Good Bye 2014 and Flowers

It is the last hour of the last day of 2014.  I've had a very hard time keeping up with these two blogs and in fact would have had trouble keeping up with one.

I completely failed to learn Greek in the last three months.  This is what's kept me from writing.  I have been studying at least a half hour a day the last three months and have learned some, but I did not study the 90 minutes to two hours a day and most importantly I did not practice live with someone.

The need is still there.  I still need to learn Greek, and fast.  I do have other responsibilities and goals, so now what I'm going to do is let this blog stop right here.  I will no longer post on this blog at all.  I will make any posts on Illini6 only.  I will push up my Greek studies to a minimum of one hour a day and I must find someone to practice with at least once a week.  I can't do anything until that's done.

Goals for 2015 include getting a different job, loosing 20 lbs (in order to keep healthy and in my current size pants), enrolling in grad school and finishing the "Hate to Say I Told You So" story on Illini6.  I'm not yet sure how these goals will all fit together, but those are what I have.

We had a few exciting things happen in 2014.

• EHL turned 18 and got her first tattoo.
• We went to our first Brazilian steak house
• EHL graduated from high school and started college.
• SEL went to two week Girl Scout camp for high ropes
• SEL applied for and made it into Extension Arts
• SEL helped me take CML back to school in Boston and 
• got to see Boston for the first time
• saw the ocean for the first time
• flew in a plane for the first time
• CML started her final year of college as an RA
• CML started playing Rugby
• I played my first Rugby game with GJL
• We saw the All Blacks vs USA Eagles in Soldier Field
• MAL and I went to a Wolves game
• MAL continued to get awards at work
• MAL traveled to many foreign countries:  UK, Italy, and Kansas
• CML saw her first ballet
• We all visited a pet shelter to view the dogs
• GAK family visited from AZ for Christmas

Travel, Goal and Answer!

MAL went to Europe last week.  Don't worry, she didn't go by boat.

Still from HPLHS's "Call of Cthulhu" off the site: Oh No Cthulhu

The answer to the last post is the fourth pen.  Lovecraft chose the most plain.  I guess he figured the more men know the worse it would be, and the more you see the worse off you are.

Anywho, I've been doing fairly well with my Greek studies.  I asked MAL how I was doing and if she noticed a difference between my efforts before and my efforts now.  She hadn't even noticed earlier efforts (except of course, when I was actually taking classes).

I've even gotten myself a Greek pen pal and a Greek facebook friend who want to help.

One Goal - Eνα Υκολ!

Clear the Decks!

I have decided that I have but one goal this year.  There is one thing I must do and in order to do it I must forsake all other goals.  There really is no other way around it.  The only way I can make the time is to drop every other goal and mostly the other things I'm doing.

Writing will have to take a back seat.

I have to keep up my exercise program because of health needs, but it is really not that time consuming and in a way it helps.  The exercise program is 90 days and I'm going to make my One Goal - Ενα Υκολ for 90 days.

In the past I've done NaNoWriMo in November.  This requires me to write for two hours a day, every day in November.  I'm going to take that (and I know I can do it because I have) and spend two hours everyday in the last three months of this year only speaking/writing Greek.

I've got a lot to do so I'd better get steaming!

Kαλό Μήνα - Goals Bad, Pens Good

Baoer courtesy of Amazon.com

I'm not doing well with my goals at all.  I've been terribly busy and overwhelmed by events.

To recap, my goals are to learn Greek and to get my NaNoWriMo novel published.  I have done nothing with my novel, The Hidden Temple to the Lost Gods.

I have been practicing my Greek, but nothing formal.

On the plus side, everybody is healthy.

I finally committed and bought ink for the fountain pen I bought at Christmas time.  I've been using my Lamy Al-Star, but that takes cartridges.  I've been wanting to try samples of bottled ink.  I got a six pack sampler of bright blue from Goulet Pens and one called 54th Massachusetts.  The ink is very nice and they came with a lovely handwritten note from the staff.

We are going to be very busy this month.  CHL and EHL will be starting school on the same day in Boston and Chicago (two cities that need no state to introduce them).  SEL is starting school the very same week.  It is going to be a fantastic juggling trick.  I'll let you know how it goes.

June 14 Review

Here's a quick recap of what's been happening since last post.

CML has been home and taking two classes in UIC so that she can graduate BU at the end of next year.

SEL, CML and I went with the CS troop to downtown Chicago on a Chocolate Tour that was very yummy.

SEL finished 7th grade.

Last week for three days MAL took CML and SEL downtown.  While MAL was at a work conference the children had the run of the Magnificent Mile.

As far as my goals.  I've been studying my Greek, but making little progress.  I have not had a lick of time to work on my book.

I'm going to try to at least make this sort of post at least once a week here, just to keep up to date.

Respectful Memorial Day

I don't want to wish a, "happy" Memorial Day since it is intended to be a day of respect, remembrance and honor for those fallen in our nation's defense as members of the armed forces.

It's been a a long time since I've posted here, and even longer since I've posted my goal progress or family matters.

CML is home from Boston.  EHL graduated from High School.  I mention these in chronological order.

MAL and I flew to Boston and drove back with our eldest on the weekend of the 10th.  It was fairly uneventful except that we had to stay overnight in her dorm and discovered a mattress that is even more painful than our own.  As an aside, MAL and I went on a sort of date to see The Amazing Spiderman 2 (least of several evils) and a dinner at the Bull and Finch (the "Cheers") pub. CML has been working there as a receptionist.

EHL graduated last weekend.  It was a grand affair in the Sears Center Arena in Hoffman Estates. Brazil Express Churrasco Grill in Schaumburg.  It was a small place in a strip mall but very good, and the service was excellent.  I would recommend it as just as good as Fogo de Chao in Chicago.  The Brazil Express will tell you it's cheaper, but I don't think by much.  Apparently now the restaurants of choice for Mundelein birthdays and events are Brazilian steakhouses.  I don't think we will completely abandon our old standbys of Bob Chin's Crab House or Tsukasa in Vernon Hills.
 Afterwards we had dinner at

As far as goals go, I've been behind in my writing because of lack of time.  It is a real lack of time and not a lack of priorities as I do not have enough actual, real time to do everything my family needs, exercise, work and get more than about 4 hours of sleep a night.  I'm really not sure how I'm going to get everything done, but something is going to have to suffer.  It is just a matter of what and how badly.

I have been studying Greek nearly every day, but it's not the kind of study that will get me forward very quickly.  I'm going to have to bite the bullet here and make some very big sacrifices as this is absolutely the highest priority.

Goal, Finally!

On the first of February this year I promised I would share my 2014 goals with you here.  I said they would be leaner and meaner, then I never came back and told you what they would be.

I'm going to rectify that right now.  I've decided that I have two goals this year.  The first is a writing goal and is being covered on Illini6.  I will get my latest novel, Hidden Temple to the Lost Gods published.

My only other goal will be to learn Greek.  I have to make all my leisure thoughts (I have no real leisure time) revolve around this and my writing goal.  This has to be my priority.

I have other things I want to get done; I have other things I have to get done; but these are my only two goals this year.

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded / Reported and Time Restricted.

• Specific:  I will be at the ILR Level 3 (Professional Working Proficiency – Can discuss a variety of topics with ease and almost completely understand what others are saying) in Modern Greek.
• Measurable:  I will take a test (TBD) and pass
• Achievable:  I can do this, other people have.  In fact I've being trying to follow the advice of several advocates who say you can become fluent in three months.
• Recorded / Reported:  That's one of the reasons for the blog.
• Time Restricted:  By the end of 2014.

One of the things that concerns me is I find it difficult to imagine it.  I can't really picture what it would be like to be fluent in any other language.  Maybe that's exactly the thing that is hanging me up.  Maybe whatever I picture is not my idea of fluent, so I fail even as I'm getting closer.

I feel if I make it a game I'll do better also.  I always feel like it's a test, a challenge, something to overcome, a destination to reach through a painful journey.  I need to learn to enjoy the journey.

This goal has been simmering for far too long.  I think it is a good indication of how crazy this year has been so far, that I haven't even been able to post my goal yet.  This is not my first time doing this, but this has been the least set in my mind.  I'm losing patients with myself.

Kαλό Μήνα, Gopher!

Okay, so it wasn't a gopher, it was a groundhog (at least the Bill Murray part was right), and I totally missed the first, and the second (which was actual Groundhog's Day).  Can you blame me though, I mean this weather, and the gopher, er groundhog says we have to have six more weeks, ugh!

I want to share with you a wrap up of my goals for 2013.  It is very late, but I've been having trouble getting my thoughts together about it, and I'm switching things up from Illini6.  Up until this year I always did my goals and New Year's Resolutions in Illini6, but this year if it isn't about writing and professional stuff it doesn't go there.

My goals for last year were discussed on Illini6 as I went along.  I went round and round, but I finalized them here.

Here is a recap, and how I did:

1. P90X - I completed this.
2. Learn Greek to level S2 or B1 - I failed
3. Quarterly Dates - I failed utterly
4. Get a New Job - Failed, but I am still employed at my current job
5. Get Girl Scout Training - done
6. Get Journey to Excellence Gold level for the Aptakisic District for which I'm District Commissioner - Silver
7. Fortnightly Chicago History podcast - canceled
8. Learn the Trees in my Neighborhood - canceled
9. Participate in an Archaeology Activity - postponed
10. Join a Club - canceled

I had realized I had bitten off more than I could or should chew about half way through the year so I canceled some things.  That was also about the time I learned that I would be going to Tanzania for a month.

You can see that I only actually accomplished two things on the list.  Of those, the P90X exercise program was a bitter win.  I often would have to take days off or heavily modify the exercises because of injuries (my joints are no longer capable of doing plyometric exercises at all).  In the end my right elbow still bothers me, and I feel like I'm less fit at this time than I was when I started the program last year.

On the plus side, I did get accepted to go to Tanzania and I spent a once in a life time month working there.  Also, I completed a novel in November.  I think Hidden Temple to the Lost Gods is my best effort so far.

So, that was 2013.  I feel in general it was a big disappointment.

I'll be back with 2014's goals.  They will be leaner, if not meaner; and I'll be wanting help from all of you to get them done.

Thanks ahead of time.

Χρόνα Πόλλα καί Καλό Μένα!

Happy New Year Everybody!  Happy First of the Month too!

I wanted to write about my goals for 2014.  I shared them in general on Illini6 but I want to keep that blog for professional items, writing in other words.  In this blog I want to keep the more personal stuff.

I think my goals for 2014 will be (in this order):

1. Learn Greek
2. Archaeology
3. Writing - this belongs squarely in Illini6 and will be covered there.
4. New Job
5. Commissioner

These aren't written as goals, but I want to go over them and write them up as legitimate goals for the year.

In general learning Greek is pretty straightforward, but I'm going to set steps, milestones and specific measurable results that will define is more precisely.

What I mean about Archaeology is I have been wanting to keep Archaeology fresh in my mind.  My BA is in Anthropology and eventually I want to go back to school and get my PhD.  Archaeology is a discipline of Anthropology.  I had originally wanted to get my degree in Marine Archaeology, with a big dive watch, awesome tan, diving on sites off the Greek islands.

I think I may have to modify that just a little bit, but I do want to stay involved and informed on the subject.

New Job is a pretty clear goal, or so it would seem so.  Again I need to set up steps, milestones and specify exactly what I mean by it (different vs new).

Commissioner really doesn't have a meaning by itself.  I am currently the District Commissioner for our local Boy Scout District (Aptakisic District of Northeastern Illinois Council).  Last year I had a goal to have our District earn a Gold level in Journey to Excellence.  We didn't make it.  I need to set goals for myself in this role of my life.  Should I carry forward my goal from last year or make a new goal?

I'm going to take the next couple of days to review and chew of these until I get my goals for 2014.

I'm also going to review what I did with my 2013 goals.  My initial feeling is that it wasn't a successful year, but I may need to take a closer look to see what positive things I have from last year, and if they outweigh the negative.

Special Report #2

I went for a walk yesterday, up the hill a bit.  After a couple of hours I got to the headquarters of the Uluguru Nature Reserves.  It was locked because it's the weekend, but I got some really nice views.  I don't know if I'll be able to make a connection here and actually go on a full hike up to the top of the mountain (they say it's an eight hour round trip hike), but at least I got up to the gate.

Everybody at home is doing okay.  I talked to them yesterday and earlier today.  They went on a campus visit to UIC and liked the place.  They must have changed the place a lot since I went there for several painful trimesters.

I'm still working on my Swahili.  I am making very slow progress, and sometimes I accidentally throw in some Greek.  It is kind of too bad that I probably won't get to use it again.

My other personal goals are Quarterly Dates, New Job and Gold Award for the BSA district for which I'm the District Commissioner.

Working on my new job, well, I'm looking into applying to an on-line grad school.  We'll see how we swing that.  I'm thinking of something that could translate into work use.

I've tried to get in touch with the Tanzania Scout Association (TSA) with no success so far.  I have been in communication with the Scouts back home and trying to do what I can to help them get along without me.

My computer broke down and my internet connection is non-existent during the work day.  It's been a bit of a struggle, but I can Skype which is a great comfort, being able to see my lovelies at home.

Special Report #1

Everybody is doing okay.  I talked to them yesterday.  I am in Tanzania right now for a while.

I'm now working on my Swahili.  I don't know if it is working better or worse than Greek, but I am certainly immersed.  I'm in a town called Morogoro (you can look it up on Google Maps).  I've included a pic of the mountains nearby.

My other personal goals are Quarterly Dates, New Job and Gold Award for the BSA district for which I'm the District Commissioner.

We are absolutely determined to have a very serious date when I get back.  I'm looking forward to that.

Working on my new job is on hold for the time being.

I'm going to try to get in touch with the Scouts here in Tanzania.  They are coed and called the Tanzanian Scout Association.

My internet connectivity has been building up and I am getting in a better rhythm.  I hope to be able to make more regular posts.

End of Summer and a Goal Report

Summer ended this week for us in Mundelein.  School started for the middle school and high school on last Wednesday.

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday we got new siding all around our house.  The new siding is vinyl and insulated.  Let's hope it helps with those bills.

I spent the day at my in-laws while they got new gutters installed.  It was nice.  I got fed pretty well.  I asked my mother-in-law to call me every day and talk Greek to me.  I don't know, but I think it might help.

My goal report is thus:

1. Learn Greek - as I said, I spent the day with my in-laws and asked for daily calls.  I still need to work harder on it though.
2. Gold JtE - we had our first Commissioner meeting on Tuesday.  We are closer than we were last year at this time.  It is still looking good.
3. New Job - no change and NSTR (nothing significant to report)
4. Quarterly Dates - we're making plans to take Teeny back to Boston and we are going to drive back alone, with a hotel stop in the middle.

I have no "official" writing goals this year, but what writing I'm working on and what I've done will be reported on Illini6.

Welcome Back - Grand Re-Opening

I've decided something.  I need to make Illini6 my "Professional" blog.  I need to make that a website I can point strangers to and show off my writing work.  That needs to be the showcase of my writing brand with stories, essays, world building, and excerpt of finished works.  I will put professional goals and plans up there, but not personal ones.

I'm going to be using this blog more extensively and focused on personal as well as family matters.  Obviously I don't have to regurgitate things that are already on the web through facebook etc. but I can put goals, feelings, family events and such.

One thing I won't be doing here is using the flower code names anymore.  That was too cumbersome and kept me from posting more.  I'll be using first names and initials to keep the full and real names off the web as much as I can.

As part of re-opening I'm going to restate my personal goals here (I'll be tracking them here from now on).

By the end of the year I will:

1. Learn Greek - be able to hold a conversation in Greek
2. Guide the Aptakisic District Commissioner staff in achieving a Gold level on the Journey to Excellence program
3. Get a New Job
4. Go on Quarterly Dates

Also, not related to goals, I am going to be going to Tanzania as a volunteer mentor from work.  I'm going to hold off on some of the details for now, but I will be helping the technicians in a regional blood diagnostics lab to learn to use the computer.

Christina just successfully completed LTC for ROTC and we are very proud of her.  I'm sure most of you have seen her pictures on her facebook page / wall / thingie.