my 24-point plan

So I turned 24 eleven days ago and had a happy birthday drinking session at Tribu with department friends and the bayaws. So I've resigned from teaching and had a drastic haircut to signify a new chapter of life. And since I believe writing things down is the first step to making them real, here are my birthday wishes and actual plans---because I need to get off my daydreaming birthday ass and actually accomplish something this year.

* MAJOR WISH: GET ACCEPTED INTO AN MFA PROGRAM
1. Have my passport reneSwed.
2. Schedule my TOEFL for November 9.
3. Apply for transcripts.
4. Fill out application forms.
5. Ask for recommendation letters.

* MAJOR WISH: HAVE A BOOK OUT SOMETIME NEXT YEAR
6. Revise the old manuscript; throw out what doesn't work.
7. Write more this last quarter: try for one poem a week.
8. Ask Karen if ORP still wants to publish it.

* MAJOR WISH: BE FINANCIALLY SMART (WHILE TECHNICALLY JOBLESS)
9. Find more writing and editing rackets.
10. Get old PDI and Summit checks.
11. Spend less on cab rides, drinks, unnecessary kikay stuff.

* WISH: BE HEALTHIER
12. Have my eyes checked; get eyeglasses if needed.
13. Lose at least 5 pounds by December.
14. Eat more fish and vegetables; drink less beer; no more Mongolian buffets and cakes.
15. Take vitamins every day.
16. Find the nerve to take dance classes again.

* WISH: GET RID OF CLUTTER
17. Clean and move stuff out of the department cubicle.
18. Return books, CD's and DVD's I've borrowed.
19. Organize my room and throw out clothes, papers, make-up I haven't used in a year.

* Miscellaneous:
20. Have my cat Metaphor neutered---on November 5.
21. Make back-up files of everything on my computer in case it crashes.
22. Learn to play the drums.
23. Read more fiction.
24. Reply more promptly to e-mail and text messages.