One of my favorite bloggers, Mary Hunt at Money Rules, Debt Stinks, is sponsoring her own version of the summer games, the DPL Summer Olympics, to inspire her readers to enter an "event" that will challenge them to improve something in their life. She mainly encourages entry into "events" that encourage budgeting, saving money, living frugally, etc., but is allowing a "healthy living" category too.
One of the things I've been doing this summer is to take advantage of having some extra time on my hands by doing some things I ordinarily don't have time for. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to commit to completing some projects in August.
Project #1 - Making 9 Gifts instead of Buying Them
Finish all 9 projects = GOLD
Finish 7 = SILVER
Finish 5 = BRONZE
This includes: 5 baby gifts, 2 birthday gifts, 1 batch of Christmas gifts (they are easy, so I'm counting the whole batch as one project) and 1 marathon Birthday card-making session, so I have enough cards to last until the end of the year.
Project #2 - Healthy Living Marathon
GOLD - walk or jog 40+ miles in 17 days
SILVER - walk or jog 30-39 miles
BRONZE - walk or jog 21-29 miles
I'm currently doing about 10-12 miles a week, so that would equal 25-30 miles, or a "Bronze" if I maintain that rate, and a notable increase in my current rate to reach the higher levels.
I'd better make myself a training schedule... opening ceremonies are only 2 weeks away!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
wind · fall
[wind-fawl] -noun
1. an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like.
- ~ - ~ - ~ - - ~ - ~ - ~ - - ~ - ~ - ~ -
In my last post, I had alluded to the fact that registration for fall classes had not gone as smoothly as I'd hoped, but that all would be well in the end. In fact, all turned out better than I could have anticipated. I am now registered for the fall and I feel like a "windfall" is the only way to describe the outcome.
I had thought that I would begin my program by taking seven "core" classes, so I'd looked up the recommended first semester schedule. Imagine how baffled I was to find that I was unable to access any of the courses I needed. They were all listed, but the link to add them wasn't live. I started making phone calls... and what followed was a comedy of errors, and unfortunately it seemed the joke was on me.
The registrar's office told me I needed to get permission to enroll in those classes from the business department. The business department told me the classes were all full, but I probably didn't need them, and I should call the program advisor. What had I heard about my core waiver review? Huh? (I had submitted this form, but hadn't received anything back yet, figuring it wasn't urgent because I needed to take the core first.) The business office didn't have it. My advisor didn't have it. Ahhh!!!
By this time I was approaching sheer panic and total despair - I couldn't get into any core classes, nobody had my paperwork, and I had no idea what to do. Thankfully when I called the advisor's office, he answered on the first ring. In a matter of minutes, he offered to get my core waiver form straightened out and made a recommendation for registration.
By Friday, all was indeed well. VERY well! Here's why...
~ My class schedule is set and I will be on campus three days per week. Campus is a 100-mile round trip, so being there as few days as possible each week is a great time and cost savings.
~ The waiver form was quickly reviewed, and I was able to register for classes that are considered important to take early in the program. In fact, one of them is a prerequisite for just about everything else.
~ And the best ever? Of the seven core classes I thought I would be taking first, I am required to take only one. One!! Besides the fact that this means I will get my degree faster than expected (and for less tuition money,) my first classes are jumping right into the subject matter I'm most interested in.
A lesson learned... not to panic when things don't go according to plan, because sometimes what rises from the chaos is something that I couldn't have dreamed was possible. Amen to that!!
1. an unexpected gain, piece of good fortune, or the like.
- ~ - ~ - ~ - - ~ - ~ - ~ - - ~ - ~ - ~ -
In my last post, I had alluded to the fact that registration for fall classes had not gone as smoothly as I'd hoped, but that all would be well in the end. In fact, all turned out better than I could have anticipated. I am now registered for the fall and I feel like a "windfall" is the only way to describe the outcome.
I had thought that I would begin my program by taking seven "core" classes, so I'd looked up the recommended first semester schedule. Imagine how baffled I was to find that I was unable to access any of the courses I needed. They were all listed, but the link to add them wasn't live. I started making phone calls... and what followed was a comedy of errors, and unfortunately it seemed the joke was on me.
The registrar's office told me I needed to get permission to enroll in those classes from the business department. The business department told me the classes were all full, but I probably didn't need them, and I should call the program advisor. What had I heard about my core waiver review? Huh? (I had submitted this form, but hadn't received anything back yet, figuring it wasn't urgent because I needed to take the core first.) The business office didn't have it. My advisor didn't have it. Ahhh!!!
By this time I was approaching sheer panic and total despair - I couldn't get into any core classes, nobody had my paperwork, and I had no idea what to do. Thankfully when I called the advisor's office, he answered on the first ring. In a matter of minutes, he offered to get my core waiver form straightened out and made a recommendation for registration.
By Friday, all was indeed well. VERY well! Here's why...
~ My class schedule is set and I will be on campus three days per week. Campus is a 100-mile round trip, so being there as few days as possible each week is a great time and cost savings.
~ The waiver form was quickly reviewed, and I was able to register for classes that are considered important to take early in the program. In fact, one of them is a prerequisite for just about everything else.
~ And the best ever? Of the seven core classes I thought I would be taking first, I am required to take only one. One!! Besides the fact that this means I will get my degree faster than expected (and for less tuition money,) my first classes are jumping right into the subject matter I'm most interested in.
A lesson learned... not to panic when things don't go according to plan, because sometimes what rises from the chaos is something that I couldn't have dreamed was possible. Amen to that!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thankful Thursday: Potpourri
* I'm getting a great tan this summer, thanks to all the exercising and other outdoor activity.
* My cousin is coming to spend the weekend with me, and we are going to hit the beach and go to a concert!
* I am now registered for fall classes, which begin September 2. Despite some wrinkles in the process that nearly gave me a heart attack... all is well.
* Speaking of heart attacks, my uncle had quadruple bypass surgery yesterday, which hopefully means he won't be having a heart attack any time soon. This is no minor surgery, but it apparently went very well, and I am SO relieved and happy that he is expected to make a full recovery and will probably end up feeling better than ever.
* I got in another 2 miles on the jogging plan this morning. I almost felt like I could do more, but decided not to press my luck. :)
* I met with a friend of mine today for the first lesson in a Bible Study on Grace. One of the exercises the book asked of us was to take time to notice the gifts of God in our lives. By thanking Him, we realize how blessed we are and how very present His grace is every day. We both noted that we took time to thank God for every day things: sunsets, daily safety, food to eat. I also thank Him for time spent with a good friend today, time that enriched my study because my friend shared what she learned this week. God is good.
* My cousin is coming to spend the weekend with me, and we are going to hit the beach and go to a concert!
* I am now registered for fall classes, which begin September 2. Despite some wrinkles in the process that nearly gave me a heart attack... all is well.
* Speaking of heart attacks, my uncle had quadruple bypass surgery yesterday, which hopefully means he won't be having a heart attack any time soon. This is no minor surgery, but it apparently went very well, and I am SO relieved and happy that he is expected to make a full recovery and will probably end up feeling better than ever.
* I got in another 2 miles on the jogging plan this morning. I almost felt like I could do more, but decided not to press my luck. :)
* I met with a friend of mine today for the first lesson in a Bible Study on Grace. One of the exercises the book asked of us was to take time to notice the gifts of God in our lives. By thanking Him, we realize how blessed we are and how very present His grace is every day. We both noted that we took time to thank God for every day things: sunsets, daily safety, food to eat. I also thank Him for time spent with a good friend today, time that enriched my study because my friend shared what she learned this week. God is good.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Gone Wild
My cousin is visiting us for a couple days this week, and it's been a while since I've spent longer than... 5 minutes with an 11-year old. It's been hilarious, he's kept us quite entertained.
Yesterday, we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We saw all kinds of great animals, and as it turns out, Alex is a "Lorikeet Whisperer." The zoo sells $3 nectar so the birds will land on you and feed. We skipped the overpriced nectar, and went into the aviary just to look at the birds. Alex had one hanging out on his shoulder in no time.
He let me invite the bird on to my shoulder for a few minutes, too.
On the way home, we stopped at McDonald's for $1 ice cream cones. As we sat there enjoying our cones, the conversation went something like this:
Alex: "I don't know how you guys eat your ice cream so fast. You're going to get brain freeze."
Dad: "Brain freeze is bad. You definitely don't want that. It might make you stupid..."
Me: "-ER."
We all started laughing. A lot. And that's when ice cream came out of Alex's nose. It was the highlight of the day.
Yesterday, we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We saw all kinds of great animals, and as it turns out, Alex is a "Lorikeet Whisperer." The zoo sells $3 nectar so the birds will land on you and feed. We skipped the overpriced nectar, and went into the aviary just to look at the birds. Alex had one hanging out on his shoulder in no time.
He let me invite the bird on to my shoulder for a few minutes, too.
On the way home, we stopped at McDonald's for $1 ice cream cones. As we sat there enjoying our cones, the conversation went something like this:
Alex: "I don't know how you guys eat your ice cream so fast. You're going to get brain freeze."
Dad: "Brain freeze is bad. You definitely don't want that. It might make you stupid..."
Me: "-ER."
We all started laughing. A lot. And that's when ice cream came out of Alex's nose. It was the highlight of the day.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Free Slurpees!
It will come as no surprise to some that "7-Eleven Day" is on my calendar. Each year, the convenience store chain celebrates it's birthday on July 11 with free 7.11 ounce Slurpees. I haven't actually had a Slurpee in a really long time... probably since last July 11. Sound too good to be true? Check it out at Slurpee.com and the official press release at 7-Eleven.com
Anyone care to join me??
Anyone care to join me??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)