Ramblings of a Cold and Gloomy Tuesday

Tuesday already!? How did THAT happen?

Yesterday we took an extra day for Easter vacation, so I could do the taxes and the lesson plans. (Yeah, you know, the public schools had the day off too.)

Success on the taxes! E-filed. No problems. Money coming back. S'all good.

Success on the lesson plans too. All complete through the end of April. David's were already done, but I had three weeks of plans for the others to complete.

Worked an hour and a half on scoring tests yesterday. (Eleven hours between Sat/Sun!) Today I got up early and worked for an hour on that before anyone else got up. Worked another hour and a half after lunch and hoping to stuff another 30-45 minutes in before dinner. (But I have to stop blogging to do it! lol)

Watched the dumbest movie last night - Duplex, with Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore. Never heard of it before and it must be fairly recent. Stupid movie. But I was doing other stuff while I watched it, such as trying on ALL of my clothes. Culled 2 paper sacks worth of clothing, mostly too big! yay! Have a medium size stack I am still considering what to do with - mainly stuff I like, but size is not QUITE right, or Size is right but I don't really like. Will deal with that tonight as well as pick the elastic waistband out of a sweatshirt that I adore otherwise. Going to watch Yes Man tonight.

Need to read seven or so chapters of Daniel Deronda tonight to stay on schedule. Book club members have been less than happy about this book choice. Several have just decided flat out they aren't reading it. But I'm enjoying it - truly - and my co-leader Darlene is farther along than I am and said that she can't wait to find out what happens next. And I'm told by many that the movie is wonderful!

Went to a couple libraries yesterday and the grocery store. Have been buying clearanced flowers at the grocery store lately. They make me happy. Yes, the ones in the picture are the same kind I got recently. (Although that's not my pic.)

On my 3rd cup of coffee for the day. Had about 5 hours of sleep last night. Should get more tonight. Don't wanna get sick like most of the other people living here.

The weather sucks, to be totally honest. I cancelled my soccer practice for this evening since it's rainy and in the low 40's. Isn't this MID-APRIL? James' coach cancelled his practice as well. I wouldn't have sent James anyway, since he still isn't 100% after his week-long illness - coughing mostly.

Chess Club was cancelled for today too, so we ended up with a commitment-free day.

The boys rearranged their room. I haven't gone up to look, but they're happy with having more space on the floor. David's bed is up high, and he's not that thrilled about that. James is using a bedframe we got on freecycle. It's elevated just a bit higher than a normal bed. Enough to store stuff underneath.

I need to buy an armoire for my clothes, so they can be downstairs instead of upstairs in the boys' room.

Ok, enough rambling and avoidance of work. Dinner will be ready soon!

101 Things I want to complete in 1001 days

101 Things I want to complete in 1001 days

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past — frequently simple goals such as new year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

January 1, 2009 – September 28, 2011 (my 45^th birthday - convenient, eh?)

I may have to tweak some of the goals to be more measurable. It's a work in progress, just like my life. :-) I reserve the right to modify my list at any time.

Personal growth

1. Prayerfully consider options for external activities before committing. (just because everyone is jumping off the bridge doesn’t mean you have to.)

2. Decide if I am going back to work full time or writing part time

3. Say no to a request that I really want to accept, but would be better if I didn't

Organizational

1. Work on the 101 in 1001 days list - 1-4-09
   

2. Pack up Christmas stuff - 1-4-09
   

3. Redo the job chart - 1-1-09
   

4. Redo the schedule - 1-1-09
   

5. Tag all my photos in Easy Share

6. Redo my recipe book (1 recipe per day)

7. Get caught up in scrapbooking

8. Plan weekly for menus and shop accordingly

9. Make a plan for keeping kids rooms clean

10. Clean out car weekly

11. Revisit the list on a monthly basis. Don’t be afraid to change it!

12. Organize an emergency kit including flashlight and candles

13. Get important papers in order

14. Get rid of 101 things that we no longer use or need
    

15. Clean out my facebook in box

16. Make a list of Christmas traditions

17. List DVD's on DVDswap

18. Catalog all my books on computer

19. Wrap the Christmas books before I put them away.

20. Use my Coke rewards points for something nice

21. Figure out how to use the music feature on my phone.

22. Buy an album for the 8x10 baby photos

Health & Fitness

1. Plan a healthy lifestyle eating program

2. Do monthly breast exams

3. Find a new breakfast (1/2 cup Kashi, 6 oz light yogurt) 1-2-09

4. Lose 5 pounds 1-17-09
   

5. Lose 10 pounds (cumulative)

6. Lose 15 pounds (cumulative)

7. Lose 20 pounds (cumulative)

8. Lose 25 pounds (cumulative)

9. Lose 30 pound (cumulative)

10. Lose 35 pounds (cumulative)

11. Lose 40 pounds (cumulative – be at goal weight)

12. Follow exercise plan for 30 days. (3x/wk, low impact aerobics) 1-31-09

13. Follow exercise plan for 60 days.

14. Follow exercise plan for 90 days.

15. Donate blood

16. Learn to drink coffee black

17. Learn to like three new healthy foods

18. Learn how to utilize Sparkpeople to its full capacities

19. Take my vitamins every day for 6 weeks

Aesthetics

1. Make my house someplace I love to be

2. Grow flowers

3. Paint the final yellow coat on house exterior (with my family)

4. Paint the white trim (or make Bob do it)

5. Repaint each room inside the house
   

6. Replace all window shades with cellular shades

7. Be able to take my wedding ring off (either naturally or get it resized)

8. Keep my nails done for 30 consecutive days

9. Get contact lenses

10. Have a nice family portrait done

11. Find a purse I really like that holds my stuff well

Recreational

1. Find a hobby to do with Bob

2. Find an outdoor hobby to do with all the kids

3. Go camping 5 times in 5 new places
   

4. Teach children how to sew

5. Sew doll clothes

6. Walk with children 3x per week for 4 months
   

7. Go to a circus with the kids

8. Rewatch the LOTR trilogy and ALL the extras

9. Be more intentional about computer time

10. Sew denim Christmas stockings

11. Get my sewing machine fixed or replaced

12. Obtain a larger TV

13. Go horseback riding

14. See Mamma Mia on stage

15. Take the kids to see Fiddler on the Roof

16. Take the girls to the ballet

17. Complete the 999 Reading Challenge in 2009

18. Decide on and complete a reading challenge for 2010

Relational

1. Attend SOF support monthly

2. Plan monthly family game days (with another family???)

3. Reconnect with a certain friend
   

4. Take each child out alone 1x per month
   

5. Go someplace special on our anniversary each year
   

6. Write to my mom once a month

7. Make an effort to call people on the phone

8. Visit in laws 1x per month

9. Write a letter to someone who has helped me each month

10. Write a letter to each of my siblings

Writing

1. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2009

2. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2010

3. Edit Mystery Valley Ranch

4. Send 3 query letters a week

5. Work on Part 2 of Forget me not

6. Write 2000 words a day 6 days a week

7. Type the kids' novels

8. Find something to sew my NaNo patches on

Financial

1. Tweak budget until it works

2. Become debt free

3. Keep the checkbook balanced 6 months in a row

Spiritual

1. Read the Bible from beginning to end

2. Focus on getting to know God through prayer

3. Complete a Bible study – either a group study or personally

Monday Musings

The clothing is now tidily tucked away in 3 dressers in the back room, conveniently near the washer and dryer. Except for, of course, the mounds of DIRTY LAUNDRY that were playing hide and seek with us in corners, under beds, and just smack in plain sight upstairs. That is mostly awaiting laundering, although a couple loads made it onto the line to take advantage of the sunny day. Upstairs remains only the PJ's, undies, socks, and some church clothing. Hopefully.

Got the COBRA info in the mail today. OUCH. Gotta decide what to do about health insurance.

Wrote 1272 words this afternoon before getting stuck on my major conflict. How to finagle it just so??? Can't figure it out yet. Gotta do it yet today. ::::bangs head:::: Nope, nothing yet. ::::bangs head again::::

Have a roast in the slow cooker and some potatoes boiling on the stove. In just a few minutes we will eat a satisfying dinner and then move on to bath night. No other plans tonight!

Watched three movies this weekend - Speed Racer (FINALLY! - reviewed at Mirkwood), What Happens in Vegas (kinda funny and romantic, but I am not real fond of either Cameron Diaz or Ashton Kutcher), & Then She Found Me (Colin Firth and Helen Hunt in a "what else can go wrong" sort of R-rated romance - liked it! Cried!). I would love to review both of those, as well as Penelope, which I watched some time ago and would recommend. Also read a book by Tess Gerritsen - The Keepsake (a suspense thriller). I've been starving for some media input! lol I'd love some movie recommendations from NEW DVD releases.

I am feeling better, maybe 90%. Bob is not quite himself either, but he has been working on scraping paint today. He also went out to the farm and picked some veggies and taters from the garden. David and James STILL have coughs, which is quite annoying. I keep thinking I should take them to the doctor, but then I think - well, they'll just tell me to give them an antibiotic and I don't really want to. I should increase all of our immune system remedies - Vitamin C, orange juice (in my opinion, the BEST home remedy), echinacea, garlic, etc...

I posted my Daybook over at Cornerstone.