Bill's Notes

Sometimes the folks to my right worry me. I think Glenn Beck is specializes in manufacturing outrage and borders on hysteria. I think FoxNews covers far too many trivialities that conflict directly with its purportedly "fair and balanced" message. And WorldNetDaily frequently deserves its nickname WorldNutDaily.

Here, however, is something I have mixed feelings about. The Letter from a Future Prisoner. On one hand, there's no reason to believe that someone like her will be incarcerated in 2010. However, if certain trend lines continue, I could see this happening in about 30 to 50 years, after the children of today's unbaptized neo-pagans and postmodernists take over the country.

That is, yes, it's easy to laugh at someone like this as just the mirror image of the left-tards who think that the U.S. is in danger of becoming a theocracy and will imprison freethinkers, atheists and fallen women. On the other hand, there is a hostility to Christianity that could end up in a pretty bad place. At least for a while.

Today. Made some progress this year in many areas. Fairly happy most of the year. Normally, I like to add something to my life each year — grow in a specific area, establish myself.

This year, I clearly away some of the financial troubles, at least for the time being. Was able to do some upgrades on the kitchen, laundry room, deck and bedroom. Started a Roth IRA and put two years worth in it, paid off my car, got rid of the PMI on my mortgage, and reduced my mortgage payments.

Personally, I discovered that I'm not that interested in hopping into another relationship, even though I met a couple of fine women. That surprised me because normally I want to be in a relationship, but perhaps your brain gives you a break after a while and tells you it's not so important.

Also, I took a nice little vacation to Amsterdam, where I'd never been before. And discovered in Paris that my French still remains OK — and I stressed less about it than usual. And on the physical side, I lost 45 pounds and am the lightest I've been in about 12 years. (Gotta get the shoulder fixed this year so I can get back in the weight room to maintain muscle mass. I don't want to be skinny, after all.)

Spiritually, it's been a pretty good year, too. My first full year as a Catholic. Found myself with less and less existential crises than ever before, and I found a lot of damaging thoughts and attitudes abating, for the first time I can remember. Still working on a lot of stuff, but I think I've grown spiritually this year. Thank God for God and His church!

And I won the company football pool. So for the last couple of weeks, I haven't used any of my paycheck for walking-around money. That is very cool ... nothing like being able to pocket your paycheck — now if I can just figure out a way to get that to continue :)

So overall, not a bad year.

Next year's goals:

1. Do something about this long commute. I don't know what, but I've got to do something.

2. Do something about the shoulder. It's time to get that fixed. Even if I've got to get cut open.

3. Continue to grow spiritually (at least, I hope I'm growing.)

4. Seriously consider replacing the roof on my house (that'll wait to spring).

Plus, I have some professional goals ... but I'd rather leave that out of this blog. (No, I don't want to leave, I mean things I want to accomplish here.)

Anyway, that's all about me. Hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving.