A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

goals

2014: Looking ahead

With 2014 so new, it’s probably a good time to look ahead.

One thing I’ve always said is I don’t make resolutions. I don’t buy them. Why is it everyone makes all of these resolutions? The odds are they won’t finish them.

Such as losing 50 pounds or something like that.

It’s one thing to make those long-term goals or something more reachable. I always wondered how big of a boost gyms get in memberships in early January. And I also wonder how many of those memberships last? I’m sure I’ve done it before.

So this post is my annual goals list. There are certain things I’d like to do over the course of this year. Last year, I made five goals, which I thought were doable. This year, I’ll do the same.

Will I succeed in all of them? Only time will tell. But this helps give me something to aim for as the year goes on.

1. Better my blog

I’m putting all of these items together, because in the end, it will make this blog a much better place for those who visit. In the end, I do this blog because I enjoy the aspect of it, but I also really love the blogging community. I love interacting and finding new blogs to visit. In the end, it all works together. Some of the things I’d like to do with the blog includes:

  • A slight re-design (not full, but a new header and a few other things to make it more me)
  • More photos, or photo-related things
  • A few giveaways
  • Work on my current “features” and either tweak, keep or send packing — then add as needed
  • Have at least 275 posts this year

I do realize, too, that I might work on some other things when it comes to the blog. I really have enjoyed growing this blog and look forward to trying to make it better than ever.

2. Photography

One thing that seemed to have taken a backseat last year was my photography. I missed going out with my camera (not just my phone) and exploring. Now that I’m settled into a job and have a paycheck, too, I can start thinking about renting lenses on occasion for doing different things. That’s something that is exciting, too.

State parks give you great spots for photos.

With this in mind, I plan on purchasing an Empire State Pass (for state parks) this year and actually utilizing it. I received one for Christmas last year and never used it. Call it a lack of funds, call it a lack of time — call it whatever you want — but I didn’t use it. Part of the problem is I worked pretty much every weekend. This year, that won’t be the case. So I’ll be able to explore.

That part of the goal goes hand-in-hand with a couple of other goals — such as geocaching and travel. New York State parks are really a group of amazing gems and I look forward to seeing many of them. Hopefully, this will help my photography as it should give me many chances for great images.

The biggest part of this goal would be to get back into using Flickr more. The past year, I kind of got away from it. I look forward to checking it out more, becoming part of that community again and seeing what’s out there!

3. Geocaching

The ultimate goal this year is to find No. 4,000. I’m 416 finds away, which would put me in line to find it this year because in the six years I’ve caches, I’ve only found fewer than 400 finds one time.

Ohio would be the goal -- but Kentucky would be awesome to add.

Ohio would be the goal — but Kentucky would be awesome to add.

That being said, I’d like to push myself to get it during the warmer months so I can hopefully find a good one for that milestone. I don’t get into the milestone caches much, outside of every 1,000. I like to try and make those a little more special.

I’d also like to do more in my area, which includes more events (I have some ideas), as well as placing more caches. My actual caches placed (events included) is at 77. Of course, they aren’t all active, but that’s what I’ve personally placed. I’d like to reach 100 placed caches at some point this year. I have a lot of ideas to work on and get out there. Hopefully I can do that and get more cachers to visit the area!

One other goal is I’d like to add another state or two to my total. I’d really like to land Ohio as it would connect some states. In a perfect world, I’d get Ohio and Kentucky because it would square things off a bit. And heck, if I could do it … Tennessee and North Carolina would make it look cool, too. But I’d be happy to start with Ohio!

There are a few side goals I’ve been working on, which include finishing a few challenges and such. I’m hoping this is a good year for geocaching as I’d like to get back into it a bit more, at least to the point where I truly look forward to going!

4. Travel

With a job in hand, I’d like to actually do a little traveling. I realize I won’t be able to do anything major, but I’d like to do some.

Travel could be hitting a state park or two during a weekend. Or visiting some friends in the city. Or going on a geocaching weekend. But I also want to do something memorable.

Hopefully, that means Montreal.

Many of you may know how much I love that city. A few of us were supposed to go last summer to celebrate my milestone birthday. Alas, it fell through because of funds.

I’m planning on going this year.

I’ve been to Montreal 10 or 12 times. I love the city, but I haven’t been since 2009. It’s time for me to revisit my love of that city. I’ve already started to save and I look forward to spending a (hopeful) long weekend up there and remembering why it’s my favorite city.

I also hope, obviously, to hit the Jersey Shore in the fall again.

And baseball games. I have plans for baseball. There are so many good minor league stadiums within two or so hours of me. I’d love to hit a bunch of them.

In the end, I just really would love to see a few places. It just makes me feel like I’m living again — which is something I need.

5. Disc golf

I need to get back into disc golf.

Hopefully, there will be more disc golf in 2014.

This goal isn’t going to go deep, I can assure you of that.

I think last year, if I remember right, I played 4-5 rounds of disc golf. All year.

That needs to change. One way would be to find a course a little closer. Though there’s one in Binghamton now, it’s still a haul for me. I’d still love to see one go in locally. Maybe this could be the year? I’m not holding my breath, but it would be wonderful to see it happen, that’s for sure.

Maybe, however, I can mix it in with my travel goal. I’ll start looking for courses a bit more when I travel and maybe that will help me get a few more rounds in this year.

I’ll likely only play in one tournament, though, as I’ve truly found it’s way more fun to just go out and throw some plastic. The one tournament I will play in is one I’ve tremendously enjoyed since I’ve played in it.

And there you have it. I have some personal goals, too, such as chopping away at my debt, working at becoming better professionally etc., but the five above are ones I’d like to work on and see where they can go as well. For the first time in a few years, I’ll be looking forward to seeing my results at the end of the year … but I’d rather this year was a little slower and more enjoyable than the past few.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Time ticking away: An update on the Day Zero Project

With just 122 days left, it’s safe to say my Day Zero Project (first attempt) is going to flop.

For those who don’t know, the Day Zero project is where you come up with 101 goals to complete in 1001 days. When I first started on Oct. 10, 2010, I thought I’d easily be able to do the 101 I planned. I kept them secret (making them public with blog posts as I completed them) realizing if I didn’t finish, I would just keep them secret — in case I wanted to try it again.

The reality of the last two years has stifled this list. Some of my goals cost money. Some require a lot more time than I’m willing to give right now as I still search for employment.

Spending a day at the beach is one goal I’m glad I completed.

I just went through the list and realized I had completed a few more, jumping me to 35 percent of my list done.

There are way too many others that have no chance of being completed. I have many that are “in progress” because I’ve done parts, but others I haven’t started or won’t be able to start.

So, in 122 days, my Day Zero Project will end without victory.

I’m not scared of it, though. I’ve failed in challenges before (see the 366 Challenge in 2012). But I also find good things out of this one — such as the things I did complete. It’s been a while since I did any blog posts on the challenges I have finished, so I should catch up with those soon. I do want to keep track of the ones I actually did.

And what’s great about those?

I did stuff I likely wouldn’t have done without this challenge. I made sure to eat at 10 new restaurants. Speaking of food, how about this? No fast food for a month. That was awesome. I also went out of my way to find new blogs and such as I commented on 50 random blogs.

Some of my goals were simple, such as writing my name in the sand.

Others were a tad harder, such as going snowshoeing.

In the end, it was a decent effort. I may try and finish a few others on the list before the end comes near. But with the reality of many of these costing money, I understand it’s not going to happen. And I’m OK with that.

One thing I’ll look forward to is the e-mail.

If you don’t know, there’s a website called FutureMe. What you can do there is write an e-mail to yourself (or someone else) and have it sent to you (or them) on a date in the future. So, I sent one to myself to be delivered on the final day of this challenge. I think I remember some of the things I wrote, but not all. So I’ll be excited to see what I said to myself.

I just hope I’m in a better place when it arrives!

This was a fun little project. I’m going to give it a another go when my life shapes up a little more and this one officially ends. Some of the “failures” from this project will make the next list, as well as some of the things I am in the progress of doing. There are some things I’ll definitely take off, just because of “reality” and understanding now that some things you can’t make as goals because too many variables can block it. Therefore, have it in your own mind but not a “set” goal.

I know there were several other bloggers who started these about the same time I did. I’ll have to find them all again and see how they are doing.

Anybody else doing one of these or finished them?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

2013: Looking ahead

I don’t make resolutions.

I’ve always found many New Year’s resolutions are made in a drunken stupor or something along those lines. Maybe it’s something one has planned to set as a resolution, but they all seem to be the same thing, anyway.

Over the years, I’ve tried to do things like resolutions. More time at the gym. Eat better. Do this. Do that. Turns out it’s just like most people — it never happens.

Each year, I try and make goals, however.

In my eyes, the difference is with goals, you have something to aim for. With resolutions, it’s a lifestyle change almost.

I also try and keep most of my goals somewhat realistic. I won’t say I will drop 100 pounds in 2013. Would I love to drop a whole heap of weight? Sure. But knowing how much I lost in 2012 (about 20 pounds) and how my pants no longer fit (which is a good thing), I try and keep goals a little more on the realistic side.

For example, I would never say I am going to try and go to the gym 4-5 times per week as I know, come April or May, I’d just stop or really slow down.

So, without further delay, I give to you my top-five goals for 2013. Hopefully, they’ll all be met.

1. A job

Yes, this is goal No. 1 in every way shape or form. Come this February, it will be two years I’ve been without a job. And if I’ve reached the end of my unemployment benefits, I’m going to be tapping into the final funds as I refer to them — retirement, small savings etc. It’s what I have to do to survive. Talk about living close to the chest — it will be what I have to do.

I continue to send applications out at a pretty quick pace. Some require some in-depth stuff, others are filling out an online form and attaching a resume. Either way, I need a job. I realize many Americans — and people throughout the world — are in the same situation. So hopefully I can find something soon.

 2. Complete the HooHaa 52

Photo challenges are a lot of fun. However, last year was not good for me completing these challenges. I failed at both the second go of the HooHaa 52 and my second attempt at a 365 (well, 366 last year) project.

This year, I’m being a little different — I am only doing the HooHaa 52. In that group, there’s a new theme each week. I think I can handle that. Even if I take on other challenges — blogging, reading etc., a one photo-per-week challenge should not be too difficult.

I look forward to looking back on this challenge to see a year in photos.

3. Read more (25 or more books)

In 2012, I got away from reading books. That’s too bad, too, as I really enjoy it. Especially with the Kindle and how easy it is. Sometimes, I just don’t want to sit down and read. Other times, I am just too lazy to do so.

So, I’ve jumped into a reading challenge (as some of you may have noticed in yesterday’s post) and I’m going to push myself to read at least 25 books this year. Reality is, I should be able to average about a book every week or week and a half, so I’d like to think I could get 40 in. That being said, 25 is a realistic goal. I’ve also joined a few sites where books are given to bloggers to review. I like that as it will not only help me fulfill my reading goal, but it will also allow me to have things to write about on the blog. I like writing book reviews, so having 25-40 days worth of posts based on that wouldn’t upset me one bit.

4. Transform my blog

This goal has more than one part, hence why I’ll go with the generic “transform” in the goal title.

Over the next year, I’d like to transform the blog to have a little bit of what I’ve wanted for a long time. So, to do this, I need to do the following:

  • Have a full re-design of the blog with a custom theme (I know who I want to do it, once I can afford it)
  • Blog at least 10 in-depth pieces
  • Continue Snapshot Saturday and Soundless Sunday
  • Have at least one Foto Friday per month
  • Find some other fun things to gain readers/networking (food things, games, fun stuff)
  • Try and post at least 25 times per month, at a minimum

This won’t all be easy. But, this blog is near and dear to me. I’ve been blogging some version of A ‘lil HooHaa since June 2005 and I want to see it continue for as long as I can.

4A. Visit more blogs

I put this as a 4A because it’s kind of part of transforming my blog.

If I want to get more readers and network with other bloggers, I need to make it so I visit and read more. Comment more. See what others are doing. There are some fantastic bloggers out there and I’d like to read them more. Therefore, I need to make some time to read more of them. In time, once I fulfill Goal 1, I hope to get myself some sort of a tablet — such as an iPad. Once I do that,  I think surfing for other blogs will be easier as I’ll be more apt to do it when lounging.

Still, before that happens, I need to do some things to get myself into the habit. I think I need to clear my Google Reader and start from scratch, using that as my homepage and trying to keep tabs on blogs a lot more.

5. Be happy

I know, I know, this seems like a cop-out goal. I assure you, it’s not.

The past two years have been two of the hardest I’ve ever had. During the time of being unemployed, I’ve watched a lot of things happen. Friends have become overly successful, have families and such. Other people in my industry keep going up. All the while, I apply for jobs and continually get looked over.

It sucks.

I’m happy as hell for friends and family doing well, but it’s also hard because I feel 20 steps behind. I look at the future, too, wondering what it will hold. The majority of the people I know or hang out with have never been through this. And I appreciate all the kind words and deeds they have given, but it’s still hard.

I haven’t been happy. I try and put on a good face. I can enjoy certain things. But in the overall scheme, I’m not happy. So I need to find personal happiness. I know what I need to do that, and it starts with Goal 1. That starts the healing process, per say. As that happens, other things start to turn around and, in time, I hope the happiness will follow and I’ll be able to really start enjoying life once again.

In the end, these goals are ones I think I can conquer in 2013. I hope, anyway. Though No. 1 is the most important at this time, the one I truly want to accomplish is No. 5. If that happens, everything else will hopefully fall into place.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Day Zero Project: Completed No. 67

This shot was taken at Schenectady Central Park DGC -- a course that I have played more than any now. It was one of the 10 for this Day Zero Project goal.

A Day Zero Project goal of P.J.’s has been completed!

Goal completed: Play 10 disc golf courses I have never played.

Date completed: March 2012.

Number: 67  (remember, these goals will not all be done in order. It’s a random list where the numbers actually are).

Description: I wanted to play and explore 10 disc golf courses I had never played before. Being there aren’t many in my local area, this meant I would have to likely travel around and see new places.

Why I wanted to do it: When I first started the Day Zero Project, I was also new to the game of disc golf. That meant, it was a way for me to see new courses, play new courses and hopefully learn about the game more.

How I did it: I did it over time, that’s for sure! In my early playing days, I had only played “three” courses. I use quotes because two of them were full-time courses and one was a temp course. From there, I expanded a little. I hit up the course in Schenectady (which I have now played many times over) and then the one in Binghamton. I got the other in our “area” before expanding. A trip to the city to stay with a friend for a few days got me a few more courses in December 2010 and I thought I was on the way to doing this quickly.

Alas, it slowed down.

I added another in April 2011 for a tournament. Two of us went to the Ithaca area and ended up playing TC3 Panther Highlands. We had planned to try at least one 9-hole course there, but the first one took a while, so we moved along. I then finished off this goal with a weekend trip to Lancaster, Pa., in later March/early April this year. There, I played several mini courses and two regular courses. At some point, I also played one of the “local” courses at a state park — an object course — but hadn’t written it down. So I’ve done well enough to get my 10 new courses.

The courses I visited:

  • Schenectady Central Park, NY (11-11-10)
  • Conklin DGC, NY (11-25-10)
  • Hyzer Creek, NY (12-4-10)
  • Rutgers – Douglas, NJ (12-22-10)
  • Chimney Rock DGC, NJ (12-22-10)
  • Greenwood Meadows DGC, NJ (12-22-10)
  • FDR State Park, NY (4-2-11)
  • TC3 Panther Highlands, NY (6-25-11)
  • D.F. Buchmiller Park, PA (3-30-12)
  • Mini DGC at Mushroom Manor, PA (3-31-12)
I enjoyed playing these courses and I hope, by the end of the year, that I’ll have added 10 more new courses. I have several I’d like to see and play and hope I get the chance. I really love looking and playing new courses. I also have hopes that the local course that has been being worked on for a few years will come to fruition. It would be nice to have a solid course — if even just nine holes — to play on locally. And it would be nice to have a “true” home course.

About P.J.’s Day Zero Project: Day Zero is a project where people come up with 101 things to do over 1001 days. I started the project on Oct. 10, 2010 with an anticipated finish date of July 8, 2013. Goals will not be revealed until they are completed. A private list is at the Day Zero website  and the list will be made public upon completion of the project. It’s my thoughts that if things are kept private, should I not do them, change or find a way around it, I’d only be cheating myself.

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

Day Zero Project: Completed No. 56

This goal has helped me think outside the box in regard to images.

A Day Zero Project goal of P.J.’s has been completed!

Goal completed: Reach the 5,000-photo plateau on Flickr.

Date completed: February 2011.

Number: 56  (remember, these goals will not all be done in order. It’s a random list where the numbers actually are).

Description:  I wanted to have at least 5,000 photos posted on my Flickr account.

Why I wanted to do it: In all honesty, the reason was to more justify having a paid Flickr account. Why pay the $25 per year if you don’t utilize it? I wanted to make sure I used the account, posted photos, created sets and made it so people could see my images instead of just worrying about posting one photo per day on a photo blog. I also knew it would push me to take more photos as now I would be able to easily post many photos at one time.

More than 5,000 photos are in my Flickr stream, including several hundred from my trip to Ireland!

How I did it: I took photos.

Then I uploaded them!

Pretty simple, right?

The reality is I started carrying my camera more. I took more photos at events I went to. And I went to events I didn’t think I’d go to — just because I’m always looking for a cool photo opportunity. The other good part of this is the community. Flickr has SO many people on it and there are many, many talented photographers. By getting involved with the community, whether in groups or whatever else, you see a lot of inspiring photos. That made me want to go out and take more photos, see the world in a different way and work on getting photos uploaded.

So I kept taking photos and uploading them.

Before I knew it, it added up and I had reached my goal. Very cool stuff. I don’t see myself slowing down, either. Photography has become a release for me — a way to escape. And it’s easy to do by myself or with others.

About P.J.’s Day Zero Project: Day Zero is a project where people come up with 101 things to do over 1001 days. I started the project on Oct. 10, 2010 with an anticipated finish date of July 8, 2013. Goals will not be revealed until they are completed. A private list is at the Day Zero website  and the list will be made public upon completion of the project. It’s my thoughts that if things are kept private, should I not do them, change or find a way around it, I’d only be cheating myself.

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!