Progress Update: September, 2012

Goal #1 Visit 50 states (in progress)

2012_09_11_165103
Kathryn Deiss, Michael Stephens, me, and Jenny Levine all loved R2!

I went to Telluride, Colorado for the Risk and Reward Library Conference (aka R2 Conference), which was hands down the best library conference I’ve ever attended. The entire conference challenged convention library thinking. Everything was planned and executed meticulously. It was such an exciting experience. However, while I was intrigued  when I first learned of the conference,  I actually spent quite a bit of time debating whether I should go or not because it would be an expensive trip (and Telluride isn’t exactly easy to get to). What pushed me over the edge was this goal #1 of my 45 things list. I had never been to Colorado before, and that did it. I was going! And I am so glad I drove 14hrs there (and 14 hrs back, in pouring rain no less!). Not only did I get so inspired by the ground breaking conference, I got to know so many cool people!

After checking off Colorado, I now have 15 states left to visit. Not sure which state I will get to go next though.

  • Alaska
  • Delaware
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Goal #10 Try vegetarianism for a month (in progress)

I’m still in preparation stage for this goal. Since as long as I can remember, a meal is not a complete meal unless it has some meat. And I love meat. So when I first set this goal, I thought it’s going to be a tough one. But as I gradually become more health conscious, this doesn’t seem as daunting as it once did. My plan is to do this in the summer next year.

I have been learning some new veggie recipes. And now I don’t absolutely need to eat meat for every single meal. Here are some of the veggie dishes I made in September:

Whole grain shell pasta with spinach and cherry tomatoes.

Apart from the Dutch oven, the immersion blender is my favorite kitchen purchase. I puree at every opportunity, and make a lot of soups now. 🙂

Curried Cauliflower and Carrot Soup

What I’d like to do is to learn how to cook more varieties of vegetables. It’s overwhelming to see so many different kinds of veggies that I have no idea what to do with!

Goal #12 Earn an additional graduate degree (in progress)

I am currently pursuing a PhD in Human Nutrition with an emphasis on Sensory Analysis and Consumer Evaluation at Kansas State University. Here is a description of the programs:

“Sensory Analysis & Consumer Behavior emphasizes issues affecting eating and other consumer product behaviors, and understanding methods for evaluating products from a sensory perspective. Students will integrate food science, physiology, psychology, business, and statistics to help provide insight into consumers’ needs and wants for products, services, and information that enhances their lives.”

I’m taking 1 -2 courses per semester while I work full time. It’s a balancing act, but I’m enjoying it. Expected completion date: 2016 Spring. A lot way to go…

Goal #14 Give a kickass presentation (in progress)

At the 2nd National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) at Kansas City, I co-presented at a pre-conference workshop with 2 very well-established library deans, past-ALA President Camila Alire, and Dean of Marquette Library, Janice Welburn. It was a great experience to work with two such respected leaders of my profession.

I was ecstatic to learn that many people seemed to like our workshop and my presentation a lot, and the reviews I heard from other people were excellent. However, I’m using the best Ted Talks as my benchmark  for “kickass presentations” (so I’m setting the bar extremely high). With that in mind, there is obviously still plenty of room for improvement.  Also I’m keeping this item on the list because I feel that I need to give a solo “kickass presentation”.

Yay! Thank you, friends!

Goal #15 Become an expert in multiple disciplines – Publish articles or present at conferences in 5 different fields (in progress)

I have presented on film studies, library science and popular culture at conferences in the last few years (I’m still on the fence about pop culture counting as a “discipline”. Well, I supposed it could be considered cultural studies). In any case, I am now working on developing a sensory research project. The plan is to have something to present at next year Pangborn Conference in Rio, Brazil! This also ties in with my goal #4 See a football match at Estádio do Maracanã, Rio. I really hope the stadium renovation will be done by then.

Goal #18 Learn a new word every week and use that word at least 5 times that week (on-going)

1. Fabulist – 1. a person who invents or relates fables. 2.a liar.

Usage highlight: “I’m thinking about writing a screenplay called Fabulist Fabulist. It would be perfect for Jim Carey”.

2. Bathetic – displaying or characterized by bathos.

3. Harridan – a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew.

4. Ataraxia – a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety;tranquillity.

Goal #23 Conquer the fear of doing a handstand

September 26. 5:30am workout. Smiling upside down for the camera. 🙂

I have been to the Thursday Handstand/Inversion/Arm Balance workshop at Orange Sky Yoga 3 times now. The first session was all handstands. I was quite determined and made some progress. I managed to get upside down against the wall a few times.

The 2nd session also focused on handstand, but for some reason, the fear of hurting my shoulders kept creeping back, and I regressed. I couldn’t even jump up against the wall the entire time. Every time I tried to jump up, my shoulders would resist and hunch. It was very frustrating.

The 3rd one I went to was focused on Pincha Mayurasana (forearm balance), which is a difficult pose. Most people find it more difficult than handstand, but I am actually less fearful of it. But my goal isn’t to do pincha (damn it!), but handstand.

I began to incorporate some inversion practice into my Mon/Wed/Fri 5:30am workouts, and noticed some tiny progress. At least my shoulders can occasionally be relaxed enough to let my body rotate up. I can get some air time every once in a while, and getting my legs up against the wall is much easier now.

It is going to be a long process before I can do it in the middle of the room. I am still not confident doing headstand away from the wall. Baby steps at the moment.

Goal #36 Achieve and maintain ideal weight (in progress)

My starting weight: 243 lbs (on December 27, 2011).

Target weight: 184 lbs.

Current weight: 213 lbs (on September, 29, 2012)

Weight lost: 30 lbs.

I still have 29 more pounds to go before reaching my target weight, but I’m officially more than half way there!

Goal #37 Be able to do splits (in progress)

Hanumanasana on 9/26/2012. Progress is very slow.

Goal #42 Value chance encounters and take initiatives to get to know interesting people (on-going)

I met many awesome people at the R-Squared Conference and at JCLC. And I’m really glad I got to spend some time and got to know Michael Stephens, Jenny Levine in Telluride, and Azusa Tanaka in Kansas City. All very intriguing people that I’d love to stay in touch with.

with Azusa, who also has her own 50 states goal, at Woodyard BBQ. My favorite BBQ place in Kansas City.

 

Goal #44 Have my portrait painted (in progress)

I don’t think this counts. 🙂

5 Replies to “Progress Update: September, 2012”

  1. Pretty impressive progress, Leo! I’m glad you had a positive experience going vegetarian for a month. Can I get the curried cauliflower soup recipe from you, by the way? Looks delicious!

    The handstand and splits are tough, tough stuff, but you’ll get there. I recently gave myself a goal of accomplishing full Vasisthasana (side plank) where you raise your top leg. Seems far off, now, but practice, practice!

  2. WHERE is the ‘follow’ option on blogger??

    I’:m a wp person and can’t find where to click to follow your great blog.
    PS Jennifer Snoek-Brown’s post sent me to you.

  3. @Rebecca I’m actually still in the prep stage of my “vegetarianism for a month” thing. However, I’m liking the idea more and more. It’s really expanding my culinary horizon! The full Vasisthasana is like an impossible pose for me. But yes, practice, practice. It’s really amazing to notice the little, gradual improvement. So satisfying! If you’re going to Midwinter in Seattle, we should totally try a yoga studio there.

    @EJ Thank you so much for reading my blog! I believe you can follow the blog by clicking on the “Posts” link at the top right hand corner of the page (next to the “Comments” link). Please let me know if that works for you. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, you can also “like” this page or follow the tweets. Those links are on the homepage (on the right hand side of the page).

  4. Hi Leo, love the blog, and it is so inspiring to me that you have created this fantastic list! It has been great to meet you and I’ve learnt so much from meeting you in Tulum…I am about to start writing up my 40 things to do before I’m 40…I’ll keep you posted xxx

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