1. RUN. Goal: 18 runs. Current progress: 18 runs. 138 miles. I'm happy with myself!
2. Read. Goal: 3 books. Current progress: bust! Halfway done with The Know-It-All, and about 1/4 the way done with "Twisted". Need to do more reading next month!
3. Knit. Goal: 3 FOS. Current FO count: 2. Current *almost* FO count: 1...still need to do that last darn cuff on the Curly Purly soaker! I finished Bella's Mittens which will be a gift for a friend (but I had to finish them because I wanted to borrow them and wear them on Saturday before sending them out!) Also finished a pair of fingerless gloves, which I was "commissioned" to make for a good friend who moved away (today)...I work best with a deadline! I'm saying it now...TONIGHT I will carve out some time to finish that cuff and meet this goal.
4. Cook/Bake. Goal: 6 new recipes. Current progress: 2 new recipes. I'm pretty sure I am still stuck at 2 new recipes. I've been really busy helping out and going to functions for the friend that moved, and when I haven't been busy with that, I was busy making 7 dozen muffins (but a well-loved recipe, not a new one) Maybe this afternoon I'll make some new-to-me cookies, Pumpkin-Cranberry-Oatmeal cookies. Maybe.
5. Get a job. Progress: Well, one day I DID dress in "teacher clothes" because I had planned to go pick up a substitute teaching application...but I never quite made it there.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Things you never wondered about my reading habits.
The September goal that I am seriously slacking on is the one about reading 3 books. Today I came across a "book blogger" who answered this survey/meme, and I figured maybe if I act like a book blogger and answer questions about reading books, I might be a little more motivated to do some reading. (Plus, I need a break from trying to find the missing layer styles in PSE 5 before I gently place the laptop on my driveway and crush it into smithereens by running my car over it 300 times...although maybe not having a computer in the house would give me more time for reading.)
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Not usually, because I'm usually reading before bed or first thing when I wake up. When I am reading on the couch during normal snacking hours, I tend to prefer popcorn!
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
No, I don't write in my books... I was taught from a very young age that you're not supposed to do that! If I'm taking notes about something (for a book discussion, or just because) I'll do so on a post-it and flag the page.
How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark. My favoritest bookmarks are these little magnet ones that fold over the top of the page and stick in place. My friend Britt sent me my first ones (monkeys) and they are still my favorites. I have a new set (monsters)that I like a little bit less because they cover up more of the page than the monkey ones, so I have to slide them up to read the first 2 or 3 lines of most books.
Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Fiction. A little non-fiction here and there, but I'm sad to say, it usually bores me.
Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy. I've tried audiobooks, but my mind wanders too much. I always wonder if that's what my students minds are doing when I read aloud to them!
Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I almost always read to the end of a chapter or another place that I have deemed a logical stopping place. If a book has really long chapters, but has those little breaks with a big empty space or a little row of asterisks, I will stop there. Or, I will stop when a sentence ends at the end of a page.
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
No, I use context clues (just like I teach my 1st graders!) If the word is really tricky or interesting, I'll write it down on a post-it or slip of paper and look them all up later. I include the page number so I can go back and reread the sentence.
What are you currently reading?
The Know-It-All (A.J. Jacobs) and Cross Country (James Patterson... haven't been actively reading that one though)
What is the last book you bought?
I bought 5 books all at once, I think. Since I don't know which one rang up last, I'll list them all: Dewey, Firefly Lane, The Summer I Turned Pretty, I Before E Except After C: Old School Ways to Remember Stuff, and The Know-It-All.
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
I can read more than one at a time. I go through phases where I stick to one book and then go through another phase where I read multiples. Usually when I am working, I read 2 books at a time, one to leave in the classroom for lunchbreak, and one to leave at home.
Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
First thing in the morning, still snuggled and toasty under the covers!
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Hmm... I like both. Series books are fun but take a lot of commitment, so I also like reading a book and being "done" with it.
Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Jodi Picoult, Sophie Kinsella. I haven't read it in a while, but the book I've probably read the most is The Promise by Danielle Steele.
How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Organize my books? I shove them wherever they will fit on the shelf, and when I get the urge to straighten up my shelf, I organize them by color. I like the way that looks, and usually when I'm thinking of a book I want to find, I can remember the cover and find it by color! My closet is organized by color too.
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Not usually, because I'm usually reading before bed or first thing when I wake up. When I am reading on the couch during normal snacking hours, I tend to prefer popcorn!
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
No, I don't write in my books... I was taught from a very young age that you're not supposed to do that! If I'm taking notes about something (for a book discussion, or just because) I'll do so on a post-it and flag the page.
How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark. My favoritest bookmarks are these little magnet ones that fold over the top of the page and stick in place. My friend Britt sent me my first ones (monkeys) and they are still my favorites. I have a new set (monsters)that I like a little bit less because they cover up more of the page than the monkey ones, so I have to slide them up to read the first 2 or 3 lines of most books.
Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Fiction. A little non-fiction here and there, but I'm sad to say, it usually bores me.
Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy. I've tried audiobooks, but my mind wanders too much. I always wonder if that's what my students minds are doing when I read aloud to them!
Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I almost always read to the end of a chapter or another place that I have deemed a logical stopping place. If a book has really long chapters, but has those little breaks with a big empty space or a little row of asterisks, I will stop there. Or, I will stop when a sentence ends at the end of a page.
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
No, I use context clues (just like I teach my 1st graders!) If the word is really tricky or interesting, I'll write it down on a post-it or slip of paper and look them all up later. I include the page number so I can go back and reread the sentence.
What are you currently reading?
The Know-It-All (A.J. Jacobs) and Cross Country (James Patterson... haven't been actively reading that one though)
What is the last book you bought?
I bought 5 books all at once, I think. Since I don't know which one rang up last, I'll list them all: Dewey, Firefly Lane, The Summer I Turned Pretty, I Before E Except After C: Old School Ways to Remember Stuff, and The Know-It-All.
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
I can read more than one at a time. I go through phases where I stick to one book and then go through another phase where I read multiples. Usually when I am working, I read 2 books at a time, one to leave in the classroom for lunchbreak, and one to leave at home.
Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
First thing in the morning, still snuggled and toasty under the covers!
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
Hmm... I like both. Series books are fun but take a lot of commitment, so I also like reading a book and being "done" with it.
Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Jodi Picoult, Sophie Kinsella. I haven't read it in a while, but the book I've probably read the most is The Promise by Danielle Steele.
How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Organize my books? I shove them wherever they will fit on the shelf, and when I get the urge to straighten up my shelf, I organize them by color. I like the way that looks, and usually when I'm thinking of a book I want to find, I can remember the cover and find it by color! My closet is organized by color too.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Goal Check-Up #2.
September is halfway over now, so I'm going to check up on my goals again. I should also add "do things that result in more interesting blog content" to my list of goals. Maybe in October.
1. RUN. Goal: 18 runs. Current progress: 9 runs. OMG... I'm halfway through my goal and halfway through the month! Hooray! I've been running a whole lot because I've been working with a friend who wants to get started running. We meet about 3 times a week and mostly walk with some running thrown in. But I have to run to her house and back so usually I get in 4-5 miles in addition to the mileage we cover in our walk/runs. Plus, I found a running group that meets 3 days a week. I've only gone twice so far, but I have good intentions to go tomorrow!
2. Read. Goal: 3 books. Current progress: STILL about 1/4 way through the first book, "The Know-It-All" by AJ Jacobs...it really is good, I swear. I just haven't carved out much time for reading lately.
3. Knit. Goal: 3 FOS. Current FO count: still 0. Current *almost* FO count: 2...one more cuff to finish off on the soaker (I really don't know why I don't just take 20 minutes and knock this one out!) and about 30 rounds left to go on my 2nd mitten. I've also chosen the third project, so that's a start, right?!
4. Cook/Bake. Goal: 6 new recipes. Current progress: 2 new recipes. Chicken Corn Tortilla Soup from my new Robin Rescues Dinner cookbook, and Chocolate Zucchini Bread (recipe here)
5. Get a job. Progress: Putting this off...need to focus on my other, more enjoyable goals.
1. RUN. Goal: 18 runs. Current progress: 9 runs. OMG... I'm halfway through my goal and halfway through the month! Hooray! I've been running a whole lot because I've been working with a friend who wants to get started running. We meet about 3 times a week and mostly walk with some running thrown in. But I have to run to her house and back so usually I get in 4-5 miles in addition to the mileage we cover in our walk/runs. Plus, I found a running group that meets 3 days a week. I've only gone twice so far, but I have good intentions to go tomorrow!
2. Read. Goal: 3 books. Current progress: STILL about 1/4 way through the first book, "The Know-It-All" by AJ Jacobs...it really is good, I swear. I just haven't carved out much time for reading lately.
3. Knit. Goal: 3 FOS. Current FO count: still 0. Current *almost* FO count: 2...one more cuff to finish off on the soaker (I really don't know why I don't just take 20 minutes and knock this one out!) and about 30 rounds left to go on my 2nd mitten. I've also chosen the third project, so that's a start, right?!
4. Cook/Bake. Goal: 6 new recipes. Current progress: 2 new recipes. Chicken Corn Tortilla Soup from my new Robin Rescues Dinner cookbook, and Chocolate Zucchini Bread (recipe here)
5. Get a job. Progress: Putting this off...need to focus on my other, more enjoyable goals.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Goal Check-Up
One week of September is over...so I thought I'd try to keep myself on track with the goals I set last week. Turns out, I'm not making a whole lot of progress just yet! Oops!
1. RUN. Goal: 18 runs. Current progress: 3 runs. 15 to go in the next 22 days.
2. Read. Goal: 3 books. Current progress: about 1/4 way through the first book, "The Know-It-All" by AJ Jacobs...it is really enjoyable so far!
3. Knit. Goal: 3 FOS. Current FO count: 0. Current *almost* FO count: 1...just about 4 inches of ribbing left on the Curly Purly Soaker. I also started some Bella's Mittens and picked up my Sugar Maple socks again. I highly doubt that I'll finish the socks this month because they're tedious.
4. Cook/Bake. Goal: 6 new recipes. Current progress: Does ordering Chinese count?
5. Get a job. Goal: Well, I had pushed this to October anyway... and a good thing too, because I still don't have that magical paper!
1. RUN. Goal: 18 runs. Current progress: 3 runs. 15 to go in the next 22 days.
2. Read. Goal: 3 books. Current progress: about 1/4 way through the first book, "The Know-It-All" by AJ Jacobs...it is really enjoyable so far!
3. Knit. Goal: 3 FOS. Current FO count: 0. Current *almost* FO count: 1...just about 4 inches of ribbing left on the Curly Purly Soaker. I also started some Bella's Mittens and picked up my Sugar Maple socks again. I highly doubt that I'll finish the socks this month because they're tedious.
4. Cook/Bake. Goal: 6 new recipes. Current progress: Does ordering Chinese count?
5. Get a job. Goal: Well, I had pushed this to October anyway... and a good thing too, because I still don't have that magical paper!
Friday, September 04, 2009
Because I can think of nothing else...
Blog-lifted this from one of the blogs I look at in Google Reader.
1. Your thoughts on truck drivers? I think they are usually pretty nice. They let me merge onto the highway and sometimes, if you do that arm thing, they'll honk for you.
2. Did you hear Michelle Duggar is pregnant for the 15th time? (but that will be kid #19 if you lost count....) I've heard.
3. Have you ever done something to hurt someone intentionally... just for the sole purpose of hurting them because you thought they deserved it? Maybe a paybacks a b*tch sort of thing?
Like physically hurt? Or hurt their feelings? Avoiding this question...
4. Is there anyone in your life that when you go to their place of residence, you just walk in without bother knocking? Does anyone just walk into your house without knocking? There used to be
5. Whats in the trunk of your car? Do you even have a clue? A bottle of windshield wiper fluid. And possibly some reusable commissary bags.
6. When you go to a family holiday get together (such as Christmas or Thanksgiving), about how many people are there? I don't know...25-35? And they are all really loud. :)
7. What is in your kitchen sink right at this very moment? Dishes
8. You go to a store to buy an expensive item... say $150. You pick up that item and a couple other this n' thats. You get to the register and the expensive item rings up at $40. The cashier doesn't seem to notice and tells you your total. Do you go with what they say and pay it or do you question the price difference? You know you would question it if your $40 item rang up at $150.... Well, I would either a)not really be paying attention to how much my items rang up as or b)if I did, assume it was on some special sale. Sales usually get marked DOWN in price, not UP, so that explains why I would mention it if I noticed that my $40 item rang up at $150.
9. Do you fold your underwear or do you just toss it in a drawer? Fold
10. There is a Harley-Davidson giveaway. Chances are $100 and they are only selling 250 tickets. Do you buy one? Well, if it was the kind that retails for 30-35,000, I might just buy ALL of the tickets, guarantee myself the win, and make some money off the sale of the bike. But if I didn't have enough cash on hand to do that, I probably just wouldn't enter.
11. Who is your favorite Disney character? Sully from Monsters Inc. Or maybe Belle. Or the mom gorilla in Tarzan.
12. It's September - most of the weekly sitcoms/dramas are starting new seasons again. Which one are you most looking forward to? Gossip Girl! And of course (even though it's not a sitcom/drama) SURVIVOR!!!
13. You are at a grocery store and are on your way out to your car with your cart full of grocery bags. On your way to your car you see a black kitten in an empty cart. What do you do? I don't know! I'd cry probably. And maybe if it seemed nice I would bring it home and love it!
14. Is there anything that you do for a hobby that you are asked to do for friends/family that most people would hire a professional to do? (example: cake decorating, fixing cars....) There is something that I don't do (cake decorating) that I was asked to do once. I didn't do it because, well, I don't do it.
15. Are we there yet? I have a lovely and annoying song by the same title to sing on long car trips.
1. Your thoughts on truck drivers? I think they are usually pretty nice. They let me merge onto the highway and sometimes, if you do that arm thing, they'll honk for you.
2. Did you hear Michelle Duggar is pregnant for the 15th time? (but that will be kid #19 if you lost count....) I've heard.
3. Have you ever done something to hurt someone intentionally... just for the sole purpose of hurting them because you thought they deserved it? Maybe a paybacks a b*tch sort of thing?
Like physically hurt? Or hurt their feelings? Avoiding this question...
4. Is there anyone in your life that when you go to their place of residence, you just walk in without bother knocking? Does anyone just walk into your house without knocking? There used to be
5. Whats in the trunk of your car? Do you even have a clue? A bottle of windshield wiper fluid. And possibly some reusable commissary bags.
6. When you go to a family holiday get together (such as Christmas or Thanksgiving), about how many people are there? I don't know...25-35? And they are all really loud. :)
7. What is in your kitchen sink right at this very moment? Dishes
8. You go to a store to buy an expensive item... say $150. You pick up that item and a couple other this n' thats. You get to the register and the expensive item rings up at $40. The cashier doesn't seem to notice and tells you your total. Do you go with what they say and pay it or do you question the price difference? You know you would question it if your $40 item rang up at $150.... Well, I would either a)not really be paying attention to how much my items rang up as or b)if I did, assume it was on some special sale. Sales usually get marked DOWN in price, not UP, so that explains why I would mention it if I noticed that my $40 item rang up at $150.
9. Do you fold your underwear or do you just toss it in a drawer? Fold
10. There is a Harley-Davidson giveaway. Chances are $100 and they are only selling 250 tickets. Do you buy one? Well, if it was the kind that retails for 30-35,000, I might just buy ALL of the tickets, guarantee myself the win, and make some money off the sale of the bike. But if I didn't have enough cash on hand to do that, I probably just wouldn't enter.
11. Who is your favorite Disney character? Sully from Monsters Inc. Or maybe Belle. Or the mom gorilla in Tarzan.
12. It's September - most of the weekly sitcoms/dramas are starting new seasons again. Which one are you most looking forward to? Gossip Girl! And of course (even though it's not a sitcom/drama) SURVIVOR!!!
13. You are at a grocery store and are on your way out to your car with your cart full of grocery bags. On your way to your car you see a black kitten in an empty cart. What do you do? I don't know! I'd cry probably. And maybe if it seemed nice I would bring it home and love it!
14. Is there anything that you do for a hobby that you are asked to do for friends/family that most people would hire a professional to do? (example: cake decorating, fixing cars....) There is something that I don't do (cake decorating) that I was asked to do once. I didn't do it because, well, I don't do it.
15. Are we there yet? I have a lovely and annoying song by the same title to sing on long car trips.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
September September
I went for a run this morning and saw a bunch of kids waiting for the school bus at the corner. I didn't realize all those American kids lived in my neighborhood, although I do know one from my Wednesday night dinners.
Anyway, it made me a little bit sad, that they're going to school and I'm not...but also a little bit happy that at 7:30 a.m., I'm just starting a morning run and not driving to work. That would make for some very early morning runs!
So... it's September and I have a few goals for the month:
1. RUN. I've been a slacker lately and I want/need to stop being lazy and start living up to my reputation as a crazy runner girl. I think I'll aim for 18 runs this month...which will far exceed my August running, but still give me some leeway. I know there is a running group in a neighboring town, I found their meeting place once but didn't see any runners there.
2. Read. I just picked up a package from the post office today and so I've now been reunited with 3 books I bought but didn't read in the states. If I can finish reading 3 books (not necessarily those 3) in September, I'll be happy with myself.
3. Knit. After a bit of a drought, I've been back to knitting. I think I had one project that just didn't hold my interest, so rather than work on it I found other things to do...now that project is finished and I'm ready for more! Maybe finish 3 projects in September?? They don't have to be big!
4. Cook/Bake. Since I've come back from the states, there have been fewer cook-outs around here, and I've not really been inviting people over for dinner. So, I haven't been doing much cooking or baking. Although I did make some new and delicious cookies. In September, I think I should follow SIX NEW recipes.
5. Get a job. :) David should be able to send me the magical paper that will allow me to work "in a few days"(I've been hearing that for a few weeks...but as I discovered last fall/winter, waiting for magical papers is pretty much status quo). Then I can get my name on the sub list. My friend told me that there aren't always openings for subs at the elementary school, but that the other day the high school had a sign on the door saying "WE NEED SUBS!" Need to think about this... high schoolers are big and scary and probably don't give their teachers hugs and tell them "I love you". On the other hand, they also don't (probably) tattle on each other for eating boogers or pee their pants during recess because they just didn't want to stop playing.
On second thought... I might just be soooo busy with my first 4 goals that I should push #5 to October.
Anyway, it made me a little bit sad, that they're going to school and I'm not...but also a little bit happy that at 7:30 a.m., I'm just starting a morning run and not driving to work. That would make for some very early morning runs!
So... it's September and I have a few goals for the month:
1. RUN. I've been a slacker lately and I want/need to stop being lazy and start living up to my reputation as a crazy runner girl. I think I'll aim for 18 runs this month...which will far exceed my August running, but still give me some leeway. I know there is a running group in a neighboring town, I found their meeting place once but didn't see any runners there.
2. Read. I just picked up a package from the post office today and so I've now been reunited with 3 books I bought but didn't read in the states. If I can finish reading 3 books (not necessarily those 3) in September, I'll be happy with myself.
3. Knit. After a bit of a drought, I've been back to knitting. I think I had one project that just didn't hold my interest, so rather than work on it I found other things to do...now that project is finished and I'm ready for more! Maybe finish 3 projects in September?? They don't have to be big!
4. Cook/Bake. Since I've come back from the states, there have been fewer cook-outs around here, and I've not really been inviting people over for dinner. So, I haven't been doing much cooking or baking. Although I did make some new and delicious cookies. In September, I think I should follow SIX NEW recipes.
5. Get a job. :) David should be able to send me the magical paper that will allow me to work "in a few days"(I've been hearing that for a few weeks...but as I discovered last fall/winter, waiting for magical papers is pretty much status quo). Then I can get my name on the sub list. My friend told me that there aren't always openings for subs at the elementary school, but that the other day the high school had a sign on the door saying "WE NEED SUBS!" Need to think about this... high schoolers are big and scary and probably don't give their teachers hugs and tell them "I love you". On the other hand, they also don't (probably) tattle on each other for eating boogers or pee their pants during recess because they just didn't want to stop playing.
On second thought... I might just be soooo busy with my first 4 goals that I should push #5 to October.
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