Random Fodder

Apologies for the four-month gap in posts. Obviously we have been doing plenty over the past 1/3 of a year, but I have just not been blogging.

This break is mostly due to some huge, life-changing events for me and the kids. More to come on that soon.

In addition, a lazy guy like me just ended up posting one-sentence FaceBook updates instead of writing anything about what is going on. Also keep an eye out for Sebastian's spring soccer video, coming soon!

2008 has come and gone, and 2009 brings with it a new set of 43 Things to do. How did I do this past year?:

• 7 goals (16%) were completed successfully.
• 8 goals (19%) were abandoned.
• 28 goals (65%) will be carried over for 2008.

What goals have I chosen for 2009? 28 goals have been carried over, 14 new goals have been added, and 1 goal from 2006/07 has returned:

1. attend a local government meeting
2. Be a better blogger
3. be an audience member for a TV show taping
4. Be part of a flash mob
5. build an igloo
6. clean up my house and keep it clean
7. coach hockey*
8. create a photo wall in my house*
9. drink more water
10. eat healthier
11. eat with my hands
12. Find $100 in change*
13. find and schedule appointments with: a doctor, dentist, and optometrist*
14. fly a kite
15. Give blood
16. have a 3 month emergency fund
17. help my son continue his physical therapy until he is 100% rehabilitated*
18. know how to solve a rubik's cube*
19. Learn how to remember peoples' names
20. Learn Spanish
21. leave notes in library books*
22. lose weight
23. make a time capsule
24. make plaster of paris handprints for the family*
25. Not let distractions take away from my attention to the wife*
26. open the yellow pages, pick the seventh restaurant, and eat the seventh entree and dessert on the menu
27. paint my own abstract art‡
28. place a few more geocaches*
29. play hockey*
30. Reduce debt.
31. Send a message in a bottle
32. Send a postcard to Postsecret
33. spend ten minutes holding the door for people
34. stick to a budget
35. stop being late
36. take 43 photos of 43 places within 43 minutes of where I live‡
37. take a family vacation
38. Take the Mensa test.
39. teach my child phonics*
40. turn 33*
41. Volunteer
42. Watch all my VHS tapes and get rid of them.*
43. Write a will

* A new goal for 2008.
‡ A renewed goal from before 2008.

You can always view my current list and past accomplished goals at 43 Things or on my own 43 Things page here.

Here's to the new year. May I accomplish at least some of these important 43 Things. And here's hoping you are able to accomplish your goals, too!

2008 has reared its ugly head, and left me with not even a handful of completed goals:

• 3 goals (7%) were completed successfully.
• 9 goals (21%) were abandoned.
• 31 goals (72%) will be carried over for 2008.

What goals have I chosen for 2008? 31 goals have been carried over, 12 new goals have been added, and 1 goal from 2006 has returned:

1. Accomplish more goals this year than last year
2. attend a local government meeting
3. Be a better blogger
4. be an audience member for a TV show taping*
5. Be part of a flash mob
6. build an igloo
7. clean up my house and keep it clean
8. Do the Discovery Health National Body Challenge
9. drink more water
10. eat healthier
11. eat with my hands
12. exercise regularly
13. fly a kite
14. Get better at chess*
15. Give blood
16. go camping
17. have a 3 month emergency fund
18. have family devotions
19. Help my child finish the Hooked on Math program*
20. Help my mother start her home business
21. Join a professional organization*
22. Learn how to remember peoples' names
23. Learn Spanish
24. learn to do crosswords*
25. learn to ice skate*
26. Learn to juggle*
27. lose weight
28. make a time capsule
29. Make family silhouettes*
30. open the yellow pages, pick the seventh restaurant, and eat the seventh entree and dessert on the menu
31. Read 23 books in one year†
32. Reduce debt.
33. Send a message in a bottle
34. Send a postcard to Postsecret
35. sleep in a hammock
36. spend ten minutes holding the door for people
37. stick to a budget
38. stop being late
39. take 43 photos of 43 places within 43 minutes of where I live‡
40. take a family vacation
41. Take the Mensa test.*
42. Volunteer
43. Write a will*

* A new goal for 2008.
† A "new" goal for 2008 added in October 2007 and due by October 2008.
‡ A renewed goal from before 2007.

You can also view my current list and past accomplished goals at 43 Things or on my own 43 Things page here.

My top two "cheered" goals by other 43 Things users each have 10 cheers, twice as many as the next highest cheered goal. They are:

• 10 cheers – build an igloo
• 10 cheers – attend a local government meeting

So, I should probably put a little extra effort into getting these completed this year.

Blogathon 2007

I will again be participating in Blogathon this year. I start this Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 9:00 am EST and will be blogging at least every 30 minutes for 24 hours.

Please consider sponsoring me. Either way, definitely read my blog entries during Blogathon and see what I'm up to. Don't be afraid to comment on my entries there!

Keeping with the plethora of personality tests on this site, I have taken the "Will you survive the Blogathon?" test again this year. There's a 50 % chance that I'll survive the 'thon.

This year, I am supporting a charity called One Economy Corporation. One Economy is a charity that helps close the technology gap for lower-income people. They help low-income people and families get internet access and use the internet to help them get assistance, find jobs, and help eliminate low-income isolation. To find out more about One Economy Corporation, head over to The Smarmy Carny's Blogathon page. Also be sure to read the blog during the Blogathon and find out much more detailed information on One Economy's efforts!

Here's a shoddy commercial I threw together for the event:

Enjoy!

For those who are unaware, I'm currently participating in Blogathon 2006 over at The Smarmy Carny.

The Blogathon will last until 9:00 am EST Sunday morning.

I hope to see you there!

I have decided to participate in Blogathon 2006 this year. Take note that I will be participating through The Smarmy Carny and not here at Random Fodder.

Blogathon 2006 is a blogger-based campaign to raise money for various charities. Participating bloggers will blog for 24 hours straight, from July 29 09:00 EST until July 30 09:00 EST. The charity I have chosen is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America®.

For more information, take a look at my Blogathon page. If you're interested in sponsoring me in Blogathon 2006 by pledging to donate to Make-A-Wish®, you don't need to wait until July 29! Just head over to my Blogathon sponsorship page. The page will guide you through the sponsorship process and answer basic questions.

From 9:00 am until 11:00 pm EST, I will be hosting the Champion of Breakfasts tournament, where anyone will be able to vote on their favourite cereals as they go head-to-head with competing cereals. Additional information on the Champion of Breakfasts tournament is available over at The Smarmy Carny.

So head over to The Smarmy Carny on Saturday, July 29 and join in the activities. Leave a comment, sponsor me, or just read my posts during the 24 hours of Blogathon! I look forward to seeing you there!

RandomFodder.com

I decided to change the point and purpose of my second website and now it is up and running. This fulfilled one of my 43 Things for 2006!

Random Fodder shares personal stories and anecdotes about myself, much like 43 Things.

See more progress on: Finish my website