The New Year Remade in Book Seven: Reconstruction 2020

So… it took longer than expected but… notes responded to (mostly) and new year item to be written.

At the beginning of this year, all I KNEW was going to happen was the finalization of my marital separation likely resulting in divorce and a trip to Okoboji. In January, all I KNEW was going to happen was the finalization of my marital separation, a trip to Okoboji, a trip to Japan, a trip to Canad, and Anime Iowa.

Then the entire world went tits up. Anime Iowa:: Cancelled. Japan:: Cancelled. Canada:: Cancelled. Okoboji:: Cancelled. Hell, even the marital separation? It has been filed. It is in the hands of the court. But as the judge requires 3 months between filing and ruling… and courts are closed… even the separation isn’t technically finalized yet!! (Which yes, technically, arguably, legally means my wife has been cheating on me; from a certain point of view.) So… everything that I thought was going to happen this year, my plans and resolutions… are kind of ash and cinder at this point. SO LET’S START ANEW WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT… who knows what the fuck is going to happen!?!

GOALS AND PLANS FOR 2020 (remainder)

Personal Health
While your original goals were ambitious; focus has shifted from “thrive” to “survive”. With that in mind:
- Before drinking any alcoholic beverage; you will drink a glass of water of equal size. This will reduce weight gain by alcohol/soda and increase water intake; both of which are important
- Cooking is great, and continue to do so. But it is better to do a Skillet Meal or a Lean Cuisine than hit up D.Q./McD’s, Pizza or take outs. Limit yourself to ONE of these per week, as opposed to your usual one of EACH per week. Instead… sandwiches, soups, microwave meals, skillet meals, Hamburger Helper… all of those would be preferred and recommended.
- Reinstate breakfast (this one stays the same, surprisingly). Have egg sandwich or leftovers or pop tarts or Harvest Bars… something so that you aren’t going up to 19 hours between meals!
- Nala gets a walk every day (this one stays the same). If you are experiencing pain, adjust the walk and/or soak on the weekends. But Nala needs it and so do you!
- During quarantine, I re-gained the weight up to my typical plateau (220). We are SURVIVE not THRIVE but… weigh yourself once a week. If it goes up; adjust eating/walking routines. If it goes down; feel proud. If it stays the same; DON’T beat yourself up.

House
House is now your everything. Office, Social Life, Masturbatorium (I didn’t need to write that last one; but I found the name and concept hilarious). So while it is important to keep clean; it is also getting more use than expected. Keep that in mind.
- If any room of the house is a room for mess, it is the kitchen. DON’T beat yourself up about it. But DON’T let it spread. Trash, dishes, clothes, ANY “messiness” outside of the kitchen should not remain! Scour the house for these things before bed and rectify.
- The kitchen should be purged of its mess two to three times a week MINIMUM. This doesn’t have to be a full chemical spray down ultra clean. Just make sure the dishes and recycling are taken care of. You mostly do that anyway; except for big cooking times, so just commit to doing it intentionally!
- Walk the yard EVERY NIGHT for Nala poop. It means there’s less to pick up since it is done each night and she’s less likely to eat it.

Heart
Now, of course this is the one that took the biggest hit with the 2020 fiasco. The entire plan was to engage with friends and travel. Obviously, that isn’t realistic anymore.
- AnimeIowa has been rescheduled. This gives you a full extra YEAR to finalize cosplay ideas. Watch burn effect make up tutorials; finish the Kung Lao hat; and ask Isolde if her Riza Hawkeye uniform was purchased or sewn from a pattern. Just taking affirmative positive steps NOW towards cosplay may help bring you the confidence to embrace it.
- EVERY MONTH, reach out to friends both DM and Local. Just send a text, a FB message, an e-mail, a discord hello… something. Let them know that just because there isn’t socializing, doesn’t mean you aren’t thinking of them.
- When Borderlands 3 DLC releases; get over your stupid Solo Default and reach out to MBFITWW to play co-op. You could both use the social connection, so just do it. No arguments.