I don’t normally make New Year’s resolutions, so my New Year’s resolution this year is to have New Year’s resolutions. One problem is to not set the bar so low that you’re guaranteed to go over it, but not set it too high that its unattainable and you give up to early.

For example, I’d like to read more books this year. I could set this goal three ways:

1. Read more books than I did in 2005.
2. Read more books than I did in 2004.
3. Read more books that my wife did in 2004.

I’ll probably meet the first goal as long as I don’t go negative — and I’m not even sure how you’d go about un-reading a book. In 2005 I mostly read magazines in an attempt to reduce the leaning stack of unread magazines in my office. Not a total success, but at least the stack is short enough that if it falls over it won’t kill anyone. And in my defense I wrote a novel last year, something I’ve never done before.

OK I only started a novel, but I made a lot of progress on the first draft, so that ought to count for something.

The second goal will be much harder, I read quite a few novels in 2004. So that’s a good goal to set. I might not get there, especially since I hope to do more writing this year, but it’s at least a stretch goal. And I’d better do more writing this year, I have ideas piling up in my head faster than I can write them.

Then there’s the third goal, to read more than my wife. This isn’t even a stretch goal. I couldn’t stretch that far even if I was wearing my fat pants. I’m not sure how she does it, but my wife can read a book in the time it takes me to eat breakfast. Granted I’m a slow eater, but even so, she reads books at a phenomenal rate. I could quit my job and read full time and not keep up with her. So I need to set my sights a wee bit lower.

So here’s a list of resolutions. I don’t plan on doing them all in 2006, or even by 2010, but hopefully by the time I die. Which hopefully will not be by 2010.

1. Finish the first draft of my book.
2. Finish the second draft of my book.
3. First step Pulitzer Prize, second step Nobel Prize. This is complicated slightly by the fact that I don’t plan on publishing my book, but I’m sure they’ll take my word for it that it’s really, really good.
4. Scan all of my film images.
5. Scan old family slides and pictures.
6. Get caught up in my email (and stay that way).
7. Learn more about digital image editing.
8. Learn how to use style sheets (CSS2) for my web site.
9. Learn how to program a Mac application.
10. Create a 3D computer model of a rough-skinned newt.
11. Create a 3D computer model of my cats Templeton and Scout.
12. Create a 3D computer model of ancient Egypt.
13. Visit Glacier National Park. Before all the glaciers melt.
14. Visit Everglades National Park.
15. Vist Alaska.
16. Visit Canada.
17. Visit New Zealand.
18. Get a video camera and take movies of the cats. This is something I will probably do this year, Templeton’s little adventure with a sewing needle is a good reminder that you don’t always have as much time as you think you do.
19. Learn to edit video and make a DVD.
20. Take a whale watching tour.
21. Learn to kayak.
22. Hike more in the Columbia River Gorge.
23. Go backpacking in the Cascades.
24. Learn to draw.
25. Learn to paint.
26. Clean out the Closet of Doom in my office.

There. How hard can that be?

I was going to add “Learn how to make wooden furniture”, which is something I’d like to do, but I know full well that I’d end up slicing off my fingers, so I’ll let that one slide.