I was definitely not perfectly in my Lenten goal to not spend too much---March is going to be very tight financially, as I was also frivolous in my troublesome categories this past month, too. I'm kind of hitting myself over the head about it; I need to be less of an eejit about this.
9. My music bit has progressed a tiny bit---I'm going to contact some profs in the music department at my uni, I think, for help in finding a violin and for some basic lessons. However, I might have to wait until my finances settle down a bit---they're a bit crazy at the moment.
12. The nail polish fun times continue! I've got an Essie deep blue that is fantastic, and goes on super easy and thick (and looks great with gold glitter over it). I've got gold fingernails right now, though, which is pretty much just happiness.
13. New recipes, oh yes: For February there was also salted caramel brownies off of Smitten Kitchen, which are so amazing that I'm making them again today; for March, there's a parmesan chicken recipe that is super simple and which will definitely be going in my repeat book.
22. I exercised quite a bit this last week! I went to the gym twice, and then also went to swing dance---which was absolutely fantastic, oh my god. I'm definitely going again. I'm also upping my daily step goal to 10,000; I can only hope that I'll be able to get continually more active!
25/26/29. Skin and teeth are doing well, and I've been taking my damn vitamins regularly. \o/
28. The hands are... okay. I've been writing too much, and they're aching. I think it may finally be time to bust out more money for ergonomically better computer equipment.
30. Have called Mum and Dad more! It's been fun. :D
48. I watched the Avengers yesterday with K. and C. Oh my, so very good.
75. In the realm of new restaurants---I forgot to mention the time I went to the Owl's Nest (which was fine for campus food, if not great otherwise).
77. The need for a new computer seems to get bigger and bigger---this computer is barely charging now. I'm crossing my fingers that nothing busts. :(
90. I'm working on edits for a journal submission. With luck, it will be submitted before the end of the month.
02 March 2013
18 February 2013
Roundup (Monday)
5. Have a couple of things to add to the green cookbook---why is it that I'm so lazy in writing things down? :(
9. I'm thinking I will try to learn violin. I'm checking out cheap violins and looking around for lessons now.
12. Nail polish remains awesomely fun.
13. I've done a couple new dishes. I've played with another style of pakhlava---this one with store-bought phyllo, to use up the phyllo from the börekler. It went well. The second was chicken kijiyaki, which is delicious and is going to get made many, many more times because it's also amazingly simple.
25/26/28/29. I'm doing well on these self-care things---I'm moisturizing, brushing regularly, taking my pills. Go me!
34. Music: Currently 3914 of 6406.
39. Been better this last week, at least, with making the bed.
75. If a cupcakery counts as a restaurant, I've now been to Sparkz. I also went to the Delmarette for the first time, and have decided that I will be frequenting it quite a bit---it's a great spot. Great coffee, great food, reasonable prices, and just a very cozy little cafe. Love it.
Hopefully I can cross the damn afghan off the list soon...
9. I'm thinking I will try to learn violin. I'm checking out cheap violins and looking around for lessons now.
12. Nail polish remains awesomely fun.
13. I've done a couple new dishes. I've played with another style of pakhlava---this one with store-bought phyllo, to use up the phyllo from the börekler. It went well. The second was chicken kijiyaki, which is delicious and is going to get made many, many more times because it's also amazingly simple.
25/26/28/29. I'm doing well on these self-care things---I'm moisturizing, brushing regularly, taking my pills. Go me!
34. Music: Currently 3914 of 6406.
39. Been better this last week, at least, with making the bed.
75. If a cupcakery counts as a restaurant, I've now been to Sparkz. I also went to the Delmarette for the first time, and have decided that I will be frequenting it quite a bit---it's a great spot. Great coffee, great food, reasonable prices, and just a very cozy little cafe. Love it.
Hopefully I can cross the damn afghan off the list soon...
09 February 2013
Roundup (Saturday)
Well, I've been good this week about a number of things! However, I haven't been keeping well within my budget---although I don't really mention it on here, I have a budget worked out that's supposed to keep me within the amount of money I make in a year. Unfortunately, the last month I've been a little frivolous. So, I've decided that I have a Lenten pledge: to stay perfectly in budget for the entirety of Lent. This is not part of the 1001, but I might talk about it here; it's definitely a sort of goal!
This is going to be fun. :)
Otherwise:
1. I made more progress on the afghan this last week, but I've also managed to hurt my hands (which I think is partly due to crocheting the entire time I watched Quantum of Solace with my housemate J--). I think I need to take a bit of a break, alas.
25/26/29. I've been good about these this week! Lots of taking my pills and moisturizing.
28. My hands hurt. It sucks. I need to find some way to make typing less painful.
48. I didn't put this down before, but I watched Thor a few weeks ago with a friend, and while chatting with a bunch of HiHers. I enjoyed that quite a bit.
55. A friend has decided to join me on the 10 books. We've got some plotting going---Solaris by Stanislaw Lem is on there, at the least, and probably Master and Margarita by Bulgakov as well.
71. I'm putting into motion the things necessary for renewing my passport. Time to figure this into my budget. :(
90. I'm working on a journal submission! Eeee! (And plotting two more, wow, self.)
This is going to be fun. :)
Otherwise:
1. I made more progress on the afghan this last week, but I've also managed to hurt my hands (which I think is partly due to crocheting the entire time I watched Quantum of Solace with my housemate J--). I think I need to take a bit of a break, alas.
25/26/29. I've been good about these this week! Lots of taking my pills and moisturizing.
28. My hands hurt. It sucks. I need to find some way to make typing less painful.
48. I didn't put this down before, but I watched Thor a few weeks ago with a friend, and while chatting with a bunch of HiHers. I enjoyed that quite a bit.
55. A friend has decided to join me on the 10 books. We've got some plotting going---Solaris by Stanislaw Lem is on there, at the least, and probably Master and Margarita by Bulgakov as well.
71. I'm putting into motion the things necessary for renewing my passport. Time to figure this into my budget. :(
90. I'm working on a journal submission! Eeee! (And plotting two more, wow, self.)
02 February 2013
Roundup (Saturday)
I've added a new goal: Take my daily vitamin! I've also updated my completed goals (I've got six totally out of the way! Yeah!), and the ones that I've failed at (goals that have been expressed not as habits, but as "do this regularly". I've not done that for the breast exams or for Lang-8, and I'm fine with having failed and now just trying to do my best. It gives me stuff to have goals for in my next 1001, after all. :))
1. White afghan: I'm still making slow, but not insubstantial, progress. I've gotten another panel done, and I started the next one, which is perhaps one-quarter of the way done. Once I finish this panel, I should only have one more to go. My goal is to finish before my spring break. ::squeal::
3. I'm slowly figuring out some things about what looks good on me. First, it's not necessarily that I look bad in certain things. It's that I'm uncomfortable in them. This is a very useful thing for me to be figuring out. I'm certainly hyper-critical of my body (there's a lot I should be unpacking about that), and I need to be aware of when I am being hyper-critical. Second, I've definitely found things that I think are very flattering. For example, I've known for a long time that boot cut jeans are good for me. It took a lot longer to internalize the fact that I look good in pencil skirts.
It has also helped that I got re-fitted for bras, and discovered that (surprise surprise!) my band is smaller than what I was wearing, and my cup substantially bigger. I'm a small hourglassy lady and my measurements are not found in your average store---alas. However, it's amazing what wearing a bra that actually fits you can do for your self-esteem, not to mention your physical comfort.
4. New bras = my wardrobe is automatically revamped. ;)
7. This upcoming month, I've decided that I would like to try at least two new puddings/custards and one new candy. Go me. It's on my to-do list that I have here on my desk.
12. I've been playing with nail polish like mad! I've discovered that I like OPI polishes a lot---they're thick and smooth but they don't chip. They also come in some really fantastic colors. I'm wearing a deep purple now that I adore.
13. I've enjoyed my one-new-dish still, of course. December was full of candies, and was quite fun. In January, I made a handful of random things, but I'm especially proud of my cheese börekler (phyllo rolls filled with a cheese mixture). They're very tasty. I'm going to try a meat-filled version for tomorrow, I think, and then go and mess with a few more recipes; I've got all this leftover phyllo!
23. I've been failing at the exams, although I'm now going to go do one because I only ever seem to remember if I write here! This, at least, is a really good reason to keep doing my 1001!
25/26/28. I've been much better at these ones---taking better care of my skin, and my teeth and hands. I've even been moisturizing at night occassionally (!), and I got some Vitamin E oil to use on my nails when they're not polished, so that they don't get tooo dry. I hope it will work.
42. I restarted La Caseta Mágica (i.e. the translation of the Phantom Tollbooth into Spanish). I'm excited, because I remember way more than I thought I would.
46. I'm working hard on trying to get more Lang-8 in, both in Japanese and Spanish. I've actually written it into my schedule, craycray.
52. I actually hosted a real, non-potluck mini-dinner party last month! My friends P. and Ni. came over for dinner; I made all sorts of appetizers, they brought a bit of wine and bread, and we had a bunch of pasta alla norma (which unfortunately N. wasn't wild about, because he's not wild about eggplant). Nevertheless, it was a real, nice, sit-down event. I would still like to host a bigger one sometime, though. . . maybe up to a whole four people invited? Maybe even SIX?
71. I desperately need to renew my passport. Uuugh of all the things I don't want to bother doing. . . this is one of them. Such a pain in the ass.
75. I went to Hulu's last month with some folks, which was completely new for me. I'm not sure I'd like it when the bar crowd comes in, but for happy hour, it was great. Additionally, N. and I ate at Rosie's, which we had never done before---just had a drink or two at the bar. I was really pleased with both, and I think I'd like to try Rosie's for brunch some time, too.
1. White afghan: I'm still making slow, but not insubstantial, progress. I've gotten another panel done, and I started the next one, which is perhaps one-quarter of the way done. Once I finish this panel, I should only have one more to go. My goal is to finish before my spring break. ::squeal::
3. I'm slowly figuring out some things about what looks good on me. First, it's not necessarily that I look bad in certain things. It's that I'm uncomfortable in them. This is a very useful thing for me to be figuring out. I'm certainly hyper-critical of my body (there's a lot I should be unpacking about that), and I need to be aware of when I am being hyper-critical. Second, I've definitely found things that I think are very flattering. For example, I've known for a long time that boot cut jeans are good for me. It took a lot longer to internalize the fact that I look good in pencil skirts.
It has also helped that I got re-fitted for bras, and discovered that (surprise surprise!) my band is smaller than what I was wearing, and my cup substantially bigger. I'm a small hourglassy lady and my measurements are not found in your average store---alas. However, it's amazing what wearing a bra that actually fits you can do for your self-esteem, not to mention your physical comfort.
4. New bras = my wardrobe is automatically revamped. ;)
7. This upcoming month, I've decided that I would like to try at least two new puddings/custards and one new candy. Go me. It's on my to-do list that I have here on my desk.
12. I've been playing with nail polish like mad! I've discovered that I like OPI polishes a lot---they're thick and smooth but they don't chip. They also come in some really fantastic colors. I'm wearing a deep purple now that I adore.
13. I've enjoyed my one-new-dish still, of course. December was full of candies, and was quite fun. In January, I made a handful of random things, but I'm especially proud of my cheese börekler (phyllo rolls filled with a cheese mixture). They're very tasty. I'm going to try a meat-filled version for tomorrow, I think, and then go and mess with a few more recipes; I've got all this leftover phyllo!
23. I've been failing at the exams, although I'm now going to go do one because I only ever seem to remember if I write here! This, at least, is a really good reason to keep doing my 1001!
25/26/28. I've been much better at these ones---taking better care of my skin, and my teeth and hands. I've even been moisturizing at night occassionally (!), and I got some Vitamin E oil to use on my nails when they're not polished, so that they don't get tooo dry. I hope it will work.
42. I restarted La Caseta Mágica (i.e. the translation of the Phantom Tollbooth into Spanish). I'm excited, because I remember way more than I thought I would.
46. I'm working hard on trying to get more Lang-8 in, both in Japanese and Spanish. I've actually written it into my schedule, craycray.
52. I actually hosted a real, non-potluck mini-dinner party last month! My friends P. and Ni. came over for dinner; I made all sorts of appetizers, they brought a bit of wine and bread, and we had a bunch of pasta alla norma (which unfortunately N. wasn't wild about, because he's not wild about eggplant). Nevertheless, it was a real, nice, sit-down event. I would still like to host a bigger one sometime, though. . . maybe up to a whole four people invited? Maybe even SIX?
71. I desperately need to renew my passport. Uuugh of all the things I don't want to bother doing. . . this is one of them. Such a pain in the ass.
75. I went to Hulu's last month with some folks, which was completely new for me. I'm not sure I'd like it when the bar crowd comes in, but for happy hour, it was great. Additionally, N. and I ate at Rosie's, which we had never done before---just had a drink or two at the bar. I was really pleased with both, and I think I'd like to try Rosie's for brunch some time, too.
08 December 2012
Roundup (Saturday)
Finally, a less-overdue roundup!
1. Afghan: Making slow and occassional progress. I've been writing enough recently that the hands are acting up a bit, alas.
4. Wardrobe revamping is in continuous progress; I'm in the process of getting rid of a few things now.
7. I've decided that the second thing I need to work on perfecting is candies. I'm decent at caramels and at tempering chocolate, but there's such a world of brittles and toffees and hard candies and. . . oh yes. Although I give myself leeway to not doing anything that tends to require corn syrup, because ew.
13. December is going to be quite full of new recipes, as I'm making a bunch of candies. However, I have already tried making gnocchi. They're definitely better fresh, and not frozen.
19. Emergency fund is probably going to get dipped into during January---goddamned not getting paid for a good month. -_-
22. I have been active this week! I have walked downtown a lot! This isn't really exercise, in the concerted raising-of-pulse and working-of-muscles type, but it's better than nothing.
24. Dentist: Completed for December.
25/25: Doing well so far on the skin and teeth.
29. Doing well on calling Mum and Dad, too!
37/45. I wrote on Lang-8?
38. I've been. . . sort of making the bed. I've been straightening the covers, at least.
So, it's not been particularly exciting here in the last week---but I've been keeping my head above water, at least.
1. Afghan: Making slow and occassional progress. I've been writing enough recently that the hands are acting up a bit, alas.
4. Wardrobe revamping is in continuous progress; I'm in the process of getting rid of a few things now.
7. I've decided that the second thing I need to work on perfecting is candies. I'm decent at caramels and at tempering chocolate, but there's such a world of brittles and toffees and hard candies and. . . oh yes. Although I give myself leeway to not doing anything that tends to require corn syrup, because ew.
13. December is going to be quite full of new recipes, as I'm making a bunch of candies. However, I have already tried making gnocchi. They're definitely better fresh, and not frozen.
19. Emergency fund is probably going to get dipped into during January---goddamned not getting paid for a good month. -_-
22. I have been active this week! I have walked downtown a lot! This isn't really exercise, in the concerted raising-of-pulse and working-of-muscles type, but it's better than nothing.
24. Dentist: Completed for December.
25/25: Doing well so far on the skin and teeth.
29. Doing well on calling Mum and Dad, too!
37/45. I wrote on Lang-8?
38. I've been. . . sort of making the bed. I've been straightening the covers, at least.
So, it's not been particularly exciting here in the last week---but I've been keeping my head above water, at least.
26 November 2012
A Focus (Monday)
This is a post both sad and yet triumphant.
The sadness is because---I don't think I said it here yet---but my Aunt J. died of cancer in October. When we talk about people having hearts of gold, well, she had one. This isn't to say she was perfect (she had some views, particularly political ones and particularly views about the Arab world, that were a bit unpleasant). However, she was also a thoughtful, generous, supportive woman, with a love for poetry and books and cats and travel. When I think of people I want to be like, she's on my list. Suffice to say that I miss her, and think of her often, and am only glad that she's no longer suffering from her disease.
As I said, she was a generous and supportive woman. For most of my life, that support came in letters---she wanted to read my poetry, wanted to know about my schoolwork, called me "her scholar". In the last year, though, she also gave me some financial support. Part of it was in the form of a rather large cash gift, which went partly into paying off loan interest and partly into my emergency fund. As it turns out, she also left me an insurance policy from her days as an Army nurse.
Because of said policy, I have now been able to pay off all the interest on my Key loan (yes, all $2652.50 remaining interest), with some to spare for the emergency fund. It's difficult to describe exactly how much weight is lifted off me with that paid off. It's not going to capitalize; I can easily pay the $50 a month that accumulates; I am that much more freed from debt.
And so, I'm grateful.
The sadness is because---I don't think I said it here yet---but my Aunt J. died of cancer in October. When we talk about people having hearts of gold, well, she had one. This isn't to say she was perfect (she had some views, particularly political ones and particularly views about the Arab world, that were a bit unpleasant). However, she was also a thoughtful, generous, supportive woman, with a love for poetry and books and cats and travel. When I think of people I want to be like, she's on my list. Suffice to say that I miss her, and think of her often, and am only glad that she's no longer suffering from her disease.
As I said, she was a generous and supportive woman. For most of my life, that support came in letters---she wanted to read my poetry, wanted to know about my schoolwork, called me "her scholar". In the last year, though, she also gave me some financial support. Part of it was in the form of a rather large cash gift, which went partly into paying off loan interest and partly into my emergency fund. As it turns out, she also left me an insurance policy from her days as an Army nurse.
Because of said policy, I have now been able to pay off all the interest on my Key loan (yes, all $2652.50 remaining interest), with some to spare for the emergency fund. It's difficult to describe exactly how much weight is lifted off me with that paid off. It's not going to capitalize; I can easily pay the $50 a month that accumulates; I am that much more freed from debt.
And so, I'm grateful.
15 November 2012
A long overdue roundup (Thursday)
Again, I've not posted in ages, like a bad, bad person. In my defense, I've been travelling like a madwoman---a week and a half with my parents, a week and a half with N., four days in Spain, and now five days here in the UK. It's been quite busy.
A rundown of things (and hopefully a more detailed travelogue will follow):
1. Afghan: My hands are feeling better, but I'm so far from my yarn. ;_; I'm looking forward to getting back to it.
13. New dish: I made a squash soup with sage and thyme while at Nick's. It's not a really new thing for me---I've made squash soup before---but the exact recipe was new, off of Smitten Kitchen. It wasn't my favorite soup I've ever made, but I also forgot the cumin, so perhaps I'll try it again some time.
15. Key interest is still under $3000, at least. I should be getting a big chunk of money some time soon, which I will probably most put towards that, but I'm not counting on it yet.
21/22. Fruits and veggies: I've been kind of average recently---not a great job of keeping track of the noms, but not super horrible, either. I was exercising with C. quite a bit before leaving for this trip, but have been travelling and therefore my only exercise is from walking (which has been not bad at least). The most fun thing about this is that I started a walking challenge at Walker Tracker with a few folks, which has been really fun. I'm 4th out of 15 people, although I suspect several of those people have given up on updating. Still! I'm over the goal I'm trying to meet, which is 7k a day, and that pleases me. I'd love to be able to get it up to 10k, though. I'd feel very nice about that.
25/26. Skin and teeth are going pretty well, though I need to remember to set up an appointment to get my damn wisdom tooth out. :(
29. I've been better about contacting Mum and Dad, though still not perfect.
37/45. Utter fail on language practice and Lang-8. So sad.
40. I've completed my Goodreads for this year already! (Actually, I did this at the end of October. I've been reading like mad this year.)
61/62. I went on a lovely hike over the moors with W. the other day (to be recounted in more detail in a later entry). It was incredibly pleasant. I'd also been biking more, what with trying to bike to school. I'm really hoping to just be more active this year---I feel like utter shite whenever I'm just doing school stuff ALL the time.
84. I AM IN THE UK RIGHT NOW OMG. More later.
91. I've been to enough conferences this year---been to the (Mis)match workshop in Berlin, plus the workshop I just presented at in Spain. And now, for the Annual Meeting in January!
So, things are not looking too terribly desperate right now, although of course I'm freaking out over my dissertation and the job hunt. I'll ignore that now, though, and think of doing Other Things with life. :)
A rundown of things (and hopefully a more detailed travelogue will follow):
1. Afghan: My hands are feeling better, but I'm so far from my yarn. ;_; I'm looking forward to getting back to it.
13. New dish: I made a squash soup with sage and thyme while at Nick's. It's not a really new thing for me---I've made squash soup before---but the exact recipe was new, off of Smitten Kitchen. It wasn't my favorite soup I've ever made, but I also forgot the cumin, so perhaps I'll try it again some time.
15. Key interest is still under $3000, at least. I should be getting a big chunk of money some time soon, which I will probably most put towards that, but I'm not counting on it yet.
21/22. Fruits and veggies: I've been kind of average recently---not a great job of keeping track of the noms, but not super horrible, either. I was exercising with C. quite a bit before leaving for this trip, but have been travelling and therefore my only exercise is from walking (which has been not bad at least). The most fun thing about this is that I started a walking challenge at Walker Tracker with a few folks, which has been really fun. I'm 4th out of 15 people, although I suspect several of those people have given up on updating. Still! I'm over the goal I'm trying to meet, which is 7k a day, and that pleases me. I'd love to be able to get it up to 10k, though. I'd feel very nice about that.
25/26. Skin and teeth are going pretty well, though I need to remember to set up an appointment to get my damn wisdom tooth out. :(
29. I've been better about contacting Mum and Dad, though still not perfect.
37/45. Utter fail on language practice and Lang-8. So sad.
40. I've completed my Goodreads for this year already! (Actually, I did this at the end of October. I've been reading like mad this year.)
61/62. I went on a lovely hike over the moors with W. the other day (to be recounted in more detail in a later entry). It was incredibly pleasant. I'd also been biking more, what with trying to bike to school. I'm really hoping to just be more active this year---I feel like utter shite whenever I'm just doing school stuff ALL the time.
84. I AM IN THE UK RIGHT NOW OMG. More later.
91. I've been to enough conferences this year---been to the (Mis)match workshop in Berlin, plus the workshop I just presented at in Spain. And now, for the Annual Meeting in January!
So, things are not looking too terribly desperate right now, although of course I'm freaking out over my dissertation and the job hunt. I'll ignore that now, though, and think of doing Other Things with life. :)
11 October 2012
It has been forever!
Oh dear, I haven't posted in ages! This is very, very bad of me. I got very lazy in September---really, I just kind of spent a lot of time reading stories on the internet. I didn't do much work, or really much of anything. However, school has started, and I'm energized again. this is further helped by the fact that I'll be visiting family and N. starting next week, and that I'll be going to a conference in Spain (!) in November, after which I will spend a few days visiting a friend who just moved to Manchester, UK. Very very exciting!
So, I suppose I'll run through a bunch of goals, so that I can update what I have (and have not done). Mostly it's a lot of have-not, but ah well!
1. I've been trying to rest my hands, after the nasty RSI spat I had; I therefore haven't really crocheted in over a month. It's sad, but it's how it is.
3. I have figured out that things look less good on me when I gain five pounds. Sigh. ;.; One of the things I have decided to do is get on my exercise bandwagon again---I just need to move more!
4. Revamp wardrobe: Got a few skirts and a new pair of pants, which are sleek and have rich warm colors and which are just pleasant to wear. Huz-zah!
13. In September, I tried a cornmeal bread out of James Beard. It was pretty satisfying, and made a lot of bread! Really good toasted. For October, I've made both pumpkin cinnamon rolls and banana millet bread. The first was decent; the second was divine (I am now addicted to millet in bread, oh my!).
15. Key interest keeps going down, though still not under $2000.
19. My emergency fund is slightly expanded; I've decided that every time I deposit coins/get interest, it's just going into the emergency fund. This doesn't grow it very quickly, but an extra hundred a year from those sources is better than nothing!
21/22. I've been eating like shit lately, and so I'm trying to both eat better and get some more exercise. I've decided to try to bike up to campus as much as possible. I'm now down to almost 40 minutes from door to door, which is quite good, given that it's four miles with a nice little grade.
23. Just did a breast exam because oh yeah, I should do that!
24. Dentist: I went in September.
25. I'm doing better still with the skin on my face! It's responding to having moisturizer, which is good. :)
26. Doing better with teeth still too.
28. I'm okay with my hands. Not perfect. I went to the hand therapist again, and I'm trying to make sure I take breaks and just let them be a bit.
29. I've called Mum and Dad a lot more recently. I decided to work this into my decision to walk/exercise more. If I go for a half hour walk, of course I should call them!
30. Reading another CMV right now!
37. Total suck at language practice since August.
38. I've been neglecting the bed the last week, but I'm still doing this more than I was when I started this whole project.
39. Fixed/got rid of a few pieces in the to-fix pile, so it's at least smaller!
74. I went to Oswalds yesterday with several friends for the local restaurant week---$25 for a three-course prix fixe. The appetizers were fantastic; I got a little gem salad with (perfect) beets and pecans and grana padano, while my friends had a very good mushroom soup. The entrees were a little enh; strip steak that was cooked too rare (I asked for medium rare, and several of the pieces were just rare---not good for a fatty steak), and the fries were way too dry. I make better at home. The dessert, a vanilla creme brulee, was perfectly nommy and happy, although my friend's apple crisp was rather disappointing---mostly toppings, and a bit dry. I would go back, but not on such a busy night, and I would be very careful with my orders.
84. I will go to the UK in November omg.
89. I'm working on some journal submissions! Yesss!
92. And I'm working on the dissertation, too.
95. I've added some fic writing into my rotation, too. Nothing like, but it's good to get some fandom into my life!
96. I've been donating $10 a month to Wuqu' Kawoq, which I mentioned before but which I think is a fantastic organization. As I mentioned, they provide medical care in Guatemala; one of the important things they do, however, is provide medical care in indigenous languages (currently I believe in Kaqchikel and Kich'ee, two of the highland Mayan languages). The majority of Guatemalans do not speak Spanish natively, and the poorest Guatemalans (the ones with the least infrastructure, most likely to be murdered by their government) often speak no Spanish at all. If you can imagine being in a foreign country and unable to tell the doctor how and why and where your stomach hurts, you can imagine why it's so important to provide medical care in the language of the people. They also do a lot of real improvements (especially in water quality and malnutrition work), and they help train midwives. So, awesome! Go support them!
So, I suppose I'll run through a bunch of goals, so that I can update what I have (and have not done). Mostly it's a lot of have-not, but ah well!
1. I've been trying to rest my hands, after the nasty RSI spat I had; I therefore haven't really crocheted in over a month. It's sad, but it's how it is.
3. I have figured out that things look less good on me when I gain five pounds. Sigh. ;.; One of the things I have decided to do is get on my exercise bandwagon again---I just need to move more!
4. Revamp wardrobe: Got a few skirts and a new pair of pants, which are sleek and have rich warm colors and which are just pleasant to wear. Huz-zah!
13. In September, I tried a cornmeal bread out of James Beard. It was pretty satisfying, and made a lot of bread! Really good toasted. For October, I've made both pumpkin cinnamon rolls and banana millet bread. The first was decent; the second was divine (I am now addicted to millet in bread, oh my!).
15. Key interest keeps going down, though still not under $2000.
19. My emergency fund is slightly expanded; I've decided that every time I deposit coins/get interest, it's just going into the emergency fund. This doesn't grow it very quickly, but an extra hundred a year from those sources is better than nothing!
21/22. I've been eating like shit lately, and so I'm trying to both eat better and get some more exercise. I've decided to try to bike up to campus as much as possible. I'm now down to almost 40 minutes from door to door, which is quite good, given that it's four miles with a nice little grade.
23. Just did a breast exam because oh yeah, I should do that!
24. Dentist: I went in September.
25. I'm doing better still with the skin on my face! It's responding to having moisturizer, which is good. :)
26. Doing better with teeth still too.
28. I'm okay with my hands. Not perfect. I went to the hand therapist again, and I'm trying to make sure I take breaks and just let them be a bit.
29. I've called Mum and Dad a lot more recently. I decided to work this into my decision to walk/exercise more. If I go for a half hour walk, of course I should call them!
30. Reading another CMV right now!
37. Total suck at language practice since August.
38. I've been neglecting the bed the last week, but I'm still doing this more than I was when I started this whole project.
39. Fixed/got rid of a few pieces in the to-fix pile, so it's at least smaller!
74. I went to Oswalds yesterday with several friends for the local restaurant week---$25 for a three-course prix fixe. The appetizers were fantastic; I got a little gem salad with (perfect) beets and pecans and grana padano, while my friends had a very good mushroom soup. The entrees were a little enh; strip steak that was cooked too rare (I asked for medium rare, and several of the pieces were just rare---not good for a fatty steak), and the fries were way too dry. I make better at home. The dessert, a vanilla creme brulee, was perfectly nommy and happy, although my friend's apple crisp was rather disappointing---mostly toppings, and a bit dry. I would go back, but not on such a busy night, and I would be very careful with my orders.
84. I will go to the UK in November omg.
89. I'm working on some journal submissions! Yesss!
92. And I'm working on the dissertation, too.
95. I've added some fic writing into my rotation, too. Nothing like, but it's good to get some fandom into my life!
96. I've been donating $10 a month to Wuqu' Kawoq, which I mentioned before but which I think is a fantastic organization. As I mentioned, they provide medical care in Guatemala; one of the important things they do, however, is provide medical care in indigenous languages (currently I believe in Kaqchikel and Kich'ee, two of the highland Mayan languages). The majority of Guatemalans do not speak Spanish natively, and the poorest Guatemalans (the ones with the least infrastructure, most likely to be murdered by their government) often speak no Spanish at all. If you can imagine being in a foreign country and unable to tell the doctor how and why and where your stomach hurts, you can imagine why it's so important to provide medical care in the language of the people. They also do a lot of real improvements (especially in water quality and malnutrition work), and they help train midwives. So, awesome! Go support them!
05 September 2012
Roundup post (Wednesday)
There's not much to be said this time around---I've not done a lot in the last week. I've read a lot, mostly, and will probably meet my Goodreads goal for this year quite soon (i.e., before September is out). But I've not got much other work done. This is partially because I've been spending a good amount of time with friends, and partially because I've been reading so much. I'm trying to bring myself back to working, but it's hard!
I have, however, done a lot of thinking. Some of it is of the deep philosophical variety: What do I really want out of my career? What do I want out of my life? Some of it, however, is much less deep. For this reason, I'm adding a goal to my list: Make my hands better. You see, I've had an RSI since high school, which I finally got diagnosed this past year. It's not a small thing; if it gets too much worse, I will actually be unable to type at all. As it is, typing hurts.
The goal is really a multi-part one, of course. I need to make some more appointments with the hand therapist, and basically set everything up exactly as she says. It would be nice to avoid a situation in which I'm forced to have surgery so that I'm not entirely crippled.
Otherwise, I have---most excitingly---managed to cross a goal off my list! I've been berry-picking twice this summer. A friend of mine lives up in the mountains near here, and there are blackberry and raspberry canes near her. She's a generous person, and has invited me up twice to go picking with her. It's so enjoyable. Sun, and being outside, and eating warm berries right off the cane.
I have, however, done a lot of thinking. Some of it is of the deep philosophical variety: What do I really want out of my career? What do I want out of my life? Some of it, however, is much less deep. For this reason, I'm adding a goal to my list: Make my hands better. You see, I've had an RSI since high school, which I finally got diagnosed this past year. It's not a small thing; if it gets too much worse, I will actually be unable to type at all. As it is, typing hurts.
The goal is really a multi-part one, of course. I need to make some more appointments with the hand therapist, and basically set everything up exactly as she says. It would be nice to avoid a situation in which I'm forced to have surgery so that I'm not entirely crippled.
Otherwise, I have---most excitingly---managed to cross a goal off my list! I've been berry-picking twice this summer. A friend of mine lives up in the mountains near here, and there are blackberry and raspberry canes near her. She's a generous person, and has invited me up twice to go picking with her. It's so enjoyable. Sun, and being outside, and eating warm berries right off the cane.
29 August 2012
Roundup AND Focus! (Wednesday)
Today is a bit of a combination post. I've not posted in so long---two whole weeks!---that it'll be good to get the head screwed back on, all around.
My focus, really, is very simple---get back to keeping track of what I'm eating (and eating healthier), spend some more time exercising, and otherwise just keep keeping on. I need to find an easy way of keeping track of this, and of reminding myself to do it---something portable, private, and non-silly.
Also, I need to write more.
As far as the roundup goes:
1. White afghan: This has been going slowly. My hands have been acting up (rather nastily), and so my crocheting has slowed to a standstill as I try to get them back into working condition. I think I'm going to focus on finishing up a couple other projects which are, at this stage, just needing some fine-tuning to be finished.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn, as I said in the last post, but then I also thrifted some yarn the other day. Oh darn.
7. Perfecting the noms: So making hopjesvla again soon. I have all this coffee leftover that I can't drink because ow. I'm in need of a few other good puddings/custards, though. There's a nutmeg and maple custard I've been eyeing over at Smitten Kitchen, which I messed up horridly the last time I tried it. (This, I think, is my story with custards and puddings: Fuck up horribly the first time, make it great the second.)
12. Nail polish: Very excited to be doing a girls' night with one of my housemates and a friend. Toe-painting will be happening.
13. One new dish: I tried "Java Jacks" from The AntiCraft yesterday. I used double-strength coffee, but still barely got any coffee flavor(!), and the pancakes were pretty dry. Not making these ones again, I think, although I do love the idea of coffee + sweetened condensed milk in a pancake.
14. Capsule warddrobe: Having such problems here! You see, I like black. I also like grey, navy and brown as base colors. The last of these three are very easy to match with a wide variety of colors---those neutrals are pretty interchangeable. Black, on the other hand, I find to be a pretty stark color that, well, pretty much only goes with... black (and grey and white). So, I'm torn between being colorful and turning corporate goth.
15. Key interest: It remains below $3000, and I've had the luck to get it lower and lower each month. Barring disaster, I might even be able to pay it *fully* off if I do it right.
19. Emergency fund: I've expanded it to 4 months (relatively generous) living expenses. Ideally I'd like it to be at six months before I graduate, but we'll see how that works out. It's quite difficult to keep that much money aside when you make 16.5k a year.
Then again, the idea of graduating (without a job) and needing that money is also god-damned terrifying.
21. Fruits and veggies: Yeah, whoops.
22. Exercise: Ditto.
24/26. Dentist/brush/flossing: Doing fine, and again looking forward to clean teeth in early October.
28. Calling the 'rents: I've been calling them! And it's awesome! It makes me happy!
32. All music: 3509/6354.
36. Lang practice: I started out very strong this August, and then poof! None. I'm feeling the craving again, though, which is good.
37. Making the bed: Being going strong on this. It's nice to have a neat bed (especially when my books decide to escape their bookshelves, i.e. I don't have room for them on my bookshelves).
85. Japan: This is not happening, as it turns out. The paperwork got messed up and I would only be able to be there for about three weeks---and I can't quite justify the ticket for that right now. I'm sad, but I think I will just go visit my parents and N. instead.
91. Dissertation: I'm almost done with the first draft of the first chapter! We'll see how this goes....
95. Charity: Donated $100 the other day---a friend of a friend desperately needs a life-saving surgery, has no insurance, and is already broke from medical bills.
My focus, really, is very simple---get back to keeping track of what I'm eating (and eating healthier), spend some more time exercising, and otherwise just keep keeping on. I need to find an easy way of keeping track of this, and of reminding myself to do it---something portable, private, and non-silly.
Also, I need to write more.
As far as the roundup goes:
1. White afghan: This has been going slowly. My hands have been acting up (rather nastily), and so my crocheting has slowed to a standstill as I try to get them back into working condition. I think I'm going to focus on finishing up a couple other projects which are, at this stage, just needing some fine-tuning to be finished.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn, as I said in the last post, but then I also thrifted some yarn the other day. Oh darn.
7. Perfecting the noms: So making hopjesvla again soon. I have all this coffee leftover that I can't drink because ow. I'm in need of a few other good puddings/custards, though. There's a nutmeg and maple custard I've been eyeing over at Smitten Kitchen, which I messed up horridly the last time I tried it. (This, I think, is my story with custards and puddings: Fuck up horribly the first time, make it great the second.)
12. Nail polish: Very excited to be doing a girls' night with one of my housemates and a friend. Toe-painting will be happening.
13. One new dish: I tried "Java Jacks" from The AntiCraft yesterday. I used double-strength coffee, but still barely got any coffee flavor(!), and the pancakes were pretty dry. Not making these ones again, I think, although I do love the idea of coffee + sweetened condensed milk in a pancake.
14. Capsule warddrobe: Having such problems here! You see, I like black. I also like grey, navy and brown as base colors. The last of these three are very easy to match with a wide variety of colors---those neutrals are pretty interchangeable. Black, on the other hand, I find to be a pretty stark color that, well, pretty much only goes with... black (and grey and white). So, I'm torn between being colorful and turning corporate goth.
15. Key interest: It remains below $3000, and I've had the luck to get it lower and lower each month. Barring disaster, I might even be able to pay it *fully* off if I do it right.
19. Emergency fund: I've expanded it to 4 months (relatively generous) living expenses. Ideally I'd like it to be at six months before I graduate, but we'll see how that works out. It's quite difficult to keep that much money aside when you make 16.5k a year.
Then again, the idea of graduating (without a job) and needing that money is also god-damned terrifying.
21. Fruits and veggies: Yeah, whoops.
22. Exercise: Ditto.
24/26. Dentist/brush/flossing: Doing fine, and again looking forward to clean teeth in early October.
28. Calling the 'rents: I've been calling them! And it's awesome! It makes me happy!
32. All music: 3509/6354.
36. Lang practice: I started out very strong this August, and then poof! None. I'm feeling the craving again, though, which is good.
37. Making the bed: Being going strong on this. It's nice to have a neat bed (especially when my books decide to escape their bookshelves, i.e. I don't have room for them on my bookshelves).
85. Japan: This is not happening, as it turns out. The paperwork got messed up and I would only be able to be there for about three weeks---and I can't quite justify the ticket for that right now. I'm sad, but I think I will just go visit my parents and N. instead.
91. Dissertation: I'm almost done with the first draft of the first chapter! We'll see how this goes....
95. Charity: Donated $100 the other day---a friend of a friend desperately needs a life-saving surgery, has no insurance, and is already broke from medical bills.
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