A lot of you who know me realize I'm a pretty negative person a lot of the time. I am fiercely loyal to my friends, and I genuinely think I'm a pretty OK human being, but I really love to complain. Like, a lot. It's a gift/hobby/curse.
So, that's one of the reasons I haven't been blogging a lot (a 2nd one is that I've had some scary health issues, and a 3rd one is a almost complete lack of even mediocre speed internet access). I don't want to sound like a negative Nelly all the time. I read my friend's blogs, and they are always so awesome. Funny, loving accounts of the land in which we temporarily live. I want to be like that. Mostly, because I really like it here in general. I have a good job, which I am thankful for every single minute of every single day. I am sad that I'm not one of the lucky few that gets to stay a 3rd year. I really love this work. Every time I participate in a workshop, I am reminded of why I love to be a teacher. Every time I see that light on a student's face when they really get something, I am reminded of why I love to be a teacher. However, I usually feel the urge to write down things when I've had culturally interesting moments. Those usually come out sounding a wee bit negative. I got in trouble for that last year. I don't want that to happen again. :D So, in the spirit of change and a new year, here goes nothing.
I have a pretty awesome friend here, Tabitha (one of many, don't get your panties all up in a bunch). I'm sad she wasn't around last year, so that I could have spent 2 years with her in Indonesia, but that is neither here nor there. Tabitha has introduced me to this terrific concept, the UBERLIST. She had a list of 111 things she wanted to do/work on in 2011. She has done another one for 2012. I have shamelessly copied this idea. So here you go...my list for 2012. Yes, I know it's Feb. 8th, but I was gone on vacation at the beginning of the year, then a frantic week of final exams, and then another break (I know, my life is tres hard). Who wants to start work on things like "being healthy" and "professional" when they are on vacation? Not me. Call me selfish. :D So yeah, here's my list of things that I would like to take care of in the next slightly less than 11 months. Some of them are specific, some vague. Some kinda overlap sections. Some contain multiple items. Some involve the word, "more" which won't be difficult, because even 1 is always more than 0. Some others use less, such as #81. This is my first effort. If you will notice # 73...case in point.
My 112 Uberlist of 2012
TECHNOLOGY:
1. ___ Get computer sorted
2. ___ Purge “teacher” Facebook account
3. ___ Purge “normal” Facebook account
4. ___ Back up files to hard drive more often
5. ___ Clean up hard drive to delete copious amounts of duplicate files
6. ___ Get Photoshop on computer again
7. ___ Update Sony E Reader (fix books)
8. ___ Fix iPod issues
9. ___ Join Audible
CRAFTS:
10. ___ Finish pink & grey baby blanket
11. ___ Finish Dr. Who scarf
12. ___ Frame batik panels bought in Indonesia
13. ___ Frame favorite photos and hang on walls
14. ___ Clean up underwater photos using Photoshop
FINANCE:
15. ___ Stop spending so much money on food and drinks
16. ___ Place part of each paycheck into saving account
SPIRITUAL:
17. ___ Read some more of the Bible
18. ___ Learn more about other religions
19. ___ Go to church more than just Easter and Christmas
GROW UP:
20. ___ Work on better relationships with friends
21. ___ Learn to have more fun with people that are actually my age
22. ___ Write reports up in a WAY more timely manner
23. ___ Stop living vicariously through others on Facebook.
CAREER:
24. ___ Update TEFL 1 with a curriculum map
25. ___ Update Writing II with a curriculum map
26. ___ Practice what I preach with lesson planning
27. ___ Grade my students stuff in a timely manner
28. ___ Do a better job teaching Conversation class
29. ___ Do at least 1 lecture for students at UNMUL
30. ___ Start an English book club for students and have regular meetings
31. ___ Do at least 1 lecture for teachers at UNMUL
32. ___ Do at least 1 outside workshop
33. ___ Do a collaboration with Kalimantan people
34. ___ Do another collaboration with Muluku ETA’s
35. ___ Do another program at American corner
36. ___ Figure out a job(s) for after Indonesia
MUSIC:
37. ___ Learn one (easy) song on the guitar
38. ___ Take better advantage of the fact that I own a piano
39. ___ Move my old CD’s to my iPod
40. ___ “Borrow” more good music from my friends
41. ___ See The Break in concert again
42. ___ Go to at least 5 concerts/shows
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
ACADEMIC/EDUCATION:
43. ___ Learn about more obscure countries
44. ___ Update General Science knowledge
45. ___ Update General language knowledge of Spanish and French
___ ___
46. ___ Study Indonesian every week
47. ___ Read an intermediate level book in Spanish
48. ___ Read Don Quixote in antiquated Spanish (Aunt Jean’s present to me)
HEALTH:
49. ___ Obtain a healthier weight
50. ___ Enroll in health insurance after Indonesia
51. ___ Re-enroll in DAN diving insurance
52. ___ Avoid overeating to the point of discomfort
53. ___ Take vitamins more regularly
54. ___ Work on calcium levels
55. ___ Work on “head”
56. ___ Floss more
57. ___ Visit dentist
58. ___ Visit general doctor
59. ___ Visit chiropractor
60. ___ Find affordable place to get regular massages
EXERCISE:
61. ___ Go to the gym more often
62. ___ Swim laps on a semi-regular basis
63. ___ Return to 2x daily core exercises
64. ___ Work on PT for knee
SPORTS:
65. ___ Throw disc more often
66. ___ Play in an ultimate tournament
67. ___ Get re-breather certified
68. ___ Get wreck certified
69. ___ Get dry suit certified
70. ___ Get altitude certified
71. ___ Go diving in Lake Michigan
72. ___ Go diving in Colorado
PERSONAL:
73. ___ Write some more blog posts
74. ___ Update positive things on Facebook
75. ___ Check up on former students
76. ___ Turn 37 without complaining out loud too much
77. ___ Get new camera with all the fixings
78. ___ Learn how to use said camera
79. ___ Get on an APA team again
80. ___ Try to smile about something at least once a day
81. ___ Work on complaining about things less, and being a more positive person in general
FRIENDS/FAMILY:
82. ___ Visit Grandma
83. ___ Visit Jimmy and Eileen with Dad
84. ___ Watch Sean and Tracey get married
85. ___ Hang out with my brother Matt
86. ___ Visit California
87. ___ Visit Colorado
88. ___ Visit Boston
89. ___ Visit friends with kids more often
90. ___ Offer to babysit more often
91. ___ Write postcards to people
TRAVEL:
92. ___ Go on an orangutan “cruise”
93. ___ Go to Lombok and Gili’s
94. ___ Get to Papua
95. ___ Visit Timor
96. ___ Visit Palembang
97. ___ Visit Pontianak
98. ___ Visit Switzerland
99. ___ Visit Borobudur
100. ___ Go back to Ireland
101. ___ Go back to Muluku
102. ___ Go back to Singapore
103. ___ Go back to KL
104. ___ Go back to Ireland
105. ___ Go on a girl’s trip with Wanda
FUN:
106. ___ Watch all the films nominated for best Oscar
107. ___ Watch the films starring the people nominated for Best Actress and Actor
108. ___ Eat frosting out of a bowl with a spoon
109. ___ Eat my first burger at Kuma’s
110. ___ Go out dancing with friends
111. ___ Go to a football game in Indonesia & Ireland, and a Sox, Hawks, Bears & Fire game in Chicago
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
112. ___ Write Uberlist 2013
So, that's it with this post. No pictures. no real stories, just an update. Hope I didn't bore you. Hope you're happy to hear from me. I'm happy to let you all know I'm still alive. I am smiling at the thought (awesome #80!).
Oh, and I lied, here is a photo. Guess what?!? My arm didn't fall off from gangrene due to my motorcycle accident. Double bonus for today!
Hey, I lied again, because I've been waiting over 20 minutes for the stupid photo to load on my computer screen, but it just won't. Oh well. Still smiling that my arm didn't fall off. You'll just have to trust me.
