Last Time, on Phenomenal Woman...

When we last left our heroine, she was busy studying to get to Class 5. Since then, she's decided to drop one of the classes in favor of keeping the remaining sanity she has. The other class, she decided to force herself to finish, only with promises from the instructor for help with the portfolio. Yesterday, our heroine had to take a test as part of the class...

Lights fade... We see our heroine walking into a high school library and sitting down at a computer. The test begins, and she almost walks out. She doesn't know how to do this stuff. She's a Mac girl, creative, flexible, spontaneous. She's not a PC girl. She can't restrict her mind to these stiff, boring menus. And then, after 44 minutes of a 50 minute test, something happens. Yes, she's on her last two questions, and something happens. The computer, a PC of course, has a slight glitch, and the proctor informs her that she needs to take the whole test over again.

The second go around, our heroine whips through, finishing all but one question with 22 minutes to spare. That last question is a toughie... She goes through all the menus, trying to find a word or phrase to jog her memory. "Oh, please, she thinks to herself. Let me remember. I only need a 525 to pass." She focuses on her breathing. She calms herself. The clock s...l...o...w..s.... And it hits her. She finishes the last question, submits the answers and waits for her score, crossing her fingers the entire time wait, she's too cool for that. Her score pops up... 882. She earned an 882. And she was worried about a 525?

Now on to the dreaded portfolio.

I SUCK

I'm dropping two of my PD classes and saying "Au revoir" to the $350 I paid to take the two classes. So not only am I wasting the money, but I'm also not going to meet my goal of getting to the next class by January. Damn it! I will be there by June though. Watch out, everyone. I'm getting serious.

Okay, I suck. I know. I disappoint myself sometimes.

Procrastinator

What is my worst habit? I am a procrastinator, through and through. No matter what, I don't kick myself into high gear until the deadline looms. I don't know why this is. I don't know how to discipline myself enough to stop this bad habit.

Right now, I'm supposed to be on Fall Break, but I'm putting together 4 portfolios for the 4 PD classes I'm taking to move to the next Class in pay. What was I thinking taking 4 classes concurrently? I have no idea. If everything works out though, I'll earn my next class move in January. That will boost my income a little.

These portfolios are due October 31, and I knew I had to do them from early June. I don't know what happened. I was keeping up all the way to my trip to Vegas. Then, I just lost the urge to do my work. I took a two month hiatus. What an idiot. I just couldn't motivate myself enough to get back to work.

And that leads me to my desk...when I should be out having a blast. Life is pretty sucky right now.

Still Alive...

I'm here. I'm working toward my goals, but the longer term ones are more difficult to cross off the list. I hope I'll be there at the end of the road... I'm trying...

Yoga

It's been wonderful. It really has. I skipped last week because I had stuff to do...I don't think I'll miss again. We worked really hard today. It's good exercise!

Tired...

It's time to focus less on basketball and more on me. Basketball has been quite a frustration for me on Sundays. After thinking about it for a while, I've decided to stop playing in the women's league. I end up frustrated and angry. My self-confidence plummets, and I end up feeling negative.

After reading Cheryl Richardson's newsletter this week. It seems that when I read the weekly newsletter, although I don't immediately recognize it, I'm given some sort of guidance. This week, after reflecting on the questions presented, I realized something.

• Am I pleased with how I'm spending my precious time on earth?
• Am I spending enough quality time with the people who matter most?
• Am I doing my best to listen to the voice of my soul so I make real, honest choices based on what I most want?
• Am I sharing (or working toward sharing) my God-given gifts and talents with others?

I am not pleased with the way I'm choosing to spend my time when I'm playing on Sundays. I am taking away time from the people I love most. I end up pulling us all out of the house for an hour, just to end up feeling frustrated and sad. When I have thought about not playing before, I always knew I would be sad if I didn't, but I need to take a more honest look at what's happening and realize that it's just not working for me. And the last question... Although I love basketball, that is not one of my strengths. I think my God-given gifts lie in other areas, and if I let myself be frustrated by playing on Sundays, people will think that the person on the court is who I am. It's not. I am 33 years old. I am a good mother. I am a good teacher. I am a creative person. And none of these things can be seen when I play basketball.

So it's not like I'm gonna stop playing. I still have Fridays and the men's league. I'm still gonna have my time to get immersed in basketball and feel love for the game, but I'm finally taking a good, hard look at how I feel in certain situations. It's probably gonna take awhile to get used to not playing on the team, but I think it's better for my mental health in the long run.

Whew, that was a long post. I think it's time to see Dr. Tamura again. Ha ha ha.

People's Open Market Rocks

So I went to the People's Open Market this morning at Waiau District Park. I walked from our house. I gotta admit, I was grinning the entire way there...for a number of reasons, actually. 1) My sister would tease the hell out of me for being such an old lady. 2) I felt like an old lady. 3) I knew I was fulfilling one of my goals. 4) I was excited at the prospect of saving money on fresh fruits and vegetables. 5) I was excited to support local farmers. 6) I'm a big dork.

I ended up purchasing corn (8 ears for $3.00) and baby bok choi (7 for $1.00). What deals!

Reading...

Wow, just read another finance book. I loved The Family CFO. Definitely, two thumbs up! Practical ideas abound.

Back in the Swing

I'm just about getting back into the swing of things. The conference in Vegas was soooo cool, but we got sick the night we had tickets to "O," so I guess I won't see a Cirque De Soleil show by the time my 1001 days are up. Oh, well. I am also about to update my goals list, right after I finish this post.

Yesterday, the kids and I went to Walmart. There's a family in our area trying to collect backpacks with school supplies for kids who need them. So, the kids and I bought a couple backpacks and filled them with school supplies. Now, all I have to do is contact the woman and figure out how to get them to her. Kahia seems to really be understanding this whole giving and understanding that we're pretty dang fortunate to have what we do. Now that's what it's allllll about.

Apologies

It's been two weeks since my last post. Why? I've been too busy trying to achieve one of my goals. I've been killing myself these past two weeks to get to Class 5 on the pay scale. For the past two weeks, I've been attending class from 8/9-3/4. I'm also taking two online classes concurrently. Just call me stupid.

To kill myself even further, we've decided to move. And...we're going on a trip in mid July. So, yeah... We need to pack up, clean both places, and move in within about three weeks. I'll post regularly as soon as I get my bearings. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed right now.

I Really Am Trying

Today, I ate...drumroll please...broccoli. I didn't just eat a small piece either. I ate about 4 florets. My man and I ate at Stuarts for lunch...$8.99 club card special. We had a steak, veggies, a potato, and bread. But anyway, I digress. I ate the broccoli, hesitantly at first. Then, I realized that it was cooked perfectly. All the while, I kept thinking about the kids. They would be so proud of me. I don't think I'll be eating it regularly, but I think I need to make more of an effort. So pat me on the back.

Salary Goals

I've been trying to track my salary according to the new contract, but it's been difficult because I plan on getting Class increases every semester. So much for a lazy summer. I was supposed to relax and chill this summer, but if I want to achieve my goals, I need to get a move on. This semester, I earned only 3 credits.

I wanted to really push during the summer and take 4 online courses, but I guess I didn't plan soon enough. By the time I got around to doing the research and registering, I wasn't left with much. Plus, the rules aren't conducive to gulping down PD classes. Being that I need 4 more classes to advance to the next class, I quickly signed up for two online courses. I wish I could register for more, but they only let you do two at a time. Sheesh, we're not all dumb. I'm sure there are a few of us who could actually take more than two and do absolutely fine.

Anyway, in addition to the two online courses (6 PD credits), I signed up for a f-t-f course. That one will also finish before the end of the semester, so with my already earned credits, the two online courses, and the one f-t-f class, I would have 12 credits, just three shy of moving up another class by Jan. 2008. Nope, not acceptable.

As I'm scouring the course catalog, I see that there are a couple of f-t-f courses that won't conflict with my trip AND finish before the start of the second semester. Let me at 'em! Unfortunately, I am on the wait list. Fortunately, the teacher says that everyone will be let in. Woo Hoo! Unfortunately, it also means that I spend a whole week in another class...not quite but kinda wasting my summer. BOO HOO!

If I accomplish all of that, I will have accomplished my goal of moving to Class 5, which will increase my pay by over $2000/year. That will allow me to move even closer to my financial goals. I know I can do this, but I need to stay focused.

I can do this!

Basketball

It kicked my butt today. We played for three hours, and I thought I wouldn't be able to walk to the car, when we were done. I think I may have inspired one more person to do this insanity. Yay!

Yay!

Rebirth said she's been inspired to start her own 101 in 1001, so I can now scratch #78 off my list. Yay. Thanks, Rebirth!

Status Update

Woo hoo. I've been really making an effort to keep up with my goals. Yesterday, after talking to a wonderful friend, I decided to volunteer for an afternoon at ACS's Cancer Camp. We're looking at June 14. At first, I was just going to donate supplies, but then, I decided to donate some time, too, and teach paper bag scrapbooking. Anyone wanna join me? If I follow through, I'll have completed two of my charity goals. Yay...

On today's list...a random act of kindness. Hmmm, can I kill two birds with one stone, or is that cheating?

Progress

Progress:
It's been two days... I've already read three personal finance books, kept to eating fruits and veggies, and read books to the kids. Woo hoo!

I Think

So I think I figured out how to strikethrough items in my list. Pretty cool, huh!

Intro to 101 in 1001

I first saw this on The Simple Dollar, and then followed it to Get Rich Slowly. I thought it was a cool idea, so I decided to try it. I mean, hey, it can only benefit me, right! My start date is May 25, 2007, and my end date is February 18, 2010.

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

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.

So without further ado, here's my list. I've organized my goals into 10 categories: Fitness & Health, Learning & Personal Development, Career, Scrapbooking, Fun, Family, Finance, Maintenance, Charity, and Travel. I will update them as I go...and figure out the HTML to strikethrough.

These are in no particular order.

Fitness & Health

1. Get 7 hours of sleep each night for a whole week straight.(completed 8/19/07)
2. Play basketball once a week. (32/132)
3. Eat fruits or veggies every day. (230/1001)
4. Go to the dentist 5 times. (1/5)
5. Get at least 3 professional massages. (0/3)
6. Take a yoga class. (I'll start yoga on 8/14/07. It's every Tuesday.)
7. Research Lasik.
8. Get Lasik.
9. Go two weeks without fast food.
10. Visit a farmer's market.(completed 8/22/07)

Personal Development

11. Watch no tv at least 2 days of the week. (7/264)
12. Perform random act of kindness once a week. (4/132)
13. Drink ONLY water once a week. (2/132)
14. Read The Book of Mormon.
15. Read at least 5 books on basic photography. (0/5)
16. Take a photography class.
17. Take 5 blow-up worthy pictures of each kid. (0/10)
18. Share list and progress on blog.
19. Buy a breadmaker.(It sucked. I returned it. I realized it wasn't worth it. I should just buy bread.)
20. Bake a loaf of bread.(It sucked.)
21. Write a letter to my future self.
22. Register to vote in my district.
23. Vote in one election.
24. Learn how to change a tire.

Career

25. Advance to Class 5. (Assuming all of my credits post on time, I will accomplish this by January of 2008.)
26. Advance to Class 6.
27. Advance to Class 7.
28. Clean classroom before SY 2007-2008.
29. Clean classroom before SY 2008-2009.
30. Clean classroom before SY 2009-2010.
31. Read 10 books on standards and assessment. (5/10)
32. Create standards-based binders for my classroom.(completed 8/22/07)
33. Create a standards-based gradebook.
34. Maintain class website.
35. Create team website.
36. Create team calendar.

Scrapbooking

37. Get a layout published in a magazine.
38. Complete 30 12x12 layouts for each child. (6/30 Kahia, 9/30 Kawai)
39. Create a recipe book with mom's recipes.
40. Sell 3 albums. (0/3)
41. Sell 50 cards. (0/50)
42. Do Tracy's mini albums.
43. Organize all 12x12 paper.
44. Get rid of old stuff. Partially complete due to purging paper before the move. (7/6)(Complete 12/31/07)
45. Frame 5 12x12 pages.

Fun

46. Get a tattoo of my mon.
47. See Bridge to Terabithia.
48. Date night twice a month. (8/60)
49. Buy iPod.(for Jay)
50. Subscribe to a podcast.
51. See a Cirque de Soleil show.
52. Buy myself a ring.
53. Read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
54. Obtain a shabu shabu pot.(6/16/07) Yay, lil d!
55. Paint a chair or stool.
56. Buy three matching sets of lingerie.
57. Buy a cute hat.
58. Watch a sunrise.

Family

59. Buy a computer for the kids.(12/08)
60. Take kids to ride bikes (or razors or wave board) 100 times. (7/100)
61. Take the kids on a learning excursion once a month. (2/33)
62. Read 500 books aloud to the kids. (245/500)
63. Write a letter to the kids to be read 10 years from now. (0/2)
64. Take kids to Foster Gardens with Dayna and talk about mom.
65. Send 10 romantic cards by mail. (0/10)
66. Buy at least 30 new books for the kids with bonus points. (27/30)
67. Have a meal with Dayna once a month. (5/33)
68. Buy mom flowers once a month. (1/33)
69. Grow daisies with the kids.
70. Fly a kite with the kids.
71. Send _______ flowers at least twice. (1/2) ***Sent Aunty Arleen flowers for watching the kids this week during our move. She's awesome!
72. Have a picnic in the park with homemade food.(06/09)

Friends

73. Send a handmade card to a friend once a month. (0/33)
74. Meet with friends once a month. (4/33)
75. Log everyone's birthdays in a calendar.
76. Make ten gifts. (8/10)
77. Send a mixed c.d. to three people. (0/3)
78. Inspire one person to do a 101 in 1001 list with me.(complete: 6/07)

Finance

79. Save $1 a day for duration of 1001 days.
80. Sell 5 things on eBay. (5/5)(7/09)
81. Subscribe to a finance magazine.(Money Magazine subscription complete: 08/07)
82. Build savings up to $15000.
83. Xerox items in wallet.
84. Use Pear Budget to track expenses.
85. Read 20 Personal Finance/Productivity books.(Complete December '07) (20/20)
86. Buy coffee less than once a week. (4/132)
87. Buy fewer than 10 books for myself. (1/10)*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*Eclipse(with gift card!)
88. Sell 10 books from my personal library.(7/09) (0/10)
89. Buy lunch less than once a week. (1/132.)
90. Pay off car. (car sold 10/07)
91. Have paycheck deposited into checking instead of savings.(complete: 6/07)

Maintenance

92. Get my oil changed 5 times. (0/5)
93. Clean the interior of my truck at least once a week. (1/132)
94. Wash the car at least 30 times. (0/30)

Charity

95. Give blood.
96. Give away $10/month to charity or $350 total.*$31 homeless + school supplies to needy kids.*$60 Angel Tree gifts.
97. Adopt two children from the Angel Tree every Xmas. (1/3)
98. Participate in Stamp Out Hunger 3 times. (0/3)
99. Volunteer for a good cause.

Travel

100. Visit San Francisco.
101. Go to Vegas.