Weannie's buzz spot

Alright- time found to do this

2008-04-28T07:32:22Z

I just foud 6 hours per week that I spent in A&P and massage classes this past year- plus study time. So barring I can find some lessons, I should have less excuses to keep putting this off. And I want to do this so hopefully I’ll get back on track. Whee

See more progress on: Learn to play the guitar

CIPTAC exams done

2008-04-28T07:26:29Z

A bit too heavily weighted on the nerological system for my studying history. We shall see the outcome in late June/early July. If only it wasn’t going to take so darned long!

See more progress on: take an anatomy class

CIPTAC exams done

2008-04-28T07:24:32Z

Results due in late June/early July. Fingers crossed- felt satisfied and content with how I performed in both the written and practical exams. Maybe I’ll be licensed and practicing sooner than I know it.

See more progress on: take a massage class

The first time I went to Barcelona

2008-04-28T07:21:18Z

...was for my 33 birthday in January. Wow, people had talked the city up so much I wondered if I set my expectations too high. Not at all- beautiful, easily accessible, friendly and the architecture so unique. I definitely want to go back in the warmer months and even have a pie in the sky idea of taking some Spanish. Entire new doors would open that way, plus I love the idea of speaking another language beyond English and French.

See more progress on: Barcelona

first lesson with N tomorrow!

2007-11-14T23:43:56Z

A good friend is giving me my first “official” guitar lesson tomorrow. I can’t say if I’m looking forward more to kicking this off or if I’m looking forward to seeing N! I’ll have both to look forward to, looking on the brightest side. :)

See more progress on: Learn to play the guitar

cleaned out my sock drawer

2007-11-14T23:35:58Z

I’m starting out large! Ha ha ha. But at least I’ve begun. Next the knickers, mes soutien-gorges and other various lingerie. One clothing category a week I think is doable. I’m already up to 4 shopping bags of stuff (I did some willy nilly cleaning out a couple months back; I don’t have 4 bags of socks.)

See more progress on: Clean out my closet.

neglected garden needs some love

2007-11-04T15:27:25Z

Before it gets below freezing here and my interest to garden will be totally killed, I need to do a few things like pull the weeds, plant some bulbs which will push through the late winter close and splash colour out next year and do some general, non-glamours clean up of the garden. Hopefully it doesn’t get to freezing this week, as I know there’s zero chance it will happen. But getting it on my list nonetheless!

See more progress on: winterize my garden

hopeful for holiday 2007 visit

2007-11-04T10:19:04Z

hoping we can swing some visit and time together during the nov/dec/jan time frame. i miss him like mad and have been sentimental these past few weeks about all the great times we’ve had traveling and being on holidays together in the past. it’s great just thinking about where we might go, what we might enjoy and that it may happen. fingers crossed and if not during the holidays, then hopefully an adventure next year.

See more progress on: travel with my brother

20% of classes complete

2007-11-04T10:15:46Z

Anatomy & Physiology classes are 1/5 of the way complete; only 20 classes to go and then exams! It’s starting to get interesting and seemingly more applicable to doing body work. We’re through talking about the cell and tissues, which IMO aren’t the most exciting of subjects. Now we’re on to systems, starting with the skeletal system. And the ability to connect what I’m learning in my A&P classes to what I’m doing/learning in my massage class is fulfilling and rewarding. Woot!

See more progress on: take an anatomy class

First "lesson" Thursday, 15 November

2007-11-04T09:51:52Z

Nothing like setting a date move you toward a goal. My generous and patient friend has offered to come over a few times to get me started. I cannot wait! Will be nice to have a friend who enjoys playing share his passion and knowledge, allthewhile, I’ll get to catch up with him too. It’s been eons since we’ve connected! :)

See more progress on: Learn to play the guitar

Loads of travel this year!

2007-11-03T16:47:49Z

This year so far, I’ve managed to blow this goal out of the water which is amazing but on the flip side, as my boyfriend likes to slag me, it’s not doing great thigns for my carbon footprint. D’oh; good thing my vehcile is a bicycle?! :/

Maybe my progress on this goal this year doesn’t count since I didn’t have the goal on my 43 things list until now, but I think it counts so voila. I say it’s so and thus, will continue to type here.

It’s been so incredible to see so much of Europe, at such a low cost compared to what it would have cost financially and energy wise if I had been travelling from the USA (where I used to live.) Here’s this year’s rundown and hopefully I can share an anecdote on each adventure sometime soon:

January 2007:
Savoie en France (a la French Alps)
Zermatt, Switzerland
February 2007: South of France (Carcasonne, Narbonnes, Aix en Provence, Cannes, Avignon)
March 2007:
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Paris, France
April 2007: Belfast & Port Rush, Northern Ireland
May 2007: USA (Seattle, PCH drive from Washington to California, San Francisco, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Gardnerville, NV)
June 2007:
The Vento, Italy
Poznań, Poland
Brussels & Werchter, Belgium (GO TO ROCK WERCHTER!)
July 2007: Athens & All over the Peloponnese, Greece (Kalvrita, Napflio, Monemvasia, Kardamili)

August: month at home in Ireland

September 2007: Paris, France
October 2007:
Berlin, Germany
County Cork (in Ireland)

upcoming:

November 2007: Prague, Czech Republic
January 2008: Barcelona, Spain
*February: 2008: Cape Town & the Garden Route, South Africa

Further wishlist for 2008:

Croatia
Turkey
Hungary
County Donelgal (Ireland)
County Galway (Ireland)
Scandinavia
Morocco

Lucky for me I have negotiated to extend my VISA and contract in Ireland another year! :)

See more progress on: leave my city once a month, leave my country once a year

I'm grateful for a wonderful start to the weekend

2007-11-03T11:05:28Z

I’m especially grateful for a few things this morning:

1. a wake up call from my sweetie who’s not with me this morning. the next best thing to waking next to him is a thoughtful call from him and hearing his voice.
2. the hope I felt after reading a delightful email message from a old dear friend back in California whom I’ve missed and felt disconnected from for a long time.
3. an enjoyable french lesson this morning with Jean. It’s such a wonderful feeling when you want to do something, make it a priority and then follow through with success and enjoyment.
4. the wonderful view out my back windows, looking on to the vivid colours of my neighbor’s Japanese maple tree (i think?) in its orange and red brilliance with the evergreens contrasting its background.
5. my sweet kitty who lays right next to my keyboard here, purring. he can tell how happy I am too.

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

What I imagine Praha to be like

2007-11-02T17:40:13Z

Cool architecture, tasty beers, nice cafes and I hear there’s a cool bridge and castle to be seen. Cannot wait to go there in a week!!!

See more progress on: Praha

j'ai revenue

2007-10-18T09:11:00Z

a la classe avec a ma prof de USA. elle m’a explique que je fais la meme erreurs que je faisait dans le passe. :( pas grave mais…il faut continuer!

See more progress on: parler couramment le français.

motivation challenges learning to play the guitar

2007-10-18T09:08:11Z

i did some surfing and found some online “lessons” but couldn’t get past the wrist pain and my lack of discipline to find/make the time play. i think perhaps finding a teacher would help me get off the ground and then perhaps i could continue on my own? i feel quite lame needing a teacher to help get me started and motivated—but maybe it’s the best way given the way i learn and all i have on my plate right now?

i do think it would be relaxing and a great outlet for stress- so will hoping to learn!

See more progress on: Learn to play the guitar

all 2006 tax paperwork and data in accountant's hands

2007-10-18T09:05:31Z

so not yet completed my taxes, but my irish and us taxes are being prepared. now let’s just hope the firm hired to work together to do both my us and irish taxes stops the screw ups. really, it’s incredible the “mistakes” they’ve made thus far.

fingers crossed!

See more progress on: File my 2006 Taxes

week 4 complete of massage course

2007-10-18T09:03:02Z

So good to be learning and taking steps toward something I’d like to do with my life. It’s an amazing feeling, sort of taking control but letting go at the same time.

21 more weeks until exams!

See more progress on: take a massage class

phew-IRS stocking curbed for now

2007-09-29T20:21:41Z

one less thing weighing on my mind. now on to my irish 2006 and us 2006 taxes. they’re both due in the next 30 days. whee!

See more progress on: file my 2005 taxes

The first time I went to Greece

2007-07-26T16:14:17Z

I learned that Greek drivers are even more insane than Italian or African bush drivers- oil tankers passing on blind curves on mountain road and passing multiple cars at once. It was fun tho- great excuse to drive like a whacko and not even stick out!

See more progress on: Greece

Untitled

2007-07-08T10:18:35Z

1) leisurely sunday mornings with early starts. it’s not often i want to wake up early- i always crave more sleep during my overpacked weekdays but this morning, without an alarm or a cat jumping on my head i woke and sprung out of bed without hestitate at 8 am. laundry, cleaning, dinner prep, gardening, answereds some overdue email, and other household chores were all tended too before my sweetie woke up calling me by his cute nickname from the top of the stairs only 2 hours later. man, need to go to bed a bit earlier so this happens more.
2) fresh smelling laundry after hanging it out on the line. mmmm. one of my favorite smells in the whole world. must get my sheets out there asap so i can be enveloped in the fresh air scent when i tuck into bed this evening.
3) my boyfriend putting new breaks on my bicycle. it wasn’t really until he borrowed my bike to ride up to the shop a few weeks ago that i noted how worn my brakes were. he had to point it out to me- and then offered to install my new ones. i love that i have a partner who loves to help doing these dirty, more manly things that i have done previously for myself my entire life.
4) the perceived kitty smiles and warm purrs from both my kitties first thing this morning when i found them snuggled up, sleeping and began petting there fuzzy heads.
5) and lastly for sake of my daily post (which is more like monthly on average,) grateful i have the time, money and freedom to see a documentary film “shut up & sing” this afternoon finally. it’s not made its way to ireland til now and i look forward to connecting a bit back with my us culture. i just don’t like to think about how much our civil liberites and freedoms have been eroded in the past years. so hopefully this will be a positive way to connect on that for me. and i guess I have a bonus,
6) grateful for the internet and 43 things where freedom of speech and press is still encouraging!

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

appointment with account finally scheduled

2007-07-05T09:48:40Z

this friday to discuss US 2005 and 2006 taxes as well as irish taxes. i hate taxes!! why do i put this off? i cannot wait until this is done- i hope i can at least complete my 2005 US taxes this weekend. what a thing to look forward to- whee! but at least it’ll be done and behind me. and the letters from the US tax man will stop coming. for now.

See more progress on: file my 2005 taxes

Untitled

2007-07-05T09:23:55Z

1. the feel of my hair after a long overdue hair cut.
2. emails from another friend living abroad, celebrating the amazing things about it and supporting on the hard things
3. pain relief on my neck and food after visiting my amazing rolfer
4. nummmie fresh summer cherries
5. morning kisses and snuggles with my boyfriend

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

First lesson scheduled!!!

2007-04-27T16:51:22Z

I have my first tennis lesson scheduled for Saturday, 5 May. I cannot wait- but am scared as well!! It’ll be all good- I’m excited to learn something new, push my body and find perhaps a new athletic passion.

Any advice on shoes, rackets, shoes, balls, things to prepare for the lesson or anything? I’m thinking I should wait until after a few lessons to decide on racket, grip size, etc. (My teacher will provide a racket and balls- so I just have to try and look like I play tennis in the clothes I choose out of my existing clothes.)

See more progress on: learn to play tennis

Untitled

2007-04-24T11:13:38Z

1. joined a gym with my boyfriend. motivation for us both to go- and someone to encourage the other when one is feeling lazy.
2. started my no wheat diet today. hopefully this will help my ailing stomach which has been bound into worse and worse knots lately.
3. started to chart what i’m eating, how i’m feeling and my exercise patterns. i think just starting is the hard part. (check back in a month to let you know how i’m doing.)
4. excited my friends who live in zambia are moving back to europe- will see them more and be able to be in closer touch.
5. exciting travel plans for the summer- concerts and trips now planned- Belgium, Greece, Poland, USA, UK!!

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

Untitled

2007-04-12T08:45:39Z

1. for sleep as it renews my mind and body, allowing me to start today fresh
2. my herbs and flower bulbs’ fresh green shoots peeking through the earth at me, setting anticipation for fresh herbs and flowers to come soon!
3. starting to play guitar last night- wow, fretting and spreading my fingers was much harder than I expected. I hope this gets easier!
4. being clear with myself and my boss at work about what I need and what I’m not getting. It doesn’t fix anything straight away, but it’s the first step in the right direction.
5. flickr fun. I love photos and memories and reliving special moments- flickr allows me to easily post, share and revisit special trips and memories in my life.

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.