Mission 2023

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

I crushed this mission in April!!! So much so that after I came home from NYC, I have deliberately taken it easy.

In April I wrapped up The Cotswold Way Conqueror Virtual Challenges and started the Rome challenge. I finished Rome at the very beginning of May and am already working on Paris. There was even that one day in New York where I walked darn close to six miles.

I also increased my yearly goal to 320 miles, nearly double my original goal of 175 miles! And I’ve saved four trees this year because of all this walking.

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.

• I wrote a couple posts in April: Mission 2023 April and BCR Fan Events and the NYC Gathering.
• I published another newsletter in April – yeah me!

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. 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.

Not much activity on this one in April. The weather was more like March…sigh.

My niece, Chloe, on the other hand, finished her senior art project at Central Michigan University and was part of an exhibit on campus.

Secret Things

There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen, and this is the month that one of the secret things happens:

I march in the New York City Tartan Week parade with a huge group from Bay City Rollers Fan Events!!!!!! And I wrote three blog posts about the experience:

• Bay City Rollers Fan Events and the NYC Gathering
• NYC Tartan Week Parade 2023
• All The Other Things I Did in NYC

I’m not done with all things Bay City Rollers yet this year, either.

This FRIDAY, MAY 12, I am the GUEST DJ on the BCR Fan Events radio show on TD1Radio out of Scotland!!!!

• Dedication: Fans Remember The Bay City Rollers is a weekly show that runs from 7p-11p Eastern.
• The first two hours of the show are listener requests. The third hour is cover songs. And the fourth and final hour is the guest DJ spot.
• That means you can hear me from 10p-11p.
• Listen Live at TD1Radio.scot.
• Join the live listening party group on Facebook.
• There will be a recording available, and I have a post ready to roll about the experience, too.

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!

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 read in February and March:

• A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
• The House Witch by Delemhach
• Bay City Babylon: The Unbelievable But True Story of the Bay City Rollers by Wayne Coy
• Hang Up Your Hang Ups: A Radical Guide to Healing Yourself Through Personal Style by Payton Dale
• Haters by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

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!

I am so failing with this that it’s kind of funny. The internet is soooooo pervasive in my life. I can remember life before the internet, but it’s hard to remember to “do more” of life before the internet when there is internet. It’s like the chicken and the egg, the chicken and the egg!

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.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Martin Luther King, Jr.s

Your Turn

Tell me how your “missions” are going this year. Read any good books lately?

In 2022 I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I supposed 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 this year’s mission!

Move More Sit Less

I sit all day for work, then I stand and make dinner. Then I sit to eat dinner and I sit to read books. And sometimes I putter around my yard and call it gardening, but most of the time I sit.

I March I walked more than 80,000 steps. That translates into a wee bit over 33 miles – and that’s an amazing thing given that I started the year at nothing.

I’m writing this on April 2 and am still working on the Conqueror Virtual Challenges. The Cotswold Way challenge is 97 miles. I thought it would take me three months to finish, but that’s just not the case. I started this one on February 6 and will definitely finish it sometime this week or early next week.

I seriously thought it would take me all year to finish 175 miles. But here it is APRIL and I’m almost done with the three I started with in January. So I signed up for another three challenges: Rome, Paris, and London. I really need to increase my year-long goal of 175 miles, don’t I?

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.

• I wrote two posts in March: Mission 2023 March and The Ultimate List of Goodreads Alternatives for 2023.
• I published another brief newsletter in March – yeah me!

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. 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.

Not much activity on this one in March. But spring is just getting started, right?

Secret Things

There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen, and this is the month that one of the secret things happens:

I’m marching in the New York City Tartan Week parade with a huge group from Bay City Rollers Fan Events!!!!!!

Tartan Week celebrates Scottish culture and heritage and the whole week culminates with a parade up Sixth Avenue.

The parade begins at 2pm on Saturday, April 15. Last year I watched live streams on YouTube, so I’ll bet you can find one or two if you search for Tartan Week parade live stream.

Bay City Rollers Fan Events encouraged us to wear “RollerGear” – that iconic tartan-trimmed look that the Rollers had. I’m diverting from that a bit, but still wearing a ton of tartan. Here’s a sneak peak at the main components of my parade outfit featuring the Wallace “Red Modern” tartan.

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!

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 read in February and March:

• The Dream Keeper’s Daughter by Emily Colin
• Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
• The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
• The Unwilling by Kelly Braffert

Word of the Year

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

March was not a “make things happen” kind of month. It’s a “darn it all my allergies are here so I can’t work outside” and a “is that snow?” kind of month. Once the leaves are out on the trees, my allergies will be done and I shall make ore things happen. No, really, I will.

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!

That did not happen at all in March. Nope, not one bit. I used the internet a LOT. I bought stuff for my upcoming trip. I surfed all sorts of websites. Star Trek: Picard started and I will not miss an episode. And then I just happened to start re-watching Babylon 5 on Tubi. Sigh.

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.

Once she told me she was an ocean person and when she combed her fingers through the seaweed she heard the songs of the mermaids and it was easy to believe all the old stories.

Brian Andreas

Your Turn

Tell me how your “missions” are going this year. Read any good books lately?

In 2022 I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I supposed 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 this year’s mission!

Move More Sit Less

I sit all day for work, then I stand and make dinner. Then I sit to eat dinner and I sit to read books. And sometimes I putter around my yard and call it gardening, but most of the time I sit.

In January I moved more and sat less. The FitBit tells me:

• 3,329 average steps walked per day.
• 214,937 lifetime steps since starting to use the FitBit in January.
• 144.32 lifetime miles since starting to use the FitBit in January
• Best day? More than 6,000 steps!

I finished another of the Conqueror Virtual Challenges and am well on my way to exceeding my year-long goal of 175 miles.

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.

• That second draft is starting to pester me, so I’ve started to take notes. The thing is warping into something completely different than the first draft. Sigh. That’s how writing works.
• I wrote two posts in February: Mission 2023 February and All About The Conqueror Virtual Challenges.
• I published another brief newsletter in February. Keeping my fingers crossed I can do that every month this year. It always includes something that is not on this blog. Jump on that mailing list.

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. 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.

Not much activity on this one in February. It was cold and snowy and dark. Sigh.

Secret Things

There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen. I mean, one of them is definitely going to happen in April.

The plane tickets and hotel are already booked. I’m thinking about what to do while in that city, and what to wear in the parade (for real.)

Another “secret thing” also in the works for after April!

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!

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.)

In February I read

• Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
• A Place in the Country by Laura Shaine Cunningham
• Help for the Haunted by John Searles

Word of the Year

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

That’s not what February was about at all, or maybe it was just a quieter “make things happen.” I took myself out for tea and treats, bought some new shoes. I saw two movies at the local theater.

So February was small, quiet action befitting a small, quiet month.

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!

In February, I used the internet to buy things, including birthday gifts for myself. You couldn’t have done that before the internet; you would have needed a paper catalog. Or you would have had to literally walk into a store and hope they had what you were looking for. I miss those days of wandering around stores searching for something unknown…

I still find that mystery in thrift stores, which I did hit during February. And I walked outside a few times with a friend. I read books… physical books, not digital books. I cooked not digital food…but from the digital Hello Fresh service (I’ve had at least 70 weeks of deliveries at this point.)

It’s not easy doing more of “life before the internet” when you’re whole life is now tied to the internet in one way or another. How about you?

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.

“Every person shapes and colors the world in which he lives by the things he builds into his character. It is a different world for each of us. I mean this very literally. Whatever controls the kind of person we are inside determines also the kind of world we are to live in. If we ourselves can control and guide what we are within, we shall have the power of making our own environment. In a very real sense, each person IS his own environment.”

Richard Heinemann

Your Turn

Tell me how your “missions” are going this year. Read any good books lately?

In 2022 I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I supposed 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 this year’s mission!

Move More Sit Less

I sit all day for work, then I stand and make dinner. Then I sit to eat dinner and I sit to read books. And sometimes I putter around my yard and call it gardening, but most of the time I sit.

In January I moved more and sat less. The FitBit Charge tells me that over the last twenty-eight days I walked a minimum of 3000 steps per day. My average number of steps was 3,472.

The most steps I’ve walked was 6,134. The “lifetime” number of steps walked since I bought the FitBit in January is 124,600.

Given that I started January with no idea how much I did or did not move, I’m delighted!

Last month said that I’d signed up for three different Conqueror Virtual Challenges on a total whim; I’ll tell you more about how the virtual challenges work later this month. Essentially to “win” the year-long event, I have 175 miles in those three different challenges.

The good news?? I finished one of those challenges and am nearly done with challenge number two!

All this movement will surely help when I get on the plane for a top secret thingie happening in April.

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.

• That second draft is starting to pester me, so I’ve started to take notes. The thing is warping into something completely different than the first draft. Sigh. That’s how writing works.
• I did add two posts in January: Mission 2023 and I announced that I’m an affiliate at Bookshop in Year In Books 2023
• I published my first newsletter in years. It included a couple of things that are not on this blog, and it’s where I announced the Bookshop affiliation. Not a subscriber? Jump on that mailing list.

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. 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.

In January I got a load of stuff taken to the thrift store. I’ve been creating another pile of things for yet another load.

Secret Things

There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen. I mean, one of them is definitely going to happen in April.

The plane tickets and hotel are already booked. I’m thinking about what to do while in that city, and what to wear in the parade (for real.)

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!

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.)

In January I read

• Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
• The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
• The Cartographers by Pen Shepherd. My favorite so far: maps, murders, and mysteries!
• Flying Solo by Linda Holmes

Word of the Year

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

That’s definitely how January felt.

To keep taking action, I ask myself what little tiny baby step can I take to move forward.

That seems to work… otherwise I get overwhelmed with “how can I make this major thing happen right now.”

Baby steps are where the action is for me!

How do you keep moving forward? What little tricks do you use?

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!

I remember life before the internet. It was so very, very different, and more simple. But with AI coming on full force (have you heard about the capabilities of ChatGPT?) it seems like the time to be less on a computer and more, well, away from the computer.

Before the internet I was outside more. So in January, I actually got outside and walked at a nearby park. I walked with a friend outside once a week, too.

Just For Fun: Colorwise.Me

Back in the 80s the Color Me Beautiful book was all the rage. I learned that – in that color system – I am considered a “winter.” Being a winter means I look best in deep jewel tones, and it’s why I wear so much black, navy, and red.

In January I stumbled upon Colorwise.me which analyzes your personal colors.

You take a selfie either by a window or outside. Then upload to the site and it tells you your best colors. You may have to do it a couple of times: it initially thought I was a Spring.

Eventually it confirmed that I’m a deep winter and spit out recommended colors — my favorites 🙂

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.

“Watch out for the intellect, because it knows so much it knows nothing and leaves you hanging upside down, mouthing knowledge as your heart falls out of your mouth.”

Anne Sexton

Your Turn

Tell me how your “missions” are going this year. Read any good books lately?

A year ago, I set forth on a quest, a journey, a mission: that for which I am destined. I supposed 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 this year, 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 this year’s mission!

Move More Sit Less

I sit all day for work, then I stand and make dinner. Then I sit to eat dinner and I sit to read books. And sometimes I putter around my yard and call it gardening, but most of the time I sit.

This year I will move more and sit less. I got myself a FitBit Charge 5 and -to keep myself motivated – I signed up for three different Conqueror Virtual Challenges on a total whim. If I’m going to complete all 175 miles of these challenges by the end of the year, I’d better get moving!

All Things Writing

Last year I managed to finish 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.

Finish All The Projects

If you’ve owned a home, you know that the list of projects never end. 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 mission has things like paint the bathroom, take the cardboard boxes in the garage to the recycling center, garage, work on Wallace genealogy, replace the shade in the kitchen window, and more.

Where I’ll find the time to finish the projects between working full time and writing a second draft and walking 175 miles and doing these secret things, I don’t know. But I sure would like to finish some of these projects.

Secret Things

There are a handful of other things I’m hoping will happen. I mean, one of them is definitely going to happen in April, but the others – I’m not too sure. So for right now, these stay secret.

Year In Books

I have enjoyed doing the Good Reads Reading Challenges, but this year, I just want to take it easy and report to you all what I’m reading. More on this in another post later this month.

Word of the Year

Action is the word of the year. I want to accomplish, do, go, make things happen. At least I want to do those things here on December 31, 2022. We’ll see how I feel in a few months on all that action.

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!

I remember life before the internet. It was so very, very different, and more simple. But with AI coming on full force (have you heard about the capabilities of ChatGPT?) it seems like the time to be less on a computer and more, well, away from the computer.

Of course, I’m also the person who will be writing the second draft of a novel this year, working in a tech job, and using apps to track walking 175 miles…

Quote of the Year

The important thing is to tell yourself a life story in which you, the hero, are primarily a problem solver rather than a helpless victim. This is well within your power, whatever fate might have dealt you.”

Martha Beck

Have You Hear of The 20 Things 23 Times Challenge?

I only just learned about this “challenge” today – January 1, 2023. I’m adding it here to remind myself that there are other ways to do yearly missions. Here’s how this works:

• Make a list of 20 things you want to do.
• Do those things 23 times.
• Think of things like make 23 new recipes, visit 23 new places in my city, write 23 poems, listen to 23 new podcasts, read 23 novels, try 23 new things, write 23 letters, bake 23 loaves of bread, play the piano 23 times, contact 23 genealogy DNA matches, eat at 23 new restaurants, say one kind thing to 23 strangers, 23 new drawings, and so on.
• Next year make it 20 things 24 times.
• And carry on through the years: 20 things 25 times, 20 things 26 times, 20 things 27 times.

Can’t say I’ll be doing 20 things 23 time times this year, but I love the idea and wanted to share.

Your Turn

What’s on your mission list this year?