People who know me, know I don't deem myself a great poet, which is fine. I do, however, enjoy writing them immensely. If you've followed my blog since it's baby steps, you may remember my tongue twister edition (you can find the start of them here.) Now, with daily poem, I don't mean I will post a poem daily, but rather a poem encapsulating the day I've spent - it could be a perfectly boring day like today, or a fantastic one where lots happened - we'll find out. 

It's the middle of July, meaning it's also the middle of the 2019, and I wanted to update you on some of my 19 goals for 2019, which I initially posted here. As 2018 was a much better year than 2017, I thought it could become even better in 2019 and worked out 19 specific goals to achieve - or attempt to achieve - until the end of it. This idea, by the way, is not my own, but was inspired by Gretchen Rubin's work and her 19 for 2019 strategy. 

But let's recapture: The first eleven goals I shared on my initial blog post were: 
1) Lose weight (obviously)
​2) Do more exercise (to lose weight)
3) Eat healthier 
4) Participate in a cooking class
5) Send out my manuscript to many publishers/publish more short stories
6) Move houses
7) Declutter the wardrobe and drawers
8) Find methods to calm down
9) Expand the blog 
10) Visit friends and keep better contact 
11) Read at least 14 books 

I have since added my final eight goals, which are: 
12) Improve or learn a foreign language 
13) Learn how to play an instrument
14) Partake in a dance class 
15) Become more patient and kind
16) Stop procrastinating business-related things
17) Self-publish at least one story/book
18) Improve your driving 
19) Go to the United States 

So, let's dive in. Weight issues first: I actually managed to lose 4 kg before my wedding, but sadly, they were back on quite quickly again, so I have revised my eating habits once more and am currently on my way to lose weight once more. I have a doctor's appointment in September by which I should have cut my weight by 5%, so there is some motivation there. With eating, I have now returned to our (forgone) system of planning my meals a week in advance, and I have downloaded a 4-week meal plan where I simply cook whatever Google (or the plan) tells me too. Once I've gone through it and saved the recipes, I will share it with you. 

As for working out, doing more exercise and partaking in dance classes sort of complement each other, so I am visiting a Zumba class next Tuesday, and should I like it, I will get a 10-class coupon to not only increase my fitness, but also my evening activity schedule to get more out of the house. My man and I also participated in a crash dance course for my cousin's upcoming wedding and have since decided we will do the full-on course in autumn, so there's going to be dance classes and exercise throughout October, November and December. Yay! Goals 1, 2, 3 and 14 all wrapped up in one go! 

Now to the business and career side of things. I have a terrible knack of procrastinating with...well, everything, but especially when it comes to things like calling the bank, insurance company, meeting the tax accountant, making a dentist appointment, etc. I've been told many people seem to struggle with it, but I have come to the conclusion that just because everyone else is apparently doing something, it's OK for me to do it, too. Thus, I have brushed up all my finance, insurance, etc. and made an appointment with all doctors I should have already seen two years ago - on we go! 
From a writing point of view, I did publish my short story in the Universe Momentum Anthology, about which you can read here, and am sending out more as I write. 

Additionally, I have managed to get my own domain for the blog and have been more diligent with keeping it updated (truth, it's not perfect yet, but I am getting there). My summer projects include not only brushing up my short stories to send them out again, but to self-publish the ones I feel do not attract the necessary market to be published elsewhere, and I am planning to self-publish some chick lit under a pseudonym on Amazon Kindle Publishing, so creative juices are definitely flowing. 

Additionalement, J'ai commencé à apprendre le francais - je devrais dire que j'ai amélioré mon francais. Oh wait, that was not English, was it now? Well, I've taken up French again and love delving into the language after having had it in school for four years a long time ago. In addition, I am also teaching myself the piano, guitar and Kalimba - a fancy African instrument that even I can play - so goals 12 and 13 are well covered for now. Reading book is going well, too, as I have already surpassed my required 14, most of whose reviews you can find here.

As for keeping up with friends, Jakob and I had our first "grown-up" dinner invitation yesterday with a fellow writer friend of mine and his wonderful wife and daughter. Another dear writer colleague of mine invited us for her 4th of July bash as well, and I'm keeping busy with writer's club meetings, though the summer is a bit of a social dump, I find, as Vienna empties of the lucky souls who have another place to go, leaving only behind the scorched skin of tourists who were stupid enough to think, "Hey, I know, let's spend our summer vacation in a hot city made of concrete entirely!" - and us of course. 

As I don't want you to bore to death while I go gloating about how much I've managed to achieve as part of my goals, I finally want to share the odd goal I am quite sure I may not achieve this year anymore, and which might need to be pushed into 2020 goals. First, we may not be able to move, as the house market around Vienna is horrendous if you're on a small budget; secondly, we don't have a car, so even though I hate that I am such a poor driver, I may not improve it just yet - and, honestly, I cannot fully grasp why I put a cooking class on the list, I mean, I have a husband who LOVES cooking, so what the hell. I don't have to be good at everything, and cooking can sideline with volleyball, patience and keeping my mouth shut at the right time. Going to the United States is always a financial matter, but, hey, maybe my self-published book sells sooooo well, I can do a last-minute trip overseas ;-)