lucky seven months in....

One would think that since I am currently among the ranks of the unemployed, I would be really good at blogging.  Alas, that is not the case as I  have realized that I'm a good month overdue for my "six months in" update.  I know all you adoring fans were on the edge of your seats waiting for it...ha ha.

So the anticipation in over. Here we go....

• successfully complete a 5k - my friend did not kill me. I completed my first 5k on 1 December in the "speedy" time of 37 minutes. not great, but I finished. next up: a 10k in April.
• continue to be physically active - when one does not have gainful employment (what is this thing called "work" y'all speak of?), one must find things to do. I decided to spend more time at the gym/doing yoga/running. it must be working...I dropped a jeans size.
  
• explore more in the culinary world - still cooking...or as I like to say "gourmet on a budget". really, that means a lot of inventive ways to make pasta and rice.
• continue the "no soda" quest - since losing my job on 4 January, I have become reacquainted with my old friend diet mountain dew. we have both enjoyed this reunion.
• increase social media knowledge/promote rjl creative -  I am still working on this...but did come up with a new name to better include the social media component: xpresso media - design & consulting.
  
• continue to engage in artistic endeavors - meh. I retitled my end tables, and that's about it. well, besides creating the xpresso media logo.
• get my bartending license - I should do this. hell, maybe it'll help me get a job.
• become involved in causes I believe in (namely Pancreatic cancer and APBT/AmStaff groups) -  if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. I'm still part of the problem.
• visit at least two of the remaining 11 states I haven't yet - make that 10 states...Louisiana baby!!! NYE in NOLA was freakin' awesome!
• organize my finances - hmmm, this would require a job. anyone wanna hire me? and I still cannont bring myself to eat ramen.
• figure out this whole "relationship" thing - or not. I should probably figure out employment first. but in the meantime, I'll just go with the flow...
• cherish the time with friends & family - life is short (something that came to realization about a year ago). make time for those you care about.  remember, it's not what you do it's who you're with.
• be thankful/grateful for the things I have, rather than lamenting about what I don't have -time to practice an "attitude of gratitude".  I've gotten better at this, not perfect, but better. baby steps.