Sunday, January 4, 2009

101 Things: Creative and Health

I also have categories for creative projects and health. It's time to work on a game plan for them.

Creative
10. Improve violin.
11. Improve piano.
12. Take voice lessons.
13. Take guitar lessons.
14. Start cello again.
15. Play violin in public.

Nutrition and Health
16. Stop snacking at night.
17. Get a complete physical.
18. Track eating for a month every year.
19. Take a multivitamin every day for a month.
20. Get body fat to less than 25%.

Some of these goals are pretty vague, so I really need to work on defining them.

Improve violin.
I've played the violin for a few years now, but I've never made great progress due to an irregular practice and lesson schedule. The goals here are pretty simple:
  • Set up and stick to a practice schedule. (Even a little bit is better than nothing.)
  • Choose a somewhat difficult piece as a goal piece.
  • Stick to a regular lesson schedule. No missing lessons for me and if my teacher tries to cancel lessons frequently, look for other options.
  • Look into buying a new bow.
Improve piano.
Some story as the violin; therefore, mostly the same goals.
  • Set up and stick to a practice schedule.
  • Choose a somewhat difficult piece as a goal piece.
  • Stick to a regular lesson schedule. No missing lessons for me and if my teacher tries to cancel lessons frequently, look for other options.
  • Get piano tuned.
Take voice lessons.
I took voice lessons a while back, but the professor was a bit difficult. He was great, but he was also the one who worked with the best choral group at my college and so demanding that even music majors tried to avoid him. Unfortunately, I got pushed out when they needed spots for voice majors. I'd really love to have more confidence with my singing.
  • Look into voice options (preferably around the university).
  • Contact teachers.
  • Decide when I want to start.

Take guitar lessons
It's a cool instrument and I've wanted to learn for a while (especially since I heard Leslie King's version of "You Shook Me All Night Long").
  • Research guitars.
  • Buy a guitar.
  • Look into lessons.
  • Choose instructor.
Start cello again.
I started lessons on it a while back and quit. I'm not sure if I want to restart lessons or just work on my own for a while. I think I'll determine that as I get a little farther into it.

  • Get cello out.
  • Find books.
  • Play a minimum of once a week.
Play violin in public.
This fits a bit into improving the violin. I plan to try to play the violin at a family reunion when the family sings hymns. It would mean a lot to my mother, I think.
  • Follow "Improve violin" goals.
  • Practice hymns.
  • Ask uncle what hymns will probably be used.
  • Practice with him a few times.

Stop snacking at night.
This was a big one when I talked to the nutritionist. She wanted me to stop eating for four hours before I went to bed. Since this one is sort of vague, I think I'll qualify it was "Don't eat within four hours of going to bed for a month." Repeat yearly.
  • Set a bedtime.
  • Make meals more regular.

Get a complete physical.
I'm way overdue for that and I'll need one if I switch insurance.
  • Call doctor's office and schedule physical in summer of 2009.

Track eating for a month every year.
This is a great habit and something I need to work on.
  • Look at forms given to my by nutritionist.
  • Start filling them in regularly.
  • Have Nancy look over them.
Take a multivitamin every day for a month.
I always mean to do this, but I forget.
  • Buy vitamins. (Research best brands and possibly talk to nutritionist.)
  • Get rid of all expired vitamins.
  • Choose time to take them.
  • Create a checklist.
Get body fat to less than 25%.
This is very important, but I think a lot of this will come as a result of other goals, so I'm not going to really belabor this one. I do need to start getting my body fat checked regularly.
  • Check bodyfat regularly.
  • Keep running record.

101 Things in 1001 Days

I came across this project in the form of a Live Journal Community and I decided it sounded like something I'd really like to do. It took me a while to make my initial list. First, I had trouble coming up with ideas, then I had too many and had to figure out which ones to cut. Overall, I'm happy with my list, but I still feel the horrible urge to go back and revise a few items (or replace them entirely). I'm thinking of coming up with a bonus list of ten extra things, but I'll decide on that later.

Right now, my list ranges from the very difficult (pass the bar) to the easy, fun things I never seem to find the time to do (going to the zoo). While I'm currently working on a few items, I'm in the planning stages on others. I want to approach the list as methodically as possible, so that I get as many things as possible completed before my deadline (September 29, 2011).

For the next ten days or so, I'm going to go through the list and create a game plan for each of the items. I'm also going to establish firm criteria for some of the more vague items. Since I've divided the list in to categories, I'll do the first category (nine items) today.

Professional
1. Get through Law Essay Exam Writing System (LEEWS).
2. Learn how to use Microsoft Office 2007 (especially OneNote) effectively.
3. Have perfect attendance in one class.
4. Work with Street Law program.
5. Do externship.
6. Create resume.
7. Graduate law school.
8. Pass bar.
9. Work with at least two pro bono groups in addition to Street Law.

Some of these are pretty easy or require minimum planning. Some are pretty far into the future. Still, I need to get a plan and start crossing things off.

Get Through LEEWS
This one is pretty straightforward and time sensitive. All it's going to take is a couple of days, but it needs to be done in the next two weeks so I'll be ready for the next semester of classes. I'm going to set a goal of doing this one on Tuesday through Thursday of next week.

Learn how to use Office 2007 effectively.
Again, straightforward yet time sensitive. I'm fairly comfortable with Word and Excel, but I'm don't use Power Point and OneNote nearly as efficiently as I'd like. I have a feeling I'll be doing more with Power Point professionally and OneNote is an amazing notetaking tool (and I recently found it was useful for other things). I'd like to do this before the new semester starts.

I'll need to pick up a good book on Microsoft Office and work through it. I need check the bookstore tomorrow and make plans to work through it after I finish LEEWS (next Friday onward).

Have perfect attendance in one class.
This is simple enough: go to class. I'm trying to decide if I should count my once a week class on this or if I should apply it to the classes meeting twice week. I think I'll shoot for Health Law, since there isn't a good commercial outline for that.

Work with Street Law Program
This is pretty much set up. I need to respond to a post on a website, wait for a reply on an email, and go to a training session. After that, I'll be assigned a group.

Do externship
This summer would be an ideal time for this. I need to attend the presentation for it this spring, talk to the professer, register for a class, and find a good placement.

Create resume
I might need this for the externship, depending on where I'm placed. I should see what resources the law school offers.

Graduate law school
I'm basically on track for this. It's going to take a lot of work, but not a lot of planning. At this point, it's just go where they tell me to be and read what they tell me to read.

Pass bar
This is a long way off (a year and a half), but I need to start thinking about this. I need to decide when I want to take it and if I want to take multiple states. After that, I need to send in my paperwork and register for a bar review class (probably BarBri).

Work with at least two pro bono groups in addition to Street Law.
This is mainly aimed at law school, but it could apply after. I need to look at the list of pro bono groups at the law school and find the ones that look interesting, then contact the person listed to get more information. I should probably try to start by this summer.

***

Based on this , I have a list of several things I need to do and a vague timeframe for doing them.

By January 12
Finish LEEWS
Buy Office Book
Complete One-Note Section of Office Book
Fill Out Info for Street Law
Check and return email about Street Law

By February 1
Attend resume seminar.
Check bar exam deadlines.
Register for bar review course.

By March 1
Check Pro Bono website and pick at least two groups to contact.
Find out exactly where I can get an externship.
Register for bar

By April 1
Contact possible externship opportunities.



Thursday, January 1, 2009

My List

Professional
1. Get through LEEWS.
2. Learn to use Microsoft Office efficiently.
3. Have perfect attendance in one class.
4. Work with Street Law program
5. Do externship.
6. Create a resume
7. Graduate Law School.
8. Pass Bar
9. Work with at least two pro bono groups

Creative
10. Improve violin. (Goal piece to be determined)
11. Improve piano. (Goal piece to be determined.)
12. Take voice lessons.
13. Take guitar lessons.
14. Start cello again.
15. Play violin in public.

Nutrition and Health
16. Stop snacking at night.
17. Get a complete physical.
18. Track eating for a month every year.
19. Take a multivitamin every day for a month.
20. Get body fat to less than 25%.

Fitness
21. Regular workout schedule. (1 hour/per, 6x per week.)
22. Swim one mile without stopping.
23. Wear a pedometer and get more than 10,000 steps per day for 21 days.
24. Run a 10K.

Sleeping
25. Get a normal bedtime of before midnight.
26. Be awake by eleven for an entire week.
27. Be awake by ten for an entire week.
28. Be awake by nine for an entire week.

Financial
29. Track spending for a month ever year.
30. Create a financial plan.

New Experiences
31. Learn to surf.
32. Tai Chi classes.
33. Belly dance classes.
34. Take another kayaking class.
35. Study a martial art.

Pop Culture
36. Watch (or rewatch) all major Disney animated movies.
37. Watch AFI Top 100 movies.
38. Read LOTR.
39. Read Chronicles of Narnia.
40. Watch entire Star Trek series.
41. Finish Harry Potter.

Self-Improvement
42. Read at least one classic per month. (34)
43. Read one science or math book per month. (34)
44. Read a philosophy or religion book a month. (34)
45. Deal with New Horse Phobia.
46. Focus more on Alley’s training. (Therapy dog.)
47. Daily walks for Alley.
48. Get Brain Age down to below actual age.
49. Reduce amount of TV watched.
50. Go through books and make a list of books I own but haven’t read. Make a list of ones I want to read and finish it, get rid of the others.
51. Read the Economist weekly.
52. Take a pet first aid class.
53. Renew EMT certification.
54. Complete My French Coach
55. Complete My Japanese Coach
56. Complete My Chinese Coach
57. Complete My Spanish Coast
58. Complete My Word Coach

Creative
59. Complete NaNoMo.
60. Start a Photoblog.
61. Work through colored pencil book I bought.
62. Learn calligraphy.

Internet
63. Get a webpage up.
64. Routine updates on blogs.
65. Keep a recs list.
66. Join at least one new LJ comm every three months and be active for two weeks.
67. Post five YouTube videos.
68. Complete three fic challenges.
69. Make 250 icons.

Organization
70. Organize sunroom.
71. Organize bedroom.
72. Organize kitchen.
73. Organize dining/living room.
74. Go through old cooking magazines and create a recipe book.
75. Go through old home magazines and create a list of ideas.
76. Get a book a month from the library.
77. Go to McKay’s at least once every three months.
78. Organize photos (scan, put in albums, and give copies as needed).

Just for Fun
79. Attend some sort of convention (comic, anime, RvB, etc)
80. Learn to play chess.
81. Get Gamerscore up to 15,000.
82. Do a Sudoku daily for a month.
83. Do a crossword puzzle daily for a month.
84. Go out with a friend once a month.
85. Get 1000/1000 points on a 360 game.
86. Learn five magic tricks.
87. See Avenue Q.

Hobbies
88. Plant an herb garden.
89. Plant a vegetable garden that includes heirloom vegetables.
90. Learn to knit.
91. Learn to crochet.
92. Complete 15 cross stitch/embroidery projects.
93. Make things to sell for family reunion.
94. Try at least one new recipe per month.
95. Take a sewing class
96. Take a cooking class.

Trips
97. Go to the Cincinnati Art museum.
98. Go to King’s Island.
99. Go to Newport Aquarium.
100. Go to Cincinnati Zoo.
101. Go to Horse Park.