I'm starting my list early, because unlike previous years, this year I intend to accomplish all of them.
1) Focus on my family and their happiness. Do what I can to help enrich their lives. Accept the fact that no matter how hard I try to be an awesome mom, I will still screw up my children's lives and they will someday need therapy because of it.
2) Pick up where I left off learning the fiddle. I've had the fiddle four years now. It's time I learned how to play it. I stopped taking lessons because E-Beth crushed my self-confidence by crying hysterically anytime she heard me play. I pulled it out two nights ago and now she thinks it's the "coolest thing ever."
3) Make one "for fun" gown a month. First on my list is to tackle QEI portrait gowns. All of 'em.
4) I attended my first Banff Festival in 2002. I was in awe, and I knew immediately that I wanted to enter a film someday. Every year that Banff has made a stop in Rochester, I've attended. Every year I watch in awe, and I'm a little more saddened that I've not met my goal. In 2008 I will begin work on my film. I may not finish this year, in fact I may NEVER finish, but I WILL begin. I have two topic possibilities and will probably attempt both, because both might, in fact, be terrible.
5) Reconnect with friends with whom I've lost touch. Rebuilt the friendships to what they once were. Strengthen the friendships I currently have. Make them a priority. I've been lazy with friendships in the past. I need to stop doing that.
6) Get back into two hobbies I used to enjoy greatly:
*woodworking. I used to carve leetle birdies. One day I stopped. I need to do some practice until I've got the techniques mastered again. If I can do it, I can justify buying a lathe and a bandsaw.
* Painting and drawing. I've had this at the top of my list since 2000, which is about when I last worked on a piece of art. Maybe if I put it at the bottom of my list, I'll try harder.
I might add a few more as we approach the new year, but I'm hoping that by writing them down and putting them out there for THE INTERNET to see, it'll motivate me to get off my duff and get rolling. If it doesn't work, you have permission to throw rotten tomatoes at me. :-P
I've actually started looking into what it's going to take to accomplish these tasks, and the Banff Film Fesitval project is definitely going to be the most difficult, especially since mini-DVR isn't the preferred medium by the Banff folks. I'm not sure I can justify the expense of a new camera, so I will have to look around to see what my options are. I know I can't afford to hire an entire production crew. This has to be done on the cheap, or I'll have to put it off for a while.
I am also going to need a climbing partner. Banff films are mountain-related, and both of my topics involve, you guessed it: mountains. One of the topics will be a family-inspired project. Brian and I will both get to work on it, and Elizabeth will be involved too. It'll be a ton of fun to have the opportunity to work on it as a family project. The other project will be HARD WORK.
The second film will be shot in the Adirondacks and will involve some difficult climbing - too difficult for Elizabeth at this age, (although this project will take 2-4 years to complete, and by then she might be old enough to participate). Until then, I don't quite feel as though I'm in shape enough to carry a babe on my back for most of these peaks. That means I will have to do the climbs on my "personal" days, while Brian watches the kids. I'm too chicken (and too clumsy) to attempt any climbs without a partner, especially since cell phone reception is pretty terrible out there. The only problem: I'm a pretty quiet climber - it doesn't come easily for me and "uphill" requires all of my energy and concentration. I'll need to find someone who won't chatterbox the entire ascent.
WANTED: Climbing partner. Must STFU.
I'm certain I'll get a ton of responses. ;-)