New year, new hope?

[Vodstok]

I dont know how 2007 was for everyone else, but it was unending hell for me and my family.

I wont get into too many details, but the average job\contract i worked paid between $40 and $52 an hour. sounds pretty good, right? Problem is, they were so few and far between that i made under $30,000 last year, not good when you are the sole source of income for a family.

We sold our house, but at a loss. More than we paid for it, but we put a ton of money into rennovating it and didnt get shit back.

My new computer died 4 times in a single year, irritating only if it werent HOW i am making my money. And although i have a work around, that fucked up this morning and i have to start all over.

I am trying desperately to see 2008 as a better year than 2007, but I only have so many more kicks in the nutsack left before i start giving up hope.


On the plus side, the family is healthy, our dog rocks, and the job search is pciking up again. I am hoping for full time because this freelance/consultant gig isnt panning out.

Does anyone need a website or program, by the way? my rates are listed above, although i might be able to cut a deal.

[newb]

Originally Posted by Vodstok

On the plus side, the family is healthy

As cliche as it sounds.....thats the best thing right there.

Keep on keeping on brother!

[hellfire1]

2007 was a horrible year for most of the people I know and care about, including myself. So many things happened, I couldn't even begin to explain.

So I can only hope that hitting rock bottom last year means we'll all be able to resurface now. Here's hoping.

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by hellfire1

2007 was a horrible year for most of the people I know and care about, including myself. So many things happened, I couldn't even begin to explain.

So I can only hope that hitting rock bottom last year means we'll all be able to resurface now. Here's hoping.

Sounds like Tyler Durden may have been on to something. :)


I am definately wiser this year than i was last. I have some new goals:

A full time job
at least 10 chapters of a novel written
get my short story count into the mid teens
Finish a screenplay
What the hell, get SOMETHING published
Get "300" abs (Bree has been telling me to quit whining about being out of shape and do something about it). With any luck, in the next few months, you will be able to grate cheese on my stomach, or at least it wont lok like cheese.

Oh yeah, and bye cheese :(


BTW, Rod, how did the weight loss go earlier this year, and how did you do it?

[Phalanx]

Yeah, 2007 was a bit rough over here too...pretty much the ONLY good thing was me landing the Sony job...which isn't even highly paid, just "ok", and worth the reference...
Girlfriend fractured her spine and missing the start date of her course, her mother went into hospital twice, dealing with nursing home crap, having to housesit totally out of our area, multiple debts, moving back and forth, ongoing family arguments....bit of a mess really.

However, things are starting to come together...had an excellent NYE gathering, works going well, the girl is freed up from her (more or less) at-home nurse shit eating up her life to get into other things, got me some new lizards, finally seeing my little brother for the first time in 4 months, he's coming to stay for a bit, starting some courses, getting our place (finally) clean and to ourselves...two major debts almost killed, and yeah, feeling pretty optimistic right now.

"quit whining about being out of shape and do something about it"
Funny that...it's very easy to be displeased with yourself, bit more of an effort to put a plan of action into place. I hear if you eat nothing cooked at night (eg, salads only), maybe a little tuna or rare "high in omega" fish...that's a deadset way to lose weight, and if you can make some good salads that you actually like, you can eat a tonne of them without "overeating", of course, within reason, I'm not talking caeser here.
Also, bike riding, and swimming are meant to cut you down plenty.

I'm working on the fitness thing too...might put on some muscle, even though I don't really need to, male ego workin' there, it's all good, but I want more. Weight loss and fitness, thats the primary goal....wanna drop about 20kg in fat, put on around 5-10 in muscle. I should be happy then. Thing about excersize, in the limited amounts I've done, it's actually addictive, and the more you get into it as a routine, the easier it is to keep at it. First month or so will be a bitch. Be prepared.
Good luck.

[Vodstok]

I'm glad im not the only one who is seeing things a little brighter this year. We have an election at the end of the year, and usually I cringe at the thought of an election year, nothing but political ads andfinger pointing. This year though, we seem to have a spate of pretty decent candidates on both sides; sure, some are idiots, but thoseones dont have a snowballs chance in hell of getting elected so let them run.


I am optimistic and that right there is a good sign, as i am a world reknown cynic who is realistic enough to know that his "realism" is cynicism.

I have apparently been quite an asshole to some people who didnt deserve it this past year, so i have been putting som eeffort into being nicer.

[Roderick Usher]

My thoughts are with you. This year will be better for you, I know it.

Originally Posted by Vodstok

BTW, Rod, how did the weight loss go earlier this year, and how did you do it?

I dropped 20 lbs and went from a size 36 waist to 32. I feel great and I'm keeping the weight off. I'll post a few still from the film as soon as the director sends them to me.