End of Second Quarter Goal Check

From my original goals at the beginning of the year…

“To know thyself is to be a true Master of the Universe.” – The Enchantress, Netflix’s 2021 “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”.

After setting goals and posting them on my blog for four years, I know that I slacked off in 2024.  I achieved only three and a half out of ten goals.  So, I know myself to be a slacker, but I don’t want to be a slacker.

…

I’m doing okay on about half of these, but like I said, I don’t want to be a slacker.  I think my biggest problem is writing my second novel.  I use to come home and write for two hours a night.  But lately, work has been wearing on me.  What’s worse, the one-hour drive home is getting to me.  I find driving boring as it is, but this is the same drive every single day with nothing new to look at.  Some days I need a nap before I can start writing.  Other nights, I don’t write at all.  I need to find a way around this, get my energy up.

As for losing weight, I’ve done it before.  I have to be more disciplined and not go for second or a little something more to top off dinner.  And I’m saying this while I got French bread dough rising for dinner.  I just know I’m going to go for that second or third slice of hot bread with butter.  It’s not easy losing weight when you’re a foodie.

Anyway…  My goals:

Get published:  My first steampunk novel is as done as I can get it, but there are still a few steps to go.  1) Update the screenplay it’s based on DONE – I write everything as a screenplay first.  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’ve already gone through the screenplay and have decided where the chapter breaks are going to be.  And it looks like there will be 19 chapters.  If I can do a chapter every three weeks, I should be done by the end of the year.  And of course, submit them to my critique groups as I go along.  JUST STARTING ON CHAPTER TWO.

Start writing the third steampunk screenplay:  It is a trilogy.  I’ve never been one for an outline.  But maybe writing out an outline would help me write the screenplay faster.  It’s a method I want to try.  If I can end the year with an outline for the third screenplay, that will be a win.

Read a book a month:  I just about stopped reading because I was devoting all my time to writing.  But as a writer, you should read – especially in your genera.  For two years I read a book a month, then last year I only read eight.  So, I want to get back to 12 books a year.
     #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.
      And I’m nearly done with a sixth book.

Read my Bible:  Every year my church has a through-the-bible program.  By March or April, I start falling behind.  Then I get so far behind that it becomes overwhelming to catch up, and I stop.  I’m going to change my schedule around and see if it helps me this year.  STILL BEHIND.

Try six new cookie recipes:  I wanted to do this last year, but didn’t try a single new cookie.  I want to try new cookies before I make them for Christmas so I know if they’re good.  Let’s try this again.
     #1  Cake Mix Christmas cookies – Not a winner.

Get down to 185 pounds:  I have lost a pound a month before, but last year I really blew it.  I went from 193.4 at the end of 2023 to 199.6 at the end of 2024.  This year, I’ll have to lose 1.2 pounds a month to reach my goal.  I have to be more disciplined and stop going for seconds.  NOT DOING WELL HERE.  TODAY I WAS AT 203.4.  I SEEM TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN FROM 200, BUT NEVER CAN STAY UNDER 200.

Make six blood donations:  Did it last year, will do it again this year.
     First donation 02/22/25 – Completed 15 gallons.
     Second donation 05/03/25

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. 

Just a bunch of little things to do:  There are always a bunch of little things you want to do, but don’t find the time for because they are not big things.  Last year I completed 2 out of 7.  If I get to half of them, I’ll call it a win.  1) Reorganize bookshelf on my left – again.  2) Reorganize bookshelf on my right.  3) Reorganize the three bookshelves in the living room.  4) Reorganize the six draws in my desk.  5) Find our candy molds in our storage unit.  DONE 01/19/25.  6) Purge our 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. 7) finish at least 12 of the exercises in the “Your Goal Guide” book.  8) Buy a new suit, I will need it when my book is published.   

Dennis

275th blog completed.

Second Steampunk novel: 4,500 words.  Chapter One done.

Second Steampunk screenplay:  157 pages.

First Steampunk screenplay:  Updated with notes from the novelization.

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

Third Steampunk screenplay:  38 pages.

“It’s been a while, but last week saw a new experiment in the kitchen:  Hamburger Casserole  https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid022BLpF7cM1Rc156xnbWhEKVmnzhFjR9AHTTBPsZebYAxinALtsMTGtpbViZ9rKoiLl&id=61558813376869

The only thing I would change is to add a little more chili powder, a whole tablespoon instead of 2 teaspoons.  But that might just be the taste of this home.  We like things a little more spicy.  Overall, a satisfying winner.  Dennis has been collecting casserole recipes this year like he collected mac and cheese recipes last year, so I expect more in my near future.”  – Vincent Reinhart

Curse you hot and buttery french bread!

We ended up eating half the loaf.