Linux Archives | Julie A. Wallace

In 2022, I’m combining lessons from the heart with some –cough cough – goals.

But I don’t like the word goals, so it’s a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined.

So how was January?

January’s Tarot Card

I did a tarot spread for the full year and January’s card was Magic Stream. The card reminded me that collective awareness can lead to great inspiration. It’s encouraged me to let it flow – and especially to not try to force inspiration to happen. I definitely was “hibernating” in January, hunkering down at home, just like many of the plants in my back yard.

My office looks out onto that snow-covered back yard of this property. When I look out that window, I think of all of the flowers that are sound asleep, with one day just like the other, awaiting the warmth of the spring sun.

The same is true for me. January was hibernating, hunkering down, with the days flowing into one another. And even in all the quiet that is January, I got stuff done.

Write 250 words a day, five days a week

The fact that I managed to schedule four posts tells you I wrote more than 250 words a day, five days a week. Unfortunately, most of those words were written in December 2021.

I’m having a hard time tracking and quantifying this goal. For example, if I don’t write in something that counts words, I don’t know how many words I wrote.
Which makes me think I need to tweak this mission a bit.
Perhaps 250 words a day five days a week on a specific project?
What should I do here? Any suggestions?

Revamp Wordstorm Casserole poetry book

I’m anticipating working on this in the spring.
You didn’t know I have a poetry book?

Post twice a month on this website.

Year end goal is 24 posts. A monthly “mission” check in is 12 of those posts!

Look at me go! There were FOUR posts in January – only twenty more to go to meet my year-end goal. Those posts were:
Mission 2022
Writual Planner
Transcending the Animal
The Rona Visit

DeGoogle, deApple, deMicrosoft – embrace Linux!

Why? Because Google, Apple, and Microsoft all track your every move online. Google, for example, “allows you to freely use their services so they can track you and sell your data to advertisers.”
Linus is an alternative operating system, like Windows. You can change your Windows computer to a Linux computer; I wouldn’t recommend trying that unless you’re super comfy with computers.
For example, I tried to transform a computer because I ran into a funky technical thing. Even after trying multiple registry edits and consulting a group online for help, I caved and bought a refurbished Dell computer loaded with Linux Mint Cinnamon. It was ready to go, out of the box, just like any Windows or Mac machine would be. I did this in October and then Rona came to visit. 🙁
In January I ran updates on that computer, and installed some software that I’m familiar with like the Brave browser and LibreOffice. I also started transferring my personal computer stuff onto this Linux machine.
In late 2021, I changed my personal email account to MailFence; Tutanota and ProtonMail are alternatives, too.
For searches, I recommend DuckDuckGo; I’ve been using it for at least a year now.
For browser alternatives to Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, I have been using Brave; alternatives are Vivalidi and Tor.

Have fun

It’s really too cold to think about having fun…my main task this month was to stay warm – lol. No, seriously, as I write this post, it’s 19 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the ground is snow covered. Brrrr.
I did try a bunch of new HelloFresh recipes. Did you know that you can get to the recipes even without receiving a box? You sure can. This month I tried Creamy Lemon Butter Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomato Spaghetti, and Ricotta Tomato Ravioli with Toasted Panko. I’m really looking forward to my next shipment of Pub-Style Shepherd’s Pie.
I bought myself some spiffy new shoes from Alegria and a new pair of Birkenstock slippers.
I had dinner at an actual restaurant. I hadn’t done that in…three months maybe?
I got a good bill of health from a dentist and a doctor. Doc says I need to lower my cholesterol – any tips?
I had two craniosacral massages. I get massages about every other week and LOVE them.

Big secret goal #1.

While I wrote this month, I didn’t track the number of words and only some of those written words apply to big secret goal #1. Sigh.

Big secret goal #2.

This goal involves hiring pros. I have a document and Pinterest board ready to share with them.

What I’m Reading

On GoodReads, I have a 2022 Reading Challenge goal of at least 50 books. It’s only one month into the year and I’m ahead of schedule by two books, but then again, I read more in the winter than I do in the summer. Here’s what I’ve read so far:

The Fire Night by Teresa Messineo
Wither by Lauren DeStafano (Book 1 in The Chemical Garden series)
Take the Long Path by Joan de Hamel
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
The Dressmaker’s Secret by Rosalie Ham
D (A Tale of Two Worlds): A Novel by Michel Faber
There are two ways to read The Crossing by Alex Landragin. I just finished The Baroness sequence of Crossings by Alex Landragin. I’ll read it cover-to-cover, then add it to GoodReads.