2013: The Great Beyond

I have spent the last two years getting myself into a great place with a new job and active lifestyle, so 2013 will be all about enjoying the fruits of my labor. A few of my most-anticipated happenings in the new year:

Camping, Traveling, and The Great Outdoors

As I look forward to the challenge of the Appalachian Trail in 2014, I will be spending much of 2013 preparing myself physically and mentally. Once a month, beginning in January, I will be embarking on significant hiking, backpacking, canoeing, and camping trips. January will see a significant hike in the Northwest Ohio area. In February I am heading to the Wayne State Forest / Hocking Hills area for two days of hiking. In March I will head to Michigan. April will see me in in Kentucky. I will be building up to a fall vacation on the Appalachian Trail as a section hiking (most likely West Virginia).

Along with my weekly routines of short hikes and jogging, I hope to be in great form for my 2014 hike.

New Projects at Work

A team of three developers does not allow for much wiggle room in responsibility, and I would like to think that I have shouldered a pretty solid workload in the last six months. Being a meaningful team member by exercising my talents (front-end development, photography, writing) has allowed me to take on direct responsibility for some unique projects. January kicks off with a website project that will consume the entire month. If all goes well, February will start with another major, multi-year project to keep me employed for quite some time.

Entertainment Blogging

Posting every Sunday on Critically Correct has worked well for me in the past year, but in 2013 I am going to expand my writing a bit. I hope to post a regular entertainment-based article at least once a week. Sundays will still be my usual personal ramblings, but I want to have a weekly outlet for more creative, educational, or informative work: creative writing, short-form essays, and If nothing else, this will keep me writing an a much more consistent basis than I am now.

Shiggs Photography

My Canon T3i ended up being my favorite technology purchase of 2012. In 2013 I am going to offer basic photography services in the Toledo and Bowling Green areas. I plan to start simple - offer my services strictly as a cheap alternative to pricier professionals - but still put out some quality shots. By not offering advanced services or physical products (I only give out the "digital negatives," not final prints), I can focus on affordable, creative photography while expanding my abilities as a photographer. My intentions down the road are to do photography as a semi-pro as a supplemental income. Hopefully my slightly-off business model is a success.

Oh, by the way, I'm calling it Shiggs Photography.

B3 out.