a grade of 2007
Topic: goals

Accomplished:

1. **Do at least 1 unusual longer activity one on one with the following people in 07: Mom, Momilly, Anna, Gina, Amanda, and Tanja.
2. ***Learn German more Q3 07
3. **bench-press 10 lb each side.
4. **Learn xml more
5. *read at least 6 books for fun (1 every 2 months)

6. Keep up with taking vitamins

Failed:

1. *Be more sensitive to husband/don't take for granted.
2. *Become a better listener
3. *Start MBA
4. **Bring back TTTW once a month. Q1 07
5. **800 situps/6pack
6. **bench-press 10 lb each side.
7. **get back to pull-up
8. *8:30 minute miles average in a 5K -
9. **Get my second belt in martial arts by end of 200y
10. ***sail overnight
11. ****learn to hang glide
12. *do at least one triathlon
13. *Do at least 2 running events
14. **Learn unix

Half-Done:

1. *finish furnishing house 
2. *House-break Venus and Mars and both dogs have to be solid on: sit, come, down, off, leave it, at a minimum.
3. *Learn Beginners spoken Japanese Q1 07

Extras:

1. learn to read and write in hindi 

In '07, I got less done then I thought, andI also lost track of some important goals. Given the new job, I could see how. But there is always something, isn't there? Don't I need a way to not do this to myself every year?  I over-committed to myself and need to mind that better.

So, next blog should be all about how I am not going to plan to do things I won't do and or how I will do things I want, and what are they now.

Blimey, that didn't take long at all!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: goals
My instructor told me I'm getting my first (white :( ) belt certification on the 9th of September. I was like, but I don't know anything- turns out I do know a pathetically small amount of stuff that is enough to go into the test. Yay. Go Me. I wonder how many 3-7 year-olds will be taking the test with me.

another status update - home bought
Topic: goals
we are now moved in, mostly, to the new house.

and today, I did my first push-up in 20 years!!!

marathon did
Topic: goals
So today I did my first: 25K, 30K, 35K, 40K and marathon. Ta-da!

1/2 way through the year - an overdue update
Mood:  chatty
Topic: goals
Here is an upate

Here's my focus in 2005 as it stands right now. I'll be upset if any of this doesn't get done.

Behind:
1. Start MBA - behind
5. 800 situps/6pack - stopped for a while, but have not lost all definition. Now have a personal trainer who'll speed up this.

On Track
2. Buy a house - on track, now with my Fiancee
6. be able to complete swim distances up to 1 mile - on track - I've had 6 months of private instruction and master swim clinicks under my belt!

7. sprint triathlon - ahead! - am in a training program to do 1/2 ironman! forget Sprint! (okay, i'm still nervous about doing the first one, but as I do more things I didn't know I could do, I believe that I can do this too, more so.)
sprint tri: Harbor lights, July 24; Chicago Tri;
1/2 ironman: lake geneva, sept 10
8. 8:30 minute miles average in a 5K - not sure where this is. need to do a competition to find out!
9. sail overnight - slightly behind
10. learn to hang glide - slightly behind - will do october.
13. Learn how to invest but this is not done yet.

Done:
3. go to prague
4. learn to snowboard
11. half-marathon - ahead! did 3, will probably try a marathon too!!! yeah!
12. Start an IRA - with some money in it okay this is done

Things I need to do to get there:
1. Start MBA
a. study 3 times a week at work at lunch
b. study 1 time a week at home for 2-3 hours
c. take GRE
d. fill out college apps
e. research programs
f. get recommendations

2. Buy a house
a. pay off credit cards (2 more months still :-( )
b. save 2-3K a month (3 months from now :-( )
c. check credit report done
d. apply for loan done
e. figure out how much I can get preaproved for - done
f. figure out the costs of living/taxes/all acceptable areas - done
g. start looking -done
h. read buying a house for dummies finally

5. 800 situps/6pack
a. do it consistently every day
b. do the bottom stomach excersizes
c. what to do about the toughest 2 - middle - got personal trainer :-)
d. eat healthier to get more definition

6. be able to complete swim distances up to 1 mile
a. take lessons
b. practice at least once a week

7. sprint triathlon
a. get on the workout program - on track/done
b. get cleats for bike - to do - end of the month :-) June

c. get bike cleat shoes - to do - end of the month :-) June

8. 8:30 minute miles average in a 5K
a. start running daily for 35-90 minutes a day - need to get better at doing this more.
b. resume biking or figure out how to do that at the gym for free. -done

9. sail overnight
a. take the class this summer.
b. sign up on time

10. learn to hang glide
a. save enough money
b. just go and do it

13. Learn how to invest
a. go to barnes and noble and read a book
b. talk to Hals and have her explain futures
c. read personal finance book
d. play etrade game

New:

1. plan wedding
2. learn german more

focus of 2005
Topic: goals
Here's my focus in 2005 as it stands right now. I'll be upset if any of this doesn't get done.

1. Start MBA
2. Buy a house
3. go to prague
4. learn to snowboard
5. 800 situps/6pack
6. be able to complete swim distances up to 1 mile
7. sprint triathlon
8. 8:30 minute miles average in a 5K
9. sail overnight
10. learn to hang glide
11. half-marathon
12. Start an IRA - with some money in it
13. Learn how to invest


Things I need to do to get there:
1. Start MBA
a. study 3 times a week at work at lunch
b. study 1 time a week at home for 2-3 hours
c. take GRE
d. fill out college apps
e. research programs
f. get recommendations

2. Buy a house
a. pay off credit cards
b. save 2-3K a month
c. check credit report
d. apply for loan
e. figure out how much I can get preaproved for again
f. figure out the costs of living/taxes/all acceptable areas
g. start looking
h. read buying a house for dummies finally

3. go to prague
a. get vacation days and go.
b. learn check

4. learn to snowboard
a. review skiing twice first
b. then do the snowboard in february at least once

5. 800 situps/6pack
a. do it consistently every day
b. do the bottom stomach excersizes
c. what to do about the toughest 2 - middle
d. eat healthier to get more definition

6. be able to complete swim distances up to 1 mile
a. take lessons
b. practice at least once a week

7. sprint triathlon
a. get on the workout program
b. get cleats for bike
c. get bike cleat shoes

8. 8:30 minute miles average in a 5K
a. start running daily for 35-90 minutes a day
b. resume biking or figure out how to do that at the gym for free.

9. sail overnight
a. take the class this summer.
b. sign up on time

10. learn to hang glide
a. save enough money
b. just go and do it

11. half-marathon
a. run daily, do 5-6 mile runs on the weekends, then blow it up to 10 mile runs on the weekends

12. Start an IRA - with some money in it
a. make the call and see if funds are transfered
b. put some funds in

13. Learn how to invest
a. go to barnes and noble and read a book
b. talk to Hals and have her explain futures
c. read personal finance book
d. play etrade game

swimming - progress and quantification
Topic: goals
First I made progress in the new year by 1. finding a swimming instructor, and 2. scheduling my first swim lesson. That's right, I'm going to get GOOD at swimming.

Some specific long and short-term goals:
1. fix breathing
2. fix stroke on the freestyle
3. be able to swim 32 laps in a 50-meter pool while maintaining a 70-90 heart rate.
4. fix rotation
5. fix diving/jumping in
6. be able to swim 4 miles Ha Ha Ha right now that sounds impossible. So to set up markers:
8 laps
16 laps
32 laps
1 mile
1.5 miles
2 miles
2.5 miles
3 miles
3.5 miles
4 miles
7. become a masters level swimmer Ha Ha Ha - what? Yeah that's right, I should be able to do anything I put my mind to. Mind over body. Start from 0 and reach for the stars.
8. complete a sprint triathlon without drowning on the swim.
9. lifeguard course

Where I'm at:

I'm a real lousy swimmer. I've taken it where I can on my own, and now know I need professional help. I sail, and I want to do more triathlons. I need to fix my swim so I don't drown. Let me break it down for you:

To give you an idea about my fitness level: in the warm months I work out 1-2 hours a day. I started really sticking to the sprint triathlon training routine this last summer, so I'm not in as great of a shape as I am suppose to get to if I keep this up. Run 3-4 miles 4-5 times/week, ride 10-30 miles 3-4 times a week, try the swim but it's practically useless.

Here's my problem: I can swim pretty far, so long as I keep my head above the water. The problem with this is obvious: not efficient, tiring, not competitive. The second water gets into my nose, I'm
toast. I'm not as comfortable in the water as I'd like to be. That doesn't work for triathlons, does it? Reality check was when I did the Chi Tri supersprint this summer. It was so shallow we just kinda ran in the water, but if I had to swim it... with all those people climbing over me... I need to know what I'm doing else I'll drown. Also, I didn't know the S curve existed till this summer. I was taught to swim wrong. I did a lot of rotating drills and kicking drills, but I haven't been able to get into rhythm, especially because of the breathing issues.

Here's where I'd like to be short term: not competitive, not fast. simple but lofty goal: swim 16 50-meter laps without breaking rhythm. Ideally by this summer so I can try a triathlon again. Long term, I want to feel comfortable swimming in the lake by myself, where it's so deep I can't stand. I want to feel that if someone is in trouble in
the water next to me, I can help them without killing myself. I want to be able to snorkel and scuba some day, so I really want to feel "at
home" in the water. Some day I want to try to do the triathlon thing competitively, so over time I'd like to improve my fitness, heart rate, breathing capacity, and speed. Long way to go.

Completed (with some extra notes) in 2004:
Topic: goals

1. do a triathlon - update, completed 08/28/04. Which lead to me meeting Holly and my life would be much duller now if I haven't. Also, the swim was so pathetic it almost didn't count, so check the new goals.
2. do a 10 mile - got it! Did well!
3. Have an international job - got it!
4. Make over 100K a year - got it!

Full list of goals including brainstorming new items and not completed old ones:
Topic: goals

1. become a better swimmer
2. get the dog re-certified on therapy and start going to hospitals
3. Do a full sprint triathlon
4. Do a century bike ride
5. Have a million dollars in savings behind me (monster tool tells me how)
6. See the Louvre (sp?)
1. Participate in an expedition such as this one: Drive Around The world expedition
2. 8:30 minute miles average in a 5K by end of 2004. Ok, didn't get as far as I should have, and I have legitimate excuses in my head for it that I'm buying. This is bad. Need to get back out there. Now I know what it takes because I came really close.
3. my own art show - I know what I have to do
4. do 800 sit-ups a day like usher - I got to 600
5. adventure racing
1. buy a house
2. learn to hang glide Summer 2005 - I'm bummed I didn't do this yet. But Theo's uncle died hang gliding this summer and I decided to hold off till I have adequate life insurance. I now do.
3. own a boat
4. Sail overnight on boat while manning it - I took some of the prerequisite courses and I should complete this in 2005.
5. do a half-marathon - I did a 10 mile, so this is not that far off. Louisiana half-marathon is what is planned
6. do a 10 K - I think I got really trashed the night before and didn't get any sleep and it was freezing. But I'll do one soon.
7. Visit Prague - March 2005?
8. Visit Mammoth cave Summer 2005 - I'm bummed I didn't do this yet.
9. See Yosemite
10. Live in another country during my adult life
11. get a masters degree
12. Find out more about my roots - little steps were made with grandpa and great uncle.
13. Catalogue my shell collection
14. Learn how to sculpt out of marble
15. Whitewater rafting
16. Rock climbing
17. Do 10 pull-ups (again)
18. Get a 6-pack - I already got to a 4 pack...
19. Learn to speak one Asian language fluently
20. Learn to speak Hebrew fluently
21. Visit Israel
22. Visit Peru
23. Visit Argentina
24. Visit Brazil
25. Visit Australia
26. Visit Singapore
27. Write a book - I started 2, but need to work on them
28. Become more organized - oh god, so much to do in this category
29. Consistently play golf under 100 - I did well with some 90's play in my golf league this summer, so I made progress
30. Take mom and dad to Spain again.
31. Visit every national park - visited like 0 last year... that sucks.
32. Sail around the world
33. Retire early
34. Own a business
35. Start an IRA - I did, but not sure if money got transferred. Need to chase this down to make it official.
36. Learn how to invest

IRA update
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: goals
oh yeah, forgot to say, I started an IRA last Friday!