Date: 9-15-2014

Due Date: 9-15-2015

The Resolution: Growing up in San Diego, I used to love playing in the ocean. I wouldn't hesitate to jump into any body of water to play in the alien aquatic world.

Then I reached a certain age when I went from being a fat kid playing in the water with his shirt on to a fat man playing in the water with my shirt on. I was too embarrassed either way so I let go of my love of water.

The other day I was walking home from an appointment where I passed the window of a nearby Scuba Diving School. I saw a group of people, fully clothed in scuba suits submerged in a giant swimming pool.

I don't know if I was won over by the outfits or the novelty of a large group of people Scuba diving in a pool.

Either way, I was won over and now I want to give it a try.

Date: 9-16-2014

Due Date: 9-16-2015

The Resolution: I never heard of ListChallenges.com until today, when I was searching the internet to figure out today's resolution when I saw that you can, "Earn points for your life experiences."

It's kind of your average list site where you check off things, like movies you've seen, music that you listen to, books you've read...

The cool part is this site keeps a running tally of your scores in order to be ranked on a leaderboard!!!

I don't know what I like more, lists or leaderboards?

This site gives you the best of both worlds and I resolve to get to the top of the leaderboard by this time next year by honestly completing as many lists as I can.

Date: 9-17-2014

Due Date: 9-17-2015

The Resolution: I don't regret selling my truck. I'm kind of digging my entire world existing within walking distance. Unfortunately, there are some places that I would visit that are inconveniently too far away.

I could take the bus but public transportation gives me too much social anxiety.

I could bite the bullet and just walk, but with my crazy schedule, I don't usually have the time.

I figure now that my Walking Alphabet Resolution is coming to a close I will no longer be taking advantage of the long walks to knock off a letter.

Since I no longer need these long walks I'm going to buy a bicycle to widen my world a little bit.

Maybe this is a baby step to get me to break away from my reclusive ways.

Date: 9-18-2014

Due Date: 9-18-2015

The Resolution: I don't think I've intentionally eaten a bug since I was a little kid trying to gross someone out. Between Fear Factor, Survivor, and any travel show where villagers laugh as the host tries to force down a handful of insects, I wonder how those critters taste.

Granted these treats aren't still alive like they are in these shows but I found this sampler pack while perusing Amazon and figured I'd give it a shot.

Date: 9-19-2014

Due Date: 9-19-2015

The Resolution: I think I need to start exploring other places on this planet. At this point, I'm too poor to venture out to another country. So the plan is to start with baby steps and visit a state I've never been to.

I've been to all the states highlighted in green on the map above. Now it's just a matter of figuring out which white state I want to turn green and how I plan to make that happen

The front runners are Alaska, Maine, and South Carolina.

Date: 9-20-2014

Due Date: 9-20-2015

The Resolution: Yesterday I resolved to visit a state that I've never been to before. I'm still not sure where I want to go but I think I may have figured how I want to get there.

Last I heard that Amtrak is now offering a Residency for Writers.

I'm going to give it a shot!!!

Date: 9-21-2014

Due Date: 9-21-2015

The Resolution: While researching ideas for today's resolution I stumbled across this 30 Day Art Challenge. All I read was it’s a challenge to create 30 pieces in 30 days.

At first, I thought this was some sort of challenge that you do on your own time and the prize was a sense of accomplishment.

As I read on I found that this was an actual competition complete with a start date a due date and an entry fee. When I saw that there was a pick-up and drop-off location, I got a little bummed until I also saw the address.

It's right here in Seattle!!!

Even though I'm still very amateur in my artistic endeavors, I'm up for the challenge.

It'll be nice to have 30 more paintings to add to my portfolio.

Date: 9-22-2014

Due Date: 9-22-2015

The Resolution: I've had an interest in editing films for a long time. I look at it as writing with moving pictures. I've made a few attempts to give editing a shot in the past but my over-ambitious head always goes straight to concepts that are far too advanced for a beginner.

I do actually try to create the project but when it doesn't match up with what I have in my head, I give up to try again later in the learning process. Then I usually get too frustrated learning the baby steps and backburner editing altogether.

I've made a couple of simple YouTube videos in the past and had a lot of fun in the process. Not only was it fun but it also helped me get comfortable with the editing software. That's why I plan to learn my baby steps with some more fun and simple little projects.

Date: 9-23-14

Due Date: 9-23-2015

The Resolution: No not that type of planking.

I found a website for a One Month Plank Challenge.

Here are the rules:

"Ever wanted to blow people away? Start with an easy 20-sec plank a day in the beginning and work your way up to a 5 min plank by the end of April!! 20 sec for 2 days, 30 sec for 3 days, 45 sec for 2 days, 1min for 3 days, 1.5 min for 2 days, 2 min for 3 days, 2.5 for 2 days, 3 min for 3 days, 3.5 min for 2 days, 4 min for 2 days, and 5 min for the last 2 days! Choose one day a week for rest!"

I'm going to give it a shot.

Date: 9-24-2014

Due Date: 9-24-2015

The Resolution: Today I discovered my new favorite website, Instructables.com. As I was scrolling through the projects I started to think of the type of things I'd like to build.

I saw a project for a solar-powered station. This was quite a big project and being that I live in an apartment I don't have that much access to the sun. It doesn't help that I live in Seattle.

Though this project wasn't a good fit, the idea of learning how to make things with solar power was intriguing.

I refined my search and came across this nifty Altoid Tin Solar Power Supply that I'm going to build within the year.

Hopefully… I'll figure out some useful things to do with it.

Date: 9-25-2014

Due Date: 9-25-2015

The Resolution: A few years ago, while home for the holidays, I found this unused sheet of E.T. Shrinky Dinks amongst my old belongings that are stored in my mom's garage. I'm not fully sure why Shrinky Dinks were so fascinating but they were.

I assumed that the Shrinky Dink company disappeared with time, due to the hazardous combination of a children's toy and fire.

Today's resolution was going to be to figure out how to make a Shrinky Dink from scratch, making my own paper and everything. I searched on the internet to see if there were any suggested techniques when I found, right at the top of the search, that the Shrinky Dink company is still around.

I also found that they sell blank sheets for you to create your own personalized Shrinky Dinks. So, that's what I'm going to do.

Date 9-26-2014

Due Date: 9-26-2015

The Resolution: I have many resolutions that involve writing stories but haven't really had the time to work on any of them. I'm not all that concerned about it because I'm almost more comfortable writing with a tight deadline.

That said, I want to get started on a fiction project but it's hard to get into that fiction writing headspace after spending all day working at the computer. I would try to write with a typewriter but that's too close to the computer keyboard.

That's why I'm going way back to the quill and candlelight.

I feel the novelty of this experiment mixed with the relaxing atmosphere will act more like a break than a chore.

The only potential issue is I'm not sure if I still know cursive.

Date: 9-27-2014

Due Date: 9-27-2015

The Resolution: I know, I have yet to figure out regular animation at this point but I have a fantasy that at some point next year I'll have all of my minor resolutions out of the way to have more time to focus on these bigger projects.

I'm not all that interested in learning 3D animation to create the next Pixar hit. The reason I want to learn is to create simple animations as a tool to work through my story ideas.

I should be able to at least figure out 3D stick figures to create simple animatic storyboards.

Date: 9-28-2014

Due Date: 9-28-2015

The Resolution: I don't remember who it was but someone posted the video of a guy making Beatles pancakes. Now I must try this. The concept seems pretty simple but the technique seems like it's going to take a lot of practice.

Finally… I'll have something worth making homemade butter for!!!

Date: 9-29-2014

Due Date: 9-29-2015

The Resolution: I feel that my daily drawing of Predator Penguin is really helping me to hone my ability to draw. I now have a more steady hand, a better eye for detail, and the confidence to experiment with drawing new things.

Now is the time to move on to another how to draw book. While searching Amazon the book How to Draw Cool Stuff caught my eye. I knew by the cover alone that this is the book for me.

I look forward to being able to draw cool stuff!!!

Date: 9-30-2014

Due Date: 9-30-2015

The Resolution: A couple of weeks ago I resolved to buy a 3D pen. When I was searching around the internet to find a good deal I found this full-blown 3D printer at a price I could afford. I decided to back-burner the 3D pen and now I have this pile of chaos to deal with.

Date: 10-1-2014

Due Date: 10-1-2015

The Resolution: Once I put together my 3D printer I'm going to need something to print. Since I've yet to learn how to make 3D models it's going to be a while before start designing my own creations.

I figured it may be easier to start out with 3D scans, so I went to Amazon and couldn't find a single 3D scanner even close to my price range.

Then I found on the internet that you can convert an Xbox Kinect into a 3D scanner!!!

I bought one right away and here we are.

Now I just need to figure out how to make it work.

Date: 10-2-2014

Due Date: 10-2-2014

The Resolution: While searching for a book to teach me how to use my 3D Printer I discovered The Invent to Learn Guide to 3D Printing.

The title and concept of not only inventing while learning but inventing as a way to learn, hooked me in.

By this time next year… I aim to read this book and complete all the projects.

Date: 10-3-2014

Due Date: 10-3-2015

The Resolution: I didn't know that they still sold The Clapper anywhere other than eBay. That is until today when we started to unpack our Christmas Inventory at work.

I know it's far too early for Christmas but we started about two weeks ago around the same time we set up for Halloween.

Anyways.

Apparently… The Clapper has become a Christmas gift and not a year-round item.

Well, this year I'm going to buy myself The Clapper and engineer it into an electronics project.

I have an idea but I'm going to keep it a surprise.

Date: 10-4-2014

Due Date: 10-4-2015

The Resolution: I've been a huge fan of Howard Stern for over 20 years. I even bought a lifetime membership to Sirius Satellite and record the show daily because I don't always have the time to listen to the show sequentially in its entirety.

I stopped listening at the beginning of the year when I got my new job. A few months before I stopped listening Howard had the hosts of Shark Tank on to evaluate the Stern Show's crew's business ideas.

Most of the ideas didn't seem all that thought out until Richie Wilson came in to introduce his invention.

Shittens!

The Sharks liked it, leading to an entertaining discussion. I felt it was a fun segment but I also felt nothing was going to come of it. Since I stopped listening for so long it seemed like I was right.

Cut to:

A couple of weeks ago I overheard a non-Stern fan talking about these Shittens that they saw advertised somewhere. They were too bothered by the product to give a crap about the back story but I knew they had to be the Richie Wilson gloves and not just some troll who beat him to the punch.

It turns out; I was right and now plan to test out these Shittens to see how they do.

Don't worry; I don't plan on sharing any before and after pictures of any kind for this experiment.