This Gal's Unusual Christmas List

I started this list a few weeks ago, I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad I did. Sometimes I find that when I put my goals into writing they have a better chance at actually happening. When I revisited it a couple of days ago, I thought, 'hmm, this is like my own little personal Christmas list.' Obviously, none of these things can actually be done before Christmas, but it's like they always say, it's the thought that counts. I narrowed down my semi-long list to five of the goals I most want to reach and you can read them after the cut.

Learn at least one song on the guitar

This is something I've wanted to do for quite some time. More than a few years back, I got a guitar off eBay for about 20-25 dollars. The furthest I ever got in my learning how to play it was getting it tuned...maybe.

How? This is the type of thing I need to learn tucked in a dark corner where no one else is, so I think I'm going to try to sort of teach myself. After doing a little bit of research I found a couple of places for beginner guitar lessons.

Be published

Above all else I'd love to see a piece of my fiction published somewhere. Really, I'd love to make a good living writing. It's honestly, the only thing I can think has stayed a consistent answer to the 'when you grow up' question.

How? I've been doing a lot of research on different writing contests that literary magazines put on, a few of them even have a pretty good payout for the winner. A lot of them have deadlines at the end of this month, and I've been throwing around the possibilities of entering one or two of them. If nothing else, it'll be a way for my work to at least be exposed to the right people.

Be like Bobby Darin

I can only assume that while making this list I was in awe of the fact that the man was able to accomplish so much in such a short lifetime. He a had nine top ten hits, appeared in 14 films (either scoring or providing the theme song to most of them). He also won a Grammy, and an Oscar. And he was only 37 when he died.

How? I've thought about this a lot, and the only semi-good answer I can come up with is to live life like you could die tomorrow. It's a morbid thought, but it's very true, no one knows what's in store for them tomorrow.
(Also, side note: if you're still wondering what to get me for Christmas an framed 8x10 of this picture is always a good option.)

Learn how to draw  

More specifically I want to be able to draw the idea for clothes and knitted pieces that I have in my head. But I would also like to be able to make little sketches of scenes from stories. Or else just have a general sketch of characters, settings, and other things I might find useful.

How? The biggest thing here is practice. I know I'll be able to become at the very least, semi-good at it as long as I make time each day to practice. Awhile back, I was able to find a hand full of tutorials/how-tos on DeviantArt. I also found a really helpful discussion on DeviantArt that will probably be some good inspiration to me during my learning process.

Increase my sewing skills

Pretty much self-explanatory. I have a lot of ideas for things I want to sew in my head, unfortunately most of them are quite a bit over my head and I don't want them to be. 

How? Similar to my approach for drawing. I just need to set aside time to practice. I honestly have more time on my hands than I'd care to admit, so I don't really know what's stopping me.

List in it's entirety

• Learn at least one song on the guitar
• Be a vintage goddess
• Sew a pair of pants
• Find a full time job
• Update my blog/have pre-written posts
• Be published
• The Rock
• Have my own apartment
• Be like Bobby Darin
• Design and Knit a Christmas sweater
• Dance like Fred Astaire (What?)
• Learn a song on the keyboard/piano
• Take better pictures for my blog
• Practice drawing
• Sew better

• Work out more

I plan on keeping track of my progress on these things by posting every Saturday or Sunday about how I've done with my goals over the course of the week.