A day late, a buck short.

I started to update yesterday, but my heart wasn't in it, so I didn't. Quite honestly, my heart isn't really in it today either, but I'll give it go. I mean, in the interests of complete honesty, I've not been eager or motivated to do much recently. I have been supremely lame.

Alas, I have watched some movies & read some books, so here we go.

7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (32/100) - in progress

I watched "Forrest Gump" last Monday, which was a lot sadder than I had expected it to be. To be fair, no one had really painted it as a comedy -- all I really knew was the box of chocolates quote, and the fact that he runs, and that everyone I ever met yelled at me for never having seen the movie. I also watched "Singing in the Rain" this past week, which I began with a let's-just-get-this-over-with mentality. Then I ended up kind of liking it.

8. Read 50 books (44/50) - in progress

I finished "Anna Karenina" (finally) last Monday, and to be honest, I was disappointed with how it ends. In fact, I don't even remember how it ended, I just remember being disappointed. I had a huge, dramatic scene in my head of when she throws herself in front of the train, and didn't feel any of the drama when I read it. But hey, now I can say I've read Anna Karenina. I also finished "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan, which I really enjoyed. It made me eager to grow my own food and shop at farmers markets and raise chickens for their eggs.

13. Complete a soundtrack to '09 & '10 & '11 (1/3) - in progress

I updated the soundtrack through mid-July, although it is interesting to me how heavily I relied on music and lyrics in senior year of high school and the first three years of college. I don't know if I listen to less music, or have fewer emotions (?) but it's been harder this year to think of songs that truly remind me of a moment, rather than "Oh, this was popular on the radio." I think I have eight or 10 songs for the first seven months of this year.

25. Learn to cook 52 new recipes & organize them in one place (30/52) - in progress

I adapted a recipe for chicken and summer vegetable tostadas last night. By adapted, I mean made it cheaper by omitting the chicken, more convenient by adding some tomatoes I had in the fridge, and structured for the lazy by making them soft tacos instead of messing with the broiler. So really, it was four types of veggies sprinkled with salt, pepper and cumin and topped with cheese, wrapped in a tortilla. Kind of a recipe?

Then today, I am about two hours into the three-hour process of bread-making. I tried to find the simplest recipe on the Internet, and then dove in with both feet. I hope it's delicious -- it's in its second hour of rising, and then it has to cook for 30 minutes. If it tastes delicious, I am pretty sure I will try it with whole wheat flour, and then stop buying bread from the store. There's something reassuring in knowing exactly what is going into your bread, which is something I've become increasingly aware of after reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma." Eating more whole foods (or ones I make myself, like the bread) is becoming more attractive.

30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (16/25) - in progress

I checked out "Fast Food Nation" and "Nickel and Dimed," two narrative nonfiction books that have been on my list books I'd like to read for a few months. I also discovered (and immediately put to good use) the option they have at my library to request books. On second thought, most libraries probably have this, and it's not a miraculous invention -- just the option to be notified when a book becomes available to check out, rather than having to constantly check and re-check the online catalog, which I did with Omnivore's Dilemma.

56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (33/143) - in progress

I count this as a mild success this week. I did yoga on Monday and Thursday, and walked down to Walmart on Wednesday. Apparently I need to ease back into an active lifestyle, because I was huffing and puffing during yoga Monday. Embarrassing? Absolutely. An obvious result of not exercising for six weeks? Guess so.

69. Shop at a farmer's market during season for fruits & vegetables I buy - in progress

I bought peaches & cherry tomatoes last week at the farmers market, and after I let the peaches ripen in paper bag for two days, good Lord they are out of this world. I still bought my strawberries & zucchini & lettuce & red onion at the Giant, but that is because I plan poorly. I hope, this week, to meal plan before the market Wednesday so I buy accordingly.

About three days behind on the prompts. Again, I blame the "supremely lame" aspect of my current, non-motivated, somewhat depressing state of mind. I'm working on it.

-- Till next time.