I’m not going to write daily, though I will keep a tally of my 21-days and update here when I do write.

It seems like Steve has been a little different lately. I can’t tell, though, if he really is different, or if it’s my perception of him. Or maybe it’s me.

February’s selection:

1. Take a multivitamin every day. This deserves its place in my experiment because I detest taking pills. (If only SoBe Life Water had more vitamins…) Check.
2. Quit smoking. This is going to be delayed a day or two, as we have less than two packs left, and then, that’s it. The last time I tried to quit, I forgot why I was quitting, so…

• It will extend my life. And Steve’s.
• It will extend my cats’ lives.
• I will be able to breathe deeply.
• No more coughing.
• My clothes and hair will smell fresh.
• I can sing properly again.
• My voice will not sound like Carrie Fisher’s.
• That money can be spent on other things.

There’s a slight blur on this photo – unintentional – but I loved the composition enough to keep it. Shadow woke up milliseconds after this shot.

My cats are notoriously difficult to photograph. That good one in my last entry? One good one out of fifteen shots. They move. They sneeze. They lick themselves. If they were children, they’d all be that kid that ruins the class photo by crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue at the last second.

But, I love my cats. I’ll keep trying… and every now and then, I’ll get a good photo.

I experimented with cat snapshots a little today. We were awake by early afternoon, and the light was great. I cannot wait until Steve’s back on days…

I’ve spent my evening catching up on letters and postcards I’ve promised, and thinking about possibilities for some 4″x4″ art. I’ll probably do a collage and a sketch for a mini-zine.

I adore my camera. It’s so easy to use, and has all the features I currently need or want. I’d like to start taking photos every day, and as I mentioned before, that prompts me to wonder about photo hosting. Should I just continue to use Flickr, or should I get hosting and a domain again? I had a few problems with my last host, at the end, so if I choose door number two, I’ll probably want to find a different host. On the other hand, I could resurrect my plans to host the website myself… but I think I’ve forgotten all the details I once knew. Someone, please, throw me a line before I think myself into insensibility.

This afternoon, Josh and I confirmed out next little “business venture,” and I got paid. At 4:45, Steve and I left for Garden City, KS, hoping we could get there before Staples closed. Why? They are the only store in a rather wide radius that carried the camera I wanted. And they only had one in stock. And it just went on sale today. And closing time’s six o’clock.

Sure, the roads are kind of bad in-town, because of all the snow, but the highways are clear. Fifteen minutes to get to Liberal, and through it, then an hour to get to Garden and into Staples’ doors. Perfect timing, a little minor speeding, and some very kind Staples employees means that I have a new camera.

It’s only a point-and-shoot, but it’s far, far better than my old Kodak, and I am happy.

The three:

1. Writing. Yesterday, no check. Today, check. *
2. Caffeine. Check, both days.
3. Secret. Check, both days.

Overall results of the first 21 days:

1. Writing. It was difficult, but I did manage to write most days. Some days were written in a notebook and published later, but they were written.
2. Caffeine. Again, difficult, and not quite as successful. However, I did notice that on the days I drank more than one, I actually stopped to think about it before choosing to have a second. That’s progress.
3. Secret. Successful.

I’ll spend the next week deciding on the next few habits for February’s experiment, and not reporting my progress on the first three, to see if accountability influences the results.

The three:

1. Writing. Check. Grudgingly.
2. Caffeine. Check.
3. Secret. No check. Sneezing is a deterrant.

After all this, we had lunch, and she dropped me off at home. I tried to sleep, and failed again. So, I headed over to put together the party bags. We got them together and hidden just before Jereme and Dad came home. I left soon after they arrived, and once home, tried and failed to sleep once more. I was exhausted, but I literally could not fall asleep.

Since then, I’ve been doing things that don’t require much concentration. I’ve been saving all that concentration to write this. Heh.

The three:

1. Writing. Check. Missed yesterday. Oops.
2. Caffeine. Check for yesterday. Huge no-check for today.
3. Secret. Check, both days.

Mom called this afternoon, saying she was craving fish, and it was my fault. I’d been distracted with other things, so my mind attempted an instant replay of what she said, as I only registered, “it’s your fault.” Wittily replying, “huh?” I processed what she said, and then remembered the show we watched yesterday. “Oh, right.” She sent Steve and I to pick up some takeout fish for all of us.

Slice of life: Since I’ve been reading the LJ comm customers_suck, I’ve been almost hyperaware of my demeanor as a customer.

After dinner, I beat Jereme at Candyland for the first time. Kid has uncanny luck, and I was actually surprised that I won.

The three:

1. Writing. Check.
2. Caffeine. No check. One in the morning, and one with the fish. Gotta work on this.
3. Secret. Check.

Today was nice. Another of those small days, but nice. Steve and I played Star Wars: Battlefront for awhile this afternoon, and then we went over to my parents’ to visit. Jereme hasn’t been feeling well, but he seemed fine tonight. Mom and I watched an episode of Iron Chef America (Battle Wild Salmon), before I left. She was really impressed with the numerous ways they’d prepare the fish.

Insomnia – or whatever you’d call it – struck again last night, messing me up, and I’m ready to fall asleep in what should be the middle of my day.

The three:

1. Writing. Check. In a notebook.
2. Caffeine. Check. Although I really wanted a second.
3. Secret. Too tired. Blah.

While writing the letters, I went off on tangents about travel, living in Alaska, mail art (naturally), and everything else under the sun. That was a lot of fun, but I’ve got to remember to save something for my journal next time. *laughs*

The three:

1. Writing. Check.
2. Caffeine. No check. Had two.
3. Secret. Check.