head in the clouds

Sometimes when I have many things that I would like to do I become overwhelmed by them, not knowing which to do first. It usually helps to make a list and prioritize. It makes sense. However, there are times when I refuse to do so. I'm not exactly sure why. It could be laziness. It's more likely that my fear of failure stops me from writing things down; letting ideas escape and plans abscond. There are other times when I do actually write things down. Things get done. But after some time, the list disappears, tucked away in one of my many notebooks. Forgotten. Incomplete.

So... here are potential creative endeavors that have kept me somewhat paralyzed:
Layouts/Styles/CSS
✓ 1. I'm currently in the process of converting Koi into an official DW layout. I already have a draft of it with Transmogrified as a base. I've since changed the layout base and had modified the CSS, but forgot to save it. *facepalm* So I have to do that over again. I have added all the basic stuff to the customization wizard plus some extra things. Once I re-modify the CSS I have to add in the customization wizard stuff so that things work like I want them to.

2. I want to make more styles for Koi. I have ideas, but I'm not experienced with creating fancy graphic stuff.

3. I want to make another layout that has a drop-down option for background images. The images will be transparent so that they blend with the layout background color. There will be light and dark options. I'll probably use a modified version of the Koi layout structure for this layout. I'm thinking of calling it Vanilla, because the base theme will be plain. I'm bad with naming things.

✓ 4. I want to create a community called "make my layout!" where I make a random person's dream layout come true. I want to do this because I'm not really interested in creating layouts from the ether but I still want to make them. It's easier when you have visuals and stuff.

Knitting/Crochet
It's chillier and for some strange reason I get the urge to knit during this time of the year. I'm in a scarfy mood.
Patterns:
1. Flared Lace Smoke Ring (An abandoned cowl. Needs to be frogged and restarted.)
2. Colchicaceae (A non-triangular shawl/wrap. It's so pretty and free!)
3. Reunion Cowl (A versatile cowl, similar to one I made last year. Really cute and easy!)
4. Bergen Street Mitts (Armwarmers. Great opportunity to learn the magic loop method.)
5. Kumano 900 (Crochet! A custom amigurumi pattern made for me by the lovely Socchan for help_pakistan. Carrot from Red Heart Yarn seems to be the perfect color for him. I'm thinking of using the same pattern to make Fifi Lapin with the white yarn I have on hand.)

Reading
1. I started reading The Mists of Avalon. I would like to finish it and keep a reading log of impressions/ideas/etc as I read.

2. I recently bought some personal/spiritual growth books for cheap from Discount New Age Books. I would like to read them and apply things within to my life. For me, that means reading and taking notes. Some of these books have assignments, so there's extra work to be done.

Books recently bought:
The Fresh Start Promise by Edwige Gilbert
The Courage To Be Yourself by Sue Patton Thoele
Remember Who You Are by Linda Carrol

Books not-so-recently bought, but would like to do the same to:
Luminous Mind, Meditation and Mind Fitness by Joel and Michelle Levey
Less, Accomplishing More by Doing Less by Marc Lesser
The Red Book by Sera Beak
Pronoia by Rob Brezsny

3. I have this crazy idea of going over my old physics and astronomy textbooks, reading them and solving the problems for mental exercise. I've been feeling rather dull and would like to sharpen my thinking. This would probably help. I also want to read more cosmology and refreshing on the basic physical and astronomical principles is not a bad idea.

Life and other miscellany
1. Exercise. I've added a slew of dance/yoga/overall fitness videos to my Netflix queue. Thanks to Roku, I can see them on the TV screen instead of my laptop. I must do them. Must.

2. It has been recently brought to my attention that there actually are reputable online degree programs from actual universities. I know, I feel like a silly goose for coming to this realization just now. I'm currently searching for a master's degree program that can serve as a stepping stone to another master's/professional degree. This seems to fit the bill, and I really like the sound of it.

✓ 3. Vote! I know it's not a creative endeavor, but it takes time to research and inform myself about about the issues. So it goes here.

4. Clean/Organize/Minimalize my room/stuff. I have to cull my magazine collection, recycle all the paper stuff I have, and make my room feel better. I'm going to pretend that we have company coming over and that the house has to be presentable.

5. Upgrade laptop hard drive. I bought an upgrade in July as a birthday gift to myself, but I've been stalling on installing. Heh. I should clean up my hard drive by deleting old unnecessary files before making an image of the drive/backing stuff up. I already have an external hard drive big enough to handle my data.

6. I want to keep a sketch journal. I already have one, but I need to keep up with it. I also have a project planning journal that should be getting some use.

7. origfic_bingo. Even if I don't finish a bingo, I would like to create a story and illustrate it. I would be very happy with that.