Category Archives: Goals

Stuff not from my 2013 goals

Sometimes it feels like I did more stuff outside of my goals list than inside.  It also feels like I might copy and paste text from other blog entries as a introduction, almost verbatim, so as not to have to come up with something new, fresh, hip, vapid.  Here is a reckoning of part of that, with some commentary as I deem a synonym for appropriate.  This list also doesn’t include movies from my 2013 favorites list.

Books

  • The Hunger Games trilogy

TV

Hadn’t seen before:

  • Arrested Development (season 4)
  • Big Love (seasons 1-5)
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (the first part of season 1)
  • Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (the first part of season 1)
  • Star Trek (seasons 1-3)
  • Tiny Toon Adventures (seasons 1-3)

I’m not sure why I initially decided to watch Big Love, but I enjoyed watching it for the drama, and it affirmed my desire never ever to practice polygamy.

I also began what I assume will be a very long journey of watching all of the Star Trek TV series and films.  In 2013 I got through the original series and its successive films.  Some of the episodes were really good, some were really awful, and most were just okay, I guess.  In 2014 I plan to watch the The Next Generation TV series and its successive films.  I want to try and watch Deep Space Nine and Voyager, too, and intersperse the TNG films chronologically, but we’ll see if that actually happens or if the other TV series get pushed to 2015.

A big fan of Arrested Development, I eagerly awaited the new season 4.  It mostly did not disappoint, though the format was very different from the original seasons of some years past.  I do hope that Netflix produces a fifth season, and possibly more.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are the two new shows this season that I added to my watch-as-they-are-airing list (well, after they air, but during the season, anyway).  So far I’ve enjoyed them both.

Had seen before:

  • Angel (seasons 1-5)
  • Arrested Development (seasons 1-3)
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas
  • It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

I wasn’t going to watch Angel along with Buffy the Vampire Slayer this year, but I did anyway.  When I first watched Buffy and Angel in 2010, it was alone as I slept on the couch while my wife was pregnant.  This time we watched them together, Buffy on DVD from the set I bought a couple of years ago, and Angel on Netflix.

Movies

Hadn’t seen before:

  • Atlantis: Milo’s Return
  • Argo
  • Beautiful Creatures
  • The Black Cauldron
  • Bolt
  • Brother Bear
  • Brother Bear 2
  • Done the Impossible
  • Enchanted
  • Hercules
  • The Fox and the Hound
  • The Fox and the Hound 2
  • Friends With Benefits
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
  • LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Superheroes Unite
  • The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning
  • The Princess Diaries
  • The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
  • Super
  • Twilight
  • The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  • The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One
  • The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two

I joined the Disney Movie Club twice in 2013 to update and expand my Disney movie collection.  Due to Disney’s practice of packaging some of their “lesser” movies together with their direct-to-video sequels, I saw a few for the first time.  Some were absolutely terrible (Atlantis 2, Hunchback 2) and some were more tolerable (The Little Mermaid 3).  I also saw some Disney movies from the Animated Classics line for the first time, including The Black Cauldron, Hercules, The Fox and the Hound, and Bolt.  I thought I would like Hercules more than I did, but it was all right, I guess.  Bolt wasn’t too bad, but the other two I could take or leave.

Argo won the 2013 Academy Award for Best Picture, and I liked it well enough.  The LEGO Batman movie was lots of fun, expanding on the story of the second LEGO Batman video game.  Super was weird and quirky (and a bit too violent for me), but a good one-timer, I think.  Nathan Fillion was great as always.

I watched Twilight because I love my wife.  They were very silly, and there’s definitely a moment when Edward starts to sparkle in the sun and the score is quite reminiscent of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Had seen before:

  • About a Boy
  • Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
  • Almost Heroes
  • Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
  • The Aristocats
  • Batman
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1
  • 007: Skyfall
  • Elf
  • The Emperor’s New Groove
  • Ernest Goes to Camp
  • Ernest Goes to Jail
  • Ernest Saves Christmas
  • Ernest Scared Stupid
  • The Fugitive
  • Galaxy Quest
  • Gone in 60 Seconds
  • The Great Muppet Caper
  • Home Alone
  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
  • Hot Rod
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Inception
  • The Island
  • Kronk’s New Groove
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch
  • The Lion King
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Love Actually
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Meet the Robinsons
  • Mulan
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Return to Never Land
  • Robin Hood
  • Shrek
  • Tarzan
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
  • Winnie the Pooh

Many of the films in the above list were due to purchases upgrading my DVDs to Blu-ray, from the Disney Movie Club, Black Friday sales, or otherwise.

Video Games

Replays:

  • New Super Mario Bros. Wii
  • Super Mario Bros. 3
  • Super Mario World

It seems that New Super Mario Bros. Wii is becoming at least an annual play in our house.  With the recent purchase of a Wii U, New Super Mario Bros. U and a few others may also join it.

2013 Goals Update

So how did I do on my goals for 2013?

Books to Read

I got through the remainder of The Wheel of Time books, Ender’s Game, and about two-thirds of The Hobbit with my kids.  The rest are pushed to 2014, and will be joined by some others.

TV Seasons to Watch

Haven’t seen before:

I watched the rest of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but didn’t get to The Super Hero Squad Show, which will probably be on my 2014 list.

Have seen before, but haven’t yet watched my DVDs:

2/5.  I didn’t get to The Closer season 7–the complete series will be on my 2014 list, nor did I get to Transformers, which I also plan to watch in 2014.  I got rid of my The Big Bang Theory sets, so they’re gone by default.  I did watch Buffy though (and Angel again), and I think that’s what really counts.

Currently airing/will air this year:

Watched them all.

Have seen before, to rewatch on DVD/Netflix:

Let’s go with 3.33 out of 8.  I watched Batman: The Animated Series, Superman, The Animated Series, and the Batman: TAS movies.  I also watched one volume of Animaniacs, pushing the rest of the list to 2014 (to be joined by some others, I think).

Movies to Watch

From last year [2012]:

Got them all.

From previous years, already seen or not (thanks, Netflix):

I watched the animated Marvel films from the list, but didn’t get to Eternal Sunshine or Good Will Hunting, and now I think they’re gone from Netflix streaming.

New this year [2013]:

13/14, only missing The Hobbit.

Movies/TV I [try to] watch at least once a year:

Got them all.

Unwatched DVDs/Blu-rays:

Got them all.

DVDs/Blu-rays I haven’t watched since 2010 or before:

48/65, 18% better than last year’s 41/74.  The rest will get rolled to 2014 and joined by several others, becoming since 2011 or before.

Video Games to Play

2/2.

Other

1/2.  Still no Facebook, still no poetism commentaries.

Goals for 2013

2013 is here!  I will be 33 this year!  That’s exact rhyming, not just near!  Argh stay this madness!

I seem to have done better with my 2012 goals than those of 2011, which could mean I’m a better planner, or just that I’m more realistic about what I am too lazy to do.

Books to Read

  • The rest of the Book of Mormon (with my children)
  • The Wheel of Time books 10 – 14 (Crossroads of Twilight, Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light)
  • The Hobbit
  • The Lord of the Rings
  • The “original” Ender quartet (Ender’s Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia
  • The Mistborn Trilogy

TV Seasons to Watch

Haven’t seen before:

  • The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (the rest of season 2)
  • The Super Hero Squad Show

Have seen before, but haven’t yet watched my DVDs:

  • Animaniacs (volume 4, once it’s finally released)
  • The Big Bang Theory (seasons 1 – 5)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (seasons 1 – 7)
  • The Closer (season 7)
  • The Transformers (seasons 1 – 4)

Currently airing/will air this year:

  • The Big Bang Theory (the rest of season 6)
  • Castle (the rest of season 5)
  • Dexter (season 8)
  • Fringe (the rest of season 5)
  • Homeland (season 3)
  • Major Crimes (season 2)
  • The Mentalist (the rest of season 5)
  • The Office (the rest of season 9)
  • 30 Rock (the rest of season 7)

Have seen before, to rewatch on DVD/Netflix:

  • Animaniacs (volumes 1 – 3)
  • Batman: The Animated Series
  • Batman: The Animated Series movies (Mask of the Phantasm, Sub Zero, Mystery of the Batwoman)
  • Batman Beyond
  • The Closer (seasons 1 – 6)
  • Justice League: Unlimited
  • Pinky and the Brain
  • Superman: The Animated Series

Movies to Watch

From last year:

  • The Bourne Legacy
  • Jack Reacher
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • Looper
  • Total Recall
  • Wreck-It Ralph

From previous years, already seen or not (thanks, Netflix):

  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • Good Will Hunting
  • Hulk Vs.
  • The Invincible Iron Man
  • Planet Hulk
  • Thor: Tales of Asgard

New this year:

  • Anchorman: The Legend Continues
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2
  • Ender’s Game
  • A Good Day to Die Hard
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
  • Iron Man 3
  • Justice League: Flashpoint
  • Man of Steel
  • Monsters University
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • Star Trek into Darkness
  • Superman: Unbound
  • Thor: The Dark World
  • The Wolverine

Movies/TV I [try to] watch at least once a year:

  • The Amazing Spider-Man
  • The Avengers
  • Batman Begins
  • The Dark Knight
  • The Dark Knight Rises
  • The Bourne Identity
  • The Bourne Supremacy
  • The Bourne Ultimatum
  • Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
  • Firefly
  • Serenity
  • (500) Days of Summer
  • Iron Man
  • Iron Man 2
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • The Matrix
  • The Matrix Reloaded
  • The Matrix Revolutions
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
  • Spider-Man
  • Spider-Man 2
  • Spider-Man 3
  • Star Trek
  • Superman Returns

Unwatched DVDs/Blu-rays:

  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Finding Nemo
  • The Lorax
  • Shrek 2
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

DVDs/Blu-rays I haven’t watched since 2010 or before:

  • Atlantis: The Lost Empire
  • Bandits
  • 007: Casino Royale
  • 007: Quantum of Solace
  • Chain Reaction
  • Clear and Present Danger
  • DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
  • Elektra
  • Ernest in the Army
  • Ernest Rides Again
  • Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
  • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
  • Flight of the Navigator
  • Follow That Bird
  • Ghostbusters
  • Groundhog Day
  • The Hobbit
  • Hook
  • Howl’s Moving Castle
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • The Italian Job
  • Kermit’s Swamp Years
  • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
  • Liar Liar
  • Live Free or Die Hard
  • The Man Who Knew Too Little
  • Mary Poppins
  • Monsters, Inc.
  • Muppet Treasure Island
  • National Treasure
  • National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
  • Oliver and Company
  • Peter Pan
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
  • Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • Speed Racer
  • Spirited Away
  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
  • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
  • Star Trek: Generations
  • Star Trek: First Contact
  • Star Trek: Insurrection
  • Star Trek: Nemesis
  • Superman
  • Superman II
  • Superman III
  • The Sword in the Stone
  • Throw Momma From the Train
  • Transporter 2
  • Treasure Planet
  • UHF
  • What About Bob?
  • The Wizard of Oz
  • X-Men
  • X2: X-Men United
  • X-Men: The Last Stand
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Video Games to Play

  • Lego Lord of the Rings
  • Lego Pirates of the Caribbean

Other

  • Still no Facebook
  • Poetism commentaries

Stuff not from my 2012 goals

Sometimes it feels like I did more stuff outside of my goals list than inside.  It also feels like I might copy and paste text from other blog entries as a introduction, so as not to have to come up with something new, fresh, hip, vapid.  Here is a reckoning of part of that, with some commentary as I deem, not fit, exactly, but something.  This list also doesn’t include movies from my 2012 list.

Books

I read The Complete Calvin and Hobbes with my kids.  It was time well spent.

TV

Hadn’t seen before:

  • The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (half of season 2)
  • The Guild (season 5)
  • Major Crimes (season 1)
  • Phineas and Ferb (the rest of season 3)

Major Crimes is the continuation of The Closer, one of my favorite shows.  It’s almost as good as The Closer, but with a different feel and some new cast members (and minus some who left after The Closer ended).

Had seen before:

  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
  • Justice League (seasons 1-2)
  • Mad About You (seasons 6-7)

Movies

Hadn’t seen before:

  • Adventureland
  • American Reunion
  • Castle in the Sky
  • Drive
  • In Time
  • Kiki’s Delivery Service
  • Moneyball
  • Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow
  • The Secret World of Arrietty
  • Ultimate Avengers: The Movie
  • Ultimate Avengers 2
  • Whisper of the Heart

Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Whisper of the Heart are all Studio Ghibli films.  They are always fun to watch, and often heartwarming.

The three Avengers movies listed are part of Marvel’s direct-to-DVD line, most of which are in my Netflix queue and of which I watch one here and there.  In 2013 I plan to watch (most of?) the rest.

Had seen before:

  • Across the Universe
  • The Aristocats
  • As Good as it Gets
  • Bambi
  • Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
  • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
  • Black Sheep
  • Elf
  • Ernest Saves Christmas
  • Fever Pitch
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
  • Home Alone
  • Hulk
  • The Incredible Hulk
  • Jumanji
  • The Lost World: Jurassic Park
  • Jurassic Park III
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
  • Muppets from Space
  • Newsies
  • Not Another Teen Movie
  • Pete’s Dragon
  • Pocahontas
  • The Princess and the Frog
  • The Rescuers Down Under
  • Rocky Balboa
  • The Rundown
  • The Tigger Movie
  • Tommy Boy
  • Yes Man

Video Games

Replays:

  • New Super Mario Bros. Wii

2012 Goals Update

So how did I do on my goals for 2012?  Hopefully better than 2011.

Household Projects

I win!  The other bathroom was successfully remodeled!  We just have to pay for it now…

Books to Read

I got through two, part of one, and ten of the “possiblies.”  That’s got to count for something.  I read Snuff, Shadows in Flight, and the first 9 Wheel of Time books, plus the prequel, New Spring.  I also started re-reading The Book of Mormon with my daughter in preparation for her upcoming eighth birthday and baptism.  It has been slow going, and we are not quite as far as we had hoped to be (i.e. all the way through).  The rest of the list will get pushed to 2013.

TV Seasons to Watch

Haven’t seen before:

Watched them all.

Have seen before, but haven’t yet watched my DVDs:

I got 3/6.  I haven’t yet purchased The Closer season 7, The Big Bang Theory is still on my shelf (now joined by season 5…), and I just didn’t get to Spider-Man.

Currently airing/will air this year:

Watched them all.

Movies to Watch

From last year [2011]:

Watched them all.

New this year [2012]:

I watched seven of nine in this category (unwitting Star Trek reference, huzzah!).  I haven’t yet seen The Bourne Legacy, and to my great shame have not yet seen The Hobbit.

Movies/TV I [try to] watch at least once a year:

I missed Superman Returns again this year, along with the Bourne Movies, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Star Trek. I’ll definitely catch Star Trek and Superman Returns before the release of the new movies this summer, though.

Unwatched DVDs/Blu-rays:

Watched them all.

DVDs/Blu-rays I haven’t watched since 2009 or before:

I made it through 41 of 74, which is a lot better than my 14/71 last year.  The rest will get rolled to 2013 and joined by several others, becoming since 2010 or before.

Movies I haven’t seen for a while, and have a hankering to watch again (hello, Netflix):

Big fat zero.  They’re still in the queue.

Video Games to Play:

8/8.

Blogging:

Fail.  As expected.  Move along.

Other:

I did some guitar learning, but quit my lessons near the end of the summer.  Lack of time.  I hope to pick up some more in 2013.  But I’m still not on Facebook, and I think we can all agree that that is really the most important thing in this whole list.