As I piece my life back together after allowing it to fall apart in what I like to call, “party 2004”, I have a list of items to accomplish in order to feel like a responsible adult woman. Albeit boring, accomplishing these things will mean a true turning point in my life.

1) Pay off all tickets that have accumulated since 04 that I have not been able to keep up with as they double and triple. I went from over $4,000 worth, yes that is correct, to $1500 that I will be paying off in March. Woot!

2) Pay off the car repo from 2 years ago (I was paying it, but got over my head). This will be a work in progress…am in a debt settlement program but the payments hurt.

3) Improve my credit score by tackling all the random debts that are on my report, like the $24 I owe bally total fitness. Assholes. 

4) Finish my degree. I had to drop out twice due to lack of funds and lack of ambition. I am now finishing my BA with DePaul’s SNL program (est. completion end beginning-mid 2012) and will probably get my MA in Applied Technology immediately following to narrow my focus (most of my BA credits have been from web design and radio communications, which is not my current career path).

5) Get a grown up apartment and leave the roommate behind in Fall 2011. Unless, of course, the roommate is the man I adore. 

6) Continue my cooking endeavors and create a recipe book. I make a lot of great things but never remember any of them. 

Less urgent personal priorities

Travel - As many summer trips as possible this year, and start to plan bigger trips to Europe

Engage myself with politics -  I want to know more about political priorities in general and understand the needs in this country. 

Philanthropy - I do want to start supporting causes that are important to me both financially and by donating my time. Specifically interested in supporting cruelty-free farming, animal rescues, and finding a good human charity as well (duh). 

And that is all I can think of for now. 

Sometimes when everything starts to get crazy, the universe gives you something special to keep yourself sane. 

“Songs from a scene” at double door was a bit nostalgic. Enjoyed seeing old friends I used to spend a lot of time with and spending a birthday with the lovely Erika. I realized that there is a good reason for my not being a part of this “scene” any more, which I will not provide detail on, but for that realization I am thankful. Priorities are important, and it’s good to check them every once and a while. I came home after the double door, flat iron, and an empty house party to my cozy home and 2 piles of Parmesan mashed potatoes. 

Tonight I will be ringing in the new year with some of my favorite people in a sparkly dress. Before work and school hurl me into a stressed out frenzy, it can’t get any better than this.