There Is Always Room For Improvement.

I've never been one to place much stock in New Year's resolutions. It's just too easy to set yourself up for disaster. That's not to say that there isn't room for improvement. Just ask anyone that knows me and that fact can documented in a matter of minutes. There isn't any hope for me in terms of my personal life but as a powerboater there are a few areas in which I could use a little, let's say, fine tuning.
1. I will refrain from laughing at the misfortunes of fellow boaters whose antics at the boats ramps create great fodder to share with other smug boaters. But I only laugh to hide my own lack of skill.
2. It isn't an item that you will see proudly displayed in the boating news but we have been known to make fun and speak poorly of those floundering about in sailboats. I will work very hard at correcting that. Wait a minute! If I were foolish enough to be a wind bagger, I would want to be taught a lesson. Scratch #2.
3. I will not buy myself an extraordinarily expensive toy for the boat and as an explanation as to it's origin tell my wife I won it in a contest. This includes new boats as well. (This one will be easy because it didn't work last year).
4. I am going to put a little card on the dash as a reminder: It will read "Oh little grasshopper, you are not the wisest boater on the lake. You have much to learn oh little one". It's easy to forget that sometimes.
5. I will no longer use pathetic excuses to get out of work, weddings, birthday parties etc. etc. etc. No way. This year my excuses will be unbelievably creative and planned out far in advance. I'm working on them now as a matter of fact.
6. Sick days are a wonderful thing and if careful planning is used, they can be a boater's best friend. But after using up all that I had last year I realized that what I did was wrong. Very wrong. I have to make sure I don't use them all to go out on my boat. I need to save some for those occasions when I can be a guest on a friend's boat.
7. Anyone that enters our house will immediately notice the only reading material present is either boating magazines or related catalogues and brochures. There are friends and family members that tend to frown on this lack of "intelligent" reading material. To avoid the inevitable confrontations I am removing the cover of each magazine as it enters the house and replace it with a cover from a magazine such as Time or News Week. I hope nobody picks up on the fact that it will be the same cover month after month.
8. Last but indeed the most important area that I need to work on is to stop walking around with blinders on. I need to be more aware that there are things that are more important than boating. I must be more flexible and not disappear to go fishing whenever I feel like it. I need to own up to my responsibilities. HA! Had you going didn't I? There's always time to worry about that next year!!

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