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.
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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):
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
- 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 -__-)