Driving with Scissors

The Altima had to go to the dealer for its periodic oil change this week (what an exciting topic). Sitting in the driveway scrolling through my mp3 player for music to play on the 45-minute drive, I came across one of my favorite albums: Ta-Dah, by the Scissor Sisters. “Ooh, I haven’t listened to this one in ages. Yoink!” In went the stereo jack, up went the volume, and off went the car and I to caterwaul along the highway. And I do mean caterwaul; my singing is atrocious.

One of my favorite songs on this album is “Everybody Wants the Same Thing,” partly because they use the word janky and mostly because the bridge lyrics really resonate with me.

What is it that you want?
What is it that you give?
Where do you plan on finding it?
How do you wanna live?

Hearing this song again made me think about my Big Three goals for the year and how they've progressed. Let’s time-machine (yes, I just totally verbed time machine) back to December and see how we’re doing, shall we?

Goal 1—Do Something New
Status: Achieved! This year I wanted to take on a new subject matter or project type, and I have done both. For a few weeks I was so far outside of my comfort zone that I felt like a troglodyte on a runway. Maths were involved! The horror! But it was good for me. My brain space is definitely expanded.

Goal 2—Go Somewhere New
Status: Achieved! I went to two new cities this summer: Tucson and Milwaukee. Both are very different from home and very cool (figuratively in the case of Tucson, because desert). I’d love to go back to both and explore more.

Goal 3—Help Someone New
Status: Achieved! I was able to donate as a business to the local humane society this year, which fills me with yay. My work was still done for long-distance clients, which is simply a function of the market I currently inhabit. If I switch from government contracting back to cementing and frac-packing, things will likely get a lot more local.

That’s pretty good progress on the Big Three (and the ever-present Moar Revenue goal). Kraang is pleased. Now, if you've never heard the song above, you might be wondering about the answers to those questions. Here’s what the song says.

Love is what I want!
Love is what I give!
Right here’s where I’m finding it;
That’s how I’m gonna live!

I think those are pretty good answers, which is why I’ll keep driving with Scissors.