1000 posts, holidaying, three-in-one

Before I launch in to today's post, I've only just noticed that yesterday's post was my 1000th! HAPPY 1000TH BLOG POST TO ME! 

Now back to usual programming...I'm off to Brisbane! I arranged my leave from work this morning and then booked my flights and accommodation straight away. Got a pretty good deal too. I'll be in Brisbane's (hopefully) sunnier climes from 22-28 July. Now to plan!

Part of me feels I shouldn't be spending money on a holiday given I'm trying to boost my savings with a shopping ban, but I did only challenge myself to stop buying shoes, clothes and accessories, not spending money on everything. Plus science says spending money on experiences increases happiness more than buying things, and I'm all about the pursuit of happiness. 

I will possibly cross three things off my Things to Do List with this visit - visiting Brisbane (which I thought was on my list, but it wasn't. Of course I added it just so I can cross it off) and hopefully meeting my longtime online friends, Victoria and Gillian. We've 'known' each other since our Myspace days - possibly as long as 10 years! - but have never met in real life, so that would be splendid indeed. 

I had a delicious Reuben sandwich for lunch today. A bit naughty since it was glutenous and carbalicious, but I'm hoping the sauerkraut will compensate...except that they also threw in a very generous handful of pretzels and I had to eat them because pretzels. They also gave me a complimentary Mentos to see to the sauerkraut breath. Thoughtful! All that and I was able to buy it online and have it delivered to reception at my work (the perks of working in a very large office tower). I bought it from Mason Dixon, if any locals are curious. 

Trivia highlights, long weekend, dotty

The Fairy Tree in the Fitzroy Gardens

I went to my old work's trivia night last night. It was fun and we were pleased with finishing in the middle of the field, considering we were four people short and had no sports-loving men or brainiac lawyers on our team. Another team (all lawyers) from the department I used to work for was triumphant after many years of finishing second or third. 

Some highlights: 

* Q. Where does Paddington Bear come from? Of course, most of my team said 'England', except for Lauren, who was adamant he was from Peru. Say what? Surely that was the wine talking? She said this question came up in quiz on a Contiki tour she did once and she'd remembered it because it was so unexpected. She was insistent, so we wrote 'Peru' on our answer sheet. A. Peru!  Or Deepest darkest Peru, to be precise. Like Lauren, I don't think any of us will forget that any time soon! 

* Q. Which German physicist came up with the idea of putting mercury in thermometers? We were drawing a blank, then I took an educated guess and suggested Fahrenheit. It's  German, it's related to temperature. And yay! It was right. 

* I also took a stab at naming the monk who perfected cuvée in relation to making champagne. I don't know much anything about wine, but for some reason I remembered  'Dom' was a monkish word and also related to booze (eg the liqueur Dom Benedictine), so I suggested Dom Perignon. Also correct. 

It was nice to catch up with my old work buddies and also to tell the HR manager how much I loved my new job! 

Weeeeeekend!

Monday is a public holiday in Victoria so I have a three-day weekend coming up. I don't have anything special planned, but I do have a to-do list. I've already done a bunch of domestic chores tonight to free up more time on the weekend for fun - crafty stuff,  maybe a yoga class at the gym (if I can drag myself out of bed early enough), perhaps a photo excursion.

Sleep talker

Last night in his sleep, Luke told me I look good in polka dots. I did wear a spotty skirt yesterday.

Busy, dry, baking

It's day three of my between-jobs break (not counting the weekend) and I've crossed quite a few things off my to-do list already. It's mostly stuff that falls into the 'boring-but-useful' category, like defrosting the freezer and cleaning the fridge, cleaning out and re-organising the pantry and decluttering my wardrobe. Nothing exciting, but it feels good to have it done. I have a little moment of glee every time I open the fridge or pantry door. I'll enjoy it while it lasts! 

I bought new walking shoes on the weekend. Sadly, I have reached an age where my body won't let me get away with walking for hours in any old shoes without foot, ankle, hip and lower back pain and stiffness. Dagnammit. You know you're not a young 'un any more when you've googled 'comfort shoes'.  Anyway, I bought a pair of proper walking/hiking shoes and wore them for the first time today. Not only are they comfy, they're waterproof. Today was very wet, but my feet remained dry.

I have a cake in the oven. Just a plain butter cake (allergy-diet friendly - yes, I'm still doing that confounded thing). I don't bake often...maybe the cake-baking urge has something to do with the dream I had last night about eating delicious cake. It's just out of the oven now. Must resist hacking off a piece. 

Major glee

Mr & Mrs Plover always run away when I try to take their picture

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned I'd taken steps to fix a situation that was making me unhappy? Well, I can now reveal that I have a new job! Yay! Still legal secretarying, but in a mid-size firm, instead of a huge one. 

I have one week to go in my current job, which I've been enjoying less and less since September last year.  I won't go into the reasons here, but I got fed up with going home grumpy most days and I felt as if all I did was moan about work. I had no confidence that anything would change, so I changed jobs. 

The second best bit is that I get THREE WEEKS OFF before starting the new job. I'm not going away  - I'll be having a staycation, three weeks of pottering around at home, working on neglected crafty projects and getting out and about to take photos, maybe even a few day trips to places I haven't been before. Yes, I have started compiling a to-do list. I'm rather looking forward to it. 

List nerdery, inner child and cute robots

Swooshy clouds yesterday

I spent all afternoon today hiding from the heat and completing a job that has been on my to-do list for months: reviewing and revising my list of 101 Things to Do Before I'm 40 (which is 525 days away. Eep.)

Yes, I've reached the point of listoholism where my to-do list includes updating my lists. Goodness. I'm so glad I've finished it though, because I hate having tasks on a list that keep getting carried over and over and over. Often that's a sign that the thing probably isn't worth doing and should be struck off the list, but not this task. 

It's been over two years since I started my 101/40 list and although my dedication to it waxes and wanes, I think it has enhanced my life and I enjoy doing it. I only put off the review/revision for so long because I knew it would be time consuming and I am rather lazy (despite perhaps appearing otherwise merely by having such a list). 

I decided to update the list because my priorities and interests have changed since I started it, and my commitment to quite a few of the initial goals on the list had diminished or disappeared altogether.  I'm hoping the overhaul will renew my motivation for it.

Today's review and revision also gave me a clear picture of what I've achieved.  I've crossed 28 things off the list so far, which doesn't seem like much progress in two years, but I have crossed off the number one thing, which was to take my first overseas trip. And, in any case,  (cliche alert) it's about the journey, not the destination. It's about making life more meaningful and fun; not about robotically achieving and crossing off goals (as much as I love the crossing off bit).

I should also add that many of the goals are ongoing - for example buying myself flowers or getting a massage once a month - so I'm going have a crossing off frenzy on 9 July 2012!

Indulging my inner child. Yet again

I bought myself some coloured pens. Pink, purple and blue ones. Yes, the back-to-school display at the supermarket got to me again. I didn't need them;  I just wanted them.

I also bought some wee robots from etsy.com. Is this not the cutest robot ever? Completely frivolous, but adorable (perfectly summed up in the shop's slogan: Things U never knew you needed until today). I can't wait for them to arrive. 

The joy of to-do lists...and dinner is arranged

I am enjoying my home holiday so far. There's been sunshine and I have done a few things on my to-do list.

And yes, I actually have a to-do list. I love lists - or more accurately, I love to cross items off my lists. I like the feeling of accomplishment, of overcoming my tendency towards laziness and procrastination.

I don't usually write to-do lists during the week because, being a legal secretary, what I do and when I do it is mostly dictated by others. But I go into every weekend with a to-do list, and I put everything on it, even stuff that I do every single weekend and don't need to remind myself to do, like buying food. All for the buzz of crossing it off!

I know, it's a bit tragic. But! I don't usually allocate times or prioritise anything, so it's not totally anal and lacking spontaneity.

Decluttering pt 2

I have nearly completed the second phase of my big clean out. Last night I went through all my cupboards and ruthlessly culled everything I haven't worn or used in ages and am not likely to. I threw out two bags of rubbish, two bags of cardboard and paper went in the recycling and I have heaps of stuff to go to the op-shop. I just have to get it there now.

(On a side note, while going through my stuff, it occurred to me that one of the downsides of the proliferation of gadgetry these days is that you end up with a corresponding proliferation of assorted cords and adapters and chargers and plugs whose purpose often becomes a mystery...but you don't want to chuck them just in case! I put them all in a box in the bottom draw of my desk.)

The next and final phase of my clean out is to go through years of paperwork which has been shoved in shopping bags because I was too lazy to properly file it.

Dinner up-date

The dinner with the man from my past is on Thursday night. I'm excited but nervous.

Are you a writer of to-do lists (or any other kind of list)?