I’m not sure what is happening, but time seems to be flying by at warp speed.
I’m back on contract at the college this week, and I’m just trying to stay on top of my active projects and class prep.
Tomorrow I’m giving a presentation on how bad teaching hurts good teachers, and it’s really my way of venting about the current culture of education. I feel stuck between student apathy and a system that doesn’t seem to care about actually educating them. It’s stressful, exhausting, and somewhat scary.
But you know what, I refuse to let work infiltrate every aspect of my life, so enough about that!
I’m going to update my goals today. It’s been a couple of weeks, and I need to check in with myself.
2026 Goal Tracking
Cooking/Food
#SaladTime
Revised Goal: 5 Big Salads a Week ✅
I’m back at it! I haven’t had time to record any #SaladTime videos, but salad consumption is up! And I’m all stocked with greens for the rest of the week.
Weekly Soup/Stew/Prep
Goal: Once a Week ❌
Not this week, but prep will be gearing up now that I’ll be headed into the office regularly.
Sourdough
Goal: Once a Week ✅
YES! I am loving these flax loaves I’ve been making.
I started to measure and take notes so I can share the recipe. This one was:
- 400g 2% ultra filtered milk
- 200g bread flour
- 150g whole grain flour
- 50g whole grain rye flour
- 50g flax
- 12g salt
I loved how this one came out.
Homemade Pasta
Goal: Once a Month ✅
- January 1/9 ✅
- February 2/15 ✅
- March 3/1 ✅
- April 4/18 ✅
- May 5/14 ✅
- June ❌
- July 7/31 ✅
- August
Not yet but I have some ideas!
Evan in the Kitchen
Goal: Once a Week ❌ Retired
Revised Goal: Weekly Teen Sanity Check-In
He’s in the one week countdown before starting his sophomore year. I know it doesn’t seem like it for him, but his high school days are flying by for me!
Fitness/Weightlifting
Olympic Lifting Training
I haven’t mentioned it much, because I haven’t really trained for it, but I am competing in a local weightlifting meet this Saturday.
This is what we call a train through event. I signed up just for platform practice. I have another meet at the end of October and I’m hoping to be able to compete in Nationals in December.
Handstands/Pull Ups/Jump Rope
Making progress with all of these and I hope to be sharing some personal records soon.
Hikes
Goal: Twice a month
- January 1/3, 1/15, 1/23 ✅
- February ❌
- March 3/21, 3/28 ✅
- April 4/3, 4/12 ✅
- May 5/9, 5/24 ✅
- June 6/6, 6/21 ✅
- July 7/12 ❌
- August 8/1
I have a date to hike with a friend on Friday! Fingers crossed, because our last date got rained out. 🙁
Hot Yoga
Goal: Twice a month
- January 1/4, 1/11, 1/18 ✅
- February 2/1 ❌
- March 3/1, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29 ✅
- April 4/12, 4/18, 4/25 ✅
- May 5/9, 5/23, 5/30 ✅
- June 6/6, 6/27 ✅
- July 7/18 ❌
- August 8/1, 8/9, 8/15 ✅
I am back to my weekly yoga and it makes both my body and soul happy. It’s a challenging 90 minutes with no distractions just for me.
Pickleball
Once the semester gets underway I hope to get back into a league. I also have a friend who wants to learn how to play so I hope to get her on a court soon.
Creative/Other Pursuits
Painting
I painted two more cards this week and I have two more to go!
Music
I started playing my little chord game just to get back into the guitar mode and it’s working. I’ve played most days this week.
Drum lessons are on hold until I get a little deeper into the semester. I think it’s the last major goal this year I haven’t touched yet.
Spanish
Just kicking it with Duolingo.
Alcohol Reduction
Goal: No more than two days of drinking a month.
- January 1/1, 1/31 ✅
- February 2/1, 2/21 ✅
- March 3/21 ✅
- April 4/1, 4/2, 4/18 ❌
- May 5/16, 5/23 ✅
- June 6/20, 6/?? ✅
- July 7/11, 7/22-7/27 ❌
- August 8/7
Had a drink with my SON (how crazy is that) when we went out to play pool while at the shore.
Looking Ahead
Let’s see. Tomorrow I have meetings all day and a presentation, then I’m heading to the gym. Friday, I hope to finish up most of my prep for the first few weeks of classes and then hike with an old friend. Saturday is my competition. I may skip yoga on Sunday, depends on how I feel the day after the comp. Then it’s back to the office Monday for a fun filled week of meetings! (Can you sense the sarcasm?)