This really IS going to be the Best Year Ever. For sure.
1. Meet more people; Invite new guests into my house.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.
a. attempt #1: invited neighbors to come over after they indicated an interest in shelling and a curiosity about my shells. They declined, saying they hated to leave their house, and suggested I bring the shells over some time.
b. attempt #2: same neighbor came to door and invited me to take a walk. I invited her in, but she came only as far as the entry way. After our walk, I re-invited her in. She hesitated, and then said she'd like me to come into her house instead, so I went for coffee.
c. attempt #3: postponed until I clean up! What a mess!
d.my neighbor finally came over and had a glass of wine -- right before telling me they were moving that weekend!
e. making things even worse in my dismal social situation, I ended my odd relationship with Dr. Cranky. He finally insulted one too many people I care about and something snapped. But it shook me a little to realize that he was the only non-relative, non-work, non-out-of-state, non-cyber 'friend' I had. Pathetic.
2. Make a plan to have some social contact on my non-family holidays.
Result: Definitely failed at this one, but there will be more holidays ahead so I can keep trying! :)
3. Consider a pet, but try to resist! Remember that travel is more difficult if you have a critter to consider.
a. Hmmmmm. My son told me last week that they will watch a pet for me when I travel and that I should get one if I want to. I wonder what he could be trying to tell me?
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I resisted, and I'm glad I did. I hope to get a lot more travel done before I tie myself down.
4. Try yoga, once a week.
a. attempt #1: looked into low-cost class offered through work, was warned that it's a talkative (not meditative) class. Not what I had in mind. Plan to look elsewhere. Found out there is an inside track where I can walk for free. Plan to look into that as an alternative.
b. didn't do yoga. didn't walk.
Result: I failed at this until the last two weeks, and I've walked for 20 days in a row since the first of the year, a minimum of a mile a day. I may have failed in 2012, but I'm happy with my progress anyway!
5. Weight Watchers at least monthly.
a. Went in January. Sad face.
b. Went in March. Good grief, very sad face.
c. Didn't go in April or May or June or July or August or September because the situation is only getting worse. I believe this is what they call a slippery slope.
Result: I failed at this, but I lost ten pounds anyway. I'll take it!
6. Fish a few times, go to the Fly Girls retreat, start tying flies again.
a. Went to a February FlyGirls retreat -- learned a couple of new knots and met some nice people.
b. Tied flies with a group class for several weeks.
c. Went to a weekend fly fishing class in June and had a great time, but was exhausted! Fished a couple of times with my brother and caught 2 little bluegills.
d. Meant to go fishing again by myself, but didn't.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I didn't fish as much as I'd hoped to, but I improved my skills.
7. Target shoot - try for twice a month; go at least monthly.
a. (January, went to shoot twice; February went once; March, no; April, no; May, once for pistol, once for shotgun. Getting back on track, maybe -- shot twice in October, but then shot a lot since then, and have plans to do more.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one - √.
8. Get a freezer. Fill it with dinners and soup. (since I haven't gotten a freezer yet, I'm eating it as fast as I make it!)
Result: I get a Failing grade on this one - maybe next year.
9. Get the schedules for Crow and World Cafe. Go to at least one event at each.
a. Dismal failure. I drive by the Crow almost every day. I wonder if I'll ever stop?
I'm giving myself a Failing grade on this one - maybe next year.
10. Do something memorable with the kids.
a. April - Disney World with family! Definitely memorable!
Result: Passing grade! √
11. Take a vacation with my sister.
a. We went to the west side of the state for a couple of days, and took a short in November.
Result: Pass! √
12. Go to New Orleans to visit.
a. Went on an unexpected trip there in March. Not the trip I had hoped for, but I was there. I've been looking into another trip, but haven't found a date yet when both air and hotel are reasonable.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I'm not always responsible for how a trip goes.
13. Find one geocache.
a. Found two! In New Orleans.
b. Found two in Michigan.
Result: I could have done better, but I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.
14. Crafty stuff -- are there lampwork classes nearby? Knit at Barnes & Nobel? Any are better than none.
a. Learned to crochet, learned to quilt and learned to make lampwork beads. Made a couple very cute fairy houses, and am working on a quilt hanging for work, and made an applique quilt for my brother. I'm knitting scarves, made a couple of cute coin purses.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.
15. Seriously. Clean the basement.
a. Found evidence of mice in basement. Cleaned off one counter and vacuumed one area.
Result: Dismal failure.
16. Really seriously. Get rid of stuff I am not using.
Result: not even close.
17. Set up a potting table; reassess what to plant in this year's garden.
Result: nope.
18. Learn to scan photos. Scan Rome photos, old family pictures.
a. Scanned the Rome photos, and need to set time aside to get through the many bins of photos in the basement.
Result: did it, but have a ton more to do. Partial credit.
19. Save more.
Result: I did save more, but I'll have to do better this year since my furnace is on the way out . . .
20. Follow a gift budget.
Result: I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √. I spent more than I should have, but I kept to the budget -- I just made it bigger than was smart, lol.
21. Snorkel with turtles. Or belugas. Or both.
Result: Didn't, but this was a long shot for 2012. Maybe next year.
22. See the northern lights.
Result: Wasn't able to afford this trip this year, but hope springs eternal! :)
23. Find more sharks' teeth.
Result: Found a good handful in November so I get a Passing grade on this one √.
24. Get a new profile picture to update the one from last year.
Result: Forgot all about it.
25. Be open to new ideas.
Result: I learned so many new things in 2012, so I'm giving myself a Passing grade on this one √.
25. Be open to new relationships.
Result: I let a friend introduce me to the man she thinks will be Perfect for me. He apparently didn't think so, but I am glad to have met him, and glad to have tried. I'm giving myself a very happy Passing grade on this one √.
√ √ Give myself a birthday present (on at least one of the two birthdays) by doing something fun that feels a little extravagant. [Check -- bought myself an iPod! AND an iPHone!]
↓√:( Make something to give a few people for Christmas, probably something baked. [Total failure December 2010, but I made some gifts for coworkers in 2011!]
√ Make a stuffed toy (or two) for the kids to play with when they're here. Better than the pitiful scrap doll I made! [Made a cute little felt doll, not what I had in mind, but cute nonetheless!]
4 comments:
Negotiating a new car purchase is never smooth, nor is it a whole lot of fun. But once you get through that process, the new car "feeling" takes over!! And you happened upon a target pistol as well. Sounds like a good day!
I'm a little late Gail, I can't surf the web at work; did you get heated seats?
Yes, Don, I did get the heated seats and I have already enjoyed them several times, although I feel a little sheepish about such luxury! It also has hands-free phone connectivity, which is amazing. I feel so spoiled, not a common experience for me!
Good for you. I sometimes wish I could allow myself a few more luxuries, but the older I get the more I worry about the future and not having enough money to retire comfortably.
I have a sticker on the back window of my car that I got from a shop on Captiva that reads, YOLO. You Only Live Once. We need to remind ourselves of that more often.
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