New Years Predictions and Resolutions

If you haven't noticed, I've updated my blog A LOT over the past couple of days. This a blatant last minute attempt to try to catch my blog up on some of the events of the past few months. I guess you could call it a New Year's resolution to not get too far behind.

I still have:
-A 12-Month update to write about Shane
-Post a bunch of "My kid is awesomely cute pictures)
-Post a post on Shane's first steps (and the video proof)
-A 13-Month post due on the 6th
-A post complaining about all the other posts I have to catch up on, etc. etc.

I'll get there!

Time for some resolutions and predictions:
Resolutions:
1. To update my blog
2. To figure out my next career step.  Do I try to stay for a 5th year at my current school?  Do I try to switch to a new school?  Do I try for a computer based position within the district? Do I go back to alternative schools and work with expelled kids again?  Decisions, decisions, decisions.
3. To invest more.  Shocking considering the stock market, right? I'm thinking long-term though, so I'm confident whatever I buy now should at least break even when I pull it out 20 years from now if Shane decides to go the college route (and if he doesn't I'll blow it on something else).
4. Practice my Spanish more.
Update: I'm doing great on #1. Resolution #2 was the path of least resistance after I couldn't get a tech job but it's working out well. Resolution #3 counts as a win if you consider moving houses an investment and I've done next to nothing on #4.

Predictions:
1. I don't think I'll be teaching at the same school next school year. Why? I think it'd look good on the resume to have 5 years at one location, but I'm feeling the wanderlust. One of my life goals is to teach at all three levels at some point (Elementary, Middle, and High). Six years as a teacher under my belt and I've only really been at the Middle school level.
Update: I was wrong! No one hired me for a tech position, but I tried my darnedest.Thankfully, I like my school!

2. The "Great Recession" will linger. The economy will get better, but it won't be earth-shattering.  Too many people will be fearful or distrustful of the economy, Europe will still be in the stink, Congress won't get jack done, and many people will still be sitting around bemoaning their fate and protesting instead of going out and trying to do something positive.
Update: Looks like I was right on the money for this one.

3. Obama will get re-elected. I'm not really a huge fan, but I don't see anyone stepping up that I think will beat him. The nation needs a leader who can appeal to both sides and doesn't care about getting re-elected and you just don't see that too often in politics.
Update: I got this one right.

4. The Packers will win the Super Bowl again. I'm okay with this.  Oh, and I think the Redskins will look extremely hopeful at the start of next year and then go right down the crapper again as they've been doing. Sometimes it sucks to be a fan.
Update: still waiting to see how this one pans out (it's 11/24 as I update this). The 'Skins did start the year with a flashy win. RG3 inspired a great amount of hope before we dropped to 3-6 and Coach Shanahan started talking about "next year."  We just beat the Cowboys on Turkey Day and we're back in the race though!

5. Something major will happen in Asia. North Korea's going through a change in leadership, China's cruising around with an aircraft carrier they bought to test out, and terrorists are still terrorists. That area's smoldered forever and a day, so this probably isn't a shocking prediction to anyone.

6. Shane will be a willful child. He's already showing his frustration when he doesn't get what he wants (as all babies do), but I'm sensing he's going to be a stubborn little suck when he wants to. This could bode well for him having strength of character as an adult, but may make my life tougher in the short run.
Update: Oh, he's willful all right.

7. I'll go to at least three weddings this year. One was announced, but I sense more in the future.
Update: I went to two. Carrie went to two. Megan and Matt got hitched and Carrie's cousin David did. Dates have been set next year for Bill's and Igor's weddings.

8. John will actually talk to me again after he's ignored my phone calls and texts for the past 9 months or so.  Why? Because I think he's being ridiculous and I'm not going to stop calling. I didn't stop being his friend because I got married and had a kid.
Update: This was a big bust. I ambushed John at work to say "I still want to be your friend," and it ended with him blocking my phone number. He didn't show up at Matt's wedding either. He's always been good at holding a grudge, but I hope this does change.

9. I'll stop writing this post because it's late, I want to go to bed, and I wonder if I'll remember to look at this a year from now.
Update: I'm in the process of adding tags to 200+ posts I never tagged and stumbled across this. Go figure!