As you know, I am participating in 101 in 1001.  It is a project where you set 101 goals to complete in 1001 days.  Lots of goals, but lots of time to complete them in.  If you want to read more about it, check out the “rules” at DayZero or in my original post.  You can always see my progress at my 101 in 1001 page.

Since my last update in February, I have been able to cross a lot off my list.  I have traveled around the globe and moved cross-country.  I have read 15 books, graduated law school, passed the bar and spent time with my family. I have tried new foods, taken lots of pictures and exercised more. A lot has been accomplished in the months of March - October.  I have only had to quit one item - monthly hikes with the Husband.  When he is at home, he does not always want to spend time hiking. Sometimes he just wants to be lazy.  So I can’t count that completed, but don’t feel bad at all for the lack of completion.

I really enjoy having goals to work towards.  I need lists like this and appreciate the structure and guidance they provide.  I like the flexibility that comes in long term time frames.  And I feel accomplished when I can check things off.  Even more when it is all completed.

There are about 580 days left in my 101 in 1001.  That puts me almost half way through but only 38/101 goals completed, plus 19 “in progress” and one incomplete.  Time to kick it into gear and finish up some goals!

I finally finished my first week of training under the One Hundred Push Ups program.  I am proud to say that I made it all the way through.  It was challenging, but a success.  Now only five more weeks to go before I can do the big 100.  The training program has made me feel like I need to do more strength training.  Since moving to Tennessee I have not had a gym to go to, so my strength training has really just turned into resistance training.  In stead of lifting weights, I have my body weight and resistance bands.  It is at least something, but I feel like I could be doing more.  I guess I feel like that in other areas too.  Like Bar studying…

Speaking of Bar studying, I completely bombed the practice MBE that I took on Friday.  I mean below average raw score bombing.  I feel like I need to be cracking down even harder since I only have four weeks left until the big day.  I am now only 3 lectures behind the in-class study schedule.  I was about 1 1/2 weeks behind when I started.  I just need to practice more questions and focus on some concepts that continuously trip me up.

And finally, the House Hunting.  It is on a semi-hold right now. The Husband left today for three weeks (possibly more) in Argentina for his job.  While I can still keep looking, no firm decisions can be made until he gets back to look at the house too.  The way the market is moving along, I that any house I find will go flying off the market anytime soon.

We did go to three open houses today before he hopped on his plane.  They were mainly disappointing.  It is a combination of not finding what we want and then finding houses that people didn’t take good care of.  I mean, if you are having an open house, the least you could do is clear off the cobwebs from the side entry, toss out the dead plants and put a screw into the loose railing so no one falls down the stairs to the basement.  I mean, you are trying to sell your house, right? *sigh*  We did see one house that was taken care of and was below our price range, but it also meant it was too small for us.  At least we are starting to understand more what we will and will not accept as far as size and condition are concerned.  So the hunt, on a smaller level, will continue.  The massive assault on the real estate of Blount County will occur in August.  I will be done with the Bar, the Husband will be in the country and I want to be settled in a home before Thanksgiving!

Well I have been living in East Tennessee for a full week now.  Obviously I have not had time for anything.  I haven’t blogged, I haven’t posted on flickr, I haven’t done much other than unpack and study for the Bar.

Let me just say that only a very disciplined person should take on the Self-Guided BarBri Course.  I have only made it through 2 subjects while the in-class course should be through at least 4 by now. I will blame part of it on the late start because of moving, but a lot of it is just having so much other stuff to do  too.  I cannot imagine having a job while also studying for the Bar.  I am putting in 8+ hours of studying in every day and I still feel like I am so far behind!

I just wanted to post a quick update that I am here in Tennessee now.  Alive and well, but busy beyond belief.  I hope to post more often now that I am finally getting into a “normal” schedule.

The end of another month means reviewing the goals that have been set and then creating some new ones.  This month I am down from completing 3/4 goals to only reaching 50%.  I would like to blame it on school coming to an end and finals revving up.  But really, the 4 goals I set were a bit harder.  Three of them were goals that meant changing a daily habit.  In the future, I will only sat one goal that requires a consistent daily change.  Any other goals will be ones that allow a bit more flexibility.  Our brains can only focus on so much at one time, right?  So here is the recap on my April goals:

1. Try The Great Walking Experiment:  I definitely tried it.  I actually walked almost every day this month, although I only blogged on about a dozen in detail.  This was a fun experiment and got me out to see San Francisco a bit more.  That was important to me as I will be heading out of here in less than a month.  One goal accomplished!
2. Find and Make a Healthy and Nutritious Dessert: I made a couple of fruit-based dishes, including a Strawberry Soup and a Watermelon Kiwi Salad.  Everything was tasty, but not just what I wanted.  I consider this goal complete, but it should still be revisited to find something even better.
3. Meditate, Meditate, Meditate:  Going to label this goal as unsuccessful.  I did not consistently meditate every day this month.  I would honestly say I probably only meditated about 15% of the month.  The key to reaching this goal in the future is to schedule this into my daily schedule.  Once again, it is a matter of changing (or making a new) daily habit.
4. Wake-up at 6:30 am Every Morning: This was the hardest of all 4 goals.  I am not a morning person.  I know I am not.  On top of it all, my brain juices seem to peak around 10 pm - 1 am.  Any time I tried to go to bed before midnight, my brain would just flood with thoughts, ideas and questions.  It is like a dam broke on some neural river.  I really want to be a morning person so that I can go to bed at night when the Husband does.  Basically, I need to be satisfied with a 7 am wake-up time.  This way even if I am up until 1 am, I will still get 6 hours of sleep.  It is less than ideal, way less than ideal, but livable.

So stay tuned for my May 2008 goals!

This has been a very busy month.  I went apartment hunting in Tennessee, competed in a Mediation competition in Chicago, had two sets of out-of-town guests and the Husband left for the Netherlands.  Now that I have set up the background I can tell you that I fell off the wagon.  I started off staying on track with my eating and exercising.  However, the last week and a half sent me into a downhill spiral of not working out and eat foods that are not the best for me.

April is a new month, which means I can start fresh!  I do want to let you know how I did with my March goals:

1. Read a Motivational Book: Consider that done!  I finished A Complaint Free World which is a great book (and corresponding wrist band) that helps you live a complaint-free life.  Love the idea, got the band, and we will see how long I can go without complaining.
2. Reach March Goal Weight:  I know I have not done this one.  I was down to 155 by the end of Spring Break.  But then Chicago came (with Garret’s Popcorn) and the house guests (lot’s of eating out) so I am sure I did not drop the last 2.  I probably actually gained a bit.  I won’t know until tomorrow when I weigh in again.
3. Exercise Outside:  This was definitly accomplished.  I have been out hiking twice this past month and took one of my workouts outside.
4. Move Faster:  I have previously posted that I can now jog 3.5 miles non-stop.  My best time right now is 44 minutes.

So 3 out of 4 is not bad.  I am proud that I was able to accomplish so much.  By the end of the week, I will be posting my April goals, so stay tuned!