Why Goal #100

Goal #100 - Take Jason on a cruise. To be totally honest, there isn't much "Why" behind this one. I guess I say "Why not?". Well, there is a reason I want to do this. Because, I've never been on one myself, and I think it would be a really cool experience for both of us. So, I'd like to experience it. And, another reason...because when I was a kid, we didn't do family vacations. Partly because the money just was not there, and partly because my family situation changed quite a bit. I lived with my mom, then I lived with my grandparents, then I moved back in with my mom and step-father...and there's even more than that, but those are the major ones. It was one of those things that just didn't happen. And I'd like to create a memorable experience for Jason that he can carry with him throughout his life. I want to reminisce with him years down the road, and hear things like "Remember when we went on the cruise, and such-and-such happened?".

Too white-picket-fence-y? Well, what parent doesn't want to create that for their kids? I love when Jason tells me "Mom! Remember when we saw Disney on Ice? I loved that! That was a fun day!" Or, "Mom! Remember when you took me to NY just to go to FAO Schwartz? That was so cool!" Or, Mom! Remember when we went to NY to see The Lion King on Broadway! That was fun! When can we go see another show?". I'm so over the "buy-your-kid-every-new-toy" line of thinking. Because, what ends up happening? The toy gets broken, or it ends up being remembered as "yeah...I think I got that for...Christmas...like 2 yrs ago...and I forgot who gave it to me..." Don't get me wrong, I did get Jason stuff for Christmas, like new Tech Deck stuff, and this REALLY cool desk calendar that has you make 365 different paper airplanes, one for each day. That's all good, but the other things I got him were a gift certificate for us to go ice skating, and another one for us to go bowling. Experiences. He's still talking about the little kid he made friends with at the rink, and about how he beat me at bowling, 3 games in a row! That's the STUFF I'm going for!

Goal #41

Goal #41 - Import and use Quicken. I'm well on my way to accomplishing this. I installed it last night and started to set it up. I have more information to enter and more to learn about how it works, budgeting, forecasting, etc., but I can tell you that it feels pretty good to know that my expenses are not more than my income. Mind you, I only have $2 difference, but everything is covered from braces, to summercamp, to debt, savings, actual bills, haircuts, and of course, the typical expenses like electricity, rent, gas, food, etc,. I have to set up a payment schedule and all of that, but I feel pretty good about making progress in this area. I even saved the two receipts that I got from the store and my haircut today so that I can enter them in later. Sadly, I am one of those crazy people that doesn't keep my checkbook register well, and it's not worked out so good for me. Dr. Phil's loving voice came to me and said "So, how's that workin' for ya?" Not too good. It's time for a change.

This whole Flylady thing I'm doing is REALLY good! It's helped me break things down into manageable tasks. Flylady says "you can do anything for 15 mins." This doesn't just have to pertain to cleaning the house. I've been meaning to read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" book for a long time. A friend gave me a copy as a gift last year and it's still on my shelf. Then, my mom gave me the same book for Christmas. A good reminder that I needed to get to it. It's now a month after I got the book, and until last night, it sat, just like the other one. Then I thought about it...Well, I can't read the whole thing, cover to cover, in one sitting. But, I can read it 15 mins at a time. So, that's my goal. Read it, 15 mins per day.

I'm motivated!

Short and sweet updates

Goal 1: Clean house: So, I've gotten back on the Flylady (www.flylady.net) wagon and first and foremost, my sink IS shiny today! My livingroom is clean. My laundry is put away, and I am well on my way to tackling the next room. Not sure what my target is yet. Actually, according to Flylady, I need to do this 15 mins at a time and move on! Otherwise, I'll get bored and overwhelmed. Yes, ma'am! 15 mins on one task and MOVE ON! Just folded the laundry? Then go to another room and tackle a hotspot!

Goal 6: Dishes everyday. I did them today! Right in line with goal 1.

Goal 7: Midnight bedtime: I've been getting better but totally relapsed on that one last night/this morning. 4am bedtime. Up at 7am. I'm sorry! I got in the zone while I was working! Same story too "I'll go to bed at 12am. Look up. It's 12:06a. Ok, well, I blew that. I'll go as soon as I edit pictures through the ceremony. Oh! But I love the formals...ok, I'll just do the formals." 4 hours later the whole thing is done and I'm only getting 3 hours of sleep. I'll be fine tonight, but tomorrow is going to be painful. It's the 2nd day after thing again. {{{hangs head in shame}}}. Well, thanks to Flylady, I'm going to pick it back up, jump in where I'm at, try to not be a perfectionist, and love myself anyway.

Goal 44: Make the bed. Did it today! And loving it!

Goal 48: Jason's room. He and I actually did some decent work in there on Sat. Only for about a 1/2 hour, but it made a difference. Hopefully more this weekend.

Goal 55: Read Jenny from the Farm's blog 1 x per week. Read it today.

Goal 92: Network with 25 new people each year. I almost forgot I did this. I was in the post office just before Christmas. I was talking to the woman at the desk and a guy behind me overheard me saying I am a photographer. Well, the woman at the desk was saying how she does human resources type stuff on the side. I asked her if she had a card. In this economy, I know lots of people looking for jobs. She said no, not yet...it is her own business and she doesn't get cards. I said "Every good businesswoman should always have a card on them!". The guy behind me asked if I had one, which I did. He gave me his, and less than an hour later, he emailed me saying he checked out my site, he likes it, he may use me in the future and would be happy to pass my name along to others. I thanked him and agreed to do the same. He's a lawyer for a firm that specializes in small businesses (contracts, disputes, etc.)

Networking...it works. I'll blog more on that another time.

Interesting thing about Goal #51

Quick story about how Sign Language helped me!

Here's something else you don't know about me. I died. No, really! I did! When I was in college, I got Toxic Shock Syndrome. And yes, there is more than one way to get it, and no, I didn't get it the way everyone thinks. Actually, they never did figure out how it happened. "Toxic shock can result from wounds secondary to minor trauma or surgery incisions where bacteria have been able to enter the body and cause the infection. And TSS can affect anyone who has any type of staph infection, including pneumonia, abscess, skin or wound infection, a blood infection called septicemia, or a bone infection called osteomyelitis". I got it in April and I had pneumonia in Feb, so it could have been from that. Anyway...I was in college, started feeling nauseous one day. Not tossing my cookies, but not good. That continued and within two weeks, I was unable to get out of bed, had this really weird sunburned looking rash on my entire body, was so dizzy I thought I was going to pass out everytime I sat up and basically thought I had the flu. A friend brought me to the ER on a Friday, they told me I had the flu, gave me a bag and a half of IV fluid and sent me back to school. That Monday, I was back in the ER with fever of 105, a blood pressure of 70 over ?? (nothing) and just felt awful. Sitting at the triage desk was the last thing I remember until I woke up in ICU on a ventilator after having been in a coma for a week. After they admitted me, they brought me to my room, I crashed, they sent me to ICU, and started searching their medical journals trying to figure out what was wrong with me. In the meantime, my body was shutting down, so they had to go through and figure out how to support each of the systems in my body, plus get rid of whatever was making me sick.

The list:
-Ventilator to make me breathe, complete with head brace to keep me from pulling it out and from creating sores on my body. (I have the scars prove it. Maybe I'll post those at some point)
-NG tube to keep me fed.
-Central line to monitor my heart.
-IV's in both arms to administer 13 different antibiotics
-Catheter (nuff said)
-No-droopy foot boots so I wouldn't get foot drop plus pillows everywhere else to keep my skin healthy.
-Eyes taped shut so my corneas didn't dry out.

They had called my mom in CT to come up to VT because they weren't sure that I was going to make it. They told her this on the phone!! They had actually called her before I crashed, so when they gave her my location information, and she got to the hospital, she was told "I'm sorry, she's not here anymore". Nice, guys! Then they told her everything that happened in the 4 hours it had taken her to get there and sent her to ICU. I was already in a coma by now. Sometime the next day, they finally figured out what was wrong with me and continued my treatment. 8 days later, I woke up..sort of. I was semi-conscious and pretty confused about all the stuff around me, why I couldn't open my eyes, and what was down my throat!

My brother was there, thank God, because I started signing to him once they released my hands. I don't remember this, it's just what I was told. Half conscious, trying to sign. We only knew the alphabet at this point, plus my hands were swollen up from all the fluids they had been putting into me. It was a challenge to say the least. As I slowly regained consciousness, I was able to sign a little better, but it was still frustrating because my brother was my only interpreter, and he was shouting out the letters as I made them. i-n-e-e-d-t-o-b-e-s-u-c-t-i-o-n-e-d. I'd get to the end of the phrase and he'd go...wait...what was the 2nd word? AAUUGH!! Sidenote...suctioning is the grossest, freakiest thing ever, next to being intubated. I would know exactly where the congestion was in my chest...I could feel it, so I would indicate "I only need to be suctioned a little. Not all the way. Just a little". Um...yeah...there is no suctioning a little. They go all the way down every time. Blah.

I still remember when they finally took me off the vent and extubated me. I felt like they were taking my lungs out with all the tubing! My job that first day was to breathe. That's it. Sit in a chair and breathe. If I could breathe on my own for 6 hours, I wouldn't have to go back onto that AWFUL machine. Can I tell you that I almost didn't make it? I was SO tired! It's hard work to breathe when you haven't done it in over a week! But, I made it. The next day, I went to a regular floor to gain some strength, and WALK! I finally got to walk again. I went 100 ft and I was SO proud of myself and SO exhausted! My ICU doc followed me throughout my stay even though he didn't have to, and he told me that at first, he didn't think that I would make it. I'm sure glad he was there! Before I went home, I got to go and visit the ICU nurses that took care of me, and thank them for all they did, and they said the same thing... I almost didn't make it. I still have notes that I wrote while I was still in ICU, and I don't remember writing them...how weird is that? Dr. Reisch said he was going to put me in a medical journal. I wonder if that ever happened.

Anyway...Sign Language helped me communicate when I was too weak to hold a pen and didn't have the ability to speak. And thank you Dr. Reisch for saving my life.

Why Goal #51

Goal #51 - Learn 1001 new signs in Sign Language. The thought behind this was that I would learn one new sign every day. Yeah...not so much. Ahhh! I just realized that Sign Language is something that few people know about me. Yes, I Sign, and I LOVE it! I started signing when I was a kid. I had a great-aunt and uncle who were Deaf. One had mumps or something and I'm not sure why the other was Deaf. I do mean was when I talk about them. Both are passed-on now. My brother and I learned the Sign Language alphabet growing up. My aunt gave us this HUGE red book full of thousands of signs, but I didn't learn much beyond the alphabet until I was an adult. I wanted to learn because I was always so fascinated watching my aunt and uncle. Not a word spoken, but completely understanding each other. It was amazing and beautiful and I wanted be be part of their world. So, learn I did. And I thought I was hot stuff! I had this unique skill and I would spell and spell and they sat and watched and spelled right back. Now that I know as much as I do, I'm amazed at their patience and how TEDIOUS it must have been sitting through my fingerspelling! Bless you Aunt Connie and Uncle Pedio!

When I was in my 20's, I got a brochure from American School for the Deaf offering community Sign Language classes. I went to every one and completely fell in love with the Language, the culture, the people...

I attended a program called Total Immersion. 5 days of only Signing. No talking allowed. You could write if you needed to, but what better way to learn a language and understand a culture than to be immersed in it? I had only been Signing for a few months when I went, so I was pretty lost. I learned SO much though! Body language, facial expressions, and silence. To get the full effect, I wore ear plugs all week so that I wouldn't even hear people's footsteps. I went to classes and sat in on conversations, learned how to use a TTY, played games and ate meals with people I had never met, and even participated in a Deaf drama. It was SO cool! I want to go back, and I will, but it's $500, so I have to wait until my finances are REALLY good.

I went to a couple semesters of college for Deaf Studies hoping to become an interpreter, but finances and travel got in the way and I didn't continue. I continued to learn anyway and Sign any chance I got. It's one of those things that if you don't use it, you lose it. One day, a friend from church asked me "If I bring someone to church who is Deaf, will you interpret?". I was a bit taken aback and intimidated, but I agreed and I've been doing that for the last year or so. It's a challenge, but I LOVE it! I met a wonderful woman who is Deaf and SO patient with me. I'm fluent enough that she gets learn about God, like REALLY learn, for the first time in her life, and she blesses me with her patience and friendship.

So, why goal #51? Because there are always new signs to learn and I'm not as fluent as I'd like to be. So, I went online today and learn two new signs: Behold (like "behold, the lamb of God"). And Abundant. Hey! I just got a great idea from a friend of mine and fellow blogger; maybe I should do a quick video blog of the differnt signs I learn. Then, others can learn too! I make no promises of how often I will do this. I'll put it on my next 101 list, but I will try. Maybe this weekend, I'll record a blog in Sign and then translate into written words. That sounds like fun!

Go to bed, and then make it!

Goals #7 and #44 accomplished for today. Goal #7 - Go to bed before Midnight. Last night, I went to bed at 11:20p. How's that for progress!?! I'm smiling this morning. I feel ready to tackle my day...and my sink is shiny! "SAY WHAT?!?" I'm sure I heard that as a collective statement. Some of you may know what I'm talking about, but for those that think I have OCD, let me assure you, I don't...I don't think! No, seriously, a shiny sink is a big deal. There's this wonderful woman somewhere in the world named Marla, AKA The Flylady. She has a book about getting your house clean, uncluttered (you can't organize clutter), and getting you FLYing. What is FLYing? Finally Loving Yourself. How? By getting out of CHAOS...Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. If you think I'm making this up, go to flylady.net. She'll explain. I've gotten on board with this a few times, and here I find myself again starting from the beginning, which is...Shine your sink. The idea is that a shiny sink is nice to have and by doing it, you've accomplished something. It might be something small, but folks...it works. My sink is empty, shiny, and it makes a world of difference. It's like the bed making thing. The rest of my kitchen leaves much to be desired, but it looks more put together because there aren't piles of dishes in my sink.

So, in addition to going to bed at a reasonable hour and having a shiny sink, goal #44 has also been accomplished. Make the bed. I have found that it's much easier to make it every day than to start making it again after it's been unmade for a week. It's a lot less messed up in the morning, so it takes less time to make. Common sense? Well, for now. Easy? Yup...for now. We'll see how well I can continue it once I'm married and there is someone else on the other side of my bed...

Goal #55

Just read Jenny From the Farm's blog for this week and commented. I'm on a roll!

update and one more goal completed. Yaah!

Well, one good thing I can say is that it hasn't been a month since I blogged last...only about two weeks. So, that's a plus.

So, I completed Goal #80 - Go bowling with Jason. We went this past weekend. I know it's not a huge life changing goal...well, maybe it is...maybe it is to Jason; not this specific bowling trip, but things like this. We actually had a really good weekend. On Sat., Jason and Rob had a "guys day" while I had an appt. down in Greenwich, CT with a potential wedding couple (who actually did book this week, thank you very much!). They went to a movie and to this really cool place called The Book Barn. I want to go too! And then on Sunday, we went bowling after church. So...big deal?...maybe. Small deal?...that's ok because I did set a goal and accomplish it which gives me hope for the rest of my list.

Other updates:
Goal #6 - Dishes every day. I have to say that I'm greatly improved in this area. I admit I've had some good motivation. My sweetie comes over and makes dinner a lot, so we are going through dishes much faster than before. If I don't do them, I can't eat!

Goal #7 - Midnight bedtime. I haven't kept track too well, but I can tell you that I looked at the clock last night and it was 11:56p, so it's improvement. I'll be honest and tell you that the night before was 2am. Progress not perfection.

Goal #10 - Get my car back on the road. Last time I wrote I had $1865 left to pay. Now I only have $1815 left to pay. Sad, I know. I've been without my poor car since Sept. but waiting is worth not getting into worse debt. Trust me. And I will be SOOOOO happy to have it back. I'm close. In fact, I think I will have it by Feb.

Goal #17 - New pic every day. I've been shooting more, but not every day, and yes, I know I have yet to upload many. I will though. I PROMISE!

Goal #33 - Get receipts together for tax time. So, they are all together. I've started inputting them into excel and should be done with that by the end of the month. I'm not considering this goal done until my taxes are filed.

Goal #44 - Make bed six days per week: This is like the dishes one. I've been doing better. Much better, and it makes a difference. It's true that even if your room is a mess, a made-bed makes a world of difference.

Goal #46 - 4th step on e-h. I have yet to explain this one, but I will, and I started it last night. It's going to be productive.

Goal #66 - Wear different jewelry - I have a necklace on today that I don't usually wear, and while it's not jewelry, I did paint my nails with actual color last night. And, I just took a picture of them to upload and show off, so there's my pic for the day. I have one other one that I shot today, but I can't post it. Why, you say? Well, it's of my derriere...yes, that's right, my tuckus. And why would I take a picture of that, you ask? Well, because I landed on it recently. Monday night, I was going down my front stairs, and they were covered in ice. Thanks to no porch light and no salt from my landlord, plus a bit of darkness added in, I fell, right down the stairs, and landed hard. Fortunately, I didn't hit my head, but I did hit my low back and bottom on the stairs and have now been gifted with a mark that is a full rainbow of colors at this. So, I wanted a picture of my bruise...but I'll spare you the visual on that one.

That's all for now folks...

Two goals completed!

I did it. I actually completed two goals! Goals #49 and #50. 49 was: To rearrange my livingroom. I wanted to do this to shake things up a bit. I can't go out and buy new furniture right now but I wanted to see something new. I think I like the new look. It will be better when I take my Christmas tree down. Then I'll be able to see the TV from either side of the couch, but I do think I like the look. There's a recliner in my livingroom that I can't wait to get rid of. It's my ex's and besides my couch, it's the only other funiture in there that you can sit on, so it stays for now, but he doesn't want it, won't take it, so I'm stuck with it. I think I'm setting myself an unofficial goal to get rid of this chair and replace it with a new one by the end of this year.
#50 was to clean out my video cabinet. I had videos and DVDs in the TV cabinet, on the TV cabinet, around the TV cabinet, in video boxes, in the other room, everywhere. Who needs all that and what 12 yr old still needs Power Ranger videos? Blech!! So, out of there they went. Now, being that I'm into donating things, I'm trying to figure out what to do with them. I could give them to my library to add to their collection, but they only collect on certain days (love living in a small town, right?), or I could give them to good will. Either way, they aren't in the cabinet anymore, so YAAAAAAAHHHHH ME!!!!!!!! There is hope for me yet.

By the way, on the whole house cleaning goal...I think I've cleaned my livingroom about 7 times in 6 days. I can't stand it! Every time I clean it and then leave to do something else, I come back and there's stuff on the floor again, sneakers in the middle of the floor, a candy wrapper on the couch, a video on the window...does it ever end? Not with a 12 yr old I guess...