Month Five Update for 101 Things in 1,001 Days
December was a difficult month for me. I’d like to say I ended the year on a high, productive note, but that would not be true. I struggled a lot and my progress suffered as a result. A combination of my usual doldrums in the winter months and an emotional ricochet from the autumnal cancer scare. Still, all was not lost, not by any means.
New Items Added This Month: 0
Goals Achieved/Completed This Month: 2
6. Complete an unfinished MFU fic.
I ended up having to write a pinch hit story for the Down the Chimney Affair. I had an unfinished story started that closely matched the request prompts, so I added another 6,000 words and submitted that. My recipient seemed to like it and that is what counts.
7. Participate in an online MFU fanfic challenge.
Although I hadn’t signed up for it, writing the pinch hit story for Down the Chimney meant I participated.
Current Items Actively in Progress: 17
8. Read 50 books
I read 7 books in December. Finished the last two books in the Murderbot series by Martha Wells: Network Effect and Fugitive Telemetry. Please, oh please, let there be more books in this series. Murderbot is what I hope results from our species’ dabbling in AI.
Started working on the Ann Cleeves books that launched two television programs, “Shetland” and “Vera”. So far I’ve read Raven Black, Blue Lightning and Dead Water in the Shetland series. Surprisingly quick reads and a bit of disappointment in that the books didn’t live up to my expectations given all the awards they’ve won. Maybe the Vera books will be better.
Read two of the Vera books, The Crow Trap and The Glass Room. I didn’t guess the murderer in the second book, but the clues were there. So I am pleased, her skill definitely increased the more she wrote.
11. Post monthly to muncle
The Down the Chimney Affair went live and so I made a post about that.
18. Revise annual budget for the upcoming year.
I spent several days working up a new spending budget for 2022. It was a depressing exercise. My income is going down in 2022 despite the social security increase, due to the IRMAA penalties from the 2020 tax year. I will still be able to pay all of my bills but there will be less room for extras.
19. Update annual savings goals and create auto-deposits as needed.
My savings goals remain unchanged from 2021, alas. I was hoping to eke out more but it was not to be this time.
27c. Still working on a 10 pound weight loss.
This was a fail for December. I indulged too much and gained a few pounds back. Over 190 again. :-(
28. Swim 3-5x/week.
Another lapsed goal that must be re-energized. Between my lethargy and the crowded pool, swimming has become more of a chore than a joy.
29e. Ride bike 30 minutes daily.
Another fail.
31. Focus on diet.
Well, I’ve already noted my lack of discipline on the diet. Back to the keto basics now. I’ve signed up for the Diet Doctor two week quick start program… again.
32. Track daily blood pressure.
Still tracking, still doing well. Average was 108/65in December.
33. Track daily fasting glucose.
Still tracking. Saw daily numbers rise a bit due to more carb intake. Average for month was 122.
34. Drink 32 ounces of water daily.
Doing okay with this but did slip a bit. The PowerAde Zero I drink was hard to find this month! Thanks, Covid supply chain problems! < / sarcasm>
35. Take vitamins and supplements daily.
A well-formed habit by now.
36. Keep appropriate medical appointments.
d. The only appointment this month was my annual eye check. I have well-controlled glaucoma and still no signs of diabetic damage or macular degeneration. My prescription changed enough to warrant new glasses. They haven’t come in yet. Once again, thanks Covid supply chain issues! < / sarcasm>
41. Organize and backup digital files
Working on this as I transfer files over to the new computer. Everything is backed up, but messy with duplicates everywhere. I need to do a lot of thinning out and organizing.
71. Refurbish old desk
Got the actual desk writing surface done, with woodfill, marker and then an overlay of laminate. Still have the keyboard tray to repair.
79. Post weekly to my personal LJ.
Yet again, so not a problem. I post pretty frequently.
83. Post monthly updates to the 101 list.
And here we are at the end of five months.
My master list can be found here
New Items Added This Month: 0
Goals Achieved/Completed This Month: 2
6. Complete an unfinished MFU fic.
I ended up having to write a pinch hit story for the Down the Chimney Affair. I had an unfinished story started that closely matched the request prompts, so I added another 6,000 words and submitted that. My recipient seemed to like it and that is what counts.
7. Participate in an online MFU fanfic challenge.
Although I hadn’t signed up for it, writing the pinch hit story for Down the Chimney meant I participated.
Current Items Actively in Progress: 17
8. Read 50 books
I read 7 books in December. Finished the last two books in the Murderbot series by Martha Wells: Network Effect and Fugitive Telemetry. Please, oh please, let there be more books in this series. Murderbot is what I hope results from our species’ dabbling in AI.
Started working on the Ann Cleeves books that launched two television programs, “Shetland” and “Vera”. So far I’ve read Raven Black, Blue Lightning and Dead Water in the Shetland series. Surprisingly quick reads and a bit of disappointment in that the books didn’t live up to my expectations given all the awards they’ve won. Maybe the Vera books will be better.
Read two of the Vera books, The Crow Trap and The Glass Room. I didn’t guess the murderer in the second book, but the clues were there. So I am pleased, her skill definitely increased the more she wrote.
11. Post monthly to muncle
The Down the Chimney Affair went live and so I made a post about that.
18. Revise annual budget for the upcoming year.
I spent several days working up a new spending budget for 2022. It was a depressing exercise. My income is going down in 2022 despite the social security increase, due to the IRMAA penalties from the 2020 tax year. I will still be able to pay all of my bills but there will be less room for extras.
19. Update annual savings goals and create auto-deposits as needed.
My savings goals remain unchanged from 2021, alas. I was hoping to eke out more but it was not to be this time.
27c. Still working on a 10 pound weight loss.
This was a fail for December. I indulged too much and gained a few pounds back. Over 190 again. :-(
28. Swim 3-5x/week.
Another lapsed goal that must be re-energized. Between my lethargy and the crowded pool, swimming has become more of a chore than a joy.
29e. Ride bike 30 minutes daily.
Another fail.
31. Focus on diet.
Well, I’ve already noted my lack of discipline on the diet. Back to the keto basics now. I’ve signed up for the Diet Doctor two week quick start program… again.
32. Track daily blood pressure.
Still tracking, still doing well. Average was 108/65in December.
33. Track daily fasting glucose.
Still tracking. Saw daily numbers rise a bit due to more carb intake. Average for month was 122.
34. Drink 32 ounces of water daily.
Doing okay with this but did slip a bit. The PowerAde Zero I drink was hard to find this month! Thanks, Covid supply chain problems! < / sarcasm>
35. Take vitamins and supplements daily.
A well-formed habit by now.
36. Keep appropriate medical appointments.
d. The only appointment this month was my annual eye check. I have well-controlled glaucoma and still no signs of diabetic damage or macular degeneration. My prescription changed enough to warrant new glasses. They haven’t come in yet. Once again, thanks Covid supply chain issues! < / sarcasm>
41. Organize and backup digital files
Working on this as I transfer files over to the new computer. Everything is backed up, but messy with duplicates everywhere. I need to do a lot of thinning out and organizing.
71. Refurbish old desk
Got the actual desk writing surface done, with woodfill, marker and then an overlay of laminate. Still have the keyboard tray to repair.
79. Post weekly to my personal LJ.
Yet again, so not a problem. I post pretty frequently.
83. Post monthly updates to the 101 list.
And here we are at the end of five months.
My master list can be found here