Also, as a quick reminder, this month’s book is the sequel to Daemon, Freedom.

I look forward to seeing you all on the board as well as on the G+ hangout!

I also went on a hike on Sunday with Amanda, but since I failed to remember to put the SD card back into the camera, there are only a few pictures that I shot with my phone available. It wasn’t a huge loss, really, because the hike wasn’t really as scenic as we were hoping. Our next hike (5/6) should be a lot better and I’m excited for it because it will be our first hike in the northern part of the state. Along the same lines of the health update, I got my weekly fitbit report and it shows that I met my goal of having a daily average of at least 5,000 steps. May (after the move) I plan on being a lot more diligent about my steps as well as completing my other self-set goals.

Also, some of you may have heard the exciting news that at the end of the month, M and I will be moving at the end of the month to the same complex as Kita and Neil! We signed all of the paper work and gave them the money for the apartment on Wednesday and will be able to move by the first of May. The move north will be great because not only is it much cheaper and I’ll be living a few hundred steps from one of my closest/dearest friends, but I will also be closer to Amanda (my hiking buddy) and it will be easier for us to check out the northern ranges/trails.

Today and tomorrow will be spent going through *everything* that M and I own and deciding whether we trash, donate, or keep it. Then on Monday, I am meeting up with Kita and we are going to go donate the stuff as well as do some light shopping for the new place (I say light because I want to avoid getting dishes, cookware, etc. before the move). I’m not 100% sure what Tuesday involves, probably going to just relax.

We started the night off with Nyarko-san: Another Crawling Chaos , which is about a cute (but really, really weird) little girl who came to Earth to protect a boy (Mahiro) from things that come out of the Cthulu mythos as well as to stop a sort of intergalactic organised crime. It’s kind of weird and really, really funny. I would not, however, recommend you watch this in front of your children because the humour might be a little too racy for them. But it is available on Crunchy Roll.

Next up was Acchi Kocchi, which is a slice of life that revolves around five friends. The pacing is a little slow and the humour can sometimes be a little subtle, but I am going to watch at least a few more episodes of it to see how it goes. So far, it seems safe for younger audiences, but it some might see it as too slow for their liking.

After that, we watched two episodes of Accel World. This series was by far the most interesting (to me) of the night. It’s about a short, pudgy kid in middle school set in Japan during the year 2046. The protagonist spends a lot of time in a MMORPG environment to escape the real world where he’s bullied constantly until he is approached by a popular upperclassman who gives him a program that allows him to accelerate his world. The first two episodes pulled me right in and I am looking forward to following this series. I think it may be ok for kids to watch (there have been like…maybe 3 or 4 instances so far of swear words or a middle finger, but they have been bleeped/blurred out).

Next up was Medaka Box, which is about a student class president who sets up a suggestion box and wants to fulfil all of the suggestions submitted. Although it is an interesting and is pretty funny, the fan service can get a bit too much. I will try to give it another try next week when the new episode comes out, though.

We then ended the night with Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, which was another surprise winner. M and I had read the description and were kind of not interested in it. After the first episode (they are on Crunchy Roll, by the way), though, they have definitely got me reconsidering this. So far, it’s about a group of kids who formed a paranormal activity club at their school. One of the members, a young boy, is being followed by the ghost of a young girl who was left to die in the old school building. Depending on what you do and do not allow your kids to watch, it may be ok. There is a scene where the boy and the ghost are in a dumbwaiter and he touches her boobs (you don’t see him doing it, but, the dialogue is a little suggestive in this scene). Otherwise, it has been a really fun (and funny) and might be ok.

Well, that was all that we watched this week. I can already say that if you’re ok with your spawn watching action-type animes, that you will definitely want to check out the first season of Fate/Zero (prequel to the show Fate Stay Night), which is all on Crunchy Roll. Just a warning on that, though, is it can get bloody and a little gorey (it’s a fight to the death after all).

Music

The Black Keys-”Gold on the Ceiling”
Gotye-”Somebody I used to know”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-”Heads Will Roll”
Young the Giant-”My Body”

Books

Maskerade
Witches Abroad
It’s Not All About Me: The Top 10 Techniques for Building Quick Rapport With Anyone
Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide

Movies

Captain America: The First Avenger
Thor
Cowboys and Aliens
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Aliens
Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy

TV Shows (anime and American)

Black Rock Shooter (anime; finished and OAV)-Absolutely amazing anime that is by far my favorite. You have to watch the OVA (preceded the series) to understand the premise, but it is awesome and I love it.
Another (anime; finished)
Persona 4 (anime; finished)
Bakuman 2 (anime; finished)
Mirai Nikki (anime; finished)- A really good (kind of messed up) anime that keeps you on your toes. I highly recommend it.
Shakugan no Shana Final (anime; finished)-Great way to end an awesome and epic saga.

Health

• Lose at least 75 lbs by the end of the year (totally doable and will leave me at a still healthy weight): I am already at -25 and am working on the rest of it. May have to make another goal once I reach this one, though.
• Exercise regularly (weekdays; alternating between cardio and strength exercises): Exercising regularly, but I have not been doing the strength training exercises like I had wanted to. I will have to make a concentrated effort to work on this.
• Drink recommended daily amount of water every day (even the weekends, which is where I usually drop the ball). I’ve been doing really well with this and have completely eliminated soda from my diet and have been drinking tea, coffee, and water.
• Pay attention to portions: Again, I have been doing really well with this and plan to stick with it.
• Get physicals done at least twice this year: Already scheduled my first physical of the year.
• Get a cleaning at the dentist at least twice this year: Also just scheduled my first cleaning of the year.
  
• Keep up with blood work to keep OBGYN/Oncologist off my back Yeah….I should probably do that….
  
• Whiten teeth regularly: About to do my second round of whitening (four/year)
• Don’t drink soda: Mission accomplished!

Finances

• Pay off all of 2010′s medical bills by year’s end
• Put money into savings after each pay period: Starting to do this.
  
• Pay off last credit card
• Start retirement fund and put money in it monthly: Yeah…haven’t done this yet.
• Make monthly budgets and stick to them: Getting good with this one.

Social (ness? ability?)

• Update blog every week day: I need to get better about this, but have already blogged more than I did all of last year.
• Write a letter to any friend at least once a month: Done!
  
• Initiate conversations with your friends (I kinda suck at that): Doing a lot better with this.
  
• Call mom and dad at least once a week: I was doing really well with this until my new schedule at work started. Will have to get back on the ball.
  
• Visit Florida for at least a week: Done! And trying to see if I can’t make another trip.
  
• Visit with Nikita more often: Done. And I think I’ve already seen her more this past few months than I did all last year :<

Projects

• Do/make at least 1 thing a month (outside of sprite stitch challenge): I have not been doing this at all…
  
• Document (photograph) everything that I make: Will do if I make anything.
• Don’t over-commit: Mission accomplished!
  
• Do monthly sprite stitch challenges Scratched off the list because I just don’t have the time to do them.
  
• Hand make presents more often than buy them: Done this a few times already

Organization

• Find a way to organize mail and bills: Done. Getting a mail organizer once we move.
  
• Donate clothes I don’t wear at least twice a year: I have four bags of clothes that I need to drop off to the donation center.
  
• Donate books I know I won’t re-read: I also have a box of books to drop off…
  
• Find a way to organize badges, closet, make up, shoes and accessories that won’t drive the bf crazy or look tacky: Will be looking more into this once we make the move. I am leaning toward framing them.

Knowledge

• Go through electronics textbook
• Get a cert
• Do something that’s mentally challenging and not mentally challenged

Misc.

• Read at least two books a month: Up to about 4 books a month now, so I would say that this has no problem being met.
  
• Stick with the ISBC throughout the year: So far, so good!
  
• Do something good for yourself just because at least once a month: I kind of have been doing this. I skipped last month, though, since I spent time with family (even though that can arguable be considered a good thing for me).
• Have at least a monthly date night with the bf: Done!

Link to the discussion board: https://isbc.forgottensec.com/wiki/

I also wanted to post a brief reminder that this month’s book is Daemon by Daniel Suarez.

Happy reading and I look forward to discussing these books with y’all!

• Read this month’s ISBC book The discussion post and link to the new message board will be up tomorrow.
• Read 4+ other books (Finished Carpe Jugulum, Witches Abroad, Maskerade, and It’s Not All About “Me”: The Top Ten Techniques for Building Quick Rapport with Anyone)
• Put money in savings
• Keep up with blog posts while on vacation (This totally did not get accomplished. Sorry.)
• Get an average of 50,000 steps a week on the fitbit (Averaged closer to between 35-40k)
• Finish the 100 push up challenge
• Go to Dinosaur World
• Go on an airboat tour of the Everglades (This, sadly, did not happen)
• Go on a haunted tour of downtown St. Petersburg with friends
• Eat the best Cuban sandwich I can find Holy crap, mission accomplished
• Do something with Nikita for her birthday Just a quick visit, but I am planning a BFFSW day for when we are both able to.
• Go to goddaughter’s birthday party
• Do something special with goddaughter for her birthday
• Make Easter baskets for the godkids and leave them with their momma (Didn’t have the time to do this, sadly, but am going to send the kids something special)
• Prep hard drive for cousin
• Prep laptop for little sister Didn’t actually do this, but crossing it off because I found that the laptop was in too poor of a condition for me to give it to her.

All in all, not a bad month. There are more things that were left unchecked on the list than I would care for, but I’ll just have to live with it. I’m planning on doing much better this month and my goals for April are as follows:

• Send Sara a birthday present and wish her a happy birthday.
• Read the ISBC book of the month.
• Read 4+ other books
• Send godkids something special for Easter
• Send something to cuzzo for her birthday and wish her a happy birthday
• Find best apartment ever to move in to by the middle of May
• Self-appreciation day
• Get 10,000 steps daily
• Get back on track with posting every week day (less filler, too, if possible)
• Start packing and arrange for movers once best apartment ever has been found.

There is probably a whole heck of a lot more that I want to get accomplished this month, but these are the things that are standing out most in my mind. I have a few projects on the back burner as well, but I don’t really want to announce them until they are out of the planning stage and are close to happening. I will be sure to keep everyone up to date, though.

I also plan on gradually increasing my daily number of steps. According to the fitbit, I average about 4500 steps a day. This is a little less than half of what is considered the minimum number of steps that need to be taken if you live an active lifestyle (10,000). It sounds a little daunting, but I figure that with my new work schedule (8AM-7PM W-Sa) I should be able to work it out. I want to continue to do my morning hikes with Amanda on Sundays, but also want to add mini hikes on Mondays and Tuesdays. On the days that I work, I can hit the apartment’s treadmill once I clock out (the workout area isn’t open until 8AM and closes at 10PM, so I would only be able to hit it up after work). It may all sound a bit ambitious, but I am anxious and excited to see how it turns out!

So, first thing’s first. About a week before visiting home, I dodge people’s calls (mostly momma’s since she calls me the most) because I am in the process of driving myself batty over preparing for the trip and am kinda irritable. But I don’t want to be short with people, it’s just something that invariably happens before every trip because I’m stressing myself out. So I avoid phone calls that make me think about the trip because it’s additional things for me to worry myself about.

One of the things that probably make my vacation prep stressful is how I pack and plan for packing for a trip. I make a preliminary packing list a few weeks (usually 2) in advance. And then I usually plan out what I think I want to wear during the trip a week in advance and then I edit the packing list accordingly. Then a day or two before, I go through and re-create the packing list from scratch so that I can make sure that I have everything that I think I need. I pack everything that I won’t use in a carry on two days before re-check the stuff I packed the night before, and then panic the day of as I try to gather everything for my carry on.

I know that it’s extremely inefficient and stressful. But I do it. Every. Single. Time. I don’t know why I do it like this. I just do it because I think that making all those lists are helping me-and the process of making the list does help make things seem less chaotic-but I also am starting to think that it may not be the best (healthiest?) way to go about things. Recently, my Internet-based friend Bill Brenner (I hope he doesn’t mind my referring to him as that….) posted how he used to prepare for trips and how he now goes about it. He has some pretty good tips in there (only checking the bags twice and dressing for comfort) that I will try to incorporate along with keeping up doing what my other friend posted (Joe’s Rules of Air Travel).

I know that I am probably making it harder on myself than I should be, but I can’t seem to help myself. And it’s starting to kind of stress me out. So much so that it’s starting to manifest itself physically. I haven’t started nail biting again-yet-thankfully, but I’m starting to get stress headaches, increased blood pressure upset stomach and picking at my cuticles again (which is a stupid habit that I’ve done since elementary school whenever I get anxious).

So if anyone has some tips for prepping for a trip, packing, etc. (or heck, something that they do to help relieve anxiety) I am all ears and would greatly appreciate it.