on really being more of an ideas person

I'm spending my morning procrastinating. Epically.

More and more, I'm realizing that I'm more of a planner than a do-er. I like to come up with ideas. I like to start projects. I like to think about how awesomely the project will go down.

But when it comes time to do it...I choke. And then I start the process of Avoiding It At All Costs. I come up with 800 other things to do and reasons why I suddenly can't work on it. I take small parts of the project and spend way too much time focusing on them and not getting the important stuff done. And I think about other, more exciting projects that I could start instead.

Of course, I then spend the last two days before the project needs to be completed panicking. Such is life.

Today I'm avoiding preparing for a health workshop that I'm presenting on Wednesday. I have a lot to do. I have very few of the specific details worked out (you know, little things like what I'm going to actually say at the workshop). And yet I'm spending my morning writing a rambling blog post.

Such is life.

Are you more of a "planner" or a "do-er"?

on the anticipation of an end

The Boy and I have a lot of (ahem) cool hobbies.

Sometimes we spend the weekends watching the Game Show Network. Sometimes we drink at karaoke bars. Sometimes we play Rock Band. If we're feeling really crazy, we might venture into the city to do some shopping.

Our most exciting hobby, however, is that we spend a great portion of our time reading the Harry Potter series. Out loud. Together.

(to clarify, I do all of the reading and he just listens).

All sarcasm aside, this practice has become one of my favorite things we do. It's fun to have someone to share the books with (I had already read the first five, but we started the series from the beginning to read together) and it's exciting to discuss what we've read and to try to predict what will come next (which we do. a lot. even in public.). We take the book on long car trips (and sometimes even on short ones). We bring it along when we go on vacation. We read before bed and on lazy weekends and while we wait for dinner to cook and when there's nothing worth watching on the Game Show Network (IT HAPPENS. I know you're surprised.).

But there's a small wrinkle in sight.

Last weekend we started Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows--book seven in the series. Which also happens to be the final book in the series. Which means once we finish this book (which will likely happen in the next few weeks) this two year project (maybe longer?) will be over. And then what will we do? Attend social events with friends? Pfft. Unlikely.

So we're on the hunt for the next series. And now I need your help.

We've perused the shelves at Borders trying to find the winning books. We've used whatshouldIreadnext.com for inspiration (ummm, Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss? really?). But we still don't really know what we should go for.

So help, please! What's an awesome series that you've read lately? Or heard amazing things about? What would fill the Harry Potter void? 

(And, for the record, it can be Harry Potter-like in nature or not...We're open to ideas and variety...)

on goals. because I have those now.

In January, a friend and I created our lists of 101 Goals in 1001 Days (inspired by the Day Zero project).

Though I initially jumped in excitedly with all kinds of big plans as to how I would tackle all of these goals, the list then became promptly neglected. Now I have almost eight months behind me since the creation of the list and I think it's time to buckle down and make some progress.

The list (and my progress) can be viewed at the 101 in 1001 tab at the top of the blog, but now that I've (ahem, finally) looked it over again, I think some explanation could be helpful for some of the goals.

For example:

Goal #4: Reach 400 blog posts.

Initially I'd planned to accomplish this entirely on my old blog, which now sits at 211 posts (what was I even writing about?!), but since that is now abandoned I will carry out the remainder of the post requirements on this page. So once this is published, I'll have 213 posts down and just 187 to. No problem. Right?

Goal  #5: Finish Nathan's scarf.
Two years ago, Nathan requested a red and gold "Harry Potter scarf" as his Christmas present. And he got it--sort of. I learned some very basic crochet skills but couldn't finish it in time, so I wrapped up the foot-long scarf-in-the-making and assured him that I would finish it promptly.

Like I said...That was two years ago.

Goal #8: Clean out my car and keep it that way.
I am the queen of car neglect (see Goal #80 for more evidence). Anyone who has ridden in my vehicle knows that it's not only impossible to fit anything in the trunk, but that the backseat is usually a lost cause too. Guess how fun it was when I got a flat tire and had to empty the trunk to access the spare tire? SO FUN.

Goal #28: Own an actual bed.
When I moved out on my own, I realized I didn't own an actual bed. I have a futon-type-couch-thing and a twin-sized mattress pad (which sits on the floor), but no actual bed. Turns out beds are expensive! (who knew?).

Goal #83: Talk to the gynecologist about non-hormonal birth control options.
Hormonal birth control and I are not friends. It seems to be a huge contributor when it comes to my issues with migraines, but it also just made me feel "off" all around. I hope to talk to my doctor soon to discuss alternative options.

Goals #96-100: Future Goals (to be added after IIN graduation).
I knew that I wanted to have some goals that related to my new career endeavors, so I left some flexibility in here. I should be certified as a Health Coach in September (though I'm already practicing with a limited number of clients now), and which point I'll start developing some new goals around my work.

Now that I've revisited the list (and, you know, remembered that it exists) I'll be making more of a priority to give it attention.

Do you have a similar list of goals? What goals are you working on this week?

on my newest short-term interest.

This blog is new. Obviously.

It's meant to be the one with Goals and Direction. It was also meant to be the first one I attempted in Wordpress, but it turns out I don't really like to learn new skills. So, sticking with what I know.

You might know me already from my previous (abandoned) blogging endeavors. They got kind of scrambled and messy and talked too much about work things and I felt like it was easier to just start new and go from there.

In reality, I'm a chronic underachiever and those things are just excuses.

So. What can you expect from this new project?

A lot of rambling and scattered thoughts. A lot of short-term interests that quickly become neglected. Overuse of the word "so" as a means of making bad transitions within posts. Links to things that maybe only I find interesting. And maybe the occasional Thoughtful and Insightful Post or even some signs of Progress in the whole goals department.

Maybe.