After browsing around this ultra-powerful blogging system, I realized that there are a few interesting things that I can do. For instance, I choose what “category” I want the entries to fall under. I use “General Entries” for just about everything, but last night I went around and created “Gym Stories” for my many stories from the local gym. Sooner or later I’ll figure out how to link those categories on the main sidebar to the right!

One of the things I came across was my New Year’s Resolutions from January 2, 2005. I thought that it might be interesting to actually look back at these and see whether or not I’m making any progress.

Resolution 1:
So, by the end of this new year - I want to be done losing weight and settle at a maintainable level.
- I think that I’m making great progress on this resolution. During the Christmas holidays I probably gained 5 - 10 pounds and weighed in at something like 285 - 290 pounds. As of the other day I weighed in at 269 pounds. And this is after not going to the gym for a week due to the recovery! By the end of 2005 I expect that I’ll be at a weight that I like and is also maintainable (220 - 235).

Resolution Two:
Another one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to get to Church more often.
- I definitely am meeting this resolution. I started going to Church one Sunday in April and I haven’t missed a Sunday since. Actually, I registered as a Parishoner at the local Church and I even donate money to them every week. Not this coming Sunday, but the Sunday after will be the first Sunday where I miss Church (due to my trip to Nashville). However, I’ll be headed to Church this coming Tuesday night for the Feast of St. Anne to make up for it.

Resolution Three:
I’d like to become more financially independent in the coming year.
- This one is interesting. Am I more financially independent than on January 2nd? Well, I certainly have a good deal more money than I did back then. Have I paid off at least one of my entrenched bills since then? No. As I read through my resolutions, I noticed that I wanted to pay off my credit card bill by the end of this year. Actually, I transferred that balance to a 0% APR card so I’ve shifted my focus to paying off my debts from the bottom up. I’m starting with a stupid medical bill from the Emergency Room and then moving to paying off my truck (which is definitely within reach in the next two months) and then to my credit card.

By the end of this year, I might have more than one of my entrenched bills paid off and may even be able to begin attacking some of my college loans…

Resolution Four:
Another resolution is to continue doing well in my Master’s program at Rutgers.
- Yeah, I’m kicking ass up there and I love the program. This resolution has been and continues to be met.

At the end of the old entry, I said that I had more resolutions that I would post at some point in the “near future.” Well, apparently I didn’t! Today I will say that I resolve to continue keeping my New Year’s Resolutions to the best of my ability and I’m even prepared to put some time limits on a few of them.

First, I would like to weigh 260 pounds on September 1st. This is so incredibly doable that it shouldn’t even be a problem.

Second, after I come back from Nashville I want to completely pay off that old Emergency Room bill of a few hundred bucks.

Third, by October 1st I want to cut my debt on my car loan in half.

So I guess that we’ll be checking back in again sometime in October, huh?

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