So I've been busy and experiencing more stress than I consider necessary. I'm homesick and project sick and not focusing as well as I'd like. I finally finished the Andrew Jackson biography (Pulitzer winner, counting it) and am reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . I am fairly certain it isn't on any of my lists, but I am enjoying the hell out of it and that is what counts.
I submitted an abstract and I'll be presenting at a conference in March btw.
Partially Completed Goals:
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (2/10).
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (4/10).
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (1/10).
13) Be able to name all of the U.S. Presidents in order... Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Van Buren (MVB is a new one).
52) Visit 10 Presidential Historic Sites (2/10).
Completed Goals (22/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K (31:47)
42) Visit the Field Museum
48) Visit a country whose primary language is not English
53) Go on vacation without a car.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
72) Buy a cactus or other succulent to raise in the house
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
90) Take Odie on a vacation (overnight trip to Fermilab!)
92) Watch no television for one month
93) Drive in downtown Chicago
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
11.28.2010
11.05.2010
Happiness
I'm writing more, but not counting words and making quotas. I will try to catch up a little this weekend. I've made a resolution to write a short summary of papers that I read. I think that is a great idea because I read a lot and retain less than I should.
But this blog entry is really supposed to be a short, quick list of things that do make me happy:
1) How much my boyfriend loves me (even when I'm a terrible girlfriend)
2) When the dog runs around like a happy little monster and wiggles the whole time
3) That I am getting better and better at pilates
4) Every once and a while I cook something and it turns out amazing
5) That I have a wonderful family out there somewhere and someday I might get to see them again
6) That there are so many things I haven't done or seen, but will some day
7) Learning Portuguese
That is all for now. This list should be longer and I need to work on making it so.
But this blog entry is really supposed to be a short, quick list of things that do make me happy:
1) How much my boyfriend loves me (even when I'm a terrible girlfriend)
2) When the dog runs around like a happy little monster and wiggles the whole time
3) That I am getting better and better at pilates
4) Every once and a while I cook something and it turns out amazing
5) That I have a wonderful family out there somewhere and someday I might get to see them again
6) That there are so many things I haven't done or seen, but will some day
7) Learning Portuguese
That is all for now. This list should be longer and I need to work on making it so.
11.01.2010
counting words
782 words today, mostly technical. that puts me at roughly 1750. my brain went nuts today... in a good way! hurray! well that's all folks!
10.31.2010
a new project
I want to earn my Masters degree. In fact, I want to earn my PhD. I'm having a hard time staying on task and doing the work to get there. I spent a little time studying for my written Candidacy exam tonight. I also spent some time writing. Like this blog, I have a target audience of one: myself. I am going to participate in a homegrown version on Nanowrimo. I say homegrown because it isn't a novel, I'm starting a day early, and I'm not guaranteed to write the 50,000 words. So far I have 983. Instead my goal for November is to write about my research every day. Either specifics about what I'm actually doing or generals about background and understanding. Hopefully this work can develop into a more technical document that will be my thesis, but in the spirit of Nanowrimo, I'm just trying to get going. A very boring excerpt:
A Brief Explanation of the Many-Body Problem:
Any given atom has at least one electron (if not you’ve got yourself an ion or a bare nucleus). The most basic atom is Hydrogen: one proton and one electron and some relatively simple mathematics. Hydrogen makes up most of the known universe (I’m ignoring dark matter and energy here) and understanding it goes a surprisingly long way. Unfortunately, go one element up on the Periodic Table to Helium, and you’ve got a nucleus and two electrons. I say unfortunate because adding that third particle doesn’t just make the math harder, it makes it impossible (literally, you have to make approximations and compare these to experiments and you never quite get it right). Most physicists just plain quit after Helium, the math is too hard and they hand the problem over to chemists.
Electrons interact with each other, they interact with the nucleus, and they interact with any other particle that happens to be around. If you’re not counting, that is a lot of interactions. Now imagine that you don’t just have one atom, you’ve got, say N of them. Each one of them has a nucleus and electrons. Oh my. Yep, the math just became really really complicated, and as I mentioned earlier, you can’t solve the equations. Density functional theory is a way of writing the problem so that a computer can make an approximate solution. Sometimes this is a good solution because it compares well with experiments. Sometimes it isn’t a good solution, but I'll get to that later.
A Brief Explanation of the Many-Body Problem:
Any given atom has at least one electron (if not you’ve got yourself an ion or a bare nucleus). The most basic atom is Hydrogen: one proton and one electron and some relatively simple mathematics. Hydrogen makes up most of the known universe (I’m ignoring dark matter and energy here) and understanding it goes a surprisingly long way. Unfortunately, go one element up on the Periodic Table to Helium, and you’ve got a nucleus and two electrons. I say unfortunate because adding that third particle doesn’t just make the math harder, it makes it impossible (literally, you have to make approximations and compare these to experiments and you never quite get it right). Most physicists just plain quit after Helium, the math is too hard and they hand the problem over to chemists.
Electrons interact with each other, they interact with the nucleus, and they interact with any other particle that happens to be around. If you’re not counting, that is a lot of interactions. Now imagine that you don’t just have one atom, you’ve got, say N of them. Each one of them has a nucleus and electrons. Oh my. Yep, the math just became really really complicated, and as I mentioned earlier, you can’t solve the equations. Density functional theory is a way of writing the problem so that a computer can make an approximate solution. Sometimes this is a good solution because it compares well with experiments. Sometimes it isn’t a good solution, but I'll get to that later.
10.08.2010
31:47
That is the time I have to beat when I run my next 5K. Go me! Also over the weekend, I drove to Chicago and went to the Field Museum. Check. Check. Although, that was a relatively easy drive in Chicago. Off the 94 to Lakeshore, turn at Museums. I probably need to do that again to really feel like it counts.
Things I'm working on:
1) I came up w/ a great gift/donation for a friends school. I need to send this. Once I do that, I'm adding one to the random/unexpected gift category.
2) The BF and I just bought a "Presidential Cookbook" that details some of the history of eating and cooking in the White House (and before). I will have to learn those 19th Century presidents if I'm going to make their recipes. So far we have read the Thomas Jefferson chapter. I felt absolutely informed and amused by what I read. I can't wait to make some of the recipes!
3) My tricep push-ups have definitely improved...
Completed Goals (20/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K (31:47)
42) Visit the Field Museum (Artifacts from Egypt = Awesome!)
48) Visit a country whose primary language is not English (So, I'm leaving for Costa Rica in a week and I'm adding this now!)
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
72) Buy a cactus or other succulent to raise in the house (Well, I'm growing basil inside, and so far it is alive!)
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month
93) Drive in downtown Chicago (So I'm counting this one, because I was totally intimidated to even drive to the Museums..)
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
Things I'm working on:
1) I came up w/ a great gift/donation for a friends school. I need to send this. Once I do that, I'm adding one to the random/unexpected gift category.
2) The BF and I just bought a "Presidential Cookbook" that details some of the history of eating and cooking in the White House (and before). I will have to learn those 19th Century presidents if I'm going to make their recipes. So far we have read the Thomas Jefferson chapter. I felt absolutely informed and amused by what I read. I can't wait to make some of the recipes!
3) My tricep push-ups have definitely improved...
Completed Goals (20/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K (31:47)
42) Visit the Field Museum (Artifacts from Egypt = Awesome!)
48) Visit a country whose primary language is not English (So, I'm leaving for Costa Rica in a week and I'm adding this now!)
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
72) Buy a cactus or other succulent to raise in the house (Well, I'm growing basil inside, and so far it is alive!)
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month
93) Drive in downtown Chicago (So I'm counting this one, because I was totally intimidated to even drive to the Museums..)
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
10.02.2010
TGIOctober
September was the longest month in the history of mankind. I never thought it would end. Thankfully it has. I am here to deliver another progress report on my self imposed (involved?) goals. I have been experiencing some serious self-delusion and whining recently which helps no one. So... to start October off right, I invited some friends over for a campfire and ran a 5K this morning. I don't have a precise time on the run, but it was 32-33 minutes. Hopefully if I stay w/ it, I can get down below 30 minutes for the next one.
I will have some adventures tomorrow. I may be able to add to this list.
Completed Goals (17/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month.
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
I will have some adventures tomorrow. I may be able to add to this list.
Completed Goals (17/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month.
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
9.12.2010
Slacking... grad school style
I'm simultaneously working hard and feeling guilty for not working harder. I've added a few things to the Completed list. I haven't been running. Well, last week I ran three miles, but I couldn't drag myself out of bed this weekend.
Completed Goals (16/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month.
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
Completed Goals (16/101)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
23) Make baking bread a habit
27) Take an advanced pilates class
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
85) Train Odie to come when called
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month.
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
8.05.2010
My working vacation
I am about 3 hours from home attending a summer school. This school is distinctly off topic and has become (more or less) a chance for me relax and escape my every day life. I am certainly learning from the sessions, but I'm not working on my own research. Of course, my brain is doing some back-burner type work. I was able to sketch out a piece of code I intend to write in the next few weeks that should be a major step forward in my ability to automate my work.
I finished the book John Adams by David McCullough last night. I started a week or so before and became entirely engrossed in the life of a man I knew too little about before now. I loved the book and learned about how John Adams work and influence permeated both his time and mine. Wow.
So... on w/ a much needed update to my 101 list:
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month. I'm well over a month w/ no TV!
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
Partially Completed Goals:
4-7) The coding goals: I have been coding a lot recently. The work has been modular enough that I need to learn to tie it together under a header file. I compile often enough that I should write a Makefile. I'll get there in the next few months I hope.
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (2/10).
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (3/10).
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (1/10). Thomas Sowell completed!
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese. I wrote a long email in Portuguese and purchased my textbooks for fall.
13) Be able to name all of the U.S. Presidents in order... Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson.... Polk... Lincoln, Johnson, Grant... ummm.... McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama... wow, I hope my partial list is correct. I feel as though I've missed a few. I should know this.
14) Become an architecture geek. I think I know how to recognize the Federal style.
15) T.A. a graduate level class. It isn't official, but I have a request in.
28) Run a 5K. I ran the last three mornings. About 2 miles every morning. Today was a rest day. Tomorrow I'll try to go a bit further.
32) Master a tri-cep push-up. I'm getting better at these.
52) Visit 10 Presidential Historic Sites. In about a week I'm going to the Gerald Ford Presidential Library.
53) Go on vacation without a car. This is very non-specific, but I don't plan to rent one in Costa Rica.
Goals for the week:
1) Discover a holiday to celebrate
2) Think up thoughtful/random gifts.
3) Study a bit for my candidacy exam so I can someday earn a Masters.
I finished the book John Adams by David McCullough last night. I started a week or so before and became entirely engrossed in the life of a man I knew too little about before now. I loved the book and learned about how John Adams work and influence permeated both his time and mine. Wow.
So... on w/ a much needed update to my 101 list:
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn.
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks.
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways.
92) Watch no television for one month. I'm well over a month w/ no TV!
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom.
Partially Completed Goals:
4-7) The coding goals: I have been coding a lot recently. The work has been modular enough that I need to learn to tie it together under a header file. I compile often enough that I should write a Makefile. I'll get there in the next few months I hope.
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (2/10).
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (3/10).
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (1/10). Thomas Sowell completed!
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese. I wrote a long email in Portuguese and purchased my textbooks for fall.
13) Be able to name all of the U.S. Presidents in order... Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson.... Polk... Lincoln, Johnson, Grant... ummm.... McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama... wow, I hope my partial list is correct. I feel as though I've missed a few. I should know this.
14) Become an architecture geek. I think I know how to recognize the Federal style.
15) T.A. a graduate level class. It isn't official, but I have a request in.
28) Run a 5K. I ran the last three mornings. About 2 miles every morning. Today was a rest day. Tomorrow I'll try to go a bit further.
32) Master a tri-cep push-up. I'm getting better at these.
52) Visit 10 Presidential Historic Sites. In about a week I'm going to the Gerald Ford Presidential Library.
53) Go on vacation without a car. This is very non-specific, but I don't plan to rent one in Costa Rica.
Goals for the week:
1) Discover a holiday to celebrate
2) Think up thoughtful/random gifts.
3) Study a bit for my candidacy exam so I can someday earn a Masters.
7.18.2010
Working Sunday
So I've spent some time working this weekend AND I've enjoyed it. I am slowly learning the ins-and-outs of a UNIX system. It is impressive how just how powerful it is. I can't believe how much time I have wasted by NOT automating tasks w/ shell scripts. Just this morning I pushed myself to use the command line for the graphical program I run and I cannot believe how much more simple it is than using a mouse. Sheesh, I'm slow, but I'm getting there.
A running update first:
I've done a couple of 1.5 mile runs and a 2.7 mile run recently. I don't seem too interested in tracking today. Yesterday I got the little mutt to run a whole mile w/ me. I've learned to walk her for a while first.
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
92) Watch no television for one month - COMPLETED as of yesterday!
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Partially Completed Goals
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10) - Still reading Thomas Sowell...
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese - I wrote a very short email in Portuguese last night.
23) Make baking bread a habit - Due to the heat, it isn't a habit, but I did bake a loaf a couple of weeks ago!
I have nine goals completed. I could be doing a little better, but I have been focusing on work. I'm also attempting to diet w/out tracking calories. This is turning into a success, but it is much harder.
Goals for the week:
1) Two runs of greater than 2 miles, preferably a 3-miler (July is ending quickly!)
2) Finish the Sowell book. It is too dense for me to read in long settings, but it is good. When I say good I mean incredibly insightful and historically/economically/philosophically reaching.
3) Cover 2 chapters of the Chem book.
25) Eat a meal made entirely of things grown in my own garden - I have tomatoes, peppers, and beans!
32) Master a tri-cep push-up - I'm getting better. I can push up into a plank from the ground, but I am definitely relying more on my chest muscles than my triceps for part of it.
A running update first:
I've done a couple of 1.5 mile runs and a 2.7 mile run recently. I don't seem too interested in tracking today. Yesterday I got the little mutt to run a whole mile w/ me. I've learned to walk her for a while first.
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
92) Watch no television for one month - COMPLETED as of yesterday!
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Partially Completed Goals
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10) - Still reading Thomas Sowell...
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese - I wrote a very short email in Portuguese last night.
23) Make baking bread a habit - Due to the heat, it isn't a habit, but I did bake a loaf a couple of weeks ago!
I have nine goals completed. I could be doing a little better, but I have been focusing on work. I'm also attempting to diet w/out tracking calories. This is turning into a success, but it is much harder.
Goals for the week:
1) Two runs of greater than 2 miles, preferably a 3-miler (July is ending quickly!)
2) Finish the Sowell book. It is too dense for me to read in long settings, but it is good. When I say good I mean incredibly insightful and historically/economically/philosophically reaching.
3) Cover 2 chapters of the Chem book.
25) Eat a meal made entirely of things grown in my own garden - I have tomatoes, peppers, and beans!
32) Master a tri-cep push-up - I'm getting better. I can push up into a plank from the ground, but I am definitely relying more on my chest muscles than my triceps for part of it.
7.11.2010
A long over due gardening post!
The little patch in my backyard about a month ago. You might notice that I realized just how closely I had planted and desperately moved a few things. I am glad I did, and next year I will have to be much more careful about this!
Already overgrown!
The garden has grown up since these were taken. The corn and zucchini had sprouted, and I was absolutely ecstatic. I have certainly learned this year NOT to fear timelines with gardens. Get it in the ground, it will grow. In fact, I planted some dill seed a week or so ago and it is popping up now. I may not get much off it, but for 25 cents, why not try? Next year I definitely plan to do more from seed.
Beets!
As far as I can tell, these are caterpillars that would grow into cabbage moths one day. They did a lot of damage before I realized what they were and picked them off. Once I realized the problem, I diligently picked off every caterpillar I could for a couple of weeks and they are gone now. The leaves are still very chewed, but I may get some cauliflower yet!
The damage is actually much worse than this.
I harvested some green beans today. All in all, gardening is a very satisfying experience!
In summary:
1) If something is eating your plants, get close enough to see the little things before the damage increases.
2) Don't plant too close together.
3) Don't fear planting from seed after the ground has warmed up.
Already overgrown!
The garden has grown up since these were taken. The corn and zucchini had sprouted, and I was absolutely ecstatic. I have certainly learned this year NOT to fear timelines with gardens. Get it in the ground, it will grow. In fact, I planted some dill seed a week or so ago and it is popping up now. I may not get much off it, but for 25 cents, why not try? Next year I definitely plan to do more from seed.
Beets!
As far as I can tell, these are caterpillars that would grow into cabbage moths one day. They did a lot of damage before I realized what they were and picked them off. Once I realized the problem, I diligently picked off every caterpillar I could for a couple of weeks and they are gone now. The leaves are still very chewed, but I may get some cauliflower yet!
The damage is actually much worse than this.
I harvested some green beans today. All in all, gardening is a very satisfying experience!
In summary:
1) If something is eating your plants, get close enough to see the little things before the damage increases.
2) Don't plant too close together.
3) Don't fear planting from seed after the ground has warmed up.
7.08.2010
What I HAVE been doing
Rather that focus on my dismal failure to complete any of the goals on my list for the week, let me instead talk about what I have been doing:
1) Writing little shell scripts to make my life easier
2) Fighting the good fight on my research (and partially succeeding)
3) Relaxing, reading EASY books, and NOT watching TV. Ten more days and a goal is completed!
4) Eating very poorly... I have decided how to spin this into a positive however! The BF is about to leave for a trip and I will have no choice but to set a calorie budget for the weekend and stick to it. 1600 per day (plus exercise calories).
5) I am going to see an old friend this weekend for a hike in the woods! I am so excited I can't stand it! In fact, if I make a point to STAY in contact, I'm pretty sure I've hit another list item.
6) Lovingly tending the plot in the backyard. I can't believe I waited this long to become a gardener. Now, if I can only get this ambitious about flowers and aesthetic beauty!
7) I am feeling inspired by the relatively cool weather and will go for a run in the morning
8) I baked some delicious bread! I have been intentionally slacking because of the heat. I have a plan to make some naan sometime soon. Bread you fry on the stovetop = less heat.
After looking over old blog posts, I realize how badly I need to to a garden update. It is all grown up compared to the pics that are posted. That will be a tomorrow project.
1) Writing little shell scripts to make my life easier
2) Fighting the good fight on my research (and partially succeeding)
3) Relaxing, reading EASY books, and NOT watching TV. Ten more days and a goal is completed!
4) Eating very poorly... I have decided how to spin this into a positive however! The BF is about to leave for a trip and I will have no choice but to set a calorie budget for the weekend and stick to it. 1600 per day (plus exercise calories).
5) I am going to see an old friend this weekend for a hike in the woods! I am so excited I can't stand it! In fact, if I make a point to STAY in contact, I'm pretty sure I've hit another list item.
6) Lovingly tending the plot in the backyard. I can't believe I waited this long to become a gardener. Now, if I can only get this ambitious about flowers and aesthetic beauty!
7) I am feeling inspired by the relatively cool weather and will go for a run in the morning
8) I baked some delicious bread! I have been intentionally slacking because of the heat. I have a plan to make some naan sometime soon. Bread you fry on the stovetop = less heat.
After looking over old blog posts, I realize how badly I need to to a garden update. It is all grown up compared to the pics that are posted. That will be a tomorrow project.
7.03.2010
another saturday!
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 | 6/5 | 6/9 | 6/11 | 6/16 | 6/23 | 7/2 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.5 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 28 | 15 |
I think I'm missing a run between the 23rd and yesterday. I know that I went for a run/walk with the puppy, but that definitely doesn't count. I am relaxing on this MUCH needed 3 day weekend. I can't believe how tired I let myself get over the course of the last month.
Over the last week I read a book called March by Geraldine Brooks. The novel is the 2006 winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. I chose the book for its very interesting main character: the patriarch of the Louisa May Alcott's March clan. I found myself absorbed in the broader background created by Brooks for Alcott's young women. It was an admittedly nice break from the compelling but dense economic and historical evaluation of entire philosophies and visions by Thomas Sowell.
As for my other goals: I did indeed code the honeycomb lattice on top of my existing hexagonal lattice. Also, I wrote some shell scripts that should prove quite useful if I continue my current work. I updated my website and I'm baking some bread this evening after it cools off.
I have been diligently NOT watching TV. It has been so nice.
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn (greater than knee high by the 4th of July)
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Partially Completed Goals:
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (2/10)
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (2/10)
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0.5/10)
64) Make a point to use the local libraries (I have a card and I'll make a trip there soon enough)
70) Clean the oven twice (1/2)
80) Pay off student loans (I have one left, the interest is very low)
81) Pay off my car loan (I'm getting there. It should be paid off in a year)
82) Organize and fully document my financial information (I'm slowly work on this)
92) Watch no television for one month (I'm about half through this goal)
This week's goals:
1) Get a make file working
2) Bike to and around St. Mary's
3) Read something about architecture
4) Reinforce commands w/ Odie (look and come).
6.26.2010
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn (It is officially a crop. I have been warned that I may not get any corn due to squirrels, but I'm checking it off).
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Partially Completed Goals:
1) Earn a Masters Degree - I have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only will I earn my Masters, I'm sticking it out for the PhD dammit!
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10) - Reading Thomas Sowell...
27) Take an advanced pilates class - I'm pushing myself really hard in my class and I can feel it!
28) Run a 5K - I have a plan and I'm running farther than ever.
41) Travel to Iowa - It is in the works
59) Bike to and around Saint Mary’s College - I'm biking to school and back, I'll get ambitious and go farther one of these days
74) Maintain organization of the desks - so far...
88) Take Odie to 90% of the pet-friendly parks in the county - I added a new one last weekend
This weeks goals:
1) Thomas Sowell
2) Code a hexagonal lattice (should be an extension of my current work) and start thinking about a make file for my geometry code.
3) Write Bianca an email (partially) in Portuguese
4) Make bread or crackers
5) Update my website
18) Make a batch of freezer jam.
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan.
62) Visit a local winery.
69) Develop a successful composting system.
71) Grow a crop of corn (It is officially a crop. I have been warned that I may not get any corn due to squirrels, but I'm checking it off).
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Partially Completed Goals:
1) Earn a Masters Degree - I have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only will I earn my Masters, I'm sticking it out for the PhD dammit!
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10) - Reading Thomas Sowell...
27) Take an advanced pilates class - I'm pushing myself really hard in my class and I can feel it!
28) Run a 5K - I have a plan and I'm running farther than ever.
41) Travel to Iowa - It is in the works
59) Bike to and around Saint Mary’s College - I'm biking to school and back, I'll get ambitious and go farther one of these days
74) Maintain organization of the desks - so far...
88) Take Odie to 90% of the pet-friendly parks in the county - I added a new one last weekend
This weeks goals:
1) Thomas Sowell
2) Code a hexagonal lattice (should be an extension of my current work) and start thinking about a make file for my geometry code.
3) Write Bianca an email (partially) in Portuguese
4) Make bread or crackers
5) Update my website
6.24.2010
Life is busy!
So a power outage and large amounts of work have kept me away from the computer. I did complete my goals for last week (including two runs of 1.5 miles in about the same time as before). Dates estimated:
Also, I cleaned and organized both desks! Check! Now I just need to maintain it. Note the last run. Very slow, but distance and endurance matter more right now. I took Odie to Rum Village Park last weekend, picked up my library card, and generally stayed very busy.
I need to do a garden post so that next year I can have a better idea of what I did and when. I have been lame about record keeping thus far.
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 | 6/5 | 6/9 | 6/11 | 6/16 | 6/23 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 28 |
Also, I cleaned and organized both desks! Check! Now I just need to maintain it. Note the last run. Very slow, but distance and endurance matter more right now. I took Odie to Rum Village Park last weekend, picked up my library card, and generally stayed very busy.
I need to do a garden post so that next year I can have a better idea of what I did and when. I have been lame about record keeping thus far.
6.13.2010
Sleepy Sunday
I spent today cooking, studying Spanish, reading, napping, and day-dreaming. I did spend a little time in the garden and I took the mutt to a new park. Actually, I went on THREE walks w/ her. I am a good pet owner.
This felt like a very unproductive weekend, but I think I needed that. I realized that I hadn't made a list of goals to work on for the week.
1) Run twice (for 1.5 miles or more)
2) Organize my desk upstairs. Avoiding it is sheer laziness.
3) Pick up my library card (I signed up for one!).
4) Finish the current chapter of Thomas Sowell's book.
5) Be sure to practice planks and throw in a couple of push-up attempts.
6) Work w/ Odie on things she SHOULD know how to do.
This is going to be a busy week, so I made the list simultaneously long and simple. During the day I'm teaching and researching. In the evenings, I have plans for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It is likely that I will be busy on Friday or Saturday as well.
This felt like a very unproductive weekend, but I think I needed that. I realized that I hadn't made a list of goals to work on for the week.
1) Run twice (for 1.5 miles or more)
2) Organize my desk upstairs. Avoiding it is sheer laziness.
3) Pick up my library card (I signed up for one!).
4) Finish the current chapter of Thomas Sowell's book.
5) Be sure to practice planks and throw in a couple of push-up attempts.
6) Work w/ Odie on things she SHOULD know how to do.
This is going to be a busy week, so I made the list simultaneously long and simple. During the day I'm teaching and researching. In the evenings, I have plans for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It is likely that I will be busy on Friday or Saturday as well.
6.12.2010
Progress Report
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 | 6/5 | 6/9 | 6/11 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 | 23 | 17 | 13 |
| Time | Early | Early | Early | Early | |
| Rate (minutes/mile) | 11(1) | 11(1) | 10.5(1.1) | 11(1) | 10(1) |
I am one tired girl today, but I am heading off to the Greek Festival soon. I hope that the coffee and sugar and pastry will wake me up... I should mention that I should have made a goal about shell scripting since that has been my recent focus. Automation is a good thing.
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
62) Visit a local winery
Partially Completed Goals
1) I've been working hard on my research the past couple of weeks and the Masters degree is starting to seem possible!
2) I've started the chem book, and plan to work on it today or tomorrow
3) I continue to work on my webpage
9) 2/10
10) 1/10 I've identified a couple of Pulitzer winners that I plan to read
11) 0/10 I'm slowly reading on Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions.
13) I plan to read a couple of presidential biographies soon. This should help to lock in the names of those 19th century presidents.
17) I would really like to go the the APS March Meeting and I am going to work to make that happen this year.
19) My tomato plants are growing. Fried green tomatoes will be on the menu just as soon as possible.
25) The garden is coming along nicely.
27) My last pilates class was AWESOME. I am learning so much!
28) I've got a schedule that should get me to my first 5K by early this fall
32) I can now push up from my stomach into plank position. Can a tricep push-up be far behind?
41) I've identified enough reasons to go to Iowa that I may drive there this summer.
48) I'm going to COSTA RICA in October. I am SO SO SO excited. The tickets got so cheap I couldn't turn it down.
52) 1/10
53) It might involve some bus travel...
64) I use my school library regularly. I haven't been as good about the community one.
70) 1/3
71) The corn is sprouted and now I'm waiting for knee-high by the 4th of July.
72) I think I'm going to buy a plant for the big window in my office. It is much sunnier there than home. I think I'll count that.
73) My desk at school is clean and organized! In fact, I'm using the filing cabinet even!
74) So far, so organized. Vigilance is a must for me.
75) I'm working on organization. The hard drive on my work laptop is in pretty good shape right now.
80) I have one more student loan to pay off. I have a plan for it.
81) I'm chipping away at the car loan
88) I should be taking the mutt to a new park this weekend
101) I haven't been anywhere close to bored since I've started this list.
6.09.2010
a slow morning...
... is better than nothing!
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 | 6/5 | 6/9 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 | 23 | 17 |
| Time | Early | Early | Early | Early |
| Rate (minutes/mile) | 11(1) | 11(1) | 10.5(1.1) | 11(1) |
6.05.2010
Tracking Running
My goal for the week was to run twice. If you count a half run/half walk w/ Odie, I achieved this goal. Considering that I was a very busy scientist this week, I have decided that I can count the short run, but I won't bother to track it. This morning's run is exciting however. I felt awesome at about the mile mark and proceeded to run a total of 2.2 miles in 23 minutes. This feels like wonderful progress to me! It is listed in my slightly more compact table.
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 | 6/5 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 | 23 |
| Time | Early | Early | Early |
| Rate (minutes/mile) | 11(1) | 11(1) | 10.5(1.1) |
Reading List
Reading books (and NOT news/blog articles) is very important. I was the student in school who always brought a book from home so that I could read when I finished my classwork. Even in college I would occasionally fill time between classes merely reading a book for fun. I definitely spent a few spring and winter breaks holed up on my sofa reading novel after novel. Over the last few years, much of my reading has shifted to Internet time. The quality of the content and my concentration has degraded steadily.
The Goals project has been doing me a lot of good. Even if I don't finish the list, my use of time and focus has greatly improved. I have been reading actual books, building websites, and shell scripting on weekends. I've been gardening, cleaning, playing tourist, and loving my life.
I finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy about a week ago. It is a difficult book to put down. The story opens in the cold, dark reality of two survivors and demands complete attention. I found myself engrossed in the moments when the characters literally had no food and finding some was their entire focus. That is a concept that I have never even come close to experiencing.
While there are many stories that explore some post-apocalypse world, I have only read two: The Stand and The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. These books are among my favorites. While they have very dark moments, those books have light in them. I will probably re-read them. I cannot imagine reading The Road again. It simply is not that sort of book for me.
The Goals project has been doing me a lot of good. Even if I don't finish the list, my use of time and focus has greatly improved. I have been reading actual books, building websites, and shell scripting on weekends. I've been gardening, cleaning, playing tourist, and loving my life.
I finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy about a week ago. It is a difficult book to put down. The story opens in the cold, dark reality of two survivors and demands complete attention. I found myself engrossed in the moments when the characters literally had no food and finding some was their entire focus. That is a concept that I have never even come close to experiencing.
While there are many stories that explore some post-apocalypse world, I have only read two: The Stand and The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. These books are among my favorites. While they have very dark moments, those books have light in them. I will probably re-read them. I cannot imagine reading The Road again. It simply is not that sort of book for me.
5.31.2010
Rewarding myself and outlining goals.
I went for a very slow run this morning. My normal 1.3 miles in 14 minutes. I have realized that I need to do two things:
1) Lay out time lines for accomplishing the difficult goals.
2) Use rewards to make this more fun.
I plan to run a 5K during fall semester. There will probably be an opportunity to run one on campus at the start of the school year (late August), so my time line will focus on that. As long as I run it before Thanksgiving, I'll be happy, but it would be nice to get it done soon.
Intermediate Running Goals:
1) I plan to be up to two miles by the end of June and three miles (roughly 5K) by the end of July.
2) By the end of August, I will be running a faster 5K. If I continue to run 10 minute miles, it should take me about 31 minutes to run it. So, hopefully by the end of August, I'll be doing it in less than 30 minutes.
3) Run at least twice a week and ALWAYS stretch before and after.
As for rewards: for every 10 goals I complete, I can buy myself something small that I've been needing/wanting. A good example of this is a pair of running shorts or some extra long shoelaces. These are little things that technically I could run and get right now, but I'd prefer to earn them.
1) Lay out time lines for accomplishing the difficult goals.
2) Use rewards to make this more fun.
I plan to run a 5K during fall semester. There will probably be an opportunity to run one on campus at the start of the school year (late August), so my time line will focus on that. As long as I run it before Thanksgiving, I'll be happy, but it would be nice to get it done soon.
Intermediate Running Goals:
1) I plan to be up to two miles by the end of June and three miles (roughly 5K) by the end of July.
2) By the end of August, I will be running a faster 5K. If I continue to run 10 minute miles, it should take me about 31 minutes to run it. So, hopefully by the end of August, I'll be doing it in less than 30 minutes.
3) Run at least twice a week and ALWAYS stretch before and after.
As for rewards: for every 10 goals I complete, I can buy myself something small that I've been needing/wanting. A good example of this is a pair of running shorts or some extra long shoelaces. These are little things that technically I could run and get right now, but I'd prefer to earn them.
| Date | 5/22 | 5/31 |
| Miles | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Minutes | 16 | 14 |
| Time | Early AM | Early AM |
| Rate (minutes/mile) | 11 +/- 1 | 11 +/- 1 |
Notes from a new gardener.
I FINALLY got my garden planted. I feel simultaneously accomplished and frustrated that I didn't stick closer to my original plans and do more research. I can place some blame on the weather this year. We had freezing temperatures at the end of April and beginning of May. This was followed by large amounts of rain. I had read somewhere to let the ground dry out and settle before planting. This may have been silly, but I definitely let it hold me back and I feel like I lost time w/ what should have been early season crops.
This is my Purple Cape Cauliflower. It is a tad sun-scorched. I really should have started cauliflower sooner while it was cooler. But of course I went nuts and bought a half flat of heirloom vegetables and cauliflower was just too tempting.
These are mostly tomato plants. The large one is a cherry size named Juliet. It already has 3 tomatoes ripening. I am exciting to start harvesting off it as soon as possible. The other plants are considerably less mature and all heirloom varieties. I bought... Green Zebra, Roma, Heidi Paste Tomato, and ... one other... ummm.... If you look closely you will also see a Thai eggplant hiding in there.
I went nuts with the pepper plants as well. Apparently peppers freeze very well. I bought a bell pepper, jalapeno, Thai Red, Bolivian Rainbow, Sheepnose Pimento, and a Bullnose. Whew, I am going to have to work hard to eat all of these.
These are four bush bean plants and a zucchini hill. I also seeded some beets (which also should have been started sooner) and two rows of corn. The varieties are Silver Queen and Candy Corn. I am crossing my fingers on these.
So, that is all for now. Oh, a note on fertilizers. I bought some "worm tea" and some organic Miracle Grow. I am not sure quite what will happen, but all of the veggies have been fertilized w/ one or other other.
This is my Purple Cape Cauliflower. It is a tad sun-scorched. I really should have started cauliflower sooner while it was cooler. But of course I went nuts and bought a half flat of heirloom vegetables and cauliflower was just too tempting.
These are mostly tomato plants. The large one is a cherry size named Juliet. It already has 3 tomatoes ripening. I am exciting to start harvesting off it as soon as possible. The other plants are considerably less mature and all heirloom varieties. I bought... Green Zebra, Roma, Heidi Paste Tomato, and ... one other... ummm.... If you look closely you will also see a Thai eggplant hiding in there.
I went nuts with the pepper plants as well. Apparently peppers freeze very well. I bought a bell pepper, jalapeno, Thai Red, Bolivian Rainbow, Sheepnose Pimento, and a Bullnose. Whew, I am going to have to work hard to eat all of these.
These are four bush bean plants and a zucchini hill. I also seeded some beets (which also should have been started sooner) and two rows of corn. The varieties are Silver Queen and Candy Corn. I am crossing my fingers on these.
So, that is all for now. Oh, a note on fertilizers. I bought some "worm tea" and some organic Miracle Grow. I am not sure quite what will happen, but all of the veggies have been fertilized w/ one or other other.
5.29.2010
Accomplishments
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
62) Visit a local winery CHECK! I went to Lemon Creek Winery (not impressed) and the Round Barn Winery. I didn't love all of the wine at Round Barn, but the staff was knowledgeable, there were a few good bottles, and it was a fun environment. Bonus, Odie is allowed in the tasting room!
Partially Completed goals:
1) I was accepted to a summer school in August. I consider that progress toward a Masters. Really what I need to do w/ this goal is discuss how I'm progressing in research since that is what it will take...
3) Website is up and running. I want to edit it and continue to maintain it before checking this off.
5) I used my first makefile the other day. The BF wrote it. I need to spend some time working through the process myself.
6) I just finished a National Book Award winner. More on that soon.
12) I am officially registered for Portuguese in the fall.
16) See 12.
25) I've got a garden in the ground, so making a meal out of it should happen in a couple of months.
27) I am in Pilates Mat. Unfortunately it is full of beginners. Hopefully I will progress enough to take something more challenging next semester. I feel ready for it now, and will certainly grow my abilities this summer. Besides, it is considered an intermediate class, and I distinctly wrote "advanced." I think I have to hold myself to it.
28) My summer school is right near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, so I've got another site on the horizon. That will be 2/10. I've actually visited quite a few before I began this list which I don't believe will count.
63) I was very briefly in Benton Harbor yesterday, but I think I missed the point. Its twin city St. Joseph is touristy w/ a nice beach. I didn't see much in BH to visit, but I may have to do some research and go back.
71) I'm planting corn today or tomorrow. Expect a garden post w/ pics soon.
83) I have more money in my bank account now than before I went to Brazil last year. In fact, I don't remember the last time I had this much money. Go me!
85) Odie comes when called about 95% of the time. When she doesn't, I think she honestly hasn't heard or knows she is in serious trouble. I need to practice this one a bit more and check it off.
87) I've made the little mutt stay at doorways other than home recently. She doesn't do it automatically, but I should keep at it.
88) I took Odie to St. Patrick's park last weekend. I plan on hauling her to another one sometime this weekend. I should really figure out how many parks there are to visit... this is a bit of a nebulous goal because I didn't specify "county parks" so I may eventually have to start taking her to city parks in other places in the county. I haven't decided quite how to define this goal yet.
90) I took Odie on a day trip yesterday. She tossed her cookies in the back seat of my car. But mostly she is very good on short trips. I think vacation/camping is definitely in the cards.
100) I recently gave a very thoughtful birthday/Mother's day gift. It doesn't count, but I'm starting to think more creatively about how to give to others. Next step is to start some flower seedlings in pots and eventually give them away.
101) I sure have been too busy recently to be bored. Go me!
Goals for this week:
1) Organize my desks. I have been so focused on gardening and school recently that I've been more messy than I care to admit. It isn't awful yet, but I need to learn to take care of these things every day and avoid letting things pile up...
2) This isn't on the list, but I'm working on STAY right now w/ Odie. She doesn't seem to think that one applies for more than about 30 seconds...
3) I just read that June 1st is "Donut Day" and Oscar the Grouch's birthday. I think those sound like holidays worth celebrating. June 4th is Aesop's birthday. June 14th is world juggling day! I have to celebrate that one for sure. June 19th is called Juneteenth and even has a feature in one of my cookbooks. So, this week, I will pick one of those holidays and decide how to celebrate.
4) Go for two runs. Between the heat and gardening, I haven't been doing enough of this recently. I can handle two.
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
62) Visit a local winery CHECK! I went to Lemon Creek Winery (not impressed) and the Round Barn Winery. I didn't love all of the wine at Round Barn, but the staff was knowledgeable, there were a few good bottles, and it was a fun environment. Bonus, Odie is allowed in the tasting room!
Partially Completed goals:
1) I was accepted to a summer school in August. I consider that progress toward a Masters. Really what I need to do w/ this goal is discuss how I'm progressing in research since that is what it will take...
3) Website is up and running. I want to edit it and continue to maintain it before checking this off.
5) I used my first makefile the other day. The BF wrote it. I need to spend some time working through the process myself.
6) I just finished a National Book Award winner. More on that soon.
12) I am officially registered for Portuguese in the fall.
16) See 12.
25) I've got a garden in the ground, so making a meal out of it should happen in a couple of months.
27) I am in Pilates Mat. Unfortunately it is full of beginners. Hopefully I will progress enough to take something more challenging next semester. I feel ready for it now, and will certainly grow my abilities this summer. Besides, it is considered an intermediate class, and I distinctly wrote "advanced." I think I have to hold myself to it.
28) My summer school is right near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, so I've got another site on the horizon. That will be 2/10. I've actually visited quite a few before I began this list which I don't believe will count.
63) I was very briefly in Benton Harbor yesterday, but I think I missed the point. Its twin city St. Joseph is touristy w/ a nice beach. I didn't see much in BH to visit, but I may have to do some research and go back.
71) I'm planting corn today or tomorrow. Expect a garden post w/ pics soon.
83) I have more money in my bank account now than before I went to Brazil last year. In fact, I don't remember the last time I had this much money. Go me!
85) Odie comes when called about 95% of the time. When she doesn't, I think she honestly hasn't heard or knows she is in serious trouble. I need to practice this one a bit more and check it off.
87) I've made the little mutt stay at doorways other than home recently. She doesn't do it automatically, but I should keep at it.
88) I took Odie to St. Patrick's park last weekend. I plan on hauling her to another one sometime this weekend. I should really figure out how many parks there are to visit... this is a bit of a nebulous goal because I didn't specify "county parks" so I may eventually have to start taking her to city parks in other places in the county. I haven't decided quite how to define this goal yet.
90) I took Odie on a day trip yesterday. She tossed her cookies in the back seat of my car. But mostly she is very good on short trips. I think vacation/camping is definitely in the cards.
100) I recently gave a very thoughtful birthday/Mother's day gift. It doesn't count, but I'm starting to think more creatively about how to give to others. Next step is to start some flower seedlings in pots and eventually give them away.
101) I sure have been too busy recently to be bored. Go me!
Goals for this week:
1) Organize my desks. I have been so focused on gardening and school recently that I've been more messy than I care to admit. It isn't awful yet, but I need to learn to take care of these things every day and avoid letting things pile up...
2) This isn't on the list, but I'm working on STAY right now w/ Odie. She doesn't seem to think that one applies for more than about 30 seconds...
3) I just read that June 1st is "Donut Day" and Oscar the Grouch's birthday. I think those sound like holidays worth celebrating. June 4th is Aesop's birthday. June 14th is world juggling day! I have to celebrate that one for sure. June 19th is called Juneteenth and even has a feature in one of my cookbooks. So, this week, I will pick one of those holidays and decide how to celebrate.
4) Go for two runs. Between the heat and gardening, I haven't been doing enough of this recently. I can handle two.
5.22.2010
Tracking Running
This morning I got up and walked Odie immediately, stretched, and then ran a mile and a half. I'm slow. This morning I felt especially slow. For me, getting out and doing it is the priority. I'm going to focus on distance (and therefore running for longer periods of time) and hopefully I'll speed up. I'm going to start tracking it more systematically, starting now.
| Date | 5/22 |
| Miles | 1.5 |
| Minutes | 16 |
| Time | Early AM |
| Rate (minutes/mile) | 11 +/- 1 |
5.19.2010
A couple of changes
1) I can round out my reading lists w/ winners from other categories if I choose. Since I plan to read several presidential biographies which are Pulitzer Prize winners, I feel like that should contribute to my reading goals.
2) Along w/ baking bread, I would like to reflect more on what I am learning while I am at it. Therefore, when I bake I may write a short post about kneading and rising times, the type(s) of flour used, and the overall structure and texture of the final product. In my world gluten = good and I'd like to learn a bit more about it.
I just ran another 10 minute mile (by my inexact measurements of time and distance). So if I was teaching my students this...
I estimated the distance of my route from google maps: x = 1.3 +/- 0.1 miles
I estimate the time from my microwave clock: t = 13 +/- 1 minutes
rate = time / distance
r = 13 minutes / 1.3 miles
r = 10 minutes per mile
the error in this calculation:
&delta rate / rate = &radic( (&delta x / x )² + (&delta t / t)²)
&delta r/r = 10.9%
so the absolute error is 1.09 minutes/mile.
After proper rounding, my best estimate for every run I have mentioned on this blog is 10+/-1 minute miles. I would like to know whether I'm improving, but I'll have to get a better stop watch or increase my rate. Why do I find trivial calculations that tell me what I already know fun?
2) Along w/ baking bread, I would like to reflect more on what I am learning while I am at it. Therefore, when I bake I may write a short post about kneading and rising times, the type(s) of flour used, and the overall structure and texture of the final product. In my world gluten = good and I'd like to learn a bit more about it.
I just ran another 10 minute mile (by my inexact measurements of time and distance). So if I was teaching my students this...
I estimated the distance of my route from google maps: x = 1.3 +/- 0.1 miles
I estimate the time from my microwave clock: t = 13 +/- 1 minutes
rate = time / distance
r = 13 minutes / 1.3 miles
r = 10 minutes per mile
the error in this calculation:
&delta rate / rate = &radic( (&delta x / x )² + (&delta t / t)²)
&delta r/r = 10.9%
so the absolute error is 1.09 minutes/mile.
After proper rounding, my best estimate for every run I have mentioned on this blog is 10+/-1 minute miles. I would like to know whether I'm improving, but I'll have to get a better stop watch or increase my rate. Why do I find trivial calculations that tell me what I already know fun?
5.17.2010
Systematic Progress Reports
It would make sense to write a regular post (weekly? monthly?) that systematically examines my list focusing on accomplishments and neglected areas. So, I'll make a stab at this today and hopefully get a system I like within a couple of tries.
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
Partially Completed Goals
2) I've started on the chemistry text.
3) I'm working on a website and plan to have it up and going by June.
9) I've read 2/10 National Book Award winners.
11) I've started A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell.
12/16) I'm planning to audit Portuguese for Spanish Speakers this fall
15) I filled out my T.A. request form. I mentioned that I would gladly take a grad level course.
20) I'm regularly checking grocery circulars and trying to use them to plan. I think that makes more sense if you're a carnivore (at least w/ the grocery ads I read).
23) I bake bread pretty often, but it has been a while since I made a loaf I really enjoyed, I think I should update this goal to reflect my desire to produce better loaves.
27) I'm signing up for Pilates Mat this summer!
28) I ran another 10 minute mile yesterday.
35) I came back from a 3 day trip the same weight as when I left. That is good for me!
69) I'm doing well w/ the composting. I have to produce actual compost before calling it a success.
70) I cleaned the oven once.
73-75) I'm working on organization. I'm not failing, but I'm not really proud of myself in that department.
80) I paid off my private student loan. I have one more that is small w/ low interest.
81) I'll focus on my car loan now that I killed the student loan.
83) I have actual savings right now. I just resisted the urge to buy a plane ticket to Costa Rica, otherwise that would have wiped out my meager savings. Go me!
85-90) I'm working on being a good dog owner, but I haven't really checked any of these off because I need to put her in more unusual situations to test her before I consider these accomplished. I should probably make some of these more specific.
I feel like I'm doing well w/ sheer volume right now, but I am definitely working on the easier goals. I need to start pushing at some of the difficult ones... a Masters Degree for instance.
Next steps:
1) Get that website going.
2) Take Odie to a new park this week.
3) Get the garden planted (weather permitting).
I think I'll post weekly so I can include a short list of next steps. That should keep me on track... right?
Completed Goals
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
Partially Completed Goals
2) I've started on the chemistry text.
3) I'm working on a website and plan to have it up and going by June.
9) I've read 2/10 National Book Award winners.
11) I've started A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell.
12/16) I'm planning to audit Portuguese for Spanish Speakers this fall
15) I filled out my T.A. request form. I mentioned that I would gladly take a grad level course.
20) I'm regularly checking grocery circulars and trying to use them to plan. I think that makes more sense if you're a carnivore (at least w/ the grocery ads I read).
23) I bake bread pretty often, but it has been a while since I made a loaf I really enjoyed, I think I should update this goal to reflect my desire to produce better loaves.
27) I'm signing up for Pilates Mat this summer!
28) I ran another 10 minute mile yesterday.
35) I came back from a 3 day trip the same weight as when I left. That is good for me!
69) I'm doing well w/ the composting. I have to produce actual compost before calling it a success.
70) I cleaned the oven once.
73-75) I'm working on organization. I'm not failing, but I'm not really proud of myself in that department.
80) I paid off my private student loan. I have one more that is small w/ low interest.
81) I'll focus on my car loan now that I killed the student loan.
83) I have actual savings right now. I just resisted the urge to buy a plane ticket to Costa Rica, otherwise that would have wiped out my meager savings. Go me!
85-90) I'm working on being a good dog owner, but I haven't really checked any of these off because I need to put her in more unusual situations to test her before I consider these accomplished. I should probably make some of these more specific.
I feel like I'm doing well w/ sheer volume right now, but I am definitely working on the easier goals. I need to start pushing at some of the difficult ones... a Masters Degree for instance.
Next steps:
1) Get that website going.
2) Take Odie to a new park this week.
3) Get the garden planted (weather permitting).
I think I'll post weekly so I can include a short list of next steps. That should keep me on track... right?
5.08.2010
The World According to Garp
I chose this John Irving book because I recognized the name. Because of my selection method, it is a book of which I had no particular expectations. It was a strangely enjoyable read full of comic and outlandish moments. The author employed clever misdirection and interesting motivations. I never quite knew what to expect but gladly went along. I often found myself liking the main characters no matter what ridiculous behavior they engaged in.
Here is a picture of the strawberry freezer jam I made a week or so ago. I also cleaned the oven before my Washington D.C. trip! When I made this jam, my comment was "This is my childhood in a jar!" Indeed a silly comment, but home made jam was something that I grew up with and have missed during the last several years. My only complaint is that I used a lower sugar recipe (and the proper fruit pectin for this modification) and unlike normal freezer jam, this batch is more or less a solid in the freezer. With the amount of sugar in traditional freezer jam, it remains a liquid in the freezer. Sigh...
While in D.C., I was lucky enough to visit the Woodrow Wilson house in the DuPont Circle neighborhood. As with every visit to a Presidential Historic Site, I was incredibly impressed with the knowledge I gained from the tour guide and the home itself. It was the home he and his second wife chose to live in after Wilson's presidency ended.
What a life I lead! I'm off to bake some bread and do some gardening.
Here is a picture of the strawberry freezer jam I made a week or so ago. I also cleaned the oven before my Washington D.C. trip! When I made this jam, my comment was "This is my childhood in a jar!" Indeed a silly comment, but home made jam was something that I grew up with and have missed during the last several years. My only complaint is that I used a lower sugar recipe (and the proper fruit pectin for this modification) and unlike normal freezer jam, this batch is more or less a solid in the freezer. With the amount of sugar in traditional freezer jam, it remains a liquid in the freezer. Sigh...
While in D.C., I was lucky enough to visit the Woodrow Wilson house in the DuPont Circle neighborhood. As with every visit to a Presidential Historic Site, I was incredibly impressed with the knowledge I gained from the tour guide and the home itself. It was the home he and his second wife chose to live in after Wilson's presidency ended.
What a life I lead! I'm off to bake some bread and do some gardening.
The Garden
It is forty degrees and raining today. I have been anxiously waiting to plant until it has been warm enough, dry enough, AND I have had time. I certainly could have planted cool weather tolerant vegetables by now if I had gotten the fence up sooner. Next year...
In the mean time, here are some pics from a few weeks ago when I dug out the garden and fenced it. Yes, I removed the grass w/ an edging tool and pulled out every piece of sod by hand. It was a lot of work, but it was the good kind.
5.07.2010
Backyard Adventures
This is my second year of herb gardening. Last year I acquired pots, soil, and a rabbit fence in addition to the plants. It was a fairly simple process which ended with abundant results. This year I'm working on a garden, but between finals, travel, and rain I have done very little planting so far.
Since last year I have learned that I should aggressively use my herbs rather than attempt to save them for one big harvest. I will be much better off using them more frequently. I intend to apply this lesson to my garden and eat every little vegetable I can as soon as I can.
I also planted some lettuce that I plan to transplant to my garden soon. I decided that I spend enough money on greens that I really ought to be growing my own. I shoved all six of the poor little lettuce plants into one pot and I feel a bit bad for them every time I water them. They really need some space to grow before I devour them.
5.02.2010
A rare insomniac moment
I used to struggle to sleep through the night. I come from a family of insomniacs, so I was not surprised by this at the time. Looking back, I would like to blame the over-consumption of caffeine. I've been drinking (relatively) large quantities of coffee recently as I work my way through final exams, and here I am awake at 3:00 in the morning. The heat and a noisy puppy are also factors in this situation.
Praise google. I used their map editor to trace my jogging route. It is 1.3 miles. I ran it the other day at what felt like a faster time. I will remember to time myself later this morning.
Praise google. I used their map editor to trace my jogging route. It is 1.3 miles. I ran it the other day at what felt like a faster time. I will remember to time myself later this morning.
4.27.2010
One book down...
I recently finished reading The News From Paraguay by Lily Tuck. This novel won the 2004 National Book Award in fiction. I have committed to reading 10 from this list of books.
I am not entirely sure what to feel about this work of historical fiction. It has a strange and often horrifying humor, an episodic style, and shallow main characters. This requires an different reading style, not so much of enjoyment, but rather hunting beyond the face value offered. It isn't a book that I would recommend to someone looking for a good read. I learned to read it looking for connections and motivations. This made it feel worthwhile and I am certainly curious to know more about the real history behind this story.
In other news, I made a batch of freezer jam over the weekend. After completing the rabbit fence, I am one step closer to starting my garden. Hooray!
I am not entirely sure what to feel about this work of historical fiction. It has a strange and often horrifying humor, an episodic style, and shallow main characters. This requires an different reading style, not so much of enjoyment, but rather hunting beyond the face value offered. It isn't a book that I would recommend to someone looking for a good read. I learned to read it looking for connections and motivations. This made it feel worthwhile and I am certainly curious to know more about the real history behind this story.
In other news, I made a batch of freezer jam over the weekend. After completing the rabbit fence, I am one step closer to starting my garden. Hooray!
4.24.2010
A Rainy Saturday Morning
Like for many people, Saturday mornings are special. They represent my time to do just whatever it is that strikes my fancy. Instead of taking Odie for our usual half asleep walk before heading off to school, I got to take her for a run. This is a privilege for several reasons:
1) I was ambitious enough to put on my running clothes and go before breakfast.
2) It is actually warm enough to get outside without a coat.
3) It is actually cool enough to run comfortably.
4) Odie, who I affectionately call "my little anchor" was quite agreeable during our mile-long run. Normally she won't run or she will run just a little too fast and throw off my pace. This leaves me gasping for breath much sooner than I would like.
So there it is, a little progress in the fitness department and some quality time with my little beast. Happy Saturday! I'm off to make freezer jam, clean the bathroom, install a fence around my garden patch, learn some Statistical Mechanics, and well, happily do whatever else I want.
1) I was ambitious enough to put on my running clothes and go before breakfast.
2) It is actually warm enough to get outside without a coat.
3) It is actually cool enough to run comfortably.
4) Odie, who I affectionately call "my little anchor" was quite agreeable during our mile-long run. Normally she won't run or she will run just a little too fast and throw off my pace. This leaves me gasping for breath much sooner than I would like.
So there it is, a little progress in the fitness department and some quality time with my little beast. Happy Saturday! I'm off to make freezer jam, clean the bathroom, install a fence around my garden patch, learn some Statistical Mechanics, and well, happily do whatever else I want.
4.17.2010
A list for all the world to see.
When I began this blog last year, I intended to use it to teach myself a few basics of programming and have a little fun. Beyond that, I had little use for a blog. While I love reading food blogs, they are a dime a dozen these days.
I have decided that I have a much better use for this space. I plan to regularly post my progress as I work through a list of personal goals I developed recently. I feel that I waste much of my time in front of the television and the computer. Most items are not all that difficult, but each of them will require a little extra push on my part. All of them will contribute to my efforts to become a neater, healthier, more adventurous person.
When I made this list of last month, I kept it to myself. I often feel that I do not push myself hard enough unless I publicly declare my intentions. I tend to keep my efforts a secret until I know that I have a very good chance of finishing my new project. I also know that writing down my goals has always been a strong motivational tool.
So with less than 1000 days left, I will regularly post my personal progress toward finishing this eclectic list. As of this morning, I can officially cross off #54. I ate delicious pizza last night at 50 Stop. I also watched the sun set behind Lake Michigan and light up the distant towers of downtown Chicago.
I have decided that I have a much better use for this space. I plan to regularly post my progress as I work through a list of personal goals I developed recently. I feel that I waste much of my time in front of the television and the computer. Most items are not all that difficult, but each of them will require a little extra push on my part. All of them will contribute to my efforts to become a neater, healthier, more adventurous person.
When I made this list of last month, I kept it to myself. I often feel that I do not push myself hard enough unless I publicly declare my intentions. I tend to keep my efforts a secret until I know that I have a very good chance of finishing my new project. I also know that writing down my goals has always been a strong motivational tool.
So with less than 1000 days left, I will regularly post my personal progress toward finishing this eclectic list. As of this morning, I can officially cross off #54. I ate delicious pizza last night at 50 Stop. I also watched the sun set behind Lake Michigan and light up the distant towers of downtown Chicago.
4.16.2010
A progress report
I ran about 1.5 miles in 13 minutes this afternoon. My running goals seems a bit daunting, but also very important. They are among the hardest on the list and I will definitely continue to post my times and distance here.
I am eating dinner at Stop 50 Wood Fired Pizzeria tonight. I have been wanting to eat at this restaurant for over a year now. While it seems like a simple goal, this list is about enjoying my life as a graduate student. It is just as easy to ignore the little things as avoid the big ones.
My little beast of a dog Odie is consistently sitting and staying at doorways. I won't mark it off the list yet, but I think it will be one of my first.
I have baked approximately 4 loaves of yeast bread in the last month, but I'll have to stay with it a little longer before I call it a habit. I'm reading the grocery circulars and occasionally using a coupon. I have plans to complete many of the items sooner than later... more on those later.
I am eating dinner at Stop 50 Wood Fired Pizzeria tonight. I have been wanting to eat at this restaurant for over a year now. While it seems like a simple goal, this list is about enjoying my life as a graduate student. It is just as easy to ignore the little things as avoid the big ones.
My little beast of a dog Odie is consistently sitting and staying at doorways. I won't mark it off the list yet, but I think it will be one of my first.
I have baked approximately 4 loaves of yeast bread in the last month, but I'll have to stay with it a little longer before I call it a habit. I'm reading the grocery circulars and occasionally using a coupon. I have plans to complete many of the items sooner than later... more on those later.
101 Things in 1001 Days
101 Things in 1001 Days
Goals Set: 3/14/2010
Completion Date: 12/9/2012
Academic/Knowledge
1) Earn a Masters Degree
2) Work through a first year Chemistry Text
3) Write and maintain a website
4) Learn to implement code using a header file
5) Compile code w/ a make file
6) Use multiple source code files compiled through a make file
7) Use a header to input source code from one file to another
8) Read and understand a complete work (of any length) by Faulkner
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (0/10)
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (0/10)
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
13) Be able to name all of the U.S. Presidents in order
14) Become an architecture geek
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
17) Present at an academic conference
Diet/Food
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
19) Make Fried Green Tomatoes
20) Make a habit of using coupons and planning meals w/ grocery circulars
21) Make crackers (via a Mark Bittman recipe)
22) Eat a completely vegan diet for one week
23) Make baking bread a habit
24) Stay on calorie budget during one of the BF's trips
25) Eat a meal made entirely of things grown in my own garden
Exercise
26) Take a yoga class
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K
29) Run a faster 5K
30) Run a 10K
31) Run a faster 10K
32) Master a tri-cep push-up
33) Go hiking in the North Cascades
34) Work down to 20% body fat (and maintain it for long enough to see if you like it)
35) Return from a vacation thinner than you left
36) Climb the ND library stairs
Travel
37) Visit Glacier National Park
38) Visit the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming
39) Visit Yellowstone National Park
40) Visit the U.P. of Michigan
41) Travel to Iowa
42) Visit the Field Museum
43) Visit the Art Institute of Chicago
44) Attend a Shakespeare production in Chicago
45) Visit the Smoky Mountains
46) Visit three East Coast States
47) Sleep in a tent
48) Visit a country whose primary language is not English
49) Attend a baseball game at Wrigley Field
50) Travel to Ohio
51) Visit a Mound site
52) Visit 10 Presidential Historic Sites
53) Go on vacation without a car
Community
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
55) Visit the Snite Museum
56) Canoe the St. Joseph River (starting from St. Patrick’s Park)
57) Cross Country Ski the ND golf course
58) Take a local cooking class
59) Bike to and around Saint Mary’s College
60) Volunteer for a South Bend community program
61) Volunteer for the ND Physics Department
62) Visit a local winery
63) Visit Benton Harbor and Traverse City
64) Make a point to use the local libraries
65) Judge a science fair
66) Visit Amish Country
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
Household
68) Paint the bathroom
69) Develop a successful composting system
70) Clean the oven twice (0/2)
71) Grow a crop of corn
72) Buy a cactus or other succulent to raise in the house
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
74) Maintain organization of the desks
75) Develop and maintain organization systems for all messy zones
76) Replace expensive cleaning products with homemade versions
77) Put in a path and stone patio
78) Buy a piece of art for the house
79) Decorate the living room
Financial
80) Pay off student loans
81) Pay off my car loan
82) Organize and fully document my financial information
83) Have an emergency fund of at least two months wages ($3000)
84) Donate money to WWU
Odie
85) Train Odie to come when called
86) Train Odie to look
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
88) Take Odie to 90% of the pet-friendly parks in the county
89) Teach Odie to behave well at outdoor restaurants
90) Take Odie on a vacation
Personal Challenges
91) Spend a week without the internet
92) Watch no television for one month
93) Drive in downtown Chicago
Miscellaneous
94) Celebrate 3 holidays I have never heard of
95) Gather all possessions still at my parents homes
96) Cook dinner for Randy and Peggy
97) Have pants tailored
98) Reconnect w/ an old friend
99) Have wisdom tooth removed
100) Give a thoughtful and random gift to a friend (5 times)
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
Goals Set: 3/14/2010
Completion Date: 12/9/2012
Academic/Knowledge
1) Earn a Masters Degree
2) Work through a first year Chemistry Text
3) Write and maintain a website
4) Learn to implement code using a header file
5) Compile code w/ a make file
6) Use multiple source code files compiled through a make file
7) Use a header to input source code from one file to another
8) Read and understand a complete work (of any length) by Faulkner
9) Read 10 of the National Book Award winners in fiction (0/10)
10) Read 10 of the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction (0/10)
11) Read 10 of the Modern Library’s 100 Best Nonfiction (0/10)
12) Have a conversation in Portuguese
13) Be able to name all of the U.S. Presidents in order
14) Become an architecture geek
15) T.A. a graduate level class
16) Take a language class
17) Present at an academic conference
Diet/Food
18) Make a batch of freezer jam
19) Make Fried Green Tomatoes
20) Make a habit of using coupons and planning meals w/ grocery circulars
21) Make crackers (via a Mark Bittman recipe)
22) Eat a completely vegan diet for one week
23) Make baking bread a habit
24) Stay on calorie budget during one of the BF's trips
25) Eat a meal made entirely of things grown in my own garden
Exercise
26) Take a yoga class
27) Take an advanced pilates class
28) Run a 5K
29) Run a faster 5K
30) Run a 10K
31) Run a faster 10K
32) Master a tri-cep push-up
33) Go hiking in the North Cascades
34) Work down to 20% body fat (and maintain it for long enough to see if you like it)
35) Return from a vacation thinner than you left
36) Climb the ND library stairs
Travel
37) Visit Glacier National Park
38) Visit the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming
39) Visit Yellowstone National Park
40) Visit the U.P. of Michigan
41) Travel to Iowa
42) Visit the Field Museum
43) Visit the Art Institute of Chicago
44) Attend a Shakespeare production in Chicago
45) Visit the Smoky Mountains
46) Visit three East Coast States
47) Sleep in a tent
48) Visit a country whose primary language is not English
49) Attend a baseball game at Wrigley Field
50) Travel to Ohio
51) Visit a Mound site
52) Visit 10 Presidential Historic Sites
53) Go on vacation without a car
Community
54) Visit the Pizza restaurant near Lake Michigan
55) Visit the Snite Museum
56) Canoe the St. Joseph River (starting from St. Patrick’s Park)
57) Cross Country Ski the ND golf course
58) Take a local cooking class
59) Bike to and around Saint Mary’s College
60) Volunteer for a South Bend community program
61) Volunteer for the ND Physics Department
62) Visit a local winery
63) Visit Benton Harbor and Traverse City
64) Make a point to use the local libraries
65) Judge a science fair
66) Visit Amish Country
67) Visit Fernwood Botanical Garden
Household
68) Paint the bathroom
69) Develop a successful composting system
70) Clean the oven twice (0/2)
71) Grow a crop of corn
72) Buy a cactus or other succulent to raise in the house
73) Clean and organize the contents of both desks
74) Maintain organization of the desks
75) Develop and maintain organization systems for all messy zones
76) Replace expensive cleaning products with homemade versions
77) Put in a path and stone patio
78) Buy a piece of art for the house
79) Decorate the living room
Financial
80) Pay off student loans
81) Pay off my car loan
82) Organize and fully document my financial information
83) Have an emergency fund of at least two months wages ($3000)
84) Donate money to WWU
Odie
85) Train Odie to come when called
86) Train Odie to look
87) Train Odie to stay at doorways
88) Take Odie to 90% of the pet-friendly parks in the county
89) Teach Odie to behave well at outdoor restaurants
90) Take Odie on a vacation
Personal Challenges
91) Spend a week without the internet
92) Watch no television for one month
93) Drive in downtown Chicago
Miscellaneous
94) Celebrate 3 holidays I have never heard of
95) Gather all possessions still at my parents homes
96) Cook dinner for Randy and Peggy
97) Have pants tailored
98) Reconnect w/ an old friend
99) Have wisdom tooth removed
100) Give a thoughtful and random gift to a friend (5 times)
101) Do not allow yourself to complain of boredom
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