101 Things in 1001 Days

Kate did this, so I thought I may give it a try too. Especially since 1001 in way days sounds like a really long time (Aprox 2.75 years). I should mention that I started this blog weeks ago, but I'm lame and couldn't think of 101 things. Meanwhile I'm seeing Kate cross off a bunch of crap on her list and as of today I only had 7 things down. (You'd think since I live in the middle of nowhere I could find the time to make a list...)

Per Kate- and the person she stole it from- I must complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. The tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

As I perused the Internet for inspiration, I realized that, well, I've already done a lot of stuff. Although exciting to think about, it just made coming up with new things that much harder. I realize that they don't have to be anything that's a big ordeal, but I am already the queen of multi-tasking, so shit tents to get accomplished around me.


So here's my effort at a long list of crap I'll try to accomplish:

1. Bring my hydrangea back to full glory


2. Actually plant my lemon tree
   
3. Get an ice cream maker (and not buy store-bought crap again).


4. Learn more about sewing- including how to operate my sewing machine
   
5. Back-up all the pictures on my computer


6. Gain 5 lbs of muscle
   
7. Lose 2 fatty pounds. =)


8. Start running again (at least 3x per week)


9. Spend at least a weekend in Lake Como


10. Visit Mom in Florida twice


11. Go to NY
12. Buy a random person coffee


13. Send something to postsecret


14. Have my S.O. at faire at least three of the six weekends


15. Help somebody learn a new skill
    
16. Visit the Grand Canyon
    
17. Have a romantic moment in the canals of Venice


18. Hike across Switzerland
    
19. Publish one of my poems
    
20. Go to the theatre at least 4 times
    
21. Have a food fight. (A very messy one, and not worry about the mess it makes.)
    
22. Visit the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
    
23. Read a classic novel
    
24. Finish scrapbooking my past travels
    
25. Be so happy that I cry
    
26. Share a martini with a/some good friend(s) at least once a month
    
27. Learn to cook 6 foreign dishes
    
28. Trace my family tree as far back as possible
    
29. Test drive a car I can't afford
30. Bungee Jump
    
31. Give a stranger a compliment
    
32. Go on two picnics
    
33. Spend one night a week NOT on my computer or iPhone
    
34. Make it to one of Boob's Bad Movie Nights
    
35. Commission a bustle dress to be made for me
    
36. Practice my millinery for aforementioned bustle dress
    
37. Go to an art opening
    
38. Spend an afternoon snowboarding on nothing by black diamond runs.
    
39. Try four new vegetables
    
40. Bury a grudge
    
41. Surprise someone twice
    
42. Cut high fructose corn syrup out of my diet
43. Buy a puppy
    
44. Learn two new words a week (English or German)
    
45. Meet a foreign diplomat
    
46. Move back to London (Ha! What a long shot...)
    
47. Start doing pilates and yoga again
    
48. Buy a new computer
    
49. Set up my digital picture frame
    
50. Find a plant that needs very little sunlight for around the wine rack in the hallway
    
51. Put that really neat concrete stuff on the garage floor
    
52. Clean out my closet for Good Will
    
53. Buy new boots
    
54. Teach my brother a new dish to cook to impress the bitches
    
55. Find the best onion soup in SF
    
56. Host a cocktail party
    
57. Teach my cat how to fetch beer from the fridge
    
58. Teach somebody how to appreciate Belgian beer
    
59. Take my dad wine tasting
    
60. Write 10 more poems
    
61. Finally get HD tv
    
62. Get a new car when mine finally dies
    
63. Bike 10 miles (at once)
    
64. Make it to Drew Day at Disneyland next year


65. Host a Christmas party
    
66. Watch the sun rise
    
67. Make love under the stars
    
68. Visit an exploratory museum
    
69. Put my toes in an ocean/sea/gulf that I haven't yet
    
70. See glaciers in person


71. Attend the Black & White Ball in SF
    
72. Go to Canada


73. Stay in hotel for no reason
    
74. Fix my iTunes problems

Although there is not 101 here, the rest of the list is complete, just not suitable for a public format. Maybe I'll write them when I get to cross them off, but for now they'll be in a safe place. The ones I did not disclose here to me about 10 minutes to write, as the other ones took me all day. Funny how that works out...

Sewing 101

Although I admit to being sucked into certain TV shows, I hate waisting hours in front of a tube. So, I decided to teach myself how to sew.

Behold, the sewing station:

My mother-in-law decided a few years back that she should get a new sewing machine, I assume with every intention of using it- at least at some point. Years later it still sat completely untouched, mounted to a new sewing desk. After one of their moves it came to reside in our guest bedroom.

So there I sat, brand new sewing machine mocking me, while I kicked myself for never learning anything beyond simple tacking and mending. My grandmother was an *amazing* seamstress, and she made me countless garments. But did I do anything beyond watch? Nope. So I took my ass away from the TV and into the guest bedroom. After teaching myself how to thread my bobbin (or whatever it's called), I put the bobbin in the thingy and thread my needle, and I was ready. Here's what I managed:

Oh- yeah baby, it's a straight line. I rock. I even did a nice little corner and a few more lines. I think I need to work on keeping my line straight, but for the most part I felt my first self-taught sewing lesson went well. I think I'll play around with the different stitches and what-not for awhile- you know, maybe make a pillow case that probably wont fit a pillow properly, that kind of thing.


I'm a crafty bitch.