Week 16: Poetry

I was going to make this whole blog post into an epic poem, but...  I'm not that advanced yet in my poetry skills. I do however feel good about checking off goal #19 from my list of sixty:

Learn more about poetry and write a poem

Most of this week I was enjoying a vacation in Florida and brought along an old "How to Write Poetry" book.  I reviewed that and quite a few Websites and other resources and also dabbled in reading and writing a variety of poems in different styles throughout the week.

In my browsing, I serendipitously stumbled across a poetry contest for an Acrostic poem and I submitted an entry!

Here's my entry for a FRIEND (first letter of each line spells out the word, FRIEND):

Flirtatious, perhaps, regardless of gender

Ready to play, a willing weekender

Intimate with all of our (few!) imperfections

Endearing to them(?), no need for corrections

Never a judge, but wisely a guide

Dependably present with love to provide

 

What worked well about this goal:

* I love word play, writing, and poetry.  Since I've been writing professionally (IT geeky stuff), I've gotten away from creative writing, and I miss it. It felt good to spend some time and write for fun.

* I found this list of beautiful words. (Note: "Serendipity, one of my favorite words, is on the list. If you notice I overuse this word, you now understand why.)

* I dug up a lot of my old poems from the past.. it's motivated me to add to that collection.

* I subscribed to Family Fun Poems and hope their newsletters and prompts will keep me writing.

* I found this list of 12 poems to memorize (added to my 'backlog' as a future goal).

* It was fun to find a contest to enter that gave me an easy prompt for an acrostic.  (I'd written an acrostic poem for my friend Craig Dunham when he turned 50 in 2010, and it was a nice memory.)

What could have been better:

* Like any of my 'learning goals,' it's always hard to consider them 'done.'  The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know and I want to learn more. There's always that feeling of recognizing that I will never have the time to become as proficient as I'd like, because there are just too many other things I want to learn.  But it's a start..  

In poetic summary:

Learning poetry

I want to learn it all

But before I walk, I need to crawl

OK, then.. Start small

First attempt haiku

Simple and systematic

A humble success

Venture on to lyrical verses

Flowered with eloquent words and sounds

Onomatopoeia with evocative prose

Poetry has no bounds

The world is full of endless wonders

And words that fill my head

I wish that I could write with brilliance

But this I’ll do instead

Try not to do it all

There is no protocol

It’s OK to start small

Let go of "sticky ego thoughts" and let in your genius

 

A coaching colleague of mine uses the word, "genius" to describe skills that we seem particularly talented in- skills that we seemed to have a natural gift for.  Unlike the "growth opportunities" that I described in a recent blog post, our "genius" skills would be those types of things we lose ourselves in. We forget all our worries as we let our minds fully focus on our new creation - the fruits of our genius.

My friend, Cathy, has many "genius" talents - music, art, poetry, language.   She recently had many of her paintings on display at a local coffee shop, and I purchased this scenic painting of Canyonlands for my home.  

I asked Cathy to describe the art medium and she answered:

The painting is chalk pastel, and I use my fingers to blend the colors. The paper has a sandy  surface to it, called the “tooth” of the paper— and the more gritty (more tooth it has) the paper, the more layers you can keep putting in it.  I probably would’ve worked that painting a little bit more, but I ran out of tooth! It was before I knew how to find paper on the Internet that had the thickest tooth on it.

When I told Cathy I'd purchased the painting, I also asked for a favor: a poem to go with the painting. Even though it had been quite awhile since Cathy had written any poetry, she accepted the challenge! 

[By the way, Major brownie points for Cathy for following through! Most people would roll their eyes and think, "Isn't a painting good enough? You need a poem, too?"]

Last night, Cathy and I met for dinner and she passed along the painting and poem to me!

The poem, titled "Spirit Home" begins:

Canyonlands (Needles) is my Spirit Home -

Where all the sticky ego thoughts

Are blown clean from my Soul - 

By the warm and gentle desert breeze,

By the clear cyan-colored summer sky,

Through which my Spirit soars pure and free,

Unfettered by all space and time -

The horizon stretching further than the eye can see.

Cathy's description of how she feels about her Spirit Home is very similar to the way we feel when we allow our inner-genius to create - to paint, to write, to flow.  I love the idea of having 'sticky ego thoughts' being 'blown clean' from our Soul, allowing in a "pure, free, and unfettered Spirit!"

I was so pleased that Cathy had given me this poem, along with the painting. She even included a bonus poem! [I suggested she might create a painting to go with the bonus poem about a Flicker..  She could start this whole Painting-Poetry Pairing Pastime! OK, OK...  maybe one big challenge is enough!]

I think many of us feel we don't have a "genius."  We don't think our talents are "good enough" to be considered "genius."  We become insecure about sharing our creations, worried they're too amateurish or won't measure up to the expectations of others.  

However, if we let go of those "sticky ego thoughts"..   if we unfetter our minds and simply slip into a liberated flow, we may discover we have more "genius" than we'd ever known.

Where is your Spirit Home? What is your genius? 

Spirit Home and Poetry Month

The other day, my post was about finding your "genius," and letting it "flow" through you.  I gave the example of my friend, Cathy, and the poem she wrote to go along with one of her paintings.

My friend, Becky, read the post and requested the full poem, so with Cathy's permission, here it is:

Spirit Home

By Cathy S Kerry ~ 4/15/21

Canyonlands (Needles) is my Spirit Home -

Where all the sticky ego thoughts

Are blown clean from my Soul - 

By the warm and gentle desert breeze,

By the clear cyan-colored summer sky,

Through which my Spirit soars pure and free,

Unfettered by all space and time -

The horizon stretching further than the eye can see.

This is my true home - my Spirit Home,

Where I have always belonged.

Nature was my first love, my true mother,

My first god -

Alone in the desert, I know I have come home.

Billions of shimmering diamond stars

Carpet the dark night sky

And blanket me with love

Whilst I sleep.

The burnt-orange desert rock

Of frozen sandcastles

Whispers to me of eons past -

Of my Anasazi ancestors,

Of ancient sea beds, frozen in time.

Upon the cool desert sandstone,

Under a blazing blue summer sky,

I lay my head to rest

In shadowy crevices

Of time-carved rock -

Caressed by the cool stone surface

Of this resting spot -

I pause in my long 9-mile,

Flip-flop journey - 

From camp to Druid Arch and back again.

It is on this pilgrimage I sense

The spirit world - as near to me as breath.

Trekking through sandy washes, past desert brush,

Crimson paintbrush, and yellow blooming cactus -

With only bright blue desert sky above

And cathedral sandcastles all around -

The air so quiet, still and calm,

I'd hear a bobcat sneeze from miles away.

Here, alone, in this majestic expanse

Of Needles, Canyonlands -

Here, and only here, I've found

My true, beloved, Spirit Home.

 

Bonus Poem from Cathy:

Flicker, Oh Flicker!

You clownish woodpecker!

Rat-a-tat-tat

On your metal post -

Just for the pure pleasure of the act -

The dopamine rush

Of woodpecker beak tapping metal.

Oh, how you love the sound

Of your new-found power -

Your Morse-code message to the World,

Your self-made drumbeats.           

Now, how about a challenge for you, my loyal reader!  April is National Poetry Month and there are a lot of resources to help your inner poet have a voice!

Though I have my hands full this month with other writing projects,  here are some posts from the past where I've dabbled in poetry myself.  Cathy inspires me to want to do more!

Come share a poem you've written or one that you especially like on the Carpe Diem Connections Facebook Group!

 

 

Roller Doll Poetry

My daughter has recently joined the Denver Roller Dolls...that's a Roller Derby Team. She's kind of a girly girl, so I was surprised she wanted to do this, and even more surprised when she made the team. I never even knew she was intersted in skating! But I've learned that she pretty much accomplishes whatever she sets her mind to. Anyway, there is a poetry contest going on for Season Tickets to see the Dolls....here's my entry:

Part of Her World
(to the music of "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid")


Look at my girl
Isn't she neat?
Wouldn't you think her experiences complete?
Wouldn't you think she's the girl
The girl who's done everything?

Look at her world
Look what she's done
How many ways can she find to have fun?
Hearing about her you think
Sure, she's done everything

She's climbed mountains and skydived a-plenty
Her life's never a bit of a bore
You want adventure?
She's had many
But who cares?
No big deal
She wants more.....

She wants to be where the skaters are
She wants to check, wants to hip check big girls
Pushing and playing with - what do you call 'em?
Oh. Dolls!

Walking with shoes you don't get too far
Skates are required for soaring, jamming
Learning the best way to recover from - what's the word?
Falls

Out where they skate, out where they train
No she is not afraid of the pain
Fast and fear-free - she wants to be
Part of that world

What would I give if I could live watching my daughter?
What would I pay to spend a day up in the stands?
Bet'cha the fans all understand
That sometimes a girl gets slaughtered
Strong brave lasses off their a$$es
Ready to land

I'm ready to watch what the derby fans watch
Ask them my questions and get some answers
How do you score and when's the next - what's the word?
Bout?

How I would shout!
Wouldn't I love, love to cheer from the stands up above?
My Roller Baby
I long to see
That part of her world

60 Until 60 Celebration: Jan.1, 2019 - Feb.26, 2020

I was born in 1960. Feb 26, 1960, to be exact. If you do the math, that means I'm 58. I want to be clear about that because as soon as I start talking about all this '60' magic, people start thinking I'm already 60.  Still in my 50's people!

However, being the obsessively goal-oriented person I am, I thought it might be fun to have a 60-week countdown to my 60th birthday. Counting 60 weeks backwards from my 60th birthday, I discovered was January 1, 2019! My 60th birthday is EXACTLY - to the day - 60 weeks after New Years Day.

That’s like some kind of woo-woo numerology magic, right? It’s like a “twofer” goal-setting deal. I already try to figure out some kind of weekly goals for New Years and now it doubles as my 60-until-60 project!

I’ve been pondering exactly what 60 things I should do for my 60 until 60 project (I have a 32 page document with ideas!) but I’ve narrowed it down to the list below as a starting point. I’m going to be all ‘Agile’ about this not keep these set in stone, but I will have a weekly “demo,” “retrospective” and plan for the next week. I also want to find people who have their own goals so we can collaborate and support one another.  So take a look at the list below and let me know what goals you have for the New Year!

1. Keep doing strength building exercises do at least one unassisted pull-up. Accomplished Week 2: 1/11/19. 
2. Hike in beautiful spots Including Crested Butte during wildflower season Accomplished Week 32 
3. Participate and dress up in at least one fun race like the Bolder Boulder Accomplished Week 22
4. Research bone-healthy recipes and make dinner to share with other friends who are working on their bone strength Accomplished Week 6: 2/7/19
5. Learn a choreographed dance Accomplished Week 21: 5/25/19
6. Try PickleBall Accomplished Week 34
7. Call 10 friends and relatives who I haven’t seen in a long time to invite them to my 60-week virtual BD party and get a song for my playlist. - Accomplished Week 1: 1/7/19
8. Take a work mentor to dinner. - Accomplished Week 37
9. Every week share a “Cool Thing of the Week” via social media and encourage others to do the same. Accomplished Week 12: 3/24/19
10. Foster strong and deep communication with everyone I meet. Aim to have at least one positive social connection every day and at least one event every week.  Accomplished Week 30
11. Write a gratitude letter to the police who helped me during a family emergency Accomplished Week 44
12. Visit my Mom & brother in Sacramento as well as others in Northern CA who are available: Accomplished Week 50 
13. Visit my sister in Southern CA and go to this super-cool bookstore (among other things). Accomplished Week 3: 1/18/19
14. Practice a mindset of kindness and gratitude and journal weekly about reflections Accomplished Week 46
15. Contribute to any cause that a friend asks me to support Accomplished Week 27
16. Participate in efforts to help those with ALS and their caregivers Accomplished Week 48
17. Learn digital photography better with the help of a professional photographer (my sister, Michele) Accomplished Week 4: 1/28/19
18. Learn how to Meditate Accomplished Week 19: 5/11/19
19. Learn more about poetry and write a poem Accomplished Week 16: 4/21/19
20. Practice the piano and be able to play some of the pieces I used to play well along with some new pieces Accomplished Week 38
21. Experiment learning a new instrument - maybe the ukulele Accomplished Week 18
22. Sing with a group Accomplished 8/8/19 (Blogged about Week 33)
23. Explore an acting class or group and try to get a part in a play Accomplished 8/8/19 (Blogged about Week 33)
24. Get better at a foreign language (Spanish, French, and/or Italian) and practice with a friend Accomplished Week 24
25. Put together a playlist of at least 60 songs by gathering songs from friends Accomplished Week 58
26. Plan and host my 60th virtual/real birthday party Accomplished Feb.26, 2020
27. Create slideshows of the celebrations I have throughout my 60-week ‘party’ Accomplished Week 36
28. Host a theme party (Flamingo, Carpe Diem, Wine-Tasting, Murder Mystery, Games, Purple,etc.) Accomplished Week 25
29. Go to a foreign country and practice speaking the native language Accomplished Week 54
30. Research and explore snowbird locations Accomplished Week 15
31. Go to Disneyworld with the Tidds Accomplished Week 9: 2/28-3/1
32. Go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival with Stella and Matt Walk 2019 miles in 2019 Accomplished Week 49
33. Go to the Meowolf exhibit in Santa Fe with Stella and Matt Accomplished July 6, 2019 (Week 28 Blog Post)
34. Visit New England in the Fall with Rebecca R. Accomplished Week 41
35. Do some TBD adventure with Scotty Accomplished Week 5: 1/30/19-2/1/19 Road Trip to CA
36. Visit Minnesota friends in August Accomplished Week 33 
37. Do a roadside altar road trip with Rebecca M. Accomplished Week 39
38. See all the movies that are up for Best Picture Accomplished Week 8
39. Dress up and go to a musical at the theater Accomplished Week 29 and Week 31
40. Read a book that’s on the best seller list Accomplished Week 45
41. Binge watch a Netflix series with someone Accomplished Week 23
42. Clean my basement window-wells Accomplished Week 17
43. Try marble contact paper on an old table Accomplished Week 40
44. Clean and organize the ‘craft area’ of my basement Create a Girl Cave
45. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my games, puzzles, and toys Accomplished Week 29
46. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my books Accomplished Week 14
47. Clean out my wardrobe and get rid of old clothes that I never wear Accomplished Week 10
48. Put DIY flooring or carpets in basement Accomplished (sort of) Week 47
49. Put DIY walls in basement that will allow me to hang pictures, etc. Accomplished Week 52
50. Refurbish window sills and baseboards that are old and chipped Accomplished Week 20
51. Label and repair my breaker box Accomplished Week 29
52. Get rid of or repair floor lamps Accomplished Week 29
53. Hang pretty lights in basement and bedroom Accomplished Week 43
54. Fix up den as a potential airBnB room for rent Accomplished Week 11
55. Buy something at a Thrift store and fix it up Accomplished Week 51
56. Create a course about using Agile in everyday life
57. Sign up on sites to get freelance Agile coaching / training gigs: Accomplished Week 2: 1/13/19
58. Update Website with my coaching / training / writing accomplishments Accomplished Week 42
59. Create outline for book about Agile in everyday life Accomplished Week 26
60. Continue to write freelance articles Accomplished Week 13

Old love: Romance never dies

This week on the Love Project we're talking about Celebrating Age so I want to tell you a story about the oldest man I ever had a "romantic relationship" with. His name was Guy (pronounced "Gee" with a hard 'G') Goyer.

I met Guy in 1999 at Boulder Manor Nursing Home. I was still married at the time, about to turn 40, busy with 3 kids and getting ready to run my first marathon. I volunteered through my church to help bring the Mass to Boulder Manor on Sundays.

If you ever want to feel young, spend some time in a nursing home. Compared to people in there, you will be a regular spring chicken even if you're 80! As long as you're healthy, you will feel a whole lot younger than the people there, regardless of your biological age. Yes... most people there were very old, very sick, and very... confused. It is not the kind of thing that makes you look forward to getting old... it's downright scary. At first.

But, once you go regularly, like any community, you start to get to know who's who. You start to figure out who will talk gibberish, who will be constantly worried about being near a bathroom, who is shy and who is spunky.

Guy was a spunky one. I remember the first time we met. He came into the room where we held Mass with his motorized wheelchair, oxygen, and sporting a debonair beret. He asked me my name and when I told him it was "Yvette" he was very excited. "Are you French?" he asked. "My mother is part French Canadian and loves French names," I told him. He was from Quebec and he wanted to talk (or should I say flirt!) more. A regular lady's man, despite the very advanced age. I sat next to him during the service and we talked more afterwards about our families and backgrounds.

After that, Guy was my new best friend at Boulder Manor. He always parked his wheelchair next to me, and held out his ever-shaking hand for me to hold during the "Our Father." He was always ready with a smile and told me the news of the day or teased me in some way. One day he asked if I could come back to his room to visit and he showed me his photos and mementos in his small semi-private room. This wasn't creepy or scary at all. He didn't act disrespectful or in any way like a "dirty old man"... more like a romantic gentleman who wanted to "court" me with old-fashioned charm. So, I started visiting for 30 minutes or so after Mass each week.

He asked me for my address once, which I thought was odd. Why would he need that? But that week I received some poetry in the mail from him. It was very hard to read. Guy's hands shook so badly that the handwriting was practically indecipherable... but in those squiggles I saw a romantic soul and it touched my heart, bringing tears to my eyes.

I knew Guy wanted me to visit him more often, but I was busy, and, honestly, I was a little worried that he was becoming too attached to me. Obviously, he knew I was married and that there would be no... um... physical intimacy of any kind... But he was lonely. He was this beautiful man with love to give and just wanted someone to give it to.

I missed the last Sunday I would have spent with Guy because I was in San Diego running that marathon. The next Sunday when I returned, anxious to tell him all about it, I heard that he'd died. Whatever service they'd had was over. I didn't know any of his family or friends to send condolences to. I had no one to grieve with. I wanted so much to see him again. I wanted to tell him something I'd never told him... That I loved him.

I know this love is different from what we all want. We want a partner, not a nurse. We want someone who thinks we're sexy and desirable, not someone who sees us as old and sick. But inside that old person is a heart and mind who still wants to love and be loved. I wish I had given that to Guy.

I have been thinking a lot about this lately... Can we continue to love people even when we are old, sick, and dying? Will they accept it and love us back? Many won't. I know this. I didn't even make the time for Guy... I was worried he would become dependent on me. I had other people in my life. Did I hurt him? I hate to think about it, but I know I may have.

By giving love to others when we don't get it back, will we set ourself up for rejection? Will we just feel more lonely and hurt? I don't know. But I do know that Guy didn't let age or sickness keep him from giving love. His poems taught me that we're never too old for romance and love... (and who needs sex when you're 90, anyway?)

Pi Day Celebrations!

OK, people, I know we're all disappointed about all the Pi Day Parades and Pi Parties that have been cancelled due to the Corona Virus, but don't despair! There is plenty of Pi fun you can have all day (note, however, if you're on your computer, be sure it has virus protection.)

Here are some ideas of ways to celebrate:

Pi Poetry

Example

PI Sonnet:

Definition: a poem of fourteen lines following the rhyming scheme: aaa.bccccbddddd; Typically a love poem.

Diameter, a straight and simple number

Alone and feeling down and umber

In boredom she would simply slumber

[Pointed pause]

But wait!

A number of a different sort

Up front, she finds he's rather short

Oh, but past the point, there's no report

of ever reaching an ending port.

It’s fate!

He’s different, yes, not Hex nor Bi.

This irrational number was her guy.

At last she'd found her Sweetie Pi.

And so, she proposed with an excited cry,

"Let's go full circle and multiply!"

Pi-Ku

Derived from Haiku (俳句 high-koo)

which uses a 5-7-5 syllable pattern.

Definition: A Poem in which the number of syllables in each line, matches that of PI: 3.1415

What is the

Point

Of

Never-ending

PI?

It's irrational.

Iambic Pi-Tamiter

Definition: A poem in which each line has double the syllables and the number of metrical feet as that of PI.

MatheMatical Ratio

a

Fraction

a Number-Crunching disTracTion

let Go

for You will Never reach SatisFacTion

More Pi-deas

* Eat Pie

* Memorize and recite 100 digits of Pi

* Look for Pi in the sky

Rocket Launch 3/14/2020 from Sarasota

* Be irrational

Celebrate - New Month's Eve Virtual Parties!

 

I know we're all suffering a bit of Zoom-fatigue these days, but one tradition I'd like to continue is my end-of-month virtual parties.

These have morphed into a shortish girl-friend get together where we share:

• One good thing that happened in the month
• One thing we're looking forward to in the next month

Since I like theme parties, I use the "Special Days" Websites to give me ideas about what the theme could be.  There are so MANY even for April 30th that it's hard to choose! And if you take into account themes for all of April, you add over 100 more things to celebrate!

Lee suggested going with National Poetry Month as our theme, which worked out perfectly for me since one good thing that happened in April for me was to receive this poem from Cathy, who would be at the party, so it was just right to share with the group.  Lee also shared an inspiring poem from her late husband. April was also National Gardening Month so my sister, Michele shared photos from her beautiful garden.  Some of us wore Straw Hats in honor of National Straw Hat Month.  And some of us (Becky) shared with no need for a theme!

As part of my personal Agile practice, I keep a running list (via a Trello Board) of "good things" and "not-so-good things" that I review at the end of each month.  I also review the photos that are on my camera roll and add some of my favorites to the Trello Board.  It always gives me such a positive feeling to remember all the happy things that happened.  I can also learn from the "not-so-good things" (of which there are always far fewer).

During this private little ritual, I also plan my goals for the next month, making sure I have activities or events to look forward to.

My own practice of reviewing the past month and planning for the upcoming month is done by myself. I love it, but of course, I prefer having someone to share happy feelings with.

Having this very informal little get together is fun because, not only do I get to share, I get to see what my girlfriends have been up to and what they're looking forward to.

Whether you do it by yourself or with friends or family, though, I highly recommend celebrating! Celebrate all those little things throughout the month that make you smile. Celebrate things you did, even if they didn't turn out exactly as you'd hoped. Celebrate special days or unusual days. Celebrate accomplishing a goal or making a decision. Celebrate friends. Celebrate yourself. Celebrate life!

Single But Not Alone

I had to write once more about the marathon because, after all, there aren't many days when one has a day like today. I'll spare you the details of my incredible pacing accuracy, though I did come in at 4:29:34, less than 30 seconds under my 4:30 goal. My game-like mind likes to play "Time is Right"...a variation of "Price is Right" where I try and come in as close as possible to my time goal without going over. I did pretty damn good to come within 30 seconds in a marathon.

The day was indescribable. Although it was cold, it wasn't windy. And I'm from Colorado. I can live with a cold run. Easier than a humid run, right? Running through the magic of the Disney Theme Parks was...well...magical. It is Disney, after all. Rather than a gun, it was fireworks that signaled the race start and all along the way there were characters, bands, and cheering spectators, all engergizing beyond belief. Who can think about aching legs when there are fans to impress?

But my real success was my VRB (Virtual Running Buddy) program. Since none of my friends or family could come with me to Orlando, I recruited several friends and family to call me throughout the race. It was awesome! My list of VRBs included my kids, relatives, my coach, recent friends, very old friends, and many friends in between. Headset in place, I had no problem getting calls every 10-15 minutes and my VRBs did everything from sing to me, cheer for me, read me quotes and poetry and even give me a Cosmopoliton Survey on what type of women in which men are most interested. Expert that I am, I scored well. Best of all, I was able to briefly share this incredible day with people I love. I think that's what's been hardest about being single...not having someone to share life's joys with.

But today I wasn't alone. I had thousands of runners all around me, enjoying this challenge by my side. I had thousands of friendly strangers on the sidelines, shouting "Go Yvette" (thanks to my handy nametag! They even pronounced my name right, without my giving into the temptation of providing a pronunciation guide) cheering and giving me high-fives. I had Ethan's spirit, the 2-year-old son of my teammate as well as Hunter's who is in remission. I had Mickey, Minnie, and a whole crew of other Disney characters, Nan, my roommate, Ashley and Erin and countless other Team in Training staff. I had my wonderful, unique and personal cheerleaders, my crew of VRBs. I may have come to Orlando alone, but today I felt less alone than I ever felt when I was married. Maybe the key to not being alone is to let people in your life. I don't think I did enough of that when I was married. I'm learning that being single isn't about being alone. Being single may have helped me learn to be less lonely than I've ever been in my life.

I Love Words and Haley's Challenge

This week on The Love Project we're talking about Love Notes. I could probably make the whole month of February related to "Words of Love"... Love letters, poetry, flirtation, word play. I absolutely love words. And obviously, communication is a key component of any relationship.

Anyway.. I am back in the "game" again... the "dating game" that is. And it IS a game.

I've been frequenting the dating blogs again and came across this 12/12 Dating Challenge on Haley's Halo. Now Haley appears to be a young, Christian single looking for love. If you know me at all, you know I like challenges and games, and this dating game she proposes is very similar to what I did during the year I wrote The Laptop Dancer Diaries. Only rather than 1 date a month, her challenge is 1 date a week for 12 weeks starting the week of February 12!

Being a 50-year-old grandma with a high-schooler still at home, I'd say I deserve some kind of handicap, so I don't feel overly-confident that I'll make it through the 12 weeks, but, hey... at least I'm gonna give it a try.

I actually already have a few dates lined up, so I know I won't totally fail.

The first is with a guy from OKCupid. According to our questions and answers (which there are a ton of on OKCupid), we are not a match at all! But this guy can write! He is funny and mischievous and witty. I am completely smitten with his emails.

I teased him when we first started emailing that he appeared to be the classic "bad boy" and I am the classic "good girl." But the more we emailed the more I began to think he really doesn't seem all that "bad" and I'm not really all that "good." Or could it be the "good" part of me that seeks out someone who will bring out some of my inner-Devil? Could that be why opposites attract?

It may be a big mistake to go out with someone who is clearly not a match based on the "personality tests." But isn't one of the biggest indicators of personality how a person communicates? And in that respect, this guy gets a big thumbs up.

Side note: My February Love Project Goal is to get more participation on my blog. I am going to have to figure out Haley's secret because I ask for simple little assignments and hardly get ANY comments and Haley gives this 12-week dating challenge and gets 48 comments (and counting...) I may have to go hit up some of her fan base to come comment on my blog. I noticed there's someone with screen name "Old Guy." Maybe I could have a virtual date with him and count it as one of my 12... I'll have to find out if there's a rule against that...

Week 13: Article Published and Quarterly Reflections

It's the last day of March and that means we're 3 months into my 60 until 60 project!  This week, my latest article for TechBeacon about Self-Organizing Teams was published, so I'm marking that goal  complete!

Since the "work" part of that goal (actually writing and submitting the article) was done earlier in the month, this was a good week for me to spend on reflections of my project as a whole or in Agile speak do my "quarterly retrospective" and planning for the next quarter.

Summary:

* I'm right on track with completing and blogging about one goal every week! (Marked green below)
* I've started or have a plan for goals that I'll plan to complete next quarter. (Marked yellow below)
* My on-going "individual celebrations" (Marked blue below) have been fun and I've made a Slideshow and Playlist with the first 13 celebrations:

* There's only one goal that I don't think I'll be able to complete (Marked red below) because Matt and Stella won't be able to attend the Albuquerque Balloon Festival after all. I'm going to change that to the most challenging goal I've been working on: Walk 2019 miles in 2019!
* Some items are ongoing or more about mindset (Marked purple below). These will be hard to ever fully "complete" so instead, I may just blog about a particular example and then mark them as done on my list.

What's working well:

* The list of goals and project gives me purpose. Without it, it's easy to say, 'some day I'll do...' but let other things get in the way.  This is helping me make sure I accomplish at least one thing on this list each week.
* Because I'm not working much, I have time to do a lot of other things beyond this list! As long as I get at least one thing from the list done a week, I can explore other things I want to do without feeling like I'm losing focus.
* Overall, I'm changing my mindset in the way I live my life, which is my overarching goal.  I'm constantly working on improving and doing things that are important to me.
* My weekly blog post helps me keep myself accountable.
* I really appreciate my sister, Michele, especially, for all the support she's given me with this project (including housing me for much of the winter!)  I also appreciate anyone who's helping me accomplish any of the goals or joining me in my celebrations! And thanks to MB for the comments on almost every post! (TY, TYVM).

What could be better:

* Some things on my list are very big and others are easy and small. Technically, the big items (features) should be broken down into small things (stories) that can be done in a week.  But I like keeping with my original list of 60 things (to keep to my 60 theme!)
* I know my blog posts are not very entertaining. If you've made it this far in this blog post, give yourself a big 'Yay' from me!
* It would be better if I were doing this project with someone else so we were holding each other accountable.  However, some of the goals, I'm doing with other people, and those are the most fun for me.

1. Keep doing strength building exercises do at least one unassisted pull-up. Accomplished Week 2: 1/11/19. 
2. Hike in beautiful spots Including Crested Butte during wildflower season) Record with Map My Hike App.
3. Participate and dress up in at least one fun race like the Bolder Boulder
4. Research bone-healthy recipes and make dinner to share with other friends who are working on their bone strength Accomplished Week 6: 2/7/19
5. Learn a choreographed dance
6. Try PickleBall
7. Call 10 friends and relatives who I haven’t seen in a long time to invite them to my 60-week virtual BD party and get a song for my playlist. - Accomplished Week 1: 1/7/19
8. Take a work mentor to dinner.
9. Every week share a “Cool Thing of the Week” via social media and encourage others to do the same. Accomplished Week 12: 3/24/19
10. Foster strong and deep communication with everyone I meet. Aim to have at least one positive social connection every day and at least one event every week. 
11. Write a gratitude letter to the police who helped me during a family emergency
12. Visit my Mom & brother in Sacramento as well as others in Northern CA who are available (My former in-laws, high school, and college friends.)
13. Visit my sister in Southern CA and go to this super-cool bookstore (among other things). Accomplished Week 3: 1/18/19
14. Practice a mindset of kindness and gratitude and journal weekly about reflections
15. Contribute to any cause that a friend asks me to support
16. Participate in efforts to help those with ALS and their caregivers
17. Learn digital photography better with the help of a professional photographer (my sister, Michele) Accomplished Week 4: 1/28/19
18. Learn how to Meditate
19. Learn more about poetry and write a poem
20. Practice the piano and be able to play some of the pieces I used to play well along with some new pieces.
21. Experiment learning a new instrument - maybe the ukulele
22. Sing with a group
23. Explore an acting class or group and try to get a part in a play
24. Get better at a foreign language (Spanish, French, and/or Italian) and practice with a friend
25. Put together a playlist of at least 60 songs by gathering songs from friends
26. Plan and host my 60th virtual/real birthday party
27. Create slideshows of the celebrations I have throughout my 60-week ‘party’
28. Host a theme party (Flamingo, Carpe Diem, Wine-Tasting, Murder Mystery, Games, Purple,etc.)
29. Go to a foreign country and practice speaking the native language
30. Research and explore snowbird locations
31. Go to Disneyworld with the Tidds Accomplished Week 9: 2/28-3/1
32. Go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival with Stella and Matt
33. Go to the Meowolf exhibit in Santa Fe with Stella and Matt
34. Visit New England in the Fall with Rebecca R.
35. Do some TBD adventure with Scotty Accomplished Week 5: 1/30/19-2/1/19 Road Trip to CA
36. Visit Minnesota friends in August
37. Do a roadside altar road trip with Rebecca M.
38. See all the movies that are up for Best Picture Accomplished Week 8
39. Dress up and go to a musical at the theater
40. Read a book that’s on the best seller list
41. Binge watch a Netflix series with someone
42. Clean my basement window-wells
43. Try marble contact paper on an old table
44. Clean and organize the ‘craft area’ of my basement
45. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my games, puzzles, and toys
46. Sell, give-away, throwaway and organize what’s left of my books
47. Clean out my wardrobe and get rid of old clothes that I never wear Accomplished Week 10
48. Put DIY flooring or carpets in basement
49. Put DIY walls in basement that will allow me to hang pictures, etc.
50. Refurbish window sills and baseboards that are old and chipped
51. Label and repair my breaker box
52. Get rid of or repair floor lamps
53. Hang pretty lights in basement and bedroom
54. Fix up den as a potential airBnB room for rent Accomplished Week 11
55. Buy something at a Thrift store and fix it up
56. Create a course about using Agile in everyday life
57. Sign up on sites to get freelance Agile coaching / training gigs: Accomplished Week 2: 1/13/19
58. Update Website with my coaching / training / writing accomplishments
59. Create outline for book about Agile in everyday life
60. Continue to write freelance articles Accomplished Week 13