Fingernails

I was hoping to post a picture of my fingernails now so you could see for yourself how they look but apparently my computerblogger is still having a hissy fit and not uploading pics. :( So I"ll just tell you now that today marks 3 months since last time I bit my fingernails and they look awesome. I hesitate to say I've "quit" biting my nails but it is defenitly a work well in progress. that I hope continues. Funny, when I was trying to stop, I kept nibbling but after I gave up and stopped thinking about it....volia! :) Well gotta go and will try to post some pictures tomorrow if it lets me.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If at first you don't succeed, try again! Many of you know I went for a road test hoping to get my full driver's licence March 19, 2008. And I came home depressed that I didn't get it. Everything seemed to be going so well but I didn't signal going around (passing) ice and snow on the side of the road and that all added up to a failure. Anyway, I went again today....and I passed!!!:) I now have my full driver's licence, now I can drive my kids to school, extra-curricular activities, or whatever and myself to work granted my husband doesn't need the van. Next step is now for us to find and purchase a small car that is fuel-efficient so my husband can use is driving to work and back on his full-time schedule. Yay again for me!!! :D Sorry, I know I shouldn't gloat but I was beginning to think this would never happen and I'd always just be talking about it.

My Sister's Keeper

Wow, I finally finished this book and what a good book it was. The fact it took me so long to complete had absolutely nothing to do with the story. Rather that I just couldn't find enough hours in the day to just sit and read. If I could, this is a book you can't put down and want to read cover to cover. This a a thought-provoking book looking at a moral dilemma and ethical issue as it relates to real people and family relationships. I really liked how you got to see each person's point of view as the author used five different voices to tell this story I must admit I never would have guessed the way the plot takes a twist in the end. I have never heard of the author, Jodi Picoult, before but would really like to read her current book as well as other past novels that she has written. There are many sites that review this book but one that I recommend looking at has discussion questions and even an excerpt from the novel you can read.

I'm Legal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

I wrote my Learner's Test this morning and passed with only one wrong! :) I've been waiting for this day for so long. Well actually I'm half way there - one test down and one to go. Because I had a licence before the Graduated licencing program came into effect, I'm exempt from that. Inshort, that means I don't have to wait nine months before I go for my road test. I work tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30 am so Cliff says I can drive us there. I know that Cliff can be rather impatient/ not very tolerant of mistakes and since I haven't drove for so long and I'm very nervous of getting behind the wheel, I am going to take some Driver Ed courses. I'm hoping that I will gain the confidence to drive well soon quickly and I can go for my road test soon. It will make things much easier when I can drive and don't have to rely on others all the time and organize my schedule around theirs. BJ, maybe when I come out to visit in the summer I'll even be able to drive a standard transmission uphill!!! ;)

I'm SOOOOO Excited!!!!!!

What started as a typical evening call from my mother ended up being the best news I've heard all day. Now when somebody asks me, "What's new?", I can tell them...........are you ready for this?.............I may very likely be going to New Zealand next summer!! :D Mom mentioned that she is going next June as it will be her oldest brother's 45th wedding anniversary and all the family are getting together. Apparently she didn't make it last year for his birthday so upon threat of death (just joking - just a little big brother/little sister lingo) she is going for this special occasion. My brother is going to accompany her and for some odd reason she had never thought I would want to go. Like DUH!!!! Mom!!! I'm sooo excited, I will get to meet my other half of the family, see the beautiful country of New Zealand, and get to see New Plymouth (the city I was born in). My mom is also looking forward to the trip even more now cause she gets to take both her kids back with her.
I still can hardly believe this is going to happen and not just a dream. Just the other day when I was talking to someone re the possibility of completing my 101 in 1001 list, I used the example of my goal "to visit New Zealand" to say "like that will ever happen in the next 2.75 years..." Well, guess what - it just may happen!!

First one completed!

I finally finished typing my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. And even posted it to my blog as well as the master list for this meme. I found the home for this meme at this website. Others who are participating in this meme and there lists can be found here.

For this meme, I would like to tag BJ and Andrea, if they have time and would like to participate. I'll send a message to those who have been tagged to let then know.

The 101 Things To Do In 1001 Days Project

After figuring out what a meme is and viewing various ones via a Google search, I came along this meme and thought it would be a good motivator as well as fun. It comes from this website: http://triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp? Being a person who likes to make lists as I seem to remember things better and have a better chance of accomplishing them if I do, this seemed like a good meme for me to do and blog about. Also, it will help me get organized and hopefully accomplish some things I have been procrastinating about as well as some that will help me grow as a person in various dimensions. So here it goes...! P.S. I must say that upon viewing some other lists I am borrowing some others' ideas for grouping the "things" as well as charting my progress with various colors.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start Date: November 12, 2007
End Date: August 9, 2010

Purple Bold Text - finished with completion date
Yellow Bold Text - in progress

My 101 in 1001:

HEALTH
1. lose 5 pounds (Feb 4, 2008)
2. lose 10 pounds (June 13, 2008)
3. lose 15 pounds
4. lose 20 pounds
5. do aerobic exercise daily for 3 months (25/90)
6. get a gym membership (July 2008) -I actually had one through work but it is so far away I don't use it very often. I got one at the local YMCA and also am able to take my kids for swimming lessons too.)
7. drink 8 - 8oz. glasses of water a day for 3 months (35/90)
8. visit the gynecologist 2 times (0/2)
9. get my teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist (0/1)
10. never eat after 8pm (225/1001)
11. go to bed by 10:30 (95/500)

SELF IMPROVEMENT/ WELL-BEING
12. stop chewing my fingernails
13. get my Beginner's Driver Licence (Jan. 11, 2008)
14. get my Full Driver Licence (March 27, 2008)
15. pray daily (2/1001)
16. read my Bible everyday (20/1001)
17. attend a new church once a month for a year (9/12)
18. attend a parenting course with hubby to learn & practice better discipline
19. learn to control my anger, don't yell at the kids for 3 months (0/3)
20. take a trip (other than work) w/o hubby or kids (June '08 - New Zealand & Aug'08 - New Brunswick)
21. make a new friend (0/1)
22. say one nice thing to someone else daily (175/1001)
23. get a pedicure for the first time (0/1)
24. get a professional massage (0/1)

FAMILY/ RELATIONSHIPS
25. go on a getaway vacation with hubby (no kids) once a year (0/3)
26. go on a family vacation (with hubby & kids)(0/1)
27. sit down and read to the kids daily (205/1001)
28. have a devotional with the kids weekly (15/143)
29. tell the kids daily I love them (340/1001)
30. kiss Hubby goodnight (330/1001)
31. play 150 games with my kids (56/150)
32. paint Autumn's fingernails once a month (6/33)
33. get kids to school before 8:50am (55/300)
34. take kids the the library once a month (2/33)
35. teach Wynn how to tie his shoe laces
36. teach Autumn how to tie her shoe laces
37. potty train Liam
38. reply to each email received the day it was received for 3 weeks (15/21)
39. write and send one snail mail letter per month, just because (2/33)
40. to send 10 random friends anonymous gifts (0/10)
41. make a will

HOME
42. paint staircase (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!) & stencil wall (me)
43. paint upstairs hallway (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!)
44. paint main floor hallway (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!)
45. organize and file loose recipes into a binder
46. organize and file unfiled documents (Jan.30/08)
47. keep things filed for 2 months (0/2)
48. organize my bedroom closet and get rid of anything we don't wear
49. organize the kitchen and get rid of anything we don't use
50. clean out and organize the coat closet getting rid of things we don't use or need
51. get the upstairs bathroom remodelled
52. grow and maintain a beautiful perennial garden for a whole year/growing season
53. more efficiently use the two compost bins I currently have, one only knows my kids waste enough food!
54. re-stain the deck
55. build a pergola over the deck
56. build a pond garden
57. create and stick to a weekly menu for 8 weeks (1/8)

FINANCIAL
58. keep bankbook balanced for three months (1/3)
59. write down all transactions for three months (1/3)
60. pay off all home-improvement related loans (0/5?)
61. pay off credit cards (0/3)
62. accumulate $1000 in our Savings account and keep it there for emergency fund
63. take a money management course
64. make & maintain a monthly budget
65. keep monthly grocery bill under $450 for a year (3/12)
66. save for & buy a vehicle for Cliff (& I) to commute to work

FUN
67. take a ballroom dancing course with hubby
68. dance (waltz) with hubby at a public function
69. do a fast dance with hubby at a public function
70. learn to skate on my rollerblades
71. finish books I've started including: Geisundtheit
72. ... My Sister's Keeper (March 4, 2008)
73. ... The Strong-Willed Child
74. ... Woman First, Family Always
75. ... Love & Logic Magic For Early Childhood
76. learn to play the piano
77. learn to sew
78. make a scrapbook of Wynn
79. make a scrapbook of Autumn
80. make a scrapbook of Liam
81. learn to swim
82. bike trails near my house yet unventured
83. figure out how to bike from my house to work
84. ride a roller-coaster
85. participate in Gimme Your Stuff: http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com/
86. learn to drive a stick-shift

TRAVEL
87. visit Betty-Jo & Company in New Brunswick ( August 18 - 24 '08 !)
88. to visit New Zealand ( June 22 - July 4, 2008 :D !!!!)
89. to take kids somewhere on a plane trip
90. to travel on a train
91. stay at our timeshare cabin for the first time
92. go to British Columbia and see the West Coast I've yet unseen (June 22, 2008 - 8 hour layover going to NZ)
93. take the kids to DisneyWorld

WORK
94. take the Wound Care Workshop at work (Nov 22, 2007)
95. get my certification in Gerontological Nursing
96. update my CPR and be confident with same

OTHER/BLOGGING
97. blog several times a week for 6 months/24 weeks (7/24)
98. finish, type and post this list (Nov. 14, 2007)
99. blog about each of my 101 tasks as completed
100. get someone else to do this 101 in 1001 with me
101. near the end of the 1001 days, create a new list including those tasks left undone