Catching up

I cannot believe that it has been almost six months since this little project started!  So I thought this would be a good time to go through my list and see what's what.  Here goes...

I really need to make another appointment for donating blood (#1), especially since I was planning on doing this six times!  I think I may try to find a different location, not because there was anything at all wrong with the one I went to last time, but maybe I'll have better luck with a different phlebotomist.  Not looking forward to more bruising or pain, though, so I'm definitely a little gun shy.  It was looking like I might get my first massage and/or facial in Las Vegas when I'm there for my friend's 40th birthday celebration in September, but after some discussion, she thinks it would be best to go to a place where she goes at home (#7, 18).  So this one is on hold until I go visit her again.  That's probably better anyway, because it will definitely be cheaper, and in case my face has a bad reaction, I won't have to worry about being seen by a bunch of people!

Speaking of 40th birthday celebrations, mine is just over a year away now (#69)!  That may seem early to start planning, but I want to make sure we can all budget for it and that we'll be able to make travel plans.  A few things have floated through my mind, but so far the only one that has really caught my attention would be renting a beach house for a few days or even a week.  I guess I have visions of sitting on the beach or a deck overlooking the beach with a drink, listening to the waves roll in, and just relaxing!  It would be nice to be near somewhere with shops and restaurants and maybe a little sight-seeing.  We'll have to see.  I have been scoping out a couple of rental sites online, and while it could be a little pricey, it's not any worse than a fancy hotel, and there would be room for everyone!  I'm open to suggestions, though...

I keep thinking I should be able to combine my road trip (#8) with visting the three new states (#52), but I've been to all the surrounding states, so that would require flying somewhere and renting a car.  Keeping this one in the back of my mind, but I don't think it's going to happen right away.  I probably should better define in my mind how long of a trip constitutes a road trip!  I might be going the midnight premiere of the new Harry Potter movie, so that would take care of #10.  Not that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, but I can't imagine too many other movies that I would really be that interested in seeing at midnight. 

I got an e-mail in April about volunteer opportunities for a Habitat House, but I was scheduled to work all the days they needed people (#11)!  Rats.  The couple of times there have been meteor showers, it has been completely overcast (#20).  I have a feeling this task may end up being a lot harder to cross off than it seems like it should be.  One day when I was looking through the Food Network site (one of my favorite activities!), I found a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa for making cheese that you then mix with dill to make a spread (#21)... yum!  It actually sounds really easy, so I'm thinking it would be a good weekend project sometime.  Even better, if turns out to actually taste like something decent, maybe I could take it to work for one of our many pitch-ins!  Wouldn't that impress everyone?!?

I haven't made any of my doctor/dentist appointments yet.  I need to put it on my weekly to-do list, because I never think about calling during the week.  It's one of those things I only think about when I can do nothing about it... weekends, in the shower, right before I fall asleep, or driving in the car.  Since I regularly have days off during the week, it shouldn't be that difficult to schedule things, so it's just a matter of picking up the phone.  I haven't been eating out much lately, but I definitely haven't had any servers that warranted a 100% tip (#25)!  But I'm keeping it in the back of my mind for when that just right person comes along... it will be fun!

I'm essentially postponing all my classes for now, because I set up my budget to accumulate some money for all the things on my list that will require a larger amount of money (i.e. classes, lawyer for the will, bicycle, fixing my grandfather's headstone, Butler donation, etc.).  One of my coworkers recently took a cake decorating class and has brought in several cakes for some of our parties, which has really whet my appetite for that one (#97)!  I also signed for the Top Chef University after purchasing a discount certificate on http://www.gilt.com/.  http://www.topchefuniversity.com/site/  I'm not planning on counting it as my cooking class (#34), but maybe it will give me some good basic information and allow me to sign up for a more advanced class than I would feel comfortable taking right now.

I am so mad at myself, because, although I never made it a definite intention, I was actually on track for sending out all birthday/cards gifts on time (#36)!  At least I was until my step-father's birthday last week.  The worst part was that I had all but one of his gifts that I could have given him when he was here last month, but they weren't wrapped and I was just too lazy to go down to the basement and wrap them.  Aaagh!  And here it is now, over a week past his birthday, and I still haven't sent his presents!  And on top of that, I didn't get my father's day cards mailed either.  It's a slippery slope...

I keep thinking about when I might start the 365-day photo challenge, and I have to say... I'm scared (#37)!  I'm watching other people's blogs who are doing photo challenges, and it just seems so overwhelming!  I did finally buy a replacement for the camera that went missing in Sedona, so at least I am capable of taking pictures now.  And I don't think it's the actual taking of the pictures that worries me, but figuring how to post them, how often to post them, and how much I want to talk about them.  My instinct would be to talk all about the picture, but that could be a whole blog in itself!  Especially the way I can go on about things!  I probably am overthinking this way too much, but I probably should at least work out some of the logistics before I start on this one.

I have been writing to grandparents regularly with the exception of last month when I was actually there visiting (#43).  It was nice to see my last letter tucked away on the kitchen counter with some other papers, because I know they really enjoy hearing from me.  I have noticed, though, that I have been calling less since I started writing more often.  Seems like there needs to be a better balance there somewhere.  I have also been keeping in regular touch with my dad (#61), and that has been great.  I feel much more connected to him than I have for a while, and it feels like he has been more open toward me, too.  When I was there visiting, it seemed like things were looser and more comfortable, which is the way it should be and the reason why I put this on the list.  I hate that we ever drifted apart as much as we did.

I have been making a point of finding more music (#45).  It was surprising to find how the local newspaper and many of the magazines I subscribe to list music suggestions.  I've also been listening to Pandora a lot through the computer (I'm listening to a Jimmy Buffett-inspired channgel even now as I am typing!), and some new things have been popping up there, too.  Overall, I've been making a point of watching less TV and listening to more music, particularly when I'm at home.  It does help keep me from being such a couch potato, because I'm not tied to staying in one room if the radio is on or there are CDs playing, so it's a good thing.  I've been thinking about #47 quite a bit lately... not spending any money outside of groceries & bills.  After watching Extreme Couponing, I've been doing a lot of couponing myself lately, so the idea of potentially missing out on some great deal is currently causing some anxiety.  It's only because this is something new, and I always tend to get a little addicted to things like this in the beginning phases, so I'm thinking that this one may have to wait a little while.  On the flip side, I have been accumulating some groceries and other items, so it should be easier not to spend once I get around to doing it, and I have been saving a LOT of money!

(gotta give credit to the Krazy Coupon Ladies here...  they are fabulous, and make it all so easy!)
<a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/%22%3E%3Cimg src="http://krazycouponlady.net/KCLBlinkie.gif" alt=" "/></a>

Okay, starting a garden and composting (#49, 50).  I so have not wanted to do anything outside at all this summer.  My family all gave me gift cards to Lowe's this Christmas so I would be able to buy flowers, but I haven't used even a single one of them.  I really wanted to get some knockout roses this year (#55), but my flower beds look like some sort of rainforest experiment right now.  In fact, the one in back has pretty much blended in to the rest of the yard.  I am embarassed.  Now I will say that getting up and down off the ground or floor is still a horrible proposition, because of my knees, and this has definitely made the idea of weeding or planting or anything else along that line sound like the last thing I would want to do most days.  But still.  *sigh*

I do mean to start flossing (#57), but I think I am going to have to put a post-it up on my mirror to remind me, like I did with the vitamins.  Otherwise it just doesn't even cross my mind!  But speaking of vitamins, I haven't been taking them every day, but I did actually finish off the original bottle of 100 that I opened back in January, and I am on to bottle #2.  woo-hoo!!  I have been keeping my list of books (#60), and I have to say... I don't read as many as I ever would have guessed that I did.  I mean I am really surprised that this list is not longer than it is.  Especially since I've been including the audio books that I listen to in the car.  Granted, I also have a healthy addiction to magazines, so a good chunk of reading time goes to those, too, but still!  I do like having the list, though, to look back over and remember what exactly I've read.  And there have been a couple of books that I want to talk about, specifically, but I think I'll save that for another post.  I'm pretty happy with my progress on the list of specific books I wanted to read (#66).  I've been making a point of buying them, so I'll have them whenever I'm in the mood to start one, and I think I have all but three or four now.  That feels like a bit of an accomplishment in itself, because I've been buying them as I find them at the Half-Price bookstore or if I get a really good coupon from Barnes & Noble.  Half-Price books is having their annual huge clearance sale out at the fairgrounds next weekend, so maybe I'll find a couple more!  I'm so excited about that sale!  Imagine a whole huge empty building filled with boxes and flats of books, books, and more books... and nothing over $3!!  I'm smiling and getting giddy just thinking about it!

Ugh.  I have done nothing with my PSAP chapters lately, and I'm probably due to get another one soon (#63).  Ugh.  It just feels like doing homework, and I don't wanna!!!  I do plan on starting my knee exercises soon (#72), because I want to be able to walk easier during the Las Vegas trip in September, and I would also like to be able to wear high heels which I haven't been able to do since all the knee problems started last April.  I'm not sure which is worse... the inherent knee pain or the pain from doing the exercises.  There's a good philosophical question for you.  I guess the pain from the exercises is theoretically better, because at least the exercises are supposed to prevent further damage.  Another one of those things I need to suck up and just do!

I had thought trying a new recipe every month would not be nearly so difficult as it has turned out to be (#73).  I have come to the realization that I cook even less than I was giving myself credit for.  A lot less.  Like, wow, I eat a lot of fast food and sandwiches.  Talk about eye-opening.  I haven't done much with my goals for movies or the Wii, because the television I was using in the basement died (it is probably almost 20 years old and did spend the last four years in storage, so it lived a good long life).  And I have bought a new giant flatscreen to go in the built-in media area down there, but so far it hasn't made it out of the box.  So even though I have two other functioning televisions in the house, neither is hooked up to a DVD player or the Wii.  Meh.  One of these days it will come together.

Okay, I just did something between a snort and a laugh when I read #94 - organize basement storage area.  The last time I was in the basement for any significant period of time was back when I was wrapping Christmas presents.  Otherwise it's just in and out as quickly as possible while doing laundry.  There are a couple of reasons this has happened... mostly that the TV down there died and because, apparently, all the bug spray that the guy sprayed down there last summer has completely worn off.  Nearly every time I go downstairs I see a spider or a millipede.  It's starting to freak me out.  And because I started dumping stuff down there (shelves, boxes, loose random items), it's a semi-disaster area, so I don't think it's worth calling in the bug guys again until I get it tidied up some.  As it stands right now, there's a whole room that they wouldn't be able to maneuver in enough to spray.  And I noticed that several of the bags and boxes have a lot of spider webs in/on them.  I seem to have the kind of tiny little spiders that spin a lot of webs.  Joy.  Yet another thing I just need to suck it up and wade into.  Ewww!

Oh, I did try another new (to me) restaurant a couple of weeks ago when my step-father was here to go to the race (#98).  After the race on Sunday, we came home and got cleaned up, stopped by the Half-Price Bookstore for their 20% of everything sale, and went to Rock Bottom Brewery up on 86th Street for dinner.  http://www.rockbottom.com/  Now I'm not a beer drinker, but usually pub places like this tend to have a pretty good selection of food, and my step-father does like trying new ales, so I figured this was a good choice.  Okay, granted it was a Sunday evening on a holiday weekend, but they only had two servers for the entire dining room!  The decor was nice, and they had a huge chalkboard showing all their beers with a listing of alcohol contents and when they had been brewed and other stuff that probably would have meant something if I knew anything about beer.  The menu was good and had quite a variety, but this was one of those times that everything went badly, at least for me.  I decided on the Prime and Cheddar sandwich, but the manager came by a few minutes later and told me they were out of prime rib.  I was really craving a big cheeseburgers, but most of their burgers came with odd toppings that I didn't want, so I finally settled on the Patty Melt minus the Russian dressing and the housemade rootbeer.  I love rootbeer, and I have found that a lot of these brewpubs make their own, so I was excited to try theirs.  It was awful!  Flat and syrupy, I didn't even finish it.  The waitress came by several times without ever refilling my empty water glass (I was still thirsty from being outside at the race earlier in the day), and it took two requests to get more.  The sandwich was okay, but the meat wasn't seasoned at all and it ended up tasting pretty bland.  The best part of my meal was the french fries, which were thin and well-seasoned.  Ted had the chicken and avocado sandwich and two glasses of Kolsch, all of which he said were very good.  It was like he got all the good mojo at our table and I got all the bad, so our opionions were very different at the end of the night.  Even though I'm sure the service is normally better than what we had, prices were higher than I expected, and I don't feel the need to go back again on my own.  The whole thing was a disappointment and was a less than fantastic way to end what was otherwise a really fun day.

So, time to wrap this all up... six months into the project, I have completed seven tasks on the list, made good starts on sixteen, and laid down groundwork for quite a few others.  I need to get moving on a few, because there are some that I could easily complete at any time, but overall I'm pretty happy with my progress.  Most of all, I'm still enjoying the process and I'm glad I'm doing it.  Thanks, Mashelda, for getting me involved!