Mini Cooper

Let me just begin by saying that I HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND IN THE WORLD!!!

Last week Rich stole my car out of the garage when I wasn't looking and took it to the Mini Cooper dealership. He was there for about 3-4 hours wheeling and dealing with them to get a good trade-in value on my car, as well as negotiating a price for a Mini. Meanwhile, I was at home watching Six Feet Under on DVD wondering where the hell my husband was and what was taking so damn long. I even sent him a few belligerent text messages urging him to explain himself and to come home.

Well, to make a long story short, today I reaped the benefits of all the (im)patient waiting I did last Saturday. Allow me to introduce to you my new Mini Cooper:


And I thought this goal was impossible to attain. Guess I was wrong. Now to just think of a name for it...

Finished Goals: 17/101
Days Left: 958

List Update II

I'm in the process of changing some of the goals on my list again. I originally had some goals on here that relate to my car; however, because I am getting a new car much earlier than I expected, it only makes sense to take those goals off and replace them with new goals.

The new goals are to design and get my 2nd tattoo, create and execute 5 new marketing ideas for my spa business, organize my spa room, and maintain the new organization for 1 month.

I always keep my room sanitized, of course, but I'm not so good at keeping everything organized in a work-friendly manner. At the end of the day it's just too easy to throw stuff in the cabinet and leave. No more! I thrive in clean spaces, and if I expect my business to grow, I need to respect that.

Make the Bed Every Day for 1 Week

Rich's parents gave me this beautiful new bedding for Hanukkah. Considering how I excited I was to receive it, you would think I would have rushed right upstairs to get it on my bed. Well, I didn't; I procrastinated.

Last week I just couldn't take it anymore. It didn't make sense for me to have this beautiful bedding sitting in a bag in my living room when it could be adorning my bed. So I took it out of the bag, washed it, and made the bed with it for the first time. Then I figured I may as well just keep doing it everyday. So Rich and I made a deal: he makes the bed on Saturdays and I make the bed Sunday-Friday. So far, it's worked out really well. Now I just need a few more pillows and some new sheets, and that portion of our bedroom will be all done.

Finished Goals: 16/101
Days Left: 959

Finish an Entire Sudoku Book

I am now a sudoku ninja. It took me just a little over a month, but I finished this book of 250 puzzles. Normally I start a sudoku book and then abandon it once I get to the last few puzzles that are a little bit harder. Not this time. I finished the whole book. I'm tempted to get the next one in the series and keep going actually. We'll see; I still have plenty of other goals to attack on this list.

Finished Goals: 15/101
Days Left: 964

Clean Out Closet

Today I finally tackled my closet. Unfortunately, that also means that I created a little more work for myself when I tackle a few of the other organizational tasks on this list. Oh well. I guess I'll deal with that when I cross those bridges. For now, I'm just going to celebrate the fact that I have a clean closet!

And a beautiful closet it is! Rich had California Closets come out and build a custom closet for me as a holiday gift a couple of months after I moved in. He knows me so well, and he did such a great job designing it to suit my needs. I actually have felt a little guilty for not fully taking advantage of it the past few months. So this is my new start to keeping my beautiful closet neat and organized and my clothes put away. Which adds a new task to my "In Progess" list: 67. Keep Closet Clean for a Month (with the idea that the first month is only the beginning).

Finished Goals: 14/101
Days Left: 967

Get a Physical (Updated)

Today I went over to Camden Physicians and had my first general physical examination in over 10 years. I'm almost positive the last time was my sophomore year of college. I went to University Health Services at UW-Madison to get checked out and renew my tetanus shot before I went on my semester abroad to London.

Funny, but it didn't seem as bad as I remember it. When I was a kid I hated going to the doctor. For anything. And I've always been really queasy when it came to dealing with blood or having needles poked in me. Exactly the same reasons why I had never donated blood before last month either. Through these two experiences, however, I've learned that both the doctor and needles aren't anything to fear. After all, I've done much worse to myself by accident that causes more pain and spilled blood than these two things put together.

I have to admit, though, that I feel a little like the one-armed bandit after having both my blood draw from and my tetanus shot in my left arm today.

Finished Goals: 13/101
Days Left: 977

*I got all of my test results back earlier this week, and I'm as healthy as can be. My doctor said I can get my next check-up in 3-5 years. Yippee!*

Surprise Rich

Normally we take Rich's car whenever we go anywhere together, but Saturday night we took mine when we went to a party because his was out of gas. Since he didn't go out yesterday, he didn't have a chance to fill up, and I just knew that he would be late to work if he waited until this morning.

So yesterday I stole his car out of the garage when I went to volleyball, and got gas and cleaned it out while I waited for the pump to finish. I really would have liked to have been able to vacuum the interior and wipe down all the windows and dashboard, but unfortunately because it was so late in the evening and also because I was on the way to meeting some of my teammates for a drink, I didn't have time.

Truth be told, he wouldn't have noticed anyway. While Rich did see that I had gotten him gas, he didn't even realize that I had cleaned it out. So I just have to assume he wouldn't have noticed the next step either.

But I'm counting this as an accomplished goal even if he didn't really appreciate it. I may have missed my mark a little, but I still tried. And, if nothing else, he wasn't late for work.

Finished Goals: 12/101
Days Left: 977

Camera

I purchased my new camera tonight! I got the Olympus Stylus 1010 in purple. This will be my third or fourth Olympus camera. Obviously, I really like the brand. They're so easy to use and have great functions. And it seems as though this model is pretty much the same as the one I had last (which was burgled from my home in December), so I know I'll like it and feel comfortable with it right away.

Truthfully, I wasn't planning on buying this tonight, but I was prompted by a few issues: 1. I don't think the insurance company will pay for it if I hold out much longer, 2. my iPhone takes pretty good pictures, but not good enough to replace a real camera (it has no flash), and I feel like I've missed out on pictures I could have taken, 3. Zak is in the district spelling bee next week and I must document it in order to humiliate him later in life, and 4. I really want to have pictures to post on here as I move through my list.

Finished Goals: 11/101
Days Left: 983

List Update

Today I decided to change my list just a tiny bit. It occurred to me that number 29, Pay off Kitchen Appliances, under "Finances" was redundant. Truthfully, due to the nature of the debt, I believe it is already housed under number 33, Pay off Credit Cards. That means that I could put another goal on my list in its stead.

I chose File 2008 Taxes. I know that April 15 is still pretty far away, but I want to get this done ASAP. And truthfully, I'm almost positive that I was actually supposed to have them filed by January 31. So that actually makes me delinquent (shhh... don't tell anyone), and since I seem to finish things on this list faster than my regular To-Do list, I figure it makes a wise addition. Furthermore, I think replacing one item related to finances with another is really the best course of action. I was tempted to put another fun item on the list instead, but my practicality got in the way.

Finished Goals: 10/101
Days Left: 983

Clean Car

I totally forgot I had put this on my list. I just did it today because I had been putting it off, and my car was ridiculously filthy. I actually didn't recognize it when it came out of the car wash because I haven't seen it shiny and black in a couple of months (thanks MN snowy, salty, slushy winter!).

So now that it's done, I'm going to work on 65. Keep car clean for a month. This never used to be a problem for me, but in the past few months, I've gotten lazy. I figure this is a perfect way for me to get back on track with keeping my car clean and neat, both inside and out. Plus, it will help me develop good habits for when I finally do 39. Purchase a Mini Cooper. Because I don't want to treat my new Mini like that. It deserves better.


Finished Goals: 10/101
Days Left: 984