So here is my New Year's list this year 2016

New Year's List:

1. Shoot more films (40): 'Chet and Amanda', comedy sketches, action, drama, fantasy, commercials.
2. Trips
3. More photo shoots
4. More essay, short stories, scripts
5. One post a week on blog and page (of which I'm failing at so far, lol)
6. Say, 'yes' more
7. Complete portfolio for comic cons
8. Get way fitter
9. Get published

Let's do this.

The importance of Birthdays

Not only are birthdays when we get older but each one is a special memory engraved in our mind for all eternity. A bad one can leave an emotional scar but a great one can be thought of as the best one in the world. It's important to have these markers, they are points in our life that can remind us of lessons learned and love gained. Lets all make sure we have the best ones possible this year, its a great and easy goal for this new year! Happy b'day all!!

2014

So the old year is out and the new year is in. 2014 has arrived, have you accomplished your goals of the past year? Yeah, me either. Want some helpful tips I learned myself? Even if you don't I'm still going to write it. Cool?

MIKE D. BURKE'S TIPS FOR ACHIEVING GOALS THIS YEAR:

1. MAKE THEM SMALLER- Break your goals down into manageable chunks.
2. MAKE THEM PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE-It'll be really annoying but tell someone you know all your goals, tell everyone. Use Facebook, twitter, schemer, google+, your mothers social group.
3. WRITE THEM DOWN- Keep track of them yourself as well. Keep a journal, a blog, write them down and post them on your fridge. Write them down.
4. HAVE A WAY TO CHECK THEM OFF

Now taking my own advice, here are my goals for 2014:

1. START MY CAREER
2. MARCH-OCT GO ON 1 TRIP A MONTH
3. PAY OFF A BILL OR TWO
4. GET FITTER
5. FINISH PROJECTS
6. SAVE $10 A MONTH
7. SET AN EASY TO FOLLOW BUDGET
8. BE A BETTER HUSBAND, FRIEND AND PERSON
9. BECOME MORE ORGANIZED
10. COMPLETE COMIC BOOK
11. READ ALL THE BOOKS I OWN
12. PICK UP MORE FREELANCE WORK
13. BLOG AND ADVERTISE MORE
14. BE MORE RESPONSIBLE
15. BE MORE OPEN
16. BE MORE CHARITABLE
17. JOURNAL MORE, CREATE MORE MEMORIES
18. GET GOALS DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED

A lot to work on, I know. Good luck to all of us!! 2014!!!!

Holiday Feeling

NEW HARTFORD, NY- Alone out in the pouring rain I struggled. It had been three days since I noticed my headlight going out and my wife was on me to get it fixed. She was right of course, it needed to be dealt with. Not only because I feared getting a ticket so close to Christmas but for safety reasons as well. It of course made it difficult to see at night and guide my vehicle on these winter roads of central New York. I was concerned especially for when my wife drives it.

So the first stop I made was over to Advanced Auto Parts to get the right bulb. I figured I was in for an easy fix. I had replaced the bulbs in my rear lights many a time and was accustom to the knowledge needed to fix it. So I go in and ask the guy what kind of bulb I need, he gets it, easy. I go out to my car, lift up my hood and prop it, as I look at my headlight I notice a long screw in it keeping it attached. No problem, I go to my trunk and get out my tools, well I try every ratchet head I have and wouldn't you know I have the wrong size, of course.

Now I'm texting every friend I have if they have a ratchet set. None of them do. This happened to me last time when I thought I needed a jump and none of them had jumpers, of course I hadn't had any either. This I realize is a bit of a problem, it seems that the men of my generation and around it are insanely unprepared when it comes to having tools, at least in my circles. So this brings me to Sears.

Finally I get to Sears and I buy a small ratchet set for $8, I get out to my car, prop the hood up, get the right ratchet and unscrew the screw, easy. So now the headlight is supposed to just slide out straight easily, well I'm pulling on it, I'm pulling on it and the damn sucker just won't come out. This little family comes out to the mini van parked in front of me and they get in their vehicle. Now I'm still struggling away at this thing because after all the trouble of getting the bulb and the right ratchet set I'll be damned if I'm this close and I don't fix it, the family however is still there just watching me from inside their car. Rain is pouring down on me, I'm frustrated to no end, I'm thinking, 'why doesn't this guy and his adorable family get out of here and stop staring at me, probably laughing, I know I would be'. What does the guy do? He gets out of his car and asks if I need help, not only him but his wife too! I'm like, 'yeah if you wouldn't mind', they're like, 'not at all'. So now this random couple and I are all struggling for minutes what feels like hours. Finally we get the sucker out, I figure out which light it is and as it turns out it was just a little loose and the light pops on! I didn't even have to change it! So I thank the family very much and wish them happy holidays and new year and we part ways.

That situation really made me thankful for kindness in strangers, its rare but it does happen! The holidays are a great time of year when people really think of their fellow man and wish all a joyful time! It's not just in movies and TV shows and books, its out there in real life! So here's to wishing everyone  a  joyous and love filled holiday and new year!!