Small Progress.

So, over the course of my road trip I worked on a couple of my other goals:

Number 48--Wear no make-up in public. I did this on Sunday, the day after we got super high. I feel like it was almost a cop-out given the circumstances, but we did go out to eat and I did see people other than D so I decided to count it. A bigger step will be going without make-up to class one day (or days). I'd like to wait til my skin is particularly clear (which admittedly, sort of defeats the purpose of this task). Maybe I'll slowly wean myself off.

Also, I finished another book. Lost Tribe: Jewish Fiction from the Edge ed. by Paul Zakrzewski. It was a collection of short stories. I'm particularly interested in Jewish fiction (particularly in magical realism in Jewish fiction), so this collection of contemporary stories was great (post-Portnoy, they called it) to see where dialogue is headed. I made a few new discoveries--I love Myla Goldberg (she's not just an awesome Decemberists song), and even though I loved Everything is Illuminated, I'm willing to accept the Jonathan Safran Foer is kind of a douche. Lots of new stuff to look into, as well as some food for thought when it comes to possible graduate study.

95. Track food eaten for one month

What is it: Since I'm working on losing weight of the course of my mission, I figure tracking everything I put into my mouth for a month might be a good place to start, so I can see what can be cut out and cut back. If I'm more conscious of what I'm eating, I figure I'll be able to alter my diet more effectively.I've experimented with this in the past and had difficulty sustaining it for more than a few days, but I figure that if I fail for one month, I've got 32 more that I can try.

I'm concerned that if my issue is portion control rather than quantity of food, I won't have a way of measuring it--I'll have to guesstimate portions at restaurants and the dining hall. We'll see.




Status: Haven't started

94. Splurge on an expensive haircut

What is it: Since I'm a poor college student, anything more expensive than about $30 is out of my price range for a haircut. I have nice hair, and I'd like to take it to someone who knows what to do with it, someone I can turn over the reigns to my hair and say "Have at it! But make it look good". Some place that won't thin it without asking me or leave it half wet because it's so damn thick. So expensive, quality haircut. I need to do something for me.




Status: Haven't started.

87, Get a Pedicure

What is it: I've never been big on spa-things, though I do appreciate a good massage and a facial every once in a while. I've never had a manicure or pedicure. I don't really care too much about the state of my hands--I bite my nails on and off and generally prefer to keep them short and painting them is too much of a hassle. On the other hand, I have cute feet and I'd like to make them look nice--get the calluses sloughed off, make them feel nice and soft. Basically this is just a "pamper me" kind of thing, and might be nice to do one day with a group of girlfriends (maybe over christmas break). Also, would certainly be nice to have my feet in good shape if I ever decide to pursue foot-worship for money.





Status: Haven't started.

74. Try Pilates

What is it: I love yoga, and pilates seems to be a higher impact version (same focus on breathing, feeling the whole body, less focus on meditation and fewer silly names). Since yoga has worked so well for me in the past, I'm hoping that PIlates will have a similar effect and help me get back into shape. I signed up for a free twice-a-week class this semester at school. I can try it out, and drop it if I don't like it.





Status: Complete! As of 10/18/09

49. Run a Mile without stopping

What is it: I've been doing a good job of getting back into shape in general and building up my cardiovascular endurance, but even at my "peak" I could never run a mile without stopping. I've never been much of a runner up until college, and even then, I'm very particular about how I run--around the city, alone, with my head phones. And I've never been able to pace myself well--I'm either almost sprinting or walking. My major accomplishment, when I was running regularly (no sidewalks where I am now, so a gym membership has to suffice), was to run the full length of one side of the Harvard/MIT bridge. I think if I run both sides and the to-and-from apartment, it evens out to about a mile (will do google map calculations to be sure). I hate running on a track (feel like a gerbil), but I won't completely veto the idea of testing this task on a track.




Status: Haven't started

48. Wear no make-up in public on 10 separate occasions

What is it: Ask my boyfriend D, and he will tell you that I am exasperatingly neurotic about wearing make-up whenever I leave the house, regardless of how few people will see more, or how low key the event we're leaving for is. I'd like to be more comfortable with myself without make up on, so I'm going to force myself to step out of my comfort zone for this one. It will definitely be good for my self-esteem, and probably won't hurt my skin either.




Status: (1/10)
1. 8/16/09

4. Weigh 130 lbs.

What is it: A few years ago, I went on some medication that made me gain a lot of weight very quickly. Since going off that medication a little over a year ago, I've slowly but surely begun taking that weight off again by being more active (living in a city where I can walk everywhere most of the year certainly helps) and being more conscious of what I eat. I'm still short of my goal, but I'm working steadily towards it. I'm looking forward to being more active when I get back to school (signed up for a pilates class, am actually going to drag my butt to the gym) and eating more healthfully. 130 isn't my ultimate weight loss goal (that's about 120), but it's a weight at which I'm healthy for my height/body shape and feel good about myself.




Status: Haven't started

75. Try a Strippercize class

What is it: I have a friend whose sister tried these classes and loved them--the friend and I were always meaning to go too, but never got around to it and I've always regretted it. Strippercize (or burlesque as aerobics) has always seemed to me to be a great way to get into shape, build confidence and feel sexy. I'm sure D will appreciate my newly learned "skills" as well. (He's already talked about getting a stripper pole for out future apartment)





Status: Haven't started