helmetiblog

I looked out a window and noticed the uncharacteristic brightness just moments ago; I'm tempted to book a conference room and just sit there for a bit, soaking it in while it lasts.

You may have noticed that I've endorsed books by Orson Scott Card in the past, but I also find a couple of columns he writes weekly to be fun or interesting reads: World Watch, at the Ornery American, and Uncle Orson Reviews Everything, at his site Hatrack River. Your opinion may vary, but I find reading them to be engaging and generally worth my time. He's got an easy writing style and a genuine, friendly personality.

What has had me so busy recently? I feel like I'm behind in everything and it's comical how long my todo list is.* If this is to be the year of organization it will definitely be a process -- I have to catch up before I can stay caught up. Even trivial tasks like tithing, paying bills and returning phone calls become these complicated (and neglected) chores in my mind. Perhaps I just need a better-enumerated list of achievable tasks. Or perhaps I need an assistant. The for-sure in this is that I need to get there, the sooner the better. Hopefully steps toward catching up will reduce Kevin's crazyometer reading, because it's approaching critical.

* - figurative todo list. It hasn't seemed practical to craft an actual, all-inclusive todo list -- it would likely take for ever.

Everywhere I look this week there's an animal story -- it's pretty uncanny. Here are a few of my favorites.

augmented animals:

     fluorescent green pigs

     robo-roaches

and the natural:

     vengeful mouse

     Cy the kitten

     cow on the lam


Read any good ones lately?

At work they put exit signs connected to the ceiling by 6-foot sections of pipe on ball sockets. It's as if they're intended to be slapped and just swing harmlessly.

Someone actually thought of and proposed that design aspect.

Anticipating human behavior is an art.

A few weeks ago Tembi informed me of her idea to make 2006 the year of organization. I like it, I need it, I'm co-opting it. I've lived for about six months now in a state of mild chaos, with packed boxes, unopened mail and limited means of transport, and they all affect me. Likewise not adhering to a consistent schedule or keeping good track of what I need to do adds to the feeling of unsettledness.

• schedule my time
  
  A day can seem so purposeful if it's one with goals it achieves. That and I crave the structure. And I need to be more productive and responsible. And ...



• keep a calendar
  
  I like to know what I'm doing in the coming days, and this will help alleviate the feeling of forgetting something. I haven't quite found a great method of calendaring yet, though, be it paper or electronic.



• reconcile my checkbook (archaic phrasing anymore, as tithe checks are the only ones I ever have to write)



• filing paperwork
  
  This one's huge; order from chaos. It'll be a couple of days here.



• purchase a car
  
  This one's not organization as much as enablement, but they go hand-in-hand in my desire for normalcy.



• maybe install a dishwasher
  
  I'm getting better at washing my dishes manually, but if the kitchen's getting reconfigured anyway ...



• new shelving and unpack boxes after remodel
  
  Definitely exciting! Bookshelves, media shelves, actually moving in; pinch me.

So another day, another goal. It's doable, as I've had each of these at various times, but all at once? -- 2006 would/*will* be a year well spent.

I want to post a few of my goals for the coming year, it being the turn of the calendar and both naturally and socially appropriate to do so. This will have a couple of effects: I'll have to be clear and hopefully add sufficient flesh to the ideas to make them interesting to read and solid for later accountability. I'll probably also be tempted to censor myself, so we'll have to see how successful I am against that. I'll try, though.

I'll start with reading and learning, as it's a good persistent goal and one I've already begun to implement. Among the things I want to do this year is to read a good variety of authors and types of books. It was hit-and-miss for me in 2005, starting well but almost all fiction (and mainly post-modern) from springtime on. My intent is new ideas, learning and vocabulary for 2006.

In the reading queue:

Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham (in progress)

It's a collection of essays by Paul Graham on various topics. Some are available to read online, including must-reads Why Nerds are Unpopular and How to Make Wealth.

Anointed for Business by Ed Silvoso (in progress)

This is the book through which my small group has been reading. We're starting over in the new year as we're reaching out to new people.

Out of Left Field by Art Thiel

A Mariners book reminding us of better days.

1776 by David McCullough

My first post-college foray into the world of our history. Hopefully I'll be inspired to continue, as there's good stuff to be learned.

Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card

The sixth book of the Ender's Game series. So good so far.

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter

Hopefully a nerdy math book. The reviews look promising.

So there you (or I) have it. Check back with me to see how I'm progressing with my goal. More to come.