Let's see:

We're steadily doing some de-junking, and lightened the load by three outgrown snow suits (to a family around the corner); some un-needed curtains are headed for donation, and I'm about to beat my husband with the spatulas he randomly buys, then donate the lot.

Still getting my knee back to functional. Still whining about it, too.

School is going well, we'll be back in full swing by the end of the week.

Work is... going. Still very busy with projects, but I have a good outline and can work through it. DH has a stack, too. Now, to make sure the work equals cash flow, too. It will--just trying to be patient!

Need to start tax summaries. We'll have to wait til we have all the forms in, otherwise I could likely file by the mid-month. There are some aspects of self-employment that are faster!

This time of year, it's very hard to not get distracted with *new* plans, while trying to work on existing projects. So, I'm fighting that quite a lot. Trying to make good use of a notebook to jot down ideas, without getting entirely side-tracked.

The main areas that are "problem"-areas for me will be the Time-Management, Home Management and Finances.

I need serious self-help in those areas.

I have all the tools, just need to use them. It is not like I don't know what I should do.

One goal for January is to go to bed earlier than what I do. I am already one hour behind.

Will work on it.

Hadassah: Awesome goal of getting to bed earlier. Keep on keeping on!

Bless: My Dear, what are you trying to procrastinate? Is there some paperwork with your name on it? Or are you just trying to winterize your nest? (Answer that carefully, as my scolding will be based upon the goal, LOL!)

EC: I'm glad to hear that the knee is getting better. Keep up with the RICE.

Dianaro: Hello to you this Happy New Year!
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SO: DH went back to work yesterday and did very well. There was very little swelling although being on it for the majority of the day.

CHILDREN: Kids went back to regular schedule.

BECOMING ME: There is a community challenge that I'll be taking part of as part of my DH's team. You track your daily exercise for a 110 days and then see how healthy you have become. It sounds like something that is perfect for me.

I do need to put together my organizational list for 2012.

Striving: I guess there is always some paperwork with my name on it! Not too much winterizing going on here, with temps. in the mid to upper 80s! I'm ducking that snowball you are getting ready to throw at me!

Relationship with Friends- Excited to be back and seeing my friends. Got time now before school starts.

Career- Was given extra time to prepare for school again which was postponed from today until Monday, just flew in late yesterday.

Health- I went grocery shopping yesterday while looking forward to making healthier meals moving forward.

Home Management or Personal Environment- Was excited to come back to a clean apartment yesterday. I need to finish unpacking today and I need to do a load of laundry today.

Financial Management- I need to make a budget for the New Year!

Time Management- This is the major spoke in my wheel that needs work. I need to recognize I am only human and can only do so much everyday and to make time for the items I want to do not only what I have to do.

Educational Development- I sent in my master's application on Monday and called and paid for the application today.

HEALTH: Three members of my family registered for a local community challenge for 110 days on ways of how to improve our health. We are registered with a team and we have 10 people on our team. This should be a fun way to get and stay healthy. Since it's a team challenge we all have to pull our "weight" as to not let the other team members down. The accountability should be a big factor for me.

Having said that my fibromyalgia is flaring up right now. I haven't had an attack for about 15 years. I know it's due to lack of sleep. Our 4 year old daughter has been waking up several times a night and tries to enter our bed.

Tonight we'll take pictures of a front and side view, take our measurements, BMI, weight, height and chart our progress for the next 110 days.

Not much else is on the horizon. Environment needs a big pick up over the weekend.

Striving that is great that you've joined a team

Tina: I am so happy for you! best wishes to you both

Hi everyone else!

Not too much to report here. The girls are settled back into school. Just recieved their report cards ~ one is a straight A/A+ student and the other a straight S/S+ student The one has a double bday party to attend after school. We are working on a fundraiser for gymnastics with them.

Dh is working from home and its wonderful. We didn't have any trouble adjusting to working around each other. Its nice to have someone to pull me away from work and go for a walk or go to they gym. (and make me lunch)

I applied for the renewal of my green card. I'm hoping that it won't take as long as they say and that I will get it shortly... will need to have a biometrics appt first...

environment is still in need of constant viligance ~ and that isn't always enough. I've just decided to purchase another bookshelf. Not sure if I mentioned this before... DSIL bought a house that had a bunch of discarded furniture in it ~ things that didn't sell at the auction. i said if there's any bookshelves there that you won't use I'd sure take.. So, what did she do? Cleaned off one of her son's bookshelves and... gave us the books! We were very happy to recieve them as they were the exact series that the girls are starting to read. My girls aren't quite ready to give up their picture books yet though either...

My workout buddy/friend is expecting twins. Since its been so icy I've been going to her house and we've been doing some pregnancy workouts. We soon discovered that these were not for pregnant women wanting to get fit. They are for fit women who are pregnant. Needless to say I am getting a good workout!

Enough of my rambling!

Friendship spoke got a big plumping yesterday, as we spent the evening visiting friends and neighbors.

Environment spoke got a plumping, too, with the gardener pruning the rose bushes and tidying up the front and me doing a load of laundry.

Health spoke received a small plumping with a short nap.

Maureen, that's hilarious about the books! We've added three cases this year, and it's been LOVELY. I'm one who really can't have too many shelves, even with editing the collections.

We're having unseasonably warm (as in, above zero!) weather here lately, and we're all relishing the sunshine. It does mean my vestibule is crowded with a zillion pairs of shoes, as the Little Girls don't like to admit they need to wear something on their feet if it's over 38*F. The joys of raising northern mountain children!

Environment is slowly improving, I think! We took a large load to the charity shop, and there's more to clear out, I'm sure. I'm re-thinking how my fabrics are stored, to free up some space in the laundry area. I also want to clear some of the under-stair shelving to move pantry items down. We're finding our big bins with root veggies really like the under-stair area (next to the foundation wall, but not below freezing), so adding some dark covers to those is on the list, too.

My brain wants to do hobby planning, and I'm trying to be disciplined. It's difficult in that the hobby I want to indulge also falls under meal-planning and school! (Gardening & Botany!!) So, I'm making use of my notebook to jot down inspiration.

DH has an unexpected job opportunity we're pursuing. It would mean some changes, but good ones. I have work projects to make progress on, too, as does he. So we're busy there, and things are looking positively. I have some billing to do, and product to ship.

Friends: nice chats with dear ones, so that's lovely.

Best scoot and get back to work, so I can enjoy the off-days of Saturday and Sunday!

@Bless I miss visiting with our neighbors in the winter. In the nicer months we see each other every day and it seems we always have time to stop and talk. In the winter we can't stand outside and chat for too long due to the weather.