I’ve been kicking around an idea lately.  13 month resolutions.  You’d start on Dec 1st the previous year, and go until new years the following year.  You’d get a slight buffer in case things go haywire.   No really, I’m not a strong proponent of New Years Resolutions, I think we should feel free to change the way we live (that is not analogous with changing your life, mind you) any time of the year, day, etc.

However, Tuesday is December 1st, and I am thinking of some goals I’d like to set for myself to finish prior to COB (that’s close of business) 2010.  The first year of the second decade of the third millennium of our dumb calendar.

All of my goals will be set on the numbers 5 and 0.  You’ll see what I mean…let’s get this started.

1) Lose 50lbs. This is pretty straight forward.  I am at about 289 right now, and I’d like to get as low as 239.  Nothing else really needs to be said about this one.  Very straight forward.  The biggest problem?  Being 239 might make me look like a heroin-chic glamor model from the 80s.  My body carries a lot of weight pretty well.  Not sure I’ll look good, normal, or healthy down 50lbs, but I’ll make it the goal for now.

2) Run 500 miles. Broken down over the course of 56 weeks, it breaks down to just under 9 miles per week.  Since even right now, out of shape, I am running 3 miles each time I get out.  The problem with this wont be the mileage, it’ll be the consistency and avoiding injury.  I can’t have those weeks where I decide I’m not in the mood to run, or the weather keeps me in bed, etc.  My single mileage run will increase, but the frequency of running will still have to be steady.

3) Play Hockey 50 times. It’s been a source of a little personal disappointment that I haven’t made more of an effort to get to the rink regularly.  I probably won’t start playing again until after the first of the year, but I do want to get in goal a minimum of one day per week for all of 2010.  There is a regular 6am pickup about 5 minutes away from my job that I can hit for an hour on Friday mornings.  Will start this the first week of January.

4) Go snowboarding 5 times. On the surface, five doesn’t seem like a lot.  However, snowboarding is an expensive, time consuming, weather-dependent endeavor that is more difficult to engage in than a lot of other things I am interested in.  The good news, is that I have the rest of this season, and the start of next season to hit just 5 times on the slopes.

5) Read (half of) 50 books. That doesn’t mean read 50% of 50 books.  It means half of the number 50.  You know, 25.  I work two jobs, have an 8 month old son, and am planning to do some more schooling.  Realistically, if I read 25 books, I’d be more than satisfied, but it doesn’t really fit with the 5 and 0 theme…but it is half of 50…ok, whatever…

Will be updating the first of every month on the progress of these goals.  The first one coming 1/1/10.