And May Ends

I just realized something. I'm getting old. Fast. I'm twenty-six already. It feels like it's just been yesterday since I've started this blog. But nope, 5 months have past. FIVE MONTHS.

And lately, I've been getting lazier and lazier in updating this blog. Why? Hate to say it, but I've just been one lazy kid.

That's bad. It's bad because this is the very first goal I had for 2010. If I can't maintain this blog and achieve my first resolution, how can I expect myself to follow through with the rest of my resolutions?

So from now on, no more laziness! I WILL update this blog weekly. I WILL achieve my goals monthly. I will finish.

How'd I do for May?

Learn Ilokano ( 8 new phrases learned)

• Didn't learn anything new, but here's a review of all that I've learned:
  1) mai mai sa - "by yourself"
  2) away - "farm"
  3) sing sing put - "good/nice/kind" (person)
  4) awan un - "nothing"
  5) awan pai - "(person) not here"
  6) gur ka - "wait"
  7) ba am la tan - "never mind"
  8) basit la ing ti amok nga ilokano - "I know a little Ilokano"

Improve Tagalog by speaking a different sentence a day

• I'm improving everyday. Even my accent's becoming thicker (when I try). Gusto ko yan. Yaaan. Hindi yan. Yaaan.

Learn to cook a new meal each month ( 4 / 12 )

• Last week I posted something delicious. I'm very proud of cooking that. So what's in store for June? I have no idea! Suggestions are welcomed.

Ballroom dancing

• Finished up Rumba. The last steps we learned was called "Cradle Circle", which is definitely not a beginner's move. In June, I'll be taking Waltz. I'll check out intermediate Rumba and see if my feet can handle it.

Befriend someone new

• Not new, but I did re-connect with some of my old high-school friends. It's been at least 8 years since I've seen either of them. They were visiting OC from Canada and we had a blast!

Consume an average of 1800 Calories per day (284,365 (2,057) / 657,000 calories total for the year)

• Okay, so I've been doing very poorly for this goal. I think for May, I've consumed an average of 2,000-ish Calories per day. Just this week I've eaten about 2,057 Calories per day because of all the parties and good food. Ack. I really need to control my eating.

Read 5 new books (4 / 5)

• Still on the 5th book My Life with the Saints. Taking my time with it. But to review, here are the 4 books I've read so far:
  1) The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
  2) Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
  3) Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  4) On Earth as it is in Heaven by Warren Wiersbe
  As you can notice, these books are mostly (if not all) Christian books. It's definitely opened my eyes, and as a result, I now have a much stronger faith. All of them are highly recommended.

Maintain budget of $40 per month for game related purchases ($ 170 / $ 480 for the year)

• Only bought Monster Hunter Tri for the Wii in May. Squeezed out a good 200 hours from it. One of the best games I've every played. I may pick up Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii this month, but we'll see.

Make Facebook app

• I've failed with my sub-objective here. I stated earlier in May that I'd at least get the design documentation finished. Unfortunately, my friend and I haven't touched that document for a while. We will get something done there, for sure, this June.

Spend at least 20 minutes a day to walk the dogs

• I've been pretty good with this. My dog Wilbur seems to be getting lazier by the day. As soon as he's done doing his business, he'll look at me and refuse to walk any more. What a lazy dog. Have to drag him (literally!) almost the rest of the walk.

Don't curse for 300 days (accumulated) (109 / 300)

• Pretty proud of myself with this one! 7 of 7 last week. I don't know if I can make the 300 mark any more (there are only, what, 7 months (including June) left?) but I'll try to get as close to 300 as I can.

Make money off investments

• Market's settled down. I'm still at the $1,000 tier. I'll keep an eye out on the market and trade more.

Don't miss Church

• Still haven't missed a single mass. Let's see if I can get perfect attendance for the year.

Find a new job (or prospective job) by the end of the year

• Kind of scary times ahead. For some reason, I don't feel the company I work for is stable. My instinct keeps telling me we're on wobbly grounds, even though the upper people say otherwise. I'm going to start looking for a new job once my Dad get's his (and hopefully that soon!)

Buy own place (house/condo)

• Nothing new here. But a bunch of my friend have bought houses or condos already. Ah how time flies and how quickly we've become real adults.

Learn 5 new piano songs (4/5)

• I've been pretty lazy with this one too. I've been practicing minimally because of Monster Hunter Tri. Anyhow, to review, here're the songs I've finished playing (first four I'm done; other ones I'm learning or want to play):
  1) Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
  2) 100 Years - Five for Fighting
  3) Storm - Lifehouse
  4) Ave Maria - Gounad/Bach
  5) Lamb of God - Twila Paris
  6) Faithfully- Journey
  7) Umbrella - Rianna
  8) Empire State of Mind - Alicia Keys

Learn 5 new guitar songs ( 0 / 5 )

• Haven't started, but I will do this once I'm done learning my fifth from above. Here are the five songs I'd like to learn:
  1) Daughters - John Mayer
  2) Here Without You - 3 Doors Down
  3) Collide - Howie Day
  4) If You're Gone - Matchbox 20
  5) Love, Where is your Fire - Brooke Fraser

Teach Charlie (new dog) new tricks:

• He knows how to:
  1) Sit
  2) Lie Down
  3) Roll Over
  I plan to teach him:
  1) Stay
  2) Spin
  3) Crawl
  4) Beg
  5) Dance
  He WILL learn these, I swear.

Read the Bible

• Ah this is the best part of my resolutions. I've continued to read and learn from the Bible. I am still in Psalms, but occasionally I'll take a peek into the New Testament and read some scripture from there. The Bible is so full of insight. This goal has definitely reinforced and strengthened my faith in the Lord.

Volunteer

• Didn't find places to volunteer last month, but in June we're having another "Spring Fling" event. I've signed up and it's on June 11th. Should be a blast!

Draw

• I haven't uploaded anything worthy as of late. I've been doodling here and there, but I'm still finding it difficult to draw on that tablet due to the lag. I'm trying to tweak some settings so hopefully things'll get better.

Compose

• Pure fail. I need to pick this up again.

And there you have it. May was full of ups and downs, but I feel like I've accomplished plenty. I really want to make a new friend soon; reconnecting with my old ones has given me that hunger for new friends.

Until next week. Ja ne.