April.

It's April 3 and we are still in limbo over the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still under the stay-at-home order issued by the governor, effective March 30 for 30 days...set to sunset on April 29.  Given the way this virus is presented in the media and the way information and data seems to change on a daily basis (and a lot of it contradicts itself which is only leading to more fear and paranoia for a lot of people), I would expect the governor to extend the order to further limit our freedoms and continue to keep people out of work, businesses would remain closed and continue to murder our economy (he is a democrat after all). I think if you look at California, where you would expect to be a hot spot like New York...and they (being a liberal state) will tell you that the early and aggressive response is why the numbers of positive cases and deaths are low. If you allow yourself to use your mind, thousands of Chinese flew into that state on a daily basis post-outbreak in China. They brought the virus with them...it was there, California just didn't know what it was and probably chocked it up to an aggressive form of the flu, and it was treated as such prior to January 21. They walked around with it, exposed thousands of people who now most likely developed antibodies and wouldn't get it. Now, I'm not saying social distancing and washing your hands frequently aren't good mitigation strategies, but to shut it all down, I don't agree with whatsoever. I'm not a fan of government assistance and being dependent upon the government to live...and I have - I collected unemployment insurance for two+ years during the Great Recession of 2010-2012. It sucked...it was nice that it was available to me, but I would much rather work to support myself, my home, my lifestyle and I think 99% of people would agree. I think we should let the order sunset and slowly start putting people back to work, reopen restaurants and retail and restart our economy. Obviously, schools are out until May 15, so you would probably have a lot of parents still working from home over those two weeks or so...so it is possible to have a staggered start. But, I'm not politician and what I think doesn't really have weight.

**UPDATE: April 6, 2020. Prometric has cancelled my exam. I got an email at 12:30 this morning. They're supposed to email more info in 7-10 business days. 7-10 days?! The anticipation and anxiety levels have peaked with the unknown. I've been stressing about this exam far more than COVID-19, but I will admit the idea of sitting in a little cubicle with 20 other people for 4 hours with the highly contagious virus running around was definitely giving me pause about whether to skip this one and try to take it again in November. According to Prometric's website, they are closed in my area until May 17, which was the last day of our testing window. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I'll just keep studying until I know more.

***UPDATE: April 16, 2020. I contacted APA because I'd heard some chatter in my online class about transferring to the Fall exam. I did it. I cancelled my appointment for the Spring, now Summer, exam. I have to re-register when the window of opportunity opens (beginning June 1). SO, I have a few months to get my house in order, figuratively and literally. Then, I will begin again...this is my last chance under this cycle to get it right, to pass. This is so important to me, that I need to give it all I can. I'm sitting next to a room filled to the brim with "stuff" that needs to be sorted, organized, donated, sold and/or thrown away. So, I'll be taking the next couple of months to do just that - get my house in order. I'm unsure of how much longer I'll be working mostly from home, so it's a good idea to start sooner rather than later. I'm hoping to start tackling it this weekend.

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APRiL 2020

Sweat Goals
Walk around the neighborhood at least once a day (make at least 2 loops)
Home workouts at least three times a week - these can vary between body weight and weight training...
Other than heavier weights, a pull up bar and a treadmill, I have everything I need here at home.

Beauty Goals
Do a mask (charcoal, clay or other) at least once a week. I like switching between the clay/ACV mask and beautycounter's charcoal mask.
Use the zit zapper at least once a week (preferably twice).
Order the zit sucker from rodan + fields.
Use creams and serums more consistently.
GET MORE SLEEP!!! My ass needs to be in bed no later than 11pm each night...I have not been doing that and the constant dark circles under my eyes are the result...blah! I blame the Murder, She Wrote reruns on the Hallmark Channel that start at 11pm M-F.

April 3-5
Hang WOW mirror on the stairs
Rearrange/tweak the office...working from home in an "off" space is a little difficult
Wash all my linens...woke up in a sweaty mess Thursday morning
Study, study, study...Less than 45 days to go!

April 10-12
Good Friday
Easter Sunday

April 17-19
Finish cleaning the bathrooms (guest and master)
Rearrange furniture in master bedroom
Hang art/+ in master bedroom
Finish the office: hang art/+, organize closet, etc.
Start unpacking/organizing spring | summer wardrobe

April 24-26
Pack up fall | winter wardrobe
Work on guest room & closet: completely empty except for large pieces, clean, organize closet, hang art/+, etc.

March.

I had a really great intro but then it all changed. S*** hit the fan; this month has thrown "us all" into a chaotic panic. I use "us all" because other than buying toilet paper (I knew that when I needed it, there wouldn't be any) and stocking up on soup and ramen (I promptly ate the soup because I didn't feel like cooking), I haven't really bought into all the hype. It's not that I don't think Corona virus/COVID-19 is serious and problematic for our inept system to care for American citizens...but, when I look at the data, I just don't have fear. The truth is that the seasonal flu and pneumonia have a kill rate 7x higher than that of this virus. Illnesses with available medications and treatment protocols kill SEVEN TIMES MORE people than those who have died from COVID-19. 99.9% of the people who will have it, recover. Yes, a lot of it is unknown and that can be scary, but what we do know should quell the hysteria. Yes, if your grandparent gets it and they have a pre-existing condition, they are more likely to die from it than you. But, that is true for a lot of other illnesses, including the flu and pneumonia. The news just stated we had our first death in NC. 10,498 people have been tested, 504 have tested positive. That's less than 5% that have been tested having it...and with 1 death, that's 0.002. I understand wanting to keep the numbers low, so maybe that's the reason for the stay-at-home orders because a lot of people were assholes and not following the rules, thus making it worse for the rest of us. A sarcastic thanks goes out to all of you -- like the folks in CA and FL that were out on the beaches last weekend...very clearly more than 50 people. D****.

Don't even get me started on the bailout/stimulus bill....

Getting on with what I had planned for the month -- we can basically throw all of it out the window. We can try again in April. *eye roll*

February.

Priorities
Get the office ready for some heavy study sessions
Order/purchase mirrors for living room (above bar) and stairway


January 31 - February 2

got some stuff done but not enough; watched the Chiefs win the Super Bowl.

February 7-9

got a lot done except for going to church and studying. 

February 14-16

got a lot done except for going to church and studying.

February 21-23

meh. spent time with the guy (Friday), shopped with my mom (Saturday), and played racquetball with my mom (Sunday)

February 28 - March 1
Friday = gym after work (Y), meal plan/make grocery list
Saturday = clean the bathrooms; hang mirrors; grocery shopping; Lauren Daigle with my mom in G'boro
Sunday = STUDY

Other...

Cancel other PIF account

Call HVAC guy to move thermostat

Call garage opener guy
Call electrician about adding outlet in garage for freezer & updating some lighting

Pay HOA for Feb-June ($700)

Mid-January Update

It's about halfway through January. Since I am all about making this year one of the best ever, I thought I would start doing a mid-month check in to make sure I am staying on top of my monthly and yearly goals and intentions.

It's only been 2.5 weeks but I am going after my intention to be consumer debt free by the end of February, and have at least 3 of the 4 accounts closed by June. In order to do so, I essentially cashed in some investments left over from when my grandma passed. I didn't take everything at one time because I didn't want to blow it and have nothing to show for what she'd done for me. I'm glad I waited. Because as Dave Ramsey says: "Debt is not a math problem, it's a behavior problem." Isn't that the truth?!? So this year, I'm trying to be INTENTIONAL - not only when it comes to my finances, but also with every other area of my life. To be more mindful of how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. To be mindful of the limited days before my next attempt at the certification exam and to go all in on the effort -- lots to read! To be mindful of my emotional and physical health -- making the time to go to the gym and to rest, to read. With all the good things that happened at the end of last year to really set this year up for success, how can I not take these goals seriously?!

I've been at my new job for almost two weeks and I gotta say, being a newbie is HARD. It's been a long time since I've been new anywhere (over 7 years) and I'm in this weird head space. I went from being one person in a small town doing a bazillion things to being one in a zillion with not much to do (yet). I will say that I LOVE being downtown -- other than having to pay to park ($14 a day!), it's everything the small town was missing -- places to eat for lunch, GF options, things to do after work (hello happy hour), my bank is literally a skip away with the YMCA in between. I hope the 8-5 picks up and pushes the weirdness out.

**UPDATE Thursday, January 16: The only real update I have as of today is that I am SUPER close to having one of the two remaining credit cards PIF. I made my last $1,000.00 payment this morning, so I have less than $300 to go! Then, once that account has a zero balance, I will leave it along for 60-90 days and then go ahead and close the account. Because...two other accounts that are PIF and one has been just sitting there since September 2018 with a zero balance. Talk about LAZY! :( So, the goal is to get the first two closed by the end of February and then have this account closed by May.

I am gearing up for the long weekend. It will be the last long weekend until April, so I need to make the most of it! Hopefully I will be able to check a lot of tasks off my January list come Tuesday. :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 17: It's official! One account is closed. One down, one to go! :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 31: <$2,000 to pay on last account; mailed check to cover HOA dues for the next 5 months; shelled out $$$ for a new exam prep course & books.

New Year, New Decade

more reading, less scrolling.

more social, less media.

more celebration, less comparison.

more prayer, less grumbling.

more rejoicing, less ruminating.

more purpose, less deadlines.

more moments, less stuff. 



It's hard to believe the new year has begun -- and a new decade! The end of 2019 was pretty fruitful and I was/am excited for the arrival of 2020. Everything is really starting to come together and it's looking like 2020 is going to be a great year...at least the first part anyways. :)

My goals for the new year are mostly the same as I seem to make every year, but so much has been happening that it feels like it will *actually* happen this year! These goals include becoming debt free (except for my house), passing my certification exam, conquering "Murph", reading a book a month, and staying on top of my household chores. Oh, and finding a good guy to spend time with because as much as I don't "mind" being single, I am tired of wasting my time on the wrong ones.

JANUARY - JUNE 2020
1. Pay car insurance in full
2. Close two credit accounts
3. Pay off balances on other two credit accounts by end of February (thanks Grandma!)
4. Close fourth account (let it have $0 balance for 60-90 days before closing)
5. Conquer "Murph" in May
6. Pass my certification exam in May (STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!)
7. Have a garage sale (& promptly donate whatever doesn't sell)
8. Pay HOA for February - June (funds hadn't rolled through yet for January payment)

BIRTHDAYS
- Dad (February)
- Mom (March)
- Bestie (March)
- BIL (May)
- Me (June)

JULY - DECEMBER 2020
TBD

OTHER GOALS...
a. Read at least 1 book each month (studying counts?!)
b. Attend church regularly (Saturdays?)
c. Get sweaty/burn calories at least 5 days a week (my gym, racquetball with Mom until it's warm enough/light enough for tennis), YMCA after work)
d. PURGE A LOT: shredding, throwing away, donating or selling! I have WAY TOO MUCH stuff!
e. Call garage guy to fix wall control for my garage door
f. Call someone to come tweak my shower (trade the tiled wall for glass)
g. Get my personal e-mail inbox under control!

Purging seems to be the theme for 2020: Purge the debt, the excess clothing, accessories, home decor, the excessive content in my inbox, etc... and to read more, do the things that give me joy! 

January.

january 3-5

- work on the office
- prepare for my 1st day at my new job! (i.e. paint my nails & don't stay up too late sunday night)
- racquetball with my mom

january 10-12
-   rearrange the living room
-   vacuum (i LOVE my new vacuum!)
-   laundry

january 17-19 holiday weekend
- finish the office (furniture arrangement, hang art/+, organize the closet, etc.)
- work on master bedroom (rearrange, assemble new horizontal bookcase, vacuum, etc.)
- clean the bathrooms (guest, master)
- clean the kitchen (top to bottom!) + add shelf(ves) in pantry
- racquetball with my mom
- meal prep (monday)

january 24-26
- finish the office (maybe move tall bookcases into guest room?) (furniture arrangement, hang art/+, organize the closet, etc.)
- work on the guest room (especially if moving bookcases and console back into the room)
- gym (friday night & sunday morning)
- SAR @ WW (friday)
- church (saturday)
- clean the kitchen top to bottom!
- movies on sunday (little women)
other...
- pay off balance on c.o. account
- call/write to close first 2 snowballs
- call the garage opener guy -- the wall clicker hasn't worked in MONTHS!
- call the HVAC guy - to move the thermostat downstairs -- it is still in the way!

december.

the last 31 days of the year - of the decade! the last chance to make this year what i want it to be. it's also the time to begin looking forward and planning my goals for the new year. who do i want to be? what do i need to change? what fun things do i want to do, places i want to go next year?

december 6-8
- work on friday night (annual pictures with santa event)
- holly days holiday market at athens drive high school
- work on guest room & closet
- sleepover with my nephew on saturday
- work on office & closet

december 13-15
pay day
- laundry

december 20-22
- hair appointment on saturday
- finish closet
- finish office & closet
- blow off porches (front & back) and garage
- hang ladders/+ in garage
- CLEAN (bathrooms, kitchen, garage)
- hang art & mirrors

christmas holiday ~ december 24-26
- work on guest room and closet
- christmas eve service @ bay leaf
- christmas day at M/D's
- VACUUM!

clean out my office, put my desk back together, etc. because i start a new job come the new year.
december 27-29
pay day
- write thank you notes & take to post office
- shred fest
- finish guest room and closet

new year's eve ~ december 31

other
- final application deadline for exam ~ december 30
- call broker
- close 2 credit accounts