Abbie's Real Life Blog

Tomorrow is October!  And October 1 is the start of the fourth quarter of 2008.  Yes, folks, we’re winding down the year of 2008.  I know- didn’t it just start?  How can this be?  But let me tell you: time, that’s how.  Time moves whether you like it or not.  That is what I have discovered.  I know, I’m so original and unique, discovering things no one else knows, right? 

Time, time, time.  See what’s become of me.  Hang on to your hopes, my friend.  That’s an easy thing to say, but if your hopes should pass away simply pretend that you can build them again…*

Well, I am not ready to be done with 2008.  I still have a bunch of stuff that I want to do.  So, here is my list of things to do before 2008 ends.  It’s like a resolution for the quarter rather than for the whole year.  I’m breaking it down further into categories.

House/Yard Cleanup:

• Weed the side flowerbed, which hasn’t been touched in at least a year.  The goldenrod is taller than me.  I’m lucky I have a big wooden fence, or everyone would know my terrible weedy secrets.
• Move several shrubs around in the front yard and back yard.  The previous owner of my house liked to plant things in the middle of the lawn, rather than in nicely landscaped flowerbeds.  I prefer to move these shrubs, and they often really thrive afterwards.
• Get the roof done.  This isn’t so much in my hands, but I do think it is supposed to be done in October.  New roof, new gutters, new skylight in the bathroom.  This is the only thing left on the ‘big shit to fix on the house’ list.
• Put new mulch on all the flowerbeds.
• Clean out the garage.  Break down all the boxes and put them in recycling.  Organize the tools.  Put all unneeded items on Freecycle and get them out.  Clean out those boxes of stuff that are leftover from moving into the house two years ago.  Either file it, box it up nicely and store it, or get rid of it because you haven’t looked at it in two years, right?
• Move winter clothes back into the closet, and strip out everything that you won’t wear again.  Put shoes on eBay that you think might sell; everything else to Goodwill.

Photography:

• Participate in the October rotation for the Columbia Art League (my photos that are currently on display at the Columbia Mall will be at Ellis Fischel from October through December).
• Participate in the January rotation for the Columbia Art League, but choose new photos to frame and hang.
• Move forward on that other potential exhibit space for a November display if possible.
• Finish all California pictures by the end of 2008.
• Get out and take some autumn photos, preferably on a couple of hikes along the bluffs.
• Start deciding how to layout the front page of the photography site, because it should be done by the end of the first quarter of 2009.  Period!

Exercise:

• Continue with morning exercise routine three days a week.
• Get out and exercise for a couple of hours each weekend (yardwork does count).
• Do some hiking (and photography) this fall, at least while the autumn color is good.

Misc:

• Watch at least five movies from the AFI Top 100 list (the new list, preferably) by the end of 2008.
• Finish at least three books by the end of 2008.
• Buy a pair of high-heeled shoes and wear at least three times to work before the end of 2008.  (Why not?  I sit at a desk all day.  It’s not like I have to be on my feet.  I might as well learn to wear cute shoes if I think they’re cute.)
• Continue to meet up with International Center friend about once every two weeks, and invite her to Thanksgiving with my family.
• Continue to have dinner and visit with grandparents at least once a month.

* For those that don’t know, those lines are from Simon & Garfunkel.  Unlike other supercool websites in Columbia, I know I should attribute my sources!