Category: goals

Feeling accomplished

I got a call early this morning from the place that is taking the car for donation.  After a couple of phone calls, I managed to schedule the car pickup for 4pm today!

I also made an appointment with the vet for Mini, who has an infected toe.  She goes in tomorrow afternoon, but it’s on the books.

I still have a long list of things to do before my trip, but the big things are being accomplished.  I have a lot of little things to do, but I can fit them in here and there before the trip.  I did write everything down, so there’s a chance I’ll remember to do them.

 

Driving vs reading

I listen to audiobooks in the car.  Depending on the length of the book, it takes 2-3 weeks to get through one, usually.  I don’t always have an audiobook going.  I sometimes make phone calls.  I sometimes listen to podcasts.  Sometimes, I have nothing on the radio at all, if traffic is bad.  I do love the Bluetooth in my car, though.  I get a lot accomplished.  Especially since my commute is long some days.

Last night, I was reading an actual paper book while chatting with a friend between chapters.  I was flying through the book, and I had mentioned it.  He told me that I would probably finish it on the way to work today.  I may be crazy, but I am not crazy enough to try to read a paper book on the way to work.

I have seen other drivers do some strange things during heavy traffic, and sometimes not so heavy traffic.  Read the newspaper.  Read a paper map.  Put on eyeliner at 80 mph.  Hold a cellphone while talking into it.  Write what looks like a shopping list.  Lots of nose pickers.

Yesterday, it was raining.  I passed three accidents on the way home.  The first was just a fender bender and the drivers were chatting at the side of the road.  Another one was car vs car.  Three fire trucks were on the scene.  The car blocking the right lane had a broken axle.    The next accident was a SamTrans bus, a commuter van, and a small car.  Everything looked ok, other than the bus diagonally blocking the two right lanes.  The police were on the scene.  Reminders to be careful and pay attention.

This morning, there was an accident on the exit from the freeway to work.  I was stuck for a bit.  When I got to the accident, the tow truck was there already.  The police were blocking off the traffic and just a few cars were passing the accident at a time.  On the left.  Just as I got to the intersection, a car decided to try to pass the accident on the right.  I am so glad that I wasn’t there long enough to hear what the police were yelling at him.

Definitely, no paper books on the steering  wheel on my commute.  I would like to finish the book tonight, though.  But not in the car.

 

0/75 complete

The new year started, so the new Goodreads challenge started. I have to figure out what book I’ll finish first. The first one of the year should be a good one.

I don’t want it to be just anything. I have several books that I picked up as short ones to get my count up if I needed them, but none of them would be a good start to the year.

Baby steps in goal setting

My reading goal for 2019 is 75 books. I was asked why. Because I didn’t have a lot of trouble with 62 books in 2018. The 62 was chosen as a book a week, plus ten audiobooks. I fell behind for a while because of lack of concentration after my surgery. I caught up and surpassed my goal.

I feel that a goal should be a challenge, but not unattainable. Sure, I could set my goal for 1 book for the year, and meet it almost immediately, but there’s no challenge in that. I’d finish right away and be bored the rest of the year.

One of my Goodreads friends set a 2018 goal of 2018 books. She read 10. That’s not even close. Why set such an unattainable goal? Six ish books a day? Not going to happen, really.

I do have friends who set their goal over 100. I am not yet that brave. That would stress me out, so I add to my goal little bits at a time. I met that goal, next year try a little more. Maybe in a couple of years, I’ll be over 100. Not this one.

My retiree friends have 365 books set as a goal. And make it by early December. Please note… retiree. I don’t make time for a book a day yet. Maybe one day.

75 books in 2019. I think it’s doable for me. As those of you who read me frequently know, I have many halfway finished, so I have a little head start. I can do this!

63/62

I met my reading goal for 2018. In fact, I exceeded it. I slowed down on the reading because of it. I shouldn’t, but I did.

Last night, I ended up going to sleep before 8 pm. My eyes were just too tired to read. Couldn’t focus on anything. So I just bundled up and slept. I will get back to it today.

2 books behind schedule!

I am almost caught up!  Just in time to end the year right.

I have an Agatha Christie book going as an audiobook in the car.  I may finish it this week.  Definitely by boxing day.

I have a Meg Cabot book going as a library book.  It’s short, so it’ll be finished quickly, if I sit down and actually get into it.

I have several e books going.  They may be finished by this weekend.

I can do this!  Five books to go by 12/31.