I managed to get a score of 84/100 – the equivalent of a distinction.

It’s bittersweet though, since if I had scored 85/100 I would have achieved a High Distinction. Argh…so close! Yet I think if I focus on that too much it’s like the whole glass half full/half empty thing; I should be proud of what I did achieve! My results from the course certainly had some high points, like getting an equal class high of 19/20 on my exam, and one point off class best with my last assignment, scoring 34/40. That last assignment I also handed in a day late, so it hurts to think what I could have gotten if it was in on time. Another notch on my list of times I’ve procrastinated too much.

So in summation, yay for me! Next up I have chemistry so it’s going to be head down/bum up for a while making sure I pass this one with flying colours. I don’t expect that chemistry will come easily to me, so it will require a lot of dedication to make sure I achieve a great score. For the first time ever I’ll be spending a few days onsite at the uni in Rockhampton doing lab work, since everything so far has been entirely completed by downloading lectures and studying my text book. Actually getting to do things hands on is very exciting, and I can’t wait until the trip north in May. The scary part of the course is that the major assessment is an exam at the end of the term so I need to ensure I don’t leave it all to a cram session at the end. I’ll revisit this point in a few months and see if I was true to my word.

Wish me luck!

**update**

Looks like I actually DID get a High Distinction after all! Fantastic!

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I want to approach it differently this year. It’s still the same in that I have a list of “things to do” (rather than the usual wishful thinking resolutions like eat better, lose weight blah blah), but I have made it a little bit “easier” as such. Three of them go completely hand-in-hand, tackling the issue of my fitness. Another 3 are to do with hobbies, while the remaining four are a mixture of general fun things to do, decluttering, and educational aspirations.

So without further ado, here is my list of resolutions for 2011:

Do a basic barista course (cause making coffee is fun)

Complete my self-set photography challenge, ensuring I post at least one photo a week to my blog (I will explain this in more detail later)

Participate in a cooking class

Join a running club

Compete in a triathlon (this is a goal I have made with another friend of mine)

Complete the Couch to 5km running program

Get at least a distinction on my forensic science uni course (though I would much prefer a high distinction)

Go on a flying fox

Learn the pen flick trick that my physio does

Organise my iTunes (particular emphasis on genre)

I really want to get 100% of them done this year. I need to spend the time planning for each of them, give myself a rough timeframe of when I should be starting to gear up for it (except the running/fitness ones, they can be started immediately) and make sure I don’t let my guard down. I think indirectly if I can get these ones done I will also be able to finally complete some of mine from last year’s list, namely my weight.

Have you made any resolutions for 2011? Why not join in? Write a list of 10 things you would like to achieve next year, no matter how simple and easy they may seem. The bonus is that at the end of the year you can reflect on the year just gone, and feel proud of what you have done. So c’mon, write a list and share it with us, we’d love to see it.

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Apply for the Queensland Police Service

Move into my own place

Learn to surf (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)

Reach at least a level B in the Beep Test (rolled over from 2009 list, slightly modified from the 2.4km run in order to fit the requirements for applying for the Queensland Police Service)

Go skydiving (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)

Get my senior first aid certificate

Go kayaking

Learn to play one song on my guitar

Blog at least 4 times a month over the course of the entire year

Lost a further 10% of my body weight, and keep it off.

1 – Apply to the QLD police service: Not Complete

Alas, I didn’t do this. Another year without enrolling, and I’m disappointed. I struggled again with my knee this year, which is starting to feel like a bit of a cop out, and it makes me angry. I learned a bit of patience though, as I found I was overdoing it and managed to hurt myself badly. For a few weeks there I wasn’t allowed to exercise at all, and in fact I had to skip the City 2 Surf 14km fun run in August because of it! I was allowed to walk/run the Bridge to Brisbane a month later, but even then I was only allowed to run a max of 100m at a time by order of my physio. It’s been a slow process of strengthening my knee and surrounding muscles again, but finally I’m good to go, so hopefully I can finally get fit and sign up next year.

2 – Move into my own place: Not complete

Also not complete, and another that makes me unhappy. Let’s just move on.

3 – Learn to surf: Not complete

Not complete, and no excuses for it.

4 – Reach at least a level B in the Beep Test: Not complete

What a non-surprise that I didn’t achieve this, given the issues with my knee mentioned in point 1.

5 – Go skydiving: Not Complete

This one I had actually made plans for. I had the prices, I had the times, I just needed to book it in. Mat was even set to join me! Then I hurt my ear after not being able to clear it when driving over a mountain range, and decided that I would be better off skipping this one while I try to get the problems with my ear sorted (which is still blocked a month later by the way). The money went towards buying me a new DSLR camera (Canon 550D) so it still went to a good cause. I still have aspirations to jump out of a plane one day though.

6 – Get my senior first aid certificate: COMPLETE!!!

I had totally forgotten this was on my resolution list actually, and was pleasantly surprised to see it on there when preparing this post. I did my first aid course last month with Mat, which I’m proud to say we both passed. Maybe I should go back and review everything I learned though, I probably wouldn’t remember much of it. I know that I can perform CPR confidently though, since they taught us to do the pumps in time with the tune “Baa baa black sheep”, and who is going to forget that in a rush?!

7 – Go kayaking: COMPLETE!!!

What great fun, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to do this again in the future. The event even made my photo of the day series.  A small group of us went out with some instructors, paddling out past Point Cartwright on the Sunshine Coast out into the open ocean. It was fantastic; I’m so glad I decided to add this to the list.

8 – Learn to play at least one song on my guitar: Not Complete

I suppose I could quickly learn how to play twinkle twinkle little star, but that’s a bit of a cop out. Not done.

9 – Blog at least 4 times a month over the course of the entire year: COMPLETE!!!

This was easily complete by posting my daily photos throughout the year, however I have definitely been more active on my blog this year.

10 – Lost a further 10% of my body weight, and keep it off: Not complete

I had managed to lose some weight at the start of the year, and mainly keep it off for the year (even though it wasn’t the total amount required), but then something flicked in my brain this month and I let all of my guards down. I’m still lighter than the weight I was at the start of 2010, but not by much. Fail.

So overall I completed a total of 3/10, which can be summed up with the words “piss poor attempt”. I’ve chosen not to carry any over this year, but rather start fresh and aim for 100%. My biggest failure this year wasn’t in not getting them done (except for those where circumstances were out of my control – knee injury etc), but rather in not being prepared at all. I made a list and just hoped it would complete itself. Clearly, that didn’t work. Next year I will be approaching it in a much more systematic and organised way. Hopefully it works.

If you made resolutions for this year, how did you go?

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My first and only resolution complete thus far – I went on a kayaking tour. It was fantastic, we paddled out past Point Cartwright and sat in the open ocean, had so much fun!$45 with Aussie Sea Kayak Company if anyone is interested.

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Quoting from my original post, the list was as follows:

1. Apply for the Queensland Police Service
2. Move into my own place
3. Learn to surf (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)
4. Reach at least a level B in the Beep Test (rolled over from 2009 list, slightly modified from the 2.4km run in order to fit the requirements for applying for the Queensland Police Service)
5. Go skydiving (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)
6. Get my senior first aid certificate
7. Go kayaking
8. Learn to play one song on my guitar
9. Blog at least 4 times a month over the course of the entire year
10. Lost a further 10% of my body weight, and keep it off.

And 6 months into the year what have I achieved? One. Sort of.

I have been blogging four times a month, which is more likely because of my daily photos than anything else. I’m keeping it up though, which is something to be said in itself.

I haven’t applied for the police service, and I haven’t yet reached a level B in the beep test. I feel like it’s a bit of a cop out, but my knee is still part of the problem. To be fair, I could probably push harder for this but it’s depending on how my body will hold up. Hopefully I am FINALLY over my knee issues soon, and I can stop using it as an excuse.

Towards the end of last year I started losing weight. When I wrote the list at the start of this year I wanted to lose a further 10% and keep it off. I was 82kg when I wrote that list, so I need to lose 8.2kg. Unfortunately my weight has currently stalled between the 75 – 77kg mark; it has been that way for about 2 months now. It has been hard to find something to help me push through it, but I think with a little help from my friends I will get there. I have only got 3kg to go (and 7kg to my goal weight), it’s so close! This is an item that has been on my list for the past 3 years running, I really want to cross it off this year.

Other than that I really haven’t made much of a move on anything else! We took my surfboard with us when we went camping one weekend, and I tried to give it a go but discovered that I struggled to even sit on it. I will definitely need those lessons! I will also have to get my ears checked out too, it feels like I still have a few problems when I dive underwater. If I want to learn to surf, that may just be a problem.

Looking at what I need to do, it is clear that I am going to be extremely busy for the rest of the year. I am starting university for the first time, working full time, and now will be busting my bum every weekend until the end of the year learning to play guitar, surfing or kayaking. I suppose I had better get to it!!

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If my photos didn’t include all the text and stories below them, I would have ruled them out. However, given there’s that additional content there I’ve decided it’s fine to include them in my overall monthly post count. So right now, I’m not only meeting my resolution of blogging 4 times a month, I’m smashing it!

Guess I’d better make sure I keep up with Project 365 though so I always have a backup plan!

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1. Apply for the Queensland Police Service
2. Move into my own place
3. Learn to surf (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)
4. Reach at least a level B in the Beep Test (rolled over from 2009 list, slightly modified from the 2.4km run in order to fit the requirements for applying for the Queensland Police Service)
5. Go skydiving (rolled over from the 2009 list I didn’t complete)
6. Get my senior first aid certificate
7. Go kayaking
8. Learn to play one song on my guitar
9. Blog at least 4 times a month over the course of the entire year
10. Lost a further 10% of my body weight, and keep it off.

50% of those are goals that are designed to enhance my future. Getting my senior first aid certificate, losing weight, and reaching at least a B level in the beep test will permit me to achieve the first goal – applying for the QLD police service. Moving into our own place is extremely important, I’m ready to get out of our current living situation. It’s time for Mat and I to really move on with the rest of our lives, and by him proposing to me at the end of last year really proved that he’s ready too. I would expect we’ll be renting; if I get accepted into the police service it will require 6 – 7 months in Brisbane, followed by a relocation anywhere around the state depending on where I am stationed. There’s no way that we will be anywhere for long enough to really think about buying anywhere, not to mention our financial situation would prevent it anyway. We’ve got a wedding to save for now!

Of course, the year can’t ALL be serious, so I had to throw in the kayaking and guitar ones. The skydiving and learning to surf goals are rolled over from last year, and will remain on the list until I achieve it. I refuse to give up.

2010 is the start of a new decade, and a new beginning for me. This year I will change from a floating, uncommitted, dependant child, into a driven and ambitious woman. 2010 will be my year. Time to get cracking.

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Learn to Surf

While I didn’t learn to surf during the year, I *did* get a surfboard as an anniversary gift from Mat. Plans are underway to learn during 2010, and I have two friends who would like to join me. I expect to tick this one off in my 2010 resolutions during January.

Run 2.4km in under 15mins

The reason this was originally added to my list was it was an entry requirement to join the police service. In a testement to my amazing procrastination abilities, I have still not yet applied, and I have no idea if I would be able to achieve this task. I certainly haven’t timed myself, so it’s definitely an incomplete item. It will be rolled into 2010, but modified slightly as the application requirements for the police service have now changed. Instead of a 2.4km run, a beep test is now conducted, thus for 2010 it will be my aim to reach at least a B level on the beep test.

Enter the City 2 Surf

Done. In August, I travelled to Sydney with Mat and a friend, Julie. While Mat went to the casino for a day (and thankfully didn’t lose much), Julie and I joined some other friends and participated in the City 2 Surf, therefore completing the resolution.

Go on a holiday, including flights.

Done. In May Mat, I flew to the US and joined my family (already over there for some weeks) on a holiday of the west coast for a couple of weeks. It was my first time overseas, and was absolutely fantastic.

See a concert

Done. This year I saw P!nk, Green Day, and countless of other artists at various music festivals I attended.

Go skydiving

I had full intentions of doing this throughout the year, but due to budget constraints decided I would forego it. Perhaps I will request it for a birthday present next year, or something along those lines. It will be rolled into 2010, and I can’t wait to do it!

Go on a tour

Done during day 4 of our USA holiday. We went on a Segway tour of Sausolito; you can view the video here. It was great fun!

Photograph a sunrise/sunset

Done, although I left it until the last day of the year. I guess that’s quite memorable…not often that you see the last sunrise of the year, let alone the decade. It was quite beautiful as well, even if it did mean I had to get out of bed at 4am.

Have a girls cocktail night

Done. Jo and I combined a socceroos match with a cocktail night, to get slightly tipsy.

See a live sporting match

Done repeatedly. I saw the QLD Roar women take out the W-League grand final for 2008/2009 season, then numerous Brisbane Roar A-League matches. I even went to an NRL game in Brisbane with a mate (I much prefer the A-League crowd…rugby fans just seem so bogan’ish).

So that’s it! 7/10 is a decent success rate, and an improvement on the 50% achievement level of 2008. I’ll try and better that again with 2010, and aim for at least 90% (though 100% would be brilliant).

Happy new years everyone, and here’s to a prosperous 2010!

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1. Learn to Surf: I haven’t started this one yet however it’s all planned. My friend Paige and I will be participating in the 2009 Ripcurl’s Girls Learn to Surf Day, where females all over Australia are given the opportunity to attend a surf school for the day to receive free surfing lessons. One of Mat’s workmates is also a surfboard maker and his wife is an artist, so he offered to make us both totally customised boards at a very cheap price. Awesome!

2. Run 2.4km in under 15mins: In progress. I’m following the Couch to 5k running training program, designed for non-runners to gradually increase their amount of running until they can confidently run for 30mins at a time (roughly 5km). If I can do that then I should be able to achieve 2.4km in under 15mins by the end of the year.

3. Enter in the Sydney City to Surf: Completed. I’ve entered, and the race is only 2 weeks and 2 days away! I’m extremely excited; I’ve managed to convince a friend, Julie, to fly to Sydney with me and Jo will also be flying from Darwin to meet us there. Mat will be joining us for the weekend, but while we spend time slogging it out on the bitumen he will be playing the cards at Star City Casino. Hard life isn’t it?

4. Go on a holiday (must include flights): Completed. We flew to America for 2 weeks, and had one hell of a holiday. One of my fondest memories ever, and I’m honoured to have shared it with the ones I love.

5. See a live concert: Completed. This year I saw P!nk play in one of the biggest concerts of the year (I’ve lost track of how many concerts she’s doing in Australia now; at last count it was something like 8 in each state but I’m sure it’s increased). I also got to see loads of live acts at the many festivals I worked at with RaveSafe earlier in the year including Kaiser Chiefs, Nine Inch Nails, Snow Patrol…too many to name. I was so lucky to have that opportunity, and depending on whether I’m in the police service next year I’d love to do it again. I’ve also got tickets to see Green Day perform in Brisbane at the end of this year, and I’m stoked that Mat will be joining me for this one.

6. Go skydiving: Not yet completed. This will be another one for the end of the year. However one of our friends is a pilot who actually flies the plane the skydivers jump out of, so again I’ve been given the opportunity to complete this task at a reduced cost. I’m looking forward to it though, should be fun!

7. Go on a tour: Completed via the segway tour with my family in Sausolito in America (one of the highlights of the US trip for me). The video of the tour can be seen in the Day 4 video of our holiday.

8. Photograph a sunrise/sunset: Not yet completed. I haven’t really given this one much of a priority as yet, but ideally I’d like to get down to Mooloolaba beach and take some photos of the sunrise. It’s extremely early in the morning for me though, so it’s probably more realistic that I’ll be photographing a sunset. I have my ideas on what I want, just need to get out there and get the shot now!

9. Have a girls cocktail night: Technically completed, although I want to complete it again. Jo and I got together and had a cocktail night when we were watching a socceroos match, but I’d love to get together with the girls and make it a big one at a hotel one night. We’ll see what happens.

10. See a live sporting match: Done and dusted. I’ve been to a few QLD Roar games (back when they were “QLD” Roar) including seeing the women’s side win the grand final for the 2008/09 season. I also went to an NRL match in Brisbane with Paige. I’m looking forward to seeing some more A-League matches again once the season resumes.

That’s it! 6/10 isn’t bad given it’s only just over the halfway mark. I’ll have to make sure I keep the others in mind though so I’m writing about another successful year!

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As a result, I’m making 2009 my “Year of Fun”.

Accordingly, my resolutions list reflects this. Every single item is fun, achievable, and will provide me with some long lasting memories. Should I complete every item, 2009 will go down as the year I had an absolute ball. So without further ado, I present Kelly’s 2009 Resolutions list:

1. Learn to Surf

Lately I’ve been watching a lot of things that show surfers. I love the beach, and really haven’t spent much time there at all in the last 10 years. Partly because Mat’s not so keen on it and partly because I’m lazy. I used to be able to surf when I was younger but only on the big mal’s, where it’s relatively easy to get up. Every year Rip Curl hosts a “Girls Go Surfing Day” where women can be taught to surf on local beaches all around Australia, and all for free. Last year my mate and I were interested, but given the state of my knee there was no chance I would be ready. Come summer 2009, and I’ll be there.

2. Run 2.4km in under 15mins

This ties in with my aim of being a police officer, as being able to run this distance is part of the entry requirements. This year I won’t be returning to netball, so jogging is going to be my “sport” of choice this year. Part of my knee rehabilitation will be jogging, so I’ll use that as an opportunity to work my way towards achieving this goal. The fun part? Running on the treadmills at the gym while checking out all the hot guys!!

3. Enter in the Sydney city to Surf

The Sydney City to Surf is an event run in Sydney (duh) every year. They start from the city, and either run/walk to Bondi Beach. I have a couple of mates that have entered into it, and they have so much fun every time. I can’t say whether I’ll be jogging or running it, but we plan on entering into the competition this year, if not only for a nice weekend away in Sydney. It’s late in the year, by which time I’ll definitely be jogging. So whether I only walk in it (which I think the distance might even drop substantially), or jog, I’ll be able to enter. Have a look at the pictures on the site, there’s a lot of crazy characters that enter on the day. Would be heaps of fun just people watching, and having a good laugh!

4. Go on a holiday (must include flights)

The vague wording on this one is a fail-safe incase something happens to prevent me from going to America with the family for Mum’s 60th birthday. And I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain how a holiday can be fun.

5. See a live concert

Great artist + live music = loads of fun!! I’m sort of cheating on this one though, we’ve already got tickets to see P!nk perform in June. Not stopping me from going to see more bands though!!

6. Go skydiving

One of our friend’s is a pilot who flies the planes for one of the local skydiving companies on the Sunshine Coast. I’ve also got a couple of mates who have sky dived before, and have talked about just how amazing it is. So now I want to go, and I get a discount cause I’m friends with the pilot. Score!! This will definitely be a memorable experience, but will have to wait until I’m steady on my feet and could cope with a heavy landing.

7. Go on a tour

No idea what, no idea when. I just want to go on one. I blame this one on playing the Sims Vacation, and being able to go on tours. Wine tour perhaps? I’ve never actually done one of those. Bar hopping tour? Even better!

8. Photograph a sunrise/sunset

I’ve wanted to get back into photography since I really haven’t done any of it lately, and either spending a day waiting for a sunset, or getting up early for a sunrise really sounds appealing to me.

9. Have a girls cocktail night

Ok truth be told I only came up with this yesterday, and because I was having cocktails for New Years Eve. But dammit, I want a girls night with cocktails. Party on!! No way this one CAN’T be fun!

10. See a live sporting match

I just want to go see QLD Roar play, hopefully in the semis!! Go boys!!

So that’s it! That’s my plan for the year, have a helluva lot of fun! I managed to convince Mat to do a list as well, but he refuses to explain his reasons behind it. Being a male, perhaps there’s no explanation required? *grin*

Mat’s list:

1. Go to the Casino and win money in poker
2. Sell my Nissan Patrol
3. Buy a Playstation 3 and new TV
4. Spend money on the Suzuki Vitara (Kel’s note – does petrol count??)
5. Go to Fraser Island with Kel
6. Lose weight
7. Find a new career
8. Go overseas
9. Watch a professional poker event live
10. Live the year happily

I’ll keep you posted on our progress during the year. In the meantime, happy 2009 everyone and I hope you have a fantastic year.

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In August I did an update on the progress of my resolutions, and absolutely nothing has changed since then. The update was as follows:

Dentist

I haven’t done a daaaaamn thing about this one. I hate Dentists. But I’ll do it by the end of the year. Promise. I just know it’s going to cost a s’load and it’s gonna hurt. So why rush into that?

Get neck and back sorted by the Chiro

DONE. Woohoo. It’s been probably about 6 months now since I went and saw the Chiro, and I’m still having regular visits. I think this will probably continue on for a long time, mainly due to my scoliosis to ensure the muscles in my back aren’t constantly having to over compensate for a crooked spine.  It’s just been extended to 4 weeks between visits for the first time, which is huge for me. From twice a week, to 4 weeks, that’s an accomplishment. But I’ve never felt better, and I don’t suffer daily headaches. Totally worthwhile. Oh, except now I’m having problems with my shoulders, a ripple effect from my muscles compensating for my back now not having to, thus my shoulder slips out of place. Hurrah! Apparently it’s just a matter of re-training the muscles what they’re meant to do. This is the time where I should do a motivational speech, and say:

I have a dream, that one day, I will NOT be broken!

Get second Pap Smear

See the part about dentists, but apply it to gyno. Hurray for health.

Get ears checked out

So I did this, and got referred to a specialist because one test showed normal hearing and one showed a slight favouring towards the right, although the doctor was fairly sure there was nothing wrong. I never went and followed it up with the specialist, partially because I was scared of having to pay for that when I was in the middle of another health scare (hmm…which I should post about). So technically this resolution is done, they WERE checked out…. *grin*

Get back to a healthy weight

Shall we say this is in progress? Mat and I have started cooking again, and making our lunches for work every day. Without really trying I’ve lost a kilo and a half, and my friend and I have just set a challenge for ourselves. Hopefully by the end of the year I can say I’m 10kg lighter, but will keep you posted. My target weight for “healthy” is only half that (5kg) so I’m pretty sure this one should be complete by the end of the year.

Go diving with the sharks

I haven’t really done anything about this, and given it’s been winter I haven’t really felt the urge to jump into water unless it was of the shower kind. I expect I’ll do this around October/November.

Get rid of one credit card

Technically it was done, but then undone *grin* We paid off one credit card, then promptly went and bought a couch, putting more money back onto the card. But I am not letting myself get off lightly on this one, so I will say it’s incomplete at the moment. However looking at our finances overall, Mat and I have figured out we’ll be totally debt free by the end of the year (excluding car loans) so this one is on track for being complete.

Get a spray tan

This was only ever going to be done after the healthy weight one, so not complete as yet. Stay tuned.

Get at least a credit in the Queensland Criminal Code TAFE module

DONE. Throughout the term my grades ranged from Distinctions to Credits, ending with a Credit overall. So this one is definitely done, and I’m very proud of the marks I achieved, was a lot of hard work.

Write the resolutions before February

Done, and the proof is in the original blog post, so hurray!

I want to play the sympathy card, and say that shortly after this all my knee problems began which left little time for anything else, but I know that’s not true. There was definitely time I could have gotten a pap smear, or get a spray tan (although not really necessary). But I didn’t, so I failed for those tasks.

Overall, I scored 5 out of 10. Not good, given there was 365 days to complete the job, or 8,760 hours, or 525 600 minutes. That’s a lot of time!

With 2009 I’ve been thinking about my list. I’m not going to carry anything over – since I didn’t manage to accomplish it for one year (two in some cases where things had already been carried over) I don’t have faith in achieving it in the next.

I’m also going to focus on making it an enjoyable year. 2008 I didn’t see as being a great year. It was the year of the health crisis, one after another. Neck and back, breast cancer scare, knee reconstruction etc. 2009 will be the year of fun!! Stay tuned for my list of things to accomplish in 2009…it should be up in the next few days.

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Dentist

I haven’t done a daaaaamn thing about this one. I hate Dentists. But I’ll do it by the end of the year. Promise. I just know it’s going to cost a s’load and it’s gonna hurt. So why rush into that?

Get neck and back sorted by the Chiro

DONE. Woohoo. It’s been probably about 6 months now since I went and saw the Chiro, and I’m still having regular visits. I think this will probably continue on for a long time, mainly due to my scoliosis to ensure the muscles in my back aren’t constantly having to over compensate for a crooked spine.  It’s just been extended to 4 weeks between visits for the first time, which is huge for me. From twice a week, to 4 weeks, that’s an accomplishment. But I’ve never felt better, and I don’t suffer daily headaches. Totally worthwhile. Oh, except now I’m having problems with my shoulders, a ripple effect from my muscles compensating for my back now not having to, thus my shoulder slips out of place. Hurrah! Apparently it’s just a matter of re-training the muscles what they’re meant to do. This is the time where I should do a motivational speech, and say:

I have a dream, that one day, I will NOT be broken!

Get second Pap Smear

See the part about dentists, but apply it to gyno. Hurray for health.

Get ears checked out

So I did this, and got referred to a specialist because one test showed normal hearing and one showed a slight favouring towards the right, although the doctor was fairly sure there was nothing wrong. I never went and followed it up with the specialist, partially because I was scared of having to pay for that when I was in the middle of another health scare (hmm…which I should post about). So technically this resolution is done, they WERE checked out…. *grin*

Get back to a healthy weight

Shall we say this is in progress? Mat and I have started cooking again, and making our lunches for work every day. Without really trying I’ve lost a kilo and a half, and my friend and I have just set a challenge for ourselves. Hopefully by the end of the year I can say I’m 10kg lighter, but will keep you posted. My target weight for “healthy” is only half that (5kg) so I’m pretty sure this one should be complete by the end of the year.

Go diving with the sharks

I haven’t really done anything about this, and given it’s been winter I haven’t really felt the urge to jump into water unless it was of the shower kind. I expect I’ll do this around October/November.

Get rid of one credit card

Technically it was done, but then undone *grin* We paid off one credit card, then promptly went and bought a couch, putting more money back onto the card. But I am not letting myself get off lightly on this one, so I will say it’s incomplete at the moment. However looking at our finances overall, Mat and I have figured out we’ll be totally debt free by the end of the year (excluding car loans) so this one is on track for being complete.

Get a spray tan

This was only ever going to be done after the healthy weight one, so not complete as yet. Stay tuned.

Get at least a credit in the Queensland Criminal Code TAFE module

DONE. Throughout the term my grades ranged from Distinctions to Credits, ending with a Credit overall. So this one is definitely done, and I’m very proud of the marks I achieved, was a lot of hard work.

Write the resolutions before February

Done, and the proof is in the original blog post, so hurray!

Overall, I still have 6 to go which is a little scary considering the year is 3/4 over. But I’m totally confident I will get them all done, and look forward to posting my victorious blog post *grin*

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Every year (for the past 2 years) I’ve written a list of 10 things I want to accomplish during the year. At the end of the year it’s really quite exciting looking back on the list, and feeling like you haven’t really wasted the year floating around. To feel like you’ve fulfilled your goals is a great feeling indeed.

This year I decided to focus on my health. I’ve really quite neglected it, and the two items health related last year weren’t completed. So 2008, it’s mostly about self improvement. Oh, except for one which I just wanted to throw in cause it would be FUN AS!

1. See the dentist – this scares me, but goddamn it I have to get it done *nightmares of drill noise*
2. Go and get my neck and back sorted by the chiropractor. I’ve been suffering from stiff neck, sore back, pain in the sternum, ribs etc for ages. Pretty sure it’s posture related but it has gotten so bad that if I sleep on my side in bed at night I wake up in the morning and can barely move my shoulders otherwise it feels like my ribs will break off from my sternum. Very painful indeed, it needs to get dealt with. It will also help with my frequent migraines.
3. Get my second pap smear - if I don’t write this I won’t do it, and it was the only way I managed to force myself to get a pap smear two years ago. Mind you, I did it with about 3 days left in the year, and it was the only one left to do. I had to get it done, and I suspect it will be the same for 2008.
4. See the doctor re: my ear drums & sinus – It’s always difficult to clear my ears, I have frequent ringing in both ears, and fairly certain my sinus has something to do with it. A few years ago I popped my ear drum and was assured that it was fixed, but I’m still nervous about why I have issues clearing my ears when going up/down hills. This will be fundamental for one of my other resolutions as well.
5. Get back to a healthy weight – if 2007 was my fatty year, 2008 will be my “new leaf” year. I have every right to have a great figure, and the only thing that stands in my way is myself. Time to harden the f**k up, stop eating crap, do exercise, drink water, and look and feel great. Bring it on.
6. Go diving with the sharks – hurrah!! A non health related one! Woohoo. But, this comes with a condition. I’m ONLY going diving with the sharks if I get permission from the doc to dive. Last time I went scuba diving I popped my ear drum, and I’m certainly not in the mood to repeat that. But I think this would be soooo much fun, Mat’s coming with me.
7. Get rid of one credit card - a rollover one from 2007, I need to sort this out.
8. Get a spray tan – this was another roll over from 2007, and one that will be my “reward” for number 6. Looking forward to it.
9. Get at least a credit in the Queensland Criminal Code tafe module – I did this because I had no plans to study this year, and this module was one that I was particularly interested in. I can’t wait. TAFE starts up next week, and I’m dancing like I’ve got ants in my pants I’m so excited (how sad am I!)
10. Write these bloody resolutions before February - seriously, did I have to slack on my blog for so bloody long? I have been working on this one without writing down for the whole month. Kept saying “you HAVE to have them done before February”. So yay me, I have completed one already.The internet better not die before I post this.

So there’s my list, feel free to comment with your own list. I know a few of you wrote a list last year, how did you go with it? What was your feelings about working on a list for the year, did you enjoy it? Would love to hear any feedback.

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This is where I eat humble pie, I didn’t get all of them done.

The last thing I wrote about the list was about how easy it was going to be. If only I could take that back. It was a combination of overdoing it combined with laziness that let me down this year. But I actually thought I would be writing this post noting that I hadn’t achieved any of them, so I’m stoked to see that I have done some!

So without further ado, here is my review of my 2007 New Years Resolutions.

No. 1 – give up chocolate for one month – COMPLETED

This is something I would have actually expected to fail, but I tackled it over the hardest time of the year. Easter. It was a major struggle, and with people egging me on to break it it got even harder. But I shocked myself, and lasted the full 30 days. I wrote updates on day 11 and day 21 but looking back neglected to mention once the fast was over. From memory, I ate chocolate at 7am the next morning *grin*. I learnt a valuable lesson this year, that if I really put my mind to it I can accomplish anything. I love chocolate, and this was a huge task for me.

No. 2 – go to Adelaide – COMPLETED

This was pretty much a cheat one. When I wrote the resolution this trip was already planned, and flights booked. But hey, I did it! And I even ate a meat pie floaty – YUK. But I met a mate of mine from online, Joel, for the first time who showed me some of the sights of the main bit of Adelaide in the hour that we had between his uni and work. I then showed my sister the sites I had seen. I think it’s pretty evident that laziness was starting to set in when I wrote this AMAZING post about Adelaide.

No. 3 – re-enroll in TAFE – COMPLETED

This was another huge one for me. This year I re-enrolled in the Diploma of Justice at CSIT and got my 200 hours required to join the QLD Police Service. Next up is my first aid certificate, and a few other things, then I can join. But I am still looking at going to Uni first and getting my Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in forensics before joining the police service, since it will show my true passion and area of direction. I’ve been advised that if I get that before joining the police, they’ll recognise my prior study and look towards increasing it and paying for more tuition. Sounds great to me! 2009 will most likely be the year I’ll get stuck into the next phase of my education.

No. 4 – Lose 3kg – NOT COMPLETE

Yeah yeah, don’t really want to go into much depth here. Rather than lose weight, I put on. Hence towards the end of the year I have joined up with an official dieting regime, and have so far lost 1.5kg again. Next year not so sure I’ll make it a resolution, but it’s definately going to be something I’m focusing on. I have learnt this year that it’s my eating that is letting me down, since I play netball, do karate (only just started, it has replaced the personal training sessions we used to do) and walk my dog most mornings. Fitness isn’t an issue.

No 5. – Make a different meal with my George Foreman Roaster at least once per month – NOT COMPLETE

I gave this a bloody great shot. I made a different roast every month for the first 4 months, but then it just got difficult. I wasn’t cooking at home as much, and there was only limited selections at the grocery store so it wasn’t like I could make something “different” every month. But truly, I let myself down by first missing a month, then losing motivation with this one altogether. My lack of cooking at home was also a major contribution to the failure of resolution no. 4.

6. Get rid of one credit card - NOT COMPLETE

Still have the same number as last year, but this will all be sorted next year. This one is a keeper.

7. Get a spray tan – NOT COMPLETE 

Whoops, hadn’t really thought about this one to be honest. Will keep this one for next year, and make it a reward for myself when I finally kick all the kilos that I’m aiming to. 

8. Go on the Vomitron - COMPLETE 

Yep, did this one early on in the year. I posted my Youtube video of it, which has gained a small amount of attention. My favourite comments are “fake” (if I was going to fake a video it sure as hell would be better quality than that) and “This is by far the worst camera work ever seen on youtube” (that’s pretty damn hilarious). Over 28,000 views though – woah.

9. Go camping with Amy and Pauline – NOT COMPLETE

This one sort of goes into the “didn’t think of it, didn’t organise it and forgot about it” category. I think we asked them once but they already had plans that weekend, and I didn’t revisit it. Whoops.

10. Clean out our dresser drawers and throw out all clothes that I haven’t worn in ages, or have holes etc etc – COMPLETE

I did this back in May and it was really refreshing to get rid of so many clothes. 3 bags full, and Mat’s clothing copped it too. Except I seem to have gained some more clothes during the year. I think I need to toss them all and start again, it’s hard to find something that isn’t damaged in some way anymore. I need to become girly and actually enjoy shopping I think (yeah right, like that’s gonna happen).

11. Go to the dentist – NOT COMPLETE

This will be a repeat for next year, I really need to get this done. And while I was aware of it the whole year, I was too big a wuss.

12. Walk in the relay for life – NOT COMPLETE

I was sooo close. Started organising a team, just never got the fundraising under way and since you had to raise at least $100 per person by the time I was ready it was too late, it would have been far too hard. I don’t think I’ll do it next year, but I will still keep it in mind for years to come. I might ask mum if I can join her bank team and just participate rather than have to organise the whole team.

So 5/12 isn’t sooo bad, just under 50%. Next year I will be getting 100% again, I’m determined.

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