1. 2009 to 2010: A Scorecard

    Welcome to 2010, everyone. I hope whatever New Year’s celebrations you participated in were fun and safe, unless that would be out of line with how you wanted to ring in the new year/decade, in which case I hope you did something boring and inexplicably dangerous. In any case, hope you’re doing well.

    At the start of any new year, a billion and two people make New Years’ Resolutions, and within a month, they’re almost entirely forgotten. Last year, I decided I’d do something a bit different - I was going to set up goals for things I wanted to do within a calendar year, so I could measure my progress. I wanted to hold myself accountable.

    You can imagine how well this worked out, huh?

    Regardless, I tweeted about them, which made them public, which (in my mind, anyway) made them official. Some of you may remember these goals, others may be seeing them for the first time.

    2009 Goal #1 - Use the gym facilities at work to work out an average of twice weekly. Most likely Monday and Tuesday, but this is flexible.
    Status: Not Technically Complete, But The Goal Was Realized

      Yes - I made a goal to get into better shape in 2009. I’m not overweight by any means - possibly under, actually - but I’m certainly not in the same shape I was when I was running cross country or walking all across campus.

      It seemed logical and easy to use the fitness equipment at work since it was so close at hand. Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of my control, I wasn’t really in the right mindset to spend any more time than necessary at my office. I did get some push-up and jump rope equipment for my apartment, and shortly after my birthday, I bought a road bike that I’ve been slowly rebuilding and riding.

      So, while I failed at my goal of using the exercise equipment at my office, I have managed to get a lot healthier over the course of 2009.

      2009 Goal #2 - Go on at least one date with a single lady before the year’s end.
      Status: Incomplete, I think? I don’t know.

      I kind of ended up working on my anxiety issues this year instead of focusing on meeting women. But that’s truly helped my confidence - I can legitimately talk to people I don’t know now, male or female. Couldn’t always say that before.

      Plus, I did actually tell a girl I like that I like her - I took a first step, went out on a limb, and lived to tell about it.

      2009 Goal #3 - Attend at least one social event per month. Attempt conversing with a stranger at said event in order to meet new people.
      Status: Complete

        From Mardi Gras to The Old-School Tattoo Expo to An Event Apart in Chicago, I got out of the apartment significantly more than I did in 2008. I talked to strangers. I met loads of interesting people, and got involved in my community at St. Louis Bicycle Works. Mission accomplished.

        2009 Goal #4 - Photograph at least one concert for a local publication, with press credentials - STL Sound, PLAYBACK:stl, RFT.
        Status: Complete

        At this time last year, I was looking on with jealousy at photographers like Todd Owyoung and wondering if I had what it took to prowl the photo pit of venues like The Pageant. Today, I can confidently say I do - albeit, I’m still going to be looking to people like Todd for inspiration and advice for quite some time (because, you know, they’re amazingly talented people). Here’s how I got there.

        I had the good fortune to get to know Michael Tomko via Twitter - he’s a promoter for local music venue The Firebird (and a genuinely nice human being). He asked if I’d be interested in covering an event he was organizing for late August alongside another photographer. Happy to help, Nick Schnelle and I shot the LOT Music Festival. I had a blast, and made a few important connections - Nick, a photographer for the Riverfront Times, apparently put in a good word for me with Nick Lucchesi, the RFT’s web editor. I got an offer to shoot rockers The Mars Volta the following month, and despite intense nervousness, I managed to cover the show. I’ve since shot more bands and events for the RFT - and I’m looking forward to working with them some more in the coming year.

        2009 Goal #5 - Continue 2008’s tradition of completely ignoring the month of May. May, you know what you did, and are now dead to me.
        Status: Definitely Complete

          May? What May? April did seem twice as long as usual, though.