There have been a few things that I have been checking off my 'to do' list that I created a couple of years ago. Technically my time is up--which means, time for a new list. As I brainstorm, let me go over a few thoughts, particularly regarding the Spanish.
Update on learning Spanish. Language learning software does indeed make learning a language simple and accessible. You have your coursework set up for you. You just have to open an application, and it's all there waiting: grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary. However, I have come across some free websites that have been touted to be fairly effective. I have checked out The Spanish Blog a couple of times, and found that they have extensive material.
One thing I just started was attending a veterinary Spanish club. Scenarios are set up, and the members go around taking turns speaking. It is in a small group, so it is pretty comfortable, and really fun! So continues my journey.
The reason learning Spanish is on my list, and will be on my future lists is I want to visit South America, and Spain, particularly Majorca! Beautiful islands and warm places are all I want to travel to!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Yo estudio espanol.
Okay, so I'm not fluent.
But I did learn a thing or two about Spanish these past couple of weeks. The spelling is a piece of cake compared to French, sheesh! Learning languages isn't such a chore; but I have a computer program (borrowed from a friend) to help me out. I am coming to appreciate more and more my high school French teacher. Actually, a lot of the stuff I'm learning now would not make sense without having learned French first.
Say yes to public education! Okay, I am watching the national convention right now.
Take care, and keep achieving!
But I did learn a thing or two about Spanish these past couple of weeks. The spelling is a piece of cake compared to French, sheesh! Learning languages isn't such a chore; but I have a computer program (borrowed from a friend) to help me out. I am coming to appreciate more and more my high school French teacher. Actually, a lot of the stuff I'm learning now would not make sense without having learned French first.
Say yes to public education! Okay, I am watching the national convention right now.
Take care, and keep achieving!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Cook with a Local
Hello,
One of the goals on my first list was to visit a tropical island in another country. It turns out that I will be living on one for a while. Also, since I visited a neighboring island belonging to France/Netherlands, I technically have fulfilled that goal twice.
But a smidge more tricky is my goal to learn to cook a dish from a local. I recently checked that off my list through a trip to the mountains. A rasta friend of ours has some land up in the mountains, and the workers (his two friends and himself) usually cook a giant ital (usually vegitarian rasta food (v-ital)) pot of something for lunch.
As the occasion had it, a bunch of us went to visit the farm, and we were in for a meal St. Kitts style! I had gone up once before, but had not helped much in the outdoor 'kitchen,' but this time I jumped right in, and can say that I contributed to and learned about this meal enough to check it off my list. Fish stew, coconut rice, and saltfish in a tomato base (I don't know what the real names are-or if they even have names. . .
I'll try it out again at home-and if I can make it consistently, I might work up a recipe to post.
One of the goals on my first list was to visit a tropical island in another country. It turns out that I will be living on one for a while. Also, since I visited a neighboring island belonging to France/Netherlands, I technically have fulfilled that goal twice.
But a smidge more tricky is my goal to learn to cook a dish from a local. I recently checked that off my list through a trip to the mountains. A rasta friend of ours has some land up in the mountains, and the workers (his two friends and himself) usually cook a giant ital (usually vegitarian rasta food (v-ital)) pot of something for lunch.
As the occasion had it, a bunch of us went to visit the farm, and we were in for a meal St. Kitts style! I had gone up once before, but had not helped much in the outdoor 'kitchen,' but this time I jumped right in, and can say that I contributed to and learned about this meal enough to check it off my list. Fish stew, coconut rice, and saltfish in a tomato base (I don't know what the real names are-or if they even have names. . .I'll try it out again at home-and if I can make it consistently, I might work up a recipe to post.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
List 2012
Okay, I admit it. These tasks have not been coming along as smoothly as I had hoped. I have consolidated the original list and changed a few goals that I am not as interested in 2 years later. I plan to add to this list too, but I am not sure if I will force 101 things to be accomplished
Now that I have a break coming up, I hope to at least do a few things that I have set goals for. Otherwise, I hope I spend plenty of time on the beach . . . or doing research, whichever.
Travel
1. Visit
islands abroad (Galapagos, Mallorca, etc)
2. Learn 1
authentic dish from a native of that country
3. Learn
Spanish!!
Financial
4. Create
a small but fun separate source of income
5. Balance
a check book for 1 mo
6. Estimate
annual spending accurately
7. Figure
out taxes
8. Talk to
an accountant about investing
Health
9. Be
vegetarian for 1mo
10. Try 5
new dishes with guests
11. Go to
the dentist regularly
12. Do 3
things on this list when I am feeling down
13. Diva
cup
Friends
and Family
14. Write
snail mail (10)
15. Send
care packages (5)
16. Learn
my family tree and map it out
17. Register
as a Native American
18. Host a
party
Professional
19. Speak
up
20. Act
normal
21. Learn
veterinary vocabulary in Spanish
22. Do
conservation work (20)
Continuing
Education
23. Learn a
dance (5 classes or 1 course)
24. Learn
to drive stick shift
25. Learn
to sing songs (10)
26. Learn
to play songs on guitar (5)
27. Learn
to fix my bike
28. Read
the news 3x/week for 1mo
29. Make
puff pastry
30. Learn
geography
Recreational
31. Hold an
informational interview with a bakery owner
32. Make an
estimate of startup costs for a bakery
33. Blog
about my goals
34. Take
trips out to the city (10)
35. Dumpster
dive (5)
36. Make
and sell repurposed items (5)
37. Plan
forward for the weekend (always!!!)
38. Participate
monthly in community service (!)
38. Make a
dress
39. Learn
about how to grow dahlias
40. Backup
photos from mac
Monday, July 16, 2012
Blogging
Okay, okay,
If you had carefully read through my list of things to accomplish, you may have noticed that one of my goals is to blog about the goals I accomplished. So, if I said that blogging was a new hobby, I should not be able to use it in the "new hobby" category, I would have to put it in the "blogging about tasks accomplished" category.
But upon further thought, if I have a separate blog, that would count as a "new hobby," wouldn't it? Well, just as the previous post reads, I am slowly getting into dealing on the internet. I am not making any money by any means, but I am slowly getting my feet wet in the world of internet. Funny my sudden interest should coincide with Mozilla's summer parties. Mozilla is taking an initiative to encourage gatherings at which people learn to code, modify youtube videos, etc. Unfortunately, I am not in the states and will not be able to participate :( I will try the www.
So about the new blog. It is called Healthy Island Living, and it will be about just that.
Health tips (keeping sane, eating healthy, exercise, recipes)
Island (all the cool stuff you're missing out on if you don't live on a tropical island ;P
Living (a catch all, in case I stray from my blog's true purpose)
What do you think?
Hopefully some of the topics from my task list will spill over to the other blog.
If you had carefully read through my list of things to accomplish, you may have noticed that one of my goals is to blog about the goals I accomplished. So, if I said that blogging was a new hobby, I should not be able to use it in the "new hobby" category, I would have to put it in the "blogging about tasks accomplished" category.
But upon further thought, if I have a separate blog, that would count as a "new hobby," wouldn't it? Well, just as the previous post reads, I am slowly getting into dealing on the internet. I am not making any money by any means, but I am slowly getting my feet wet in the world of internet. Funny my sudden interest should coincide with Mozilla's summer parties. Mozilla is taking an initiative to encourage gatherings at which people learn to code, modify youtube videos, etc. Unfortunately, I am not in the states and will not be able to participate :( I will try the www.
So about the new blog. It is called Healthy Island Living, and it will be about just that.
Health tips (keeping sane, eating healthy, exercise, recipes)
Island (all the cool stuff you're missing out on if you don't live on a tropical island ;P
Living (a catch all, in case I stray from my blog's true purpose)
What do you think?
Hopefully some of the topics from my task list will spill over to the other blog.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Revisit
Recently I have reading a little bit about online businesses, mainly through TalkBiz by Paul Myers. It is an interesting free online newsletter that gives out pointers on starting, and growing online businesses. The news-letter advocates a 'hands-off' method of generating income through online endeavors. Of course lots of work is involved although I write 'hands-off.' What I mean by 'hands off' is that the newsletter keeps you informed on strategies of reducing your workload and maximizing your 'bang for the buck' if you will. If anything, the newsletter and the initial free "Need to Know" guide for online businesses are at least entertaining and inspiring.
Mysterious description? Well, try it yourself, you'll see.
I think that counts as a new hobby (makes a tick mark on her list). Although I am not even considering making money online yet, I see that there are many opportunities. I like that I can dream about the possibilities. There are no boundaries online--people do not know you and cannot make you conform. You can recreate yourself--like moving to a new place.
For example, at a whim I could scrap this blog, and create another in its place about a completely different topic. . .
Right now, as TalkBiz says, I am creating a 'sandbox', a little blog where I can play around with ideas and figure out how things work online. If something comes of it, great; if it doesn't amount to much, there is no loss and I will have learned a little more about online business.
Yay!
Mysterious description? Well, try it yourself, you'll see.
I think that counts as a new hobby (makes a tick mark on her list). Although I am not even considering making money online yet, I see that there are many opportunities. I like that I can dream about the possibilities. There are no boundaries online--people do not know you and cannot make you conform. You can recreate yourself--like moving to a new place.
For example, at a whim I could scrap this blog, and create another in its place about a completely different topic. . .
Right now, as TalkBiz says, I am creating a 'sandbox', a little blog where I can play around with ideas and figure out how things work online. If something comes of it, great; if it doesn't amount to much, there is no loss and I will have learned a little more about online business.
Yay!
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