Oh god I had intended to post this like two weeks ago -- I wrote a draft and just never posted the damn thing. (Can we at least be assured that I am NOT going to make my "weekly post" goal? Hot damn.)
Anyways: another summary awaits.
1. White afghan: finished! This was done sometime in December, actually, not long after my last entry. It's so nice to have it done! It looks pretty in my room. :) (I am now, of course, started on another afghan; we'll see when I finish it.)
5. I should be able to fill up a good bit of the green notebook soon, if only because I have a backlog of recipes that I need to copy in! It won't be fully finished once I do that, but there will definitely be quite a few. (Huzzah!) I realized that I also need to go through and remove ones that I don't really like enough to have in there. There's definitely more of those than I want there to be, from back when my criteria was not "I definitely need to make this again" and more "well, this is pretty okay, I suppose."
13. I cooked new dishes for November and December. November was, in particular, some delicious challah (both a vegan one and a non-vegan one, as well as the almond "cream cheese" that I used to make the vegan challah). December was much more treat-oriented; I made a whole bunch of new candies (coconut haystacks, hazelnut-almond brittle, etc.). I also ended up making peanut butter dog biscuits -- that was fun!
For January, I've made a few new crockpot dishes; I'm rather enamoured of the beef and lentil stew. I don't know why I don't spend more time with my crockpot, it's incredibly silly. The thing is amazing.
21. I've tried, in the last month and a half, to do a more concerted effort at eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetable a day (much like how I did over the summer). Unfortunately, I'd gotten quite lazy about it through September and October, which was no good; I am, however, certainly better about this than I was at the start of this project, which makes me happy.
22. I've also revamped my exercising three times a week thing -- I've managed to do it for the past three weeks. So, here's to good starts, at least.
39. Bed-making has definitely been revamped; yesterday was the first time in the entire calendar year that I didn't make it. I was just too effing lazy and pouty to bother. Whoops.
41. I completed my Goodreads goal. I had moved it down from 50 to 40 partway through the year, and ended up reading 47 books; however, I don't feel bad about this, because I read a TON of fiction that isn't loggable on Goodreads this past year, certainly more than 3 novels' worth! So, I'm counting it as a win.
43. I'm continuously working on my books-I-own list; I've actually now devised a spreadsheet for keeping track of them. I also joined a small group of people who are "assigning" each other books to read each month, out of lists of books we have to read; I put up my spreadsheet as my list, and so hope to get a good few out of the way just through this group.
58. I sent New Year's cards, go me! It was fun to write them (and I need to try to do these more.)
60. I've started a list of simple things that make me happy. It's ongoing, but it's started and has a few items on it (and therefore although I'll keep adding to this list as the fancy hits, I'm going to count it as done).
61. I went to a FANTASTIC concert in December -- the KROQMas Silent Night concert, the second night. Bastille, The Neighbourhood, Lorde, Phoenix, and Arcade Fire were the bands; as you can imagine, it was lovely. (Phoenix were just thoroughly amazing live. They're not my favorite band out of the group, but they're quite simply mesmerizing; just a joy to be at a concert with.)
69. I tried a new-to-me cuisine -- Hmong. Hmong food is, of course, part of the general Southeast Asian sphere of food, and so not something particularly new to me; however, the dish I had was somewhat new to me, and was certainly quite tasty.
89. I went to one state that I'd never been in before (Minnesota), which was, well, cold. It was during the Great Polar Vortex of 2014, so it was quite cold, not just regular cold. So, here's to 1/5, ah well. (How is it that I've done so much travelling in the past few years, but so little of it to places I've never been to before?)
91. I suspect that I will, in fact, never end up submitting to a journal. This is kind of sad, but -- oh well. I'm coming to terms with myself.
93. I've been to a conference for 2014 now (hello, LSA!). So, this goal is DONE -- very exciting.
97. I've been working on my 500-words-a-day habit. I've not been perfect so far this year, but I've done pretty well. This has certainly been good for my dissertation -- also for my journaling, as it turns out. :)
It's a bit terrifying to think that I've got just under a year to go, and that I've only got 15 goals officially completed -- aiyai! Admittedly, at lot of these are ones I'm going to have evaluate, comparing my start-and-end of the project selves. Still. Ack?
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
21 January 2014
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!
30 April 2012
Sunday Focus
I'm focusing on the same daily/weekly goals again---because, you know, habits, and forming them and all that jazz. It's been pretty easy to do things like make the bed and call my parents with some frequency. Exercising and eating vegetables, on the other hand. You know how it is. I didn't get to write all my words, either, because fellowship applications reared their heads and ate all my time.
Especially difficult is the part where I typically only cook for one. Vegetables inevitably come in larger packages than I can use in one week without getting sick of said veggie; so either I come to loathe the veggie for a few weeks after, or I end up with nasty dead veggies by the end of the week. Rather disheartening, but I guess I should really just be working on ways to fight this problem.
In addition to the above, I'm also hoping to make some minor bits of progress towards other long-term goals (things like the afghan, etc.). Part of this is going to involve a post later this week with a mini-roundup of what I've been doing and where I am with goals.
So, for this week:
1. Fruits and veggies, exercise, skin, floss/brush, call Mom and Dad, Lang-8, post here, make the bed, 500-word habit.
2. Play with nail polish, clean out a bit of e-mail inbox, work on afghan, listen to new musics.
What are you focusing on?
Especially difficult is the part where I typically only cook for one. Vegetables inevitably come in larger packages than I can use in one week without getting sick of said veggie; so either I come to loathe the veggie for a few weeks after, or I end up with nasty dead veggies by the end of the week. Rather disheartening, but I guess I should really just be working on ways to fight this problem.
In addition to the above, I'm also hoping to make some minor bits of progress towards other long-term goals (things like the afghan, etc.). Part of this is going to involve a post later this week with a mini-roundup of what I've been doing and where I am with goals.
So, for this week:
1. Fruits and veggies, exercise, skin, floss/brush, call Mom and Dad, Lang-8, post here, make the bed, 500-word habit.
2. Play with nail polish, clean out a bit of e-mail inbox, work on afghan, listen to new musics.
What are you focusing on?
22 April 2012
Sunday Focus
On Sundays here, I'll be posting what I'll be focusing on for the week (and why). To wit:
1. Write 5,000 words for dissertation/paper.
2. Daily/weekly goals, in particular: Making sure I get my fruits and veggies, taking care of my skin, flossing/brushing LIKE AN ADULT, exercising, and calling the parentals.
The reason behind focus #1 should be relatively obvious: I am dissertating! And want to get published this year! It will also be good to try to get into a truly regular writing habit (although I'm not starting that one in earnest for a while yet).
The reason behind focus #2 is perhaps less obvious, and it's also the reason why I'm not starting the X-amount-of-words-per-day type thing yet. I'm putting particular emphasis on these goals this week because it is damn hard to form habits. I've got a goodly pile of habits listed, and these are the ones that are most important to me. Out of everything on that list, it's these things that make the biggest difference in my everyday life. So, time to start out on these.
What are day-to-day habits are most beneficial/harmful to you?
1. Write 5,000 words for dissertation/paper.
2. Daily/weekly goals, in particular: Making sure I get my fruits and veggies, taking care of my skin, flossing/brushing LIKE AN ADULT, exercising, and calling the parentals.
The reason behind focus #1 should be relatively obvious: I am dissertating! And want to get published this year! It will also be good to try to get into a truly regular writing habit (although I'm not starting that one in earnest for a while yet).
The reason behind focus #2 is perhaps less obvious, and it's also the reason why I'm not starting the X-amount-of-words-per-day type thing yet. I'm putting particular emphasis on these goals this week because it is damn hard to form habits. I've got a goodly pile of habits listed, and these are the ones that are most important to me. Out of everything on that list, it's these things that make the biggest difference in my everyday life. So, time to start out on these.
What are day-to-day habits are most beneficial/harmful to you?
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