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It's been three and a half months since I was laid off. I'm still comfortable stretching that severance pay, but I'm starting to get uncomfortable with what I've done with my time. I want to make the most of my time off.
I'd like to travel. So far, I've been to Ohio (for my grandmother's passing), Kentucky and New England (standard holiday trip), Yosemite (for a weekend to see the falls in winter), and Tahoe (a few days to ski). December was a strong start, with more time away than at home, but I petered out. This isn't the wild flitting about I had envisioned. There is no reason I can't plan small, inexpensive car trips during the standard work week. I could also be bargain-hunting for plane fares.
(Planned future travel: Germany and Scotland (one trip, July), Portland (by car with my mom, May), and Egypt (time TBD - durn that Prez of ours). Maybe this category won't be all that lean by the end of summer or so.)
I'd like to spend time learning languages, a pursuit I find fascinating and exciting. So far, I have listened to three Pimsleur lessons of Egyptian Arabic and have since ignored the tapes. I would love to brush up on German, begin Gaelic (Scottish), and renew Swedish and/or Norwegian. I think after this entry I'll do another Arabic lesson. It's about time.
I'd like to take courses... on anything. Language. Car repair. Indian cooking. Fiction writing. Economics, micro or macro. Philosophy 101. A BAMM Weapons or Multiple Assailants self-defense course. On further reflection, courses that meet regularly aren't very compatible with travel, and they can be done while working, so maybe I won't be so unhappy if I don't do this.
I'd like to organize my life. So far, I've sorted and organized about four thousand photos (some dating as far back as 1989) but that's it. I still own way too much excess baggage, in terms of both physical possessions and unfinished projects. I'd like to finish a quilt, sew a shirt and two skirts I just bought fabric for, repair years' worth (an entire drawer!) of mendable clothes, and perhaps make something completely wild and crazy to wear.
I'd like to meet some personal goals. I'd love to hike the Grand Canyon again. I dream of hiking the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail (well, I'd do it uphill, so I'll call it Sea to Skyline). I'd feel very good about myself if I could run Bay-to-Breakers. I'm sure I'll come up with some not-so-physical ones as soon as I post this entry. Maybe dye my hair some outrageous color - I've dreamed of dark green. Why not? I don't need to impress anyone right now. Maybe get my cowardly soul back into a Pitts and finally learn to land the @#$! thing so I can solo it.
If I'm to get through even a fraction of this list, I'm going to have to plan. Today I came up with a physical training regimen for running and hiking. We'll see how well I keep to it. Soon I hope to have dates and reservations for all of the larger items. Things like the Pimsleur tapes and the quilt will fit in the spaces.
As usual, I'm feeling better just having all this written down.
I'd like to travel. So far, I've been to Ohio (for my grandmother's passing), Kentucky and New England (standard holiday trip), Yosemite (for a weekend to see the falls in winter), and Tahoe (a few days to ski). December was a strong start, with more time away than at home, but I petered out. This isn't the wild flitting about I had envisioned. There is no reason I can't plan small, inexpensive car trips during the standard work week. I could also be bargain-hunting for plane fares.
(Planned future travel: Germany and Scotland (one trip, July), Portland (by car with my mom, May), and Egypt (time TBD - durn that Prez of ours). Maybe this category won't be all that lean by the end of summer or so.)
I'd like to spend time learning languages, a pursuit I find fascinating and exciting. So far, I have listened to three Pimsleur lessons of Egyptian Arabic and have since ignored the tapes. I would love to brush up on German, begin Gaelic (Scottish), and renew Swedish and/or Norwegian. I think after this entry I'll do another Arabic lesson. It's about time.
I'd like to take courses... on anything. Language. Car repair. Indian cooking. Fiction writing. Economics, micro or macro. Philosophy 101. A BAMM Weapons or Multiple Assailants self-defense course. On further reflection, courses that meet regularly aren't very compatible with travel, and they can be done while working, so maybe I won't be so unhappy if I don't do this.
I'd like to organize my life. So far, I've sorted and organized about four thousand photos (some dating as far back as 1989) but that's it. I still own way too much excess baggage, in terms of both physical possessions and unfinished projects. I'd like to finish a quilt, sew a shirt and two skirts I just bought fabric for, repair years' worth (an entire drawer!) of mendable clothes, and perhaps make something completely wild and crazy to wear.
I'd like to meet some personal goals. I'd love to hike the Grand Canyon again. I dream of hiking the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail (well, I'd do it uphill, so I'll call it Sea to Skyline). I'd feel very good about myself if I could run Bay-to-Breakers. I'm sure I'll come up with some not-so-physical ones as soon as I post this entry. Maybe dye my hair some outrageous color - I've dreamed of dark green. Why not? I don't need to impress anyone right now. Maybe get my cowardly soul back into a Pitts and finally learn to land the @#$! thing so I can solo it.
If I'm to get through even a fraction of this list, I'm going to have to plan. Today I came up with a physical training regimen for running and hiking. We'll see how well I keep to it. Soon I hope to have dates and reservations for all of the larger items. Things like the Pimsleur tapes and the quilt will fit in the spaces.
As usual, I'm feeling better just having all this written down.
no subject
Check http://www.foothillglobalaccess.org/ to see if anything there starts your engine? Online courses don't have the travel incompatibility that regular courses do.
Organization. flylady.net makes me giggle, often makes me snarl, but does help me get my butt in gear. FWIW.
no subject
Gah, I ALMOST bailed on flylady.net within the first thirty seconds due to the cutesie factor. But I can also see that it could have good things to say. The whole 'beat the timer' concept is one I invented for myself a while back and probably don't use to the fullest - interesting to see how versatile and useful it is. Thanks for the pointer!
no subject
1) the assumption that the entire audience is married women with children at home
2) the assumption that the entire audience practices Christianity
She does frequently acknowledge that neither of these are true (especially during the holidays), but the messages still have this as a pervading POV.
Despite this, I do find value in it. (And her Christianity isn't raving-fundy type, which means I find it much more tolerable.)