, but which i’m really working on — i think it’ll be a good year.

–be romantic:
last year: the girl i like is not just a female buddy that spends the night. more surprises and special moments this year, i say!

this year: i’d say this is the one i really excelled in. the past year with jessica has been the best relationship of my life so far and it continues to surprise me how smoothly it’s going. we never fight and we always have a great time together, and i’m so much happier for it. this year i just want to keep earning this great thing that i have by continuing what’s been working so well for us along the way.

–TOP PRIORITY: DON’T SLOW DOWN.
last year: continue going out a lot. keep having parties. have the most fun possible. make every night count, not just weekends. stay up late. crack lots of jokes. 25 is not even close to time to settle down, so don’t.

this year: well, i definitely went to tons of parties and hosted my share of them as well. maybe i don’t stay up as late, but i do pack it in when i can. i’d say this is going well and i don’t forsee a drastic stall in my social calendar any time soon, so as far as fun goes, i’m all set.

new additions:

–be creative
i’m very interested in the idea of starting some sort of small enterprise on the side of my regular job just to see if i can take a few hours a week and start something original. i don’t have an idea yet, but i do have the feeling that i can create something original and make something out of it, i just have to push myself to actually try. now is totally the time to do it.

–be conscientious
there are a few things i’ve let slip this year that i should get a better handle on. my spending can get a little carried away sometimes. i shouldn’t smoke as much, especially in social situations where it isn’t called for. eating a little better wouldn’t hurt, nor would trying to do something for the community here or there. mostly i just want to keep an eye on myself so everything stays well-balanced.

there, done. if you read this, well, hold me to these things when you see me, or have fun watching me blow it and try again next year.