7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (35/100) - in progress
I watched "MASH" last Monday, and once again fell asleep in the last half hour. I sure hope the last half hours don't hold the climax and resolution of the movies I've been watching, cause I'd sure be missing out... Oh wait. In any case, I wasn't impressed by the MASH. It didn't seem to have a very formal plot, and I was wanting something more at stake.
8. Read 50 books (47/50) - in progress
I read "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert in two days this week -- I got sucked into the romance of the "Leave everything behind and travel the world, easily making friends and eating fabulous food and spending time in meditation" lifestyle that I am terrified to actually live. I thought it was a pretty good book, and I think Julia Roberts would do well playing the author, so I'd like to see the movie too.
25. Learn to cook 52 new recipes and organize them in one place (31/52) - in progress
I made zucchini bread today, because my aunt visited overnight this past weekend and brought two of the most gigantic zucchinis I have ever seen in my LIFE, and I didn't know what else to do with them. Honestly, the things are like the size of wine bottles. I used half of one for three cups of grated zucchini. And while I love breads, this one doesn't have much flavor. I might try a different recipe for my next batch.
37. Own a plant for a year without killing it - accomplished
I don't know if I can technically call this accomplished, because about a ten days ago, some punk animal came into my fenced patio / courtyard area and annihilated my orchid, literally within an inch of its life. Not only dug around in the dirt, but stripped it's stems / branches and really did a number on it. I moved it inside, and I am trying to nurse it back to life (and to be honest, if it survived in my parents' basement for a year with limited light and only sporadic watering, it should survive a raccoon attack). So it's not all brown and crumbly yet, which means... I mothered a plant for a whole year! And it even bloomed in April. Bam, suckers.
40. Enter a tournament - accomplished
I also may be stretching this one, because what I technically entered was a giveaway contest that I had no control over whatsoever, BUT I TOTALLY WON, so I am counting it. It was a giveaway for a necklace on a blog I follow. And let's be totally honest, I put this on the list thinking I'd enter the beer pong tournament that my roommate's frisbee team hosted at school, so "downgrading" to a giveaway is really almost an upgrade.
56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (34/143) - in progress
I worked out twice last week, but nothing this week. It happens, I guess.
69. Shop at a farmer's market during season for fruits & vegetables I buy - in progress
I haven't been to the farmers market in a few weeks, but like I said, my aunt brought me enough produce to feed an army -- green peppers, hot peppers, zucchini, a cucumber, broccoli, peaches and plums. I don't know what it is about peaches this time of year but they are out of control delicious.
About four days behind on the prompts, but still chugging along.
-- Till next time.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Halfway!
So according to a calculator I found online and according to a date I wrote down a few weeks ago but am now second guessing for no reason, I hit the halfway mark on my 101 on Wednesday, July 28. So I decided it's time to take inventory of the list and what things don't make sense any more, aren't realistic or plain need to change.
The rules? I can't change anything just because I don't want to do it anymore. The challenges I change have to be because of a valid reason (finances, location etc.), and I think the replacement challenge should stay in the same vein (creative, food etc.)
15. Knit / crochet 15 projects from my 2009 calendar (0/15) will become:
15. Finish knitting the grey scarf I began in the fall of junior year of college.
Because: I don't knit anymore, and I don't really have the desire to. It's time consuming, and unless I'm doing a straight knit, I can't do anything else at the same time -- no talking, no TV -- which makes it incredibly boring. But I do need to finish that scarf, because let's be serious, it's just embarrassing that it's taken me three years to knit a 5-foot, knit/purl scarf.
19. Find and print some of my own photos for my parents' basement will become:
19. When I finish the 26 Things Challenge, make a photobook of the images.
Because: I originally put this on the challenge because my dad talked about it a lot. I think he had a grand vision of the basement without Adam's toys sprawled out everywhere. But as it turns out, an 8-year-old cares even less about keeping things neat / picked up / classy than a 4-year-old. So I don't know that it's realistic to put black and white photos on the wall and have Transformers strewn about.
28. Sit in the audience of a late-night talk show will become:
28. See a comedy or improv show.
Because: I sincerely dislike late-night talk shows other than Conan, and I don't see myself making a trip to California any time soon. But I still like to laugh, and I know there is an improv group in Harrisburg.
33. Learn to surf will become:
33. Do something (similar) outside of my comfort zone.
Because: I know that even if I get to a beach this summer or next, I will not take surfing lessons... and I am having a total brain fart as to what to do instead. But I'll replace this with something sports-related when I think of it.
54. Climb the rock wall at UREC will become:
54. Get enough upper body strength to do at least 10 real pushups.
Because: I don't know when I'll be at UREC again. But it's really equally challenging. You think real pushups aren't hard? Because they are. Because currently, I can do about two modified (read: girl) pushups, and then I cry. Which is embarassing, even when the only things that can see me are my plants.
55. Try six new classes at UREC at least two times each will become:
55. Try six different workouts at home at least two times each.
Because: I'm still trying to save money by working out at home instead of using a gym, and this will accomplish the same goal of trying new exercises and not getting bored or stuck in a rut.
85. Visit a country in Europe will become:
85. Plan a stateside European mini-vacation.
Because: In between the cost of a trip to Europe and the vacation time it would suck up, I'm replacing this with a "pretend southcentral Pennsylvania is Europe" expedition. A friend at work did this and said it was actually kind of fun. So I don't have the details planned, but it will probably involve wine, so you really can't lose.
88. Go on three interesting dates with Chris will become:
88. Make three new friends in Carlisle.
Because: Chris and I aren't dating anymore. But also because friends are a nice thing to have.
94. Buy / receive a new lens for my SLR camera will become:
94. Learn to use my SLR camera.
Because: I was understanding it OK after my photojournalism course, but since then I've slowly regressed to keeping it on automatic, which is not the point with a SLR. There are some inexpensive classes through community centers in the area, so it shouldn't be too hard to find one. And it doesn't make sense to buy ultra-expensive equipment for a camera I can't even understand.
So I changed nine things, which comes in under my maximum of 10. Success!
The rules? I can't change anything just because I don't want to do it anymore. The challenges I change have to be because of a valid reason (finances, location etc.), and I think the replacement challenge should stay in the same vein (creative, food etc.)
15. Knit / crochet 15 projects from my 2009 calendar (0/15) will become:
15. Finish knitting the grey scarf I began in the fall of junior year of college.
Because: I don't knit anymore, and I don't really have the desire to. It's time consuming, and unless I'm doing a straight knit, I can't do anything else at the same time -- no talking, no TV -- which makes it incredibly boring. But I do need to finish that scarf, because let's be serious, it's just embarrassing that it's taken me three years to knit a 5-foot, knit/purl scarf.
19. Find and print some of my own photos for my parents' basement will become:
19. When I finish the 26 Things Challenge, make a photobook of the images.
Because: I originally put this on the challenge because my dad talked about it a lot. I think he had a grand vision of the basement without Adam's toys sprawled out everywhere. But as it turns out, an 8-year-old cares even less about keeping things neat / picked up / classy than a 4-year-old. So I don't know that it's realistic to put black and white photos on the wall and have Transformers strewn about.
28. Sit in the audience of a late-night talk show will become:
28. See a comedy or improv show.
Because: I sincerely dislike late-night talk shows other than Conan, and I don't see myself making a trip to California any time soon. But I still like to laugh, and I know there is an improv group in Harrisburg.
33. Learn to surf will become:
33. Do something (similar) outside of my comfort zone.
Because: I know that even if I get to a beach this summer or next, I will not take surfing lessons... and I am having a total brain fart as to what to do instead. But I'll replace this with something sports-related when I think of it.
54. Climb the rock wall at UREC will become:
54. Get enough upper body strength to do at least 10 real pushups.
Because: I don't know when I'll be at UREC again. But it's really equally challenging. You think real pushups aren't hard? Because they are. Because currently, I can do about two modified (read: girl) pushups, and then I cry. Which is embarassing, even when the only things that can see me are my plants.
55. Try six new classes at UREC at least two times each will become:
55. Try six different workouts at home at least two times each.
Because: I'm still trying to save money by working out at home instead of using a gym, and this will accomplish the same goal of trying new exercises and not getting bored or stuck in a rut.
85. Visit a country in Europe will become:
85. Plan a stateside European mini-vacation.
Because: In between the cost of a trip to Europe and the vacation time it would suck up, I'm replacing this with a "pretend southcentral Pennsylvania is Europe" expedition. A friend at work did this and said it was actually kind of fun. So I don't have the details planned, but it will probably involve wine, so you really can't lose.
88. Go on three interesting dates with Chris will become:
88. Make three new friends in Carlisle.
Because: Chris and I aren't dating anymore. But also because friends are a nice thing to have.
94. Buy / receive a new lens for my SLR camera will become:
94. Learn to use my SLR camera.
Because: I was understanding it OK after my photojournalism course, but since then I've slowly regressed to keeping it on automatic, which is not the point with a SLR. There are some inexpensive classes through community centers in the area, so it shouldn't be too hard to find one. And it doesn't make sense to buy ultra-expensive equipment for a camera I can't even understand.
So I changed nine things, which comes in under my maximum of 10. Success!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
All I do is consume media & cook eggs.
7. Watch all movies on AFIs top 100 (34/100) - in progress
I watched "To Kill A Mockingbird" on Monday, which was somewhat interesting -- moreso when it finally reached the trial. Robert Duvall is a creepy looking man in that movie though. Face could kill millions out of fright. I also watched "Taxi Driver" yesterday, which I fell asleep in during the last half hour. It's too bad, really, because I think the last half-hour was probably one of the more entertaining and important parts. But I can't seem to stay awake recently... unless, of course, it's after midnight and I should be sleeping.
8. Read 50 books (46/50) - in progress
I finished "Fast Food Nation" this week, along with "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. I've seen the movie based on Fast Food Nation, so some of it was repetitive, but the entire food industry is honestly a mess and I think all it's doing is adding stress to my grocery shopping and if I should ever eat meat again. Is it bad that slaughterhouses move at such a rapid pace (to increase profit) that sometimes (most of the time, according to this book) fecal matter gets into the meat that gets sold to consumers? And the USDA has no power to enforce food recalls when E. coli gets into the meat and kills children? I'd think so. But I also don't understand what I can do, other than not buy meat. It's incredibly interesting to learn all these things -- but I also feel rather helpless.
Nickel and Dimed, on the other hand, did not have that effect at all. It was written by a journalist who works three minimum-wage jobs for a month each, and tries to survive on $6 or $7 or $8 an hour. It wasn't nearly as interesting as the agriculture / food books I've been reading, except when it made me feel guilty that my mom hires a cleaning lady.
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (18/25) - in progress
I took out a book on a woman who lived with the Amish for a bit, called "Plain and Simple." And then "A Clockwork Orange" became available through the hold I'd put on it, so I picked that up too.
69. Shop at a farmer's market during season for fruits & vegetables I buy - in progress
I went down to the farmers market again on Wednesday, and bought more peaches and some eggs. I was pumped to eat those eggs this week, so I had an adorable meal of free-range eggs sunny side up and homemade toast (and grocery store milk, but we can't all be perfect, OK). I think the egg yolks were creamier, but maybe that was just my mind playing tricks on me. When I bought the eggs though, I asked if the woman sold them by half-dozen, and she said no, but they lasted quite a long time... and then proceeded to tell me a story about how her friend went to Africa for a month and her eggs were still good when she came back. You just don't get those anecdotes in the dairy aisle of the grocery.
I'm about a thousand days behind on my journaling, an ultimate fail that I am resolved to fixing this weekend. I hope. Also, in unrelated news, I decided to do a separate page for the 6 in 60, like I am keeping for the AFI movies and the books I've read.
-- Till next time.
I watched "To Kill A Mockingbird" on Monday, which was somewhat interesting -- moreso when it finally reached the trial. Robert Duvall is a creepy looking man in that movie though. Face could kill millions out of fright. I also watched "Taxi Driver" yesterday, which I fell asleep in during the last half hour. It's too bad, really, because I think the last half-hour was probably one of the more entertaining and important parts. But I can't seem to stay awake recently... unless, of course, it's after midnight and I should be sleeping.
8. Read 50 books (46/50) - in progress
I finished "Fast Food Nation" this week, along with "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. I've seen the movie based on Fast Food Nation, so some of it was repetitive, but the entire food industry is honestly a mess and I think all it's doing is adding stress to my grocery shopping and if I should ever eat meat again. Is it bad that slaughterhouses move at such a rapid pace (to increase profit) that sometimes (most of the time, according to this book) fecal matter gets into the meat that gets sold to consumers? And the USDA has no power to enforce food recalls when E. coli gets into the meat and kills children? I'd think so. But I also don't understand what I can do, other than not buy meat. It's incredibly interesting to learn all these things -- but I also feel rather helpless.
Nickel and Dimed, on the other hand, did not have that effect at all. It was written by a journalist who works three minimum-wage jobs for a month each, and tries to survive on $6 or $7 or $8 an hour. It wasn't nearly as interesting as the agriculture / food books I've been reading, except when it made me feel guilty that my mom hires a cleaning lady.
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (18/25) - in progress
I took out a book on a woman who lived with the Amish for a bit, called "Plain and Simple." And then "A Clockwork Orange" became available through the hold I'd put on it, so I picked that up too.
69. Shop at a farmer's market during season for fruits & vegetables I buy - in progress
I went down to the farmers market again on Wednesday, and bought more peaches and some eggs. I was pumped to eat those eggs this week, so I had an adorable meal of free-range eggs sunny side up and homemade toast (and grocery store milk, but we can't all be perfect, OK). I think the egg yolks were creamier, but maybe that was just my mind playing tricks on me. When I bought the eggs though, I asked if the woman sold them by half-dozen, and she said no, but they lasted quite a long time... and then proceeded to tell me a story about how her friend went to Africa for a month and her eggs were still good when she came back. You just don't get those anecdotes in the dairy aisle of the grocery.
I'm about a thousand days behind on my journaling, an ultimate fail that I am resolved to fixing this weekend. I hope. Also, in unrelated news, I decided to do a separate page for the 6 in 60, like I am keeping for the AFI movies and the books I've read.
-- Till next time.
Monday, July 26, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Weekend Update.
7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (30/100) - in progress
I watched Casablanca on Friday, which I ended up loving. I'm not sure why -- maybe because it showed a different side of World War II I didn't know about with all the French coming down to Casablanca to escape to America, but maybe also because I was rooting for the love story part of it. Because let's face it, after all -- I am a girl.
8. Read 50 books (42/50) - in progress
I read Eli Wiesel's "Night" in an afternoon last week. I think I was rushing through it just because I'm so ready to be done with Anna Karenina, but it was a powerful piece. I hope to be done with AK today -- it's on my "Things You Will Do Monday by Penalty of Death" list I made last night, which is apparently the only way I can motivate myself on my days off.
25. Learn to cook 52 recipes and organize them in one place (28/52) - in progress
My mom got me probably 10 cookbooks for my birthday, and wouldn't you know it, the first recipe I try back at home is ripped out of a magazine. I made a three-pepper spicy pizza, which was yes, delicious, but also not lying about the spicy factor. It called for a red pepper, a pablano pepper and eight pepperocinis, but I didn't see the pepperocinis at the grocery, so I just chose two hot yellow peppers, and I was all nervous it wouldn't be as good or as spicy as it should be... lies. First bite I took I was almost crying. But on the brighter side, I drank a lot more water that day?
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (14/25) - in progress
I took out "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan, because a friend recommended it to me before I graduated. I haven't started it yet (damn you, Anna Karenina) but I'm becoming more interested in the impact my decisions about food have on the environment around me.
90. Use cards that have compiled in my home desk - in progress
I used these to write thank-you notes last week for my birthday, and I also sent a birthday card today, so I'm making progress... a few are holiday-specific, and one is for my daughter, so I'm not sure I'll use that one by 2011. Unless anyone wants to be my surrogate daughter for a quick second? I offer hugs and a (birthday, I think) card.
93. Acquire the basic spices for my kitchen - accomplished
I'm going to consider this accomplished, because I was just looking through the list & realized that first of all, I haven't bought new spices in quite some time (although that may be a product of the fact I simply have not cooked anything besides chicken and eggs in approximately 8,000 days) and second of all, the lazy Susan where I keep my spices is full. Pretty sure I have the basics by now. On a related note, I'm growing my own basil and chives (and something else I can't identify by sight and have forgotten the name of) from seeds and I just repotted them, and I am afraid once again that I have killed them. My green thumb is not so green.
Getting better on keeping up with the prompts, and I may exercise today. When I woke up, I put on my exercise clothes so I'll feel supremely guilty if I end up vegging on the couch... I think that may work? It's also on my list of Things I Will Do Monday by Penalty of Death, so I suppose I should follow through on that. I should've put something noble on there, like "Save the world," or "Get rid of the disgusting trash smell that currently permeates my downstairs." Alas.
-- Till next time.
I watched Casablanca on Friday, which I ended up loving. I'm not sure why -- maybe because it showed a different side of World War II I didn't know about with all the French coming down to Casablanca to escape to America, but maybe also because I was rooting for the love story part of it. Because let's face it, after all -- I am a girl.
8. Read 50 books (42/50) - in progress
I read Eli Wiesel's "Night" in an afternoon last week. I think I was rushing through it just because I'm so ready to be done with Anna Karenina, but it was a powerful piece. I hope to be done with AK today -- it's on my "Things You Will Do Monday by Penalty of Death" list I made last night, which is apparently the only way I can motivate myself on my days off.
25. Learn to cook 52 recipes and organize them in one place (28/52) - in progress
My mom got me probably 10 cookbooks for my birthday, and wouldn't you know it, the first recipe I try back at home is ripped out of a magazine. I made a three-pepper spicy pizza, which was yes, delicious, but also not lying about the spicy factor. It called for a red pepper, a pablano pepper and eight pepperocinis, but I didn't see the pepperocinis at the grocery, so I just chose two hot yellow peppers, and I was all nervous it wouldn't be as good or as spicy as it should be... lies. First bite I took I was almost crying. But on the brighter side, I drank a lot more water that day?
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (14/25) - in progress
I took out "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan, because a friend recommended it to me before I graduated. I haven't started it yet (damn you, Anna Karenina) but I'm becoming more interested in the impact my decisions about food have on the environment around me.
90. Use cards that have compiled in my home desk - in progress
I used these to write thank-you notes last week for my birthday, and I also sent a birthday card today, so I'm making progress... a few are holiday-specific, and one is for my daughter, so I'm not sure I'll use that one by 2011. Unless anyone wants to be my surrogate daughter for a quick second? I offer hugs and a (birthday, I think) card.
93. Acquire the basic spices for my kitchen - accomplished
I'm going to consider this accomplished, because I was just looking through the list & realized that first of all, I haven't bought new spices in quite some time (although that may be a product of the fact I simply have not cooked anything besides chicken and eggs in approximately 8,000 days) and second of all, the lazy Susan where I keep my spices is full. Pretty sure I have the basics by now. On a related note, I'm growing my own basil and chives (and something else I can't identify by sight and have forgotten the name of) from seeds and I just repotted them, and I am afraid once again that I have killed them. My green thumb is not so green.
Getting better on keeping up with the prompts, and I may exercise today. When I woke up, I put on my exercise clothes so I'll feel supremely guilty if I end up vegging on the couch... I think that may work? It's also on my list of Things I Will Do Monday by Penalty of Death, so I suppose I should follow through on that. I should've put something noble on there, like "Save the world," or "Get rid of the disgusting trash smell that currently permeates my downstairs." Alas.
-- Till next time.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Belated.
I was home for the weekend, so no blog Sunday. But here I am, better late than never.
7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (29/100) - in progress
I watched 12 Angry Men last week, which was interesting to me because all the jurors seemed to prejudiced to me. I like to think juries aren't so openly biased against people of different backgrounds or races anymore, but perhaps that isn't true -- I've never sat jury duty. In any case, I also watched The Godfather last week, which I think I liked over all... but it was also so incredibly long that I fell asleep for a bit of the middle hour. But that movie was especially fun because Marlon Brandon is so much older than On the Waterfront -- and actually, I recognized a LOT of actors and actresses who look very different in The Godfather compared to movies now. Overall though, Goodfellas was a better mob movie.
37. Own a plant for at least a year without killing it - in progress
I repotted my orchid plant last week to give it some room to breathe, but I think I stressed it out. It would be just my luck that one month before the one-year anniversary of mothering my plant, it dies... and especially when I was only trying to help.
57. Get the HPV vaccine - in progress
I got my second shot today, so one more to go around Christmastime.
I'm about five days behind on my journaling -- went home and totally forgot about it -- and I haven't exercised in, oh, a month. Good news is I don't have any food in my house because I didn't go to the grocery yet this week, so maybe the no-eating / no-exercising thing will even out.
-- Till next time.
7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (29/100) - in progress
I watched 12 Angry Men last week, which was interesting to me because all the jurors seemed to prejudiced to me. I like to think juries aren't so openly biased against people of different backgrounds or races anymore, but perhaps that isn't true -- I've never sat jury duty. In any case, I also watched The Godfather last week, which I think I liked over all... but it was also so incredibly long that I fell asleep for a bit of the middle hour. But that movie was especially fun because Marlon Brandon is so much older than On the Waterfront -- and actually, I recognized a LOT of actors and actresses who look very different in The Godfather compared to movies now. Overall though, Goodfellas was a better mob movie.
37. Own a plant for at least a year without killing it - in progress
I repotted my orchid plant last week to give it some room to breathe, but I think I stressed it out. It would be just my luck that one month before the one-year anniversary of mothering my plant, it dies... and especially when I was only trying to help.
57. Get the HPV vaccine - in progress
I got my second shot today, so one more to go around Christmastime.
I'm about five days behind on my journaling -- went home and totally forgot about it -- and I haven't exercised in, oh, a month. Good news is I don't have any food in my house because I didn't go to the grocery yet this week, so maybe the no-eating / no-exercising thing will even out.
-- Till next time.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Fourth of July!
7. Watch all movies on AFI's top 100 (27/100) - in progress
I watched "On the Waterfront" on Friday, which I may or may not have fallen asleep during. But just for a few minutes. Some movies on the list make me wonder why they, out of the millions of movies made, would be put on a list of the top 100. But I guess if you think about it, if they resonated with the time period... and that was my conclusion with On the Waterfront. Maybe every dock got shaken down by the mob in the 1950s.
I also just realized I need to get crackin' on my movie-watching, because even watching one a week is going to be cutting it close to missing my deadline.
8. Read 50 books (41/50) - in progress
I finished "A Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs last weekend after I posted, and I also powered through on "Buy-ology" by Martin Lindstrom. Then at work the next day, very nerdily might I add, I explained to my co-workers why we cringe at the thought of maggots being found in an overhead bin in an airplane. (Mirror neurons, if you were wondering)
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (13/25) - in progress
I took out "Night" by Eli Wiesel and "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy on... Thursday maybe? I dove right into Anna Karenina, and it's not too dense yet. I just feel like it's one of those books you're supposed to read.
72. Attend at least 10 free community events (3/10) - in progress
I went to the parade and fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights, which I'll just count as one because the fireworks were quick. I had friends in for the weekend, so it was fun to show them the town and such. And then today we had the greatest experience ever, also known as Anything Floats. Essentially you can enter your contraption in this competition / race, and then you stick it in a lake and paddle it out to a buoy & back. One team just stuck an air mattress in the water, but one team created this ridiculous thing that had a real truck bed in back and was buoyed by plastic barrels, and then they constructed the front of the truck out of cardboard, and they lit stink bombs in the "pipes" so it looked like the truck was smoking. It was just a ridiculous event overall, and fun to watch.
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
I've been trucking along in the journaling. The past few days have been fun prompts, so I'm feeling better about it and happier that I'm doing it. One month down, 11 to go!
-- Till next time.
I watched "On the Waterfront" on Friday, which I may or may not have fallen asleep during. But just for a few minutes. Some movies on the list make me wonder why they, out of the millions of movies made, would be put on a list of the top 100. But I guess if you think about it, if they resonated with the time period... and that was my conclusion with On the Waterfront. Maybe every dock got shaken down by the mob in the 1950s.
I also just realized I need to get crackin' on my movie-watching, because even watching one a week is going to be cutting it close to missing my deadline.
8. Read 50 books (41/50) - in progress
I finished "A Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs last weekend after I posted, and I also powered through on "Buy-ology" by Martin Lindstrom. Then at work the next day, very nerdily might I add, I explained to my co-workers why we cringe at the thought of maggots being found in an overhead bin in an airplane. (Mirror neurons, if you were wondering)
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (13/25) - in progress
I took out "Night" by Eli Wiesel and "Anna Karenina" by Tolstoy on... Thursday maybe? I dove right into Anna Karenina, and it's not too dense yet. I just feel like it's one of those books you're supposed to read.
72. Attend at least 10 free community events (3/10) - in progress
I went to the parade and fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights, which I'll just count as one because the fireworks were quick. I had friends in for the weekend, so it was fun to show them the town and such. And then today we had the greatest experience ever, also known as Anything Floats. Essentially you can enter your contraption in this competition / race, and then you stick it in a lake and paddle it out to a buoy & back. One team just stuck an air mattress in the water, but one team created this ridiculous thing that had a real truck bed in back and was buoyed by plastic barrels, and then they constructed the front of the truck out of cardboard, and they lit stink bombs in the "pipes" so it looked like the truck was smoking. It was just a ridiculous event overall, and fun to watch.
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
I've been trucking along in the journaling. The past few days have been fun prompts, so I'm feeling better about it and happier that I'm doing it. One month down, 11 to go!
-- Till next time.
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