Experiments, Initiatives, and Science.

While I haven't compiled a list of formal goals for 2010 (because the moment I write them down, they're toast), I have a few "efforts" that left the starting line on January 1, and so far, so good.

First of all, I'm doing the Creative Every Day Challenge, and I'm enjoying it.  Sometimes the desperation of having done something pushes me into experimenting with things I always wanted to try.  Like the object to the left, for example.  When Hubby asked me what it was, I explained it was "a bottlecap I whacked with a rubber mallet, then used as a frame for a small doodle I drew on a dictionary page covered in a thick layer of Diamond Glaze."  (To which Hubby replied, "Uhhh... huh.")  But in actuality, it's best described as an art experiment.  I had an idea and I tried it out.  And while it might not be exactly what I was hoping for, it's one step closer to what I was trying for in the first place.  So hey. :)

I'm also trying to stay on the Ten Minute Rughooking wagon, and although I didn't hook yesterday, I'm allowed one day off a week.  I'm not in love with my current project yet, so it's slow going.  Hopefully it will get better.  I'm working on Friday, so it looks like I won't be able to hang out with my rughooking group at the arts centre, but on the plus side, I did find an ideal place to park today for the next time I go.  (It's the little things, dontcha know.)

Since it's the first week of the new year and everyone else on the planet is on a diet, I might as well mention that I'm leaning in that direction, too.  I'm not fully there yet, because I'm using up the stuff in the house first, but as of the next grocery day, I'm going back on the wagon.  I've been charting my weight every day since January 1 (and have gained two pounds in trying to use up stuff, of course).  If you look at the Lighter Life section, you'll see I've updated the charts there, too.  I really wanted to take part in an X-Weighted event this coming weekend, but I have to work, and at this point, getting my finances straightened out (another item on my to-do list) takes precedence.

Now on to the highlight of my day!  My astronomy course started today, and I'm so excited!  Although I think I'm officially now the slightly awkward combo of "teacher's pet" along with "annoying mature student in the front row," it's all good.  (By the way -- for once, it wasn't my fault! :))  I learned stuff about one of Saturn's moons - Titan - today!  (That's Titan over to the right.)

There was also a funny moment in class when the prof, referencing a quotation by a famous physicist, said, "Now I know you don't know this guy personally, but ..."   I couldn't keep myself from grinning, because the famous physicist was the keynote speaker at the astronomy conference in Ottawa -- I'd actually sat across the table from him, conversing about anything and everything, at a rather intimate dinner gathering for about three hours.

The fact that my course has the word "Physics" in the title frightens me (after all, the last time I took a course called that, I made the stellar mark of 4% on the midterm -- and I'd answered every question!).  But the full title is "Physics for Non-Scientists/Astronomy," and that makes me feel better.  Coming on the heels of the chemistry course, the science-y part of my brain isn't as rusty as it once was, and I can manipulate formulae like nobody's business these days.  And the textbook is very non-threatening, too.  (Little cartoon mice all over the place.)  The only problem with the course?  I don't fit in the archaic chair-and- armrest/desk combos.  First I'm too heavy for a Soyuz capsule, and now this.  I think the Universe is trying to tell me something. ;)

Okay, time to go do some hooking and some writing and to find a magnet to glue to the back of my bottle cap (so it can be added to the Prototype Gallery on the side of my filing cabinet).

Live long and prosper, everyone!

PS -- Did you notice that I've blogged every day so far this year?  Another 2010 initiative!

The Lighter Life 3.0!

At least I think it's 3.0.  I've kind of lost count. :)

Anyway, I've just gone through the Weight Loss Goals and My Progress pages and have updated them to reflect the new numbers.  I also gave up on trying to format an eye-pleasing table in HTML and opted for the "print-screen and paste the graphic" method.  I'm much happier now!

Happy New Year!

I was talking with my friend Rowan yesterday to wish her a happy Halloween, and in the course of the conversation, she mentioned that Halloween (or Samhain, to pagans) is actually the end of one year and the beginning of another.  Well, with the amount of new "projects" I'm starting up today, it sure feels like New Year's to me!

First of all, in his quest to help me feel better, Hubby has rigged up an impromptu light box for me to try out to see if it alleviates my Seasonal Affective Disorder.  It's not exactly elegant-looking, but wow!  It's bright!  (I think he said it's 300 watts?)  So I'm going to try it twice a day, for thirty minutes each session, and see if it helps.  Occasionally, I catch it in my peripheral vision and wind up seeing stripey spots for about three minutes, but if it helps, I'm game!  (I almost fell asleep in class one day last week.  Not good!)

Secondly, today is the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and this year I'm certain I'm going to make it past November 3 without falling behind!  Although I have another story screaming at me to be written, I've decided to start something brand-new, partly so that if it doesn't go where I want it to, I won't have invested so much thought into it ahead of time.  Let the games begin!  This afternoon the SaintJohnNoWriMos are having a tea party / write-in, so I may drop by, but I did get almost 900 words in before I went to bed in the wee hours of the morning.

And thirdly, partially spurred on by my trip to Ottawa two weeks ago (yes, the one you're still waiting to hear about -- I know), I have begun my quest for a healthier (and down-sized) body.  This is something that I've been building up to for the last five weeks or so.  I have been participating in Craving Change, a six-week workshop on curbing problematic eating.  Also, some nursing students at the university have begun their own version of The Biggest Loser, and although the prize would be nice, I've mainly signed up in the hopes of having some time talking to a personal trainer and a nutritionist.

But what cemented things in my mind that I need to be smaller came from, of all things, NASA-TV.  A few weeks ago, I was watching the coverage of the return of Canadian Space Flight Participant Guy Laliberté to Earth.  I just had NASA-TV on in the background, and they were talking about the Soyuz capsule that brings the astronauts home.  Well, the commentator mentioned that the seats in the Soyuz have an upper weight limit of 208 pounds.  And I was immediately crestfallen.

Do I think I'm ever likely to be able to afford a flight to space?  No.  But knowing for sure that I can't go because of my weight hit me hard.  In short, it's unacceptable.  (It's the same reason I buy lottery tickets.  I don't expect to win, but I know I can't unless I have a ticket.)  So that's my goal, folks.  I'm going to lose weight because I want to go to space.

Happy November, everyone!