Checking in, 2010 To-Do List: I have a lot of stuff ahead of me.

Some may remember that I have a habit of putting together these yearly to-do lists.  I also like to check in every season or so to evaluate my progress.  Think of them as personal OKRs (for non-Googlers, that's Objectives and Key Results).  

Based on my year-to-date performance, I get a BIG FAT F-. Luckily, there are five months left in the year, and I've learned to make decent ravioli, which means I may be able to attempt Grant Achatz's Black Truffle Explosion before the end of the year.

Also, I have some additions:
  • Buy a new computer (and maybe a smartphone), finally
  • Get texting enabled on my phone
  • Attempt to make French macarons (preferably chocolate)
  • Start a journal for work/personal development
  • Use up the $20 credit that has been hanging around my RueLaLa.com account for months. This is more of a challenge than you'd think, because their inventory stinks.
  • Do a serious editing of my closet by the end of summer
  • Transfer to digital copy that play I produced in college and send it to all the cast/crew
_____________________________________________________________________

Travel
  • Asia: Japan (visit Asta-PastaOR Hong Kong and one other Chinese province I haven't been (SichuanXinjiang, Tibet, Fujian)
  • Domestic: New Mexico, DC area, New Orleans/Texas, NYC OR Hawaii.
  • Local: LAKE TAHOE IN THE SUMMERTIME. And perhaps a local weekend camping trip.
  • Bonus: Europe OR South America (Argentina/Brazil/Chile/Peru OR Spain/Italy/Turkey/Greece OR Costa Rica)
  • Bonus: Winter Olympics in Vancouver!
Health & Wellness
  • Seriously, sleep 7+ hours at least 3x/week.
  • Do something active 1-2 times a week (join a class if I have to), and hike 1x/month.
  • Strengthen my bum knee - 20 pounds (hey, baby steps).
Finance
  • Invest.
Spiritual/Personal Growth
  • Pray, early and often
  • Give 10%.
  • Attend a smallgroup at least 2x/month
  • Cultivate charity, patience, serenity, and grace (in other words, stop talking and complaining so darn much)
  • Find one regular, long-term, and meaningful volunteer activity (identify by February 2010)
  • ReadThe Far Pavilions, Malcolm X, Confederacy of Dunces, BluebeardThe Master & Margarita, Dune (I'm listening to this one on audiobook now, but it's hard to follow)
  • WatchBrazilThe Orphic TrilogyM, finish Buffy: Season 7 (I'm halfway through, but they are scary to watch by myself!), Chariots of Fire, Rocky
Personal Projects

2010 To-Do List (hopefully more reasonable this time)

Travel
  • Asia: Japan (visit Asta-PastaOR Hong Kong and one other Chinese province I haven't been (Sichuan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Fujian)
  • Domestic: New Mexico, DC area, New Orleans/Texas, NYC OR Hawaii.
  • Local: LAKE TAHOE IN THE SUMMERTIME. And perhaps a local weekend camping trip.
  • Bonus: Europe OR South America (Argentina/Brazil/Chile/Peru OR Spain/Italy/Turkey/Greece OR Costa Rica)
  • Bonus: Winter Olympics in Vancouver!
Health & Wellness
  • Seriously, sleep 7+ hours at least 3x/week.
  • Do something active 1-2 times a week (join a class if I have to), and hike 1x/month.
  • Strengthen my bum knee - 20 pounds (hey, baby steps).
Finance
  • Invest.
Spiritual/Personal Growth
  • Pray, early and often
  • Give 10%.
  • Attend a smallgroup at least 2x/month
  • Cultivate charity, patience, serenity, and grace (in other words, stop talking and complaining so darn much)
  • Find one regular, long-term, and meaningful volunteer activity (identify by February 2010)
  • Read: The Far Pavilions, Malcom X, Confederacy of Dunces, Bluebeard, The Master & Margarita, Dune
  • Watch: Brazil, The Orphic Trilogy, M, finish Buffy: Season 7, Chariots of Fire, Rocky
Personal Projects

2009 To-Do List, in review. Grade: D+ or thereabouts.

It's that time of year again, peoples.  Time to take stock of the year and look at what I managed to accomplish from this list.  In all honesty I'm not sure how I thought I'd ever get even half of this stuff done, and somehow a lot of it seems less important now.  But in the spirit of honoring commitments, I'm making myself go through it again to see how far I went. Btw, if I blogged about it, I linked to it!  See below.

Note to self: 2010's list will be much more reasonable.
____________________________________________

Travel

  • Summer weekend trip to Lake Tahoe. Wanted to do this for the past 4 years and still haven't done it.  NEXT YEAR.
  • One long-weekend domestic trip: New Mexico, Portland, New Orleans/Texas, Hawaii, Yellowstone, OR DC area.  Went to Boston.  Does that count?
  • Visit LA at least 2x and go to Magic Mountain.  Actually went 3x, here, alluded to here, and here.
  • Visit (or camp at) Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Bodega Bay, northern CA (Eureka or Shasta), and one California destination I've never heard of.  Addition: Getaway to Sonoma.
  • Fall 2009 trip - China/SE Asia, Japan, South America, Costa Rica, Western Australia OR Spain/Morocco. FAIL.
Health & Wellness
  • Sleep at least 7 hours/night (before 12:30am on weeknights). FAIL.
  • Wear sunscreen daily, and lip balm for my perpetually chapped lips. FAIL.
  • Move my bike from home (in LA) to the Bay Area.  Got a bike from Jimbo.  Doesn't mean I rode it, but I'm counting this one =)
  • Hike once a month. I probably went 1-2x/month in the warmer months so I'm counting this.  Also, "urban hikes" count.
  • Conquer my asthma and my gimp knee (so I can ski by next winter). FAIL.
  • ...and get my weight back down to 120-125lbs., however that has to happen (gymming, walking, eating less). I hit 127, so I came close.
  • Take a self-defense class. FAIL, but I got myself a new can of pepper spray.
Personal Projects

Sewing (skills): Learn one new technique every month, things like: install a zipper, read/execute a pattern, tailoring techniques such as darts, princess seams, etc., create a pattern, smocking and shirring, install interfacing, create pleats, Hong Kong seams, linings for anything, make a pocket, and dye fabric. FAIL.

    Sewing (projects): 
    • Finish my fingerless gloves. FAIL.
    • Alter the $5 sari dress and skirt that I bought at the Lotus Festival and never wore. FAIL.
    • Make a sundress out of the pretty batik I bought in Malaysia last year. FAIL.
    • Make an evening/cocktail dress out of the material I bought at Joann's + all the sewing ideas I've been collecting for the past few months. FAIL.
    • Make an obi-style beltFAIL
    Cooking:
    • Organize recipes and start recording family favorites and newly inspired creations in a journal or binder.
    • Master my slow-cooker so I don't starve when I start my new job
    • Recipes to master: 
    • The 'One Great Cookie' recipe for browned-butter cookies in the 2006 issue of Gourmet Magazine. Still time to do this!
    • The Google chef's recipe for madeleines
    • My coworker's famous chocolate-chip cookie recipe
    • A really great gingerbread cookie recipe
    • Addition: my old boss' wonderful recipe for blueberry scones
    • Chili (this one was too tomato-y)
    • Baked butterfish with miso glaze like they used to make in our cafeteria. OMG BIG FAT FAIL.
    • Flan! FAIL.
    Volunteering: Find one great organization/activity to commit to. FAIL.

    General Know-how:

    • Learn about the import/export process and more about retail distribution. Working on it.
    • Read some of those motivational books and start a learning journal of sorts.
    Just for Fun
    • Taiko drumming classes. FAIL.
    • Organize and post my photos from my trip to Asia last year Haven't quite posted all of them yet though.
    • 3x the average traffic-per-post on my blog
    • Use my new 40-min. commute to learn some things.  Get Spanish-language and Chinese-language tapes.
    • Work on an indie film. Bug former coworker Tony about producing his next movie OR get involved in a theater production (ask Annie). FAIL, though I did talk to a girl once about putting on some kind of production.
    • Film footage and piece together a 5-10 minute short of any kind. FAIL.
    • Work with my mom to translate my grandmother's life story, and interview my dad about his family history. FAIL.
    • Send out Christmas cards next year. THERE'S STILL TIME TO DO THIS!
    • Take 1 class with Doc Wong, and learn how to drive stick shift. FAIL.
    • Mail out DVD copies of the play I produced 5 years ago to the cast/crew, which have been sitting on my desk for the past 3 years -___- I gave some out in person but overall I'd call this one a FAIL.
    Financial
    • Don't buy any more clothing or home stuff until my birthday (in February).
    • Pay off my car loan. I'm pretty close I think.
    • Read www.fool.com or other other educational resources once a week and take a couple seminars about investing.  Learn about stocks and all that, because it's Greek to me now.  And identify 3 areas to invest in.
    • Donate at least 10% of my net earnings to church and some non-profits that are doing great work. Still time to do this - stay tuned.
    Spiritual, Personal Improvement, and Miscellaneous
    • Develop a daily prayer life. Pray regularly for my daddy. Le sigh.
    • Re-join a small group at church and go 2x/month. FAIL.
    • Forgive and let go of some specific, debilitating things from my past
    • Work on communication (synthsizing/clarity) and listening skills.
    • Give up something that matters for someone who truly needs it
    • Buy only clothing made of natural materials: cotton, linen, bamboo, leather, silk, wool.  This will force me to get fewer things of higher quality, rather than synthetic blends like the cheap stuff from Forever 21 that pills after 2 wears.  I didn't stick to this 100% but have gotten much better, so I'm counting this.
    • Clean out/reorganize my closet twice
    • Read: The Far Pavilions, Malcom X's Autobiography, and at least 2 other novels OMG I can't believe I forgot to read the Far Pavilions!
    • Watch: After Life, Carnivale Season 1, Hellboy 1 and 2, Elizabeth 1 and 2, It's a Wonderful Life, Waking Life, Slumdog Millionaire, the Orphic Trilogy, the Decalogue, Brazil, M, Wild Strawberries
    • Organize my mp3s and create a handful of playlists so I can start using my iPod again
    • ...and the one thing that will make it all possible: STOP WASTING SO MUCH TIME.  Spend less than 1.5 hours/day online--do less online shopping and find a way to blog more efficiently! BIG. FAT. FAIL!

    Quarterly Check-In: 2009 To-Do List

    Amazing that we're already three months into 2009.  I thought it'd be a good time to check in with progress on my 2009 To-Do List , a series of goals I make every year.  I'd love to hear how 2009 is shaping up for other people too.  So far, I think, so good--maybe it's because spring seemed to come so early this year.  
    _____________________________________________________

    Travel
    • Summer weekend trip to Lake Tahoe
    • One long-weekend domestic trip: New Mexico, Portland, New Orleans/Texas, Hawaii, Yellowstone, OR DC area (I'm going to Boston for a wedding, but I don't think this counts)
    • Visit LA at least 2x and go to Magic Mountain (I'll be visiting in May so this will be half accomplished)
    • Visit (or camp at) Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Bodega Bay, Sonoma, northern CA (Eureka or Shasta), and one California destination I've never heard of.
    • Fall 2009 trip - China/SE Asia, Japan, South America, Costa Rica, Western Australia OR Spain/Morocco
    Health & Wellness
    • Sleep at least 7 hours/night (before 12:30am on weeknights) (HAH. I really need to work on this one.)
    • Wear sunscreen daily, and lip balm for my perpetually chapped lips (Need to work on this too)
    • Move my bike from home (in LA) to the Bay Area
    • Hike once a month.  (So far, so good.  Urban hikes count =)
    • Conquer my asthma and my gimp knee, so I can ski by next winter
    • ...and get my weight back down to 120-125lbs., however that has to happen (gymming, walking, eating less).
    • Take a self-defense class
    Personal Projects

    Sewing (skills): Learn one new technique every month, things like: install a zipper, read/execute a pattern, tailoring techniques such as darts, princess seams, etc., create a pattern, smocking and shirring, install interfacing, create pleats, Hong Kong seams, linings for anything, make a pocket, and dye fabric (Haven't gotten too far on this, but w/ the sewing book Karin gave me for my b-day it will be easier to accomplish this)
    Sewing (projects)
    • Addition: Make myself a lunch bag.
    • Finish my fingerless gloves
    • Alter the $5 sari dress and skirt that I bought at the Lotus Festival and never wore.
    • Make a sundress out of the pretty batik I bought in Malaysia last year.
    • Make an evening/cocktail dress out of the material I bought at Joann's + all the sewing ideas I've been collecting for the past few months
    • Make an obi-style belt 
    Cooking
    • Organize recipes and start recording family favorites and newly inspired creations in a journal or binder.
    • Master my slow-cooker so I don't starve when I start my new job
    Recipes to master: 
    • The 'One Great Cookie' recipe for browned-butter cookies in the 2006 issue of Gourmet Magazine
    • My coworker's famous chocolate-chip cookie recipe
    • Addition: my old boss' wonderful recipe for blueberry scones
    • A really great gingerbread cookie recipe
    • Chili
    • The Google chef's recipe for madeleines
    • Baked butterfish with miso glaze like they used to make in our cafeteria
    • Flan!
    Volunteering: Find one great organization/activity to commit to.

    General Know-How:
    • Learn about the import/export process and more about retail distribution
    • Read some of those motivational books and start a learning journal of sorts.
    Just for Fun 
    • Taiko drumming classes.
    • Organize and post my photos from my trip to Asia last year
    • 3x the average traffic-per-post on my blog
    • Use my new 40-min. commute to learn some things.  Get Spanish-language and Chinese-language tapes.
    • Work on an indie film. Bug former coworker Tony about producing his next movie OR get involved in a theater production (ask Annie).
    • Film footage and piece together a 5-10 minute short of any kind.
    • Work with my mom to translate my grandmother's life story, and interview my dad about his family history.
    • Send out Christmas cards next year
    • Take 1 class with Doc Wong, and learn how to drive stick shift.
    • Mail out DVD copies of the play I produced 5 years ago to the cast/crew, which have been sitting on my desk for the past 3 years -___-
    Professional
    • Incorporate lessons learned from my last job. Take more responsibility for my career.
    • Manage expectations and deliver on promises. (Working on it.  It's a daily challenge.)
    • Exceed my quarterly targets
    • Be on time
    • Respond to important e-mails within 2 hours and keep my inbox under 20 messages. (HAH.)
    • Find projects beyond the core role by Q2-3
    • Get promoted
    • Decide on B-school once and for all
    Financial
    • Don't buy any more clothing or home stuff until my birthday (in February). (Update: I failed this one but have a goal for Lent)
    • Pay off my car loan
    • Read www.fool.com or other other educational resources once a week and take a couple seminars about investing.  Learn about stocks and all that, because it's Greek to me now.  And identify 3 areas to invest in.
    • Donate at least 10% of my net earnings to church and some non-profits that are doing great work.
    Spiritual, Personal Improvement, and Miscellaneous
    • Develop a daily prayer life. Pray regularly for my daddy.
    • Re-join a small group at church and go 2x/month
    • Forgive and let go of some specific, debilitating things from my past
    • Work on communication (synthsizing/clarity) and listening skills.
    • Give up something that matters for someone who truly needs it
    • Try to buy clothing made of natural materials: cotton, linen, bamboo, leather, silk, wool.  This will force me to buy fewer things of higher quality, rather than synthetic blends that pill after 2 wears.
    • Clean out/reorganize my closet twice (I will probably do this, this weekend)
    • Read: The Far Pavilions, Malcom X's Autobiography, and at least 2 other novels
    • Watch: After Life, Carnivale Seasons 1 and 2, Hellboy 1 and Hellboy 2, Elizabeth 1 and Elizabeth 2, It's a Wonderful Life, Waking Life, Slumdog Millionaire, the Orphic Trilogy, the Decalogue, Brazil, M, Wild Strawberries
    • Listen: Organize my mp3s and create a handful of playlists so I can start using my iPod again
    • ...and the one thing that will make it all possible: STOP WASTING SO MUCH TIME.  Spend less than 1.5 hours/day online--do less online shopping and find a way to blog more efficiently! (Well I am blogging less but probaby not wasting any less time -__-)

    First resolution completed!

    As I resolved in my 2009 List of Things To-Do, tonight my friend and I made my former coworker's secret family recipe for chocolate chip cookies. They are extraordinary--fluffy, tender and melty out of the oven, chewy and delicious a day or two later.

    I begged him for six months to share the recipe with me, and after he finally did, I proceeded to sit on it for two full years.  Well I finally made them and am very happy to report that after following the recipe to the letter they turned out just as kickass as I remember!  The keys are the very specific type of fat used, the cookie size and the baking time.

    I think it would be in poor taste to post the recipe since it's not really mine to share.  But here are some pictures!

    PS. Isn't Crystal cute with her big ole oven mitts!

    2009 To-Do List

    Happy New Year, all!  As Garry mentioned, I've made a 'to-do' list every year since seventh grade.  It began as a 'secret wish' list with some pretty dumb things on it, but soon turned into a list of goals. I never expect to accomplish everything (like any to-do list), but I'm happy if I get more than half done.  I find it easier if I come up with very specific things--helps keep me on track.

    So the one exception was 2008.  I never did a to-do list this past year, and lo and behold, I got jack-sh*t done.  So it's back to business as usual.  For reference, I've transferred my old 2007 list of things to do to a privitized post.
    _____________________________________________________

    Travel
    • Summer weekend trip to Lake Tahoe
    • One long-weekend domestic trip: New Mexico, Portland, New Orleans/Texas, Hawaii, Yellowstone, OR DC area
    • Visit LA at least 2x and go to Magic Mountain
    • Visit (or camp at) Muir Woods, Mt. Tam, Bodega Bay, northern CA (Eureka or Shasta), and one California destination I've never heard of.  Addition: Getaway to Sonoma.
    • Fall 2009 trip - China/SE Asia, Japan, South America, Costa Rica, Western Australia OR Spain/Morocco
    Health & Wellness
    • Sleep at least 7 hours/night (before 12:30am on weeknights)
    • Wear sunscreen daily, and lip balm for my perpetually chapped lips
    • Move my bike from home (in LA) to the Bay Area
    • Hike once a month.
    • Conquer my asthma and my gimp knee (so I can ski by next winter)
    • ...and get my weight back down to 120-125lbs., however that has to happen (gymming, walking, eating less).
    • Take a self-defense class
    Personal Projects

    Sewing (skills): Learn one new technique every month, things like: install a zipper, read/execute a pattern, tailoring techniques such as darts, princess seams, etc., create a pattern, smocking and shirring, install interfacing, create pleats, Hong Kong seams, linings for anything, make a pocket, and dye fabric
      Sewing (projects): 
      • Finish my fingerless gloves
      • Alter the $5 sari dress and skirt that I bought at the Lotus Festival and never wore.
      • Make a sundress out of the pretty batik I bought in Malaysia last year.
      • Make an evening/cocktail dress out of the material I bought at Joann's + all the sewing ideas I've been collecting for the past few months
      • Make an obi-style belt 
      Cooking:
      • Organize recipes and start recording family favorites and newly inspired creations in a journal or binder.
      • Master my slow-cooker so I don't starve when I start my new job
      • Recipes to master: 
        • The 'One Great Cookie' recipe for browned-butter cookies in the 2006 issue of Gourmet Magazine
        • My coworker's famous chocolate-chip cookie recipe
        • Addition: my old boss' wonderful recipe for blueberry scones
        • A really great gingerbread cookie recipe
        • Chili (this one was too tomato-y)
        • The Google chef's recipe for madeleines
        • Baked butterfish with miso glaze like they used to make in our cafeteria
        • Flan!
      Volunteering: Find one great organization/activity to commit to.

      General Know-how:
      • Learn about the import/export process and more about retail distribution
      • Read some of those motivational books and start a learning journal of sorts.
      Just for Fun
      • Taiko drumming classes.
      • Organize and post my photos from my trip to Asia last year
      • 3x the average traffic-per-post on my blog
      • Use my new 40-min. commute to learn some things.  Get Spanish-language and Chinese-language tapes.
      • Work on an indie film. Bug former coworker Tony about producing his next movie OR get involved in a theater production (ask Annie).
      • Film footage and piece together a 5-10 minute short of any kind.
      • Work with my mom to translate my grandmother's life story, and interview my dad about his family history.
      • Send out Christmas cards next year
      • Take 1 class with Doc Wong, and learn how to drive stick shift.
      • Mail out DVD copies of the play I produced 5 years ago to the cast/crew, which have been sitting on my desk for the past 3 years -___-
      Professional
      • Incorporate lessons learned from my last job. Take more responsibility for my career.
      • Manage expectations and deliver on promises.
      • Exceed my quarterly targets
      • Be on time
      • Respond to important e-mails within 2 hours and keep my inbox under 20 messages
      • Find projects beyond the core role by Q2-3
      • Get promoted
      • Decide on B-school once and for all
      Financial
      • Don't buy any more clothing or home stuff until my birthday (in February).
      • Pay off my car loan
      • Read www.fool.com or other other educational resources once a week and take a couple seminars about investing.  Learn about stocks and all that, because it's Greek to me now.  And identify 3 areas to invest in.
      • Donate at least 10% of my net earnings to church and some non-profits that are doing great work.
      Spiritual, Personal Improvement, and Miscellaneous
      • Develop a daily prayer life. Pray regularly for my daddy.
      • Re-join a small group at church and go 2x/month
      • Forgive and let go of some specific, debilitating things from my past
      • Work on communication (synthsizing/clarity) and listening skills.
      • Give up something that matters for someone who truly needs it
      • Buy only clothing made of natural materials: cotton, linen, bamboo, leather, silk, wool.  This will force me to get fewer things of higher quality, rather than synthetic blends like the cheap stuff from Forever 21 that pills after 2 wears.
      • Clean out/reorganize my closet twice
      • Read: The Far Pavilions, Malcom X's Autobiography, and at least 2 other novels
      • Watch: After Life, Carnivale Season 1, Hellboy 1 and 2, Elizabeth 1 and 2, It's a Wonderful Life, Waking Life, Slumdog Millionaire, the Orphic Trilogy, the Decalogue, Brazil, M, Wild Strawberries
      • Organize my mp3s and create a handful of playlists so I can start using my iPod again
      • ...and the one thing that will make it all possible: STOP WASTING SO MUCH TIME.  Spend less than 1.5 hours/day online--do less online shopping and find a way to blog more efficiently!