Final 2008 Round Up

Welcome to my final 2008 round up wherein I reflect on my progress and feel grateful to Anne for nudging me to collaborate with her on meeting our goals. It's really been fun and I look forward to what we both will acheive in the coming year. Like Anne, I feel compelled to reevaluate my goals and focus more on the things that are truly important to me (or at least fun). Goodbye jiveass place fillers, hello real goals that will improve my quality of life! But more on that later! Today's task is to take stock of the past year. In the end, I finished about 1/3 of the things on my list and have been plugging away at quite a few more. Considering that the original project was to take place over more than one year, this isn't so bad.

1-Pay off my car: Still in progress, but in about two days it will be my ONLY debt! After that, one more year and I will be debt free!

2-Pay off the rest of my credit card debt: COMPLETE.

3-Create a budget: Will be complete before I go back to work on January 5. I have a spreadsheet ready and just need to plug in the amounts.

4-Lose weight: Lost 20 pounds. I have more to lose, but the goal was to lose weight, which I have done. In the works for 2009 are more specific goals than "lose more weight", which means that next time around will be more challenging, but that's ok!

5-Join a gym & set up an exercise program: Join a gym - COMPLETE. The exercise program is still a bit tenuous. My foot is almost completely healed now, so I am confident that there are good things to come in the new year!

7-Exercise at least 3x a week: This is a tough one. There was a period where I was indeed exercising more than 3x a week. I've exercised three times this week, but between injury and lack of discipline, this has not remained constant. One of the challenges I'm finding with these ongoing goals is making them specific enough to feel a sense of completion. Lifestyle issues are particularly hairy in this respect. I have a few ideas (maybe counting in hours per month or something and keeping like I did with the recipes), but any suggestions are welcome.

9-Make a quilt: No progress. Maybe I am just not meant to be a quilter. I like the idea of being creative, but maybe quilting is not my thing. I find myself much more crafty when I can use my creativity for nefarious or at least humorous purposes.

11-Write 12 short stories, essays or poems in the next year (I.e. 1/month): I really don't like the way I framed this goal and I really have no idea of how many I wrote. I wrote a few poems, a ton of blog posts, and am working on a story. So, I think the spirit of the goal is complete, but the literal framing of it not so much. I guess I'll count this as half.

12-Finish the first draft of my mystery novel

13-Learn another language: I learned a lot of Spanish this past year, but not enough that I am comfortable saying that I have learned the language.

14-Take a class

16-Make something with my own hands once a month (craft project):Jan - ?, Feb - ?, March - ?, April - collage, May: ?, June: ?, July: ?, August - ?, September: ?, October: ?, November: ?, December: Angels to hold the place cards for Christmas Dinner (and they are awesome in an amusing way, because I cracked myself all the way up with them)

17-Join a choir or that music thingy from the "Keep PDX Weird" event

18-Learn 12 new songs on my violin in the next year (I.e. 1/month): COMPLETE. One of the best things I've done this year is to pick up my violin more often. I really want to find a way to make music a regular, active part of my life again.

19-Get my bow rehaired

20-Clean out/organize my books: A never ending task. I wonder if I will ever be done.

21-Make curtains for my bedroom

22-Go for a walk in a new park/trail at least once a month. Went a few times, but definitely not once a month.

23-Learn about wine. I did learn some things, but not as much as I wanted to, so I don't feel good calling this complete.

24-Try a new recipe once a month: Complete! Jan 08: Thai Pizza; Feb 08: West African Ground Nut Stew; Carribbean Black Beans with Orange Juice and Candied Ginger; March 08: Ziti with Sundried Tomato Cream, Plaintains with Apples and Sweet Potatoes, Tangy Orange Salad Dressing; April 08: Vegetarian Carne Guisada; May08: Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies (from Apples for Jam- I am sad to report that I really did not like them). Penne with Shrimp, Cream and Tomatoes (also from Apples for Jam and DELICIOUS!); June 08: Mushroom Marinara sauce from Posie Gets Cozy website (so good!); July 08: Mole Enchiladas; August 08: Tomorrow I am making an Eggplant Lasagna; September 08: Cajun Salmon with eggplant and pomegranate salad; October 08: Tamale "pie"; Sour Cream Apple Pie (the first and most delicious pie I have ever made - I will definitely make this again!); November 08: Whiskey Glazed Carrots (SO good! I don't even like cooked carrots and I LOVED this AND I can see many applications for the whiskey glaze, which would be awesome on sweet potatoes or winter squash!); December 08: Rum Raisin Cupcakes, Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Mango Chicken

25 - Invite friends over for dinner once a month: Complete!! Jan 08: Jenny & Jesus; Feb 08: - ; March 08: Paula (kinda - we ended up eating out); Jen, Becky, Nancy, Jenny, Dejadira; Ruth, Jala, DeEtte; April 08: Jenny, DeJadira, Antonio; May 08: I am sure we had someone over, but for the life of me, I cannot remember who it was; June 08: Jenny & kids; July 08: Apala; August 08: Jen & Becky (picnic in the park, but I provided the food, so it counts!); September 08: Jeff; Apala; October 08: don't think I had anyone over - too gimpy/sick for cooking for guests; November 08: Jeff; December: Winns; Jeff

26-Try a new restaurant once a month: COMPLETE! I missed a month here and there, but there were also months where I tried more than one, so I'm okay with closing this one out., since it was just for fun. Jan 08: Jim Dandy; Feb 08: Van Hanh; Mexican Restaurant on 122nd...can't remember the name, but it was good; March 08: Mexican Restaurant by work - can't remember the name, but it's by the Thai restaurant (like that tells anyone but me anything!); April 08: - the vegan café next to my mom's chiropractor's office in Milwaukie (I know - again with the great record keeping!) May 08: Sweet Pea Baking Company (vegan and they have the yummiest peanutbutter bars!; June 08: El Tapatio (both the one on 82nd Ave in PDX AND the one in Coquille, OR), The Sea Hag (Depoe Bay, OR); the Doogers in Seaside (I've already eaten at the one in Cannon Beach); July 08: El Pollo Loco in Gresham; August 08: not yet, but I want to try the new Morrocan place by work; September 08: the new Hawaiian restaurant down the road; October 08: not sure...I think I may not have tried anything; November 08: Maggiani's in Troy, MI & a dreadful place (also in Troy) called Tichonderoga that had dead animal heads hanging all over the place - not my choice. They are known for their game. I positioned myself in a spot at the table where I would not have to look anything dead in the eye and ate butternut squash lasagna in protest. Also California Pizza Kitchen in the Salt Lake City airport; December 08: Nothing new.

27-Make Stollen: COMPLETE! I made it for Christmas and it was delicious!

28-Once a month, pick someone and buy them a gift/do something to make them happy for no reason at all: COMPLETE! Jan 08 no one; Feb 08 - sent flowers to my mom; March 08 - Cadbury eggs for Mary (b/c they're her favorite and she was having a bad day); April 08 - bought my mom a lily, also have something for Jen that I can not yet reveal, because I have yet to send it; May 08 - Bought my mom a sparkly silver tote, because she liked my gold disco bag; June 08 - While on vacation bought Deja and Antonio various souvenirs and also sprung for the $25 deluxe dune buggy ride instead of the $12 craptacular one; July 08 - stuff for Jen (though it was for her birthday); August 08 - Tickets for Phantom of the Opera for my mom; September 08: Gave Apala a Miriam Makeba cd; October 08: gave one of the nicer neighborhood kids almost ALL of our Halloween candy, because it seemed like it was going to be a slow night. I also wrote up daily ghost stories for a friends at work for 13 days before Halloween, simply because she likes them. November 08: Have been a selfish bitch! I can't really think of anything I've given anyone as a present for no reason, though I have taken my mom out for a dinner a few times. Does that count?; December 08: Tickets to see The Color Purple on New Year's.

29-Moisturize every day: Still a little hit and miss, though having a nice moisturizer is helping and I did do this deep skin treatment the other day that gave my face a really healthy glow.

30-Organize my recipes: No new progress since last month

31-Study a new Tarot card each month: No progress. I think it's just not the time. It's really not a super important goal to me.

35-Play my guitar more than once a year

36-Cut my diet coke consumption down to 1 a day (or better - none a day): Complete. It has been 2 1/2 weeks since my last diet coke or caffeine of any sort!

37-Sign up for organic grocery delivery or foodshare.

38-Study a new artist/composer each month

39-Go to a concert/play once a month: Jan 08: The Devil and Daniel Webster; Feb 08: Sweet Honey in the Rock; March 08: Corteo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo; April 08: Nothing yet. May: None; June 08: Nothing yet; July 08: nada; August 08: The Phantom of the Opera; September 08: nothing yet; October: nothing; November: nothing; December: The Color Purple

40-Go to the Shakespeare festival in Ashland.

41-Host a summer barbeque. Next summer!

42-Plan a trip to Europe

43-Renew my passport

44-Go through and get rid of CD's that need to be released into the wild

45-Go on another retreat

46-Visit the Oregon Trail museums I haven't yet visited: Visited: End of the Oregon Trail Museum in Oregon City, Tamastslikt in Pendleton, and the Oregon Trail Museum in Baker City.

48-Read something in another language each week

49-Visit the East Coast

50-Write a handwritten letter to someone once a month

51-Meet a friend for coffee/drinks/whatever once a month. I'm counting this as complete. For the past few months I have gotten together with friends pretty regularly. Really, the point of making this a goal was that I found myself feeling kind of hermit-like at the beginning of the year and turning down a lot of invitations I should have accepted. This does not seem to be a problem anymore. I think I smell an empty spot for a new goal.

52-Regularly deposit money into savings

53-Take control of my 401k investments by taking a class/reading a book on investing: SO glad I didn't bumble into making bigger investments with all the Wall Street mess! For now, I am holding on with what I'm currently doing until I feel more comfortable with some more daring investments.

54-Call or e-mail friends at least once a week. Complete.

55-Finish the photo wall

56-Take (or procure) a flattering picture of each of my friends for the wall

57-Attend a pow-wow

58-Make a dress

59-Clean out my closet (clothes AND shoes)

60-Buy new underthings and get rid of the old: Complete.

61-Clean out the garage

62-Attend a pagan festival (Beltaine and/or some other)

63-Update my birthday list. Subscribed to one of those birthday reminder dealies, but only some of my peeps are in it. I think I may go back to using my calendar.

64-Take pictures at events, gatherings, etc.

65-Go to the beach once a month in the sunny months: June - check! July - :-(, August - :-(

67-Paint my bedroom: It is not yet complete, but I am working on it.

68-Pull up the carpet in my bedroom: After the painting's done

69-Paint the deck: The rainy season has begun. I don't see any progress being made on this until spring or after.

70-Paint the front porch See #69

72-Use my Entertainment book regularly, keep track of the savings & put them in a fun money jar

73-Buy and TAKE a daily vitamin: Bought it, never really got into taking it regularly

74-Learn to knit

76-Get and update a new address book

77-Learn enough about photography to make my good pictures more than happy accidents: Checked out a book on digital photography from the library

78-Go to a reading or lecture at least once a month

79-Participate in NaNoWriMo for real and following their rules

80-Join Amnesty International- Complete. You can thank Israel. Seeing the footage of a group of Palestinians carrying the body of a small child drove me to action. The Israel/Palestinian situation is, of course, complex with a lot of misbehavior on both sides, but this little child corpse was emblematic of the kind of suffering Amnesty works to alleviate. I've volunteered for them off and on for years now, but I feel good being an official member.

81-Join The Humane Society (or some other animal organization)

82-Learn to make an origami crane

83-Run the whole way around the track

84-Go on December pilgrimage with Jenny R. and her family

85-Write something (journal, blog, whatever) every day. Complete. Was it EVERY day? Probably not, but pretty close and that is enough for the spirit in which the goal was set.

87-Get a manicure

88-Treat myself to a spa day

89-Create an enticing reward system for every 10 pounds: Complete.

91-Read the Bible, Koran, Baghavad Gita

93-Visit a Buddhist temple

94-Learn yoga/take an exercise class: I have been reticent to go back since the original "training" incident, however, yoga is on the schedule at my new gym. They also have a Latin Impact class that looks intriguing

95-Plant a vegetable/herb garden

96-Make preserves

98-Make stepping stones for the garden

99-Go berry picking on Sauvie Island

So, that's it for this year. I'll be back with some updated goals soon. I'm still tweaking, but I feel pretty good about the way the new list is shaping up and look forward to keeping myself accountable here!

Re-evaluating the past and making it into New Year's resolutions

I heard from an ex-boyfriend over this holiday season. This is the one ex I have absolutely no hard feelings towards. Consider the bookends on this story. The ex before him kept me away from his friends because he defined me as something other than a friend, made fun of my ethnicity periodically and assured me that if we had kids he would take them aside at the age of 5 and explain masturbation to them because that is what his mom did for him, while becoming upset that I was making too many child care decisions (for a child that didn't exist and never would, mind you) when I said I thought it would be good to have some religious instruction for a child (I didn't even pick the religion). There were some other things too and the relationship only lasted as long as it did because it was long distance for the vast majority of it.  The one after really wasn't a boyfriend since it took only a couple of weeks for him to call me and tell me that I was way too into him and he had to break it off, when truly I had been thinking about how much longer I'd be willing to give him a chance since there wasn't much spark- nonetheless, when I told him that I wasn't that into him, whether it be denial or whatever, he honestly did not understand what I was saying. Seriously. Did not understand the words I was saying. Which of course triggered something in me and made me have one of the most ridiculous and angry conversations ever trying to break this delusion he was so soundly under that he was really that wonderful and there really was no other option but that I desired him above all things in this world.

So consider that in the middle of this was a boyfriend that I got along fabulously with, my parents loved him, his family loved me and it ended because he was feeling too much pressure from his friends and family to move in with me or marry. I hadn't even pushed the issue and had taken him at his word the whole time that he wasn't ready. 

Ever since I got the message, this has weighed a little heavy on my mind because it is fairly rare that something from the past comes back that makes you re-evaluate a time in your life and think about the path not taken. How different my life would have been had things gone differently. And I think about myself and the things that have changed in me. Some things, such as my appreciation for cats as pets (in spite of her currently licking herself and not appearing super attractive) has definitely been a plus in my life. There are other things that were different that I think I want to reach back for though. I have been thinking about putting New Year's resolutions on top of my 100 things list because I think of resolutions as a bit more character driven rather than completion driven. So here are a couple differences and the goals that may come out of them.

1) I had less stuff. 

I lived in an apartment with two roommates. One roommate had lived in that apartment for over 10 years and had it basically outfitted. I had a bed and a chair and desk. Now I fill my own apartment. I get into these moods where I feel I have too much and I am definitely feeling it now. I have two boxes in my closet that I haven't even looked in since I moved. That is too much. So, the first bigger goal is to have less things in my apartment at the end of the year than I have now.

2) I went to the gym.

I woke up early and went to the gym. It was supposedly the gym used by the Boston Bruins (I don't know if I believe that, but I didn't talk to any of the guys there), which meant it was a serious gym. I didn't get any lines about how being fat was unattractive (which a friend of mine heard and was annoyed by when she went to a Bally's nearby) and I wasn't given girl-oriented exercises. When I mentioned to my then boyfriend what exercises the trainer had given me, he was surprised, "Really? You're doing 21's?" So, I recently joined a new gym and it is time for me to get serious again now that my back issues are done.

3) I volunteered.

I was a Girl Scout Leader. I volunteered at the Aquarium. I looked for these opportunities regularly. I haven't been doing that much anymore. I fell into a monetary donation schedule instead of a time donation schedule. Every year for a while, I would make the resolution to be a better person than I was the year before. I thought that meant honesty, fairness, not hurting others and finding a way to participate and give back to the community. I think this is a resolution I have to bring back.

4) I went to the movies.

I had friends that were much more willing to do things last minute or try out different restaurants, see movies, go to museums or concerts. Those friends are now married and harder to see or moved away. I have some new friends that are more willing to do stuff in spite of being married, which is really nice. I even started playing Dungeons and Dragons (in spite of asking about it because of Tim's interest, he decided not to play) to give my inner geekiness time in the bright light of day. In short, I think the lesson I learn here is that once you are in a place for a while, you feel like it is familiar and that there isn't as much new going on. Add to that my own hermit tendencies which can be surprisingly strong and it means I don't go out as much. There was a point when I would take the subway for an hour just to get to a store I liked because I couldn't believe (after no car in Southern California) how great it was to have functional transportation again (please note: New York public transportation is still the king in my book). So, I think I need to revisit the museums and go see a movie. Basically, I need to get out more often and try new things. I also can't wait for others. When I lived in New York City, I would go out on my own when no one else was interested and I loved it. I need to recapture that spirit as well for when Tim or anyone else doesn't have the time or the inclination to go with me.

5) I spent money on clothes.

I didn't spend a lot of money, but I did buy myself a new piece of clothing with way more regularity than I do now. I also went to the hairdresser more often. I recently had two weddings to go to in one month. I took a friend with me to the family wedding and told her how I had to go out and buy some make up since I had thrown all I had away. She asked me why. I told her that every boyfriend I had (except one, who said nothing) had told me I didn't need to wear make up and asked me not to. She then went on to tell me how an older co-worker of hers had given her the advice that she should look a little better than her husband (in my case, boyfriend) wanted her to. The men are motivated to keep you a little less than you could be to avoid attracting other men. I don't know if I really believe this, but I do think the money I've invested in my appearance is lower than it should be and maybe it is time to do something about that. So, as a general resolution, begin to exert some more effort in how I look.

I think that is already way more than enough to add and I'll stop there. I am looking forward to a new year and the opportunity to continue to be productive and improve myself.

End of Year Round Up

So, before I go on and do some re-evaluation on the goals as listed, here is a final list for this year on where I stand on progress made in the past year.

Before the current update: 69 things left to do. That means that this year I completed 31 goals- almost a third!

1) Make an afghan for afghans for Afghans - Begun! I even created a blog for it www.craftyproject.blogspot.com.
2) Consolidate 401k/IRA/503b plans hanging around from previous jobs - Second credit card is paid off and I will be canceling it after the zero balance bill shows up. This is fantastic news. Then, once the other credit card is fully paid off (still need reimbursement from my company for the class I'm taking), I can worry about this. I'm in no rush with the market as it stands right now. I do think patience on this will be the best.
3) Research before and one year after consolidation the performance of the funds - Nope.
4) Confirm at least once that all address in my address book are accurate - The bonus of Christmas cards is getting everyone's addresses off of them. Still in progress
5) Call everyone who sent me a Christmas card within 6 months of January 1 - This now applies to the current Christmas. I can do it.
7) Buy a good pair of winter boots - This is pretty desperate right now since we had so much snow and one pair of my shoes now has a hole in the sole. Water doesn't get in, but I squeak and sigh now.
9) Watch all my Looney Tunes DVDs - I started to watch one of the DVD's when I was home one weekend. Unfortunately, I watched a special anniversary show with interviews with famous Hollywood actors and what it is like working with Bugs and Daffy. Honestly, some of these stars really aren't much stars any longer.
10) Lose at least 20 pounds - I call progress because I joined a gym yesterday. I'm pretty excited to get back in the habit. In addition, I'll be seeing the integrative nutritionist twice a month beginning in January. If this combo doesn't work, then I think I may need to pull a genetics card.
11) Get green stripe belt - Nope.
13) Go to taekwondo class three times a week for at least one month - Nope.
14) Finish at least 5 books I haven't finished yet sitting on my shelves - two of five done. This is moving ahead pretty well.
15) Visit Mom for a week - No plans yet.
16) Visit Tim's family - No plans yet.
18) Visit family graves - Not done yet.
22) Get amber ring fixed - Not done yet.
23) Finish a Wii game - Not done yet. I've been playing different stuff, but not as much as I should to complete anything.
24) Finish Pikmin 2 - Not done yet.
27) Try a new recipe every month - I definitely did this. This past month I cooked three kinds of fondue. No kidding. It was fun and easier than I thought.
28) Finish DK Junglebeat - Nope.
34) Find and buy jeans that fit well - I still haven't even tried. .
35) Buy a good black turtleneck - I was ordering things off the internet and had this marked to do, but then I missed the folded corner and didn't get it done. This will happen shortly, I think.
37) Make something with a piece of fabric I already own - The pile of yarn project has really kick started some work, which is great. One of the projects I am interested in is a purse- which would need a fabric liner. This may be the way in to completing this.
38) Go through and organize jewelry - Stalled out.
39) Sell/Try to sell something I've made - Not yet.
40) Finish at least 4 of the cross-stitch kits that I have - I started working on one on Christmas.
42) Make and post a product for my website - Strategizing still
43) Buy beeswax candles - I just got a couple candles for Christmas. Not beeswax- I still feel I need to use what I have before I buy more.
44) Go to a fair - Next year. 
45) Invite someone to my house every month - This coincides with the fondue cooking for this month.
46) Clean out front room closet - No, but I will be making a couple New Year's Resolutions that will impact this.
47) Clean out file cabinet - Let's say I have filing to do.
48) Try to print my own photos on printer - I think the printer is attached now, but I have scanning to do before I print anything.
49) Organize/Store files sitting under desk - No further progress.
52) Import DVDs into computer- Nope.
54) Get Looney Tunes on my iPod - Although this would facilitate my viewing of Looney Tunes, I haven't done it.
55) Catch up on podcasts - Still making progress. I just have a huge backlog on a couple of them and I am slowly chipping away. 
56) Set up folders for iPod in iTunes and organize updating/synching - I think this is basically done, but will hold off on checking it off until I catch up on one particular podcast.
57) Post to website every month - I did a full redesign of the website, which makes me happy. As regards posting every month, it is a little less important due to the redesign of content.
61) Decide on other domain name: parked domain or new site and set it up - It is the setup part that still needs to be done
62) Get a full first draft of translation - Nope.
63) Figure out camera settings for indoor group pictures - I haven't looked into this more.
64) Find something red to wear for rat year - Done. I've been wearing a garnet bracelet given to me by my parents. I don't know if things have gotten better because of it, but I am wearing it.
65) Figure out what to do with earrings I don't wear - I'm thinking bracelet, but haven't actually looked at what I have to work with yet.
66) Read travel book by Achim von Arnim - Not yet.
67) Go to geek knitting meeting - I think arranging my own geek knitting is what will have to happen- unless going to the guild meeting counts. I think it might. Too bad this stopped right after I found out about it.
68) Evaluate usefulness of Seashore program - I just heard about another open source graphics program for the mac. I need to look into this.
70) Finish scanning old paper photos - That is part of cleaning out files under the table. Fingers crossed, will be done by the end of this year.
72) Get a backup made of my digital/digitized photos - Not done yet.
74) Find a Spanish reader and read it- I found it. I haven't read it.
75) Learn at least 250 kanji - I bought a learning game for the DS which will help me learn the kanji. I'm not advanced enough yet to have that be the focus yet, but I am feeling good about having the means to achieve this.
76) Read one of the Polish books at home - Not yet.
77) Read through/finish Vietnamese textbook - No advancement yet, although I put all the audio material on my iPod.
83) Have a day where I fully live: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." - As mentioned in an earlier post, I did this. 
84) Translate my resume into German - Nope.
85) Take someone on my favorite downtown walk - Not yet.
86) Write letters to three people letting them know how special they are - Not yet.
87) Set up an ebay account to see that sanrio item - Nope.
88) Finish a first draft of a creative writing project - Nope.
90) Spend no money for 4 days straight - Honestly, I wasn't paying attention. I think I probably got through three days without thinking much about it, but I think I need to put a little more consciousness on this to get it done.
91) Eat at No 9 Park - Not yet.
92) Eat at Aujord'hui - Not yet.
93) Figure out how I will convert to digital TV - No real plan for this, but I should figure it out in the next couple months.
94) Bind a book - Nope.
95) Make/Attempt to make all the box patterns in that origami book - Progress made. I got through the first 4 patterns this week.
96) Make the cherry blossom origami that was the reason I got that other origami book - Nope.
97) Save for/Plan/or Actually take a trip to the Pacific Northwest - Still a dream waiting to take more complete form.
98) Meet Wendy's children - Not yet.
99) Try to learn a song on the harmonica - I need to get a harmonica.
100) Learn 5 chords on the guitar and be able to switch between them all well - I started to work on this, but haven't lately since there is so much else I keep working on.

So that means two more things to mark off, bringing my first year total down to 67 left to do. Like Martina, I'm thinking about re-evaluating a few of these. I think that will come at the beginning of the next year. It's not too bad, though, if I may say so myself.

November Round-up (Martina)

Time has a way of going too quickly. The round up I started in September has turned into November. Early fall saw the beginning of a really hopeful period that has now degenerated into a "just hang on until the new year" period. I spent quite a few weeks being sick from mid-October to about mid-November. Now I'm feeling better, but overworked and my foot hurts (from a fall back in August that apparently hasn't yet healed properly). This holiday weekend has seen me feeling pensive, wondering how my life became my life and whether it is even the life I want. The winds of change have been stirring since late summer. It is unclear yet what direction that will take, but it made me think that this might be a good time to take stock of what I've been doing. I've actually been thinking a bit about goal setting lately. I think I would like to have some goals that are more focused. When I made my original 100 Things list, a lot of it was just about filling the list, which means that some of the things that made it on are not that important to me. Still, I'm forging ahead until the end of the year, then I may revamp my list. For today, in the interest of space, I am going to leave only those goals that are incomplete.

1-Pay off my car: Still in progress, but soon it will be my only debt.

2-Pay off the rest of my credit card debt: One more payment and I will be credit card debt free for the new year. Hooray!

3-Create a budget: Still too free spirited for a complete budget, but my friend Jeff claims he is a master budgeter who can help me with this. I need to talk to him about sharing his secrets.

4-Lose weight: I have lost 20 pounds since June, but am far from done. All was going really well until I got sick. Budgetmaker Jeff also knows a thing or two about diet and nutrition and helped me start a new eating plan that helped me lose over half of the 20 pounds within just a few weeks, but then the whole exercise/diet regimen fell apart. I'm determined to get back to it in December, but feeling a little bummed about the foot pain that comes and goes. I think I need to find an alternate non-weight bearing exercise (maybe swimming?) for those days when walking or aerobics doesn't feel so good.

5-Join a gym & set up an exercise program: Joined the new LA Fitness down the street about back at the end of August. After a truly horrific experience with a personal trainer that had me wondering if I shouldn't just cancel my membership I have decided to give it a month of regular attendance before making a final decision. Thanks to a particularly nasty respiratory infection, that didn't go so well, but now that I'm better, I am ready to give it a whirl. Just know that you are on super probation, LA Fitness. I didn't appreciate being whacked in the face with a medicine ball by your "professional" trainer, but I could relegate that to the unfortunate accident category despite weak assurances that it would "probably be ok" and the week of jaw pain. The "sled dog exercise" that involved being paraded around the gym IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE, while he yelled encouraging things like "mush, mush!", I am a little less forgiving about. Needless to say, I did not buy the $500 training package he tried to sell me at the end. So, in conclusion, I'm watching you LA Fitness and the view thusfar has not been too good. We are only still together because you are so conveniently close to my house. Meanwhile, I have fallen in love with my new pedometer and am about to start cheating on you with long lunch walks and my Yoga Bootie Ballet DVD's. I'm telling you, they may just steal me away from you for good!

7-Exercise at least 3x a week: This fell apart a bit between "The LA Fitness Incident" and spraining my foot in August, but I'm getting back on track. I had built up little bicep muscles under my flab from all the pushups I was doing and my midsection was tightening from all the situps. I just need to get back on track. I don't think it will be so bad.

9-Make a quilt: No progress. Maybe I am just not meant to be a quilter. I like the idea of being creative, but I think perhaps I'm just not "crafty".

11-Write 12 short stories, essays or poems in the next year (I.e. 1/month): I really don't like the way I framed this goal, but I have been doing more writing. I am on a blog hiatus and it has actually resulted in me doing a lot of other writing - a lot of journaling, even some poetry. Maybe when I have some more polished pieces I will post them on my blog, but I'm really not sure. I'm working really hard on organizing my writing and treating it with a little more respect. I've tended to not put myself out there with anything too finished out of fear that it would be crap. My writer friends tell me to not worry about it and just WRITE, but it's a difficult habit to break, because I definitely have feelings of unworthiness and suffer from something akin to authorial penis envy when I compare their writing to mine. Anyway, I think this goal should be more of the "spend X amount of time a day" ilk. On the up side, I am working on a short story. It is slighlty morbid, but I still like the idea.

12-Finish the first draft of my mystery novel: No real progress. I think maybe it's just not the time for this right now. I am feeling like I need to get serious about finding my voice and what it is the I need to write rather than focusing too much on past projects if they are not really moving me right now.

13-Learn another language: My friend, Mexican Jenny, was going to get me a Spanish textbook from the college where she works and then we were going to work our way through it. The theory was that I have done enough language that I can study the grammar on my own if I have a native speaker who will practice with me. I like the idea in theory, but am thinking that in practice we don't really see each other enough for this to be truly effective. I think I would probably be better off just taking a class.

14-Take a class

16-Make something with my own hands once a month (craft project):Jan - ?, Feb - ?, March - ?, April - collage, May: ?, June: ?, July: ?, August - ?, September: ? Again, I think perhaps I'm just not crafty.

17-Join a choir or that music thingy from the "Keep PDX Weird" event: I have not done this, but I have found a friend who wants to join me in playing some violin duets/possibly get together a group to play chamber music.

18-Learn 12 new songs on my violin in the next year (I.e. 1/month): I'm up to about #8, though some of those are definitely still in the learning stages. Still, I don't think this is bad, considering I didn't really start getting serious about this until mid-late summer and the goal was set in January. Most importantly, my tone is starting to sound good. I might not even be embarassed anymore to play in front of someone else.

19-Get my bow rehaired: Still need to do this.

20-Clean out/organize my books: More work on this is on the agenda. It is so difficult for me to get rid of books. Not only do I love them just in general, but when I look at my bookshelf, they hold memories of what was happening in my life during the time I read the books. I have a book purchased upon the recommendation of just about every guy I've ever dated. I have old copies of the Narnia chronicles that remind me of my dad, because I read them as an adult when he was in the hospital after his stroke. I have books that remind me of friends, of different periods in my life. I know the thing is not the memory, but it's still hard to get rid of them. Really, I don't have to if they're not ones I want to discard. Maybe I'll start with the ones that have unpleasant memories (like the copy of Ship of Fools that reminds me of a bitchy Illinois grad student or the copy of Saints and Sinners that reminds me of an unpleasant, Mekki-haired, ex-nun turned professor I once knew). Giving the heave ho to unpleasant memories seems like a good vocation!

21-Make curtains for my bedroom: Have the fabric, have the sewing machine, need the motivation.

22-Go for a walk in a new park/trail at least once a month. Another goal that hasn't quite panned out for me yet, mostly becuase I don't really care that much about it. I care more about getting in the habit. April - went for a walk in Wilsonville where I work. May - Nowhere new. June - Went for a walk at a botanical garden at the beach. July - No parks, just daily walks around the neighborhood where I work. August - Still need to do this. September - Laurelhurst. October - no parks, but did start walking around our new business complex. November - no walks :-(

23-Learn about wine. Learned much to my surprise that I enjoy pinot noir. I've been buying a bottle of a new kind of wine every payday for the past few pay periods, but have yet to actually do much drinking of it. I am hoping to have a special friend over for dinner sometime in the next week, so perhaps we will open one then.

24-Try a new recipe once a month: Jan 08: Thai Pizza; Feb 08: West African Ground Nut Stew; Carribbean Black Beans with Orange Juice and Candied Ginger; March 08: Ziti with Sundried Tomato Cream, Plaintains with Apples and Sweet Potatoes, Tangy Orange Salad Dressing; April 08: Vegetarian Carne Guisada; May08: Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies (from Apples for Jam- I am sad to report that I really did not like them). Penne with Shrimp, Cream and Tomatoes (also from Apples for Jam and DELICIOUS!); June 08: Mushroom Marinara sauce from Posie Gets Cozy website (so good!); July 08: Mole Enchiladas; August 08: Tomorrow I am making an Eggplant Lasagna; September 08: Cajun Salmon with eggplant and pomegranate salad; October 08: Tamale "pie"; Sour Cream Apple Pie (the first and most delicious pie I have ever made - I will definitely make this again!); November 08: Whiskey Glazed Carrots (SO good! I don't even like cooked carrots and I LOVED this AND I can see many applications for the whiskey glaze, which would be awesome on sweet potatoes or winter squash!)

25 - Invite friends over for dinner once a month: Jan 08: Jenny & Jesus; Feb 08: - ; March 08: Paula (kinda - we ended up eating out); Jen, Becky, Nancy, Jenny, Dejadira; Ruth, Jala, DeEtte; April 08: Jenny, DeJadira, Antonio; May 08: I am sure we had someone over, but for the life of me, I cannot remember who it was; June 08: Jenny & kids; July 08: Apala; August 08: Jen & Becky (picnic in the park, but I provided the food, so it counts!); September 08: Jeff; Apala; October 08: don't think I had anyone over - too gimpy/sick for cooking for guests; November 08: Jeff

26-Try a new restaurant once a month: Jan 08: Jim Dandy; Feb 08: Van Hanh; Mexican Restaurant on 122nd...can't remember the name, but it was good; March 08: Mexican Restaurant by work - can't remember the name, but it's by the Thai restaurant (like that tells anyone but me anything!); April 08: - the vegan café next to my mom's chiropractor's office in Milwaukie (I know - again with the great record keeping!) May 08: Sweet Pea Baking Company (vegan and they have the yummiest peanutbutter bars!; June 08: El Tapatio (both the one on 82nd Ave in PDX AND the one in Coquille, OR), The Sea Hag (Depoe Bay, OR); the Doogers in Seaside (I've already eaten at the one in Cannon Beach); July 08: El Pollo Loco in Gresham; August 08: not yet, but I want to try the new Morrocan place by work; September 08: the new Hawaiian restaurant down the road; October 08: not sure...I think I may not have tried anything; November 08: Maggiani's in Troy, MI & a dreadful place (also in Troy) called Tichonderoga that had dead animal heads hanging all over the place - not my choice. They are known for their game. I positioned myself in a spot at the table where I would not have to look anything dead in the eye and ate butternut squash lasagna in protest.

27-Make Stollen: I really want to make this for Christmas (and had a request for it at the Thanskgiving dinner I went to at a friend's house).

28-Once a month, pick someone and buy them a gift/do something to make them happy for no reason at all: Jan 08 no one; Feb 08 - sent flowers to my mom; March 08 - Cadbury eggs for Mary (b/c they're her favorite and she was having a bad day); April 08 - bought my mom a lily, also have something for Jen that I can not yet reveal, because I have yet to send it; May 08 - Bought my mom a sparkly silver tote, because she liked my gold disco bag; June 08 - While on vacation bought Deja and Antonio various souvenirs and also sprung for the $25 deluxe dune buggy ride instead of the $12 craptacular one; July 08 - stuff for Jen (though it was for her birthday); August 08 - Tickets for Phantom of the Opera for my mom; September 08: Gave Apala a Miriam Makeba cd; October 08: gave one of the nicer neighborhood kids almost ALL of our Halloween candy, because it seemed like it was going to be a slow night. I also wrote up daily ghost stories for a friends at work for 13 days before Halloween, simply because she likes them. November 08: Have been a selfish bitch! I can't really think of anything I've given anyone as a present for no reason, though I have taken my mom out for a dinner a few times. Does that count?

29-Moisturize every day: Still a little hit and miss, though having a nice moisturizer is helping and I did do this deep skin treatment the other day that gave my face a really healthy glow.

30-Organize my recipes: No new progress since last month

31-Study a new Tarot card each month: No progress. I think it's just not the time. It's really not a super important goal to me.

35-Play my guitar more than once a year

36-Cut my diet coke consumption down to 1 a day (or better - none a day): There has been a MAJOR backslide here. I need to get back to drinking mineral water again.

37-Sign up for organic grocery delivery or foodshare. This is another of those ones that I may decide against. I have been frequenting my local famers markets more often and am really pretty happy with that.

38-Study a new artist/composer each month: So far not much progress, though I did forget that I read up a bit on Sofonisba Anguissola a bit back in January.

39-Go to a concert/play once a month: Jan 08: The Devil and Daniel Webster; Feb 08: Sweet Honey in the Rock; March 08: Corteo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo; April 08: Nothing yet. May: None; June 08: Nothing yet; July 08: nada; August 08: The Phantom of the Opera; September 08: nothing yet; October: nothing; November: nothing

40-Go to the Shakespeare festival in Ashland.

41-Host a summer barbeque. I think it's too late. It is already late autumn!

42-Plan a trip to Europe

43-Renew my passport

44-Go through and get rid of CD's that need to be released into the wild

45-Go on another retreat: Considering renting a house at the beach for birthday week for purposes of having a writing getaway (crafty is also acceptable for those with no writing inclinations) with some friends.

46-Visit the Oregon Trail museums I haven't yet visited: Visited: End of the Oregon Trail Museum in Oregon City, Tamastslikt in Pendleton, and the Oregon Trail Museum in Baker City.

48-Read something in another language each week: I have started translating a friend's first novel into German. That's not only reading, but also writing!

49-Visit the East Coast

50-Write a handwritten letter to someone once a month

51-Meet a friend for coffee/drinks/whatever once a month. No real changes. Really, the point of making this a goal was that I found myself feeling kind of hermit-like at the beginning of the year and turning down a lot of invitations I should have accepted. This does not seem to be a problem anymore. I think I smell an empty spot for a new goal.

52-Regularly deposit money into savings. I have actually developed a plan for this one that also touches on # 53. I am now an investor in my friend's company via a loan that I gave him against my 401k. I am paying off the 401k via debits from my regular check and depositing his loan payments plus the interest (which is SO much more than I would be making through my 401k investments! into savings. The best part is that by helping him, I am actually investing in something I care about - the arts.

53-Take control of my 401k investments by taking a class/reading a book on investing: SO glad I didn't bumble into making bigger investments with all the Wall Street mess! For now, I am keeping my modest investments and focusing on my involvement with my friend's company.

54-Call or e-mail friends at least once a week. Haven't really been keeping track, but I think this works out. Setting this goal was a companion to #51. Things are just different from the way they were when I set these goals. I'm feeling more connected again, but I do need to be bettre about setting aside some time each day to check in with people, so I don't go months without any contact.

55-Finish the photo wall

56-Take (or procure) a flattering picture of each of my friends for the wall. I've not been taking a lot of pictures of late. This is something I really need to get back into.

57-Attend a pow-wow. I'm not sure how much I care about this goal. I mean, I think it would be interesting, but I'm not sure it's a real "goal". The more I think about it, the more I want to retool my goals in January.

58-Make a dress. Oh my gosh! I have (late as usual) finally caught on to Pushing Up Daisies and am so inspired by some of Chuck's dresses that I really want to make some dresses from Butterick's(?) vintage line. I am thinking this could be a really fun reward for my next weight loss milestone.

59-Clean out my closet (clothes AND shoes)

60-Buy new underthings and get rid of the old: I am now the proud owner of 3 new bras, but I want to get some more. I also purchased myself some new panties. I need to take some time and go through the drawer and trash the old stuff, though.

61-Clean out the garage

62-Attend a pagan festival (Beltaine and/or some other)

63-Update my birthday list. Do I even HAVE a birthday list? I mean really, all in one place? I don't think so. Maybe I need to CREATE a birthday list.

64-Take pictures at events, gatherings, etc.

65-Go to the beach once a month in the sunny months: June - check! July - :-(, August - :-(

67-Paint my bedroom: It is not yet complete, but I am working on it.

68-Pull up the carpet in my bedroom: After the painting's done

69-Paint the deck: The rainy season has begun. I don't see any progress being made on this until spring or after.

70-Paint the front porch See #69

72-Use my Entertainment book regularly, keep track of the savings & put them in a fun money jar

73-Buy and TAKE a daily vitamin

74-Learn to knit

76-Get and update a new address book

77-Learn enough about photography to make my good pictures more than happy accidents: Checked out a book on digital photography from the library

78-Go to a reading or lecture at least once a month

79-Participate in NaNoWriMo for real and following their rules

80-Join Amnesty International I need to send in some money, but I have decided that I am going to participate in their holiday card action at least on my own this year. For the past few years, I have been organizing this at the church I was going to, but I need a break from it.

81-Join The Humane Society (or some other animal organization)

82-Learn to make an origami crane

83-Run the whole way around the track

84-Go on December pilgrimage with Jenny R. and her family

85-Write something (journal, blog, whatever) every day In progress - If I've not written EVERY day, I've definitely done so ALMOST that often.

87-Get a manicure

88-Treat myself to a spa day

89-Create an enticing reward system for every 10 pounds: I think my "system" may simply be that I get to make a frivolous purchase for every 10 lost. The first 10 was a Jason Mraz cd. The second ended up being some new work clothes.

91-Read the Bible, Koran, Baghavad Gita

93-Visit a Buddhist temple

94-Learn yoga/take an exercise class: I have been reticent to go back since the original "training" incident, however, yoga is on the schedule at my new gym. They also have a Latin Impact class that looks intriguing

95-Plant a vegetable/herb garden

96-Make preserves

98-Make stepping stones for the garden. I have this scheme in my head wherein I invite my friends over for a crafty stone making extravaganza and then use their completed stones to pave the garden path. That way, whenever I am strolling along I will look down and think of them!

99-Go berry picking on Sauvie Island

What to do next?

I started on #1 which is to make an afghan. I'm pretty glad I finally got going on it and will work on it some tonight. #2 and #3 are all money related, specifically retirement money related. With the market the way it is, I've kind of held off on doing anything about that. In addition, I've been trying to pay off my credit card. Once that is fully under control (aggravated by the fact that I don't get reimbursed for classes by my company until the class is done), I am pretty sure I'll be in a mind set to finally deal with the retirement stuff. So, I guess the next thing on my list is to update all the addresses in my address book. I had started this earlier and then stalled out. Once I get going, this should be fairly easy, so maybe that is what I need to work on next, if I go in order of first to last. Otherwise, I should be cutting my nails to begin getting those five guitar chords together. Well, the nails are short already, so maybe I can do this, too. I'm feeling that I need to pick up the pace on some of these things. Almost a year has gone by since I decided to do this and the pressure is on, well, it is my own pressure.

As a side note to my new migraine diet work, I'm off coffee and this week is my last week on black/caffeinated tea. I'm feeling a little... tired. Next week will be my last week on chocolate. How sad. I mentioned this to someone who already has a legitimate reason to be off of caffeine and she said she couldn't do it. After that is supposed to be refined sugar. That sounds nearly impossible. I'll figure something out. So, if my posts begin to be a bit nonsensical and disjointed, blame the sugar withdrawal :)

New content and a technical question which needs an urgent answer

So, the question is: 

Dear Abby or Martina as the case may be,

I made a goal to live a day of "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." I thought I had it yesterday, but then I decided my emphatic, "Is she still working for us or is she gone?!" sounded a bit too mean spirited, even if I followed up with the "I just hope she's found greener pastures" line. So, today, I did it. This is particularly hard because my office is full of wiseasses and a snarky comment or two is pretty much standard for everyone at least once per day. Ok, maybe I just end up hanging out with the wiseasses, the effect is the same. Nonetheless, I dodged the entire world of wiseassery and then as I was driving to my Italian class, which is always positive (the class, not necessarily the driving), I muttered at someone who honked and then drove erratically behind me, "Oh, so you're just eff'n weird." Yes, I didn't say the whole word and no one was in the car with me. I could have thought it and it would have been the same, but because I have a tendency to talk to myself, I said it out loud. Does this count? I need an outside opinion on this. I don't think I'll have a chance this weekend to be negative free, because I'll spend part of it with my sister and we'll complain about our family a little as always. 

So, the question is: If you say something out loud when no one is around and a different person who doesn't talk to themselves might never have said it out loud, does it count against me in the "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all" challenge? I really need to know.

Now, on to new content. I belong to two different book clubs. I generally keep up with both no problem and usually get at least one other book in there as well per month depending. Unfortunately, my extra book this month was really long and the first book club book is also quite long. The second book club book is shorter, but I got it late since another member took it out of the library before I got there (probably the day before I arrived!).  So, since I'll be doing a long drive this weekend, I decided to go ahead and get the one book I'm only halfway through from audible.com. Since I have been catching up on my podcasts, I found out I could get a free book through the Radio Adventures of Doctor Floyd show. This is great. Of course, I am now nervous that I won't cancel the trial membership and I will have doubled the audio/reading content in my life. Oh well, I've been doing a good job on the podcasts, although I'm still not fully caught up. What I have found is that I love the current, non-fiction, political podcast which is the Bill Moyers show from PBS. My fear (and it is a good one to have) is that I will buy non-fiction books from audible and become addicted to listening to them, thereby setting back my podcast goal but increasing my already great knowledge. I've already caused problems by subscribing to new podcasts (but how else will I get good free-reed instrument music, huh?), but I am really enjoying it. So, I write this entry as I download my first book (yes, non-fiction) and hope I can keep my reading/literature/listening addiction under control. 

Migraines and a new to do list

I got my first migraine headache when I was a teenager just at the end of high school or so. I would get a headache and find that I couldn't really handle loud noise or bright light. Since then, I've gotten them again every so often, but I found within the past couple years, I was getting them a bit more than usual for me and they were a bit worse more often.

I can't move when I have them because the pain in my head is so horrible- that is, until I am about to throw up. I am amazed at the body's ability to know certain things when you logically can't know them, for example, the moment when thinking about vomiting becomes reality and you seem to have just enough time to make it to the bathroom and you can overcome the utter misery of movement to make it there. Of course, the feeling your entire head is splitting open once you get there isn't good, but I'm still amazed at how well the body can communicate these things.

So, I'm thinking of re-writing one of my goals that may or may not happen to become the plan to investigate migraine triggers. I got a book recommended by the nutritionist that lists steps to take to work through migraine triggers and issues. I already know that red wine is an absolute trigger. I still taste it and will drink a light Pinot Noir every once in a while, but anything more than that will have me in utter pain. When in Italy, I thought the red wine in Monterosso was too heavy, but I decided to go ahead with it, since it was a lovely night (the first time I heard the Mediterranean waves!!) and I was sure one night wouldn't be bad. Well, it was bad. I was glad we ended up in the hotel with the huge, fancy bathroom.

So, I'm planning on working through the steps- some of which don't apply, but others of which will be pretty intense (no coffee, tea, sugar for a month? seriously? can a person even live like that?). When I do my next big update- you may see this listed as a goal for something that is not likely or can't happen, maybe the green stripe goal since I haven't been to taekwondo class since the back spasms came back. Good news on that front is that I have begun doing my exercises again and I am seeing some good improvement. On the other hand, I wanted to do a martial art with a weapon and the place I was going to doesn't offer that, so I may go elsewhere. 

Nonetheless- I have been working, even if I haven't been posting.

October Round Up - Anne

Here we go- another update to see how things are going. I may find the time to post more specifically on some of this progress-

1) Make an afghan for afghans for Afghans - I have some yarn, donated by friends and I am highly motivated to start. This should begin this week.
2) Consolidate 401k/IRA/503b plans hanging around from previous jobs - I brought my car loan over to the new bank and have fully consolidated my liquid accounts at one bank. Next, I want to eliminate one of my credit cards. I admit I have two because I got one from the credit union, which is the one I want to keep. Once this final step is done, I will proceed with the evaluations/consolidations!
3) Research before and one year after consolidation the performance of the funds - Nope.
4) Confirm at least once that all address in my address book are accurate - I call this progress because I just updated an address today and have actually been in contact with people (found out someone moved to California and I had no idea!)
5) Call everyone who sent me a Christmas card within 6 months of January 1 - The address updates have helped- I only have a very few people I haven't been in contact with even if I didn't call. I think I reset the parameters for this one to this next Christmas and vow that I will finish the address book update at the same time.
6) Sell extra books - Done! And now I will do this more regularly since they actually bought some of my books!
7) Buy a good pair of winter boots - The time is near.
9) Watch all my Looney Tunes DVDs - I haven't done this, but I have a funny motivation based on having read Old Man's War, in which the main character downloads all the Looney Tunes cartoons. I liked the book pretty much, too.
10) Lose at least 20 pounds - I decided not to weigh myself this week. A change to my diet should mean that I am on the right track, but we'll see next week when I come back to weighing mysef.
11) Get green stripe belt - I just noticed the bad spelling I had in the previous post for this. Oh well. I may need to re-do this one. With the back pain keeping me out of kicking commission, I reflected back on my initial search for a martial art and my main focus was on weapons. I think I need to return to that, since that was the initial motivator, and choose a new place based on that. 
12) Be able to do a high-section roundhouse kick - I am calling this one done. I did do it and the truth is, even if I did it with a little help one for the full dramatic version or against an opponent that was a couple inches shorter than me for a less dramatic look, it was still done.
13) Go to taekwondo class three times a week for at least one month - Affected by my new search- will have a new parameter set.
14) Finish at least 5 books I haven't finished yet sitting on my shelves - one of five done. I continue to read, but have been reading other things. It will happen. Seriously.
15) Visit Mom for a week - No plans yet.
16) Visit Tim's family - No plans yet.
17) Visit Uncle Matty - I got to see Uncle Matty at my cousin's wedding. Not only that, I got to dance with him and sit at the same table with him. I should be seeing him again in a non-wedding situation, but I am counting this one done- the dancing makes the difference!
18) Visit family graves - Not done yet.
22) Get amber ring fixed - Not done yet, but I have now two amber rings to fix.
23) Finish a Wii game - Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band or Guitar Hero? I tried to play Elebits with Tim on my birthday weekend and it made me get motion sickness- and we were so close to finishing! Progress made, but not done yet.
24) Finish Pikmin 2 - Not done yet, but I better pick up the pace since Pikmin 3 is in development.
27) Try a new recipe every month - I made an Inside Out Pineapple cake this week. It wasn't bad. I like carrot cake better. Ongoing.
28) Finish DK Junglebeat - I played a different game that uses the bongo controllers, but nothing done on this one.
34) Find and buy jeans that fit well - I haven't even tried. Once it gets cooler, this will become more of a priority.
35) Buy a good black turtleneck - The time is coming.
37) Make something with a piece of fabric I already own - I've pulled out all of my yarn to shame myself into seeing how much I have that I haven't used yet. So wasteful! I have a feeling a pile of fabric will be following it.
38) Go through and organize jewelry - Stalled out.
39) Sell/Try to sell something I've made - This may be one way to use up that yarn.
40) Finish at least 4 of the cross-stitch kits that I have - Nope. Not now. That yarn.
42) Make and post a product for my website - Strategizing still
43) Buy beeswax candles - Still on hold. The upside- my living room smells like cinnamon (well, maybe an upside to some) as I burn through what I've already got.
44) Go to a fair - I missed it! I can't believe it! On my birthday weekend, I missed the Big E and said I would go to the Topsfield fair. Then I drove by the cars waiting in line to go to it as I went to NH. I didn't even know it was going on and I drove by it the last day! Ok. This looks like it is next year now. 
45) Invite someone to my house every month - After my birthday outing, people came over to play wii. I had a good time. ongoing.
46) Clean out front room closet - I just pulled some yarn out of the closet!
47) Clean out file cabinet - Let's say I have filing to do.
48) Try to print my own photos on printer - I think the printer is attached now, but I have scanning to do before I print anything.
49) Organize/Store files sitting under desk - No further progress.
52) Import DVDs into computer- Nope.
54) Get Looney Tunes on my iPod - Although this would facilitate my viewing of Looney Tunes, I haven't done it.
55) Catch up on podcasts - This continues to be fun. I added a Live Polka podcast. Yes, pretty weird, but it is happy music for the morning and for sitting in traffic on the way home (I can tap my hand against the steering wheel in time to the music while I wait!). In addition, I am now catching up on the Radio Adventures of Doctor Floyd, which is pretty fun, too.
56) Set up folders for iPod in iTunes and organize updating/synching - I think this is basically done, but will hold off on checking it off until I catch up on one particular podcast.
57) Post to website every month - Please ignore this for now.
61) Decide on other domain name: parked domain or new site and set it up - It is the setup part that still needs to be done
62) Get a full first draft of translation - I got access to the university library to facilitate this. I even went and began doing more translating. My time feels tight and I dream of getting a nice translation setup at home. So progress was made, but is stalled a little to see how I can get it into my schedule better.
63) Figure out camera settings for indoor group pictures - I haven't looked into this more.
64) Find something red to wear for rat year - I wore a red bracelet on my birthday. I will put it back on tomorrow and hope good luck follows.
65) Figure out what to do with earrings I don't wear - I'm thinking bracelet, but haven't actually looked at what I have to work with yet.
66) Read travel book by Achim von Arnim - Not yet.
67) Go to geek knitting meeting - I think arranging my own geek knitting is what will have to happen- unless going to the guild meeting counts. I think it might. Too bad this stopped right after I found out about it.
68) Evaluate usefulness of Seashore program - I just heard about another open source graphics program for the mac. I need to look into this.
70) Finish scanning old paper photos - That is part of cleaning out files under the table. Fingers crossed, will be done by the end of this year.
71) Join a guild - Joined the Crochet Guild!
72) Get a backup made of my digital/digitized photos - Not done yet.
73) Start to learn a new language - Cute language wins. Studio italiano!
74) Find a Spanish reader and read it- I found it. I haven't read it.
75) Learn at least 250 kanji - No advancement yet.
76) Read one of the Polish books at home - Not yet.
77) Read through/finish Vietnamese textbook - No advancement yet, although I put all the audio material on my iPod.
78) Compliment a total stranger - Done! There was a woman headed into the office who looked fabulous in a color I could never wear. I let her know how great it looked on her. I realized the real block to this may have been just talking to a stranger. I notice people all the time, but taking that step to break the silence between people is kind of tough (unless they are jerks driving in front of me- ok, even then I don't think they hear me).
82) Buy a friend lunch when it isn't their birthday - I had a great lunch and was happy to pick up the tab. 
83) Have a day where I fully live: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." -I actually feel I may be closer to being able to do this. At work I've instituted some walks to get me away from the computer and the stress (one in the morning and one in the afternoon- about 5-10 minutes each) and it has really helped my overall attitude. I thought about it when I thought of line workers who get breaks (unless they work for a lousy company) and how I just don't move from the computer for most of the day. It really makes a difference to take a quick walk.
84) Translate my resume into German - I did a first draft of my resume in CV form. It isn't in German yet.
85) Take someone on my favorite downtown walk - Not yet.
86) Write letters to three people letting them know how special they are - Not yet.
87) Set up an ebay account to see that sanrio item - Not yet, but I tried to investigate what the pricing/paypal/seller's membership options are. I'm still a little confused.
88) Finish a first draft of a creative writing project - I have two stories partially written. I know one of them, I can't pick up the story again. It is sad, but the tone of voice and the projection of the action were so based in a specific time, I can't even remember what I was going to do next. Sounds like a re-write.
90) Spend no money for 4 days straight - The last thing I bought was on Tuesday- I went to the grocery store. I decided to buy lunch tomorrow. I got 2 days along without trying. I think I can do this if I just plan ahead.
91) Eat at No 9 Park - Not yet.
92) Eat at Aujord'hui - Not yet.
93) Figure out how I will convert to digital TV - No real plan for this, but I should figure it out in the next couple months.
94) Bind a book - Nope.
95) Make/Attempt to make all the box patterns in that origami book - Another nope.
96) Make the cherry blossom origami that was the reason I got that other origami book - Thrice nope.
97) Save for/Plan/or Actually take a trip to the Pacific Northwest - The lottery and racetrack have not paid out yet.
98) Meet Wendy's children - Not yet.
99) Try to learn a song on the harmonica - I have a deep seated desire to play the concertina. I have now learned that in both German and Italian, the concertina is a harmonica. Can I use that to fulfill this? As a polyglot, I think I have that flexibility.
100) Learn 5 chords on the guitar and be able to switch between them all well - Still a "to do" item.

Change is good

This has been a week of improvement and some change in a good way. I started Italian class this week (which means another to do is done). While I was in Verona last October, two little girls walked by very animatedly speaking in Italian. It was honestly the cutest thing I have ever heard. We all know that English isn't cute. German also doesn't have a big reputation for cuteness. Polish? I like it, but still a far cry from Italian little girl cuteness. I also just liked being there, so I decided to give myself a break from hard languages and go for a cute one. You'd think it would be easy- and I'm pretty sure it will be shortly- but after my last round of language learning (Japanese and Vietnamese at the same time) it isn't like anything I've done- so there is some adjustment. Speaking of Vietnamese, I bumped into my Vietnamese professor on the way to Italian. If they had a second year, I would have taken it, but Harvard doesn't offer two years in the evening, so I am stunted in my Vietnamese language development currently. He was a great teacher and such a nice person; it was great to bump into him. One note on the Italian instructor- when he walked into the classroom, I thought he looked like a bust of Goethe or some other person from the 1700's. I don't know what it is exactly, but that is what he reminds me of. He is really great so far and I am really enjoying the class. 

So, my schedule needs to absorb this change, i.e. accommodating for the class two times/week. Since I need to leave work early, I also go into work early two days per week. This means I've been getting up a little earlier. I have stuck with doing wii fit every day in the morning and now on the days when I don't go into work early, I can spend an extra 15 minutes doing it. It puts me in a good mood (even when the weigh in doesn't make me happy), which is a good thing on its own. (I figured out my problem with the triangle and got 4 stars! My new love is rhythm boxing.) In addition, I've instituted a 10:30 am walk around the building - just to get away from my desk and move a little bit. I've had a co-worker or two do the quick walk with me twice so far and I find it does make a difference in how I feel as well. I don't want to be stuck in front of the computer non-stop. That definitely makes me unhappy. I am already planning on slowly integrating a lunchtime stretch and a 3 pm walkaround, but I want to add things in slowly and adjust so that they stick. I can be totally gung ho about something and stick with it, but unless I make some changes incrementally, I can get distracted and not continue. The next exercise to add on will be regular Dance Dance Revolution in the evening to balance out the Wii Fit in the morning.

Due to what the nutritionist told me (I'll meet with her again in November), I began to keep a food diary. She had only told me to keep a migraine diary, but I realized that I couldn't know when a migraine would hit, so I better keep the diary in anticipation of one happening. So far no migraine, but the food diary definitely is helping me to cut down on in-between meal snacks. I don't track water- but I do for everything else and there was one day when I honestly turned down a snack because I didn't want to write it down in the book. I guess this is having a good effect, although this one may be a difficult one to keep going. We'll see if I absorb this behavior as well. A note to the sweet endings I crave - I just had some Ovaltine. I like Ovaltine. The one I had today was Chocolate Malt flavor. I tried Ovaltine only a few years ago- maybe 7 or 8- because my dad had made some comment about drinking it when he was a kid. I took that to mean it was a good memory. I do like it and for some reason am convinced the malt not only tastes good but may actually be good for me. If this is not true, please do not tell me. My dad also liked tripe soup because he ate that when he was a kid, but I haven't picked that up as a habit.

Now, I need to find time to fit in my translation work, either for myself or professionally. In order to be full force professional, I need to follow through on some computer purchases that I am not quite ready for, so I have been basically sitting around, looking into things and preparing for when the time comes to act. As far as translating for myself- I now have access to Harvard's libraries, which means I now have the means to (can you believe I am writing this?) begin work on my dissertation topic once again. It has changed somewhat from what I thought I would write before. I am also spending time translating (German- not Italian!) which was not part of the original plan, but I think it will serve me well. This helps me work towards achieving a part of my to do list as well-

I think I had a few more things to write about, but that is it for now- I have to go to bed and read- another habit I am trying to pick up is a little bit of reading every night. I usually finish 2-3 books per month, but I've slowed down lately- so I want to make sure I make time for that too. With a yawn- I head to bed and await my kitty cat's demands for attention in spite of my obvious sleepiness.

9/11The Worst Year of My LifeThe Shirt I'm Wearing TodayThe NutritionistA New Commitmentand How It All Fits Together

Maybe it all only fits together because I am the binding figure amongst all these characters.

From the date on this post, you'll know it is 9/11. This year, perhaps more than some others, I've spent some time thinking back to where I was in 2001 on this date. I was living in Somerville, MA. I heard about the planes and the towers while at work and went out with the Controller to bring a tv back to the office so people could watch what was going on. We got to his house to get the little tv just as one of the towers was falling. People were told they could go home after we got back and eventually I did. Later that evening, in the general quiet, I heard the planes flying overhead from the Air Force Base and became fully aware of how surreal normal sounds could become. I was scheduled to fly on September 13. Taking the bonus check from President Bush, a roommate and I were going to fly to Prague. That trip never happened since Logan airport wasn't open in time. 

The year following was really a terrible year in my life regarding self-esteem, judgement and about a million other things. I don't think terrorists caused my bad year, but the attacks were coincidental with the beginning of it and so this day has made me reflective on that general time period as well. Without realizing it until I was out of the house today, I put on a shirt that I had bought during that bad year and haven't worn for a long time. Once I did realize it, I decided that I would get rid of this shirt after today. I had worn it to work one day that year and felt that it was a lot sheerer than I had thought when I bought it. I asked another woman at the company if it was too sheer. She assured me everything was ok, but when I got under some brighter lights where there was a mirror, I realized that she was terribly wrong or maybe didn't care. I wore a sweater over it today. And so I feel like with the disposal of this shirt, I might be able to symbolically put a little more of that time in my life to rest a little more solidly. 

But I've been feeling a little reflective anyway. I went to see a nutritionist for the first time (wish I had that on my list!) and she asked me questions about eating habits and exercise. It became really obvious to me how much I had let circumstances determine my behavior all the way down to my eating habits. Perhaps two big factors were the death of my father (1) while I was in a lousy job that had me crying in frustration regularly (2). All I wanted was comfort, so exercise and healthy eating took a back seat to convenience and comfort foods. The truth is that I know how to eat well and be healthy, but I've lacked the commitment. After talking with the nutritionist, I realized that that was all I needed. And, in order to get that commitment and keep it, I have to do a little less of the feeling sorry for myself that got me here. As much as I have a plan on how to upgrade my computer system most effectively, I have the beginnings of a plan in my mind on how to get back to healthy living, self-improvement and (the real dream) self-employment. Seriously, if I could have today, I would have walked out of work without a look back, but the tiny check I've gotten for my self-employment efforts so far is not enough to support me for more than - oh - a day. I continue to work on my grand plan.

And since this post isn't quite rambling enough, I have two other things to report-

Tim and I were going to go on a bike ride. I haven't ridden my bike in at least two years. I took it to the bike shop on the weekend for a tune up and just got it back today. I rode it a little. It is nice to ride a bike- especially one in just the right condition like this is now. I remember once I went over to Martina's place after I had gotten my grad school bike. Martina's place was close, so I walked, but then decided I had to jog. When I arrived and told her and her roommate about it, one of them asked if I jogged because the ground wasn't moving fast enough for me anymore. That was so true! So here is the hope that the ground needs to move faster for me again.

I have a bit of a sugar problem. I do like to finish meals with something sweet- and it really doesn't have to be sugar, but often that is what it is. Last night I was trying to figure out what to have that wasn't bad for me when I found a box of soy pudding I bought at the Asian market. I was pretty sure when I bought this that it was an instant version of the stuff that I've had at dim sum. Well, I spent a little more time with the box and found out that the French translation that exists in addition to the English and Chinese and Vietnamese calls this soy cheese. Not knowing which was the bad translation, I went ahead and made it and it is pretty much what I expected. It isn't really sweet, but it is hitting the post-dinner spot.

OK- one last thing-

I'm back on the daily morning dose of Wii Fit. I am apparently terrible at the Triangle in the yoga section (0 points- I admit it!), but I am really enjoying getting those light morning exercises in.