LTP: January Progress (?)

The girls over at Con$umer Di$obedience do a monthly round-up of their progress w/r/t their compacting goals. I committed myself to doing the same, and the note in my red Moleskine tells me it's time. So here it goes (you can find the full-ish discussion of goals and things in this post).

Goal #1: Stop buying unnecessarily. Yeah, right. At the very least, I am aware that I purchased too much stuff last month, well more than I should have. My conscience is somehow present when I'm at the checkout in the grocery store, but not at the checkout at Target. This is backwards, and stress constituted the substance of my purchases (not to be too Aristotelian about it or anything). Today AV and I made some major purges: a microwave (which nearly exploded the last time I used it), an old blender (thanks for the Magic Bullet, Mom!) and some other stuff. On some days -- like today -- I'm keenly aware of how much stuff we have, although we've done a good job of getting rid of things over the last two years or so.

For the next month or so, I think some keys to better purchasing management include the following: (1) make lists at the grocery store. This helps to avoid picking up unnecessary stuff and making additional trips for things I forgot. I think it is also somehow unconsciously satisfying to complete a list. (2) Keep buying food as locally and as in-season as possible. We live three houses from a Wild Oats market, and they're very clear about what is local. This is also an unconscious pacifier, because I feel satisfied when I've purchased fresh stuff that is local. (3) Avoid Target. The consensus over at Con$umer Di$obedience is that things from the big-box stores are cheaply made and fall apart easily. I think this is definitely true, especially with clothes and shoes. I'm just throwing good money after bad (I think) by purchasing too many clothes there.

Goal #2: Continue on the self-directed inquiry, research, and writing path. This goal has been working itself out nicely. I learned just last week that a review I wrote back in August will be published in the March 2007 issue of Teaching Philosophy. I'm also working my final paper for Film Theory into a publishable something, and I've developed a good relationship with my professor for that class. She's agreed to work with me on the thesis I'm planning to generate (and she was enthusiastic about it, too!). So far, so good. I have two or three projects in my mind -- in addition to the work I'm doing in this semester's Intro to Phenomenology class.

Goal #3: Take better care of myself. In spite of the two-week break I've recently taken from the gym (as well as recent weather-related cancellations at volleyball), I've been doing okay here. This coming week I'm planning to go to spinning twice and step class twice, so we'll see how that goes. I really like taking classes because I know that on some level everyone else is just as miserable and sweaty as I am. Also, I think the instruction in these classes at Auraria is appropriate. That helps. A recent discussion with my physician about related matters has indicated the immediate importance of regular exercise, and now the excuses are removed.

Goal #4: Reintegrate Jesus. Errr...I don't have any real reason for why this hasn't materialized yet. It's embarrassing.