One year of Goals

Today I decided to set some goals for myself over the next year. You already know that my husband Bobby is in Iraq for the next 398 days, but I haven't told you the other big happenings in the next year. My oldest daughter Brittney is joining the Navy also and will be heading off to boot camp soon. College was my first choice, but she is stubborn like her mother and wants to do things on her own terms. My middle daughter Beccie is a Senior and attends the Governor's School for the Performing Arts and doesn't get home from school until 2100 (9:00 pm) every night. My youngest daughter Noelle will be in First Grade this year, but it does not stop there. My sister Maria is also Navy. She is a reservist, but has been activated and given orders to serve in Guantanamo Bay Cuba for 400 days beginning in October. Maria is a single mother of a 4 year old special needs boy, Aiden. The biological paternal figure is not a player in his life, so needless to say, Aiden will be moving in with me in September. I will have a very busy household. I'm hoping that time will fly by if I stay busy. (This is Aiden and I, New Year's Eve 2008/2009)
So, back to my year's goals.

As embarrassing as it is, I'll put myself out there and write them out. I guess if I write them out, I'm obligating myself to do them.

1. Finish writing the book and submit by years end.

Win, lose or fail, at least I would have tried.

2. I have a list of house hold projects that need to be completed.
Let me see if I can remember them all: Have the electricity fixed, replace the kitchen and laundry room flooring, repaint/decorate kids bathroom, repaint stairwell, touch up paint master bedroom, paint master bathroom and anteroom, replace walnut flooring in family room closet, repaint deck, seal and cover garage floor, repair french door to garage, repaint stairs, re carpet FROG, walls in family room, storage in office and hire a new lawn service. Whew! At least I've got a year to do all that.

3. Here's the embarrassing part: Lose no less than 25 pounds. I'm 5'1", 154 pounds. My max healthy weight is 149, my ideal weight is 105, but my goal weight is 125. Five years ago I got down to 119 and felt great. I can do it! (with Mexican accent).

3.a. Get a personal trainer. On base at military gym or off base at civilian gym is to be determined. Money, time and child care will be the deciding factors on this one. I go in to work at 0530 every morning and the base gym doesn't open until 0600. I generally get off work around 1600 (4:00 civilian time) and must pick the kids up from daycare NLT 1800 (6:00). Not a lot of time with rush hour traffic. I'll research my options. I know the civilian gyms have daycare/play areas for kids, but the cost per month, plus the trainer fees, may not be cost effective for me.

3.b. If all else fails, exlax, Saran wrap and Preparation H spread over the jiggly areas will do. Okay, so that is extreme and unrealistic and not at all healthy; but if I can't laugh at myself, how can I move forward?

4. I want to enroll Aiden in a sport. I'd like to get him into T-ball in the spring, but I think he is too young. He just turned 4. He's the cutest little thing. He is 4 years old, but about the size of a 2 1/2 year old. He's fascinated with trains, planes and tanks. All Boy! I will find something for him to do with other boys.

5. Help Beccie find the right college and do everything to help her gain admission.

6. Keep Noelle in piano and maybe get her into soccer in the spring.

7. Keep my sanity in the middle of all this mess and not be forced to pad my bedroom walls and blend all of my meals into a mushy paste to suck through a straw and not have to remove my arms from the straight jacket.



So there you have it. The list isn't long, but the tasks on it are nothing short of "Oh My God, do I really think I can do half of that?!"



Chin up, chest out (okay, maybe not out, it's already farther out than I'd like at 5'1" 38D), and PMA - positive mental attitude.