Well it's been an entire year since I've last looked at this. I didn't accomplish everything, but I sure did a lot of interesting things I might not have done otherwise! Here's an update on some things I've done since January of last year.

2. Run in the derby marathon or mini
On November 7th I ran the Indianapolis Monumental Half-Marathon! Definitely one big accomplishment for 2009. I signed up, and just did it, after running once or twice a week over the summer and fall with Erin. It was an amazing experience. My time was 2:22:22. It turned out to be easier than I thought it would be. And I learned that I Can Do It! The course was beautiful. I stayed at Arianne's dorm at UIndy. Thomas accompanied me. He did most of the driving. He was also a great help getting me to registration, and taking my stuff at the starting line. After the race we explored Indianapolis and generally had a wonderful weekend trip together.

5. Climb a real-life, high altitude mountain
Well, I didn't, but my roommate Laura did. In Ecuador. Just goes to show it can be done!

15. Go camping
I've been twice! Both at Red River Gorge. The first time was just Thomas and I, after a day hike with Chris and Neil. I wore a back pack for the first time, it was pouring rain and cold, but we had a fantastic time. I never experienced such silence, such darkness. We cooked yummy hot food over a fire, and had also quite the time in the tent. ;)
The second time was on Halloween. Chris, Laura, Thomas, and I went for a night hike, camped, and then hiked some more in the morning. A little bit of rock climbing ensued, as well as some incredible sights. And a delicious hot breakfast in the morning. :)

20. Learn to juggle
Currently learning. Chris lent me his juggling balls. They are sitting on my night stand, and I am to return them when I have mastered the three. Yay!

40. Do my taxes in January
Well, this year I did them as soon as I could. I've completed everything I could immediately upon receiving my two W-2's, and am now waiting on the arrival of my 1098. Other than that, I am ready to file. Come on, refund!

41. Develop an emergency fund with which I could support myself for three months
I have exactly this amount in a savings account labeled "Emergency Fund." Go me!

42. Be without debt
Zero balance on my one credit card, Student loans paid off. Yes.

57. Learn and be able to prepare 5 Filipino dishes from memory, and make 5 amazing desserts (7/10)
Well I don't know about the "from memory" part, but my cooking skills have definitely improved. And I can make garlic fried rice without a recipe, and a decent stir fry. I've also made some pretty decadent pasta dishes. Oh, winter and the comfort food that comes with it. And the desserts? Blown out of the water. I've recently gotten into baking. Browned butter rice krispie treats, chocolate stout cake (declared by Thomas "maybe the best cake I have ever eaten"), Aztec brownies, and tomorrow, Tres Leches cake. I am so not afraid of baking, and quite enjoy the process, and the results. :)

67. Be in a long term relationship – at least 6 months
Thomas and I are going at just over a year and a half now. It's love. :)

80. Visit Chicago
Over 4th of July weekend, I went on an amazing trip with Sara K., Elizabeth Grace, and Natalie. We packed so much fun and food into those three days! The Bean, Sears tower, sushi, Chicago deep dish pizza, Taste of Chicago, the train, Avec, Michigan Ave, the Art Institute, Navy Pier (fireworks + the Maze), walking around at all hours, not to mention the drive up and back! And that's just off the top of my head.

89. Wardrobe makeover
My winter wardrobe, at least, is much more stylish. I have several gorgeous colorful scarves, a black pea coat (finally), a lovely pair of flat boots, and several other additions such as skinny jeans, awesome socks, stylish long sleeved tops, etc. Also, Tita Nene gave me some great hand me downs, including a black pencil skirt, a down vest, and two amazing pairs of knee-high boots (brown and black leather). Wardrobe makeover, indeed.

Wow, it has been a while since I updated this. Here's some progress since my last post:

I ran another 5k, Champions4her, almost exactly the same time. www.champions4her.com And placed thirteenth in my age group!

Books are selling on half.com, and I have clothes set aside so that I can take their pictures.

My savings is slowly growing, and my debt is steadily being paid off.

I've been picking up the guitar every now and then. Maybe if I move it to the living room I will play it more.

There's a poem in me, somewhere.

I made a blackberry cobbler with berries from the farmers' market! It was delicious, though I didn't follow the recipe exactly. Good cold, I prefer is warm with vanilla ice cream.

One Wednesday sometime ago, Thomas and I watched the sunset from the Belvedere downtown. "It was amazing" does not even begin to describe that evening.
The following Saturday morning after work, we biked to waterfront park and watched the sunrise. With twizzlers, goldfish, and cookiew, haha. And saw kayakers and swimmers training in the Ohio river, swimming upstream! I love it, I love it all.

I recently went to Fleet Feet on Bardstown Rd. to get fitted for running shoes. Depending on the shoe, my size may be a six and a half. And my feet bend in slightly when I run. I have the model written down of the shoe I liked best, though I don't know if I can yet justify spending $90 on a pair of shoes. Perhaps when it gets cooler and I actually am running again.

Most of these aren't goals that I have completed, but one's on which that I am making some progress, or just informational reminders.

1. Run a 5k
Run for the L of it

41. Develop an emergency fund with which I could support myself for three months
Opened the account today with about 1/6 of the goal amount

57. Learn and be able to prepare 5 Filipino dishes from memory, and make 5 amazing desserts (7/10)

Tomato beef stew 5/5/08

Pork adobo 5/14/08

Chocolate Kahlua cheesecake 5/13/08

59. Renew first aid certification
register

60. Get together with my high school group – Ellen, Evie, Christina, Megan, and Laura (2/5)
Ellen will be in Cincinnati this summer... make a date!

72. Go to the zoo.
It's summer baby!

85. Floss every day for a week
I went to the dentist today for a cleaning... lets get going on this one.

25. CLEP out AMAP
Working my way right now through the MIT OCW Intro Chemistry Course. Lecture 10 today!

39. Learn how to do my taxes
40. Do my taxes in January

57. Learn and be able to prepare 5 Filipino dishes from memory, and make 5 amazing desserts (4/10)
Garlic fried rice! It's really easy. I've made it four times in the past two weeks, once at home for Matthew. It has become one of my comfort foods.

77. Attend the Vagina Monologues 2/8/08
I actually went to see "A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer," a play by the the same writer as the Vagina Monologues. It was the tenth anniversary of the VM, and called V^10. I went with Ariel, bought the t-shirt, and got free condoms, lol. I'm glad I went, definitely worth it.

90. Watch 25 “must-see” movies (19/25)
I Am Legend 12/30/07
Remember the Titans 2/13/08

95. Register to vote 2/8/08
Sent it in.

9. Do 50 consecutive push-ups
Arm strength has definitely been increasing since winterguard began. These are on a list of things I can work on at home. I'll be able to do this easily before the season is over.

12. Buy either a 3-month or year membership to Rocksport
So I went to Rocksport with Thomas, Amanda, and Kyle mid-November. It was a blast and reminded me how much I enjoy the sport.

14. Climb a tree
Yeah so it was a fallen one at Berhneim, but still! It was big.

19. Take a ballet class for one semester
WG definitely counts as a dance class. Not as formal, but I'm learning all sorts of ballet terminology and technique. EIW runs through April, but I'm crossing this goal off.

24. Be a TOSer
Currently working on the application.

25. CLEP out AMAP
I took the PreCalculus test on Nov. 19th, passed and got the credit. Phew! One down, two/three more to go.

36. Get a second job
I'm working two jobs currently, Radioshack and UPS.

37. Set up a savings/retirement account
Done, set up a 401k account with UPS. It's only taking 5% out of each check, but it's a starting point.

44. Take a photo a day for 365 days (0/365)
How about I start this on January 1st.

57. Learn and be able to prepare 5 Filipino dishes from memory, and make 5 amazing desserts (3/10)
So I made a pumpkin log Friday night for the EIW get-together on Saturday night.


74. Spend a day each at 7 of Louisville’s parks and nature preserves – Bernheim, Cherokee, Iroquois, Central... (7/7)
Thomas and I hiked the Millenium trail on Wednesday.

90. Watch 25 “must-see” movies (17/25)
This one is in the bag. Here are some I've seen lately:
11/11/07 Paris Je T'Aime
11/25/07 The Fountain
11/27/07 The Kite Runner
12/6/07 What Dreams May Come

12. Buy either a 3-month or year membership to Rocksport
I have the money now... I'm going to wait until December or January to start. Hopefully I'll get my shoes and harness by then.

25. CLEP out AMAP
November 19, 2007 - PreCal
December 3, 2007 - Chemistry
December 17, 2007 - Calculus/Spanish
I registered for PreCal on Monday.

27. Become conversational/fluent in Spanish
Voy a hablar solo en español en la casa. Ambas compañeras de cuarto hablan español, y Laura tiene dominio. Su madre es de Venezuela.

49. Create and maintain a clean, productive, efficient, aesthetic, relaxing, organized, positive, personal, appealing, and inspiring environment. For 40 days. Upon moving into the new house. (40/40)
Done. It's not my dream room, but it's been kept neat and functional for a while now.

57. Learn and be able to prepare 5 Filipino dishes from memory, and make 5 amazing desserts (2/10)

10/26/07 Apple pie! It was so easy, and so good!

11/1/07 I made Kahlua cake, as per Auntie Kay's recipe, in celebration of our triple 21st birthdays for the party. I think it went over well.

63. Get tipsy with good company.

The roof's on fire, baby. =P

65. Go salsa dancing with friends
Sheryll is going to Coconuts soon as part of her birthday celebration, I might go.

90. Watch 25 “must-see” movies (13/25)
8/18/07 Stardust with Mike Revel
8/22/07 Knocked Up with Ariel and Laura
8/29/07 RENT with Ariel (Finally!)
9/16/07 Second Generation
11/4/07 3:10 to Yuma with Thomas
I borrowed What Dreams May Come from Carrie, up next.