Wednesday, June 30, 2010

35. LOSE 14 Pounds

06/30/10 --- OK I'm back on my way! I was at 149 and now around 142. Back on Weight Watchers, going to start training next week for a 5K and for a duathlon. GoldeN!

12/15/09 --- Ha. I gained a few more pounds. Sucks, but I have started back at the gym, doing spinning, and I'll be training for the April half marathon. Just running a few days motivates me to eat better, and losing 20 pounds will help me run more easily.

08/24/09
--- Oh dear. Well this failed miserably. I gained about 10 pounds. Sad to look back and see the 138 there. I was so close!!! Stopped exercising, started eating too much, nursing is waning. Back to spinning and I'm going to take a yoga class on Wednesdays, try to get in a day or two of running.

02/05/09: Well, I went on a cruise in the meantime, but I'm still down to 138! Go me! Only 10 pounds to go!

I want to get to 128 pounds. I was 142.5 last Thursday and will weigh in on Thursdays. I even joined weight watchers and have been exercising a lot! Last night, spinning class, tonight, stair climber...




9. Ride a BIKE ACROSS MAINE with Heidi!---DONE!!!!

06/30/10 --- I DID IT!!!! WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

05/14/10 --- Been training for this since about March! Hoping to have my brakes fixed by tomorrow so I can ride this weekend. 5 weeks until the Trek!

12/15/09
--- I'm not giving up. I plan on COMPLETING this next year, god dammit. I will train train train, and not forget my asthma meds next year!!

08/24/09
--- Well, I didn't train much and it was raining, so I made it 43 miles. Asthma was horrible, I was just not prepared. Forgot my medicine for my asthma. But Heidi did it! So amazed by her tenacity!

(June 2009 with the American Lung Association in Maine)
Do you want to come??
02/10/09 --- Well, I just might have a bike to ride! Yahor, who works with Jim has offered to lend me his winter bike to use as my summer bike!

32. RUN another 5K

06/30/10 --- K - I'm signed up for a 5K in September, and going to start the Couch to 5K training plan on Tuesday! I've roped my mom in as well! Woohoo! Also signed up for a duathlon in October in Central Park - run 2, bike 12, run 2.
05/14/10 --- A lot o' trash talk from me on this, but still haven't done shit. Hoping to do a mini tri in the fall or at least a 5k.
08/24/09 --- Nothing has happened with this, but I'm thinking about running still. Ha.
03/23/09 --- Thinking of doing a Mother's Day run. May 10th (I think) in Milford. Still have to sign up, but I'm getting there. Did some running on Saturday. May go again tomorrow night and then yoga!

Friday, May 14, 2010

34. Get on a Bone Marrow Donor Registry --- DONE!!!!!

05/14/10 --- Did this sometime in the last few months. I am hoping I'm a match for someone!

7. VISIT the IN-LAWS in California

05/14/10 --- RU is on for end of July 2010! Looking forward to it!

02/09/09 --- Looks like another reunion is in the works for summer of 2010! Get the valium stocked up, Frank!

All of 'em: Grandpa Jude, Grandma Mary Jane, Granny Franny, Grandpa John, Uncle Joe, Aunt Kathy, Cousin Josh, Uncle Bryan, Aunt Julie, Cousins Steffi and Danny! Maybe we'll get to see more aunts and uncles out there too!

27. Get at least 5 NEW CLIENTS (3/5)

05/14/10 --- New client Number 3 has been secured! Promise of lots of work to come!
08/25/09
--- ML is a steady client now! I have to get my act together on marketing and searching out new clients. Might have a new web client!
04/10/09 --- Well, I've done my first project for ML, no feedback yet, so I'm hoping their client loves it and they will become a solid client!! (CLIENT #2)
03/05/09 --- The snow storm on Monday canceled the conference call, but I sent in an estimate!
AND, the website is done!! YAY!!! Possible CLIENT #2!
02/26/09 --- Got an email from Allison and Tara at ML! I have a conference call with Tara on Monday and they'll be FedExing me stuff tomorrow to check out. I'll have to give Cliffy his commission!!
02/21/09 --- I have a lead from Cliff! He trains a woman who works for one of the educational/marketing companies that is part of ML. I will be emailing her momentarily!
02/10/09 --- Still working with the Red Cross of New Canaan on their site and logo, brochure. Working on getting my website up, writing the content now. So once that is done, I will start looking for more clients.
01/10/09 --- I did it!! Yesterday. Client number one secured!!
01/07/09 --- Working on #1! Will update tomorrow.

41. Start a Garden at Polly T. McCabe Center HS

05/14/10 --- Still have this on the back burner. I drove past this school the other day and there is a fantastic spot for cutting flowers. Some day.

12/15/09 --- No progress on this one. I emailed the guy in charge, but in looking at the application, it might not be something I can do on my own. Back burner on this one.

08/24/09 --- There is a high school on Wooster Square for pregnant girls from the New Haven school system. It was founded in 1966 and has grades 7-12. The building is a square block of concrete with tall windows covered with slatted blinds. The building wasn't built in 1966, but's got a very 70's feeling to it. There is a passage way betweeen the two sides of the building that is just bare concrete. It seems very cold and clinical.

There are some hedges and trees out front, but no other plantings of any kind. There are also two bare patches out there, one that gets full sun and one that is a really nice shady area under some trees. When I see a blank slate like that, I really want to explore how to make it a beautiful garden. Combined with that, I feel like pregnant women should be around beautiful things. I though the shady area would make a great zen/meditation garden and the grassy/sunny area would make a great place to grow either flowers or some veggies.

This could be combined with some kind of curriculum or something, I'm guessing. I was working in the community garden this summer. A Yale Forestry School student was running the group through Urban Resources Initiative (http://www.yale.edu/uri/). You get someone to steward some public land, like the principal or a teacher at a school or a resident, and they will partner with you. They provide free plants and someone to help plan and implement the garden space. So I just need to talk to the principal at the school and see if she or someone else will invest the time needed to commit to stewarding the project. Would be nice to get some pretty curtains up in those windows too!

38. Learn Dreamweaver --- DONE!!

05/14/10 -- Learned a lot more working on the job. Now about to do another site for a catering company!

Taking some lessons on Lynda.com. My goal is to be able to design and create a website. See number 39!
02/26/09 -- well, I'm still doing the Lynda.com class. I have completed 2 of the 20 sections. I highly recommend this site. The course is 10.5 hours total.
03/05/09 -- learning learning! 3.5 of 20 sections done!!
08/24/09 -- pretty much can do this now. I had to do some stuff on my site, so I learned it through that. Still much to learn though.

36. Become a CASA/CIP Volunteer --- DONE!!

05/14/10 --- I am on case 3 and it's turning out to have a happy ending. Very cool. Happy about that!

12/15/09
--- I'm a GAL/CASA! I am on case #2. Can't say much about it but I'm meeting interesting people and really think it's a useful job.

________

I've been interested in becoming a court-appointed special advocate for a long time, but I was recently inspired by the Victim's Advocate of CT. I just needed the reminder that this is something I wanted to do. I have also always wanted to be a lawyer, one of the good guys, so I'm going to possibly work toward that as well.

Today I downloaded the application from Children in Placement in New Haven. I will be training in Hartford in April for 5 days if I am accepted!

02-09-09 --- Finished the application and I'm diving in! Will send today. Not sure what the process is, but I'm sure there will be an interview or two and then a 5-day training in April. Excited and a little scared!
02-10-09 --- The application is in the mail! Very excited to do this and it has really motivated me to get going on #6 and #2!
02-21-09 --- Got a response postcard from CIP thanking me for my application. They will have to do the background check and process me first before accepting me for an interview, I believe. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm looking forward to getting involved in the court system.
04-10-09 --- Got my waiver for DCS to do a background check on me back because I forgot to fill in a date. The next training that's close to New Haven isn't until June, so should be fine. I'm feeling apprehensive about this, but also excited to help in a big way, or at least the biggest way I am capable of right now...
08-25-09 --- Got the job!! Training is at the end of September. Will update as it is going on!

15. Go to the MOVIES ten times (5/10)

05/14/10 --- Failing miserably at this one. Honestly, I like going to the movies with Jim and we hardly ever get time alone. Sad.

12/15/09
--- Methinks I'll go to the movies this weekend. Gotta find something good!

08/24/09
--- Saw 500 Days of Summer, Harry Potter and A Place in the Sun!!

02/10/09 --- Well, I didn't GO to the movies, but I did get to watch one on TV on the cruise all the way through. Pineapple Express. Very funny. Get high first. I wish I had!

02/28/09 --- Yay! We're going to see Slumdog Millionaire!!! Thanks, Nana! (The movie was awesome!!!!)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

4. GET OUT OF DEBT (specifically, credit card debt).

12/15/09 --- We are 12.6% paid off!! Woot. Feels good to look at the difference from August. Slow and steady, and paying for everything new with cash. (I just looked at the title for this one, and it's really not just credit card debt. Also included in the total are the car loan and student loans.)

08/24/09
--- We're under $1,000 from 10%!! We have been fairly strict about using the credit cards and only pay for things if we actually have the cash. Still owe a lot but it's going down!

02/09/09 --- We're working on this still. I wish I had the balls to write the figures down and update it every month, but it's better that you don't know. So the cruise and the whole vacation is paid off, which is cool. We have a couple of people to pay off and then we're back to paying off the man. I guess I'll put percentages paid off here. Once we get to 10%, I'll post that. The plan is not to go on a vacation until next summer for the reunion and to put everything I make toward our debt. Suze Orman would be proud.

40. Get an Article Published

12/15/09 --- Forgot that this was even on here. Will start thinking about it again!

08/24/09
--- I've been thinking a lot lately about what to DO with the future. Law school? Grad school? Could I just write and research and not be IN academia? So, my goal for the next year is to research something historical and then write a piece that is published somewhere, preferably in print, but not sure that matters anymore. Black flight from Manhattan following the Draft Riots anyone? For me that's exciting stuff. I'd like to sit in a room surrounded by books and old documents. No teaching...so that's where the grad school thing kind of gets stuck.

Monday, August 24, 2009

11. BAKE BREAD 5 times (0/5)

I can't wait to do this!!

08/24/09 --- We're moving to a place with a much bigger kitchen, so this fall or winter would be nice!

New #22. Do the Stair Climber for 60 minutes!

I did this for 20 minutes the other day, and I think the longest I have done it for is 30 minutes. That was rough! I was talking to a woman who was doing it the other day (she's always on there!) and asked her how long she does it for. AN HOUR!!! Three times a week!! So I wanna do it! Here goes. I'll do an extra 5 minutes each week and work up to 60 minutes. Tonight, 25 minutes!!!

08/24/09 --- Well this is still a goal, but it's much farther away now. I did the stairclimber for 10 minutes a few weeks ago. That's all...Not sure when I'll pick up pursuing this goal again.

5. Send BIRTHDAY CARDS AND PACKAGES

08/24/09 --- this did not happen past like maybe May. It's like a full-time job!! How the hell does Teri do this???

ON TIME!!! to all family at the very least. This may seem easy, but my husband has 4 parents, 6 siblings he's in touch with (and they all have kids and mates! And that's just HIS family!) Adults get a heartfelt card (unless we find something perfect!) and kids get a gift!! YAY!

UPDATE 01/05/09: I'm doing great so far! Sent out the first 2 cards of the year! 2 down and 49-ish to go for 2008!

01/13/09: Sent Caitlin and Danny D's birthday presents! Kicking ass and taking names!!

OK, here's the deal. All of the kids get presents, and the 4 parents of Jim's and...TERI. She never misses a birthday, holiday, etc. She's the exception.

02/09/09 --- we're all up to date on birthday presents! We usually falter right around here, but we're still on track! YAY, us! Wes's gift went out today!

6. Convince the HUNTER COLLEGE --- FAIL

science department to accept my lab science from Southern CT State as a lab science so I don't have to travel 3 hours back and forth to take a lab science class AGAIN at 41+ years old. I got an A+ in the first one and I'll only get another one, so come on. That's what I'll say to them.

02/10/09 --- I have honed in on the chair of the biology department at Hunter! I am thinking I'll craft an email that will be so impressive that she will say, "Yes! You may use your lab science from Southern CT State U. and good luck in law school!" Can't wait to be able to check off "college graduate" on forms. "Some college" not so much.
Email written! Jim is editing!
02/10/09 --- 9:54 PM - The email has been sent! I will update here. I will also be surprised if I get more than a one sentence response. I look forward to being pleasantly surprised!
02/12/09 --- No word. No news is good news or is she so insulted she is just never going to respond? I DID have Jim rewrite the email, so no chance it's offensive. Well, we'll see! If she agrees to give me the waiver, I will be able to graduate MAYBE summer of 2010! How cool would that be?
02/21/09 --- Still no word. I'm starting to think she's on sabbatical. I'm afraid to ask!
03/05/09 --- No word. Not looking good. I'm going to have to email or call them again. I even checked my transcript online. No change.
08/24/09 --- Not gonna happen. I spoke with the quite unpleasant professor at Hunter who makes these decisions. He did mention that I can try to get a waiver from some other committee. That I will be trying to do!

Friday, April 10, 2009

1. FINISH BACHELOR'S DEGREE (4 freaking classes left!) (0/4)

02/10/09 --- I'm on it! I am aiming to start in the fall. I might be able to finish by the following fall and graduate in January, 2012?? I'll be 44! Lucky number.
04/10/09 --- Been thinking a lot about how to finish these 4 classes. I think I can take one in New Haven, transfer it. Then the other 3 not sure. I dread dealing with the administration at Hunter. Seriously...it is lame ass.
08/25/09 --- I registered for a class this fall, African American History II. It fulfills one of the requirements I have left and it's also something I'm interested in. Should be interesting driving or taking the train into the city 2 nights a week. But it'll be one more down.

Monday, March 23, 2009

DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!! 26. Bring Seamus to the AQUARIUM

03/21/09 --- We did it! Had fun with Yahor and Vicky and Skylar and Christina and Denis and the cutest little peanut boy named Jan!! Proof and photos: http://procreatinelves.blogspot.com/

Saturday, February 21, 2009

39. Learn CSS

This is important to learn in order to build sites. I'm planning on taking some lessons on Lynda.com. I know enough HTML to pass, but I'll probably have to polish up on that too. Excited to make my first site!! Thinking I'll have to finish the Dreamweaver first and then get to CSS after that.

37. Learn Photoshop

I've started taking some lessons on Lynda.com.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

17. Write a LETTER to five people I love telling them why (0/5)

02/10/09 --- the first one will be Evelin! YAY!

2. CALL HUNTER COLLEGE

...and find out if I can finish classes where I live now.

02/09/09 --- Need to call just to find out WHO to call! Perhaps tomorrow! I'll put on the to-do list!
02/10/09 --- Technically, I did call Hunter today, but as usual, the person who answered the phone was not helpful at all.

Monday, February 9, 2009

30. Go see LIVE MUSIC ten times (1/10)

02/09/09 --- Does a cruise ship reggae band count? I think so!

19. PRACTICE MEDITATION

02/09/09 --- See, I was onto something here! I had a massage on the cruise and the massage therapist said I am very tense. Ya think?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

12. GIVE BLOOD two times (0/2)

01/14/09: Made an appointment to donate blood for my birthday!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 12:30 PM
01/22/09 --- Bleh - I forgot to go!!

Friday, January 9, 2009

33. Write the MOM BLENDER GUIDE

to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year of Your Child's Life

31. Fill a SKETCHBOOK

29. FIND my half siblings

Children of Christina and Thomas Herman, born sometime in the 80s, I think. They grew up somewhere in Fairfield County, CT I do believe.

28. KISS UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

I can't believe I have not yet done this! Who's first?

25. Bring Seamus to the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

24. Get myself to a NOSE SURGEON and have my nose fixed

People, if I were going to get plastic surgery, it would be a boob job. I have a deviated septum and sinus polyps...

23. TAKE A HIKE at least twice a month in warmer months (0/40)

at least twice a month in warmer months

22. READ TO SEAMUS every day (2/1001)

UPDATE 01/05/08: Tried to read Go, Dog. Go! but the little bug wouldn't sit still! We looked at My First Word Book for a little while too.

UPDATE 01/06/08: Read My Dad and I

I've been sucking at this one.

01/13/08: I might make up a new #22. I found that instead of enjoying reading to Seamus, I was thinking about how I would update this list once we were done. Totally defeats the purpose!!

21. SEW SOMETHING that is wearable for one of us

Any ideas??

20. KNIT a scarf

I really want striped leg warmers but I think that would be hard!

18. Write a COMIC BOOK or GRAPHIC NOVEL

16. Write a LOVE LETTER to my husband once a month (0/33)

14. Get another TATTOO.

This time with my husband

13. Watch the SUNRISE

10. RUN 10 MILES without stopping

The farthest I have run is 3.1 miles!

3. WRITE AN OUTLINE for the novel I've been mulling around in my head for 3 years.

UPDATE 01/06/08: The book will be about James McCune Smith, my ggg-grandfather, an historical novel that will begin with the NYC Draft Riots. Intrigued?

Monday, January 5, 2009

What's 101 in 1001?

A website called Day Zero ("A unique meme that challenges and inspires you to set and complete realistic goals in life") has a challenge going on where people attempt to accomplish 101 preset tasks in 1,001 days (2 years and 9 months).

I've been thinking a lot lately about goals (as opposed to resolutions, which seem to have a negative connotation), and this is perfect! So here's my list. I don't know that I will be able to come up with 101 things in one sitting, but there's a lot going on in my head that it will be nice to get down on "paper."

1. FINISH BACHELOR'S DEGREE (4 freaking classes left!) (0/4)

2. CALL HUNTER COLLEGE and find out if I can finish classes where I live now.

3. WRITE AN OUTLINE for the novel I've been mulling around in my head for 3 years.
UPDATE 01/06/08: The book will be about James McCune Smith, my ggg-grandfather, an historical novel that will begin with the NYC Draft Riots. Intrigued?

4. GET OUT OF DEBT (specifically, credit card debt).

5. Send BIRTHDAY CARDS AND PACKAGES on time to all family at the very least. This may seem easy, but my husband has 4 parents, 6 siblings he's in touch with (and they all have kids and mates! And that's just HIS family!)
UPDATE 01/05/08: I'm doing great so far! Sent out the first 2 cards of the year! 2 down and 49-ish to go for 2008!

6. Convince the HUNTER COLLEGE science department to accept my lab science from Southern CT State as a lab science so I don't have to travel 3 hours back and forth to take a lab science class AGAIN at 41+ years old. I got an A+ in the first one and I'll only get another one, so come on. That's what I'll say to them.

7. VISIT the IN-LAWS in California

8. Go back to GIOVE AND ROME with my husband and bring the bean this time!

9. Ride a BIKE ACROSS MAINE with Heidi! (June 2009 with the American Lung Association in Maine)

10. RUN 10 MILES without stopping

11. BAKE BREAD 5 times (0/5)

12. GIVE BLOOD two times (0/2)

13. Watch the SUNRISE

14. Get another TATTOO. This time with my husband

15. Go to the MOVIES ten times (0/10)

16. Write a LOVE LETTER to my husband once a month (0/33)

17. Write a LETTER to five people I love telling them why (0/5)

18. Write a COMIC BOOK or GRAPHIC NOVEL

19. PRACTICE MEDITATION

20. KNIT a scarf

21. SEW SOMETHING that is wearable for one of us

22. READ TO SEAMUS every day (2/1001)
UPDATE 01/05/08: Tried to read Go, Dog. Go! but the little bug wouldn't sit still! We looked at My First Word Book for a little while too.
UPDATE 01/06/08: Read My Dad and I

23. TAKE A HIKE at least twice a month in warmer months (0/40)
24. Get myself to a NOSE SURGEON and have my nose fixed

25. Bring Seamus to the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

26. Bring Seamus to the AQUARIUM

27. Get at least 5 NEW CLIENTS (0/5)
UPDATE 01/07/08: Working on #1! Will update tomorrow.

28. KISS UNDER THE MISTLETOE. I can't believe I have not yet done this!

29. FIND my half siblings

30. Go see LIVE MUSIC ten times (0/10)

31. Fill a SKETCHBOOK

32. RUN another 5K

33. Write the MOM BLENDER GUIDE to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year of Your Child's Life