Work Things
1. Find a Time Management System that Works
This is a constant struggle but the Pomodoro Technique, paired with a weekly priorities list, and a dry erase board listing the current status (urgent, backburner, waiting on a collaborator) and next step for each project are currently working for me pretty well. I still constantly underestimate how much time everything will take me, but I'm getting better.
2. Five Publications
I have only had two papers actually come out, one on paraoxonase in the Journal of Lipids my dissertation work in Human Genetics but I have three more in press which will be out sometime in the next few months (hopefully) depending on the publishers' timelines.
3. Three Grant Applications
I've applied for more three applications and most importantly had one funded by Wenner-Gren. I'll be ramping that research project up soon and I can't wait!
4. Keep up with New Statistical Applications
This is a sisyphean task as there are always new methods coming out. I did attend a great course taught at Cold Spring Harbor Lab in August which gave me all sorts of new references to work from.
5. Improve my R and Linux Programming
A friend of mine started an R programming group in San Antonio which has been great for learning new applications and meeting other nerds.
Fun Things
6. Go on a picnic
Not yet. This whole fun things sectionis going to be ugly. Evidently, I need to have more fun.
7. Go camping
Nope.
8. Go to a local festival
Turns out I don't like crowds.
9. Go to the beach
Yes! In Malibu and Venice.
10. Go to a professional sporting event
Uh-uh. But I'm hoping for a San Antonio Silver Stars game this summer.
11. Participate in alumni association events
I cheered on the Jayhawks at a March Madness watch party. Turns out the motivation I needed to finally get out of the house was getting rid of cable.
12. Use the library
I haven't actually checked out any books yet, but I've started looking forward to my commute thanks to their audiobooks.
13. Visit the zoo and botanical garden
Neither.
14. Watch classic movies
This one I've done a lot and, in agreement with every list ever, Casablanca was my favorite.
Crafty Things
15. Crochet a throw
Decided to be a bit less ambitious and crochet a pillow instead. I'm really starting to get why people enjoy crocheting, though and may try a throw eventually.
16. Sew 6 garments for myself
I did make two new items from scratch - my Easter dress and a mod pink pencil skirt I haven't posted yet - but I am even more excited to be upcycling new outfits from old clothes - teal pants and black cardigan with crepe ruffle, navy skirt and grey striped button down, and summer t-shirt dress (I'll be posting soon). It's better for the environment AND my wallet.
17. Knit a sweater (Vignette Cardigan)
I knit one and I've cast on three others, because starting is the most fun part of a project!
18. Knit a pair of socks
This was my first pair of socks with sock yarn and they are so decadent. There is something really luxurious about hand knit socks.
19. Own no yarn that moved from PA
I'm counting those three cast-ons as using the yarn, so this is pretty much true. All of my yarn now fits in the four wire baskets I have allocated for it, and I'm determined to keep it that way!
20. Put all photos in scrapbooks
Done, done, done!
21. Learn to take better photographs
I really regret that I didn't put more time into this and I think I'll carry it over into the new year. I do wish I took better photos, but I know it will take work.
22. Learn to draw
I started working on this and then realized that it really isn't that important to me right now.
Yummy Things
23. Bake through Bread Baker’s Apprentice
I've learned to vary hydration levels (stiff dough for bagels and wet, sticky dough for focaccia), make lean pain de campagne and extremely rich casatiello, and leavened bread with direct fermentation (cranberry-walnut bread), instant yeast (stollen), and sourdough (pumpernickel). My favorite development, though, is the sourdough pizza dough that has replaced my normal Friday dough.
24. Make brunch once a month
I love breakfast food. This year we had apple-sour cream pancakes, Dutch baby, Southwestern omelet with extra crispy hash browns, waffles, spicy chicken biscuit sandwiches, peach and sausage kolaches, Moroccan merguez ragout with poached eggs, and migas.
25. Try out six new canning recipes
Before summer rolls around, I'm using up my last stores of ginger pear butter, tomato jam, serrano jelly, ice-brined garlic dill pickles, peach butter, and - my favorite and already gone - chocolate balsamic strawberry jam.
26. Cook with a new ingredient each month
I tried out kala jeera, forbidden rice, pork belly, cocoa nibs, crab, caperberries, chia, and harissa, but I spotted three new fruits I'd never seen at the store today.
Strong Things
27. Run a half-marathon
I did it! I'm I ready to train for next year.
28. Compete in a 1 mile swim race
I missed the actual race (I was at my statistics course), but I've been swimming a mile most Sunday mornings.
29. Complete two triathlons
This year I completed the Spa Girl triathlon and Wurst Tri Ever. Both had particularly fun swimming elements. The Spa Girl was held at a resort and we swam the quarter-mile in the lazy river and the Wurst Tri Ever we road a water slide that dropped us into a spring-fed pond.
Last Thing
30. Purge things we don’t need from each room of the house
This has been so satisfying! It is an ongoing project, and I think I may double back and purge more.
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