43things.4

Bienvenidos a the next installment of my 43 things, which is actually my 33 things.  Did I mention that yet?

16. Speak Spanish fluently - you know, I could do this at one point.  Textbook Spanish, at least.  Those were great days.  I now can't decide whether I want to specialize in one Romance language or become fairly familiar with several.  I've hit the Spanish hardcore, I've dabbled in Italian, and right now I'm listening to some (Brazilian) Portuguese tapes, which will lead me into regular Portuguese.  I tend to avoid French like the plague, but I think it might be a potential resource for me.  And holy cow, who WOULDN'T want to study Romanian?  So..yeah...still under deliberation.  It'd definitely be easier to recapture one language than pick up a few more...     

 17. Learn Italian - meaning, continue learning Italian.  I love that language.

18. Learn Gaelic - ok so my polyglot tendencies spread beyond Romance.  Gaelic, Slavic and Germanic languages are all on my wish-dar.

19. Set financial goals - this is something Brian and I have been in the process of doing over the past several weeks.  Before that, our only financial goal was to stay out of debt!

20. Go on a road trip with no predetermined destination - to the new me, this sounds cool.  to the old me, this would make me have a panic attack.  I think that in reality I would need to have at least some idea of where we were headed - like, ok let's be in Austin by Wednesday, or let's take Route 66, or let's visit X, Y and Z friends who happen to be spread across the midwest.  

You know.

See parts 1, 2 and 3 here, here and here.

43 things, part 3

Back, after a hiatus!  See part 1 here and part 2 here if you're so inclined.

11. Get the artwork hung in the house.  I am the only one on 43things.com with this particular thing on my list.  I am coming up on 2 years here, and still have not figured out how to arrange the miscellany on the walls.  Most of it went up on preexisting hooks and nails as I was unpacking, in an attempt to keep from breaking anything, and it has all stayed right where it landed.  It's bad, y'all.  Bad.

12. Learn to sew.  Happily, I am beginning the journey!  I now know how to work the machine and I've done some very very simple projects (curtains and pillow cases).  There's a book on the way that talks about beginner quilting.  This summer, I will make a tshirt quilt if it's the first and last quilting project I ever do!!!!  

Also, I am thinking about changing this one to something more specific.  Like 'make a quilt' or 'make a dress from a pattern.'  Something measurable or accomplishable.

13. Go back to school.  Sadly, I'm beginning to realize that my days as an academic have probably passed me.  I just don't have the capacity I used to for highly concentrated study.  Continuing ed, certificate programs, and the like very much appeal to me, but I doubt I'll ever be a master or doctor of anything.

14. Walk the dog more often. Again with the 'goals' that aren't really quantifiable.  Now that the days are longer and the weather is nicer, Eli does go on a W-A-L-K more often.  But more often than what?  Than in winter?  Than when I was sick?  Than when he was a baby puppy squishyface?  More often than he gets walked right now would be ideal.  Maybe 5 times a week for 4 weeks?  It'd be a habit by then, yes?

15. Write a song.  As a musician AND a verbivore holding a communication degree, I ostensibly should have written a song by now.

mas 43 things

Read Part I here.

To continue my 43 things that actually number 33 (yes, it was 34 last week but I deleted one) we have Things 6-10, also in no particular order:

6. Become ambidextrous - I don't think Brian would have married me if I didn't have the deep desire to become ambidextrous.  As it is, I think I'm pretty good with using both hands pretty well at a lot of things.  I bat left-handed and I knit left-handed, so that's a good start. 

7. Sleep well - I am often plagued with bad sleep.  I don't know what the problem is.  Sometimes it's back pain, but now that that's mostly taken care of, I've begun tossing and turning most nights and waking up in knots.  I don't know how to get this one 'done' yet.  It will probably be on the list a long time.  sad day! 

8. Write a Letter to the Editor - Despite my journalism training at one of the top journalism schools, I have never written a letter to the editor.  I find this to be a source of shame. I DID, however, write a letter to President Bush I when I was young, asking him to please save the spotted owls. 

9. Move to Ireland - This is a real goal of mine (and fortunately, of Brian's as well).  And I'm pretty sure it will happen at some point.  We both have a heart for the country and we want to be involved in the next phase of its healing.  Right now contracts and responsibilities are keeping us here, but in a couple of years we might be freed up to go finally.  I actually almost decided to go to Ireland as an Au Pair, but I had a dog and couldn't find any programs that would let me take him.  Oh Eli, thwarting my life goals!! 

10. Be on the radio - I've had an interest in radio for as long as I can remember.  There are many days during which I think, 'I would REALLY like to be a radio personality.'  There are a few problems with this plan, however: people don't get my jokes, and I don't have a good voice.  So, I'll just settle for being on the radio someday, just once.

43 things

I can't remember if I've ever told you guys about 43things.com.

I love it. Being a List People and all.

It's called 43 Things because your list can only be 43 things long. I say 'only' knowing that some people think that 43 is a lot!! And other people (like me) don't think it's nearly enough. Having the boundary is nice, though...we all know I love boundaries.

The list I made is haphazard and has no sense of order or ranking, because I love me some boundaries but you can be sure I'll be going crazy once I know the limits.

I'm going to take the next few days and go over the items on my list, because I feel like it's time to reevaluate some of the choices and I wouldn't mind some onlookers and inputters.

We'll start with the first 5, with my commentary in italics:

1. Meet Anne Lamott - she's one of my favorite authors and I want to experience her presence to augment my appreciation of her voice.

2. Write a book - I'm pretty sure almost every person in this country wants to write a book of some sort.

3. Get another dog - waiting for the right timing. It may happen as early as this August! Or maybe next August. We'll see. I'm getting to the point of ready, though.

4. Floss every day for a month - because I don't floss regularly, and I feel guilty about this. If I can do it every day for a month, then the habit is pretty much there....right??

5. Get another ear piercing - Brian and I want to do this together, left ear at the top. I'm guessing we'll do it in celebration of him finding a job...as a youth minister...because we are that kind of klassy.