Year in Review 2015

Each year I create a list of goals for every area in my life. Throughout the year I work on those goals, track my progress and my challenges. Then, to keep myself honest, I commit to posting a list of some of my top accomplishments and challenges, and some of my smaller ones as well.

I challenge you to create a list of goals, keep track of them during the year, and then celebrate and post your accomplishments at year end. If you do, please let me know. I’d love to look at your list.

Writing Career

Short Stories

Sat Down Inside Her accepted and published in Wicked Tales: The Journal of the New England Horror Writer’s Vol. 3.

Received author copies and extras copies of Wicked Tales.

Received payment for Sat Down Inside Her.

Wicked Tales premiered at AnthoCon.

Finished Halloween’s Child Redux, approximately 5,000 words. Still needs a proofread.

Received an invite to submit again from a top market.

Novels

Wolves of Vengeance

Four-star review on Amazon and Goodreads

David T. Wilbanks reviewed Wolves on his blog. You can read his review here.

Updated Categories on Amazon to test if it affects sales.

“Hand sold” a copy to a new FB friend.

Year of the Demon (Dark Crime Thriller)

Finished 94,500 word 3rd draft.

Completed 4th draft edit.

Proxy Mate (Science Fiction Novella)

Came up with an idea to continue Proxy Mate. I will continue working on it next year.

The Tower (Supernatural Thriller)

Completed Approximately 40,000 words of the first draft.

Networking

Attended Larry Correia’s signing at Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester, MA.

Attended Writer’s Coffeehouse New England at the Andover Book Store in Andover, MA. Reconnected with many writer friends.

Wrote reviews for novels I enjoyed.

Kept up with writer friends through social media.

I had to reclaim my account after a spammer took over my LinkedIn account.

Marketing

Finally set up amazon UK Author Page.

Created Scribe’s Arcanum Web episode #1 on Youtube.

Included in La Dance Diabolique: A Red Hot Boogie Woogie. I’m all dressed up in hot pink! You can’t miss me. Hahaha!

Non-Fiction

Began a super secret non-fiction book, but haven’t gotten back to it yet.

Martial Arts

Attended the New England Martial Arts Conference in Johnston, RI.

Continued practicing Pyung Ahn and Naihanchi forms, kicks, and boxing drills.

Practiced Kali Sinawali.

Worked Filipino boxing drills and Kali double stick drills with Patty 3x per week on average.

Health

Lost 13 pounds since my last physical.

Utilized P90 & P90X to supplement martial arts training.

Returned to Myfitnesspal to count calories.

Had dental Cleanings. No cavities! The dentist told me I do a very good job cleaning my teeth. Gold star!

Had field of Vision Test. No damage to my field of vision. Moved from a generic eye drop to a brand name. Evidently the generic sometimes causes an allergy that will knock out a whole class of glaucoma drugs that can be prescribed.

Weighed-in weekly.

Had to deal with a medical billing issue. It ended up being straightened out after much time and stress, but unfortunately did not end up in my favor.

Weaned off Protonix and replaced with Pepcid AC.

Began Probiotic.

Had my annual physical.

I was put on a low oxalate diet to counteract kidney stone symptoms.

Had a flu shot.

Family

Called my parents 2x per week on average.

Celebrated Patty’s birthday.

Kept up with one of my Lit professors over email.

Lit a candle for my sister.

Called my aunt and keep up with her through email. Also, called her before her surgery.

Visited Mom & Dad for Breakfast.

Celebrated my birthday (Like jack Benny, I celebrated another 39th birthday).

Gave Patty roses for Valentine’s Day.

Donated in my sister’s name 2x this year.

Hid a St. Patrick’s Day card in Patty’s lunch.

Breakfast in Webster for Mother’s Day

Celebrated our 20th wedding Anniversary.

Called my Dad for Father’s Day.

Visited my parents at Foxwoods.

Attended BBQ at the in-laws.

Met with my parents to celebrate their Anniversary and my Dad’s birthday.

Called my Mother to wish her Happy Birthday.

Thanksgiving at In-laws.

Christmas/Hanukah celebration with my parents at Texas Roadhouse.

Christmas at the in-laws.

Cars

Inspected my car and replaced a parking light.

Had to replace a tire and headlight on Patty’s car. Tightened heat shield two times.

Washed undercarriages of our cars after winter snowstorms.

Patty’s car failed inspection because of an exhaust problem.

Found a good deal on an exhaust pipe with labor and had Patty’s car fixed. Had car reinspected and it passed.

House

Cleaned out and organized entertainment center.

Unplugged anything we’re not using to save money.

Fixed scuff on kitchen table with wood makers.

Rearranged living room and reappropriated organizing furniture from other rooms.

Changed HVAC Filter quarterly.

Worked with the Board of Trustees to resolve a neighbor issue. Unable to resolve issue so had to come up with a creative solution. The problem is better but still unresolved.

Adjusted HVAC vents seasonally.

The gas company changed out the meter.

The association had painters work on our townhouse.

Put up paintings in living room and dinning room.

Changed out bedroom curtains

Lubricated upstairs door hinges to stop squeaking.

Opened seized PO box lock with WD40 and tools.

Ordered and received new lock & keys for mailbox from post office.

Purchased and installed a new fill valve for upstairs toilet.

Planning

Purchased, installed, and began using Opus One (Upgrade of Opus Domini) virtual day planner.

Computers and Tech

Patty installed 8 Gigs of RAM into my Macbook Pro. Patty also upgraded the memory in her Mac.

Researched digital audio files and lossless formats. Decided to continue buying CDs for superior music quality and convert to AAC format.

Rediscovered and enabled SRS Wow on my car stereo. Wow!!!

Fun/Travel

Great seats for The Tenderloins/Tru TV Impractical Jokers at the Foxwoods Grand Theater.

Attended the Scituate Art Festival. We made the paper!

Attended the Federal Hill Columbus Day/italian Day Celebration.

Stayed at Mohegan Sun while Patty was in a training. Stayed in a Deluxe King Room. Ate at the Summer Shack, had a Buffett Breakfast. Drank Starbucks Cold Brew. Won a small amount of money.

Traveled to Kittery ME. Stayed at the Coachman Inn. Parused the shops. Had lunch at Weathervane.

Whiskey/whisky tastings: see previous months.