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This will be done when I get some actual workable compost from it. I’m so impatient, and check the bin every day!

I have a 3 by 8 SFG in my backyard now. This summer the yields weren’t great, but I know next year will be better. I planted and the yield:

• tomatoes – will have harvested 4 tomatoes by the end of summer
• cherry tomatoes – 1/2 lb. cherry tomates
• green beans – 1lb.
• peppers – 0 :(
• nasturtiums – many flowers
• marigolds – many flowers, keep some bugs away
• basil – tons of pesto
• cucumber – 2 tiny cucumbers
• zucchini – tons of flowers, no fruit

Once you put in the initial effort to set everything up, planting’s a breeze. I’m already planning for next year.

This was easy, maybe because I’m getting old? It was just a catalog of life experiences. Setting all 85 goals as done got tedious, so here are my 15 not done, prioritized from ones I am most to least interested in:

1. visit europe
2. see the northern lights
3. learn how to drive stick-shift
4. Learn to play the guitar
5. organise/take part in an easter egg hunt
6. Watch the Sound of Music
7. Swim with dolphins
8. Get a tattoo
9. smash something on purpose
10. make a prank phone call
11. Have a slumber party
12. build a sandcastle
13. go skinny dipping
14. hold a snake
15. Skydive

My 2008 goal was to read 25 books, and I made it to 22 books. The Brothers Karamazov was a great book, but it was long and intense and took the wind from my sails. I set a goal of 50 in 2007, 25 in 2008, and now I’m going for 20 in 2009.

and we’re going to keep going for at least another six months. It’s totally worth the effort.

1. Those women learning to breastfeed for the first time. It’s difficult, you aren’t alone! Seek out support (your family, la leche league, or your local hospital).
2. Those women who for whatever reason cannot or choose not to nurse. Don’t let anyone judge you.
3. The baby nurses who said I didn’t enough milk to feed my baby. 16.5 pounds later, we’re doing okay.
4. The baby nurses and our pediatrician who encouraged me even when we had to supplement those first couple of weeks.
5. The lactation consultant, who finally said “Stop worrying. You are full of milk.”
6. My local hospital’s “New Mother’s Group” for their support.
7. My family, who stuck with me on this even though they didn’t know or understand much about the benefits of breastfeeding.
8. My otherwise wonderful daycare provider, who persistently tells me my baby needs more food than the amount we give him when we’re at home. The pediatrician says his weight is great, he’s fine.
9. My office, for being completely supportive (no questions asked) of my pumping schedule.

This isn’t really that ambitious of a goal, and not sure it was worth it or not worth it, but I figure it’s part of life and an experience to have at least once at least to know your limits.

Flashback to 1994, me and my nerdy friends in college were having a dorm room party. I think I drank three of those printed college plastic cups of cheap red wine. Dry red wine that makes you feel thirstier than before you drank it. Giggly, dizzy, goofy, blah, blah, blah I threw up at 6:30 a.m. and went to yoga at 8:30 a.m.

The positives I guess are I did it in an absolutely safe environment with friends and I didn’t go too overboard (Some people drink until they black out or pass out). I also learned that enough is enough, being drunk doesn’t make things that much more fun.

It’s become important to me to feel good about how I look before I leave the house. I’ve been making more effort to wear clothes that fit, to put together ‘outfits’ that are interesting, and to not wear anything I don’t feel comfortable or confident in. I’ve been inspired by my teenage niece who has always had her own unique style.

I’m not 100% sworn to never swear ever, but I’ve gotten a lot more conscious of what I say. How you speak says something about you, and frankly, my tone of voice says enough about how I’m feeling to make the curse words unnecessary.

OK, 8-10 pounds of that was a baby. I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and that’s enough for me to consider this done for now.

i read more than i would have otherwise!

Happy Birthday!

“May you live all the days of your life.”
– Jonathan Swift

1. Buy an original painting – a pretty watercolor from eBay.
2. Call tree trimming companies, get estimate – two estimates, both way over our budget. Hopefully we can wait through winter and do this next year.
3. Design, Install Closet Organizer system – I’m very proud of this accomplishment.
4. Exercise – I’ve walked 1.5 miles 5 days a week to and from Penn station. It’s pretty flat walking but I keep a good pace.

1. Change my last name – I’ve completed my license and SS, just need to do my passport and then all the billing, insurance, hr people.
2. Weekend Retreat – I did a lot of research in July but found limited availability.

1. Call fence companies about repairing fence, get estimate
2. Move random backyard rocks to rock holding spot
3. Power wash back retaining wall
4. Daily Meditation – Practice meditating at least 3 times a week from now through August 31st.
5. Volunteer – Find one volunteer opportunity and participate.

Wow – I set too many goals for this summer. Being pregnant has slowed me down, but I think it’s for the better. I’m slower, with limited energy, and thus more deliberate and focused. And I spend less time futzing around with anxiety about all the things I’m not doing. I’ve accomplished an incredible amount at work, made small steps towards some of my goals, let go of others, and worked on some entirely new projects.

Congratulations everyone – It’s inspiring to see you set and meet your goals!

Behind, but made some progress:
6. Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
7. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
8. The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, by Vicki Iovine
9. The Doula Book
10. Behind the Attic Wall, by Sylvia Cassedy
11. Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, by George Leonard

Done over the last two weeks while my husband was away.

Budget:
200.00 for rubbermaid ‘configurations’ 4-8’ closet organizer and three white laminate storage drawers

1. Clear out closet
2. Buy hardware and bring in house
3. Install hardware (with lots of help from my sister-in-law, who brought her drill and level)
4. Assemble drawers
5. Spackle and paint lumpy walls
6. Vacuum
7. Organize clothes, store ‘won’t wear for awhiles’
8. Put the rest of clothes in!
9. Be proud, take photos to show off :-p

1. Rent power washer
2. Figure out how to use a power washer
3. Hopefully not do any damage?

We have one big ash tree in the front that needs maintenance, a bunch of younger trees that are too close to our power lines, a big tree in the back that needs some trimming, and some weed trees/stumps that I’d like to get rid of.

I have no idea how much this type of work would cost, so we’ll see. Also need to chat with neighbors to make nice about getting rid of some stumps and overhanging branches..

The long wooden fence along our driveway needs some maintenance. One spot towards the front is broken, and it looks like the back end of the fence was never properly posted, so it’s kind of floating and leaning back.

I’m not sure when the fence was installed, but the fence has a sign with the fence company number on it. Should I use them or call someone else?

This goal is a small step towards the larger project of landscaping my backyard. There are a couple of areas behind our house that need weeding, cultivating, and cleaning up, and the first step is to move about 20-40 medium-sized rocks into a holding space for later use. This is do-able if I wear gloves, avoid the poison ivy, and move 3-5 rocks every weekend.

This summer I want to work on some less concrete character-building goals, like learning how to be more patient. I’m wondering if it’s possible to get to a fuzzy desired character attribute by setting small actionable goals:

1. Daily Meditation – Practice meditating at least 3 times a week from now through August 31st.
2. Exercise – Exercise for 30 minutes a day at least 3 times a week from now through August 31st. This includes walking.
3. Weekend Retreat – I’ve always wanted to go away for a weekend yoga, meditation, or some other type of retreat where you practice and learn with like-minded people. I will research and schedule a weekend retreat.
4. Volunteer – Find one volunteer opportunity and participate.

1. Change my last name – Leftover from the Spring Challenge, to be completed by 06/30
2. Design, Install Closet Organizer system
3. Power wash back retaining wall
4. Buy an original painting

1. Call tree trimming companies, get estimate
2. Call fence companies about repairing fence, get estimate
3. Move random backyard rocks to rock holding spot

Wow – this is a lot! It may be too much, but I am hoping to be able to knock some of the phone call ones out in late June. Good luck everyone!

It’s going to be impossible for me to read 45 books in the remaining six months of this year. I hope noone minds if I still keep plugging away on this goal here, even if I only end up reading 15-20 books.

Just completed book #5: Good to Great, by Jim Collins. Engaging, great read about what makes organizations go beyond mediocrity into excellence.