36: Damn monsoon

We have a large TV room that adjoins our smallish kitchen. We have a dining room but don't use it as often as we should -- mainly when we have company. So we eat a lot of meals sitting on our couch with our plates on the coffee table. This is not ideal for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it's not so good for anyone's back to spend so much time hunched over like that.

Since we bought this house, we have been saying we needed a better solution. The ideal long term solution was that we wanted to open a pass-through into the kitchen, add some cabinets, and extend the counter into the TV room as a bar-style table with bar stools. But that clearly involves a lot of effort. So our short term plan (which I expect will be the only plan) is to get a table and chairs to put at one end of the TV room. But there's not a ton of space because of the door to the back porch and the door to the half bath. And we want a table big enough for four people (in no small part so that we can both sit on the same side and watch Jeopardy while we eat). And in three years we hadn't found anything even remotely acceptable. And I was sure we'd looked everywhere.

Somehow I forgot we had an I*kea, or forgot that I*kea sold things that could be useful, or something. (Admittedly, I've never been to I*kea.) Apparently I*kea had the perfect table all along. And this was going to be our weekend to make the drive out there to get it. Until the Noachian flooding hit, making the thought of going outside, much less driving 45 minutes to pick up a piece of furniture that would have to be loaded into and unloaded out of the car, decidedly unappealing. Damn monsoon. I wanted to stop eating on the coffee table!!!

92 and 98, plus that abdominal pain

I went to the dentist yesterday. For the first time in probably my whole life the dentist didn't ask how often I flossed or suggest I do so more frequently. And the whole experience was less painful -- the part where they poke at your gums with that sharp pointy thing didn't make me bleed or cry (I did, however, cry a little when the hygenist got tooth polish in my eye -- WTF??). Yay for flossing daily.

When asked if there had any changes in my medical situation, I said I was pregnant (and I think it was the first time I used the p-word this time). The hygenist said congrats. I resisted the urge to tell him that I miscarried in the fall and therefore wasn't counting my chickens yet and would not be deserving of congratulations until September. Instead I said thanks. It felt like a huge step.

As for the pain, it was pretty persistent yesterday but hasn't been as bad today (and it's never more than what I'd call a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10). I'm pretty positive it isn't round ligament pain, as I experienced that last time and have experienced it some this time, and this is definitely more of an acute-but-low-level pain than a pulling, which is how I've experienced the round ligament pain. Katie's fabulous ultrasound yesterday has given me some hope that maybe it's a cyst rather than a sign that this pregnancy is ectopic (I didn't think I'd ever be hoping for a cyst). I think I'll try to wait until my appt on the 22nd to bring it up with my doc rather than calling today as originally planned, though I'm definitely persuadable if anyone thinks otherwise.

Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary: 57, 61

63, 64, 83: A Nice Evening

Last night, P suggested dinner out tonight at a restaurant we like. So tonight we went out.

For no special reason, P:

1. Suggested a date
2. Suggested the place
3. Paid
   

P did something that made me smile, and for that I said something nice to him.

64: Niceties

Of all the items on my list, the one I have having the most trouble with thus far is saying something nice to someone else daily. What does that say about me? Am I mean person?

On that note, though, what does it really mean to "say one nice thing" to someone? Is it only paying someone a compliment, or is it broader than that? If the latter, what does it encompass? I'm a little horrified to admit that I don't know.

101 in 1001

Okay, I love lists. And this seems like the ultimate project for a list lover -- identify 101 tasks and complete them in 1001 days. I fear that the time period is too long to keep me motivated (I am a great starter but get bored easily), and I also fear that these tasks may be too closely aligned with the state of my life today, which may be quite different from the state of my life in 2.75 years, but I'm going to give it a shot.

I originally made my list by category, but it felt restrictive and I wasn't sure that I knew the difference between two of the categories, so I mashed it them all together (challenge for the bored, or myself at a later date: see if you can identify where the sections break and what the sections were). Technically, I made and started the list yesterday, so I'm using yesterday as the start date, but I was still refining it this morning (and reserve the right to continue to refine it as time goes on).

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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start date: Mon Nov 12 2007
End date: Mon Aug 09 2010
Last updated: Wed Aug 05 2009 (day 633, week 91, month 21)

1. Learn to play four chords on the guitar (0/4)
2. Learn to play 3 songs on the guitar (0/3)
3. Blog daily for one month three times (60/90)
4. Write one poem per week for 2 months (0/9)
5. Knit a sweater (0/1)
6. Knit/crochet a blanket (0/1)
7. Try one new recipe each week for 2 months (0/9)
8. Change sheets every week for 2 months (0/9)
9. Learn to sew (0/1)
10. Write a letter of substance every three months (0/11)
11. Go to a hockey game (0/1)
12. Go to a college sporting event (0/1)
13. Hang one thing in each room, minus kitchen and baths (6/8)
14. Ask for someone's advice and take it (0/1)
15. Attend one BSO concert (0/1)
16. Attend one Pops concert (1/1)
17. Teach dog one new trick (0/1)
18. Have a baby (1/1)
19. Brew beer (0/1)
20. Try geocaching (0/1)
21. Continue 2007 resolution to start and finish one book per month (9/33)
22. Read 15 fiction books (11/15)
23. Read 10 nonfiction books (4/10)
24. Read 10 books from one of the Modern Library's best books lists (1/10)
25. Visit the Royall House (0/1)
26. Visit a Family History Center (0/1)
27. Attend one Alumni College lecture each year (0/3)
28. Attend one CLE or Bar Association program every quarter (2/11)
29. Blog personal career evaluation once every six months (what I've learned, what I want to learn, thoughts on where I'm headed) (1/6)
30. Get a compost bin and start composting (1/1)
31. Plant an herb garden (0/1)
32. Plant a vegetable garden (0/1)
33. Finish planting flower beds (0/1)
34. Fence yard (0/1)
35. Clean out and paint small room (aka the-room-that-shall-not-be-named-but-is-currently-storage) (2/2)
36. Create eating plan for family room (1/1)
37. Organize files and update annually (0/3)
38. Catalogue books owned (0/1)
39. Organize genealogical research and update annually (0/3)
40. Buy or make curtains for master bedroom (0/1)
41. Buy or make better window treatments for family room, living room, dining room (0/3)
42. Identify and get involved with a volunteer project (0/1)
43. Get on a committee or involved with a group at church (1/1) -- elected to 3 year Vestry term on 1/27/08
44. Knit a scarf, hat and gloves to give away (0/1)
45. Buy extra food at grocery store for Food Sunday 6 times (3/6)
46. Do a river, town or neighborhood clean up (0/1)
47. Participate in Walk for Hunger every year (2/3)
48. Do 150 hours of pro bono work (90/150)
49. Do 75 hours of community service (0/75)
50. Read a chapter from the Bible outside church once per week (40/143)
51. Pray daily for one month three times (0/90)
52. Go camping 3 times (0/3)
53. Hike 2 new trails (0/2)
54. Visit 4 of the national parks (0/4)
55. Visit 4 new states (0/4)
56. Take one good photo each day for a month three times (0/90)
57. See 15 wonders I haven't seen before from Top 1000 Wonders list (8/15)
58. See 10 movies I have not seen before from the AFI top 100 movies list (0/10)
59. Take an art class -- photography or oil painting or something else entirely (0/1)
60. Visit 2 continents other than N. America or Europe (0/2)
61. Visit 8 countries I have not previously visited (3/8)
62. Wedding scrapbook (0/1)
63. Add one thing to list of things that make me happy daily (63/1001)
64. Say or do one nice thing to/for someone else daily (105/1001)
65. Make a calendar from photos taken (0/1)
66. Visit the art gallery in town (1/1)
67. Feed someone's expired meter 5x (2/5)
68. Perform 5 other random acts of kindness (2/5)
69. Pay off private student loan
70. Pay off home equity line
71. Accrue three months salary in brokerage account
72. Save for and buy a new car for P
73. Save for each vacation before planning it (3/3)
74. Consolidate all finances
75. Bring lunch 1x/week (28/143)
76. Write a will (and make sure P does too) (0/1)
77. Donate to charity or free-cycle 100 items (43/100)
78. Email one friend I've lost touch with 30 times (4/30)
79. Reply to each email received the day it was received for 2 weeks (0/14)
80. Call one friend I don't talk to regularly per month (2/33)
81. Send thank you notes for every gift received
82. Send Christmas cards at least one year (1/1)
83. Go on one date with P each month (11/33)
84. Take one dance lesson with P (0/1)
85. Get dog's nails cut 16+ times (7/16)
86. Drink 80+ ounces of water daily
87. Take vitamins every day<>
88. Perform 30 minutes of cardio, 4x/week (62/572)
89. Average one yoga session per week (13/143)
90. Average two 30-minute strength training sessions per week (28/286)
91. Try one new class at gym 9 times (2/9)
92. Floss daily
93. Play tennis (0/1)
94. Swim laps once per week for 2 months twice (0/18)
95. Walk dog every day for 2 weeks twice (14/28)
96. Run every other day for one month three times (0/45)
97. Take one martial arts class (0/1)
98. Visit the dentist 6 times (2/6)
99. Try cottage cheese, brussel sprouts, and one other food I'm afraid to try
100. Finish walking every street in my city (0/1)
101. Create new list