Subtitle: The Flesh is Weak
One quick programming note: I think we all skipped the fourth week of progress reporting. We had our Second Sunday meeting on Monday and didn't use the blog to report out. Here's a recap. For 2/3 of us, our jobs are getting us down. The other 1/3 is off to a short sabbatical but completely understands our work woes. Other strategies were plotted and progress (or lack thereof) was reported. Wine was drunk.
Now, back to me.
Fitness: I had a short business trip to Omaha last week. I had a few goals for the week and fell short in almost all of them. I intended to go for a couple of runs while in Omaha. Downtown Omaha is a great place for a run, I imagine. Great architecture, open spaces, proximity to water: all the things I like on a jog. My back was even feeling pretty good. However, I forgot to pack one necessary piece of running gear--my sports bra. I don't need a sports bra because I'm well endowed...I even contemplated running in my regular bra. But then I remembered that I didn't have any other bra and I stink after a run. I nixed the idea because I didn't want to have to smell my bra or feel self conscious about others thinking that I smelled.
I got home, slept a few nights in my own bed, mowed the yard and my back feels terrible. I can't even imagine trying to go for a run in this state. I have to go get checked out, realigned, therapy, whatever the doctor orders. Until I have a go-ahead for more running, I'm putting that goal on hold. I'd rather be able to run/hike as a sixty year old than to accomplish a goal with an arbitrary deadline. So my fitness goal is now to focus on my back. I haven't given up on my marathon goal completely, but I will shelve it if necessary.
Career: While I didn't have any real career goals coming into this week, I think my business trip helped me to begin to conceptualize a new path for me, within my current organization. Over the summer, I'm going to move offices and look at restructuring my job description (I am responsible for writing my own job description and those of everyone but the Executive Director.), shifting some duties to the other staffer, creating some project-based internships, and writing a job description for a new position. While I feel somewhat stressed about having to shift my mindset about what I do in the office, I also feel energized by the potential for creating growth in my position.
Finance: Oh, Lordy. These past two weeks have represented the accumulation of one big-ticket expense after the other. Here they are in no particular order. I've probably missed one or two:
1) Refinancing the house. I thought we settled on a solution. Then I thought we settled on a different solution. Then my father-in-law (whose name is on the mortgage--long story) found out that his heart is only working at 40% or 50% of what it should be. Therefore he has other priorities right now that don't include refinancing. (Understandably. And yes, we are more concerned about his health than refinancing, too. But also, this refinancing question has been dragging on for about three years. It's hard not to feel stuck and powerless.)
2) Truck transmissions. About a week and a half ago, Tim's truck transmission gave up or something. He can drive forward, but not in reverse. His truck is currently at our mechanic's and we are waiting for the verdict. (Actually, he's waiting to find out what is wrong. I'm waiting to find out how much this is going to cost us.)
3) Foundation cracks. Last year we had a record drought. Tim spent part of the summer watering the foundation to try to prevent cracks. I didn't even know this was a thing and, unfortunately, his effort didn't pay off. We have two very long cracks in our foundation that will need fixing sooner rather than later. We think we can do most of the work ourselves, so it may not cost too much. But it will likely mean delaying other necessary repairs. I'm beginning to wonder why This Old House doesn't have an expletive in the title.
When faced with these big ticket items, pinching pennies is that much more difficult. Seriously, there have been studies done that back me up on this. I can't find them now, but they appear every year around Black Friday.
Adultiness: I finished my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. It includes things that are in some of the other categories here. After I finished my list, I added due dates and pulled out a list of things to do in 2013. Then I pulled out a list of things to do in June, some of which are portions of larger goals. They are featured below. Some of the things on it might not make much sense. Maybe I'll describe them when I accomplish them. Maybe I won't mention them again. Maybe I'll write about them on my other blog. I've already figured out that some of them will have to be altered because they are no longer feasible. (I'm looking at you "Run 50 miles.")
Run 50 miles Knit 20 rows
Fix striped shirt Make bread
Finish Night Circus Get out French CDs and start listening to them
Save $ for bbq grill Use reusable shopping bags
Set up Tim's blog Select pictures for vacation scrapbook
Sort box of CDs Kahlo exhibit
Have a picnic Clear space in front of filing cabinet
Mother's day Save $ to paint house
Make landscaping plan Read/get rid of 2 magazines
Save $ emergency fund Read book of Old Testament
Make a list of mantras
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