Evaluate my progress

It has been a year since I last evaluated my progress… I think it is time to do this again. (photo is from the website for the City Chase – Meyrick and I finishing a respectable 17th place)

Successes:

Last year I injured both of my knees. I thought they would recover quickly, but that simply wasn’t the case. I rested them over the winter and rehabbed them over the spring. I was fine this year to do a 10k, 2 adventure races and 2 triathlons. I was really worried about the second adventure race, because, like last year, it was in the same week as my triathlon and I was very, very worried about injuring my knees again.

In any case, I came through fine. We came in 3rd in the adventure race and again, I was up at the front of our team for most of the race. So this year, I am really hoping that my continued health will pay off with the final bit of fat on my body going away. Everyone I see still says that I have lost more weight, and I am feeling pretty fit. I have the ‘offseason’ to improve on my physique and I intend to make the most of it.

Next Steps I am joining a boxing gym, taking swim lessons, dropping a session at my gym and completing a half marathon by February.

I was so excited to do the televised urban adventure race this year, that was definitely a highlight. To my shocked amazement, I loved being on tv! Loved it!!! I can’t wait to do it again next year and hopefully win.

Next Steps I am going to put some effort into training. It will involve me getting my speed up for running 2ks at a time up dramatically, as well as better high speed route tackling.

In Progress

Although I am sucking at living my life to the fullest, I haven’t lost sight of this goal. I have been working my way out of my relationship, and although as I do this, my wife holds on tighter, this has just shown me how important it is do this. I need to get out.

Next Steps

I need to get out of the house. I have to find a house to rent.

Photography. I have the camera. I just haven’t had the energy to take photos… I don’t have any next steps here, because I need to get the one above figured out.

Failures

Everything else… Everything. I really can’t tackle the issues of happiness until I get my house in order. In the next week or so, I am going to revamp my goals list and get to work on the next year.

Next Steps

By next year I want to be taking photographs, drawing, speaking spanish and pursuing a sexier, more robust life!!

It’s been another 3 months since my last evaluation. Here are goals that were on my last list that have been accomplished-

• Read 50 books in 2007
• Make a scrapbook
• Go to the Georgia Aquarium
• Stop being lazy
• See avenged sevenfold live

Goals that I added and completed since the last evaluation

• See the World of Coke
• get an iPod
• beat Guitar Hero III on easy
• get a new computer
• get rid of the fleas
• do pilates
• knit a harry potter scarf
• get a new LCD monitor

Goals on my current list added since the last time

• Keep up with my lists
• crochet a blanket
• complete the A-Z resturaunt challenge
• List all the movies and DVDs I watch in 2008
• read 20 books in 2008
• beat Guitar Hero III on Medium
• disclose 43 random THINGS about myself
• Send a postcard to Postsecret
• find a job

It’s been 3 months since my first evaluation, so I think it’s time for another. First I’m going to list the goals I had the last time I posted on this goal, to see if I have completed any since then.

• See all the films that have won the Best Picture Oscar
• Watch all movies on AFI’s 100 Best movies list
• See all the movies on my Netflix queue
• Get organized
• Read 30 books in 2007
• List 100 things I love about my husband
• Redecorate my bedroom
• Stop eating fast food
• Join the 43 Things (rental type) Movie Watchers Club.
• See every movie featuring Mary Tyler Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Bruce Willis, and Mark Wahlberg
• Learn to scrapbook
• Make a scrapbook
• Foster animals
• Fix up my house
• Evaluate my progress
• Go to the Georgia Aquarium
• Take an alphabet of photos
• Get out of debt
• Finish my knitting
• Complete my collection of all the Disney classics
• Visit the atlanta botanical gardens
• Visit the Lost Sea
• Visit all 50 states
• Learn html
• Visit another country
• See the grand canyon
• Climb a rock wall
• See a live nfl game
• Fly in a hot air balloon
• Ride in a helicopter
• See Les Miserables
• See a movie in a drive-in
• Cheer on and encourage people who want to quit smoking!
• Learn to love vegetables and fruit…or at least eat the damn things!
• Watch AFI’S 100 Years… 100 Cheers Movies
• Landscape my yard
• Go to the gym
• Watch all six feet under episodes
• Redo my website
• Have an awesome vacation to see Edguy in concert

I have marked 7 goals as done since my last update.

My current list of goals (goals I haven’t worked on since the last updategoals added since last update)-

• See all the films that have won the Best Picture Oscar
• Watch all movies on AFI’s 100 Best movies list
• See all the movies on my Netflix queue
• Get organized
• List 100 things I love about my husband.
• Redecorate my bedroom
• Stop eating fast food
• See every movie featuring Mary Tyler Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Bruce Willis, and Mark Wahlberg
• Read 50 books in 2007
• Make a scrapbook
• Fix up my house
• Evaluate my progress
• Go to the Georgia Aquarium
• Take an alphabet of photos
• Get out of debt
• Finish my knitting
• Complete my collection of all the Disney classics
• Visit the atlanta botanical gardens
• Visit all 50 states
• Learn html
• Visit another country
• Climb a rock wall
• See a live nfl game
• Fly in a hot air balloon
• Ride in a helicopter
• See Les Miserables
• See a movie in a drive-in
• Learn to love vegetables and fruit…or at least eat the damn things!
• Watch AFI’S 100 Years… 100 Cheers Movies
• Landscape my yard
• Go to the gym
• See wicked
• Watch all six feet under episodes
• Redo my website
• Get on a better sleep schedule
• Stop being lazy
• See avenged sevenfold live
• Sell things on etsy

And these are goals that were added and completed since last update-

• Crochet a scarf
• Learn how to crochet
• Go to an Arch Enemy concert
• Get ready for ProgPower
• Try all 50 Jelly Belly flavors

Overall, there are a couple goals I really need to work on, but I feel like I’ve done pretty well with a lot of them.

I haven’t added any new fitness goals for 2 reasons.

1. I have focused too strongly on those because they have been successful, and correspondingly I have slacked on the others. This 43 things website should be set up like a wack-a-mole game (for those that don’t know this game, I am sure you local carnival has a similar one, probably just a different name).

2. I did the adventure race the week after my triathlon. I felt some strain on my knee in the triathlon, but I still went ahead and did the adventure race the next week. It was a team event so I really had no choice but to stick it out. I did very well, I was surprised how fit I was becoming, a 3km ocean kayak, a 6km mountain bike and a 3km trail run. All nice and short, a lot of vertical but nothing too hard. I didn’t let my team down by any stretch. In any case, by the time I was heading out on the trail run I began to feel some tightness in my knees. By the time I was done, there was no denying that my right knee had been overused. According to my neighbour the doctor, it has something to do with liquifying cartilage or something. I think it is strain from riding the bike with bad form (yes, I do suck at that too). In any case, all it needs is rest. So, I will wait to start training for my 1/2 marathon until next week. I am supposed to run it in November, so I should have time if I am smart about this.

I am working on the live sexier. I think a lot of what would complete me; make me feel more genuine is in there. I just don’t have anything concrete yet. I have an idea and I will be adding it shortly though, I think.

I just wanted to put this down so I didn’t think I was slacking. I will also develop a next steps plan shortly. I think I need some direction moving into winter. That is what winter is for, hunkering down and doing things.

I want to start off by listing all the goals I currently have and their status, so here goes…

• See all the films that have won the Best Picture Oscar
• Watch all movies on AFI’s 100 Best movies list
• See all the movies on my Netflix queue

These first three goals all kind of fit together. A lot of the Best Picture winners are on the AFI list, and all of the Best Picture winners and AFI list movies are on my Netflix queue. There are a lot of movies, so I just chip away at them slowly but surely!

• Get organized

I’ve been slacking on this goal a bit, but I am determined to get to work on it, even if it’s just a little at a time. I really want to finish this goal, because I know this will make me SO much happier and calmer and less stressed, etc, etc.

• Read 30 books in 2007

Right now I’m reading my 30th book, Interview with the Vampire. When I’m finished with it, this goal will be complete.

• List 100 things I love about my husband

This is one goal I didn’t want to just rush through and write meaningless random things, but there have been a couple times where I have an idea, but never get around to posting it and then forget what it was, so I have to be a little better about this one.

• Redecorate my bedroom

This is pretty much done, it just seems like there is something else that has to be done before it’s complete. I will look into this tonight to figure out whether there is anything left or if I am in fact done.

• Stop eating fast food

I’ve started keeping up with each day and whether I eat at home or out. I was doing pretty good until last week, but this week is a new week to start fresh!

• Join the 43 Things (rental type) Movie Watchers Club.

This is just one of those fun goals, and I’ve seen every movie voted on so far and just waiting for the next one to arrive from Netflix.

• See every movie featuring Mary Tyler Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Bruce Willis, and Mark Wahlberg

Seeing as how I have quite a few goals involving watching movies, this one will just take time. I’ve seen three or four of these movies since adding the goal, so I’m happy with that.

• Learn to scrapbook

I just marked this one as done!

• Make a scrapbook

I have a friend who scrapbooks, and we’re going to find a date to get together and get started on mine.

• Foster animals

I’m in the midst of doing this right now. I’m not sure when I’ll mark it as done. I was planning on marking it done when I have all the kittens adopted out, but I may do it before then. We’ll see.

• Fix up my house

This takes time and money, but we’re working on little projects at a time. At the moment, we’re going back and finishing all the little projects that have been started and need finishing before we go onto the new projects.

• Evaluate my progress

I’m doing this right this second!

• Go to the Georgia Aquarium

This is one of those, you’ve done it or you have it, and obviously I haven’t

• Take an alphabet of photos

I haven’t worked on this in a while. I think I’ll try to make it a goal to attempt at least one letter every week.

• Get out of debt

This is another one that will take a while, but I’m working on it dollar by dollar

• Finish my knitting

I might have to give up on this goal, because at this point, I honestly don’t care about the blanket anymore.

• Complete my collection of all the Disney classics

I adopted this goal, and then accumulated about 15-20 movies in a very short period. I have The Jungle Book on pre-order (comes out in October), so I’m happy with this one too.

• Visit the atlanta botanical gardens

Another, done it or haven’t, and I haven’t

• Visit the Lost Sea

We plan on visiting when we go on vacation next month!

• Visit all 50 states

As I mentioned above, we’re going on vacation next month, and as of now our planned trip idea will take us through Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. Three of those five are “new” states, so I’m making some progress here as well.

• Learn html

I learned some basics, but don’t really know where to go from there. I’m trying to find a person to help explain things, but I’m not having much luck

• Visit another country

This is one of those…someday goals. It’ll probably be a long time!

• See the grand canyon

Another someday goal and another long time.

• Climb a rock wall

I found a place where I can do this, now I just have to find time to go.

• See a live nfl game

Football season starts soon, so I’m hoping I can accomplish this goal in the next few months!

• Fly in a hot air balloon

This is pretty expensive, so we’re waiting for a special reason, like a birthday, anniversary, something like that.

• Ride in a helicopter

Another someday, long time.

• See Les Miserables

As far as I know, it’s not coming to the Fox anytime soon, and I’m not going to New York anytime soon, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

• See a movie in a drive-in

There is only one drive-in that is fairly close to where I live, and it’s in the ghetto, so I’ll have to wait until I can find one to stop at while on a trip somewhere farther away.

• Cheer on and encourage people who want to quit smoking!

I’ve been cheering here and there and only have a few more left until I can say done.

• Learn to love vegetables and fruit…or at least eat the damn things!

I was doing okay on this, and then I stopped. I don’t want to try new things!! They might be gross and taste bad, and I have problems with eating bad tasting food! :( I’ve just got to force myself to do things I think may be unpleasant.

• Watch AFI’S 100 Years… 100 Cheers Movies

A lot of the movies on here are on the Best Picture winners and AFI Top 100 lists, so I’m working on those lists which still marks some off this one too.

• Landscape my yard

With the insane heat outside and the no rain, this one is a bit on hold right now.

• Go to the gym

Complete bust. I haven’t been to the gym in I don’t know how long. I’ve really got to sit down and decide if I really am going to do this or not and go or get rid of this goal.

• Watch all six feet under episodes

Just finished season 3 a little while ago. Working on some other shows right now, and then I’ll get started on season 4.

• Redo my website

I’ve got to learn some more html or how to update the existing one or something, before I can make any progress. I really want to get this done though! Really bad!!!!!

• Have an awesome vacation to see Edguy in concert

I have my tickets, and we’re getting ideas for the rest of our week. I can’t wait!!

I’m kind of surprised. There are a few I need to really work on, but there are quite a few that I’m working on and doing well, so I’m doing a little better than I thought. Just working on this list got me motivated, and I worked on some of my neglected things today. Hooray!

There are quite a few goals on my list that I have been neglecting, and I think this goal will help me organize them a little more and maybe even motivate me to stop being a slacker!

Successes

1. Lose Weight. I have definitely lost weight. Although my goal was really lose fat, gain muscle, I did do that too. I am very close to having no pot belly left so that is totally cool. I have been carrying around this weight for 10 years (although losing some of it over the last 5 or 6). This has been one of my priorities for years and I am getting close to full success.

2. Run a 5k, Run a 10k, Swim 750m, complete a triathlon. I have completed the 5k, the 10k and the swim 750m. I am getting close to completing the triathlon. I was so unfit on January 1st of this year, that I would have bet any amount of money that I would never have been able to run 5k. Here I have done 2 5k races and a 10k. Of all the things that I have done in the last little while, there is no doubt that achieving these goals has made me the most proud. Success here has made me a more powerful actuated human being. Not only this, but I took my kids on a 1k Canada Day run because they saw daddy running and wanted to train themselves. They got fantastic little medals and they were so proud and rightfully so.

3. Identify 100 things that make me happy. Just having this goal on my list makes me happy.

4. Not just that goal, but having my list is awesome. More importantly, just being able to sustain my activity here makes me feel impowered. This has been due in no small part to the people here. I think beyond anything, I am so happy with the people that I have met here. In many ways I feel freer to share my hopes and goals here than I would be to my friends and wife.

5. Start a cult. I have started one. Sure it is small, but it is awesome. If I wasn’t in this cult, this would be the one I would join. Still waiting for people to send in their photos of themselves in their togas.

In Progress

1. Learn Spanish. Go to Mexico again, Go to Italy again, Get more sleep, Go someplace very dark and look at the stars all night, Discover what I want to do with my life, Finish what I start, bodyboard, Draw Better, Sketch More, Learn harmonica. All these goals are coming along. Not too much progress, but no failure yet.

Not So Successful So Far

1. Become a photographer, Take 43 pictures…, Identify 100 things…, Take a good picture of myself. All of these have been stymied by the fact that I haven’t replaced my digital camera. I really, really want to get my new camera. The insurance company paid off and I have a whole whack of gift cards to the camera store. I should jump on this one soon. Maybe this weekend. I included the Identify 100 things here as well because I have only been using entries with my own photographs and my lack of photographs has slowed me down.

Failures

1. I have utterly failed at Live Sexy, Organize my Life, and Explore my Sexual Boundaries. I have not been able to make any headway in my marriage. Although things are bad right now, I am sure they will go back to their normal routine of being tolerable, distant and decidedly unsensual. I won’t be able to talk to my wife or work out any progress in our shared interests/desires to live sexy. The failure to organize my personal life is only compounded by the fact that my business life is out of control busy/crazy.

2. Change the world for the better. I was pretty close this time last year to actually organizing Landscape Architects, Architects and Engineers in British Columbia and across Canada, into a group that would work internationally to create sustainable development solutions in developing nations. By now, that is almost nothing more than a memory. I would really like to push this further, but I am so busy…

So, in a nutshell, here is my evaluation. Next step, a plan to see if I can do better and see if I need to rearrange my priorities…

Given my recent exercise skid, I am thinking that an evaluation of my progress with my 40 some odd things would be a worthwhile exercise instead. I have come aways with some items and not so much with others, so I think a mid year, say six month evaluation is in order. I don’t have any time today to jump on this task, but I did want to get it in the books so I can jump on it later… damn, that is some serious procrastinating on procrastinating there…