40 X 40 Status Update

Another quarterly 40 X 40 status update.

1. Lose 70 pounds.

- I don't have a scale at home, so I don't weigh myself very often. But as of my doctor's appointment on the 6th, I'm down ten pounds! I'm pretty excited. Also, my mom loaned me a book called Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss by Kara Davis, MD. I'm supposed to read a chapter every day. But I don't. I get so into it, I read 2-3 days at a time. But I'm okay with that. Anyway, I'm going to do a whole post on the book, so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail today. Just know, it's GREAT!

9. Read 40 books I've never read before.

- I've been writing more than I'm reading. And I've been reading my bible more. But still, I have gotten a few more books under my belt.

I've read the following books since I started my 40 X 40 challenge (books listed in previous updates are in blue):

1. G Is for Gumshoe - Sue Grafton
2. H Is for Homicide - Sue Grafton
3. Through the Labyrinth of Writing Your Book - Anne Wayman
4. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
5. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson
6. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich
7. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich
8. Shattering Glass - Gail Giles (Jeff's library book)
9. Five Alive - Janet Evanovich
10. Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich
11. Double Cross - James Patterson
12. Hooked - Les Edgerton
13. Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss - Kara Davis, MD (what I'm currently reading)

12. Go one whole week without turning on the television.

- Okay, I haven't actually done this one yet. But now that football season is over, it's much more likely to happen. I probably can't convince Jeff to not watch television, so I'll likely be spending a lot of time in my room...or outside. Both of those would be good for me. Outside, I can be walking. In my room, I can be reading and riding my exercise bike. So, surely there will be a whole week somewhere between McDreamy proposing to Meredith and March Madness.

17. Debt-free, except for the house.

- I already think this one might be more than I can pull off. I've agreed to pay for half of Jeff's college experience as long as he's passing. So, I'll be picking up a fairly big expense here in about six months. But still, I'm going to give it the old college try...no pun intended. Also a friend introduced me to an interesting website, https://powerpay.org/, helping debtors become savers. It teaches you how to pay off debt faster by making power payments. You can also try a couple of different options for paying off your debt (highest interest rates first or smallest balances first, etc). If you're seriously interested in reducing debt, you should check it out.

21. Go white-water rafting in Colorado.

- Okay, again, I haven't accomplished this one yet. Holy wow, it's much too cold to be white-water rafting in Colorado yet. But I've already recruited a friend to go with me. My goal is to convince a couple more of our friends to go too. Talk about a great time. I still think this year is going to be too busy though, with Jeff's graduation in May, Relay for Life in June, 20 year class reunion sometime this summer, Jeff off to college in August, plus work and life. So it may be way too early to be blogging about this one.

23. Get a passport...

- I downloaded the paperwork to apply for a passport. I even filled it out. But I can't find my Social Security Card. I can't even remember the last time I had it; I don't have a need for it all that often. So, I think my passport application is on hold until I finish my SSN replacement card application.