Everyone starts talking about resolutions - it's the NEW YEAR; we must set goals!! I can't help but think about those things I've been wanting/needing to do. The beginning of the year does seem like a good time to write them down, create a checklist, if you will. I may not accomplish them all, but here is what I have so far:
1. Lose about 35 more pounds by May 20 for the Bay to Breakers and for Sylvia's wedding on May 26 (spaghetti straps - eek!!!). This one is a must - I want to beat my time at Bay to Breakers and want to have rockin' arms for the wedding!
2. See more movies at the movie theater - I miss seeing movies! The summer I saw everything that came out is still one of my favorite summers.....
3. Read at least one "for fun" book every week. The book club book is one, now I just need to do 3 more a month. Right now, I am reading "Nickled and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. Well, I started it anyway.....
4. Blog more - at least once a week. My poor blog gets neglected when I get busy, but I want to make it a priority. Writing has always been something I've enjoyed, and I feel good when I do it. So I need to get to it!
5. Get organized and stay that way. Yeah, I don't know about this one. I am semi-organized, but I have a hard time keeping the clutter at bay. I used to be sooo neat at my old job. My desk was always neat when I left for the day, and everything had a place. I was super organized at work, but I've never been able to completely carry that over to home. I think I might have to call a professional organizer for this one.
6. Pay off the last debt - my student loan. With my new, old job, we should be able to pay off the balance this year. I am so excited to be done with debt.
So there they are - my "resolutions" for 2012. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing!
Happy New Year!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The TV Died....
Right in the middle of watching "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" with the teenager, the TV went black and made a little zap noise. It's dead. Even though the title of thist post is about the TV dying, the post is actually about why I'm not freaking out about the TV dying, a really cool feeling actually. I have to thank Dave Ramsey because without his plan to financial freedom, I would have whipped out a credit card to fix everything this last month, and I'd be worrying how to pay it next month. Instead, I checked my checkbook and the only thing I have to think about is where to find a good deal on a good TV that I will buy with cash.
#1 - The TV is 13 years old - it's ancient, right? It's 25" - tiny compared to today's TV standards. I bought it in January 1998 when I got my dinky little apartment in Orange County for me and the now teenager. It was my first major purchase - about $200. I had ordered it from Penney's and used my charge card. I don't know how long it actually took me to pay it off or how much I actually ended up paying. But it was "my" TV - I felt very grown up when I bought it. I knew it wouldn't last forever; therefore, there is no need to freak out that it died. Instead, I laughed.
#2 - H is getting a bonus. So H works A TON, which means he is working A TON of hours that can billed to the company's client, which means that he makes the company a profit and he gets a percentage, albeit a small one, of that profit, which becomes a bonus that pays out over a quarter. Yep, bonus = extra money for crazy stuff like the TV dying = I am not freaking out.
#3 - We have an emergency fund. Does a new TV count as an emergency? Even if H didn't have a bonus, we have an emergency fund, but I am trying to figure out if this counts. Probably not. But, considering that we've have some actual emergencies this month, the emergency fund does cover those (see #4 for the list), so there is money for a new TV! See, no need to freak out here!
#4 - This is the way the past month has been going. Brakes for the SUV = $384. H's computer repair = $180. Heater repair = $184. Dishwasher repair = $194. A grand total of $942 in "extra" spending since mid-November. Really, I am so not surprised that the TV died. It was inevitable that something major would happen after I've already forked out nearly $1000 to keep things running. Really, all I can do is keep laughing. This is funny stuff, right?
Oh did I mention that the Wii is acting up? I am not dealing with that 'til next year....
#1 - The TV is 13 years old - it's ancient, right? It's 25" - tiny compared to today's TV standards. I bought it in January 1998 when I got my dinky little apartment in Orange County for me and the now teenager. It was my first major purchase - about $200. I had ordered it from Penney's and used my charge card. I don't know how long it actually took me to pay it off or how much I actually ended up paying. But it was "my" TV - I felt very grown up when I bought it. I knew it wouldn't last forever; therefore, there is no need to freak out that it died. Instead, I laughed.
#2 - H is getting a bonus. So H works A TON, which means he is working A TON of hours that can billed to the company's client, which means that he makes the company a profit and he gets a percentage, albeit a small one, of that profit, which becomes a bonus that pays out over a quarter. Yep, bonus = extra money for crazy stuff like the TV dying = I am not freaking out.
#3 - We have an emergency fund. Does a new TV count as an emergency? Even if H didn't have a bonus, we have an emergency fund, but I am trying to figure out if this counts. Probably not. But, considering that we've have some actual emergencies this month, the emergency fund does cover those (see #4 for the list), so there is money for a new TV! See, no need to freak out here!
#4 - This is the way the past month has been going. Brakes for the SUV = $384. H's computer repair = $180. Heater repair = $184. Dishwasher repair = $194. A grand total of $942 in "extra" spending since mid-November. Really, I am so not surprised that the TV died. It was inevitable that something major would happen after I've already forked out nearly $1000 to keep things running. Really, all I can do is keep laughing. This is funny stuff, right?
Oh did I mention that the Wii is acting up? I am not dealing with that 'til next year....
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ch-ch-ch-changes....
Here we go - time to make another change in my life!
Remember last year when I was SO excited that I was doing SO much teaching? (need a refresher - go here) Well, that wore off. I am not against working hard, but crap, grading essays is harder than hard. It takes a lot of hours to grade a stack of essays. If they're written well, it's not too bad. But more often that not, the majority of the essays are poorly written, and those take much longer to grade. Of course, then there are the cheaters. It takes time running the document through Turnitin, tracking down original sources to compile the evidence, and finally reporting the student to the program director or dean. And once I've caught a cheater, I'm so mad that I have to stop grading for a while. The process takes up a good chunk of one weekend day for one class. I had 4. Essays have been consuming my life.
But no more! I still have 2 classes at the local community, but I am taking time off from the business school to get control over my own life again. I get to be home and take care of my house again. Actually fold the laundry and put it away, not just toss it on the living room floor. Clean up the piles of various school-related papers that have been accumulately for 2 years (can I finally get them organized? O.M.G!). Do some home improvement projects, plan a garage sale, cook real meals! There is so much I can do now that there will be time! I also get to be home and take care of me again. Anyone want to get to the gym with me?! I've got to get back in the pool. I can take time to plan menus and cook healthy meals. I can go for walks. All without feeling guilty that I should be grading.... Last, but certainly not least, I get to be home to spend time with the family. Arts and crafts with the little princess. Movies with the teenager. Date night?!?!?!?!? Is it really possible?
I will have TIME. Can anyone ask for anything better?
(I have to give so very much gratitude to my wonderful significant other who provides for this family, sometimes being away days or weeks at a time. Without him, this change would not be possible. Thanks, honey!)
Remember last year when I was SO excited that I was doing SO much teaching? (need a refresher - go here) Well, that wore off. I am not against working hard, but crap, grading essays is harder than hard. It takes a lot of hours to grade a stack of essays. If they're written well, it's not too bad. But more often that not, the majority of the essays are poorly written, and those take much longer to grade. Of course, then there are the cheaters. It takes time running the document through Turnitin, tracking down original sources to compile the evidence, and finally reporting the student to the program director or dean. And once I've caught a cheater, I'm so mad that I have to stop grading for a while. The process takes up a good chunk of one weekend day for one class. I had 4. Essays have been consuming my life.
But no more! I still have 2 classes at the local community, but I am taking time off from the business school to get control over my own life again. I get to be home and take care of my house again. Actually fold the laundry and put it away, not just toss it on the living room floor. Clean up the piles of various school-related papers that have been accumulately for 2 years (can I finally get them organized? O.M.G!). Do some home improvement projects, plan a garage sale, cook real meals! There is so much I can do now that there will be time! I also get to be home and take care of me again. Anyone want to get to the gym with me?! I've got to get back in the pool. I can take time to plan menus and cook healthy meals. I can go for walks. All without feeling guilty that I should be grading.... Last, but certainly not least, I get to be home to spend time with the family. Arts and crafts with the little princess. Movies with the teenager. Date night?!?!?!?!? Is it really possible?
I will have TIME. Can anyone ask for anything better?
(I have to give so very much gratitude to my wonderful significant other who provides for this family, sometimes being away days or weeks at a time. Without him, this change would not be possible. Thanks, honey!)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
When I did this last time....
I recently revisited my first Weight Watchers experience in 2004 to give myself a reminder that it CAN be done. I went back in November of last year, and I've been struggling every single day since. Ok, maybe not every day; some days I completely ignore the fact that I should watch what I eat. For the most part, though, it's there, in the back of mind, nagging and bitching at me: "Don't eat that! Ugh, you know better. What's wrong with you?"
So, back to 2004. I started at the end of August and a week later, my dad passed away. My emotions were all over the place, and I had school that I needed to concentrate on. I felt like I couldn't control anything, but I could control food. I was focused, super intense on tracking everything I ate and sticking to my points every day. Obviously, the plan worked. In 18 weeks, I lost 25 pounds. During those 18 weeks, I maintained in Week 4, gained 0.2 in Week 6, gained 0.8 in Week 8, and gained 0.8 in Week 15. Seriously - I lost weight in 14 of those 18 weeks to the tune of 25 pounds. That's awesome. By August of 2005, after one year on Weight Watchers, I had lost 44 pounds. I looked and felt better than I had in about 10 years.
Flashforward to September 2011. I have now been back on the plan since November 29 - 41.29 weeks (thanks WolframAlpha). I have managed, barely, to keep off 2.2 pounds. Are you fucking kidding me? And there I am in my head, wondering every day what my problem is. What is so different this time that I can't seem to focus for more than 2 consecutive days?
Epiphany. It came in the past couple weeks. If you've been reading, a recent post detailed my unhappiness with one of my jobs. Once I made the decision to not teach there in the coming term, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. Part of the conflict was not wanting to disappoint my supervisor, a woman whom I respect and enjoy spending time with outside of work. But I also knew that if I didn't take time for me, I was on a fast track to serious burnout. I really need to work on me.
I was reminded last week by my Weight Watchers leader that when I lost the weight in 2004, I was a single mom going to school and working part time. Life was mellower then - my responsibilities were limited to caring for one kid, passing my classes, and getting work on time. Truly, life was much easier then. Now, I have two kids, a significant other who spends significant time working out of town, a full-time plus workload teaching writing between two schools, a volunteer position with a local group, and various on-the-side business ventures. Yeah, just a little busier than before. Duh, and I wonder why I have no time for me. I'm always doing other things - I'm low on the list.
But no more. When I did this last time, I made ME a priority. It's time to put ME first again.
So, back to 2004. I started at the end of August and a week later, my dad passed away. My emotions were all over the place, and I had school that I needed to concentrate on. I felt like I couldn't control anything, but I could control food. I was focused, super intense on tracking everything I ate and sticking to my points every day. Obviously, the plan worked. In 18 weeks, I lost 25 pounds. During those 18 weeks, I maintained in Week 4, gained 0.2 in Week 6, gained 0.8 in Week 8, and gained 0.8 in Week 15. Seriously - I lost weight in 14 of those 18 weeks to the tune of 25 pounds. That's awesome. By August of 2005, after one year on Weight Watchers, I had lost 44 pounds. I looked and felt better than I had in about 10 years.
Flashforward to September 2011. I have now been back on the plan since November 29 - 41.29 weeks (thanks WolframAlpha). I have managed, barely, to keep off 2.2 pounds. Are you fucking kidding me? And there I am in my head, wondering every day what my problem is. What is so different this time that I can't seem to focus for more than 2 consecutive days?
Epiphany. It came in the past couple weeks. If you've been reading, a recent post detailed my unhappiness with one of my jobs. Once I made the decision to not teach there in the coming term, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. Part of the conflict was not wanting to disappoint my supervisor, a woman whom I respect and enjoy spending time with outside of work. But I also knew that if I didn't take time for me, I was on a fast track to serious burnout. I really need to work on me.
I was reminded last week by my Weight Watchers leader that when I lost the weight in 2004, I was a single mom going to school and working part time. Life was mellower then - my responsibilities were limited to caring for one kid, passing my classes, and getting work on time. Truly, life was much easier then. Now, I have two kids, a significant other who spends significant time working out of town, a full-time plus workload teaching writing between two schools, a volunteer position with a local group, and various on-the-side business ventures. Yeah, just a little busier than before. Duh, and I wonder why I have no time for me. I'm always doing other things - I'm low on the list.
But no more. When I did this last time, I made ME a priority. It's time to put ME first again.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Open Window
I'm at peace with where my life is at the moment. I had to make a tough decision, but once I did, everything else seemed to fall into place. It's a great feeling, but not anything that I can put into words, so I've borrowed some pictures from the internet to show you. Enjoy!
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| http://myartlessonplans.com/ |
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| http://wallpapers.free-review.net/42__Spring_Blossoms.htm |
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| http://www.taltopia.com/view/177265/ |
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http://www.arthit.ru/abstract/0079/abstract-art-18.html |
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