Curious Notions » resolutions 2009

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 14)

Linda — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:36:45 +0000

1.

So I mentioned my morning routine in yesterday’s VEDA video blog but I had originally planned on unveiling my new personal project as a Quick Take and link my friend Martin. So, as an excuse to plug a friend (haha!), I’ll mention it again anyway. In August I started a 10 week personal project called The Artist’s Way. As part of the Artist’s Way, I will be writing 3 stream of consciousness pages in my journal every morning before I go on with the day. I first read about it on Martin’s blog but though I was slightly intrigued, I was not motivated to follow suit. When Alex visited me a few weeks ago, she gave me The Artist’s Way as a birthday gift so I took it as a sign to go ahead and embark. So far, it’s painful. I won’t lie. Today’s morning pages I ran out of things to talk about and kept writing, “I’m sleepy. I don’t want to do this. I’m going to Houston!!” Over and over again.

2.

I haven’t danced or witness a dance circle since middle school. Dance circles were ALL the rage in middle school. Mainly because I went to a private Catholic school and the circle prevented the nuns from seeing the freaking going on in the middle of the circle. Not very wholesome, my middle school. However! I witnessed my first dance circle as an adult and it was pretty wholesome! I noted a fun phenomenon. If you build a decently sized dance circle, it will invite strangers to join your little dance party. If you build it, dancers will come. It’s true. Anyway, here’s my video proof. The preview screen shot is of my man, breaking it down.

Youtube Link

3.

Today is my third consecutive day of partaking in VEDA (Vlog Every Day in August), here’s my video for this morning. It was very very rushed. I did it in one take and did not bother editing even slightly. I talk about things I’m bad at.

Youtube Link

4.

I’m going to Houston for the weekend. I’m not quite sure how to pull off this VEDA thing without Internet access. I may rope Kim and Cindy into letting me use their Internet and also starring in a vlog! I haven’t told them yet…Hoping they won’t see this blog post til after I call them later today. I always love my weekends in Houston. Good food, good people, mommy hugs. Good for my soul. I also get to add to the 4 restaurants already backlogged for my food blog.

5.

Current book: A Man without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut.

Random excerpt: “The biggest truth to face now – what is probably making me unfunny now for the remainder of my life – is that I don’t think people give a damn whether the planet goes on or not. It seems to me as if everyone is living as members of Alcoholics Anonymous do, day by day. And a few more days will be enough. I know of very little people who are dreaming of a world for their grandchildren.”

6.

One of my 2010 resolutions is to read 40 books. Yesterday I finished Who Moved My Cheese?, bringing up my total finished books to 20. Yeah, I’m behind. I hope to finish A Man Without a Country and I’ll grab a couple of books off my bookshelf for Houston. Feeling the pressure!

7.

Man, the last really good year I had in terms of New Years Resolutions is 2008. I made 17 whopping goals and completed them all but 2 (the one about the passport isn’t crossed out but I did complete it!). In 2009 I made 17 resolutions and met only 3. This year, I’m on track to complete 13 (not counting the books) out of 20. I guess that’s not bad but being on track doesn’t quite mean I’ll make the cut.

Question: What’s going on with you?

Ink Spots is 9 months old!

Linda — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:18:21 +0000

Ink Spots was created 9 months ago; I joined 8 months ago. Today was our best meeting in terms of attendance and participation. I’m very proud of us. I’m usually not a fan of amateur poetry but each time Lanay shares, I find myself very moved and touched. Roz shared a pretty unconventional and creative cover letter. Katambra left me hanging with a story about a girl hiding from a possibly dangerous exboyfriend? Katambra drove me back home today and we were both impressed and agreed that tonight was the best meeting yet. We left inspired, proud, and motivated. Hopefully this carries through. I’m not much of a fiction writer but my new goal is to just write and not worry if it’s utter crap. I wrote my third fictional piece ever (2nd unfinished piece) about a girl battling the Valentine blues, making the best of her day without any available girlfriends or boyfriend when she runs into an exboyfriend. My first and only completed piece was about a guy with a rotting penis. ONE time I write a somewhat R rated NON-exotic story and every time I read from then on, they ask me to give them the rating even though it’s been PG ever since.

I snagged a few photos from Brenda’s facebook from tonight.

2009 Resolutions

Linda — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:18:53 +0000

Financial:
- Have a full year’s worth of expenses (rent, bills, food) saved up in my emergency fund. I think I just need 6K more since my CD will mature in June. Reevaluate this goal if I move/rent goes up when my lease ends in July.
- If I have leftovers, (which I doubt) max out my Roth IRA.
- If I have leftovers after that, (which I HIGHLY doubt) attack my student loans in the same manner I attacked my car loan last year.

Leisure/Cultural/Fun
- Read 20 books (double from last year’s total of 10)
- Take an art class. (Fused Glass perhaps?)
- Write in my paper main journal once a week.
- Write in my 5 year journal everyday. (I started on New Year’s Day!) I think I can spare 6 lines a day.
- Finish 3 short stories for Ink Spots.
- Add on one new state to my list.
- Continue doing my new things of the week (going on year 4 now!)

Community
- Do three volunteer projects with my little from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. Maybe at the food bank?
- Run another 5k.
- Honor my relationship with my little by seeing her regularly, 2-3 times a month.

Personal
- To not let my ego get in the way of my relationships and communication in my relationships.
- Keep my apartment pristine.
- Work out 3 hours a week.
- Keep my sleep amount average at 7 hours. (It’s currently at 6! I’ve moved it from my previous average of 3 hours.)