2009 and Beyond

A few things I want to do/get done in 2009. I suppose you can call them resolutions but I never end up getting them done. So here’s my attempt to make 2009 better than 2008.  And 2008 was a great year for me.  Let’s recap.

$3,100+. This is the amount I spent on video games and video game-related items in 2008 alone.  Fuck, that’s a lot of money.  I took a quick glance at my collection and I’m asking myself “what the hell did I buy?” Well, I bought three Nintendo DS Lites, a PSP, a new computer, Rock Band special edition and dozens of other games.
Schwinn. Got myself a nice, authentic Schwinn Cruiser SS bicycle. I never knew biking can be so fun yet so tiring when you haven’t been on one in a long time.
Vegas. Went to Las Vegas…twice. Lost monies both times.
Boardwalk. Finally went to the beach in July.  Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, so fun, memorable moments, would go again.
Photography. After receiving my tax return, I splurged a little and bought myself a Canon XTi, a few books, and a portrait lens. I shot a ton of pictures when I first got it but didn’t shoot in the latter half of the year. I took a little over 2,000 pictures with my DSLR in 2008.
Twenty-Five. Number of games I finished. I had 18 in 2007 and 11 in 2006.  Looks like I’m improving every year.

Here’s what I plan to do/improve in 2009:

Read more books. I read quite a few books last year with my favorites being The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. I’m looking to broaden my reading this year.  I’m currently reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami and Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy. I’m enjoying Kafka very much and will definitely look into more books by Murakami.
Finish 50 games/Get 20,000 Gamerscore. I’m looking to double my number of games beaten this year and also double my Xbox 360’s gamerscore. Fifty has always been my goal and if I take my video games one at a time, I’m sure I’ll reach it.
Take more pictures. There’s been so many “I wish I had my camera” moments last year.
Keep this blog updated. This post is a start.
Run. I want to start running again. I need to be active and working in an office is not helping, although I do get to buy nice things whenever I want.  I’m looking into the Nike+iPod program and can see myself going through with it.  I just need to get an iPod Nano since the iPhone is not compatible with the Nike+ sensor.
Save money. Not sure how much but I better not spend $3,000 on video games. I’m going to limit myself to buying one new game a month.

There you have it.  Happy New Year’s.  Good night.