I think end of the year sounds like a good goal. We could have intermediate goals too even, like the 23rd for modelling and texturing being done (just an example). From now till Christmas and after is going to be pretty busy for me, but I still have illusions that I'll have time to do Maya.

Theme.... hmmm. What about a magical robot (and it can't be a transformer). Ok, that's the first thing that popped into my head. Other ideas... a genetically modified animal... a lamp that chases a ball... no wait... a wizards hat. A leaf that's gearing up to jump from its branch. An earthquake. A water droplet that doesn't want to join a stream. A bird and a meteor shower. A foreboding sinister room where all that moves is the camera.

Ok, pick one!

Edit: Didn't see your edit... I'll ponder it.