Update to many

I took a lot of time to think about the goals I was setting as I set them, but I'm fickle, like most people. Some of the goals no longer make sense because of changes in larger goals or in small circumstances. I haven't finished the list yet, but what I have so far is below:

1. Spend 200 hours with Little (world, social)
2. Set up volunteer activities to do with Little; train by humane society to work with animals with her (world, social)
3. Host themed dinners 12 times.
4. 
   
5. Create a family tradition (family)
6. Walk Emma at least once per day
7. Create a book of family lore by making audio recordings, then writing stories told by Grandma and Grandpa, and other family members (brains, family)
8. Learn to play chess (brains)
9. Host a party that is not a birthday party (or the murder mystery party) (social)
10. Learn to sew (brains, creative)
11. Plant & harvest a vegetable garden (brains, creative)
12. Maintain my herb garden through the winter (brains, creative)
13. Tutor two students in English as another language.
14. Be able to converse in Portuguese.
15. Establish guidelines for secular or technological "sabbath" (spirit)
16. Observe a secular or technological "sabbath" weekly for 3 months (spirit)
17. Attend a church service at least once every 2 months (spirit)
18. Camp at least 12 weekends (spirit, fun)
19. Limit social networking site visits to two per day (6 months) (brains)
20. Finish papers project (brains, finance)
21. [PRIVATE]
22. Work out 3 times a week for one year.
23. Start work towards a Master's Degree.
24. Become a translator.
25. Start work towards translator certification.
26. 
    
27. Start frugal dinner group (finance, social, fun)
28. Hike 25 new trails (fun, bod)
29. Hike the ridge of the Seven Sisters mountains (fun, bod)
30. Limit showers to 5 minutes one day per week
31. Go geochaing (fun, brain)
32. Start a public blog about domestic things (fun, finance, family)
33. Spend 120 TV-free, Internet free minutes with Santi/week (lurrve, brain, family)
34. 
    
35. Create a high-yield savings account for each budget category (finance)
36. Donate 1,000,000 grains of rice (world, brain)
37. Create something I am proud of (creativity, brain)
38. 
    
39. Talk with my in-laws for at least 15 minutes/week (brain, family)
40. Pay for the person behind me at the drive-thru (world)
41. 
    
42. 
    
43. Compost (world)
44. Participate in Earth Hour (world)
45. Give a gift through Heifer with Little's help (world)
46. Have a kick-ass time with Maria Elena (family, fun)
47. Cook dinner for Charles 25 times (family, world, fun)
48. Eat a weekday lunch with Grandma & Grandpa 25 times (family, fun)
49. Find out my blood type (bod)
50. Write a living will (with a lawyer) (finances)
51. Write a will (with a lawyer) (finances)
52. Be sure I have life insurance coverage (finances)
53. Decorate our home (family, fun)
54. 
    
55. 
    
56. Attend 15 free outdoor local concerts (fun, social)
57. Call certain (listed in post) people at least once a month (fun, friends, family)
58. Wash every dish immediately after its use for six months.
59. Buy an original piece of artwork from a local artist (world, fun)
60. Have Mom & Dad over for dinner 6 times a year (family, fun)
61. Have Grandma & Grandpa over for dinner 6 times a year (family, fun)
62. Find a way to show love and appreciation for my aunts & uncle (family)
63. Wash and vaccume car once a month (family)
64. Take everything from car inside every evening (family)
65. Get a massage (fun)
66. Dedicate one evening per week to "health & beauty" (bod)
67. Participate in NaNoWriMo once (twice if I like it) (brains)
68. Complete a difficult jigsaw puzzle (with or without Santi's help, but don't let him do it all) (brains)
69. Hang up my clothes immediately after taking them off for 6 months (family)
70. [PRIVATE]
71. Help Santi in a regatta (lurrve, fun, brains)
72. Make the bed as soon as I get up every day for 3 months (family)
73. Write Grannymother a letter, including pictures, once per month (family)
74. Check in with Wii Fit 500 times (bod)
75. Be able to name 25 foreign leaders and their countries (brains)
76. Don't use paper or plastic bags at stores (world)
77. Learn a dance (e.g. salsa) (fun, family, social)
78. Be able to label a map of the world (world, brains)
79. Plan and plot two particular future trips (family, fun)
80. Read the latest edition of Emily Post's Etiquette and put to use at least 10 tips.
81. [Private]
82. Learn one new recipe each month (fun, family, bod)
83. 
    
84. Read 75% of books on list of Books I want to Read (brains, fun)
85. Pray or meditate daily (spirit)
86. Host a family party (fun, family)
87. Reduce student loan by 50% (finances)
88. Get family pictures done (family)
89. Get Recycling Bin and consistently separate recyclables (world)
90. Celebrate holidays (fun, family)
91. Investigate my square mile and make a list of how to better use it (world)
92. [PRIVATE]
93. [PRIVATE]
94. Write one family history story from Santi's family each month for one year (family, brains)
95. Get my hair cut how I like it and maintain it (fun, bod)
96. 
    
97. Sell a poncho that Teresita made (fun, family, finances)
98. Try acupuncture (bod)
99. Create and follow a daily health and beauty routine (bod)
100. Make a new 101 list by the end

Update: Goal 99: Try Acupuncture

I don't know how I didn't update this one before. It was acomplished months ago. I went for about 7 sessions before my acupuncturist took a vacation and the gap in there got me out of the habit of going.

I went to Blue Ridge Clinic, as recommended to me by a friend. It was located on Merrimon, in the tiny group of offices beside Ingles. The lobby was welcoming, and the fountain with small chimes provided a strangely soothing atmosphere. I didn't have to wait long before Dr. Whittle met with me to discuss my motivations for seeking acupuncture. I sought to treat fatigue and anxiety. We discussed the fact that in acupuncture, these two conditions must be treated seperately, and I decided that the fatigue was the most important factor.

There were two rooms for the therapy, and I was taken to one. The room had soothing, but not corny, music playing and the kind of table you sit on in any doctor's office. Dr. Whittle started by placing the first tiny needle in my left ear, in the uppermost part of the cartilage. This one hurt,

and I flinched. He noticed, and admonished me to let him know if that is the case. The others did not hurt at all, and in no subsequent visit did any hurt. Once I had needles in my ears, my forehead, my hands, just above my navel, in my shins and in my feet, I was told to do my best to go to sleep, and that he would return in about 20 minutes.

The only reason I could not sleep is that I cannot sleep on my back. I was very comfortable, and felt no pain. In fact, I felt my head clear just a bit, and I realized that I had been in a mental fog for days.

Before I left, Dr. Whittle asked if I would take herbs. These herbs turned out to be expensive, but I believe they were helpful. I felt more of the mental fog lift.

Over a few sessions, we were able to start working on anxiety as well. A strange thing happened: I started feeling as if I needed to remind myself to breathe. I don't mean in the sense that I was tense and therefore not breathing. It is hard to explain. It was only a feeling; I knew I would breathe if I didn't consciously tell myself to, but I think what was happening is that I was taking deeper, slower breaths, and I have been used to taking quick, shallow ones. The most impressive change that took place is that I was able to completely eliminate caffeine without a problem.

If there was a negative, it was that I felt like I was joining a cult. I never would believe that acupuncture could cure my every woe, but the Dr. sure wanted me to. However, I felt comfortable continuing to go and telling the Dr. when I wasn't going to follow his recommendations, so he could make other ones that could help.

In the end, I should probably go from time to time for maintenance sessions. It is cost-prohibitive, but I have an HSA, so I'll probably make an appointment.

Update: Goal 57: Attend 15 free local concerts

We attended 3 more over the course of the summer, putting this goal at 33% complete.

Update: Goal 57: Attend 15 free local concerts

Two down so far!

Update: Goal 47: Have a kick-a$$ time with Maria Elena while she's here

Maria Elena arrived on Saturday and, thus far, we are having a kick-ass time! We haven't as of yet done anything exciting, but it's been very pleasant to spend time with her.

Update: Goal 41: Pay for the person behind me in the drive thru

This one was fun.

I went to Bojangles one morning for some Boberry biscuits. I have this dilemma when I go there for breakfast because it's so possible to get out of there with a full belly for less than $2. But you can't order one boberry biscuit, and I can't have something that sweet for breakfast without something salty. So I order the bacon egg and cheese to go along with it, but if food is there, I eat it. I end up paying more than $5 for a fast food breakfast that clogs my arteries.

So I get to the window and I'm nervous about asking. What is the person going to think? I'm sure this happens from time to time, I tell myself as I make the request. The cashier looks at me as if I'd asked if I could have only one boberry biscuit. "I reckon," she says. This ups my total by an entire $1.15.

Well, it was a good deed, however small.

Update: Goal 36: Create a high-yield savings account for each budget category

Done! And ... I must say ... less rewarding than I'd hoped. Are you surprised?

Besides the fact that less than a week after their creation the interest these accounts were being paid dropped by 2%, when the opportunity came along to buy this house, the emergency fund, the travel savings, the rainy day fund, and everything else got pooled back together. I think in the best of times, these separate accounts are a good idea, but when you have a chance like we had, there was just no logic to waiting around.

So, count this as a lesson learned: be flexible with these!

Update: Goal 20: Finish papers project

The papers project was a top secret operation involving writing some English and History papers. No, I'm not in school again.

Done!

Update: Goal 9: Host a creative party that is not the murder mystery party

Done! We threw a housewarming party when we moved, and I call it creative because of the plethora of people who attended, the cornucopia of food, and because the gifts will give us opportunity to be creative.

Also, because I need to get my creative butt in gear and get those thank you cards out!

Have a picture!

Update: Goal 1: Spend 200 Hours with Little

So far this year, I can say with confidence that I have spent 8 hours with my Little. This is something I need to work harder on, but at least it's not completely fallen by the wayside.

Oh, Time!

I know anyone reading must think I have long forgotten my quest, but it's simply not true! I'm back and have completed several goals!

Update: Goal 85: Read 75% of the books on my I Want to Read list

Finished Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.

Review .... later.  When I've recovered.

Update: Goal 83: Learn one new recipe each month

Another month in which I've exceeded this goal! Last week I wanted to create some quick grab 'n' go breakfasts for DH and myself. So I made a raspberry-pear loaf and fruit bark. I did not follow the directions on the fruit bark, so I'll be doing this again, but it still turned out yummy, if a little too thick.

The first recipe, the raspberry loaf, is one I got from the kitch'n at Apartment Therapy. I loved this recipe - LOVED IT! It went well for a few days of breakfasts, but then we had a snow day and I ate half a loaf. I reduced the amount of sugar called for and increased the amount of fruit. Also, I used 2/3 of the amount of butter called for, but used a cup of raspberry yogurt in addition. You can find the Apartment Therapy version of the recipe HERE!

And my fruit bark recipe, told almost in narrative form since there are so many possibilities for variation, is HERE!

Update: Goal 49: Eat 25 Weekday lunches with Grandma and Grandpa

On Tuesday, I took some Bojangles steak biscuits to Grandma and Grandpa's house at their request, and we enjoyed them along with some green beans and mac & cheese cooked by Grandma.  

		001/025 lunches completed
bar source: honeyelle; based on: chasethestars

Lesson Learned!

Here I sit, utterly discouraged at my guitar efforts.  I know people who can play the guitar.  I know smart people who play and I know not-so-smart people who play.  I am sort of in the middle of those two groups except -- I DON'T PLAY GUITAR!  There is something about it I just don't get.  I haven't spent adequate practice time, that is true.  But it is hard to want to practice when every practice just illustrates how little I know.  After 5 practices, I still cannot play a song.  I probably couldn't play a random chord if you asked. 

However, be not afraid.  This entry will end on a positive note, because this is a great illustration of something I have learned from this challenge: Don't try to do too many hard things at once.  

It's no fun, and in fact sort of depressing, to go from a guitar practice session that doesn't go so well to working on paper-writing, which is no fun right now.  In fact, the very thought makes me want to pitch myself out my second-story window.

Perhaps it may be better to reward myself for practicing.  I tried a small reward (a yummy piece of homemade fruit bark) but I'm still a bit down.  A big reward for me is a cup of cowboy blend coffee from my favorite local coffee shop with some quality me time there.  It's been a long, long time since I've just done that.  Might be a good time.