geowench

Wow, it's July already and the year is halfway over!  June was kind of blur, honestly - we were in OK at the beginning of the month, then back in Prague, and it took a good 2 weeks to readjust to the time switch and the new apartment, and to try and establish some sort of routine.  E was gone for about 10 days to Japan, and I worked a ton.  Other than the Torture Museum which I wrote about last time, the only other really toursity thing I did while he was gone was go to the Mucha Museum, which I really enjoyed.  I had never even really heard of him before, but I recognized some of his work and certainly his style.  I also went to two different farmer's markets, both of which were kind of a bust.  

Since the year is half over, I suppose I should check in on my yearly goals, if I can even find where I wrote them ... OK, found what I wrote in January:

My 2019 goals were

Increase my weekly step goal by 25%
     I was going gangbusters on this until I injured my Achilles tendon again.  Still, I think I deserve at least half credit.

Do 75 workouts (mostly core, but will count other types also)
     I'd done 48 by June 31, which puts me ahead of schedule.  GO ME.

Do not gain weight
     I was surprised to find I'd actually dropped a few pounds when we went back to OK in May.  However I suspect I've regained it plus some ... maybe I should buy a scale ...

Continue monthly updates
     Yes!  Full credit!

Set Monthly checkin goals and evaluate the following month.
     Oops.  I forgot all about this one ...

Read 100 books (including three about Vietnam and finally finish Mummies, Cannibals, and Vampires)
     I think I'm up to 60 something, so well on track.  I've finished one huge history book about Vietnam and in the middle of a famous novel (The Quiet American), so I'm on track with that part.  I will not finish the Mummies book ... I think I'm about 3/4 through it though, so should be able to finish it up early next year when we return (it's an actual book, big and heavy, and I did not bring it with me)

Make a will
     Nope (Michael, you called it)

Write or send an actual snail mail letter or card once a month
     Well I sent out about 12 postcards, so technically I'm good, but I need to write some letters ...

And as for my theme for the year, it was push, which I meant to encourage myself to push a little past my comfort zone and do some things that are uncomfortable. 
     I've actually done quite a bit of this - just leaving the apartment most days is a push, honestly ...

Well it's August, and guess what - I'm NOT in Prague.  Grrrr.  Things have been pushed back to "probably October," which on one hand is super frustrating, but on the other hand is so far out of my control that it's difficult to work up any amount of rage over it.  As things stand now, we are waiting on the Czech Embassy for our visas.  We are going to Japan for ten days in early September (assuming we get our bloody passports back from the embassy) and in September or October E has to go to CA for a job ($20K for a week of work, so yeah, it's worth putting off the trip).  I tell myself this will make things easier - I'll only have to pack for fall and winter.  Well we'll get there eventually, even if it's only for 3 months at a time (if our visas are not approved), and in the meantime, life goes on.

So July.  Do you remember my Hermes loving friend, one half of the alarmingly accomplished couple, the Cs?  The Cs split a few years back, but I have remained friendly with both of them, and C (female half) was in OK for a gallery showing/opening, so I went to OKC to spend an afternoon/evening with her in early July.  She has morphed into a much more interesting woman, and I am thrilled.  I had an amazing and intense time with her and am eager to continue our friendship in Europe (or where ever).

Otherwise, July was pretty quiet.  No other social engagements.  I didn't have to go our yearly July work conference this year, so that was nice.  Just went to the office, worked, came home, read, and hung out with the husband.  Oh wait, he was gone for two weeks in July, so I was very very quiet in July.  I am becoming reconciled to my quiet life and even learning to enjoy and appreciate it my solitude and the freedom it gives me.

Books:  I am up to 71 books on my reading challenge.  Obviously I will easily make my 75 goal this year, and will probably make over 100, which I don't manage most years.  I have read more than usual this year because I am having issues with anxiety.  Although I've always been a fretful sort of person, this is different.  I assume it's mostly hormonal (yes perimenopause is still kicking me hard in the arse), but also some of it is the current political situation in my country, which continues for feel Kafka-esque.  Also the whole thing with my brother - while not exactly anxiety inducing, it definitely makes me crawl far too far up my own arse into an introspective fugue that's hard to get out of.  At any rate, when I'm anxious (or up my own arse), the *only* thing that helps is reading.  Not TV, not exercise, not sewing or coloring (which I generally find soothing), not talking.  Just reading.  It's the only thing that takes me far enough outside of myself to help.  So I read.  A lot.  Because I'm anxious.  And up my own arse.  A lot.

The year is more than half over, so time for a little goals check in.

1.  Live in the present and try to enjoy it (instead of oh, life will really start in August when we go to Prague).
Yeah, actually, I feel like I've done a pretty good job with this, although since this isn't a concrete type of goal, I don't have any way to measure it.

2.  Workout 50x this year.
I am up to 44, I think.  My "workouts" are not very impressive - I either do a short arms/weights video or an equally short abs video.  Yesterday, for the first time, I did them both on the same day.  But even though they are *very* basic, they are actually making a difference, and I do feel stronger.  I'm also getting a 20 minute walk in most days, and most weekends I up it to 40-50 minutes, so overall I'm pleased with how I've done on this.

3. Write more; specifically
     3A.  50 online journal entries
     Whoa.  Definitely behind on this one.

     3B.  Complete 3 pieces of any kind (academic, essay, chapter of a book, etc.)
     I've only done one thing so far this year, and that was several months ago.  Although, honestly, I feel like completing our visa applications should count - that was a massive project!

     3C.  Continue paper journal 2-3 entries a week.  I have been inconsistent with this, but I manage once a week, on average.  

Hmm.  I think I need to update my goals.  Oh hey that can be a separate post, because this is already pretty long, and obviously I need to inflate my numbers, snort.

How are you my friends?