1.  Try a Bikram Class

2.  Take a class in a musical instrument

3.  Get a kitten

4.  Buy flowers for someone

5.  Visit all 50 states  (so far:  Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming 22/50)

6.  Knit something

7.  Enroll in grad school

8.  Make my own beer

9.  Live on the West Coast for at least a little while.

10.  Make yogurt cheese

11.  Take a photography class

12.  Scuba dive in the Carribbean

13.  Visit all 7 continents (so far:  North America, Europe, Australia 3/7)

14.  Run a half marathon (at least)

15.  Take another long road trip across the country

16.  Make a painting

17.  Make a necklace

18.  Go sledding

19.  Read Autobiography of a Yogi

I am aware that this is only 19 things.  Ummmmmm….

Well, I must say, when I first read this question I thought I would have a lot to say given the fact that my life was so unimpressive last year.  Ahem, not that I’m calling my life impressive, I’m just saying… well, I’ve changed a lot in the past year but somehow avoided gaining any real concrete skills.  All of my battles have been mental.  I guess that’s kind of the point.  It’s not that I couldn’t have done them a year ago because, well duh, I did, but I felt like I couldn’t.

Today I can:

-run more than 3 miles.

-speak up in front of people without fearing for my life (it still makes me nervous, but I’ve chosen a job which forces me to make a habit out of it, which is a good thing.)

-be confident when people ask me what I do.  Not mumble and feel awkward because what the hell, I don’t even know.

-put my feet on the floor in downward dog.

-Objectively look back at things that seemed so unknowable back then.  Gosh, what was I thinking?  One year ago, I could never have envisioned that I would be where I am, doing what I am doing today.  This is the type of thing that I wanted to do back then, but I just didn’t see it happening.  Realistically, I wasn’t confident enough to think I could do anything besides retail and being a waitress (oops, failed at that one.)  I’m not sure how I changed, exactly, but I’m so happy to be on this end.

Things to do:

-Write blog post about effects of hunger and food insecurity on the brain.  Then I can use that information in my March presentation as well.  Ah yes, I am a genius. (new blog based on real academic information, not crazy ADD whims.  I’ll still use this place to spaz out about myself though.)

-Buy notebook for yoga teacher training and copy notes

-Write letter to state afterschool programs introducing myself, my work, and include info about the At-Risk Program

-Rewatch the end of the yoga video since um, I may or may not have fallen asleep.  Also look at the sun salutations powerpoint from Sunday’s class.  I’m bummed I missed that!

-LAUNDRY

-grocery shopping
    dish soap
    toothpaste
    bread
    almond milk
    yogurt
    shrooms
    apples
    carrots

-Deposit checks:  Steve’s and UMF

-Mail card to Margaret

-Make something for Collyn’s Birthday:  Granola??

-Find a race to run (I’M GOING CRAZY WITHOUT MY PLANNER)

-Um like plan future and stuff

>What am I going to do after November?  Travel?  Teach English?  Can I even do that because seriously, I do want to work on my Spanish, that’s been on my to do list for a while?

>Am I going to get certified to scuba dive?  This really will serve no purpose besides family diving on Caribbean vacations but still, I kind of want to do it.  Is it worth it?

>Do I want to go to grad school (yes?)  Do I have to take the GREs again (God I hope not.)  Do I want a program that is more oriented towards nutrition science/psychology or sustainability?  Do I really want to go to the midwest? (edit:  oh god, why did I say midwest?  I meant northwest.  NORTHWEST.)  Do I have to take pre-recs because I might as well do that now since I’m here in a college town and all. 

Ahhh life is overwhelming. 

Cancer:  On average, an adult on planet Earth has sex 103 times a year. But I’m guessing that in the immediate future, Cancerians everywhere may be motivated to exceed that rate by a large margin. The astrological omens suggest that your tribe’s levels of sensual desire may reach astronomical heights. Do you know anyone you’re attracted to who might be willing help you out as you follow your bliss? If not, be your own Valentine. One way or another, it’s prime time to celebrate your relationship with eros.

HAHAHA.

Ahh yes, the super fun new place that I went to was…. California!  San Francisco to be exact.  I had a conference at the Westin downtown from Monday through Wednesday and stuck around for the rest of the week, flying down to LA on Friday (but I’ve been there so I don’t get to say I’ve been somewhere new.  Nonetheless, super fun!)  It was too short, of course.  Now I am back in Maine and… yup, still freezing.  I definitely am finding the cold less and less pleasant to deal with every year.  And yet, here I am, getting ready to go snowshoeing in sub-10 degree weather.  What am I thinking?

Ahh… yoga in Santa Monica.  Kicked my butt this morning.

Teehee.  This weekend I went to my very first yoga training.  Well, only on Saturday.   I couldn’t make Sunday because I was busy flying out to the super fun *NEW* place where I am now (confession:  I totally knew I was coming here when I added coming somewhere new to my list of things to do this year.)  Maybe I will write about these things later.  Must sleep, it’s 2 am east coast time (good thing I’m not there!)