Books, food, exercise & music

8. Read 50 books (1/50) - in progress

I picked up a book on a whim at Target the other day, thinking I would read it when I had some free time - which, by the way, I did not think would be until I turned 43 and stopped being so busy. It's called "Sarah's Key," by Tatiana De Rosnay, and it's a novel about a 10-year-old girl whose family was taken by French police in 1942 during the roundups of Jewish families, and how sixty years later, an American living in France happens upon her story. And it is devastating. I sat down to read the beginning of it late Saturday night, thinking I'd stop after an hour or so and go to bed, and I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. because I could not put the book down. I would easily recommend it to anyone.

13. Complete a soundtrack to '09 & '10 & '11 - in progress

I was visiting my sister in Columbia this weekend, and I have some good songs that I think will probably remind me of the weekend. I've done a soundtrack to '06, '07 and '08, and it's easier to do them as the year progresses rather than trying to remember in December what happened in February or March.

42. Try 15 new restaurants (5/15) - in progress

While in Columbia, we ate at the Liberty Tap Room & Grill for dinner on evening, and a sandwich shop called Which Wich for lunch one afternoon. Liberty was a little salty for my taste, but we ordered crab dip as an appetizer and I wished that was my entire dinner. It was delicious - and for being not so close to the water, good seafood. Which Wich was a fun, low-key place comparable to Firehouse Subs, if you've heard of that. Much better than Subway, anyhow. I think the next restaurant I try, however, should be in H'burg. The reason I put this on here was so that I would quit going to the same restaurant (Applebees, because I am addicted) when my parents visited.

56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (1/143) - in progress

I took a step class on Monday, which is my staple of exercise. And then I got lazy... so I am counting my Friday night at a country western bar in Columbia called Skyline as exercise. My sister's friends would not let me sit down, so I learned a handful of line dances, the two-step and the shag. And because I sweated, I will count it as exercise. I would also count it as one of the best nights I've had. Maybe ever.

93. Acquire the basic spices for my kitchen - in progress

Bought cinnamon, basil, nutmeg and garlic this weekend at Target. I don't exactly know when this will be "accomplished," but I think I am probably still missing a few. Apparently, a list of basic spices includes paprika, onion, red pepper and cumin also. We'll see.

Till next time-

A Myriad of Progress

12. Keep Flickr updated - in progress

I added a few more photos today, ones I had taken near the end of my photojournalism class last semester that I hadn't posted. What I need to be doing is taking new photos on my own. Perhaps spring will inspire me to get out my camera. I get discouraged by the fact that it's bulky and I am afraid of hurting it. Expensive things, apparently, frighten me. Here's the link to my Flickr, in any case: http://www.flickr.com/photo/chainse

25. Learn to cook 52 new recipes and organize them in one place (1/52) - in progress

So I copied my mom's recipe for chicken pot pies and left myself a hefty block of time to try it out. And for this first one, I will admit, I cheated a little bit. I have made chicken pot pies before, about a week before I started the challenge, but it was in my parents' kitchen and so I do not believe it counted. Also, after making them in my own kitchen in my apartment, I have come to greatly appreciate [a], the spacious nature of my parents' kitchen, and [b], the fact that they have mixing bowls. Cooking without them is difficult. Nevertheless, I prevailed and haven't dropped dead from eating it yet.

56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (0/143) - in progress

Oops. Only made it to UREC once this past week. But I did play racquetball, which is something I've been wanting to get back into... and I was traveling in the early part of the week. Alas. I ought to be better motivated there.

66. Stop using plastic grocery bags  - in progress

When I went shopping at WalMart for the ingredients necessary for the chicken pot pies, I brought a canvas bag and by some miracle, the cashier fit everything into it. I thought about buying the canvas bags WalMart sells, but they're tiny! And, I'm in the process of knitting a reusable grocery bag... from old grocery bags. Sound intriguing? I will post a picture of it later when I am finished.

93. Acquire the basic spices for my kitchen - in progress

Chicken pot pies called for pepper and chives, so I am now in possession of salt, pepper, chives and dill. I'm on my way!

Till next time-

42. Try 15 new restaurants (3/15)

Status: In progress (3/15)

I was in New York City in the beginning of the week for the College Media Advisers Conference, and because I often like to pretend I am swimming in piles of money in hopes it will actually be true one day, I ventured out to experience the (very expensive) food options the city had to offer.

1. Mangia E Bevi - 800 9th Ave. 

As a somewhat predictable poor college student with little to no cooking experience, I thrive off Italian food. Pasta is quick, cheap and easy. So a friend of a friend recommended Mangia E Bevi, and I had no hesitations. I liked its atmosphere more than I was impressed with the food, but that's not to say it wasn't delicious -- pasta primavera and white sangria will probably always be a hit with me. But for a small restaurant, the kitschy Italian paintings on the wall and the waiters' offering of tambourines to keep the beat during a birthday celebration at a table near us kept me entertained and enjoying the meal.

2. Juniors - 45 Grand Central Terminal

With only an hour for lunch between sessions at the conference, proximity to the hotel became the deciding factor in this choice, but the food was enjoyable nevertheless. I am noticing, however, that I tend to order the same things regardless of how many new restaurants I visit. Perhaps an addition or revision to #43 will be to order an unusual dish also.

3. Arriba Arriba - 762 9th Ave.

This restaurant was an accidental find on the way to Mangia the night before, but a friend and I had been craving margaritas, so we took a mental note and returned the next night. By far, this was my favorite restaurant we went to during the conference. The margaritas were fabulous and the waiter was even nice enough to make one with rum, despite his reservations he openly expressed about why on Earth anyone would want that. I ordered a burrito chock full of spinach and cheese and broccoli along with the typical burrito stuffings. It was absolutely massive, and absolutely delicious.

All in all, the prices in NY kill me. I won't lie. But aside from paying $30 or $40 a meal, trying new restaurants seems to be an easy feat. I think I will revise it, however, to include ordering an unusual dish and not a staple - no burgers, no chicken caesar salad, no ravioli.

Till next time-

43. Open a CD to last until I graduate

Status: accomplished.

So I jumped the gun a little bit, but I'm done with spring break tomorrow and my bank is at home, so I wanted to open the CD before I went back to school. My dad has been on my case for a while recently because I was earning very little interest in my savings account. Here's the thing though, I had to Google what CD stood for -- certificate of deposit, if you wanted to know -- and when the bank representative told me my interest rate on the CD, I wasn't too impressed. All in all, I'll make about $135 of free money in the next year in exchange for not touching the account until March 14, 2010.

And then, of course, she told me about all the other options a young adult like myself has to earn free money through the stock market and annuities, other things I don't understand. Maybe that should have been a goal on my 101 list: expand my vocabulary to include financial terms so I don't end up investing in a cardboard box community on the streets of NYC.

Although, I'd like to think I'm a snippet smarter than that.

Till next time-

Introduction: The List

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start: March 15, 2009
End: December 11, 2011

Creative / Arts
1. Redraft "Savannah" at least five times, at least one month apart (0/5)
2. Participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
3. Complete a 26 things challenge choosing from a list at http://sh1ft.org/26things/26things-listarchives.html
4. Finish knitting the blanket
5. Knit a hat I am proud to wear
6. Send a postcard to PostSecret
7. Watch all movies on AFI's top list (14/100) - already have seen 14... what a good start
8. Read 50 books. Novels for school count (0/50)
9. Read at least the first Twilight book to see if it's any good
10. Rewrite the list of common editing mistakes in the Bstone office
11. Publish a story
12. Keep Flickr updated
13. Complete a soundtrack to '09 & '10 & '11 (0/3)
14. Do a creative writing prompt once a week for 52 weeks from http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/ (0/52)
15. Knit / crochet 15 projects from my 2009 Page-A-Day calendar (0/15)
16. Make a kick-ass portfolio
17. See five Broadway shows that I haven't seen before (0/5)
18. Attend a concert.
19. Find and print some of my own photos for my parent’s basement
20. Create the paperclip tree with paint chips from sophomore year
21. Sew a t-shirt or scrap fabric quilt.
22. Compile the lyrics I’ve written somewhere, creatively

Education / Exploration
23. Join a new club at JMU
24. Get a job
25. Learn to cook 52 new recipes & organize them in one place (0/52)
26. Move out of my parents' house
27. Follow Virginia Tech & Steelers teams during football seasons
28. Sit in the audience of a late-night talk show
29. Try waxing my legs. At least once
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books – can coincide with 50 books to read (0/25)
31. Complete a senior honors project I am proud of
32. Attend at least one sports event a season - football, basketball, etc (0/12)
33. Learn to surf - or attempt to
34. Go fishing
35. Attend a wine tasting
36. Go paintballing
37. Own a plant for at least a year without killing it
38. Go to the White Elephant or similar flea market at least twice a summer (0/6)
39. Learn to ice skate
40. Enter a tournament - Wii, board games, etc
41. Wake up for a sunrise
42. Try 15 new restaurants (0/15)

Misc.
43. Open a CD to last until I graduate
44. Bookmark heyitsfree.com and check it regularly
45. Keep a swear jar for two weeks – $0.25 per swear
46. Post-it someone’s car
47. Save another $10,000 in my bank account

Home / Auto
48. Replace the WEJs bumper
49. Get chair from Grandma recovered
50. Put up curtains in Sunchase & in my new apartment
51. Furnish my apartment solely through thrift stores & giveaways
52. Use one super-large bookcase to house my book collection
53. SERIOUSLY de-clutter my bedroom at home – with nearly nothing left in it

Fitness / Health / Food
54. Climb the rock wall at UREC
55. Try six new classes at UREC at least twice each (0/6)
56. Make it to the gym or exercise 2-3 times a week for the duration of 101 in 1001
57. Get the HPV vaccine
58. Wear sunblock on exposed skin every day for 30 days, four times (0/30)
59. Go hiking three times. If I like it, go once a month, weather-permitting (0/3)
60. Go tubing
61. Ride the Rail Trail in Westchester
62. Keep a food diary for a week, six times (0/6)
63. Take a cooking class
64. Learn to make a decent cup of coffee
65. Get a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day for 30 days (not necessarily consecutive) (0/30)

Environment / Giving Back / Community
66. Stop using plastic grocery bags
67. Replace light bulbs with ones that are better for the environment
68. Donate blood once a year (0/3)
69. Shop at farmer's market during it's season for fruits and vegetables that I buy
70. Complete a walk or run for charity
71. Take cardboard & newspaper to the dump at least once a semester - once I graduate, contribute to recycling at home or at my new apartment
72. Attend at least 10 free community events (0/10)
73. Volunteer for 50 hours (0/50)
74. Do my laundry in cold water three times and see if I can notice the difference in cleanliness - if not, continue (0/3)
75. Grow my own vegetables - at least one plant, once

Travel
76. Go to the zoo - Bronx or National
77. Spend a day in D.C. looking at art museums
78. Take a multiple-day trip to the beach with friends or Chris
79. Visit Reddish Knob
80. Go to two alumni functions at JMU (0/2)
81. Visit Savannah
82. Visit Charleston
83. Visit the Mosaic Garden in Philadelphia - bring my camera
84. Climb the Statue of Liberty
85. Visit a country in Europe

Relationships
86. Help someone paint a room / paint my own place
87. Send Christmas cards at least one year
88. Go on three interesting dates with Chris - no dinners, no movies (0/3)
89. Camp outside in the backyard with Adam in the summer
90. Use the cards that have compiled in my home desk

Acquire
91. Get a new cell phone
92. Get a credit card
93. Get the basic spices for my apartment, including pepper
94. Buy / receive new lens for my SLR camera
95. Obtain something from freecycle

Added Every 200 Days
96. October 1, 2009
97. April 19, 2010
98. October 26, 2010
99. May 14, 2011

101 in 1001
100. Blog progress
101. Create a new list when this one is completed