Before we get into the 2012 list we need to hold up the mirror on my 2011 goals and take count. 2011 was a year of less; I did 55 days on the road for work which was down by more than 1/2 over 2010, I only made halting progress on time wasters so partial fail there, I won my email war which has really changed how I work, and I failed on over scheduling as there is still too much to do and not enough time in a day to get it done. So, I’d give my self a 70% or C on the 2011 curve.
2012:
- More personal Travel. As a family we use to travel every other year at Christmas and I’m campaigning for a return to travel. Vietnam is high on my list and my goal for xmass 2012. I hope we can get my Dad and Uncle both Vietnam veterans to make the trip as I think seeing the country through their eyes would add so much more to the experience.
- Lose 20 Pounds. I’m down 8 and have 12 to go. This is mostly about building better habits. Like not eating crap on the road. To help the process I ordered the elliptical yesterday. I figured if I’m going to watch any HBO episodes in 2012 I might as well be sweating.
- A Book a Week. I love to read. I read a ton of work related books in 2011. I’m going to take a broader reading tour in 2012. Some classics I’ve never read, more fiction, and biographies.
- Learn to play guitar. My friend Keith helped me buy a very nice Taylor guitar in 2011. Now I need to learn how to play it. My old excuse was I can’t sing so why play. In 2012 I already have a set of songs to work on so it is time to build the corresponding calluses.
I look forward to seeing you in 2012. Pls. send me your reading and song suggestions.
2009 was a great year but I’m looking forward to 2010.
2009 Travel Recap:
- 121 Days on the Road
- 4 countries (only one new…need to work on that in 2010)
- Finally found the perfect bag for my 3 day road life
2009 Tech Recap:
- Made the switch to an iphone but I HATE ATT as all I do is drop calls
- After a long dismissive break in period fell in love with Twitter
- Sold a lot of Kindles on flights across the US. There is nothing better than having the NYT and WSJ at the ready for the 6a flight out of BTV
2009 Alec Recap:
- Braeburn St. and S. Burlington finally feels like home after 7 years on Willard St. in Burlington
- Made it to the gym for regular beatings by Virgina most weeks despite the hectic travel schedule. (You know your life has changed when you pass on grabbing a beer with the crew so you can get a decent workout in)
- Milton and life on the lake have become the place to relax with family and friends
I’ve been on the road a good bit these last few weeks. This week it was Houston, Baltimore, and NYC. The TSA is a classic government bureaucracy that continues to expand. This week I heard about no batteries in checked luggage. Ok, let me get this correct Dell can ship hundreds of laptops in cargo on a flight but I can’t pack an extra battery?
I read this great NYT Blog on the TSA and got fired up again. I see all the time TSA personnel taking liquid from parents with children. The apple juice for the 3 year old is not going to endanger the plane and If you think it really is why are you throwing it in the garbage?
Plus the rules and instructions differ from airport to airport. With some of the smaller ones being the worst. As a business traveler I rarely get a second screening but if you are a Sikh in the Kalamazoo airport your going to get patted down again. Is this America? Why aren’t we speaking up against these mind numbing agencies taking over our daily lives?
It is simply theater for the American public. You can send a package and it won’t be checked on an airplane but watch out for the apple juice carrying kids.
Why do we have to take off our shoes? Because of Richard Reid, back in 2001… Or to sell more equipment to the TSA?
Why can’t we take liquid on a plane? Because of an inaccurate British report in 2006 that has been proved unfounded.
Do we care? Or have we been ground down to no long question? I say we start posting videos on You Tube of the TSA and the crazy things we see as travlers. Ohh, sorry we can’t do that as it is a security risk.
