to do in oh nine: may

monthly inventory.

☆2008 leftovers☆

1 1-stop biting my nails
didn't go as well as i had hoped. study stress? idle hands? even once i decide to get them looking nice, it's not an overnight deal. they are nice now though...hopefully i can keep it that way.

6 32-read more - read one book a month (4/12)
the one book i really want to read is still checked out from the library. i took out the time traveler's wife in japanese, but, well, i didn't get very far.

☆habits☆

1 stick with a face skin care routine
did pretty well. again, it doesn't seem to matter; my face still breaks out when it wants. :(

2 eat breakfast before work
i had eggs and toast, often with yogurt or some kind of fruit almost everyday.

3 make a japanese study schedule and stick to it
i stuck with it, or worked ahead, for the first two weeks. then i hit a wall of complete unmotivation. i've nearly given up on straight memorization of 1kyu kanji, but i bought a bunch of reading practice books and making my way through them. i try to do at least something every day, but i can't say i've been very strict about that. and i need to at least attempt the kanji though i think. :/

4 hoop (or do some kind of exercise) three times a week, even for just 10 minutes
exercise? what's that? :/

☆one time deals☆

1 clean out, organize and update blogroll/favorites/bookmarks folders
i finally got all my bookmarks into google reader. i still need to organize the actually bookmark folder so when i skip using reader, i can still find everything i'm looking for and also for those non-blog-like bookmarks i've got. also need to folder-ize my reader for easy access to everything. but, a big first step on this one.

4 work on mt fuji again
i called my boss and the official "climbing season" open date hasn't been decided (there's still tons of snow) but, tentatively, i will be heading up on the morning of the 8th or 9th of july.

5 find a new job
i got a kind of part time job working for a company that i'd eventually like to work for full time. right now, the one guy covering all the company's japan accounts is enough. hopefully another position will become needed in the next six months/year and my part time work will leave me first in line for it.

10 organize my magazine clippings/etc. (make an inspiration board, or two!)
i got rid of a HUGE stack of magazines this month. i pulled out any articles/clippings/fashion and design ideas but have yet to get them on a board. baby steps here.

☆multiple time deals☆

1 apartment cleaning (including but not limited to toilet room, bath room, senmenjo, stovetop, kitchen cabinets, kitchen sink, kitchen pantry "area", desk, tv area, bookshelf, oshiire, other bedroom closet space, bedroom cabinet, and balcony)
i rearranged my room mid-month and vacuumed places that hadn't been exposed in what was probably months! ha. i also bought a simple wooden desk for my sewing machine in my bedroom and the low "table" i was using got added to my tv stand/bookself, which got a facelift. my kitchen sink got a couple good cleanings but still smells funny. i also got rid of magazines, some of the bags in my "bag of bags" that was overflowing, and some cardboard on recycling day. things are finally starting to have proper homes and my apartment is beginning to look semi presentable.

2 make 6 things on my sewing machine (5.5/6)
1) きんちゃく
2) pinwheel pillow
3) charm quilt (in progress)
4) intial bag
5) cherry blossom baby messenger bag
6) pretty panel curtain for my shower doorway

3 have a "home party" at least 2 times
planning a joint birthday party for two of my guy friends in the middle of june. and a matsuri party at the beginning of july (after my test but before fuji).

4 learn 5 "japanese" recipes
i found english japanese cooking books at the library...this one is bound to happen soon!

5 call home once a month (2/12)
i made a super brief call for mother's day and then talked to my dad for 30 minutes the next day.

for next month:
○ check out a japanese cook book from the library and make ONE recipe from it.
○ do a serious purging of clothes in the closet AND box up winter clothes.
○ clean my balcony. (what do you do in tokyo with dirt you don't want??)
○ make an inspiration board.