2011 - Mark's Version

2010 was an awesome year for me.

My daughter, wife and myself had a very healthy year with no major issues. We were able to take some great vacations (with the help of our parents) and do some pretty significant house projects.

Personally I completed my first 1/2 marathon. (time sucked, but since I really only put in a limited amount of training, I can't really complain). I continued to play in my flag football league and be pretty productive. I do however see that my performance is starting to drop out there even though I trained harder in the off season than ever before. Partly this is due to my age, and partly this is due to the fact that we got some new, younger players out there. Overall, I still did good, however I recognize that I have a shelf life and this year is probably the last year I can stay productive out there. I have to say however that I am disappointed that my time playing football is coming to an end. I have really enjoyed playing out there for the last 4 or 5 years. I am going to be really disappointed when I have to hang up my cleats for the last time.

I received a major promotion in January at work. I was extremely effective at work for the first 9 months of the year and in November I moved into a new role at work managing a large team with some pretty lofty goals. Once I got the new role in November, I started working much longer hours and honestly had a huge spike in personal stress as I was immediately not only responsible for my work, but for the work of 18 other people as well.

Also, in late November, Mary found a new house in the Balcones area of Austin. We have been looking in this area of Austin for a new home for the last 3 years as the schools there are very strong. That is the area we really want to raise Mia in. Unfortunately, many other people have this same idea, and houses are few and far between out there. We looked for 3 years and finally found what we were looking for. We are set to close on the new house on Thursday. The tentative plan is to rent out the new house in Balcones for the new few years, then move into it when Mia is school age and lease out our Pflugerville house.

Again, all of these things are great, however I have noticed and Mary has told me that I am way more stressed now than I used to be. I have noticed that I have way more headaches, and that I find it difficult to unwind after work. With that, I announce my new year's resolutions for 2011 as well as New Year's goals.






New Year's Resolution 1: Stop playing video games. I actually don't play much as I simply don't have time, but any time I do play is wasted. I put my PS3 on Craigslist over the weekend. I want to sell it for enough to buy 2 internet ready Blue Ray players so we can stream Netflix into the living room and bedroom.

New Year's Resolution 2: Stop stressing about little things. There are a lot of big things for me to stress about. I am a father, a husband, a manager to 18 people. I have 2 mortgages, a dog and a arm length list of responsibilities. There is enough stress on me with big things, without stressing about little things. So, I am going to try my best to stop doing little things that stress me out (AKA BBQ cookoffs) and not to get stressed about the little things. This is a major mindset change for me. It is going to take some work as you just can't wake up one day and change your personality. You can fake it for a while, but I want to make a real change. I am not really sure how. Any suggestions are appreciated.

2011 Goal 1: Complete a Triathalon
2011 Goal 2: Make something for Mia she can keep for a long time that I make with my own 2 hands.
2011 Goal 3: Make at least 4 legit home movies this year (I usually only do 1 a year)

I really don't know how I am going to stop stressing. I am stressed about that one. I don't really know how to function when I am not going with my hair on fire. I will have to google it