2013 Monthly Goals, May's progress...

PERSONAL MONTHLY GOALS

• Lose 2 pounds
• Haven't even given it a thought this month until the last couple of days.  It's time.
• Turn computer off by 9:00 pm on work nights
• No.
• Begin bedtime routine by 9:15 pm on work nights
• I accomplished this goal exactly once this month.  Need.  More.  Sleep.
• Get back to a more Paleo eating plan
• ummm...no
• Make my iced coffees instead of buying them 4 times a week...I only drink coffee on my way to work, and I only work 4 days a week  / (gave up iced coffee) 
• Backslider that I am, I bought coffee about four times this month.
• Take my lunch to work twice a week
• severe backsliding...maybe 3 times
• Cook twenty meals at home per month   (not counting breakfast/lunch)
• I just want to take this one off the list...too embarrassing to admit how terrible I am at this.  And I'm a really good cook! 
• Cook / freeze two meals per month
• 0 / 2
• Stretch for ten minutes 15 times a month
• haven't done ten minutes at a time, but I have started doing multiple short stretching sessions a day
• Walk for fifteen minutes 15 times a month
• Miserable fail...but I did get a wireless keyboard and mouse at work so I can work standing up part of the time
• Visit one new church a month until we find a new church home
• miserable fail
• blog 20 times a month
• 13  / 20
• have one or more of the kidlets overnight once a month
• 2 / 1 (had each girl for an overnight, and also took Bobby and Diego for an individual day out)

PERSONAL ANNUAL GOALS

• Lose 25 pounds
• Complete one Bible study
• Organize home office / craft room
• Organize photos
• Paint cabinets in guest powder room
• Reorganize laundry room
• Paint laundry room cabinets
• Complete the 2013 Reading Challenge
• 7 / 12

GIVING GOALS (for the year)

• Knit 12 hats to donate
• .5 / 12 
• Donate 12 boxfuls of household goods / clothes to Goodwill
• 4 / 12
• Donate 12 books to the library
• 15 / 12
• Donate to two good causes

FINANCIAL GOALS (for the year)

• Be more deliberately mindful of finances
• Contribute maximum to our IRAs
• Add $100 to each of the five college funds
• x2
• Build / finish the garage apartment
• Price / plan future kitchen remodel

CREATIVE GOALS (for the year)

• Hand quilt Rita May's quilt top
• Make 52 cards 6 / 52
• Knit 6 dishcloths 4 / 6
• Sew 2 hot pads  1 / 2
• Knit 1 cowl
• Make 6 Pinterest projects   5 / 6

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen

photo credit: HarperCollins Publishers

Based on the true story of a freed slave spying for the Union during the American Civil War.

Tuesday schmoozday...

Such a whimsical flower bed.  :)  I drive past it regularly in the town where I work.  The glare is because I didn't have the sense to roll down the car window as I drove by snapping a photo.

Today was exhausting...a Monday squared.  Not helped by my extreme lack of sleep last night...seemed like I couldn't slow down after my fun weekend. 

My book and I are turning in early tonight!

Long weekending...

I had a four-day weekend, and it was a marathon of activity.  

Friday I went and got my hair cut off.  I wish I had thought to take a photo of the huge mound of hair on the floor when all was done.  I went in the morning, and my stylist said that he would cut hair for the rest of the day and all combined still not accumulate as much hair as from just my cut.  LOL  

It poured Friday afternoon, but I was determined to get to Austin to make another painting class.  I can't tell you how many times I almost turned around...questioning the wisdom of facing Austin traffic in the rain.  Even after I got to the location, I almost came home without going in just thinking of having to repeat the process in the dark, but I'm very happy I didn't.  Unfortunately, my phone's camera is very untrustworthy lately, so I have no photos to share.

Saturday, I picked up Diego and took him to a painting class closer to home.  Same camera, same problem, so I have no proof of it, but he enjoyed it.  I will have to try to take a photo of him and the painting later and blog about it in more detail, as he has requested a blog post of his own.  :)

When I took him home, Caitlyn wanted to come home with me to spend the night, so we made it a rare one-at-a-time overnight.  We went out for dinner.  We tried to sew, but my planned project turned out to be a little too tricky.  We played I Spy and read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Sunday it was Chloe's turn.  We just hung out and played cards.  She fell asleep on the sofa.  When she woke up about 10:30, I thought she might be up for awhile, but she got ready for bed, read me one story, and then went right back to sleep.

Today was Bobby's turn.  He is my cheesecake lover.  I had promised him quite some time ago that we would go to The Cheesecake Factory, so today was that day.  We loved it, and came home stuffed.  He came over and hung out for awhile before going back home.  It was really a fun day with him.

Tomorrow it is back to work, but the beauty of a long weekend, is that it makes the work week one day shorter!  :)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Ghost Writer by John Harwood

The jury is still out on this one.  I find myself skimming quite a bit...but on the other hand, I can't seem to put it down.  Maybe I'm just in a hurry to figure it out.  :)  At any rate, it has me giving up listening to NPR on the morning commute to listen to this on my Kindle instead.  

Moore, Oklahoma...

Not all is OK in OK tonight, but we're so thankful to know that the Sims men are safe (nephew, great-nephew, ex-brother-in-law).  Prayers for their neighbors and community...for those hurting, for those mourning, for those still in shock.

This week in a nutshell...

photo credit: Microsoft clipart

It was a dark and stormy night that kicked it off, which dawned into a beautiful Mother's Day.  Monday was a busy one on which was discovered blog thievery.  Wednesday slowed down a bit at the office, but ramped up when I got home to a son with lower abdominal pain and fever...made a trip to the ER...night spent in hospital.  Thursday morning brought surgery to remove appendix.  Went well.  This morning (Friday) he was released.  I made him chicken soup.  His sister and nieces brought him ice cream and flowers.

And that's it...in a nutshell.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Mrs. Somebody Somebody by Tracy Winn

Random House Publishing

A book of interwoven short stories that span decades in Lowell, Massachusettes.  Very well crafted.  A little like looking at cross sections of a small town on slides under a microscope. 

Is it time to call out the big dogs???

Well, maybe not these three.  They ARE big, but not nearly mean enough.

So, what brings about the need of protection, you may ask.  I've had a post stolen...post, accompanying photograph, the whole shebang.  Not from this blog, but from What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere .  I had an anonymous email from someone alerting me that it was on another (very commercial) blog, unattributed of course.

What I find really nasty about them is that they have a copyright notice on their blog that states, "This blog is copyright protected, and anything on it belongs to _________."  Yeah, right.

My first reaction was to Google what to do about a stolen blog post.  I found an awesome article posted by Rhonda at Crafterminds detailing how to go about approaching the plagiarizer.  I don't have time or energy to begin the process tonight.  

I thought I'd come ask you guys how you feel about it.  Ever had anything blatantly lifted from your blog?  I don't really care about the recipe (which I'm sure I found on a label somewhere decades ago and morphed into my own over the years),  but it is really just kind of creepy seeing my photo with my napkin and my counter top (from the old house).  Oh yeah, the counter top is from the old house, because the post they lifted from me predates their blog.  Oi vey.  Is there an emoticon for an eye-rolling bummed-out blogger?

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

This one has been hanging out on my bookshelf waiting for a reading, and is now on my 2013 Reading Challenge list.  

When the old government-run 'lunatic asylum' in Sligo, Ireland is on the verge of being closed, alternate living arrangements for its residents have to be made.

 This is the story of a centenarian who has lived in the facility for decades.

X marks the spot...of 7 random thoughts...

1.  I've talked before about how I love contrails, but I REALLY loved these that I saw on the way home today.

2.  My phone is acting strange.  Yesterday it went dark while I was trying to leave a voicemail for someone.   I couldn't end the call, so who knows what was recorded.  Text messages are taking forever to show up sometimes.  And today several videos and photographs disappeared from it.  :(  They were good ones too.

3.  I don't meet many celebrities in my line of work, but last week I met Dick Cheney, and I FAXed documents to David Casady...of course it wasn't THE Dick Cheney or David Cassidy, but still...

4.  You know how there are just some songs that you rock out to and completely embarrass yourself if anyone hears you, because you have the lyrics TOTALLY wrong?  Yeah.  Enjoy.

I know it's not really 'Secret Asian Man,' but I can't help it...I just can't sing it correctly.  And now I dare you to.  

5.  I got all the way to work last week without my office keys.  Had to go by boss's house to pick up his, and then go and have one made.  It works out really well to have a spare one now to keep in my car...because this morning I did it again!  I NEVER misplace keys, so this is absolutely unheard of.  Both times I had left them in the pocket of my slacks and tossed them in the laundry basket.

6.  Yesterday I was pulled over by a State Trooper...going 67 in a 60 mph zone.  Luckily, blessedly, miraculously(!) he only gave me a written warning and not a speeding ticket.  This is the third warning I've had in the last six months or so.  One for a burned-out headlight.  One for a burned out brake light.  And now this.  You know how  they say things happen in threes?  I think I'd better start watching my p's and q's, because now that I've had my three warnings, the next one will probably be the real deal.

7.  My new laptop has an annoying habit of the cursor disappearing or hopping around on me.  I'm not sure if I am accidentally causing it somehow...maybe brushing the touchpad or something without being aware of it?  I'm not sure if I should try to have it fixed or just get used to it or what.

Okay, that's seven, so I'm going to call it a day.

Making it Monday...

At a group lunch a couple of weeks ago, my co-worker, Erica, mentioned something she discovered that was really fun, and she said she would love for all of us to attend as a group sometime.  It's a franchised business called Painting With A Twist, that has a nearby location.  You attend for a class...not a series of classes, but a single two- or three-hour class...bring a friend (or not), bring snacks (or wine) and you leave with a finished painting.

I was game.  I went right back to work and checked it out online.  They have a calendar listing (and showing images of) all the paintings that they will be presenting classes for that month.  All you do is sign up for the one you would like to paint, and show up.  They provide canvas, paints, brushes, and instruction.  Everybody works on the same subject.  

This one of 'White Wild Grass Flowers' was my first class (2-hour class / $35).  Very loose and easy and fun.  I attended with a friend who was not from work.  I didn't want to wait until we could get everybody together as a work group.  I got busted when my photo appeared on the business' facebook page, and Erica, who originally recommended it, knew immediately!  :)

Erica and I both took the class for 'Renata's Green Door' (I know, the door is BLUE not green).  It was my second class (3-hour class / $45), and it was not as loose...and was a little more stressful.  It's more complex, and you really had to stay on task to keep up.  It was not turning out like I wanted, so I went a little nuts with the blue flowery bushes!  I have plans to rework it on my own at some point.

Anyway, Google it...Painting With A Twist.  They have locations in sixteen states.  If you find one near you, grab a friend and go.  They also do parties, date nights, and family days.  You have to be willing to give up a little individuality for a couple of hours, but it's a great way to get the feel for acrylics on canvas and pick up a technique or two.

2013 Goals, April's progress...

PERSONAL MONTHLY GOALS

• Lose 2 pounds
• no loss, but at least no gain this month
• Turn computer off by 9:00 pm on work nights
• quite often went straight from work to bed
• Begin bedtime routine by 9:15 pm on work nights
• see above
• Get back to a more Paleo eating plan
• now and then...which would be a no
• Make my iced coffees instead of buying them 4 times a week...I only drink coffee on my way to work, and I only work 4 days a week  / (gave up iced coffee) 
• bought 2 coffees
• Take my lunch to work twice a week
• sometimes
• Cook twenty meals at home per month   (not counting breakfast/lunch)
• I don't even remember 
• Cook / freeze two meals per month
• 0 / 2
• Stretch for ten minutes 15 times a month
• haven't done ten minutes at a time, but I have started doing multiple short stretching sessions a day
• Walk for fifteen minutes 15 times a month
• I tried to register for a walking program, but I wasn't eligible (not an insurance subscriber at my job as we use my husband's) so I'll move on to Plan B
• Visit one new church a month until we find a new church home
• miserable fail
• blog 20 times a month
• 9 / 20
• have one or more of the kidlets overnight once a month
• 1 / 1

PERSONAL ANNUAL GOALS

• Lose 25 pounds
• Complete one Bible study
• Organize home office / craft room
• Organize photos
• Paint cabinets in guest powder room
• Reorganize laundry room
• Paint laundry room cabinets
• Complete the 2013 Reading Challenge
• 6 / 12

GIVING GOALS (for the year)

• Knit 12 hats to donate
• .5 / 12 
• Donate 12 boxfuls of household goods / clothes to Goodwill
• 4 / 12
• Donate 12 books to the library
• 15 / 12
• Donate to two good causes

FINANCIAL GOALS (for the year)

• Be more deliberately mindful of finances
• Contribute maximum to our IRAs
• Contributed 2012 max to Carey's before filing taxes this month
• Add $100 to each of the five college funds
• Build / finish the garage apartment
• Price / plan future kitchen remodel

CREATIVE GOALS (for the year)

• Hand quilt Rita May's quilt top
• Make 52 cards 6 / 52
• Knit 6 dishcloths 4 / 6
• Sew 2 hot pads
• Knit 1 cowl
• Make 6 Pinterest projects   5 / 6