in progress

I haven't been posting, and you have been nagging *thank you!*

Regardless, I have been fairly productive, and I promise my goals have not left my conscious.

At this time I am constructing what I want to release 2010 goals as soon as I can. This concentration will help me construct my new dream board with clear images in mind and specific ideals to work towards.

I start working with the historical society soon, I'm pretty excited about it. I hope I don't lose that determination.

Money has been really good, mostly because at the moment I am house sitting for a husky. The compensation definitely helped tide me over through my paychecks with the holidays about.

Speaking of which, I wish you a wonderful holiday season. I am about to partake in mine! Take care now.

money woahs!

Woah....so I'm negative again! I got paid on Friday, then paid for my car, cell, two credit cards, gym, gas, and I even got groceries! I figured I had at least 100 left in my bank account and that Sunday night I told myself to just put my card by Katbank so I don't try and use it extracurricularily. Next Morning I check online, -28!

Woah. Good thing I pulled cash out when I got groceries for gas next week.

Good news is, that was my last check affected by a furlough for this year. I'm praying as hard as I can that we don't have them for next year. Pleeeeeease employer gods, please!

I went to the gym on Sunday, and did cardio for half an hour and then worked my legs out. To balance out the pain I would be inflicting my unsuspecting lack of leg muscle, I lifted with my biceps and triceps as well the next day in our office gym.

As it stands.... with my arms, I'm comfortable with 8 lbs. Yeah, a whopping 8 pounds. But this is good, hopefully I'll be able to make significant progress by a year from now. This also will help me formulate future goals for 2010.

Yesterday I noticed doing the same eliptical preset program wasn't as difficult as it was on Sunday, and I attribute that to the grueling leg presses Jamie had me do. So soon i should be able to keep a faster pace for more intervals.

I must say...I am enjoying the sudden increase of energy I have. I don't expect any visual improvements any time soon, that'd be niaeve, but I am already feeling like a better person! Yay!

I haven't been to a craft night in two weeks and this is putting a damper on my social life, as I miss my ladies. I see them so rarely!

This week I've been primarily eating granola in yogurt, sandwiches, cranberry juice, and protein bars. Yesterday I messed up and had a toasted cheese on white bread, with potato chips, AND ferero rocher hazelnut ball. Oy. I don't know what I was thinking- but I went to the gym last night no questions asked and burned 300 calories.

In other money related goodness, you have probably heard that the credit market is in for some drastic restrictions(FINALLY), but until then, they are trying to squeeze you for every penny they can until then. It's gangbusters! I read this blog post by mint.com who I use for managing my money. It gives me hope but at the same time, I still feel slighted. I hope none of you are being affected by their devious scams.

Let's get physical!

Today I worked out with Jamie. I did half an hour on elipticals burning about 280 calories, not including warm up.

Then he helped me work on my calves, hamstrings and quads with various weight contraptions.

I went with him whenever I last posted, but didn't get to swim. I had done 20 mins on eliptical, lifted with my arm muscles(was sore for 4 days), and then did another 15 on elipticals. All in all good times. I hope to go to the big gym with the pool soon!

I purchased my gym membership, adding onto Jamie's membership, doesn't mean much, it's still the same price regardless. 30/month, so I can afford to budget that in.

I had a good weekend. I took Kingston out for a couple walks, sold merch at the Friday Mile concert, and chilled with Lauren. Saturday I was inducted into the Southwest Seattle Historical Society!

Now I need to get my butt in gear during lunch!

Progressive progress progressing

Money issues are pretty much the same. Though I seem to be able to get a bit of cash from each paycheck in my pocket, which inevitably creates change babies that squirm around in my pockets. Kat Bank has been fed recently, and probably has almost 10 dollars in ones or coins collected so far. That's exciting and I haven't even considered pilfering anything from it! I actually look forward to physically dropping money off in there. Please remember that I absolutely hate change. I usually throw pennies away and sometimes nickels. I just don't like it. So this is some sort of progress in my mentality.

Community outreach: This has been in the works for a bit now 
First off here's the blog posting that I am referring to. I've been looking for something comparable to my experience docenting at the Stansbury House in Chico. The Loghouse Museum appeal seems to be relatively close, though the execution is distinctly different. The Stansbury house IS the museum. You go inside, and it's as if you have intruded the daily life of a family still living in the Victorian days. The Loghouse Museum is a venue for displays, videos, and a gift shop. None the less the exterior is fascinating!

Anyways, I responded to the inquiry(said blog posting), and I got a phone call from Joey. I met her yesterday, and was shown about the house. She is excited for me to be on the board because they need new people, and preferably younger people. So I've agreed to join, and I will be at their annual meeting to be voted in.

I already have some ideas for them, I just need to focus my specific participation and what I hope to gain from this experience. I'm excited yet a bit apprehensive! This is definitely some progress, if not an achievement of my desired goal for this year. I feel proud potentially, but I want to see how it pans out.


Fitness: I'm going to workout (meaning SWIM!) with Jamie tonight, and I couldn't be more excited! 

I went to California this past weekend for my cousin's wedding. I brought Jamie with to meet my family. It was successful and tiring as well. My extended family I haven't seen since Thanksgiving in 2004 all noticed the changes in me, besides growing up from 19 to 24, my skin is fantastic, my hair is long(er) and blond(er), and I look happy(er). I felt happy with myself, and I attribute that success to my awareness of progression through life since Daniel's death.


Kat: i'm writing basically the most epic blog right now

it fills me with the biggest sense of pride that i've cultivated on my own behalf

Rick: rad!

Kat: i don't really know if the contents [adequately] exhibit that

but-

my mental chest swells

Slackin!

• Money issues: so remember how I wanted to withdraw my money to kind of hold so as to not spend it all? Well apparently i can't even have the chance because I don't have much money left over after attending to bills. That's cool.
  This paycheck is my car payment check, and so I have more room to pay for other things. So I caught up on Swedish Hospital bills, BofA(sorta), groceries, and gas. Turns out, I didn't have as much luxury as I thought I would. I'm sick and tired of these furloughs ruining every paycheck.
• Health issues: I am over swine flu, finally, and I can be closer than 3 feet to a person. I'm having some difficulty keeping my allergies at bay. For my hyper thyroid I got a lower dose of methimazole, the 10mg was too strong for me, making me sluggish and depressive. Something I'm a little concerned about is the pill, which I haven't taken since high school.
• Yesterday I applied at the Seattle Art Museum to be a docent or visitor information.

Today my friend Adrian told me that my skin has looked really awesome the last several times we've hung out. That made me proud of myself.

Here's an updated to-do/goal list I've been mulling over.

1. join 24 hour fitness (they have hip hop and yoga classes in the evening!)

2. look into night school more intently

3. find some more volunteer opportunities

Have you ever felt so goddamned strong?
How come its takes some people so damn long?
He turned to squeeze the lemon juice to rain
The citrus drawing out the scene in stains

Do unto others

I got the swine flu from PAX. It's almost like winning the lottery!

Something that kind of gets me in Seattle is how people like to stay out of anyone's business. I've been in severfal situations where I wish someone had spoken up or offered me help. Instead they don't turn their heads and burrow themselves further into their world. Possibly assuming someone else will do something?

I hope that I will always stand up for someone or offer to call the police or whatever it takes to get someone out of a situation.

Bringing this interest to a daily scale, I'd like to work on reaching out to people. Mostly strangers, and with simple gestures like smiling, saying good morning, good evening, etc. It seems like in those situations I advert my eyes and act like the person doesn't exist until they walk past. Why???

I want to break through that weird discomfort zone and do something about it.

struggle to be heard, failed to be seen

...the lives of strangers

Kat bank

I'm not going to lie here. I've dug myself into a tight financial hole.

One of my paychecks is going to rent, cell phone, and car insurance, which leaves barely anything left to divy up between credit cards, medical, and food, not to mention gas.

The other paycheck is my car payment, it leaves a little bit more to take care of food.

I make too much, but not enough, which is pretty much the story of my life. I had become very comfortable with not paying rent, and had a significant chunk of leftover income to spend on whatever I want. Which is why I bought my car.

It makes me nervous that I can be broke 3 or 4 days after my pay check deposits in my account.

I've joined on mint.com with all of my money related accounts. It's nice to be able to see it all there in front of you. Charts, graphs, budgets...all of that. It certainly does help me confront my lack of funds, instead of me naively neglecting the fact that I am absolutely spent. I have maxed out everything I can, I barely pay my minimum payments....i am just too far gone after I meet my large obligations.

I'm just too used to always having cash. I need to start thinking frugally, as much as I hate that. It's a mindset I've personally never had to get into, but my mom was a pretty good example. Somehow she pulled herself out of bankrupcy and purchased her own house, after only 3 or 4 years of bankrupcy. If she can do it. I can do it.

I am thinking it would be best for me to actually pull out the remainder of my cash after a check into cash and then only allot myself so much for the week. This actually sounds like a good idea. I might just do that. Hmmm!

For my team so while you sleep ima scheme
We see through, thats why nobody never gon believe you
You should do what we do, stack chips like *hebrews*
Dont let the melody intrigue youCause I leave you, Im only here
For that green paper which the eagle

Dream Board

Amazing how fast this year has gone by so far. Better make the most of the rest of 2009. 9 is my favorite number!

I made a dream board with my friend Lisa in the early days of 2009. You can write down your goals, or you can make awesome visual displays of it, and I am a visual person...so I was pretty excited to create my dream board.

In the winter I tend to feel a bit SAD, so most of my goals were intended to make me feel better about me, life, my future, my dreams. It's a board full of happy images, basically. I mentioned my sleep habits a bit, becuase I was in desperate need of more satisfying sleep, which I've accomplished due to my new medications for my hyper thyroidism.

I have nice stomachs featured pretty prominantly on my board due to my insecurity of my pudgy tummy. I wanted a visual motivation for what I think is attractive and where I want to get to, or even a little closer to.

Anyways, here's some close ups, and then the full board:

If you try the best you can
If you try the best you can
Dinosaurs roaming the earth

Belly Dancing

Tonight I had my last belly dancing class with Natalie(Jen couldn't make it). We pick up again in September.

I have to admit, I've been doing a lot of partying in the last week or so because of my birthday, but also because I don't like feeling lonely.

I did belly dancing for 8 weeks, and after each class I've felt more physically comfortable with my body. Not because I've gotten skinnier or leaner, but because rounder bodies are beautiful in belly dancing, whereas poles are not. I'm not saying I'm fat or skinny here, I'm just saying I feel ok being where I am. It's not something I focus on.

It definitely has built up my core muscles a bit, the first couple classes would leave a sharp sensation in the center of my abdomen.

I like that I committed to something and completed it. I like that I feel happier about myself, and I will return to the class in September. It boosts my confidence and gets me sweaty.

When I got home I had a lite ceasar salad and a fat free pudding cup.

Natalie and I are interested in taking up a beginner hip hop class. Then we could create a routine fusing belly and hip hop together! And we talked about yoga as well, which makes my heart sing. Check this out for some serious inspiration.

Goals

It's suggested that if you write out your goals, you have a higher chance of succeeding at them. So here's to that idea.

1. Life goals- things I want gravitate towards

• I want to live in another country
• I want to go to school, specialize in communications/public speaking/history/business
• I dream of owning my own lounge, emphasizing on chill, music, and hot chocolate
• I want to get involved in the community that I live in

2. Health- Habits to form now for a healthier lifestyle in the future

• I'm comfortable with my weight, but not the lack of muscle definiton. I want to burn the fat, and replace with muscle. this would be beneficial when I get older.
• I want to be happy with the skin I'm in. I am going to take better care of it, including preventative aging measures, to secure healthy looking skin as I age.
• I need to be physically active. I am going to join more sports, dodgeball was definitely a gateway sport for me.

3. Materialistic- things that aren't really important to attaining happiness; but actually are

• Money, I need more of it. Budgeting, discipline, saving all need to happen
• Fashion. It's kind of funny that I'm putting this as a goal, but I'm never satisfied with my attire, and how you appear to the world definitely shapes it's responses to you. I would like to have a more classic put together look. The more timeless it is, the longer it will last in my closet, making it worth the initial cost.

I have more to add, and I will when I remember them. I am counting this post as an action towards my goals.

Naturally, I'm worried if I do it alone Who really cares, cause it's your life You never know, it could be great- Take a chance cause you might grow

Check-in with Kat

My name is Kat. I'm 24. I live in Seattle in a safe and quiet neighborhood. I currently work for a government agency as a receptionist. I am in reasonably good health, I've had some flare ups with my skin, my right knee gets agitated though I walk it off, and I have a cataract in my right eye, which is noticeable but it's not bad.

I'm feeling a bit stressed, but mostly about things I do have control of such as money, work, and a bit of my health through lifestyle choices.

Why am I doing a Self Improvement Project? I feel like I am not living up to my potential, I'm settling for normal, I'm being normal. I have a lot of energy that I need to focus on something for the good of the future. I'd like to say I'm working towards being a super being, someone that makes a difference, someone that feels accomplished and satisfied with their many choices. I want to be healthy, I want to be successful, I want to inspire other people to rock out every day they are fortunate to still be alive.

My next post will list goals for myself to accomplish, be it short term, long term, or just baby step goals.

With each blog post I must be positive, and site at least one progressive action towards a goal.

Love the life you live, and live the life you love