What do I hope for in 2014

Posted on January 2, 2014January 2, 2014 by Dusty Roads

What do I hope for in 2014? Oh let’s see…Peace in this world, no more hatred, a cure for cancer, our soldiers home from foreign lands, joy for everyone, no more hunger, no more bigotry, shall I go on? But in my little corner of the world where it’s the small things that I can change I’ll address those little goals and challenges I mentioned a couple of days ago..

Ah yes, those Goals and Challenges.

So here goes.

Lose 50 lbs. (I’ll fit in the tiny airplane seats better, I’ll look better and I’ll feel better.)
Set up a budget (my job change affected my finances so I need to start putting money aside for the extra’s that pop up.)
A photo a day (keeps the camera “TOM” top of mind and will help me continue to improve my skills)
Home Improvement ( the little condo just collects clutter. Time to clean it out, shampoo carpets and maybe get the bedroom painted)
Plan my vacation (I know, that’s what you are all waiting for )
Keep up my blog
Work on friendships and personal relationships so they stay strong and healthy.

So the game plan is…

Health/ Weight Loss

A before picture taken on the first day plus measurements and weight to be updated in a log monthly.
Walk…weather should not be a factor. Start with 1/2 hour daily for month one and evaluate at the end of the month.
Eat healthier. Cut back on carbs and increase salads and veggies and good protein.
Consider buying a bike in the spring depending on progress.

Finances

Open a savings account
Deposit $50 per pay period toward expenses like property taxes and time share maintenance fees .
Pay off the credit card. The balance snuck up over the holidays.
Open a pre paid credit card through AAA for travel and vacation

Hobbies

Take the camera on the walks for my daily photo.
Upload the best of the day. At the end of the week see which photo got the most hits and save it as the photo of the week.
End of the year make a photo book “Best of 2014”
Get a head start on my photo cards for the holidays.
Add more Birthday and special occasion cards to the line.

Home Improvement

Attack the clutter with a vengeance. If it hasn’t been used in 6 months, get rid of it.
Have the carpets shampooed
Paint the bedroom
Get an cabinet or cupboard to organize my photography gear.

Vacation

Pick a location
Plan the vacation
Share the plans here so my content gets more interesting

Blogs

Post daily on Aroundustyroads
Post my daily pictures on Dustyroadsphotos
Work to keep content fresh and interesting by visiting local attractions between vacations.
Increase readership over 2013. No % just an increase will make me happy. At least I know the blog is growing then.

Personal Relations, Friends and Family

Work at the relationship. It won’t stay close if ignored.
Stay in touch with family. Same thing, you can’t stay close if you ignore each other.
Be a friend. Can’t have them unless you’re willing to be one.
Lend a hand when needed even if it’s just to listen.

I think that’s enough to keep me busy for 2014.

Git ‘er Done!

Posted on January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 by Dusty Roads

It’s 2014! Just another day, but it’s not. I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again many more times. The symbolic page turn of the calendar is a clean slate, a new beginning. I can’t help but feel filled with optimism and curiosity about how this year will unfold. The only thing I know for sure is that how I handle what 2014 brings will be up to me.

So as Larry the cable guy says…Let’s Git ‘er done! 🙂

Happy New Year!

Happy New year!

Posted on December 31, 2013December 31, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Welcome 2014

All is Calm

Posted on December 29, 2013December 29, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Christmas is behind us for another year. Calm has returned to the condo. I don’t even have children and it can get hectic as kitties tear into catnip mousies and wrapping paper.

But not this year!?

Christmas morning around my house was pretty quiet. My cats and I all slept in. Yup, one of their gifts to me I guess. It was 9:30 am before I woke up and not a creature was stirring unless it was a mouse. The 3 cats were still down for the count. I couldn’t believe I’d slept so late!

I really wanted to give the cats their stockings. Yes I stuff a stocking each year. They each got a cat toy, a couple cans of specialty cat food like Fancy Feast or Blue Buffalo, some cat nip and cat treats but no one was interested.

I opened the Cat’s Meow toy only to find the dreaded words “Batteries Not Included”. Now why couldn’t they have printed that on the side of the box somewhere? I even checked last week! Maybe the CVS store is open on Christmas? I know Walmart is closed.

I tossed out a toy mouse but only got “The Look” then the 3 cats pealed off to go find more naps. Hmmm. No interest in boxes, or wrapping or toys. That’s quite the switch for my silly boys.

Midway through the Disney Christmas parade Rocky threw up breakfast. The other 2 cats ignored the interruption. Rocky isn’t the cat that usually throws up. Both Smokey and Buddy are more prone to tummy issues. Smokey gets hair balls and Buddy eats too fast sometimes. He tends to “projectile vomit”. Both send out a volume of sick up that is amazing for their size ( and pretty yucky for me) but Rocky not so much, so I wondered what he might have gotten into.

I didn’t find any plastic or chewed up tape so maybe he just didn’t feel good. A couple hours later after another nap he seemed back to normal.

I got a book from the cats. Shadow Woman by Linda Howard and settled in for a day of reading. I have 2 problems when I read. 1. I read too fast and the book is done too soon and 2. Once I get “into” a book it’s hard to put it down.. The two problems mean that the book was finished by early evening. Bummer. Over too soon.