A few years ago I realized there were a few things I really wanted to do, but was failing to make time to do. In particular, I was reading less and running less. I started tracking the books I read and the miles I ran, and found that led to me doing more of both. I fully understand that this method will not work for everyone, and that even fewer people might be interested in the numbers I generated in 2025. Nonetheless I persist!

Here then, is Pete's Year, summarized in some random numbers. Our cover photo is from the stage Spoon would soon come out and own, an experience that was one of my 2025 highlights.

Miles run: 268.9. This is almost 50 less than last year(!), but about 4 moths ago I joined a nearby gym, and I'm going for classes there twice a week. This year I'm gonna track miles run and walked, and the goal is 1000. I walk a lot? So that should be doable?

Books read: 58. This is a number I don't see myself ever topping. The total was helped by some YA reads and a couple of audiobooks on long car rides, but the increase in reading is the biggest change I've noticed since I started tracking. It really does seem to be the case that the more I read, the more I read. I rate them on a 5 point system, mainly to help me remember basic reactions, and the average was 3.67.

Book events: 18. A new category, in honor of the arrival of King Cal. I can honestly report I had a blast at each and every one. Is it different to be in front of a crowd of 50 or so in Los Angeles on a beautiful Sunday afternoon than in a store with 3 people on a rainy night? Sure. But I have learned to appreciate all the opportunities, big and small, to talk about books and life and writing. I started fantasizing about publishing novels in the third grade, so to be granted three swings, and have anyone come and want to hear me talk? I'm forever grateful.

‍
Copies King Cal sold: Unknown. I could ask, and will find out when I get a royalties summary, but I try not to think about it too much. I am well aware that it's hard to get people to buy, never mind, read the damn things. And I am also aware that there is no time crunch here; I just had a stranger who had stumbled across the first book write me, and it meant just as much now as it would have in 2017.

Number of words written for book number 4: 90,000ish. I can't say too much about it, but I will say I have had to do a little research on skiing and Anglican nuns, and there's not a musician in sight.

Like I said, I know this method may not work for you. I share now, not to brag that I have found a system to help me do more of the shit I want to do more of (though, well, okay, it is satisfying to see these numbers, I confess), but to see if it can nudge anyone to find a system to help them do more of the shit they want to do. Because that's what we all need to be doing, yes?

‍

‍

‍