Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Checks So Far

Alright, so I haven't updated this since recently. Oops. But I have been working on my list and making progress! Most of them have been small things that take time and are a work of progress but they've been progressing all the same. In the meantime, I do still want to put some more time into this Bucket List idea and expand on it soon. I'm even looking at taking a small two day class or two at UO this fall to garner some necessary skills - website building and such. But here's what I've done so far...
I've been making real progress on my dental hygiene! Sounds odd to say that, but it's true. Since we've gotten back from California and I started this list, I've flossed at least once a day every day but two. I will admit those two I missed - I was so tired on both that I went to bed w/o even brushing. Oops. Working on that one too. Now I just need to find a dentist out here to go get an overdue cleaning and check up. 
Currently I'm in the middle of book number two and, knowing me, will be plowed through it by Wednesday or Thursday night. I'm still working my way through several others slowly but surely. I always stop and start on the non-fiction ones. I love fiction with the changes, plot lines, surprises or predictability depending on the style. I like losing myself  in other worlds and lives, expanding my horizon by learning new perspectives. While I enjoy learning the new info that non-fiction books give me, I prefer the fiction more. So, one down last week, working on number two. 
My eat-healthier mantra has been fluctuating but improving. I have made a real effort to drink more water but, after a few...rushing...moments, I scaled back and tried to do it a bit more gradually. Now my water consumption is definitely up but I do still have my off days. Our fridge is full (over flowing often) with healthy foods with the majority of them organic and/or purchased from local growers. Broccoli, artichokes, grass fed beef, goatzzerella, zucchini, cucumbers, hummus, etc. Even today I'll be making a run to pick up a purchase from a local farmer's co-op - lettuce, kale, bacon, ground pork, portabella mushrooms, goat cheese, etc. Tonight I'll be making some delicious thai lettuce wraps with the items I pick up! Even so, although our eating habits have improved, I often open our fridge and can't find anything I want to eat. lol Just today I had a microwaved burrito for lunch. Hmmm...maybe not the best. Still a work in progress. 
I even purchased a few starts from the Eugene Local Foods co-op and started a small 'garden'. Ok, so it's not really a garden. Just parsley, basal mint, peppermint, and lemon mint. Not much, but we also have run out of room on our porch for much more. Even these I'll have to switch to bigger, individual pots pretty soon. If/when we move to a bigger place (hopefully a house with a yard) I'd like to start growing a few more delicious foods and plant flowers. I'm thinking (for food) tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, lettuce, and maybe some peppers? We'll see! As it is, we haven't found a new home for us yet but we do have two months left on our contract so we have plenty of time. 
I have also been making a valiant effort to recycle more. I've been saving whatever I can for use around the house (to Dan's mild frustration) and washing/prepping everything to recycle. Unfortunately, now all our recycling is piled into the trunk of my car. It just takes so long to use those machines that I haven't done it yet. I already did drop off the rest though. Although, I do want it out of my trunk...maybe I should do that today! 
We made a trip to a vineyard last week for a Wine & Wings (or was it Wings & Wine?) event which combined alcohol with bird watching. It was a lot of fun and we saw American Finches and saw an Evening Grosbeak for the first time. Neat birds! The Raptory was there with a few of their birds too - Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Kestrel (my favorite), and a Turkey Vulture. Unfortunately, we didn't have any wine at the event though. I had to work that night and there was a loooong line for the wine tasting. But that was fine since that was at the one vineyard we'd already visited. lol So we need to get a few more vineyards marked off soon. Anybody out for a long lazy weekend afternoon doing wine tastings? Say yes!
Hmmm...Ok, so this is quite long. I suppose I'd better wrap it up and save the rest of my ventures for the next go around. In the meantime, I will be making my way down my list again and marking things off one at a time. Did I mention that I'm going to sign up for Tennis this fall? Yup, also on the list. Anyway, I hope all of you who've read this far are doing well and working on your lists too. You only get one life and you should live it to the fullest!
Until next time...