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!
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
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment