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.
It's hard to believe that three months of "my" year have already gone by. and here's the progress (or lack thereof)....
- successfully complete a 5k - I will do this...and I officially start training today. hopefully my friend won't kill me - not because of the workout itself, because I'll probably complain. a lot.
- continue to be physically active - I was doing so well with this, until I decided to fracture my foot on 11 September. kinda puts a damper on that whole running, boot camp, volleyball thing. although I've been vigilant about doing my weights in the morning and I've become re-acquainted with my physical therapist, and will be cleared for higher-impact stuff (i.e. running) on tuesday.
- explore more in the culinary world - having to stay off my foot makes it difficult to cook. which sucks. hopefully I'll improve on this in a few weeks.
- continue the "no soda" quest - I've done good! almost five months, with only a couple slips here and there. and Rockstar energy drink is not a soda - it has vitamins.
- increase social media knowledge/promote rjl creative - I decided
to combine these two this year. I may even slightly change the
direction (and potentially the name) of rjl creative to more of an
SoLoMo focus, while keeping the design aspect secondary. I love design,
but the future is SoLoMo - and sadly, pretty isn't as important in that
arena (but dammit, my stuff will be pretty AND functional!)
- continue to engage in artistic endeavors - meh. I've done a couple freelance logos and that's about it. however, I do have some ideas for that "east side special" coffee table.
- get my bartending license - I just always wanted to do this, for no particular reason...but no, I don't have it yet.
- 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. right now I'm part of the problem.
- visit at least two of the remaining 11 states I haven't yet - in a nutshell, I'm either going west or south. but I did see a Bears game at Solider Field. no, not a new state...but I'd never been there before (and da Bears won too)
- organize my finances - this IS hard (and I'm sure the doctor and PT bills will help immensely). I should resort to gourmet ramen noodle cooking, if I could bring myself to eat ramen.
- figure out this whole "relationship" thing - there's this guy who's after you like a fat kid on cake and you want to smack him upside the head. ugh. I'm attempting online dating again - may the experience be better the second time. but there are a few possibilities in the non-cyber realm...perhaps one will work out. or not.
- 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.
