A Few Updates OR All These Challenges are Getting Ahead of Me

There are a few items I've mentioned over the past couple months that I realized I've left hanging. This week I try to tie up some loose ends and keep people up-to-date about some of my projects. 

First off let me talk about Derby Practice! Man, that was a while ago now, wasn't it? The first time I went to practice was December 18th, and I have to say: What a group of girls! They are very supportive and encouraging people. I hadn't been on skates in years, yet I did an endurance skate for fifteen minutes. Inevitably, it was during this endurance skate that I took not one fall, but at least three. After a while I was falling from exhaustion but I kept going. 
The best part? I wasn't afraid of falling. Everyone does it at some point; even experienced skaters take drives. To some extent, I almost looked forward to it, but I think it's because I was finally accustomed to being in skates again, and trusted myself a bit more. Plus, though we were left to our own designs, we were all still under the watchful eye of our coach. 
But sadly I have to admit, that first practice was also my last. I began redoubling my efforts at fight practice: Working out more, with sword and board and also without, and that left me in a pickle. Practices for Derby were Tuesdays and Sundays. SCA meetings are Tuesdays, fight practice on Sundays. At this point in my life I'm not prepared to do both. But, in the end, I got out there, and actually did something off the wall that I didn't think I'd ever get myself to do. Maybe one day in the future I'll get back into it, but that will only happen once everything stops happening on Tuesdays and Sundays.




My next update involves my 1-Year Goals I mentioned way back when. For those of you who don't remember, here's the list as it was originally posted:


1-Year Goals

• Save up money for Pennsic (Done)
• Fight War on Debt (Changed from "Save up for Grad School Tour")
• Write a fairy tale and illustrate it
• Go through Peace Corps Application Process
• Fix relationship with my mom

But the good news is, I have a few more things done. The list now looks something like this:

1-Year Goals

• Save up money for Pennsic (Done)
• Fight War on Debt (Changed from "Save up for Grad School Tour")
• Write a fairy tale and illustrate it

• Go through Peace Corps Application Process
• Fix relationship with my mom

That's right! I have a fairy tale written that now needs illustrated, and my application for the Peace Corps is submitted! Although technically I have not finished the entire "process" I count this because the application was very difficult for me to finish. I had been debating if this plan was a way for me to escape from my mother, and as such it really ripped me up as I worked on it. Once everything was finished it actually took me another week before I could push the "submit" button. But now it's done, and there's nothing I can do about it until I get the magic letter or phone call. 

The next update has to do with an item that's on my 1-Year Goal list, but isn't complete yet. I'm extremely proud of myself concerning the progress, however. I am already down to less than 1.5 grand in credit card debt. I have not been carrying my credit card- it's hiding away in a jar and I have to say the only time I miss is when I get gas. Which is a lot more often than I'd like, but what can ya do?

My last update involves my general war on "stuff." I've begun bagging up the things I've been going through, and two thirty-gallon trash bags later and I'm not even halfway through what I've gathered, which isn't even half of what I plan on going through! So yay me! I don't notice much of a difference in my room, but Sam, one of the people who initiated this whole convolutedly awesome idea, noticed some big changes not only in the amount of free space but my general organization as well. It would seem that this is going well! I've begun cataloging everything so I can write it off on my taxes after I donate it, and I'm super excited if only for the pure amount of stuff that's going on this list! My hope is to keep this up for a year or so and see what I end up with. And if I move out in that time, all of my furniture goes, except maybe my exercise ball and the papasan chair, and my bed, which stays only because it's from a long-gone relative. 

So even though I've been doing a lot of different things and trying to achieve several goals at once, I like to think that so far it's a big success! So far, so good, so let's keep on going! 

What kind of projects do you have going on right now, and how are they turning out? Are you realizing some challenges are harder than others? Let me know!