The PWC2 Introduction

Well, here we are, halfway through my self-appointed "comeback year", the year where my whole life was gonna get pulled together and I'd really start kicking ass and laying waste to entire swaths of civilization with my outstanding achievements. Let's see how I've been doing during the second quarter!

Item 1: Get Pilot's License Current Again (Grade: F minus) No progress on this at all. Again, a lot of my hesitation has been due to the fact that I wasn't sure where I was gonna end up living. As of this writing, however, I'm fairly certain that I won't be moving too far away from where I am right now, so that excuse is pretty much out the window. I better start soon, too, because I'm going to make most of my progress on weekday evenings, and I can only do that when the days are long and there's still sunlight at the airport when I get there after work.

Item 2: Move (Grade: F plus) I almost moved, but then I decided not to. Again, this job I've landed is totally screwing up these items because of the uncertainty about its future. However, as with Item 1, it's unlikely that in any case, I'll have reason to move too far from my current location, so there really oughta be some movement on this soon.

Item 3: Get Finances In Order (Grade: C) The main accomplishment for this item was that I switched auto insurance companies, saving about $400/year in the process. That's about all that's happened, though. Really, there's not much more I can do on this topic, other than move to a cheaper place, and that is covered in Item 2.

Item 3a: Spend Less Money (Grade: C) Just like last time, 3a gets the same grade as 3, and for the same reasons. Actually, 3a should really supplant 3, as Item 3 was originally just a "category header" for similar items which could be grouped together. But it's too late now, so I guess we'll just have to live with it.

Item 3b: Spend More Money (Grade: A-) Spent a lot of money this quarter! Let's see, I bought a plane ticket for a vacation back east, I won an auction to ride a roller coaster, I bought a new computer (2ghz P4 Dell, dude), and purchased a digital camera with all the fixins! I have to say, all of these were excellent purchases which have made me happier, so that's good. And I still have more to buy! On the menu for next quarter are: a new set of golf clubs, and a new stereo system for my car.

Item 4: Record Some Music (Grade: F double minus) Have done exactly zero music recording. However, I have been doing a lot of music playing, so once I get all the recording stuff set up, I will have a lot of material at the ready, so I can start "busting out some tracks" right away.

Item 5: Get a New Fucking Job (Grade: N/A) Did this already, so it's not really applicable. However, given the way the new job has been going, this item is getting closer and closer to being reborn. Gah!

Item 6: Work Better (Grade: F+) This was definitely not a good quarter for this. But I've had so much else on my mind, you really can't blame me. Well, you can, but I would really rather you not. Instead, how about blaming the job itself! Or the terrorists! Yes, blame the terrorists.

Item 7: Get Laid At Least Five Times (Grade: F triple minus) I continue to take the "wait and see" approach to this. I'm sure once the pilot's license is back in my wallet, though, this will take care of itself.

Item 8: Write More (Grade: F-) Kinda fell apart on this one. I have really been in a state of low creativity for some time now. I don't like it, but that's how it is. When I was doing the original PWC, I'd have great, funny ideas to write about almost every week. It's been over three months now, and I can't think of a damn thing. Sorry about that, everyone.

Item 9: Cook More (Grade: D+) On and off, on and off. I'd like to see a little more consistency here. Once I clean up my kitchen, and get my knives sharpened, this is sure to pick right up.

Item 10: Local Travel (Grade: B+) The purchase of the camera has really vitalized this item. You've seen all the places I've been, and now I'm energized about travelling and photography, and so am planning even more trips in the near future.

Item 11: Get In Shape (Grade: C-) This went really well for a couple months, and then (as one might have predicted, if one had known me any of the other fifty-seven times I started getting in shape) it stopped going really well. But never fear, I'll be getting right back to it within the week.

So, overall, you're probably getting the idea that this wasn't my finest quarter. If you go only by these items and their associated grades, I'd have no choice but to agree wholeheartedly with you. That being said, I had a lot of fun, which I think you have to take into account when forming an overall opinion of this quarter. However, in any case, the stage has once again been set for the next quarter to be really monumental. Yes, three months from now, I have a feeling you'll be reading a report from a totally new Pinback, one you will be proud to know. As opposed to now, when, out of shame, you have to hide the PWC link in with all your porn links that you've stowed away three levels down in bookmark folders named "financial", "work stuff", or "physics class".