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