Mission 2023 September

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A woman stares at a paper map. She is sitting on a suitcase. The suitcase is in the middle of a deserted country road. The woman is contemplating where she will go next.

Last year I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I conquered a few things last year, like the back yard. In 2023, I’m on a different quest.

It’s been tricky to narrow down what missions I want to make public. So in 2023 there are a few public goals, a few more secret goals, and some other odds and ends like a word for the year.

On to the 2023 missions!

Move More Sit Less

It’s September and I’m stunned…how did it get to be September already? Where did August go?

July was like a hurricane for me: I felt great and was moving and shaking and stuff. August was off to a good start but then WHAM! All of that stopped for a couple of weeks as I wasn’t feeling good. My energy is back to normal now so here we go.

I finished virtually walking around London in July and started walking around New York City with the Conqueror Virtual Challenges. Still, because I didn’t feel good, August was very slow with only 20 miles.

Yearly Goal: 320 miles (nearly double the original goal of 175 miles.) I’ve got to revamp this goal because I’m already at 310 miles for the year!
For the virtual New York City walk, I’m at 23.53 miles with 47.49 to go.
Trees plants for the year: 8

All Things Writing

Last year I finished the first draft of a novel. This year I want to finish the second draft. I also enjoyed posting twice a month here, so let’s see if I can meet or exceed that one in 2023.

Sad: There was minimal writing on personal projects and no blog posts at all.
Glad: I managed to eek out a newsletter.
Glad: My job shifted slightly so I now am writing more during work hours… work stuff, but still, it’s writing.

At least I got to go see Steel Magnolias with a friend…but that was in late July.

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never ends. And to be honest, I don’t think I’ll finish ALL of the projects. But this year, I’d like to knock a few of those things that I’ve been thinking about for a long time right off the list.

This part of the mission is more about consistently making an effort to do the things…all the things…even the little things like take that pile of things to the thrift store or break down the boxes and put them in the car and haul them off to the recycling center.

Projects? What projects? It’s time to ~~buy all the things~~ do all the things I haven’t done yet in the garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I put some wood down around the garden beds and threw a few hostas into the ground – including one called Captain Kirk. And as a Star Trek fan, I’m happy to have the Captain aboard. Does anyone know of other plants named after Star Trek things?

Secret Things

I don’t know what the next secret thing will be but boy, it’s already been an awesome year, right?

In April I was in New York City and marched in the New York City Tartan Week parade with a huge group of Bay City Roller fans.
In May I was a guest DJ on Dedication: Fans Remember The Bay City Rollers.
In August I was back in Bay City, Michigan for the weekend to meet up with friends. More on that in a post later this month.
In late September there’s another little getaway weekend planned.
Oh! Oh my! There’s already a super secret thing scheduled for next year. (And if you already KNOW what it is, please don’t give it away in the comments.)

Year In Books

This year I’m a Bookshop affiliate. Bookshop actively supports local, independent bookstores and has even given more than 80% of their profit margin to independent bookstores. I even have my own store on Bookshop! (Thank you to those who’ve bought something from Bookshop through my affiliate link!)

I’m making an effort to buy some books from Bookshop, and others from Sleepy Dog Books, my local independent bookstore.

(Disclosure: All of the links to books are Bookshop.org affiliate links. If you click through the link and finalize a purchase, I earn a commission.)

Here’s what I’ve read in the last six weeks or so…note that when I don’t feel good, I read a lot and boy, I’ve been busy reading!

Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Revelations of the Ruby Crystal by Barbara Hand Clow
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner
Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman
Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman
Darling Girl by Liz Michalski
The Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barrow
The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen
Bookish People by Susan Coll
Pink Lemonade Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
The Midcoast by Adam White
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Word of the Year

Action is the word of the year. I want to accomplish, do, go, make things happen.

Guiding Thought

As I went through the process of thinking about my mission for the year, the one thing that I kept returning to was: what was life like before the internet? Do more of that!

Forget about it. I use the internet every single day.

Quote of the Month

Did you know there is a collection of thought-provoking quotes up at the top of the blog? Once that page displays and you’ve absorbed the words, click “Next Quote” to see another and another and another.