Updates and a Program Change

Hi everybody, sorry I'm late.

If you recall, I had some things I wanted to do in 2013.  This is where I currently stand:

Still to start

• Planning my international vacation - I'm thinking early Autumn, but not sure where.  
• Make a photo-book - I've taken pictures (I always take pictures) but I need to come up with a theme
• Read Don Quixote - haven't even picked it up
• Buy a new sofa - still just looking a catalogs
• Refinish the living room shelves and my old bed - they're in the garage, does that count?
• Read one novel by Charles Dickens - see Don Quixote
• Improve my knowledge of MadCap Flare - sigh

Steps forward

• I've contributed to my Roth IRA.
• I've posted three blog entries every week (not always long, but always three)
• I have been very good about taking my lunch to work. I've only missed three days so far, and am doing my best to keep myself organized so that it doesn't happen again.
• I took the Bamboo out of the closet and tried it out. Interesting, but not something I have a use for right now.
• A friend and I are seeing if we can go to the Blanco Lavender Festival together.

Steps back  

• Lose 100 lbs
• Write a letter to a friend every other week

I started well on the last two, and then things just sort of petered out. I regained all the weight I lost in January and while I did write some letters, I started procrastinating on those too.

No more. The last time I wrote a lot of letters I had a regular letter writing night. I even used to make notes for myself, so I'd remember things to put in the letters. So I am re-instituting letter night. Wednesday nights seem like a promising time for that.

Last, and definitely not least, my weight. I re-started the diet on Monday. I think I need more accountability on this diet, so instead of Wedneday recipes, I will be posting a "state-of-the-diet" report.  My apologies to those of you who really like the recipes. I may post recipes again later on, but right now, my focus has to be on removing the pounds.

2013: The To Do List

I have heard that there are people who don't make lists. People who go from one thing to the next, as the spirit moves them, and everything just miraculously falls into place. It sounds so dreamy and relaxing.

I am not one of those people. Not having a plan stresses me out. To follow my bliss, I need lists. Lots of lists. I make lists of of everything: groceries, books, places, events. My lists sprout sub-lists, (and sometimes sub, sub-lists). I may not do everything on them, but they organize my thinking and help me get myself moving.

New Year's is traditionally a time for resolutions, but 'resolution' is too grand a term for a lot of what I have in mind. The humble "To Do" List is more my style. These are all things I want to do in the next year. Some are ambitious, some are boring, and I think some of them will be fun. I may not do them all, but if I accomplish even half, my life will be better for it.

• Go to the Blanco Lavender Festival. - I've been thinking about it for years. This year, I want to go.
• Take a vacation out of the country. - I don't know where yet, but I feel the need to get some stamps on my passport.
• Make a photo-book
• Read Don Quixote - I've started it about six times, but never finished it.
• Buy a new sofa - mine is about to collapse
• Three blog entries a week
• Take my lunch to work instead of buying it
• Refinish the living room shelves and my old bed
• Lose 100 lbs -I gained 6 lbs over the holiday - ugh.
• Write a letter to a friend every other week
• Max out my Roth IRA
• Read one novel by Charles Dickens
• Improve my knowledge of MadCap Flare - I want to get beyond basic competence.
• Learn to use the Bamboo I've had in the closet for the last year

That's enough to start with, don't you think?