Home & Family
I have listed 101 things that I hope to do in the 1001 days between February 23, 2008 and November 20, 2010. These dates have no significance to me... just happen to be when I started the project!
Why am I doing this? Who knows?!? It sounded like fun... I need a challenge... I am at a crossroads in life and am looking for some deeper meaning. I have recently become too focused on getting through each day and have lost sight of needing to enjoy them.
My goals are listed to the left... I will update at least weekly with my progress. I am probably the only one who will visit this site, but if you happen upon it and wish to contact me, my email is [email protected].
And be sure to check out my daughter's website! Tara
Career
Literary & Creative
Day 568 9/12/2009
Okay... this time it is 6 months! Well, I have accomplished some stuff :) No longer swearing or (jokingly) saying things like "Shut up" and "I hate" you, though under the circumstances it just isn't funny anymore... I AM in the certificate program I had planned to do, but with Pitt, instead of PSU... so it is a goal that has been resurrected.
I have finally begun on the Travel and Adventure goals!! I took a spontaneous road trip- alone at that. I also went kayaking- on the river at night to watch fireworks! It was amazing!!
I also left a dollar in a book at the library... tell me if you find it ;) Also had eye surgery (was a great success) and started taking Vit C, Fish oil, and Calcium (along with B12, Niacin, and a few others!).
I lost something, but don't want to say what. And I found something else. Wen to an outdoor concert with friends... a phone was lost in the field. I found it in the dark with no clues as to where it could be just before we gave up!
Day 390 3/19/2009
Wow... I feel like a bum! I haven't updated this site in 2 months?!?
Well... I did make a little progress. I finished 5 short stories! Yeah!! And got two rejection letters- but that is good, because it is better to be rejected than to not try.
I gave myself credit for "test drive a car I can't afford" because I am now using zipcar... okay, not quite the same concept, but I do get to drive cars I can't afford!! It is actually better than test driving!
I also rode the bus just for fun! The girls and I went to the museum over the weekend (and got trapped in the St. Patrick's post-parade madness down town.
Oh- and "make pottery" I fulfilled again- this time actually throwing clay on a wheel rather than just painting it.
I sadly, gained 10 lbs... but just started a modified South Beach type diet and lost 4 of it already. Hopefully the rest will come off, too!
AND I have started jogging again. I started two weeks ago with 8-30 second intervals during my walk. Now I am up to 5-45 sec intervals and 3-30 sec intervals. My next session will be 8-45 second intervals. My goal (though not on the list... hmmm... it's gotta fulfill one of these...)
Day 329 1/17/2009
Saw Sweeney Todd live last night. It was at a community theater so the quality was so-so, but worth what we paid. As is usual with community theater, sometimes you laugh when you are supposed to cringe and cringe when you are supposed to laugh. There was one actor in particular who really impressed me! And it was good to get out and forget about my problems for a while... I had a good time, though it is bitterly cold (1*F)!
I got all my music files labeled and organized! I DO have a few more songs to add off some cds, but the goals was to clean up my music folder, and it is done!!
Does destroying a friendship count as "tearing something down"? I suppose it can also fall under "lose something." Hmmm... I'll have to think on that one.
I think I figured out why "Offer to helps someone who is crying in public" is so hard for me... When I cry in public, I want people to stay the hell away.
I'm going to replace the things that I scrapped... I think I may do a different certificate program (totally different), because I'd like to start some side jobs in my spare time for fun & profit. And I am going to allow myself to take credit for paying off the car, because Tony only made two or three payments without him and it will be paid off when I am sign it over to him in a few weeks.
I think I am ready to get back to Les Miserable, too. Everything that has a monthly/weekly goal, I am going to just treat as X number of items, because I am just not good at keeping track on a regular basis.
Day 315 1/3/2009
Yes, it is actually 2009. I want my hover car, dammit! My goal to label and organize my music files has become complicated... A friend has shared a special music drive with me that has more gigs of music than could fit on the hard drives of my first five computers combined! Luckily most of it is already organized... unlike my own stash... But it gives me a reason to get this one done.
Latest music jag: Blues Traveler. Have always loved them, but just stumbled on some of their lesser known music which is magical. Just Wait, Conquer Me, Mountains Win, Look Around... fabulous stuff. Sent him a fan letter ;) thus fulfilling my "send a letter to a stranger" goal... though I may not let that count as it wasn't really my intent in writing the goal (edited to add: Authorization Revoked)...
Started another story, actually think this one might be good. One thing I have noticed is that it is sometimes hard to tell where I end and my characters begin. None are autobiographical, but I am in every one.
Well, I attempted to catch a meteor shower... but there was too much cloud cover. Of course, the local cemetery is not a truly dark place, but you do what you can do. Had a good time doing it anyhow. There is another one tonight, but I believe it will also be a wash.
Broke a rule & faced a fear and enjoyed both experiences, but can't detail them!
Won something! A $50 gift certificate from work! Spent it already, too!
Made it to the 30 lb mark! Have been sick last week or so, though so haven't be able to exercise. Today was my first day feeling better, so I rode my exercise bike for 40 minutes and took a walk to the nature park for an hour! Of course I also baked death by chocolate cupcakes and ate two (and licked the bowl!).
Day 271 11/20/2008
Literary and Creative #7!! I made my own pottery--or more accurately painted it. It was really a lot of fun. The studio was empty and I got to use all the paint and supplies I wanted. I could sit there all day if I wanted in the quiet. And someone else did the clean up! I get to pick my piece up in a week. My plan is to go in once a pay and paint something. This is how I am going to stock my kitchen with dishes AND Guess what everyone's getting for Christmas!! LOL!
Is it time for some philosophizing? I was worried that once I moved I would still be miserable. Not only am I not miserable, I am happy. I forgot what happy felt like, really. I find myself saying "I had a great day today" all the time. And this isn't laying the blame on anyone for my previous state... I'm happy because I am choosing to be happy.
We all deserve to be happy- every person on earth. Even ex's and their psycho families. And for some people out there in the world, that's pretty damn near impossible. Here we are in America with everything we could need- even the poorest among us have what the rest of the world would see as luxuries- running water, electricity, etc- AND YET we are unhappy. Why?
We all are responsible for creating our own happiness--through our choices , our actions, how we treat others, and how we allow ourselves to be treated. The key is finding out what REALLY makes you happy and going after it... with no excuses, no apologies, no regrets, and no reservations.
Well, I'm still figuring that one out, but I have found some things that work and have purged others that were in my way.
Wishing everyone happiness!
First quarter Status: 22% completed; 5% trashed; 73% to go!
Day 256 11/5/2008
Well... Fun & Entertainment #1 is done five times over! I have taken a bubble bath every night since I moved. Lost some more weight- now UNDER 200 lbs!!
Home & Family #9: Make home welcoming and cozy. Our new place is. I love it. I am at home, feel comfortable, safe, happy there. Have had guests every day and enjoy having people over.
#10, too- as I moved, I got rid of everything I didn't need or love.
Car loan is no longer mine to repay :) So good-bye to finances number 2 (though, on the flip side, the car is no longer mine to drive).
Day 245 10/25/2008
Finished a short story! I kinda like it too... worried some of the dialogue might be off and there may be some cliches that snuck in... but overall I like it. Started revising two others, too, which will complete my goal of 5.
Lost two more pounds, which brings me so close to my mini-goal of being under 200 lbs that it is painful (200lbs, 24 lost). Have been exercising like mad though, so it is no surprise.
Does quitting a job count as turning down a job offer? I guess not, but it was close.
Had the opportunity to offer to help a crying stranger again... and again did nothing. Why is that one so hard for me?!?
Moving day is Friday and I expect that will bring the opportunity to cross a few things off my list!
Day 222 10/2/2008
Had Zero Queries at work for the month of January... but didn't find out until just now. Also had only 1 per month in 3 other months. And I lost 2 more pounds. I think I can definitely say I disappointed someone by telling my husband I want to move out. We are trying it "temporarily," but we both figure it is a permanent thing that should have happened long ago. It has left a lot of people disappointed, I guess, including me. It is weird to cross it off as a goal, because it isn't something I actively worked on... No one wants to disappoint people. I guess the real goal for me in it is learning that sometimes it is an okay, or even preferable choice. You can't live your life in misery out of fear of disappointing people.
Day 212 9/22/2008
Still doing very well with my eating and exercising. In fact... I am now JOGGING. Didn't think I was even capable of that before. Okay, so I only jog for a small portion of my walk for now, but I am increasing it weekly. I started with 20 seconds, 3 times during a 20 min walk. And it was actually difficult. Now I am doing 30 seconds, 6 times per walk and it is actually almost easy. I feel really good afterwards, too (though sweaty!). I would like to work up eventually to 20 minute jogs, three times a week, with 60 min walks on the alternate days (and I would like to still log a total of 60 mins of exercise on my jogging days- either swimming, strength training, or walking). But my goal for now is to get up to 1 min intervals of jogging/walking for a total of 10 jogging.
And after a few weeks I hadn't lost a single pound! I finally did, though and am now down by 20 lbs, which was my first goal. Now to get back under 200!
Other than that, I haven't worked much on list stuff... I have been distracted by a few other goals/situations in my life that need attention. I did learn how to use the predictive function to text message and don't feel so ancient! but I can't find anywhere on the list to fit it... And I have been doing a lot of reading- should have put a 1 book/week goal up, because I have been doing that!
I have found another new cd to get me through... this time it is Shinedown's Sound of Madness. Maybe we just interpret things to mean what we need them to... but it seems to speak directly to my own personal struggles at this moment.
Day 186 8/27/2008
So... the vacation is over and I must return to my everyday life. It isn't so bad... I like my job(s), I like the people I work with... in a twisted way, I even like the commute. I miss my family, but I am sure they appreciate the break from me.
I lost 2 more pounds and have been doing fine with eating and exercising now that I am back to work.
The other day I met People and Society #3--I had a pleasant conversation with a neighbor. A smiling older woman waved and smiled as I walked by, so I stopped, removed my headphones (and it was a Nirvana song, too!) and talk with her for a few moments. I had never seen her before, but I hope to run into her again. She really got me thinking, too. She had said wistfully, "I wish I could take a walk." and I realized how blessed and ungrateful I am... I CAN walk, but consider it a chore. I have to make it a goal and force myself to do it. Despite my complaints about being out of shape, I am healthy in the grand scheme- I need to take advantage of my health by enjoying it AND preserving it to the best of my ability. Some day, I am going to miss it.
Day 181 8/22/2008
The kitchen isn't organized to my standards, but it is to the point I am able to eat in it again and I have done everything I am willing to do. The laundry pile has been conquered. I was actually not sure I would get it done before Tuesday... but I did! Well, I do want to wash the bedding tomorrow... but other than that- it is ALL done!
I got a rejection letter for one of my short stories! It was a bit too prestigious, and I knew that, but if you don't take risks... But if nothing else, a rejection letter reminds me that I have taken that step that most writers don't... I sent in a submission! If you submit, you will likely get some rejections; but if you never submit, you will never get an acceptance!
I have been doing really well with my eating and exercising during the time I have been off. I just need to maintain that once I get back to work. I started by cooking several servings of meals at once and freezing some so I can just grab one to pack for lunch, then grab one for dinner when I get home. I should have enough to get me through the first two weeks back. If I walk to the bus stop, take a walk during my lunch break, and walk back from the bus, that will be my hour/day of exercise.
Day 180 8/21/2008
Down 2 more lbs That's 25% of the total! So, I only have to do this 3 more times! I also found2 quarters... so my savings is up to 99 cents! There is a comedy club right here in Rochester. I wanted to go tomorrow night... but I will have no car and no one to go with :( Well... the next two days I am not going anywhere--So I'll spend it reading, watching some movies, and going for walks. I did screw something up on purpose last night (personal growth #7)... But if I write about it here, I will be incriminating myself.
Day 179 8/20/2008
In looking for a star chart, I found a chart that shows all the dark sky areas in my state with their light pollution rating, along with the clear sky weather forecast. There is one about 4 hours away that has a 3 (1= best, 9= worst), so I think I found my spontaneous road trip. Now I just have to find the money & time! Wait... I am treading closely to "planning." You cannot plan a spontaneous trip.
I went to the Writer's Guild last night! So, even though my schedule will not allow me to go to many meetings, I do consider that goal met! They changed the format of the meetings, though. You read your work aloud and are then verbally berated for 20 minutes or so... They were kind to me, as not to scare me away, I suppose. I'm glad I didn't know, because I probably wouldn't have brought anything if I had! I was also invited to send things to be critiqued, even if I can't make it. I will definitely do this, as there are some very talented & knowledgeable writers there.
I spent the evening with my best friend talking on her porch... something I really needed. Unfortunately, I'm still in the same position I was before... but I got to talk it out. She is a neighbor, but I cannot feel comfortable checking off that goal, because we were friends long before we were neighbors... Getting together with friends is something I really pushed to the side over the past few years. It's good that some friends are loyal enough that they're still there when you come around.
I am up to 49 cents towards my $5000 of savings! Yeah!
Day 178 8/19/2008
I'm going to pull out a star chart tonight and work on identifying the constellations. I am not even going to attempt to do 1 per week, just as many as I can identify. I should be able to complete all of the laundry today. I was hungry all day yesterday. It was the first day since I have really been careful about what I eat that I even thought about it. I wasn't craving anything and I wasn't irritable, searching for food, etc... My stomach just felt empty and kept grumbling. So, I baked a couple small potatoes and had them with olive oil and garlic salt. I printed out the Oscar winners since the beginning... a few of the oldest ones are not available on video yet. I am trying to decide now whether I should try to watch them all in order (and if so, forward or backward) and whether I should watch only the ones I have never seen or watch them all?!? Any suggestions from my loyal fans? <chirp chirp chirp>
Day 177 8/18/2008
Still working on the laundry mound. I have one more load of my own laundry... then moving on the family's. Does downloading new music count as "Organizing music files?" If so, I am making mad progress on that one! Found out a friend has a right proper arsenal so I may get to some real Travel and Adventure soon! I just noticed that is also the only category I have not even touched on yet. I think I'll make up a list of all the Oscar winning movies and try to cross off another one...
Woot! I lost 4 more pounds!
Day 176 8/17/2008
I can't imagine that anyone is reading this daily (or at all!), but I am off these next two weeks, and posting daily (or close to it) will help me stay focused. Today I want to continue #10 & start 9 by continuing to clean the closet & living room/entryway. I am also going to start12- doing the laundry. I don't think I can get it all done at once, but I'm going to try! Oh, I have been reading Les Mis again- maybe I can get through book 1 today. I should do some writing, too. And I want to do at least 1 thing off of this list that is FUN!
I got a lot done AND did have fun today. Zack found some water balloons and lured Kylie outside to pelt her with them... I followed with the camera, thinking I'd be perfectly safe holding it. He was standing next to me and asked to see the picture I had just taken--took the phone from me and dropped a monster balloon on my head. We went to Brady's run to walk, but stuck to the lower trail, since it was getting dark. Kylie and I went to the store and just happened to arrive right before the Regatta fireworks, so we stayed for them... though many were blocked by surrounding houses. Next year, we are taking a blanket down and watching them properly!
I watched One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the 1975 Best Oscar winner. I cannot believe I never watched it! I loved it!
Day 175 8/16/2008
I spent the day cleaning out a closet, sorting through boxes, etc. with Kylie and basically working on goals 1 & 10- getting rid of clutter. Number 1 is completed. I got rid of a lot of stuff that I normally would have kept (obviously or I wouldn't still have it). We threw out several bags (maybe 10!). Plus have 3 large boxes for E-bay/Goodwill. The closet is about half done.
I was surprised at how it feels. It gave me two things I didn't expect. I feel like I am not only throwing away a bunch of junk I don't need... but also that I am throwing away a bunch of bad memories- and the guilt and resentment that go with them.
And I also feel a sense of freedom--like if for some reason I had to move, I could just pick up and go. I don't feel so tied down.
One thing I have had a habit of doing over the years is keeping things that are broken because of sentimental value. Today I found a figurine that Kylie had bought for me years ago. When I threw it into the trash bag, Kylie protested, but I explained that while I feel guilty throwing it out, I also feel guilty every time I see it. Is it better to feel bad once and move on or to keep feeling bad every time I see it?
Okay... I am going to keep working on the cleaning, organizing, etc I need to do, but I ALSO want to start working on the FUN goals I set... I have not had much time for fun over the past several months and I am definitely ready!
Day 174 8/15/2008
Sigh... Some BIG accomplishments! I graduated from Pitt! Woot! I know I said I had to go back in Fall, but there was divine intervention or a clerical error and after discussions with the dean... it was decided I could graduate now if I successfully presented the thesis I already submitted. And I passed! With all "As" (for adequate). HOWEVER, with that, I lost out on the opportunity to complete Career Goal #9. I didn't do it- not by a long shot. But, I don't even care any more because I never want to write another APA style paper again.
I just figured out though that the stress I was under was only partially due to being too busy. In fact, the hectic lifestyle I was living distracted me from some of my real problems and now I have to face them (or find another distraction).
I am a bit disgruntled right now, because for the first time in my life, I missed my birthday meteor shower. And I made significant efforts- even scheduling my vacation around it. I feel so let down. The one thing in life I could always count on was going out every year, looking up at the sky, and seeing a "star" zoom by. And it has come at a time when I am contemplating some major life changing decisions and even though I am not a superstitious person, I can't help wondering what does this mean? Why now?
And a part of me knows the answer to that is that my timing was bad, or because I didn't have the chance to go somewhere dark with lots of sky, or weather conditions were less than ideal, or the moon was waxing full... but another part of me wonders if I can't count on astronomical cycles, what can I count on?
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