December 31, 2012: Hear yea! Hear yea! Let it be resolved that [2013 version]…!

It’s that time of year again – the time of year to make promises you can’t keep.  Before getting around to my 2013 half-commitments I thought it might be interesting to look back on last year’s batch of best intentions and gauge the various successes and failures…

“Joe’s 2012 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Sit down to a marathon viewing of the entire 1967 animated Spiderman series.  I know, I know.  I’ve been talking about this for ages but this year, I’m really going to do it!

-No, no I didn’t, although I certainly did think about doing it.  A lot.  

2. Finish that pilot script I’ve been kicking around, like, forever.  I mean, seriously.  I’ve been working on this particular pilot, on and off, for two years now – writing, rewriting, shelving, re-rewriting, shelving, re-re-rewriting.  And shelving.  Compare to my buddy Robert Cooper who joined a bunch of us for a dinner back in Toronto where we discussed a fellow friend’s unnervingly creepy experience in what some (ie. those two dudes from Ghost Hunters) would consider a haunted house.  ”We should write a script based on this story,”Rob said at the time.  Two months later, he had completed the script and was shopping it around. Okay, I know.  Rob Cooper is possessed of superhuman writing abilities.  Still, if he can knock off a feature in two months, I should be able to complete a pilot script in less than two years.  No?

- Sadly, no.  I did actually start work on it – only to get sidetracked by other projects: the miniseries, the horror script, those other pilots.

3. Complete research on that grand historical drama and, if all goes well, actually start writing the script.

- Nope.  Again, I blame the distraction of the other projects…and the fact that I ultimately lost interest in this one.  

4. Set up Dark Matter as a television series (or mini-series).  The comic book launches January 11, 2012 (but you knew that already) and, while getting a television series up and running is a daunting challenge, we have the personnel and game plan in place to make it happen.

- More on this in the coming months.

5. Investigate the deepest, darkest recesses of my crawlspace and clear it out by getting rid of half the stuff that’s been sitting there, in boxes, since I moved in six years ago.

- This one was marginally successful.  While I didn’t get rid of anywhere close to half the stuff in the crawlspace, I did manage to clear out enough to make room for new stuff.

6. I make this resolution every December 31st but, after my experience this year, I’m determined to see it through: When it comes to business, stop being so pleasant and accommodating to others and be more of an asshole (before they are).

- This one has proven far more difficult than I imagined.  It pains me to admit that I fell back on my old, pleasant/accommodating ways again this year – and had it bit me in the ass yet again.

7. Dramatically improve my Japanese speaking and listening skills.  You know what I hate?   Meeting someone who has only been studying Japanese for mere months yet speaks and understands the language far better than I do.  More language CD’s in the car, more grammar reviews, more anime watching and, as a last resort, maybe a second Japanese girlfriend to help me practice conversation.

- Dramatically?  Not even close.  On the bright side, I have picked up a few interesting expressions like “peko peko” (hungry) and “dondake” (which I’ve yet to figure out but never fails to delight native Japanese speakers when I toss it out).

8. Master the doggy gate at mom’s place.

- Impossible.

9. Wear my reading glasses in social situations to help cultivate a faux intellectual persona.

- Hell, I don’t even wear my reading glasses when I’m reading, much less out and about.  Maybe with the right ascot…

10. E-NUN-CI-ATE!

- I remain as mumblesome as ever.

Hmmmm.  Overall, not good.  Not good at all.  Let’s try and do better next year, shall we…

Joe’s 2013 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Sit down to a marathon viewing of the entire 1967 animated Spiderman series.  I know, I know.  I’ve been talking about this for ages but this year, I’m really going to do it!  Really!  I may also include a Flintstones marathon as well!

2. Sell that horror script.  And, failing that, put the wheels in motion to produce it myself.  Come on, people!  It’s a no-brainer!

3. Read more non-fiction.  My attempt to get into the mystery genre has been a failure.  I’ve read about a dozen highly recommended books and loved exactly none of them.  I did, however, discover the works of Jon Ronson (who was recommended to me by fellow writer-producer-chef Robert Cooper) and loved exactly all three of his books I’ve read so far.

4. Produce one of two (maybe both!) shows poised to go in 2013.

5. Investigate the deepest, darkest recesses of my crawlspace and clear it out by shipping half my stuff to my sister in Montreal and letting her deal with it.

6. I make this resolution every December 31st but, after my experience this year, I’m determined to see it through: When it comes to business, stop being so pleasant and accommodating to others and be more of an asshole (before they are).  I REALLY mean it this time!

7. Dramatically improve my Japanese speaking and listening skills.  Or, at the very least, learn a few more colloquialisms to amuse my Japanese friends.

8. Get a little more techy.  Seriously.  I’m having trouble syncing my gadgets.  How come season one of Homeland can play on my tiny laptop but not the big one?.

9. Wear my reading glasses while reading.  It’s a start.

10. 20% more luboo-luboo (an Akemism for affection).  This one was a personal request.

So, how’d you all do on this year’s resolutions?  And, knowing this, what’s your game plan for 2013?

Tagged: New Year's resolutions, resolutions