It Might Be Spring

even though it still feels like winter, because bike racing season has started.

 

Chris is at right, and his teammmate L is in front of him. Chris is wearing a neckwarmer, gloves, and shoe covers, but it still doesn't seem warm enough to race.

Chris and our friends have been spending Sundays in the freezing cold wind at the Bethel Spring Series. I try to walk around the course when I can, but it's been more windy than not. I've only been outside once this year to ride my bike, but I hope to get outside more often when the temperatures decide to stay at least 50F.

With the new season, I thought I should check in on my list of New Year's goals hopes and dreams. This list is mostly for me, but I hope it inspires you toward your dreams too.

1. Ride my bike 4-5 times a week, to lose some weight and also to increase my average speed so I can join the weekly group rides near my house. I also like to walk, so I'll do some indoor walking DVDs until it's warm enough for me to go outside.

In January, I did really well with this, and then in February, my hip and foot took turns acting up. Things seem better again, and the weather is slightly improving (at least the snow is gone!) so hopefully I can start riding outdoors more.

2. Try a yoga class. My muscles are tight and I worry about flexibility. I bought this DVD to try too.

Done! I've been to yoga three or four times, and I love it.

3. Finish knitting UFOs: I don't have many, but they have been sitting around for a long time. The beaded seashore scarf, the slippers from Cocoknits, the pink skirt, and the purple sweater are going to get done or else. Wisp, a stole knitted with threadlike yarn, may have to wait for a while.

The scarf is done, and the purple sweater is almost done. Working on sleeve #2 now. Then I want to finish my pink skirt so I can wear it!
 

4. Knit projects for which I already have pattern, yarn, and needles. At least one of the Noni bags.

I'm not going to start something new until I finish the skirt, though I'm thinking of giving Paloma another try, just on principle. Knitting monogamy is working for me.

 

I've been wondering; I don't know if I will actually use the Noni bags like this that I want to make. I'm not sure how they'd fit into my wardrobe,  but I can't resist the challenge of knitting them. If you've knit felted bags, do you use them?

5. Read books that have been sitting on my shelves for ages.

Finished Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, the first book on my list, which I'll review in an upcoming post, and have started on one of the Modern Library Gardening books, Old Herbaceous by Reginald Arkell.

6. Try to write at least a little, five days a week. Every author's website advises some version of this.

Eek.

7. Work on my art/drawing at least once a week.

Double Eek.

8. Clean out my email inbox.

You don't want to know.

9. Spend more time with friends. Stay in better contact. Blog more often.

I think I'm getting better at this. For a girl who grew up with a phone attached to her ear, I'm not so good at calling friends, now that we have email. It seems less intrusive, less insistent than a ringing phone: "You must drop what you are doing and talk to me Now!" I totally don't mind when friends call me though. Weird.

10. Set better boundaries. I try to be helpful and flexible and accommodating with various people in my life, and sometimes I bend too far in their direction, at my own peril.

This is somewhat of a personal goal, but I can at least share here that I'm getting better about knowing my limits with all the things that need doing for the cat shelter where I volunteer. I am practicing a "do one thing" each day philosophy, whether it's hanging a poster, writing a newspaper blurb for cat-of-the-week, or my actual volunteer shift. Once I do my one thing for the cats, I can do other things and not feel guilty or obsess about the things still undone. At least, I'm trying.

There are some other things I hope to work on, too, painting and gardening projects, another Pedal for Paws bike ride, and more employment. I was recently hired as a part-time freelance editor, but I still need either an additional job or more freelance projects to make up my former income. If you know of anyone seeking a freelance editor, writer, or consultant/tutor, I hope you will keep me in mind. My website is here.

So far, we've painted two rooms in the house, and I'm ready to start cleaning up our lawn and garden if the weather ever gets warm. I'm working on Pedal for Paws 2011, though it's still early days yet. And the job situation...I don't like to complain or be negative in my posts, but honestly, I am more discouraged than ever. My freelance job lost funding, and may not start again until July, and promising jobs have been posted and applied for, only for me to receive notice that the company changed its mind about filling positions. What I really need is a career coach, to figure out what the next smartest move should be, but without work, I can't afford one. I'm so uncomfortable with the "wandering around aimlessly" feeling. I hope to attend a "women in business" seminar soon, and maybe that will help.

On a happier note, the spring issue of Twist Collective is up. I love the Trousseau shawl. What designs do you want to add to your queue?

Comments

[Sarah]

You are doing so well with your goals already this year! I think the Noni bag will be interesting to knit up and pretty to use when you are done... Maybe for special times like an anniversary dinner. It would be pretty just displayed on your dressing table too.

[Kara]

You are rockin' your goals!

[Sara]

I love, love all the shawls in the new Twist Collective!

You just had to go and turn me on to that - I've never seen it before...now I think I'm hooked! The patterns are so awesome.

Your goals are good - I'm thinking it's time to rethink some of mine.

[Sarah]

You have SO many goals here--of course you haven't 100%ed all of them! I think this is a good post to help you realize how much you have to celebrate. You're awesome, the things you do are awesome, and while I'm SO looking forward to hearing more about the progress you make on goals like riding more, cleaning out that e-mail inbox (my personal "double eek"), etc., I'm also happy to hear how much you HAVE been able to do! And you should be happy about it, too! Have a great weekend, and don't forget to celebrate how awesome you are :)

[Danielle]

I like the idea of knitting monogamy--I need to do that more with my stitching! I've not had as much stitching time as I'd like, but I always find myself thinking about starting something new rather than finishing whatever I have started already! You're doing well with your goals and it is still early in the year, too!

[2paw]

You are doing so well, you have a lot of goals there. I cleaned out my Inbox last month and it was a good feeling, I did a few each day. It was still a trial. I love your bag pattern, it's so pretty. Good luck with your fitness goals. I hope that you can stay positive about your job search, I am sure something good will appear soon.

[sprite]

If you went to college, your school may have a career center that alumni can use free of charge. They may offer some of the same services as a career counselor.

[Kristen]

We're just over 3 months into the year, so you have made a lot of progress. Keep positive about the job situation, you have a lot to offer.
Happy Spring biking and racing!

[Dorothy W.]

Nice job with your goals! Can you believe the spring series is almost over!? It's supposed to be warm on Sunday, although not much sun. Maybe it will surprise us by showing up, at least for a bit :)