Progress Report: Week 21

Ok so this past week, work SUPER killed me.  I had to deal with one of the most maddening projects I've ever encountered whilst relocating my whole team and most of our equipment to different offices because of a (well 7, actually) ceiling leaks.  I was working extra hours, arguing with maintenance men who rarely let me finish a sentence, and just wanting it all to end.  So I spent a lot of my free time wallowing and drugging myself with Netflix.  On top of that I got sick on Friday (probably because of stress, mold in the ceiling at work, and fluctuating temperatures).  So I really didn't make progress on a lot of stuff I intended to this week.  However at one point (probably on Friday) it did occur to me that the best revenge (on work?  the fates?) would be to be productive in what free time I did have--- so hopefully as work continues to slowly kill me I can remember this to keep myself from spending too much time in vegging self-pity.

1.  Get a new job and move.  No progress.
I haven't made time to do more job searching or to apply to the PR program through work. 


STEP 1  keep job searching
STEP 2  follow up with PR program to sign up for courses

2.  Make my own postcards. No progress

STEP 1: do some MORE research on the cost of ordering some cards.
STEP 2: identify 5 photos I would like to use on the cards
STEP 3: decide on software to use to to design my card (using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and/or Lightroom) especially the back side

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:  Do a complete outline of the plot points.
STEP 4: identify my major problem areas
STEP 5: Get out my screenwriting books again with this story to help structure the story

STEP A:  Come up with a concept for a short film that I can shoot and complete in a couple weeks.
STEP B:  See if I can pull together the equipment/people I need to produce it.

4. Publish a poem No Progress
I haven't had the energy or the clear head needed to go back through the notes and do revisions, nor to write anything new.

STEP 0: read notes from Friend 1
STEP 1: put together thoughts for second draft
STEP 2:  write some more poems
STEP 2: do some research into common ways to get poetry published
STEP 3: identify some places where I would like to submit a poem and qualify
STEP 4: select some poems for submission and fine tune them

5. Track my spending/budget **PROGRESS**
Surprisingly, I did spend a bunch of time on this.  I almost completely set up my budget spreadsheet, and I took stock of my January expenses.  I also started thinking about my financial goals for the next year so I can begin planning for them and altering my habits.

STEP 1: Reassess my current budget structure.
STEP 2: Take stock of my current finances.
STEP 3: Set-up my budget for 2015.
STEP 4: Identify key rules/habits that will keep me on-top-of things and organized.
STEP 5: Identify financial goals (like major purchases, savings goals, loan payoffs etc.)

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 **COMPLETED WEEK 8**

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 progess

STEP 1:  Talk to my mom about teaching me how to use sewing machine.
STEP 2:  Get advice as to what would be good starter items to alter.

10.  Get something tailored. No progress
I have a pile of stuff but am no closer to getting anything mended or altered.

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 **TINY PROGRESS**
I bought my gym class pass.  I haven't had the time or energy to go to a class, and I want to recover from being sick (I still am sick) before I go.

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:  Come up with fitness routine/solution for at-home during the winter.
STEP 6:  Look into getting a gym pass for the spring.
STEP 7:  Look into getting an adult pass for the ballet school.
STEP 8:  Go to two gym classes a week.

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

I finished MaddAddam.   I haven't 100% decided which book to try next.  I might do Yes Please if a friend of mine is also reading it.  But The Beauty Myth is relevant to some of the think-piece articles I've been contemplating so it would be useful to get that under my belt.

STEP 1:  Pick a book to start with: MaddAddam series
STEP 2:  Read Oryx and Crake
STEP 3:  Read Year of the Flood
STEP 4:  Read MaddAddam
STEP 5:  Read The Beauty Myth  or Yes Please

13.  Organize something for Directed By Women. No progress.

STEP 1:  Review the guidelines
STEP 2:  Brainstorm some ideas.

14.  Write those think piece articles 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 **TINY PROGRESS**
I did slightly better than last week.  I did my two posts on this blog. 

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.  **TINY PROGRESS**
I got out the script and started reading it and making notes again.  I have to contact her and see if she has a newer draft, but I still want to read the draft I have and bring my thoughts together coherently.

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

18.  Start learning a little web design No progress
No time this week!

STEP 2:  Finish my Make a Website lesson on Code Academy.
STEP 3: Complete the HTML/CSS lesson on Code Academy.

19.  Finish books I have already started: No progress.
Survival of the Prettiest, Ishmael/My Ishmael/Story of B, Ode Less Traveled, Anna Karenina, Contagious (by Jonah Berger), Jim Henson: The Biography

STEP 1:  Finish Contagious
STEP 2:  Finish Ishmael
STEP 3:  Finish Flappers 
STEP 4:  Finish Survival of the Prettiest
STEP 5:  Read Story of B

20.  Organize a Clothing Swap or Yard Sale **TINY PROGRESS**
I really would like to organize this as something for Fashion Revolution Day.  I did some research for local organizations interested in sustainable fashion in the area, and I couldn't find any!  I might have to look into women's groups and sustainability groups separately.  I have a couple ideas on where to keep researching.

STEP 1:  Identify some local groups who might able to help me organize something.
STEP 2:  Reach out to those groups about doing something for Fashion Revolution Day.

21.  Develop a financial plan for my loans No Progress
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 **COMPLETED WEEK 7**

23.  Watch these 10 classic movies that I have never seen No Progress
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

Still have been too miserable and/or distracted to go to the library to get Young Frankenstein.

STEP 1:  Figure out if any of these are available on Netflix Instant 
STEP 2:  Watch Rosemary's Baby
STEP 3:  Watch The Virgin Suicides.
STEP 4:  Figure out which of the remaining movies are available from my library. 
STEP 5:  Watch Groundhog Day
STEP 6:  Get Young Frankenstein from the library and watch.

24.  Update a YouTube channel at work No Progress.
The other project has taken over my life at work so I haven't got back to this.

STEP 1:  Get advice from the marketing department, especially regarding partnership and SEO.
STEP 1a:  Discuss my plans with my boss.
STEP 2:  Develop plan for eliminating bad content.
STEP 3: Develop timeline for eliminating bad content.
STEP 4:  Send follow-up email with marketing department delineating responsibilities.
STEP 4:  Follow up with partners on new playlist ideas I have.

25.  Complete some family projects:  No progress

• help my sister make a scrapbook for our family reunion
• help my mother create a wedding album for a cousin
• create an anthology of  my grandmother's writing--- hopefully with some of her art and painting included.

I really want to get to at least one of these this week.

STEP 1:  Look through the wedding photos.
STEP 2:  Do some research on what typically goes into a wedding album.
STEP 3:  Talk to my mom about what she wants for the wedding album.
STEP 4:  Read my sister's notes about the scrapbook.
STEP 5:  Talk to my sister about her ideas for the scrapbook.
STEP 6:  Call my aunt about the writing that she has gathered from my grandmother.

26.  Private health-related goal. No progress.

Score:  Progress on 6 of 23 goals.