Updated...like after months

So, I've essentially crapped out on the old blog. It got me thinking that I need to start setting some goals for my day to day life (aside from waking up on time, being marginally productive, and limiting my junk food consumption). So here is the list of goals for the near future. Some of them are professional, others personal (in an attempt to bring some pleasure and/or sanity to my life since grad school constantly chips away at both). Here goes:

1. Finish and defend my thesis by August.

This one is both professional and personal. Professional in the sense that as much as I complain about grad school, I don't want to have to get a real job. If I don't defend my thesis before October, I will no longer be making "reasonable" progress, and then the department can cut my funding. Defending is also personal, because I want to move on to other projects. I'm a bit bored with this one, and would like to pursue other sociological interests.

2. Cook one new recipe each week.

I realized as I was eating my umpteenth freezer meal in the past month, that I've really missed cooking. I also realized I've been making a lot of standbys, so I need to take some more culinary risks. I'm hoping to branch out in terms of techniques, ingredients, and flavor combinations. In order to achieve this goal, I forsee multiple trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Sur la Table, and Williams Sonoma, because I will need new gadgets and specialty utensils and pans. Although, now I have a valid excuse to buy that madeleine pan I've been wanting for years....Oh, and a microplane zester! Some of the blogs I will be using to help me with this include:

http://www.tastespotting.com/

http://simplyrecipes.com/

http://enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com/

3. Update/post to this thing at least a couple of times a week.

I'm hoping that using my blog on a regular basis will help me get into the habit of writing everyday, so that I can just start cranking out articles and grant proposals. Side benefit, perhaps I can enter it into some contest and win money or get a television show deal. Once again, things to prevent me from getting a real job.

4. Seriously train Aspen.

Ok, so my dog is agoraphobic and anthrophobic (especially men). I would like him to eventually get to a place where he does not completely spazz out when he leaves his "safe" places (my home, my parent's home, and my car). I'm not sure how doable this is, because since he's a rescue dog, I don't really know what his life was like before I adopted him. I don't think he will ever be the type of dog that runs downstairs to greet visitors, but as long as he doesn't view people and places as possible sources of terror, we're moving in the right direction.

Part of my feels like I should come up with one more so that I get to a sensible number like 5, but I think that this puts enough on my plate. The goal list can be an ongoing project that evolves over time.