I’m a week late. I have not been motivated to write lately. I’m tired and have been running around for data collection, meetings with students and teaching in the evening. All of this is good though. Things are progressing nicely in all of those areas, and I am feeling much better about where I am in terms of my work compared to last year at this time, and I think I am finally on a steady path. I didn’t like the writing challenge for last week, and today marks my 30 day countdown to turning 30, so I thought it was time to update the list.

16. Create a budget to pay down my student loans. Unfortunately this one involves my mom helping me out for right now. There was no way I could afford to pay that and go to therapy, so I am burdening her for a bit longer. The loan is getting paid though, and I am a couple months away from being under $10,000. I’m really excited about that.

18. Create a solid workout routine. Even though the sleep doc couldn’t really help me with my sleep issues, she did give me some ways to help my joints during the day that forces me up and around, and I found a couple of yoga classes to do before bed. My phone also has a help app that guilts me into walking around more during the day. It works, as I try to get at least an hour of walking in a day.

22. Learn to cook a fancy meal. I made my own Chinese food! Orange chicken, chow mein, and egg fried rice. The rice I cheated on, but I made everything else.

The chow mein was a little bland, so I will have to keep working on that, but it wasn’t bad for my first attempt.

With 30 days left, I still have some big things to cross off the list. I’m working on the rap song, but finding a horse and hot air balloon here is super difficult. I’ve managed to get 20 things crossed off and still have some time to work on the rest. There is one thing on the list that I realize might be hard to cross off, but I am going to remain hopeful.

20 days until sunshine.

1. Learn how to drive in the UK.
2. Present at an academic conference
3. Start a new tradition
4. Go back to therapy
5. Visit three new countries (1/3 done with my trip to Malta, next up, France in November and Hungary in December)
6. Ride in a hot air balloon
7. Quit the tutoring centre
8. Volunteer for a literacy programme
9. Read a book that has more than 500 pages
10. Make my bed everyday for at least three months
11. Have a solid draft of my thesis completed
12. Master scorpion pose
13. Attend the symphony
14. Learn a rap song from start to finish
15. Host a dinner party
16. Create a  budget so I can pay down my student loans
17. Create something original
18. Create a solid workout regime
19.  Go on a long hike (6 miles or more)
20. Learn to dance
21. Eat an exotic meal
22. Learn to cook a fancy meal
23. Yell at a football match
24. Go horseback riding
25. Master British spelling and punctuation
26. Create a good sleep schedule
27. See my favorite group in concert
28. Fall in love
29. Stop holding grudges
30. Let go of my expectations