'Cause it's a damn good idea, but damn hard to come up with! The following was stolen from Merlyn4401 (but not the tasks), who stole it from someone else, and so on. Pretty soon we'll all be task saturated! Someone needs to make a "101 people I'm going to watch doing 101 things" list. :)

On with the show:

This is a long term to-do list, to be started on 1 Sep 07 and completed on May 31, 2010. This entry is currently dated correctly, but after two weeks will be future-dated for date of completion (if I can figure out how to do that). So if you're ever wondering how I'm doing on my challenges, just check in at my main journal page! I'm also going to be leaving this post public so that friends and family far and wide can see how I'm doing.

Tasks will be crossed out and dated when completed.
* Denotes a task in progress.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure (Lord, I'll need to work on this one). Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

( My 101 - read 'em and laugh/weep/whatever )

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend, but fortunately, Tiff WAS and took pics and video. So without further ado, I present my son's first go-round with gymnastics. Not bad for being 8!
( Jamie )

Thank you Veterans - new and old - and families for the sacrificies that so often go unsung. Thank you for our country's freedoms, your patience and duty, and for everything you've given and have yet to give. God bless you all.

So I picked up some T-ball mitts for the boys - TIff's got them on a HUGE baseball kick and they love it. It's honestly about the only time I've actually seen Jamie sit still for hours - no fidgeting, climbing on seats or anything. He just sits and ABSORBS everything. THey've been playing out in the yard with the wing from Alex's Playmobile plane, some ping-pong balls and a diamond drawn in sidewalk chalk. Yesterday I got them a sack of wiffle balls (not that it helped - Alex got beaned in the face tonight and proceeded to bleed like a stuck pig) and the mitts today. They are big on playing everything according to all the rules - except for Evan, who they will not tag out "because he'll scream at us." In a wonderfull way, it's very Norman Rockwell - a dad getting a baseball mitt for his son and teaching him to play catch. I went outside after dinner and just watched for a while - after a very determined display of everyone's ready stance, I got to watch them all bat and play. Genuine, un-doctored, un-electronic fun. That's what little boys should do, methinks. ( Pics )

As promised, pictures. None of the fish, unfortunately - between rain and untangling lines, I never got a chance to get a good fishing picture. S'okay - Tiff wouldn't want to see it anyway! :)

( and some other stuff )

Just a bit of silliness - the great Baldness experiment has taken place. Anyone got access to Star Fleet uniforms? ;) ( Oh ye of little hair )

Well, Tiff's off to the shindig at the Rogge's, albeit late as Sarah got off to a late start. Hopefully they at least have fun snarking the Clan of the Amazon Barbies together - every gal in the Rogge family is 6' tall, blonde and acts like a model. Ah well - it's a chance for her to get out.

THe younger two are in bed, but not asleep. I just delivered the obligatory "If I have to come up here again..." warning, so hopefully they'll lie still and snooze. I'm giving Jamie about 20 more minutes as I'm pretty sure gymnastics wore him down. When I came in to pick him up, their coach had them doing crunches and leg lifts and such. He wants to play Go Fish, so I'll pause for a sec and then get back.

That was actually pretty fun - Jamie's a hoot to be around one-on-one. Sometimes I forget just how much they need that time with me, and me with them. Bummer is that I have to hit the road again Sunday, coming back Friday night. Scenic Louisville KY - never been there before, so that'll be another box to check on the "Places I've seen" list - at least the weather here isn't calling for snow the day I leave (which, of course, breaks some rule about flights and weather and my departures).

So, cup of tea, maybe some mini painting and generalized lounging about. Sounds like a good evening to me. :)

Last panel...



(with all due respect and kudos to J.P. Toomey!)

Well, by all technical specifications, at least. Woke up to a small boy glowing in the dark on my bed. o.O Yeah, Evan's got some glow PJs that he absolutely LOVES and waking up to glowing green zoo animals is just plain odd...

Anyway, semi-busy day ahead. Alex is home due to his fever (blessedly, he slept through most of the night last night) and Evan's wired. Tiff and I, however, are running on fumes. In fact, she's just gone up to bed for some (hopefully) recharge time. With luck, she's not getting sick too, but nothing's ruled out at this point. S'bad enough that her right shoulder keeps locking up - I can find the knot easily enough and work on it (though not too frequently as I have to work deep and that bruises her up a bit), but then it pops right back in. Don't know if it's tension, compensation for something else or what that's causing it, but having put up with a sore shoulder since August, I know it's bugging the heck out of her. Speaking of viruses/bugs, I'm sure we'll all get Alex's bug at the least convenient possible time. Got bathrooms to clean, errands to run, minis to paint...I'm swamped :) Well, maybe not that bad. Started new painting oaths on adeptusastartes and warhammer_fb to kick off the new year. It's been a lot of fun moderating those sort of things - gets a lot of interest, lots of new painting ideas and techniques and general fun to be had, all without the snark and drama of most of LJ :)

Well, best to get some breakfast in me and then dive into bathroom cleaning. Unfortunately, they won't shine themselves up...and little boys get pee in the most annoyingly strange places...Scrubbing Bubbles, you are my friends!