New Year 2011

It's that time of the year again: time to look over my prior year's goals and see how I did, and set new goals for the new year.

Okay here are last year's goals:

1. Make a new budget, including debt reduction and retirement and household stuff (and stick to it, of course) 
2. Remove everything from the house that isn't mine or doesn't fit my new life and goals, and make room for DF and his things/life/goals but without sacrificing me and mine. 
3. Continue to make my home (soon to be our home, I hope) into a place of peace and joy that is as pleasant to me as a day in a resort. 
4. Continue to find and practice hobbies and interests that bring me fulfillment and pride. 
5. Make time every month for family and friends 
6. Take some time - maybe every day - to consciously relax and let things go.  
7. Schedule things more carefully so that I'm not as rushed and my time doesn't feel as limited.

And how did I do?

1. Budget: fail.  Seriously fail.  I don't even know what the budget is anymore, let alone how far off I might be.  I haven't been spending wildly, and I'm making progress (slowly) on the debt reduction, but that isn't the same as making and following a budget.
2. Clear out the crap: fail.  I spent a couple of hours getting rid of stuff, and that's all I've done.  This has got to get done!
3. Home as a resort: I actually made a little progress here.  Mostly by buying a (used) jacuzzi for the back patio.  And I've kept the bathroom fairly well decluttered.  And the diningroom stays perfect because I never use it.  The rest of the house has slid slowly into clutter and chaos.  Not terrible, but bad enough to embarrass me.
4. Hobbies: SUCCESS!  I learned about aquaponics, built a small system, and just completed my large system.  I feel a ton of pride and fulfullment here so this is a complete success to me.
5. Family and friends: So so.  Not as much time as I should have, but I do talk to my parents every week, and I take time to visit friends now and then.  And I keep up with them on Facebook.  All in all, not too bad.  If I'd done more, I'd run into problems with goal 7.
6. Relax every day: SUCCESS!  Thanks to the jacuzzi, which I get into nearly every evening, I am actually taking time to unwind regularly.  And it's wonderful.
7. Don't overschedule: SUCCESS!  I even refused all Christmas and New Year invitations so I'd have the time to myself that I need.  Not that I got as much done in that time as I'd planned, but it was MY time.  And boy do I need that.

Okay, time for the new goals for the year:

1. Budget.  Time to get back on the wagon here.  If I don't have a concrete goal there's no way to hit it.  Time to break out the YNAB again.
2. Declutter.  For this I think I need to set some simple, achievable goals.  I can do this.  And hopefully DF will have moved in by the end of the year, so I *really* need to get it done before that.
3. Get the divorce finalized.  I was hoping that with xDH wanting to file BK and not having a day job or anything to tie up all his time, that he'd actually set us the appointment to get this done.  But evidently not.  I'll just have to figure out how to take time off work and do it myself.  A good reminder in itself of why it's getting done.
4. Aquaponics.  Now that I've got the system built out there, it's time to make it work for me.  By the end of the year I want to be growing at least 50% of the veggies I eat.  Oh, and I have to figure out how to handle the fish also.
5. Housekeeping.  I let this one slide too far this year.  Time to get back on my schedule.
6. Goals.  Clearly it's not enough to *have* them, I need to be reviewing them.  I'll set up a monthly goal review, and use that time to set mini-goals for the following month so that I stay on track.  With my new Smart Phone, this will be easier to do.

Okay, time to get on it!  It's still a few days from the first of the year, and I want to have all of my systems in place when it gets here so that I'm not starting off already behind.

Happy New Year!

90-day challenge - April 23 progress to date

90-day challenge - April 23 progress to date

• Improve poker game to be profitable 2 limits higher than I currently am
• Starting point
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $639
• 4/11/2010 status
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $632
•  4/23/2010 status
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $632
• I had a few bad sessions, but that's just going to happen sometimes.  I'm definitely not going to make my monetary goals at this rate, but I think my game is improving again so I'm not going to freak out about it.  We'll look again in a few weeks.
• Complete 2 more CLEPs I don't need to study for, 1 I need a little study for
• 4/2/2010 status
• Test #1 scheduled
• Test #3 study material located and tutor found
• 4/11/2010 status
• Nothing new
• 4/23/2010 status
• Took the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP and got 77 of 80
• I'm about to go on vacation, but when I'm back I'll schedule the second test and start studying for the third.  My BFF is finishing up her math classes and has offered to loan me some of her materials and help me if I have questions, plus my neighbor is a math teacher.  So I think I'm set there.
• Completely clear enclosed patio of EVERYTHING that doesn't belong there
• 4/11/2010 status
• Scheduled friend to install accordion doors
• 4/23/2010 status
• Accordion doors and office plantation blinds installed yesterday.  Now that I *can* get into the closet to put away various office stuff, I will start getting that done.  Yeah, I didn't get very far on anything else I could have been doing.

I am nearly a month behind on two of the three areas I wanted to work on.  The first area (poker) I think I'm doing what I need to do and just need to hang in there.  The second area (schooling) I'm right on track.  The third area I've really slipped.  But the doors are on, the rain has stopped, the freezers are packed with food, and I'm about to have a week of refreshing, relaxing, rejuvenating vacation.  So I'm hoping to be fired up and kicking ass after that.

90-day challenge - April 11 progress to date

90-day challenge - April 11 progress to date

• Improve poker game to be profitable 2 limits higher than I currently am
• Starting point
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $638.93
• 4/11/2010 status
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $631.83
• I've played, I've studied, I've discussed... and I'm down $7.  Which is GREAT when I consider how far down I was at one point this week.  lol
• Complete 2 more CLEPs I don't need to study for, 1 I need a little study for
• 4/2/2010 status
• Test #1 scheduled
• Test #3 study material located and tutor found
• 4/11/2010 status
• Nothing new
• Completely clear enclosed patio of EVERYTHING that doesn't belong there
• 4/11/2010 status
• Scheduled friend to install accordion doors

While I did get a lot done this week, I didn't do much on these goals.

90-day challenge - April 2 progress to date

• Improve poker game to be profitable 2 limits higher than I currently am
• Starting point
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $638.93
• First steps
• Play 1 hour tonight  - DONE
• Play 1 hour tomorrow night  - DONE
• Review 1 hour Friday - DONE Thursday night with dad 
• Play at least 3 hours Friday - Two complete, one to do later tonight.  +$80 so far from starting point.
• Complete 2 more CLEPs I don't need to study for, 1 I need a little study for
• First steps
• Friday or Saturday morning: schedule tests #1 & #2  - DONE for now.  Scheduled #1 but will wait to schedule #2 until next month.
• Email neighbor to ask if he'll help study for #3  - DONE
• Look into links provided by L to see if this subject is covered there the way I need it to be.  - DONE
• Completely clear enclosed patio of EVERYTHING that doesn't belong there
• First steps
• Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday:
• Install accordion doors in office closet - FAIL.  I can't do this without more hands and equipment.
• Contacted another friend whose husband does handyman stuff and whose father (general contractor) owes me a favor or two.  I have high hopes there.
• Clean bookshelves and put in office closet - STILL TO DO
• If time permits, tape off garage sections for further stuff distribution.- STILL TO DO

Overall I'd say I got a lot of stuff done and I'm on track to hit at least some of my goals.  Yay!

The 90 day challenge. Ready, Set...

Background here: 90-day Challenge

This starts tomorrow.  Am I ready to hit the ground running?  I think so.  Mostly.

Immediate plan:

• Improve poker game to be profitable 2 limits higher than I currently am
• Starting point
• Playing .50/1.00
• BR = $638.93
• Assessment
• I'm playing tolerably well right now AND running well.  Obviously I can't control the second part. 
• I need to fix some serious leaks in my game
• I need to put in the time
• First steps
• Play 1 hour tonight
• Play 1 hour tomorrow night
• Review 1 hour Friday
• Play at least 3 hours Friday
• Review 1 hour Sunday
• Play at least 2 hours Sunday
• See if I can nail M's foot to the floor for an hour somewhere to get some input
• Complete 2 more CLEPs I don't need to study for, 1 I need a little study for
•  Starting point
•  Zero
• Assessment
• Ready to go on test #1 & #2
• I know teachers who would help with #3
• First steps
• Friday or Saturday morning: schedule tests #1 & #2
• Email neighbor to ask if he'll help study for #3
• Look into links provided by L to see if this subject is covered there the way I need it to be.
• Completely clear enclosed patio of EVERYTHING that doesn't belong there
• Starting point
• OMG it's a mess out there
• I've ordered and received accordion doors and plantation blinds for office
• Assessment
• I'm probably going to need some help to do some of the installation.  I've contacted and attempted to hire two people who both claim to need money and who both have the time and physical ability and both claim to want to do it.  But neither one has followed through.  And there is such a short list of people I trust to help me.  So this is going to be a problem.  Meanwhile, I'll see if I can muscle through it without even a second pair of hands to hold the stuff for me while I fasten it down.  Grrrr...
• First steps
• Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday:
• Install accordion doors in office closet
• Clean bookshelves and put in office closet
• If time permits, tape off garage sections for further stuff distribution.

90 Challenge - Breakdown

My friend Mark has posted a 90-day challenge on his blog: Mark's 90 day challenge 

 I've got a plan for mine here: The 90 day challenge

So it's time to break mine down into measurable, achievable steps:

• Improve poker game to be profitable 2 limits higher than I currently am
•  Further defined
• I am currently playing $0.50/$1.00.  
• In order to achieve my goal I have to move through $1/$2 to $2/$4.
• Moving up is a function of bankroll, which is a function of profitability.
• I have decided that I will require 500BB to move up, and 300BB to keep playing (otherwise I will move down).
• My bankroll is currently around $470 (don't have exact numbers here at work).
• I require $1,000 to move to $1/$2
• I require $2,000 to move to $2/$4
• Step goals:
• Playing $0.50/$1.00: reach $1,000 by May 1 and move up to $1/$2
• Playing $1/$2: reach $2,000 by June 15
• Have 1000 hands of $2/$4 with a net profit (no matter how small) by June 30
• Complete 2 more CLEPs I don't need to study for, 1 I need a little study for
•  Further defined
• This one I modified a bit to fit in with budget constraints.
• Step goals
• April
• Pass the Freshman College Composition CLEP
• Find appropriate study materials for College Mathematics CLEP
• May
• Pass the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP
• Read through College Mathematics study materials and be able to pass CLEP sample test
• June
• Pass the College Mathematics CLEP
• Completely clear enclosed patio of EVERYTHING that doesn't belong there
• Further defined
• This is is a combination of things that need to go to xDH, things that need to be thrown away, things that need to be donated/given away, things that need to be put away, things that need to be cleaned.  It's a 10' x 20' junk pile right now.
• Step goals
• April
• Weekend 1 (April 3&4)
• Install accordion doors in office closet
• Clean bookshelves and put in office closet
• Weekend 2 (April 10&11)
• Mark off areas of garage (with blue tape if necessary) for give away, garage storage, xDH, dump.
• Weekend 3 (April 17&18)
• Spend 2 hours (broken into sprints) moving things into their appropriate zones in the garage and house
• Weekend 4 (April 24&25)
• Spend 2 hours (broken into sprints) moving things into their appropriate zones in the garage and house
• May
• Weekends 1 & 2 - Vacation
• Weekend 3 (May 15&16)
• Spend 2 hours (broken into sprints) moving things into their appropriate zones in the garage and house
•  Weekend 4 (May 22&23)
• Spend 2 hours (broken into sprints) moving things into their appropriate zones in the garage and house - complete all relocating!
• Weekend 5 (May 29&30)
• Vacuum, dust, etc. as needed.
• June
• Give away all the give away stuff
• Either get someone to take things to the dump or call 1-800-GOT-JUNK to pick it up
• Make sure xDH picks up his stuff or drop it off at his GF's or Mom's.
• Clean patio windows and screens.
• Find appropriate furniture (do not buy it, just find it) and discuss with DF

Poker & Life: Bad Beats

For those of you who aren't poker players, I'll define a "bad beat."  A bad beat is when you do everything the right way but you get unlucky and lose anyway.  Like when there are only two cards left in the deck that can beat you, and one of them gets dealt.

This kind of thing happens pretty regularly.  After all, even if there's only a 1% chance of you losing in this situation, that's still going to happen 1 in every 100 times you're in this situation.  And in poker, when you're playing several hundred hands each time you play, every situation is going to come around eventually.

A lot of players get really mad about the bad beats.  Most of them blame their opponents for being so stupid as to get lucky and beat them.  I was listening to a series about poker and they were talking about bad beats and I realized that this isn't one of the problems I suffer from.  Yes, I don't like losing when I was ahead.  Heck, I don't like losing when I'm behind either.  Yes, I dislike having put so much money into something *and being right to do so* and then losing it all over something unlikely.  The common reaction seems to be "That's not fair!"  But I realized that isn't my reaction.  And I've been trying to figure out why.

One of the professionals (Phil Gordon, maybe?) said that most of his losses are to bad beats.  His reasoning is that it's only a bad beat if you started out ahead and then lost to bad luck.  And since he is usually only in a hand when he's ahead, it makes sense that when he loses it's usually because of a bad beat.  If he were in there with bad hands more often, he'd be losing a lot more often in "normal" ways, rather than mostly to bad luck.  That makes perfect sense to me.  So he simply accepts that he can't win every hand, and a lot of the ones he loses will be because he got unlucky.

I think that the people who think it isn't fair are the ones who don't really understand that the same unlikely loss happens to absolutely everyone who plays. Every single player. It doesn't all happen at the same time, but it does happen to everyone. Isn't that the definition of fair?  I think that's why it doesn't bother me.  It's simply a part of the game that I accept as a recurring random loss.  Bummer when it happens, but totally predictible.  NOT as in "Well I should have *known* I'd lose - it was a big pot and I should just expect to lose those."  Rather as in "That's going to happen every x hands or so, and it's a shame it coincided with this nice pot this time."

What does this have to do with regular life?

Because regular life deals out some bad beats also.  Things happen that set us back when we were doing everything right.  Someone rear ends us, or the fridge breaks, or the cat gets sick and the vet bill is big, or we trip and break an arm, or something.  And those are the littler things.  Then there are the really bad ones: serious illness, natural disasters, death, unemployment, etc.  None of them are fair... and yet, statistically speaking they're each going to hit x percent of the population and it's a BIG population.  And, again, I'm not saying I'd be happy about any of the big ones, and I'm never happy about the small ones.  But the anger, the blinding rage, the bitterness, don't change it.  They don't make it go away.  You can't get a re-deal.  All you can do is accept that it was your misfortune to get the bad beat this time, and do your best to play it out from here.

I don't mean to trivialize anyone's misfortunes.  And this isn't written about anyone except myself.  But I think it's important to find ways to absorb life's sometimes crappy deals without spending all of your future replaying a bad beat and stoking your anger over it.

I'm usually good at that in poker.  I'm even good at it in life *most* of the time.  Periodically I find myself dwelling on a bad beat and getting worked up about it.  But I'm hoping that by writing this down and thinking it through I'll be better able to remember in the future that it's just a bad beat.  They happen to everyone.  I can't change the way it played out.  I can't go back and undo anything at all.  I can't even necessarily learn what to do differently in the future, since a bad beat by definition means you weren't wrong you were just unlucky.

In fact, the only thing you CAN do, is not allow the unproductive emotions caused by the bad beat to take away your full concentration and effort from the CURRENT hand.  That one is over.  Play this one the best you can.