You know the drill so let’s dive in.
DEMERITS
- Feedly. Why does it not pull content from certain blogs? Even more frustrating, it can function properly for months and then stop working suddenly and without warning. Argh.
- Yoga. The more I think about it, the more I shouldn’t be including this under Demerits. I did yoga videos 12 times in March, which isn’t bad considering we were travelling and the rest of the month had a lot of challenges. Plus, I did yoga daily in January and February. But it still feels like a bit of a demerit. Just like Goodreads needs half stars, I’m starting to think I need an option for half demerits?
- Blog backup. This is a huge demerit. Have I learned nothing from LOSING MY WEBSITE. For some reason, the PrintMyBlog plugin does not work properly for me anymore. This plugin is the reason I have all the content from my original blog and it previously worked like a charm. I can’t figure out what’s going wrong, and I have tried various other plugins without success. I *could* go post by post and download everything one at a time, but that is cumbersome. And I’m lazy! All this means I haven’t backed up any of my posts for the last THREE months.
UPDATE: I wrote about this blogging demerit and was so horrified with myself that I decided to try PrintMyBlog again, using my laptop instead of my desktop. It worked (despite having tried a dozen times on my desktop). I now have all the text from my blog posts safely downloaded!
GOLD STARS
- Barcelona. The city. Our trip. John’s navigating and booking. The kid’s attitudes and enthusiasm.
- My personal tech guru (John). In the span of several weeks I became the proud owner of a new laptop and a new desktop. I had used the predecessors for almost a decade and it was more than time for an upgrade as both were no longer working properly. But the biggest gold star in all of this is not having to do anything myself. ANYTHING. John ordered the new laptop and set it up for me, and he built me a new (very snazzy) desktop, installed all the necessary drivers, moved over my files, switched out my dual monitors. What a joy and thrill to have technology that works, and it’s even more thrilling to be married to someone so capable I lifted nary a finger. We make a great team…
- Ski passes. I bought three passes during the narrow sale window, including one for L. It will make life much easier if I don’t have to find childcare for him when I take A to the hill. His big issue with skiing is the cold, so I’m committed to investing in some foot warmers/heated socks to ease the pain of frigid toes.
- Walking daily in April. I needed this boost. A gold star each day! A very achievable distance! A reminder that I feel better when I spend time outside. Having friends doing it too – a few locally, but mostly blog readers joining in from all over the world – makes it infinitely more enjoyable. Which means, gold stars to all of you!!!
- Going to the dentist. This was a demerit on my last post. It is now a gold star. (And that demerit to gold star trajectory is precisely why I do these roundups. Publicly naming my demerits is a gentle kick in my pants.) Despite going two years between hygiene appointments, I didn’t have any cavities and the dentist told me I have excellent oral hygiene. It felt great to check this off my to-do list.
- Pesky to-dos. Speaking of lists, earlier this month I read a book that suggested writing to-do lists with a Sharpie marker since it’s more satisfying. I bought an inexpensive sketchbook at the DollarStore with thick paper (so permanent marker doesn’t bleed through) and now have a giant list of to-dos. It IS more satisfying than writing down my lists in pen on a small pad of paper and I think it has made me more invested in crossing off said to-dos. Plus, I do love the smell of permanent marker…
Any recent demerits or gold stars youād like to share? Where do you write down your to-do lists? If you’re doing the daily walking challenge (gold stars!) what’s the most memorable thing to happen/the most beautiful thing you’ve seen on one of your walks?
sarah
Love the sharpie/ thick paper hack– so satisfying! Walking outside has been a huge burst of happiness for me, too– thank you!
Elisabeth
It is so, so satisfying!
I’ve needed the daily walks and it has been a big happiness boost – I’m glad others have enjoyed it too. I didn’t want it to feel like a burden, but 10 minutes of sunshine (or just walking around the house on a rainy day) gives a shocking sense of satisfaction.
Jenny
Gold stars to all the cool blogger walkers! Apparently I’m not cool enough for this challenge, ha ha, but I’ve been enjoying seeing everyone’s walking photos.
I agree that the yoga thing should only be a half demerit. You’re still doing it regularly, just not daily. And, I’m with L! I hate being cold, and when I lived up north I felt like my feet were freezing from November-May. I’m not sure if heated socks were even a thing back then. I just suffered.
I’ll give myself a huge demerit (is there such a thing as a double demerit?) for being way overdue in getting my daughter to the dentist. She’s even asked me when she’s going again. Hopefully this double demerit will give me the kick in the pants I need to make that happen.
Elisabeth
I think you’ve got the corner on daily exercise Jenny, WHAT WITH YOUR ULTRARUNNING! And so many deadbugs, I’m surprised PETA isn’t knocking on your door.
You can do the dentist thing! The biggest hurdle is making the appointment and I know you can make the call (though I hate making phone calls. Ugh).
Nicole MacPherson
Ahhhhh I need to find a dentist! I need to book a mammogram! I’m going away for almost three weeks and I have so much to do!!!!
Sorry, that was just my panic voice. Everything will get done (I HOPE!). I can figure out the dentist and mammogram when I get back!
Elisabeth
Why is there so much body maintenance required? Especially as we age. It’s not fair!
Ally Bean
About Feedly, I’m right there with you. I depend on it then discover it hasn’t been giving my links to all the blogs I follow and I feel like I’ve failed to be a good bloggy friend.
As for you walking in April, I’m thrilled for you. I like that you’ve given yourself a gold star. Seems like you deserve it.
Elisabeth
Feedly makes me feel rather helpless. The whole point is to be able to trust it to be accurate…but then it’s not so I second-guess and only think to navigate after the person has posted a dozen times and, yes, then I feel like a very bad bloggy friend.
Suzanne
Major demerit is having missed so many blog posts lately! I am so behind on everyone’s lives! But my Feedly had more than 250 unread posts in it at one point and I had to wipe the slate clean or I was going to lose my mind.
Speaking of Feedly: WHAT IS THE DEAL, FEEDLY?! So inconsistent! I had the idea to post every day to see if there was some rhyme or reason to why sometimes my posts show up right away and sometimes they show up days later… but hahahaha I barely scraped out one post this week so that’s not happening.
And girl, move that “blog backup” demerit right down to the gold star section! You did it! Good work!
Elisabeth
Clear that slate, my friend. With ZERO guilt, please!!!!
Feedly is so inconsistent and it really bothers me because I feel guilty about missing posts but the whole point of Feedly is not having to think/worry about missing posts because it is supposed to pull the content. Not cool, Feedly. NOT COOL.
NGS
Torch weeds!! Did you buy a torch?! I feel like there was a distinct lack of follow-up on this matter!
Two items: Feedly IS so upsetting. Why does it only sometimes get weird? I was JUST discussing with my husband about how if my blog went away, I would be devastated, but I don’t really have a good backup. Despite watching what happened with yours. What is wrong with me?!
Elisabeth
We did buy a torch! We have not used it yet. The plan is today or tomorrow and I will report back. I hope it’s as wonderful as I hope it will be. I’ve been let down many times on the weed tending front, so my expectations are low…
Feedly is annoying but I like the interface better than Old Reader so I am firmly dependent on Feedly. Argh. And it is more frustrating since it’s inconsistent. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Why?
Backing up the blog is onerous. Also, even with all the text, getting it put back into place isn’t easy. Even the things I’ve done aren’t a complete backup, so that is its own demerit. I really need to call my blog host and see how I can download my own complete backup – complete with photos and comments. I will admit I feel very precarious now, with my internet faith. It happened once and I almost feel like it’s destined to happen again for me which would be SO SAD š
Michelle G.
Getting a new computer that’s all set up and ready to go sounds like a dream come true! That is true romance! I’m getting a demerit because I thought I might join the CBWC, and I haven’t done it. But I’m getting a gold star for yard cleanup!
I like how you use these to inspire yourself!
Elisabeth
It’s funny the things that feel truly romantic, eh? And having my tech completely overhauled falls squarely into that category. (Not entirely surprising as my Love Language is Acts of Service.)
Diane
I think all your demerits should go on my list, only I didn’t realize those things were on my list until I read yours . Feedly? What even.. I don’t even know … should think about that. Yoga? Maaaaaaybe ten minutes, 3 out of 4 days a week. Blog back up… I need to go back and re-read your “How to do this VERY IMPORTANT Thing” post you did about that.
I think our Spring Break Trip was a gold star, for sure. Getting our taxes done also. That felt pretty epic, despite the huge tax bill.
Elisabeth
Well, I haven’t done yoga in weeks so you are handily beating me in that category!
Your spring break looked epic! And getting taxes finished is such a relief, though the whole paying the government bit SUCKS š
Sara
Gold stars: running 4 times last week. It was NOT anything to brag aboutā¦1-1.5 miles, but since Iāve basically been on an extended 2 year unofficial āpostpartumā break, it was good to try and get back at it.
Demerit: I am WAY behind on foster documentation/paperwork. And if I just sat down to do it, it wouldnāt take me longer than 90 minutes, but the whole getting started feels so overwhelming.
Elisabeth
That is absolutely something to brag about! Four runs! Gold stars to you!
The first step is the hardest. I’d suggest setting a timer for 30 minutes. Do everything you can in that time, even if that is just reading over the paperwork and not answering a single question (sometimes that’s how I approach a daunting task – just telling myself I need to read the paperwork). The stewing is worse than the doing, but I struggle with this sort of thing all the time…
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Torch weeds? I need more information about this. Can you not pull them? What kind of weeds are they? Have I been missing a fantastic opportunity here (fire and/or a blowtorch sounds fun) with weeding? I have been endlessly pulling them! Teach me!
I usually back up my blog about once every four to six months. It is not the best maybe but I do do it! I also have all my posts sent to my own email, so if my blog went down I still would have those just in case. Of course if I wanted to recreate it could be a pain all the same. I think this same thing goes for camera photos. I don’t have an auto backup for those at the moment (I do for my phone but not for my real camera, which has a memory card) and I need to figure something out as I would be tres trist if I lost all of my photos!
Elisabeth
It is SO hard to get the weeds up in between our flagstone pavers and they drive my crazy. Some blog readers suggested a torch and I have tried it once and will report back how effective it is!
We use OneDrive for all our photo backup and store them there from the get-go…but we probably should have an external harddrive as a redundancy…
Melissa
I put my to-do lists on my computer. I used to use paper, but now I put everything in ROAM research. One thing I enjoy seeing on our walks down to the dog beach are the cormorants drying their wings. They line up on a rail on our route. A demerit for me is that I haven’t backed up our photos for a three months now. I also just got notified that I need a mammogram and I got my bowel screening kit in the mail, so if I haven’t done them by the time of your next post they will be demerits too.
Stephany
Ughhhh Feedly. It was working just fine and this week, all my blog posts are showing up late again. I don’t know why it continues to have SO MANY ISSUES. Get it together!!
John BUILT you a desktop?? Like from scratch?!!?
Elisabeth
Well, he puts it all together – he bought a case and then put in hard-drives, power supply, fans, etc. He didn’t solder the metal and build the electronics…but he assembled everything “bespoke” š It’s his hobby!
San
Ugh. Feedly. It’s so frustrating… but from my experience, it’s not really Feedly but some security services that have a problem with Feedly’s IP range. I haven’t figured out why but apparently it’s not just my blog that is affected (again), right?
Hooray for the new laptop and desktop (and for someone who set it all up – that would be me in our household LOL) and good for you for making that dentist appointment. It must have been so satisfying to get this done (and hear that your oral hygiene is excellent! A gold star for sure!)
Elisabeth
Nope. All sorts of blogs seem to be affected (a few time, mine included). It’s random and sometimes seems to just…sort itself out after a few days or weeks.
coco
Your Barcelona trip sounds epic and for free!! (can’t believe it yet, hahaha).
can you please do a tutorial about how to back up blog? I have WordPress, not sure I can use the plug in you have.
gold star for me in April was definitely Paris trip, trip + big PR. Everything else was on pause, and I’m still doing the catching up, work and life wise.
Elisabeth
I have a WordPress site! The plug-in is PrintMyBlog and you just install the plugin and then select all the dates you want exported. There are a few options – as a PDF, as an html file etc. I store all the text in Google Drive.
Daria
Gold star for myself for starting journaling up again before taking a long hiatus.
Demerit- lack of exercise. But movement is present- walks and hikes. But can always do more. As with anything.
Elisabeth
You and I both don’t love/crave exercise. I feel like it’s going to be a perpetual demerit for me?
Great work on the journalling!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Ive never heard of the sharp hack but it does sound like it’s working. Maybe I give it a try. I am currently feel I am just dragging a long on my to-do list especially the boring stuff that I keep pushing for weeks and months. Maybe that is the trick.
Elisabeth
To-do lists can be such a drag…ugh. Especially when line items stick around for months at a time. Maybe you could break some of the peskier tasks down into smaller chunks?
Lisa's Yarns
I generally only have a to do list for work and then I use calendar reminders or alarms for other family to dos as those tend to be time sensitive and need a prompt for me to remember to do them. My work to do list goes in my W222 planner. I put a tab on that page so I can easily reference the to do list (I take a lot of notes in my planners so the to do list can easily get lost!).
Gold star was for getting through all the travel. I have 2 trips left and then a 1 week break and I am so ready for that one week break! I don’t even want to give myself demerits right now because I don’t want to critique myself right now since I have a lot going on. That sounds like I am making excuses for myself, though!
Elisabeth
You have so much going on Lisa. My head is spinning for you and my heart is hurting. All the high-pressure things at work, non-stop travel, the throes of little years of parenting, and the grief over the loss of such a beloved family member.
Sending hugs and very much looking forward to you having some time at home! (Though one week seems so short. Gah!!)