2025 End of Year Goal Review

I have to admit, I did not do so well this year.  To be fair, I did become anemic at the beginning of October and I had no energy for anything.  At work, I would take a nap at lunch, then come home, eat and crash.  I eventually had to take a break from writing, my critique groups and my kitchen ministry at church.  But, in all honesty, I was falling behind before then.  Oh, and then I got bit by a dog in December.  But enough excuses, let’s see how I did.

Get published:  Well, I did:  1) Update my screenplay based on my first book.  But I didn’t:  2) Save up for an editor.  3) Get an editor.  4) Make changes based on editor’s notes.  5) Acquire a literary agent.

Write second steampunk novel:  I got up to Chapter five of nineteen. 

Start writing the third steampunk screenplay:  I do have 38 pages written, but I’ve had those for a while.  So, NO, just NO.

Read a book a month:  I just read six.  Half my goal.
     #1  01/27/25  Finished reading, “Exploring the Evidence for Creation”, by Henry Morris III
     #2  02/12/25  Finished reading, “The Privilege of Persecution”, by Dr. Carl A. Moeller and David W. Hegg.
     #3  03/12/25  Finished reading, “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting” by Debra Eckerling.

     #4  05/30/35  Finished reading, “Hollywood be Thy Name” by Ray Comfort

      #5  06/19/25  Finished reading, “The Lost Mind” by Christopher Pike.

      #6  06/30/25  Finished reading, “The Harvy House Cookbook” by George H Foster & Peter C. Weiglin.
               
Read my Bible:  Didn’t make it past three months.  Trying again this year with the Calvary Bible Church reading plan.  https://www.calvarybiblechurch.org/bible

Try six new cookie recipes:  In 2024 I didn’t try a single new cookie.  This year I at least tried two.
     #1  Cake Mix Christmas cookies – Not a winner.
     #2  Santa’s Peanut Butter Squares – Winner.

Get down to 185 pounds:  Okay, this is where I really blew it.  I ended 2023 at 193.4 pounds.  I ended 2024 at 199.6 pounds.  And now I ended 2025 at 206.4 pounds.  I’m going to set my goal at 194 pounds by the end of the year.  That’s a pound a month, plus that .4.  As I said before:  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s hard to lose weight when, A) your hobby is cooking, and B) you’re a foodie.

Make six blood donations: 
     First donation 02/22/25 – Completed 15 gallons.
     Second donation 05/03/25
     Third donation 07/06/25
     Fourth donation 08/30/25  Fifth scheduled for 11/01/25.  Had to cancel because of my anemia, but I did make a fifth donation on 11/29/25.

Have business cards made:  Wanted to do this last year, but didn’t.  It would be nice to have them for in-person conferences, but I probably won’t really need them until I get published.  There are a few steps to this:  1) Take a new head shot.  2) Get a QR code for my website.  3) Design the card.  Nothing yet.

Just a bunch of little things to do:  I listed seven things.  Got two done:  5) Find our candy molds in our storage unit.  DONE 01/19/25.  6) Purge out storage unit to try to move to a storage space half its size and save money.  DONE 02/02/25, Well, ¾ the size, but it still saves us money.

Since my car accident, I now have a new goal:  Find another car.  Done in November.  Bought a Hyundai Sonata from an acquaintance at church.

Next week, my goals for 2026.  A fresh new year, a fresh new start.

Dennis

303rd blog completed.

Second Steampunk novel: 17,747 words.  Chapter Five done.

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Updated with notes from the novelization.

First Steampunk novel:  77,546 words.  Completed until an editor reviews it.

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

Say WHAAAAA…..!!! (I’ve been watching a lot of Ducktails).

Aren’t all cookies made out of cookie dough???  So they all taste like cookie dough, right?