How's the List?

Nobody has asked, but it can't hurt to follow up. XD

1. Finish school. To be specific, I want to do school 3 days a week, minimum.

I've done school two nights this week, and we're off to a poor start. I must have read the latest chapter three times, took several pages of notes, and even took the quizzes at the end, and I didn't retain a thing. This is disturbing and discouraging. On the other hand, I can write 90 wpm at 100% accuracy, which is a step up from 78 wpm a@ 100% accuracy a month ago. Go figure.

2. Get a summer job at a camp or ranch. (Specifically, fill out applications for said job)

I have a stack of envelopes sitting next to my desk right now with applications. All they need is a 'biographical sketch' (*tries not to panic*) and pictures attached, which shall be picked up tomorrow evening.

3. Start and successfully complete high school girls' study on 'Created to Be A Help Meet'.

It's been started, anyway, and the first class was off to a good start. I'm foreseeing lots of good discussion and research over the next 18 weeks.

4. Complete 'Couch to 5K' program and the 90-day Cross-fit challenge (work out 3 days a week to start, perhaps increase as stamina improves)

I've made it through 2 weeks of the Couch to 5K program, and today was the 4th day of the Crossfit challenge. I've only been able to do it three days out of four, and I'll probably be sore the entire time, but I'm giving it a good try! The only downside is that I've been STARVING every day. I have no idea how I'm supposed to lose weight when every time I work out I eat a huge amount of food. Sigh.

5. Become more camera-savvy and proficient by playing with said camera and looking up the manual in order to learn all the functions.

I've been playing with my camera some, but haven't looked up the manual yet. *sigh* 

6. Play piano or guitar at least 2 times a week.

I played guitar tonight...for the first time this week. *hangs head* There's always tomorrow, right?

I haven't ridden the horse at all, because when it's not cold it's raining or icy. Creating has fallen a bit by the wayside while trying to keep on top of everything else (taking pictures is creating, right? Right?).

9. Get a calendar and learn to schedule and budget time and money.

*needs to get a calendar* I've started the $5 saving idea, though--the idea is whenever a $5 bill comes into one's possession, they put it back for something nice or a rainy day. I'm doing $5s and $1s, so that'll be fun to delve into in a few months.

10. Go to the library once a week for books and research ones to order through the library exchange system.

This week's books are The Herbfarm Cookbook and Creative Bookbinding. Because, y'know, one can never read too much about herbs and bookbinding is one of those things I've wanted to learn but haven't taken the time to do so. (My copy has a hideous cover from the 60's that's totally asymmetrical and messes with my sense of patterns and rhythm. *shudders* But the content is good.)

And I bought a book yesterday called God's Generals: The Roaring Reformers. The first chapter is on John Wycliffe, and Mom spoiled it for me by telling me that he gets burned at the stake. D: It turns out he died of a stroke instead, but still! I was getting really attached to the old dude! *ignores the fact that he lived in the 1300s and is very much dead anyway* Sigh.

So that's how the first week has gone...not horrible, but not fantastic either. Hopefully I'll get my footing in the next few days/weeks to come.

Root Beer: Round 2

I attempted to make some 'root beer' a couple of weeks ago using my kefir water (long story there, but I'll try to explain along the way). It sorta worked, and sorta didn't...hopefully this time will be more successful.

For those who are unaware, kefir water is made from kefir granules. Basically, one puts water, sugar, and kefir granules in a jar, lets it sit on the counter for 48 hours, and voila, you have fizzy sugar water. (The link explains it much better than I just did)

Actually, kefir is a lacto-fermented drink. The granules are bacteria and yeast (the good kind) that 'eat' sugar and infuse the water with probiotics and fizzies. I've had this particular jar for about 2 weeks, and the kefir grains are VERY happy.

Every time I walk past I poke the jar to watch them do their happy dance (bubbles rise from the grains and a few rise and fall in the water. It's pretty entertaining). They really like well water (it's filtered, of course) because of the minerals in said water. That said, these are getting a little out of hand. They've tripled in quantity since I got them, and it was time to divide them up.

Last week (or the week before? I lose track of time) I looked up a recipe for making kefir root beer, found that I only had three ingredients and ordered the rest, got impatient and made a modified version...you get the idea. The first batch only had sassafras bark, a cinnamon stick, and a few cloves in it; those were simmered in two quarts of water to make a tea, strained, had some sugar added, and divided into jars. I took one jar, filled it with some of the kefir water and the tea, and set it on the counter. The second jar was the same, but with a couple spoonfuls of kefir grains. The jar with the grains did much better as far as getting a carbonated taste to it; thus, that's what I'm doing this time.

The rest of my ingredients came on Saturday, and I did not take my time getting another batch going this morning. My only mistake was following the recipe where the ginger root was concerned, and it really, REALLY tastes like ginger. My brother didn't like it, but I think it's pretty good. 

I had to modify the recipe a bit, with taking out the juniper berries and hops flowers, but I figured they wouldn't be missed that much.

Yum, boiled bark.

The tea had to sit until it came to room temperature because the grains will die (or something) if they're exposed to heat. So it sat on the counter until we got home from church, and I put them in their jars to ferment for 4-6 days.

Another mistake was using a metal spoon to scoop the grains out. Apparently they don't like metal either, and it's not been fizzing at all. *wrings hands* Hopefully they'll snap out of it though...

I will be back with an update on my attempt in a few days! In other news, my new macro lens came on Saturday too. I haven't had much time to play with it, but it's so cool. Observe:

 

Eyes in focus...

 

 

...nose in focus!

I may or may not be having way too much fun with this. Ahem.

In other other news, tomorrow is the beginning of the 90-day Cross-fit Challenge. *whimpers* I'm going to be so dead...but on the other hand, I took 'before' pictures today and I feel like a tub of lard. Man. I have no definition, no stamina, AND no strength! Great way to start! XD In 90 days I expect to be ripped. If not, I'm lodging an official complaint with...somebody. I don't know who yet. 

I'll probably not be putting my workouts on here, but I'm keeping track at the gym in a notebook. Yes, we've been going back to the gym...but I've worked out  more consistently these past two weeks than I have in almost a year. Time to be back in shape, yo.

2013: A Short List

 (Here, enjoy a random snow picture)

I've had a list of goals for 2013 for a little while. Not as extensive as some I've seen, and a lot of these ideas are still in the nucleus of coming to fruition, but it's at least a rough list of what I 'want' to do. I haven't put them up mostly because I didn't think anyone would find them interesting...but part of getting something to come about is to write it down, right? And this blog has served for a point of reference more than once, so it'll be good to look back on the grand start of journeys and such.

Rough List of Goals for 2013

1. Finish school. To be specific, I want to do school 3 days a week, minimum.
2. Get a summer job at a camp or ranch. (Specifically, fill out applications for said job)
3. Start and successfully complete high school girls' study on 'Created to Be A Help Meet'.
4. Complete 'Couch to 5K' program and the 90-day Cross-fit challenge (work out 3 days a week to start, perhaps increase as stamina improves)
5. Become more camera-savvy and proficient by playing with said camera and looking up the manual in order to learn all the functions.
6. Play piano or guitar at least 2 times a week.
7. Ride the horse long-distance, by starting riding as soon as it warms up on the off-days for working out.
8. Create in any form (sewing, drawing, writing, photography, etc) every day.
9. Get a calendar and learn to schedule and budget time and money.
10. Go to the library once a week for books and research ones to order through the library exchange system.

Some bigger goals would be to earn enough money to get a little car (stick shift, baby!), get a better job once school is over, and learn some skills like woodworking and basic engine stuff (for the eventual stick shift car, of course).

All these are lovely and wonderful ideas, but I'm also hoping to not get all overwhelmed and irritated at myself, because I'm usually so tired after work that all I want to do is flop in front of the computer or sit with a book and zone out. I know it's a discipline issue...but still. >.<

Here's to a bright new year, and a list of things to do in said year! *raises water jar in toast*

Job Applications

I don't know why they terrify me so much. Maybe I just don't like the thought of being rejected...from henceforth I'm going to make a conscious effort to go through with them even if I think I have no chance of getting the position. Which is most of the time...but I digress.

Tonight, on a whim, I filled out an application for a company that specializes in transcribing sermons. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, especially since I need practice while I'm doing the medical thing (and working at DQ isn't the greatest place to get typing practice, in case ya'll didn't know). And if I DO get considered or--wonder of wonders--HIRED, I can quit DQ and concentrate on gaining experience and finishing school. That needs to take precedence these days, and the longer I work at DQ the more I realize how much of a distraction it is from being focused.

It really isn't that bad--the worst part is how my schedule is so broken up that I have a hard time focusing when I'm home because I'm either thinking 'time to get ready for work' or 'I'm so tired from working all day'. It's a vicious cycle. But here's to maybe getting a different job! *crosses fingers*

I've also toyed with the idea of applying for a summer job next year, like at a kid's camp or on a dude ranch or something like that. I tried to get a job out West on a dude ranch when I was 18 and didn't get it, but maybe being 21 makes a person sound a little more competent. I think it'd be pretty cool to do something like that, anyway.

And ride across the country on horseback, and become a heavy weight lifter, and act in The Hobbit, and move to New Zealand (or Ireland or Wales or England or pastoral France)...I've got a lot of really big wishes and dreams, peeps. I just don't have the money or the strength to do all of them. XD

Oh! Oh! Speaking of The Hobbit, it comes out in 6 DAYS! 

*screams*

I am so freaking excited. You have NO idea. I even made a dwarf beard to wear to the movie! See?

I know my face is kinda derpy here. BUT BEARD.

I also found that it bears a slight, passing resemblance to Bifur. Observe:

Note that I said 'slight'. No hatchet in the forehead, for starters.... :p

Gah. So. Stinking. Excited.

NaNoWriMo 2012. Status: Finished.

The first hideous clunky first draft is DONE. Now I get cool badges and a certificate and the right to put it down and never look at it again, if I so wish. I might (MIGHT, mind you) come back and try to do something with it. Maybe.

In the meantime, like my stuff?

The final winning count!

 

And my little website badge. I also decided to get a t-shirt because hey, doing something for four separate years has to have some kind of commemoration, right?

Wanderlust

I get nostalgic and lean towards wanderlust when hearing songs like this:

(For the uninitiated: Simon and Garfunkel rock. The end.)

There comes a time when I dream a bit too. I want to travel...not forever, but for a while. And my preferred mode of transportation would be (wait for it) horseback. Yes, it would be hard. Yes, it'd take a long time. Yes, I'm a single young woman and traveling alone, especially with a large, (mostly) unpredictable animal, increases the odds for injury or attack/assault exponentially. 

Do you know what I mean? There's something terribly romantic about riding through a state, or a country, or across the world with nothing except your meager possessions and loyal steed to see you through. But when reading about survival techniques, or how to camp with horses, or what equipment to take, the restlessness begins to flicker.

At this point a trip like that would be impossible. I have too many current responsibilities and a distinct lack of knowledge (though that's being remedied slowly but surely). And there's a tiny little voice that says not yet. 

If/when I get married, maybe he'll want to do something wild and crazy like that with me. 

(I say the 'if' because my chances are very, VERY slim around here, and the 'when' because I would love to be so someday and that desire has most likely not been planted only to be withheld for life. But who knows.)

Maybe his NOT thinking that I'm completely bonkers in that respect will be a good indicator that it's 'meant to be'. 

But I'm not pinning my hopes on that. Should 'he' not come around for a long time, there's still plans to make and things to do and life to be lived. Agreed?

"I'm so tired of being alone

So hurry up and get here

So tired of being alone

So hurry up and get here...." 

Fitness Goals n' Stuff

I'm noticing that a lot of my posts have the word 'stuff' in the title. I need a larger vocabulary. Or to not write when I'm tired and low on nouns. (Weird thing: the more tired and taxed I get, the less grasp I have on nouns and am reduced to calling objects 'thingies' and 'stuff'. The words just won't come.)

In January I made some fitness goals involving going on the Paleo diet and working out/getting stronger. I started off very well, and even remembered to take a 'before' picture for reference. (Today I took a 'during' picture and there's definitely a difference. It were highly inspiring. :3) In February my efforts crashed and burned and in the depths of depression I could barely function as a human being, much less work out.

Last week I worked out for the first time since February. And promptly died. (Fine, I exaggerate--I just lay on the floor afterwards and dribbled sweat for about 10 minutes.) And after the soreness wore off (yesterday) I'm back in the swing of things.

I was down to 130 in February, but that's crept up some in the past few months. I love food, what can I say? And being upset/depressed makes me eat more. So here are the current stats:

135-137 lbs (last weighed about a week ago)

BMI (body mass index): 23.2

BFP (body fat percentage): 25.8

Overall I'm about average. I'd like to get my BFP down to 19% or 20%, into the 'fitness' range rather than 'average'. If I'm going purely by fat lost, that would equal about 127 lbs...which doesn't factor in muscle gain but hey, it's a start. 

I might start logging those efforts here. Most of my workouts are Pinterest-inspired, so posting a picture of what I did for the day should be a better visual than 'I just did such and such amount of exercises'. Or something. I dunno, I'm just rambling here now.

Hopefully those efforts won't go the way of the endurance riding, which crashed and burned after I got a part-time job. I need to manage my time better. *slaps wrist*

So today I roller-bladed for about 20-25 minutes and did this (from Pinterest!):

This may not sound too hard, but MAN. I've done this 1x in the mornings (only twice so far), and I'm dripping by the end. It's wonderful. 

So that's about it. I may go over diet stuff (*makes note to log intake*) but at this point I'm eating TONS of meat and protein and need to up the vegetables intake. I like veggies...it's just that eggs are so much easier to fry up and eat. ^^;

Until next time!

Completion of the Cough Drops

It took 3 1/2 hours. And they still didn't come out the way I wanted them to. But this will have to do...I have 2 quarts and 5 extra wrapped pieces...talk about labor-intensive.

In keeping with the fail post, here is another fuzzy webcam shot of the fruits of mah labor. Good night.

Rambabbling...

Yes, I just made up a word. Get used to it. XD

I'm finding that it's really hard to stay on track with the drawing challenge, just due to plain busy-ness. I'm trying to plot and plant an herb garden, clean houses, work a second job, ride the horse, and keep on top of the stuff that's happening within the family/taking up the evenings. I haven't ridden all week simply from being so exhausted when I finally get home. So...Imma stop the drawings for a bit. :/

I saw a certain person's doppelganger yesterday while at work. It simultaneously freaked me out, threw me for a major loop, and made me want to yell at him even though this guy was just some poor random stranger. And then I went home and cried for two hours. -.- Plus today was the certain person's birthday, and it was just a poor combination of triggers. Nergh.

Regarding work: I'm rather enjoying it. It's part-time, so 25 hours was spent slogging away...actually, it's pretty easy stuff. The 'worst part' is that I'm on my feet the entire time, but after working for the farrier and standing for upwards of 8-10 hours a day, this is a breeze. I've also discovered that I'm starved for human interaction beyond going to church--I mean, it's great that we have a church family etc. But I don't get to 'hang out' with people I like because they're busy--and that's fine. It's just that sometimes I have a little pity party because there is a bare handful of people that I like to associate and talk with and they have the audacity to have LIVES. *cue sarcasm*

Read that in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, please.

So work. I have a monetary goal when I turn 21, and just cleaning houses was not going to get me there. So I got a job at the local Dairy Queen. (Hey. Hey. Get rid of that raised eyebrow or I'll slap it off your face. It's WORK, right?) 

(I get weirdly defensive when I tell people where I'm employed. Ees something I gotta work on, I guess.)

Work, being starved for human interaction...it's all a day in the life, I suppose. And the herb garden--I have a little plot marked out, and plans to strip back the sod, lay down railroad ties, and build up a raised bed with compost-dirt before actually planting anything. I transplanted three little comfrey plants that had volunteered in the horse pasture yesterday and stuck them next to the main patch so I can keep an eye on them. They're a little wilted today, but not drying out or overly limp so they should come out of it.

The rest of the herb garden will (hopefully) occupy an 8'x4' area along one fence of the horse pasture. And the list of what I want to plant is growing rather long. So far:

Lavendar

Sage

Catnip

Lemon balm

Chamomile

St. John's wort

Thyme

Stevia (in an indoor pot)

Calendula

Echinacea

Feverfew

Yarrow

Dill

Oregano

Plus the random patches of red clover, nettles, peppermint and spearmint, roses, and raspberries. This is taking on a life of its own...or will be, once everything is in and planted. It's a matter of figuring out what is non-invasive and putting that within the railroad ties, and potting/planting elsewhere all the invasive stuff. In the meantime it's a blast researching stuff and figuring out what would be the most useful to plant. I also have plans for trying to make flower jelly (specifically clover or dandelion), starting tinctures, and drying herbal teas. If I can develop a taste for stevia in plant form, it'd be nice to get away from using sugar in my tea in the mornings (two heaping spoonfuls for a pot--not that much, but it's the principle of the matter, goshdarnit).

So yeah. If you read through the convoluted random rabbit trails, I applaud you. I never really plan any of this--it's just relaxing to sit down and write whatever comes to mind. I have a journal for writing by hand, but I type so much faster than I write that it's way easier to write on the computer. There's this idea for writing journal posts on the computer and then copying them by hand into the journal...but I'm not sure how well that'd work.

Oh, speaking of rabbit trails the dog discovered a nest of baby rabbits yesterday. They're less than 2 weeks old and still have their eyes closed--but he's taken to raiding the nest and carrying baby bunnies carefully around the yard before we discover what he's doing and put them back. *facepalm* He doesn't try to kill them, but he's absolutely fascinated by them and keeps wanting to carry them around. We're having to keep an eye on him so he doesn't keep going back and scarring the mother/babies for life. 

...and back to your regular programming...

It's late. Tomorrow is Saturday, which means I get to sleep in a bit. *glee* Going all the time is starting to wear a bit. Plus I haven't ridden the horse since last Thursday and the guilt is laying on thick...tomorrow isn't looking so great for riding either. Sigh. Here's to taking a deep breath before the plunge.

Endurance Riding and Goals-ish-things

So for the past week or so I've been working on riding the horse every day with the assistance of a friend of mine...I know nothing about dressage but would like to learn, so she's been giving me a hand at learning the basics. And when the horse's brain doesn't hurt from thinking so hard about what she's doing, it's a lot of fun riding and getting her to figure out what it is she needs to do and learn. (Though last night I dreamed ALL night of riding the horse along the rail, getting her to flex at the poll and turn on the forehand and stay relaxed and GEH. It was slightly stressful. XD)

 Hopefully over this summer I'll be riding a LOT more and working up to doing some endurance-style riding.

For those who may not know what I'm talking about, endurance riding is "an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races." I like to think of it as marathons for horses. The longer rides seem to be between 50-100 miles, but it can take years to get one's horse (and self!) into shape for a ride. Since I don't have a trailer anymore I'm a bit limited as to where I can attend rides. But before I can even think about doing any 'professional' rides I have some smaller goals to reach first.

1. Solidify the basic dressage training -- That's a bit vague, but getting her to stay relaxed and keep her head from popping up every time she speeds up is the current goal. XD (Along with getting her used to leg pressure, flexing, keeping a good seat, etc. O.o)

2. Consistent long slow distances at least 3 days a week -- Endurance rides are typically timed, anywhere from 2 1/2 hours for a 12.5 mile ride to 3-4 days for a 100-mile ride. Starting with long slow distances (LSD, if you can keep from laughing) conditions the horse's cardiovascular system, hooves, skeleton, muscles, everything. The only thing is that each system conditions itself at a different speed; while the cardiovascular system can be in peak condition within 1-2 months, it can take 24-36 months for the hooves and musculoskeletal system to be in peak condition. I'd prefer not to put shoes on the horse due to the expense, and she has good hard hooves to begin with. So walking/trotting the long, slow distances a few times a week can start getting the overall system in better shape without worrying about being timed yet.

(Or, riding 2-5 miles to start and working slowly on longer distances/shorter times as time progresses. See, I can be concise sometimes too. :p)

3. Go on at least 1 long ride at the end of the summer -- Three years ago I rode Colletta from my house to a rodeo 24 miles away. Neither of us were in very good shape, and while she seemed fine I felt like roadkill for the better part of a week. XD So I'd like to go on that ride again, but this time be in better shape and (hopefully) make it in better time--though that depends on the people I ride with and how fast they feel like going.

A more vague future idea involves 'riding the rails'. There are a lot of train tracks that are in less than ideal shape, and as a result the trains are short and have to go slowly. So if I rode the horse along the train tracks I could have a specific road to follow, without fear of being run over or spooking the horse TOO much. But that's for the future.

3 working goals seems like a good place to start...I can't guarantee that I'll continue riding on a consistent schedule when the summer heat/winter cold gets here, but I have ideas about how to get around the former. (The latter, not so much. I hate hate HATE being cold. O.e)

And the reason why I'm telling you folks? Well, I've heard the best way to finish something is to make oneself accountable to other people...so if I tell ya'll on here I HAVE to do it on pain of appearing like a flake. ;)