Progress Report: Week 3

Here is my first progress report.  I was supposed to do one of these last week and I did not.  I really want to try to keep up with these, because it will help me stay active with my goals.  I need to carve out some time to pre-schedule when I am going to do them, so I do not keep pushing it off until the next day.


1.  Get a new job and move.
I visited two apartments since stuff has happened that indicate that it might be good if I move locally regardless of if I get a new jobs sooner or later.  I didn't really like either place unfortunately.

STEP 1 is to crank out those applications.
STEP 2 spend some time job searching (by email updates have not be turning up too many good suggestions

2.  Make my own postcards.
No progress.

STEP 1: do some research on the cost of ordering some cards.
STEP 2: identify 5 photos I would like to use on the cards
STEP 3: look into how to design my card (using Photoshop, using a online template from a print service)

3.  Write a script
No progress.

STEP 1: settle on an story idea I want to tackle
STEP 2: outline my thoughts so far
STEP 3: identify my major problem areas
STEP 4: begin studying my screenwriting books again with this story and these problems in mind

4. Publish a poem
I talked to a friend about maybe giving me some notes on some of my poems.  I need to get them together for her and send them!

STEP 0: send poems to my friend for editing
STEP 1: do some research into common ways to get poetry published
STEP 2: identify some places where I would like to submit a poem and qualify
STEP 3: select some poems for submission and fine tune them

5. Track my spending/budget
No progress.

STEP 1: Reassess my current budget structure.
STEP 2: Take stock of my current finances.
STEP 3: Develop or find something that will work a bit better.
STEP 4: Identify key rules/habits that will keep me on-top-of things and organized.

6. Apply for a passport
No progress.

STEP 1:  Figure out how one applies to get a passport.
STEP 2:  Figure out how long it will take.
STEP 3:  Figure out how much it will cost.
STEP 4:  Decide when to begin the application process.

7.  Get new glasses
No progress.  I am going to try to schedule an appointment this week.

STEP 1:  Get exam and up-to-date prescription.
STEP 2:  Identify where to get the glasses made.
STEP 3:  Order the glasses.

8.  Visit Canada
No progress.


STEP 1:  Decide where I would like to visit (Nova Scotia).
STEP 2:  Decide when I would like to visit and how long.
STEP 3:  Decide who I would like to come with me.
STEP 4:  See if it is possible to plan such a trip.

9.  Alter two items of clothing for myself
No progress.

STEP 1:  Decide who can teach me.
STEP 2:  Get advice as to what would be good starter items to alter.

10.  Get something tailored.
No progress.

STEP 1:  Identify some local tailors and their contact info and advice from others as to the quality of the work.
STEP 2:  Determine how much I am willing to spend.
STEP 3:  Select 2-3 things I would like to attempt to get altered (in case 1-2 alterations are not possible)

11.  Take a fitness class
Like I said, I got a pass to go to classes at the gym.  I have gone to three different classes so far.  But have only gone to 5 sessions.  Today will by the 6th session!  I tried Zumba which was fun and tiring . . . being new to Zumba I did feel like an uncoordinated fool but the atmosphere of the class was such that it didn't really seem to matter.  I am hoping I will be able to go back to Zumba this week.

STEP 1:  Identify which classes I would like to try.
STEP 2:  Get the stuff I need to attend the classes.
STEP 3:  Go to a class!
STEP 4:  Return to each of the classes at least 4 times.
STEP 5:  Discover ways to continue staying fit at home on days classes are not held.

12.  Read at least 4 of these feminist books:
Lean In, Reverence to Rape, A Room of One's Own, The Second Sex,  The Beauty Myth, MaddAddam, The Feminine Mystique, Bad Feminist

No progress.

STEP 1:  Pick a book to start with.
STEP 2:  Acquire book.
STEP 3:  Read book.
STEP 4:  Finish book.
STEP 5:  Pick next book to read.

13.  Organize something for Directed By Women--- a global viewing party happening in Sept 2015.

No progress.

14.  Write those think piece articles I am constantly thinking about.
No progress.

STEP 1:  Outline what I would like to say about one of my article ideas.
STEP 2:  Do the relevant research.
STEP 3:  Write a first draft.

15.  Buy a new laptop
No progress. 


STEP 1: Identify the main things I will need my laptop to do.
STEP 2: Work out what the specifications are for what I want.
STEP 3:  Investigate the price range available for what I want.
STEP 4:  Modify expectations or price range.
STEP 5:  Choose a vendor.

16.  Keep to a blogging schedule
No progress.

STEP 1:  Come up with a blogging schedule.
STEP 2:  Try to stick to it.
STEP 3:  Modify schedule as I figure out what works.  (Don't just abandon it!)

17.  Help a friend make her film a reality

STEP 1:  Read script. (So embarrassing I haven't read it all yet.)
STEP 2:  Educate myself on ways to get funding for the script.
STEP 3:  Follow up with my friend about how the project is progressing and my thoughts on the script.

18.  Start learning a little web design
No progress.

STEP 1:  Figure out a good place to start/get advice from people who know about these things

19.  Finish books I have already started:
Survival of the Prettiest, Ishmael/My Ishmael/Story of B, Ode Less Traveled, Anna Karenina, Contagious (by Jonah Berger), Jim Henson: The Biography

No progress. 

STEP 1:  Finish Contagious (will need to return this to the library soon)
STEP 2:  Finish Ishmael
STEP 3:  Finish Survival of the Prettiest

20.  Organize a Clothing Swap or Yard Sale
A local 4-H organization is having a flea market for a fundraiser.  I'm thinking about signing up to do a table, but I'm a little intimidated.

STEP 1:  Decide in what month it would be reasonable to expect to host a swap/sale (and decided if there is enough time to prepare).
STEP 2:  Ask others if they would like to help organize, attend etc.

21.  Develop a financial plan for my loans
I've heard about a tool for keeping track of your loans.  I need to look into it.

STEP 1:  Revisit all my loan paperwork so I have a firm grasp of all the aspects.
STEP 2:  Find some people I trust and who have expertise that can give me helpful advice.
STEP 3:  Explore options for paying off loans faster than my current monthly installments.

22.  Enroll in new medical insurance plan
No progress.  I NEED to schedule a meeting with my HR office about this ASAP

STEP 1:  Gather the up-to-date information on the plans offered.
STEP 2:  Ask others at my workplace why they opted into one plan or another.
STEP 3:  Talk to the necessary admins to get enrolled.

23.  Watch these 10 classic movies that I have never seen
Malcolm X, Blade Runner, Capote, The Virgin Suicides, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Strangers on a Train, Groundhog Day,  Rosemary's Baby, Young Frankenstein, Badlands

STEP 1:  Figure out if any of these are available on Netflix Instant Virgin Suicides and Invasion of the Body Snatchers are currently on Netflix!
STEP 2:  Watch Virgin Suicides or Invasion of the Body Snatchers
STEP 3:  Whichever I watched in Step 2, watch the other.

24.  Update a YouTube channel at work
I set up a meeting with a marketing department and they are going to give me some advice and help me plan out the next steps.  I also have someone identifying the truly embarassing content that is on the channel that we need to get rid of.

STEP 1:  Get advice from the marketing department, especially regarding partnership and SEO.
STEP 2:  Develop plan for eliminating bad content.
STEP 3:  Reorganize existing content and develop protocol for new content.
STEP 4:  Follow up with partners on two new playlist ideas I have.

25.  TBD I can't decide on another goal yet!  But I don't want to hold up publishing my list!  So I'll add a new one later.

26.  Private health-related goal.
No progress.

Score:  Progress on 5 of 25 goals.