December & January Summary (Month 12 and the Final Month of Quests) - Work Complete!

Today I turned 30!

My "quest" to accomplish thirty things for myself before turning thirty has been completed, officially, and I'm pretty happy with the results. I've been updating the original list this whole time (found here), and I can't tell you how glad I am I did this.

This blog helped keep me accountable to myself and my own personal goals. I didn't do the blog with the intent of creating a following (although, hearing positive feedback from friends who have read it does leave me supercharged and excited to do more to complete my goals). I created this blog to have something ... tangible? electronically tangible, if that's possible? to show myself my progress; to show myself a record of the good things I've been able to successfully do for myself.

I did put a little caveat in my original goal setting: if I accomplish at least 2/3 of this list, I will consider the blog a success. I'm not used to finishing goals I set for myself, so I thought that this was necessary, in order to not let myself down.

However, I can definitely say I accomplish at least that, if not more. I have felt more confident in myself and happy with my own life for the accomplishments I have created for myself this year. I have goals for my 30th year now as well, but I am not sure yet if I will put them in blog form or not.

Quests Completed

(for the full list of completed quests, click here)

Quest #1 : Biographies
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons - technically was a fiction novel, but it was heavily based on the author's life. So, it may be a little bit of a stretch to call it a biography, but it was generally about her life growing up in the South, and how she overcame the adversities of her mother dying; living for a while with her alcoholic, neglectful, abusive father; and the musical chairs of homes after that.

I Am Malala - beautifully told and insightful. I have a bad habit of sort of lumping "all of the Middle East" into my mind, maybe from hearing nothing positive about the countries over there in the news; always some new, bad and scary thing that has happened.

My mind just sort of goes into auto-pilot, puts all that unhappiness in a tidy little box and puts in away on a shelf somewhere in the back of my mind. All new information tends to just redirect immediately to this unhappy little container in my brain for "The Middle East."

It was helpful to read her story, of growing up in Swat, Pakistan and the rise of The Taliban. Again, I didn't realize how much I had it ingrained in my psyche my misconceptions of how they were able to gain power over so many people until I read her story. So, I'm thankful I took the time to read her story, and reading of how she was able to maintain courage in the face of so much adversity.

Quest #2 : Finances
I bought myself a financial transaction register booklet to keep track of my accounts and overall cash flow, and that has been the most effective budget I've been able to create this year.

I also signed up for Acorns this year, micro-investing, and it's been neat to see how they balance their investment portfolios. I'd like to eventually transfer my money out of it, and into something maybe more aligned with my personal values, but there are really maybe only a few things in their portfolio that I'd rather not have my money in. So, I'm ok with it for now, while I'm attempting to grow a little Egg of Investment haha.

Quest #3 : Tithing
I have been a bit tight on money, so I've been holding back on tithing (need to cover those bills first!). But I tried to make up for it a bit this month, to be able to finish this year on a good note. So, for December, January, and technically February, I donated to:

1) Southern Poverty Law Center (to support human rights and upholding constitutional rights here in the U.S.); 2) Planned Parenthood - my local/regional affiliate (to support sexual health education and women's reproductive rights); and 3) NPR - my local affiliate/broadcasting station (to support freedom of the press, well researched journalism, and like, a bazillion great programs they have on there)

I think I've explained this before, in a different post, but, I think there are a plethora of great causes and non-profits out there, and no shortage of ways you can put your money to good use in helping support your community. I hate the feeling of powerlessness that I get from listening to the news, and I don't think it's a very realistic/helpful emotion.

I could do so much more for my community. I could take the time to be more involved and volunteer, for one. But, for now, I will at least help fund the people who are making it their life's work to do good in the community.

Quest #8 : Musical Instrument
I recorded something!! 8-o

I ran out of time (i.e. I kept putting this off, despite being something that makes me feel good), so I ended up doing just one song that is easy for people to sing along with, and recorded it, put it onto YouTube, and published it in my blog here.

I'll take that as a good solid start to my musical career. -_^

Quest #10 : Writing
Boss Battle: Create a short story
I have been keeping a dream journal / regular journal this year. So, again, pressed for time I decided to write up a few of my less personal dreams.

The stories a little darker than my awake-self usually is (aside from my healthy appreciation of good B-grade horror movies), but thought they may be fun to expand on someday and create actual stories out of them.
You can read them in my post here.

Big Boss Battle: Complete this blog! (if you are reading this, this has been a success ^-^)

Quest #11 : Photography
Boss Battle 1: Submit a photo for publishing
So, my birthday was coming up quick, and I had forgotten about this particular Boss Battle.

I was contemplating creating an Etsy or DeviantArt profile, something that I could set up and maybe sell the occasional photo on... but I want to take the time to polish up photos that I've taken over the years, really select a few decent quality photos, etc. etc.


Since this would take more time then I had at the moment, I took some creative license with my phrasing and "submitted" photos to a photobook publishing business to "publish" a photo book for myself and my own coffee table haha. The photobook is of my travels to Italy - Rome and Pompeii - and it was fun to look back and remember what a beautiful country it is!

Quest #12: Pinterest
In summary with this quest: I have used it as a tool to help me accomplish many of my goals this year, I'm not as addicted to it (not spending hours of my day anymore, just sorting photos/images into my boards), and I'm currently utilizing it to help me with meal planning. The taming of the Pinterest beast has been a success!

Here's to a wonderful year of questing! Huzzah!

K Jet

#8 Musical Instrument : Ukulele

So, I learned and recorded a song today.
Purely to satisfy my personal need to at least attempt this before this blog is officially finished.

Full disclosure:

1) I recorded vocal and ukulele tracks separately.
    I wasn't good enough to learn how to strum and sing at the same time in a day (jeez, didn't realize how hard it was to do those two different things at the same time! haha This has given a little extra appreciate for all those singers out there who play the instrument at the same time haha)

2) I attempted to edit this so that it wouldn't make your ears bleed.
    I actually attempted editing in several different ways for about an hour or two, but ended up going back to the second version, which had a little less layers of editing to it haha

3) Despite all this: it's still pretty raw on the ears to listen to.
    I'm not an experienced singer, ukulele player, or music editor at this point in my life, so, I hope your ears can forgive me if you chose to listen. ;-p

Now I can officially say, "I did do that, that one time" and have a better idea as to whether or not I want to continue trying to make music in the future (it was very fun, but a bit time consuming...a bit like editing pictures). I imagine that making good music would take quite a while and a lot of practice (both with the music making, and the music editing).

If the link below doesn't work, the video can also be found here.




(All photos are either taken by me, or my gentleman friend -_^  -_^)


It was fun, and, I would definitely like to take some time to improve.


K Jet

#10 Writing: Short Story

More of Gravy than of Grave About You

Wasn’t sure if my psyche was trying to tell me something, or if I had (most likely) eaten something that then didn’t agree with my stomach while I slept. These played out more like films - sweeping views, smooth transitions - than like my normal “what is my brain trying to tell me” dreams.

The Delicate Woman

1/29/16

Her hair was short and blond, slicked down the nape of her neck with lake water. She was 30-something and lithe, like a Tilda Swinton body double. She was swimming in the lake and marveling at how clear and blue the water was.

You could just make out the boulders lining the bottom, like bubbles cemented into perfect shapes. Boulders lined the edges of the water as well, covered in soft green moss, like bryophyte fur. It sparkled in its lagoon-like seclusion.

The people swimming nearby stopped, concerned. Quickly they became manic, writhing in the water to get a better look at their own bodies. They said they were burning. It was strange though that they were still so lily-white. With the trees surrounding us, there was no way to sunburn so quickly.

Then it hit her.

There were chemicals in the water. She was deathly allergic to these chemicals. She swam as fast as she could to the moss-covered safety, out of the poisonous water. But it was too late. As soon as she got out, the dappled sunlight started to sear her flesh. She could feel the life-energy draining out of her. Her companions were beyond the bridge, nearly completely out of sight; too far to hear her if she called out. Help was a hopeless desire.

She spoke to me. She begged me to tell her friends where to find her body. Then, with effort, she rolled herself down into a crevice between the boulders, desperately trying to shade her body from the flesh-scorching sun.

The Spider Man

3/23/16

The spider reached its massive leg out to touch the young man, as he was walking away.

::Don’t go:: it silently called to him.

The young man stopped and coolly turned around.

“You are released. You may let go.”

A wave of gratitude and relief rippled through the elephant-sized spider, as it shuddered, jerked, and collapsed to the ground. Within seconds, everything but the legs had melted away, leaving a viscous goo surrounding the lifeless, bare body of a little boy.

The young man looked away, tired but determined. He made his way into the next room of the old factory. A small group of people were being herded, terrified, by another giant spider. They looked to the young man, as if he would take pity on them and make the spider stop.

Not until everyone was here. Not until they will finally listen.

The boys were in pain. The psychic energy building and holding them together - these massive exoskeletons - was burning them up. He knew their pain, he could feel them screaming. But he needed them. Release will come when he is finished. This was too important.

The Hideaways

6/17/16

A mother and her 5 year old child, a young lady of about 20, and a woman scientist entered the mansion. It was being remodeled into an inn, and the basement was currently the focus. Workers were busily milling all around.

A young man with an important air about him quickly met the women in the foyer. He had something to show them downstairs, something he had discovered. He was a very serious person with a complete openness about him. The women trusted him.
In what used to be a laundry room - like, an actual room, not those pantries that hide the machines - there was something like an electrical outlet in the left corner of the back wall. It was obscured by some lumber, waiting to be used in the remodeling.

The young man pressed the outlet like a button, and a door opened in the concrete floor. There was a small room below. After everyone had a good look, he closed the secret door and it returned to being a seamless part of the smooth, cold floor.

There were many other rooms - bedrooms - down here along this hallway, all stripped to concrete floors and unpainted walls. He had found another secret room back here on the end. We helped him find three more.

He was baffled, what had possessed the original builder to put these in? But we understood. The scientist told him,
“What happens, when the government controls and outlaws certain people? You can’t record rent for invisible rooms.”
He understood what she meant, and just in time. The women’s pursuers had arrived on the mansion’s grounds. A sympathetic worker had ran as fast as he could to the house to warn us.

"Quickly!"
The young woman and the scientist were hid under the laundry room. The mother and her child under one of the bedrooms. We desperately try to make sure the switches aren’t visible. She - the leader of the pursuers - will overturn everything in the house to find them.
She arrived, with her armed, personal SWAT team.
I plead quietly, to whatever greater force in the universe that could help, please don’t let them be found.

Or forgotten.




That concludes that! Hope this inspires you to write your dreams and thoughts down as well!

K Jets

#7 : Reunion, Part 2 (S. Korea)

Next on my world tour of friends, I stopped in South Korea for nine days. I spent the first half in Daegu and the second half in Busan.

Daegu was the city I lived in, where I taught English (and spent a lot of time at a board game cafe/pub with cats), and it's the third largest city in South Korea. It's not really a tourist spot, being instead a place where people live and work. Not like Seoul or Busan. But, that's what makes it feel so familiar and comfortable. :-D

Was so excited to see my friend John again! He's my 'adopted' Irish brother -_^ We went to a raccoon cafe together (where raccoons keep you company as you drink your coffee). In theory and photos, it looked great. Maybe we went at a bad time, but it was incredibly stinky and unsanitary when we were there :,(

OMG the food...... This is one of my favorite samgyeopsal places, and my favorite flavor at this restaurant (O.B.A.M.A. - something like oregano, black pepper, something, something, something... the details aren't important, really, it's just freakin' delicious, and you should get on a plane and fly over there to try that stuff out!)

My friend Hailey got married!!!!!!! <3 Boss, friend, momma-bear, and just, everything you could ever want or need in a friend. So glad I was able to be there for her wedding! She was so beautiful!!!!

She had so many friends who attended her wedding, she had to take two "friend" photos after the wedding (usually only one is sufficient hahaha), so we split out into "korean" and "waygook" (foreigner) friends haha

I love these! This is a traffic/construction dummy that they use on their roads! Isn't it fun?? His arms move haha

Busan is the major beach city of South Korea. Although I haven't been to Miami yet, I imagine Miami to be something like Busan - Tall, fancy buildings, beaches full of swimwear-clad tourists, lots of drinking/partying going on, and lots of fancy cars. The food's good too. 

Did I mention the food?! Oh. My. Gosh. I missed this!
(this was donkatsu...which is originally from Japan, but Korean style is a little less panko-crumbs, a little more pork, and spicy instead of plain brown sauce)

This was the some of the best "western" food in the area - notice the "sausage"? hehe

Naengmyung - cold, wheat noodles with various toppings and sauce. Oh. My. Word.

Although most of our time was spent eating, we also did do some sight-seeing as well. This is a village that was built along the side of a mountain - it used to be a major place for crime, and there was talk of bulldozing it down. Dunno who had the brilliant idea, but, after the houses were all painted up bright colors, tourists started coming to see it, and suddenly shops were popping up around it and it was saved!

Missed my SoYoung! Looking forward to seeing her again someday, to see more beautiful places and make more "food babies" haha

KJets

# 7 : Reunion, Part 1 (Europe)

During my trip on October, to see friends around the world, I spent the first week in England and Switzerland, and the second week in South Korea. Here are some photos from my trip!

Although, in reality, I started in England and finished in England, with a pop over to Switzerland in the middle, I'm putting all my England photos first and my Swiss photos after. :-)

Went to "Platform 9 3/4" in Kings Cross Station

In King's Cross Station there's a Harry Potter gift shop, complete with a wand shop next door. Hermione is one of my favorites, so I HAD to take a photo!

Big Ben!

The Jewel Tower: the only remaining piece of the original Westminster Place (around Westminster Abby and Parliament). I had a nice rest here in their coffee shop on the first floor, reading a book while charging my phone. Very nice and quiet.

Loops and Claire! My chingus from our time in S. Korea... getting some Korean food to commemorate.

My friend Roy (from my time visiting Wales back when I was in university) came and joined us!! 

Tea Time at Luton Hoo - a mansion/hotel in Luton

Looks like the kind of place that Pride and Prejudice would be filmed at... Where's Mr. Darcy??

I got to see Loops' hometown! So quaint and pretty!!

Mwa!

I got to see two sets of friends during my trip to Switzerland! One of my Korean friends is currently living in France, so she jumped on a train and came to hang out with us for a couple days. Switzerland has been on my "must go see" list since my university friend moved there with her fiance (now husband) after we graduated. I was so thankful to finally get this chance!

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. This is the headquarters and where they make all the big decisions about the Olympics! I wasn't expecting much from the museum, but, it turned out to be well laid out, interactive, and captivating!

Taking a lunch break at the Olympic Museum, and enjoying the view of the lake on this rainy day (Natalie!)

Learning to pick grapes in a UNESCO World Heritage Site vineyard!

The view from the vineyard as spectacular! It was still dark out when we got up that morning to go grape picking, and the views got better and better as we worked!

Stephanie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next we went to Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle)

Great view of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) from the castle.

We got lucky - They were having a Halloween-type autumn festival at the castle while we were there! Fire dancers, fairies, fauns, and great food and treats. The line to get into the castle was a block long by the time we left in the evening.

KJets

September, October, November - Summary (Months 9, 10, and 11 of Quests)

Catching up on this blog was giving me anxiety. So much so that I was putting off even thinking of my goals (not good, madam. not good at all) (...best to read that in a British accent). I felt like I would never have enough time on any given day to make it all perfect, so I couldn't even sit down and try.

Well, screw perfect.

I'm just going to get it out there. I need to get something "good enough" finished so that I can keep writing this blog and focusing on completing my Quests.

So here is a summary of the goals I have been working on and completed in September, October, and November:

Quests Completed

Quest #7: Reunion

I traveled for two weeks in October to visit friends around the world! The mix of traveling and spending time with dear friends was like a tonic to my soul.
I spent roughly five days in England (around the greater London area), three days in Switzerland, and nine days in South Korea. I feel so loved, satisfied, and ready to commit more thoroughly to my life here in the States now. Traveling like that also helps me put my life and problems here at home in a better perspective. Like looking at the world from up on the moon, everything seems more... manageable.

Quests-in-Progress

Quest # 1: Biographies

In September, getting inspiration from both Day of Democracy and Constitution Day, I decided to educated myself a little more about the people who help keep our country safe. This book follows the lives of a few service women in various branches of the military. The book is Undaunted by Tanya Biank. It was a great read, and fascinating to learn what service women go through to be taken seriously, lead, and serve their country. I am very impressed.

I didn't read a biography during October or November. I did re-read Brene Browns' Daring Greatly during my travels through Europe and Asia. I absolutely love her work - both her research and her way of writing - and would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. I wish it could be taught in our schools, it's absolutely lovely and inspiring, encouraging us to accept and allow ourselves to become the greatest version ourselves that we can be.

Quest # 3: Tithing

September: The Sacred Stone Camp legal fees fundraiser, to help them fight the seizure of sacred land for the development of an oil pipeline. Also, I donated to the AmeriCorps Alumni Association's annual fundraising drive. My two years serving in AmeriCorps was such an amazing opportunity to learn about myself, my country, and to serve my community. (AmeriCorps  is sort of the cousin of Peace Corps, with the focus on serving within our borders).
I also tithed my time, volunteering with the AmeriCorps Alumni Association to do a park/neighborhood cleanup one Saturday in Durham, North Carolina.

October: A fundraiser for Serbia's Forgotten Paws, an animal shelter in Serbia where one of my good friends adopted her puppy from. The money is used to help feed and keep the animals warm during the Serbian winter coming up!

November: The Wounded Warrior Project, in honor of Veteran's Day. I had the privilege to work in the same building and go to their offices in Washington DC when I lived there. They do absolutely wonderful, empowering work.
I also tithed my time by volunteering two 4-hour shifts at the North Carolina Comicon. I know it's a bit of a stretch as far as "volunteering my time to improve my community"... but.. the event does help bring people together to foster happiness and a sense of connectedness to a community. It also does help bring customers in for the local businesses, so that's good.

Quest #4: Spirituality

I did a mix of yoga, church, and spiritual/mindfulness discussion groups in September. Haven't really followed through in October or November.

Quest #5: Performances

September: Dragon Boat Festival (Cary, NC) - I got to see one of my bellydance instructors perform with her troupe!
November: Death Faire 2016  (Pittsboro, NC) - a "Day of the Dead" inspired festival, with music, dancers, funeral processions, the works, all in celebration of life.

Quest #6: Exhibits

September: Bugfest (Downtown Raleigh, NC) - I held a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach! (but I didn't eat the BBQ meal worms.... the line was too long...)
October: The Olympic Museum (Lausanne, Switzerland) - not only is it a well laid out, interactive, and engaging museum, it is also the headquarters for the Olympics; where they make all the "Big Decisions" -_^; Chateau de Chillon/Chillon Castle (Vaud, Switzerland) - Super awesome castle.
November: NC Comicon (Durham, NC) - Oh, the artistry! I was impressed by both the artists sitting at their vending booths, as well as those who were wearing the creations (cosplayers are amazing!). I'm so enchanted with this community of folks!

Quest #15: Housework (Update)

November - stained and sealed the deck, so now it is officially complete!

Quest #18: Exercise

In September, I participated in Camp Gladiator roughly once a week. When I didn't go to Camp Gladiator, I went to the gym. I was also doing dance class once a week. I have not exercised at all in October or November. I have been active... but have not done anything purely exercise-related.


Quest #29: Open my heart up again for companionship (maybe even [eek!] infatuation?)

In August I determined I was being a little silly about relationships. It's one thing to decide to be single in order to focus on making myself my best version of me... it's another thing to avoid dating because I was starting to develop sort of rebellious complex about "there's just no one around here for me."

With that inspiring concept, to prove to myself - and everyone who kept asking - that there was no man in my area that I would consider a good match for me, I decided to go on 10 (that's right, ten) first-dates.

On these first dates I would make a point of talking about all of the difficult topics (politics, religion, special interest issues, etc) to #1 scare people off, and/or #2 find out quickly a good reason to not see each other again.

I was pleasantly surprised at some of the guys I met, and went on a couple second dates even (gasp!). But there was one guy in particular who kept wooing my mind as well as my eyes (can that be done? my eyes were quite happy looking at him...), and I ended up going on *much more* than one date with him.

So, what started off being an effort to legitimize becoming a spinster (which is honestly a pretty decent enough sounding life! Except for the lack of cuddles...), ended up getting me attached to someone pretty darn awesome who excites me with ideas and possibilities in life. #nolongersingle #buthesprettydamnawesomesoitsactuallyprettycool
Although the dates started in August, they have continued into September, October, and November (and hopefully they'll continue?!?!) ^^.

Coming Up Next

Gettin' back on track with these goals! One last push to complete as much as possible over my final two months of this blog! :-D

KJets