Tuesday, December 01, 2009

101 Things to do in 1001 days.

I've been wanting to recap/update this list for some time and today is that day. In some ways I have been burying my head in the sand not looking at the list because I knew some of the items on the list were goners or total failures. Now that I've gone through the list and crossed off those items that are the dead ones (or ones that no longer make sense for me to do) I find that I'm not doing too bad.

Below is the original post with the updates. My current commentary will be highlighted. Comment on my successes, my utter failures, my upcoming challenges or if you plan on doing something like this...or if I prompted you to get your laundry put away :) Enjoy!!

I may edit this a bit more tonight and tomorrow - but here it is so far.




101 Things to Do in 1001 Days

I found out about this from someones blog and traced it back to Day Zero - Home of the 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days.

There I found how to write my own list, what the criteria should be and also how to stay focused. Focus, boy do I need focus. You can add your own 101 things to do in 1001 days, if you have it posted on a blog and you can also use the handy dandy little calculator to figure out when your 1001 days are up. I have found that if I start my 1001 days on January 21st, 2008 that the end date is my birthday in 2010. What a great incentive to get my list completed. To see when my birthday is, go to Things to Do #101.

I may edit this to get things into categories, but for right now, I'm going to just list my 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days.

Green is "In Progress" - Like a traffic light - don't stop, just keep going.
Purple is completed! My favorite color.



1. Get MRJ online and visible
This is my www.medrestjax.com website that I use for my condo rentals.  It needs an overhaul, but it is up and available and it gets used, so that's great!

2. Get the rest of the websites up by the end of April 2008 -- StomperNet Seminar is in April, so get going on this... get going...get going) I need to reevaluate this one.

3. Watch one Video or Tutorial on SN every week (Bonus points for multiple days in a row!) (143 weeks)
2 & 3 - Utter failure.  That's all I'm going to say about that lol

4. Read MAC OSX Missing Manual guide
It's truly like reading an instruction manual.  I learned a lot in the first chapter and didn't read any more of it.  I should though because there is so much more I'd like to do with my MAC and it's all in that book. 


5. Do one business action a day - write it in notebook or in blog
This was originally to go with #2 & #3 - I could probably pull this out of the utter failure status and put it toward the photography part of my life.  I think I'll just leave it where it is and add in a whole new section to deal with the photography.


6. Read Dr. Oz books - I have 2 (I am in the process of reading the first one.)(11/08/08)I have read through most of both books, but not quite finished yet. Finished :)

7. Get to first goal weight - :) Written down in secret book, by December 2008
8. Get to second goal weight - :) Also written down in secret book, by February 2009
This is not utter failure, but I've had some struggles.  I have decided to take this off the block because my goal now is to keep my diabetes in control and weight loss is a part of that.

9. Walk once a day 5 times a week (143 weeks)(yep yep)

10. Stop drinking all carbonated beverages as of day one. (I've craved carbonation since the day I wrote this down. I used to go months, now it has been just days. Lets start again, Groundhog Day, 2008. 1st day - 5/3/08 nix that, I've had a ton of soda lately. Working on the flip house has me craving it. Two sodas a week is about my average. I'll keep it as an ongoing project.) (11/8/08) I haven't had any carbonation in weeks.

11. Stop drinking caffeine as of day one.(I keep buying something that has caffeine in it. I must stop, caffeine and my body hate each other - pay attention)(11/8/08) I haven't had any caffeine in two months at least.
I drink a soda every month or so.  I consider this to be a done deal and nothing I will be going back to drinking on a daily or even weekly basis.


12. Swim once a week - Summer 2009 May - Sept
I was having a lot of trouble with my skin (and still am) and the chlorine in the pool made the condition worse - so this is an out.  bummer

13. Plan 2 months of dinners
I've actually planned the dinners but a lot of them didn't get made.  I guess making the dinners wasn't part of the "to do" so technically this could be a win!  but I knew what I wanted and I also know that this isn't going to happen.

14. Try 2 new recipes in a 6 month period (6 - 6 month periods)
I did this last year.  Most of the recipes I took to the potluck dinners :)  and I've been trying new things much more often.  This was a good challenge.

15. Pay It Forward at least once a year - I gave some gals in the grocery store line several dollars to pay for their food since they were short on cash.


16. Write in Gratitude Journal for 365 (purchased New Years Day and am current) 05/03/08 I am not current. ugh (11/08/08) still not current. I will have to just start again in the same book.
This was just making me feel bad that I wasn't writing in this book.  I think writing my blog and writing in my journal is enough writing on daily basis. 

17. Create 2 Challenges for NBU in 2008 - done done done :)

18. PM at least one person a day during each NBU session.
#17 I finished - #18 I did real well for the first year, but this year I didn't do as much.  I will no longer be a part of NBU as of the end of the month, so this project is done and I'm pleased with the outcome.


19. Get dressed to shoes 5 days a week by 9am (30 days in a row - Bonus points for continuing the practice)
 I'm pretty good about this.  I did the 30 days in row.  That was a very productive month!  I should probably get back into the habit...I could also probably go to bed earlier, too and that would help get me up and dressed by 9:30!


20. Clean off coffeetable each Monday. ( I still haven't even started this one 2/2/08, I just have to keep remembering that this is a project lasting 1001 days and I am building a foundation)
I've been really working on this lately.  I had forgotten it was on my list.  I need to make this a daily event and not just once a week - my coffeetable can get totally out of hand in an hour.


21. Write to Zora twice a month (05/03/08 More like every three weeks - I need to get this into a habit.) I am pretty good at once a month. I need to step this up.
I did real well for about 6 months, but have failed miserably. I need to start back up again because Stella is going to be old enough soon to enjoy getting mail, too and I want to do this for her, too.



22. Send 5 care packages for absolutely no reason at all.
I've been overthinking this one. I can't quite figure out what makes a care package - who should get one - how much money should I spend on it - and on and on. I'm striking it out to take the pressure off, but I may reinstate it now that I don't have to worry about getting it finished :)  I'm doing reverse psychology on myself!

23. Send Thank You cards (handwritten) to people for unexpected things. I sent Thank You cards to all of the people that met us at the Cafe in Maywood, NE.


24. Empty Storage Unit (Done!!!!!) Saving $190 a month!!!

25. Empty one garage and sell it by the end of 2009


26. Photograph household inventory.

27. Photograph condo inventory (all three units) done!

28. Take a daily self-portrait for a year (join the Flicker group that does this?)(2009, 2010) I have been thinking of doing this starting in January 2010
I thought this might be fun, then I thought I'd hate it.  Then I thought that it was just a way to document my life and then I thought I was totally crazy for even thinking about doing this.  Now I want a tripod so I can set up in the same spot each day.    I think I want the tripod more than I want the self portrait every day, but this activity is still on table.


29. Learn to Meditate (begin in 2008)

30. Meditate every day for a month (start this in 2009)(Bonus points for continuing the practice after the month)
I still think I might like to do this...but I'm obviously moving the date to 2010.

31. Go to an art exhibit or gallery opening 5 different times

32. Put coins into an expired meter. I'm going to try to do this while we are in Denver this coming week. I'm just never around any place with parking meters (and I'm just assuming that Denver will have some!) I forgot when we were in Denver. I did this in Lansing when I was there in Oct 2009!

33. Have a dinner party (bonus points for having more than one!)

34. Do not purchase pens or sharpies for an entire year (this should start today :^)(1/21/08) 05/03/08 - I still have not purchased any sharpies. This is TOUGH! (9/14/08) I STILL have not purchased any sharpies. I've wanted to. A few of my sharpies have run out of ink, so my stash is getting low, but no Sharpies will be purchased this year.  (Dec 2009) I'm actually going on two years, since I got so many for Christmas last year! 


35. Frame one thing every four months (3 times in 2008, 2009 & 2010) - (9/14/08) I still have NOT done this. I even needed to get a picture framed for Tom's birthday (5 days ago) but never though of it. So I gave Tom an unframed print.  Another year later (2009) and the picture still isn't framed.  sigh.

36. Get a Safe Deposit Box - not sure what to keep there at this point, but I should have one.  Maybe keep copies of my digital files of photos.

37. Decorate patio
I'd like to just get the patio vacuumed now lol


38. Create a Paper Sack Journal and blog about it - do this for 30 days (30 sacks - 9 so far, need to blog about it  take a photo)  I like the idea, but haven't been doing anything right now. 


39. Send 20 Postcards using postcrossing.com (9/14/08) - Not sure if I want to do this.

40. Join 30 Day Challenge in August (or whenever it begins in 2009)


41. Write in my 10 year journal every day. http://www.journal10.com/ very very cool journal - Still on track. 05/03/08 I am still on track. I have one entry each day of this year. YES! (9/14/08) still writing in it every day. :) (11/08/08) Have not missed a day. 
I have not missed a day in two years :)

42. Put away laundry the same day it is dried (6 weeks) (Bonus points for continuing the habit!) First post about it, Second post 05/03/08 DONE!! This is a done project. I have it as a habit now.

43. Vote in the 2008 November election

44. Donate or sell one box of "stuff" each month (Box in guest room) (I haven't done it each month but I have gotten rid of most of my clothing that I didn't like or didn't wear often.)
I donate at least a box once a month. I have to admit though, that sometimes the box has just one item in it, but I do drop off items at the very least, once a month.


45. Write 12 new Kirby Mail posts in 2008 (3 completed)(9/14/08) I now have 6 completed.  All 12 done (April 09)


46. List the Plexiglas & the diamond tread on Craig’s list and get it gone by July 2008. (9/14/08)Oooh, we were flipping that house in July -- I forgot all about it. Lets move the date to March 2009.  
It has been listed a few times but hasn't sold.

47. Travel to...Hawaii

48. ...France I've changed this to Rome & I'm going in Feb 2010.


49. ...England, Ireland, Scotland (5/19/08 My father asked us last month if we'd like to all go to the Isle of Man next summer - so this trip is scheduled.) We went to Ireland and the Isle of Man -  May 2009.


50. ...Maywood, Nebraska (5/19/08 My mother asked me a few weeks ago if I'd like to go to her class reunion with her & visit Maywood! - My answer was YES!)(9/14/08) we leave in a few days!!!!!!!!!

51. ...Chicago

52. ...Memphis with Bob (scheduled for 2010 - right Bob?)

53. ...LasVegas

All of the travel destinations were just "way out there" type of entries.  I honestly didn't believe that I'd get to any of the places, with the exception of Las Vegas - Tom and I really like Vegas.  The funny thing is that we've traveled a bunch and haven't had the opportunity to go to Vegas and probably won't.  Last year for Christmas we went on a cruise to the Bahamas, so I can add in that and cross of another destination.


54. Sell the early editions of the MSL magazines by the end of 2008 (this doesn't look it'll happen. Maybe I can get them listed the first week in Dec.) I gave these away to someone.


55. Make a shadowbox or some kind of covered display for the BK items. (End of 2010)
 I haven't quite figured out what I want to do with the BK items.  I've since added to my collection so it's more than just a shadowbox, now.

56. Get China doll repaired - replace the string that held her together


57. Create a Home book - household inventory, floor plan, color chart, maintenance, etc. (end of 2009) I forgot I had this on my list -- I actually have all of this together in one place now.  It's a file in my filing cabinet.  Paint, Association meeting notes, phone numbers, inventory, etc.

58. Buy a new mattress for King bed (2009) This still hasn't happened. 

59. Buy a new mattress for Queen bed (2010)  I've decided now that I just want a new topper, not a whole new bed.

60. Memorize U. S. Presidents - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams....just 38 more to go.

61. Learn how to change a tire on both cars. I learned on my car.  I 've decided not to learn how to change the truck tires or Tom's Mercedes.

62. Send flowers to someone.

63. Send a Get Well package to someone that includes crayons and a coloring book.
With everyone being sick this fall, I should have been able to get this accomplished.

64. Hold the door open for people (10 minimum but continue the practice)(done done done!)

65. Have a Chick Flick sleep-over party
I don't have a place to sleep over.  I'm hoping to just go to the movies with a few of my girl friends.

66. Replace all of my socks and chuck the old ones - all of them. 05/03/08 I did this the other day -- I totally forgot it was on my list. (Or maybe I didn't forget!)

67. Renew my passport - I HAVE to do this soon. we are going overseas next year. 
DONE!

68. Add additional $2000 to my emergency fund.

69. Get a Museum Membership

70. Put together an Emergency Kit (post what's in it in a blog post)

71. One Random Act of Kindness (this can be repeated often) 05/03/08 the other day I did all sorts of nice stuff for people and places. It was fun.

72. Purchase Photoshop (or other photo editing software) & blog about how I am using it each week for a month. (I'm mostly posting the photos that I've edited)

73. Make a list of 100 things that make me happy. (05/03/08 - I don't know why I haven't even thought of starting this...)

74. Go one month without using my Credit Card (Bonus points for Debit Card, too)
Hahahahahahaha

75. Go to grocery store only once a week for an entire month (Bonus points, big bonus points for continuing this habit)
Living next door to the grocery store makes this almost impossible. I'm not sure I'll ever get this one accomplished, but I should.


76. Go out to dinner once a month with a neighbor or friend. (12 months in a row)


77. Write a letter or card to someone other than family every week.
This is actually more difficult than it seems.  I've sent out a few letters, but not nearly one a week.  This is ongoing. 


78. Call Tom's parents at least twice a month.
Since Tom's brother's liver transplant in June, we've spoken to his parents quite a bit.  Twice a month these days is easy.


79. Flip a house in less than 4 months. This is absolutely being done right now. We are 3 weeks into it. (we did it in 4 months!!!!!)


80. Make a condo book listing the food, maps, suggestions, etc. Have my tenants write in it. Make it interactive if possible. (9/14/08) I just started working on this last week.  
This is ongoing and is working out well for my tenants.



81. Make a calendar for the family with all of our bdays and anniversaries in it. 
This may actually happen in the next few months. (Dec 2009)


82. Purchase a new rug for the bedroom and another for the computer room
I decided not to get new rugs - I don't like the ones we have, but they are just a few years old.


83. Go to a taping of the Oprah Show (could do it while I was visiting Chicago!) This doesn't seem to be as likely anymore.  I'm not as excited about this as I once was.


84. Acquire new bedding for the guest room (donate the current bedding)
The bedding has been donated, but no new bedding purchased.  I consider this done.  We'll reuse bedding that's around the house.


85. Wash all of the exterior parts of the windows. This is so much more difficult than anticipated.  I've decided not to risk my life doing this- The bottom part of the windows pulls out, but the top doesn't pull out or down.  So the top part of the windows are not getting cleaned.



86. Recover the yellow couch.
When I first wrote this we weren't sure we really wanted to have all three of our furniture pieces in the livingroom yellow.  I'm so used to it now, so this isn't urgent in any way.   I might change this to getting the couch just cleaned :)


87. Sell Grandma's Treadle machine.
I've photographed it.  I still can't bring myself to sell it.  I go back and forth.



88. Finish up the State Quarters book - it ends in 2008. 
I've tried a couple times to buy the remaining quarters and can't seem to get it accomplished.  I need to get this finished.


89. Create a small prop closet - this has been started and it is just going to be a basket in the closet. I will blog about it when I have more items, but it is started.

90. Get out of town with Tom 2 weekends a year.
We've taken more vacations than usual, so this wasn't as necessary.  

91. Buy a black velvet dress or one that seems just as cool and wear it to an event.
I have always wanted a black velvet dress.


92. Paint a picture and frame it. It doesn't have to be great - just do it!
Change this to Photograph something and frame it --- I've done that :)

93. Transfer Nebraska tape to DVD and give it to myself and family.
This is on my radar.  I have now found a place that can do this for a good price.  The trick is to take the tape to the place and drop it off :)

94. Toss out or give away all video tapes.

95. Make a Paper Crown - photograph it. (Bonus points for doing this again, if it was fun lol) 
I was going to do this with Zora in October, but I totally spaced it when we were together. Typical lol


96. Start writing down the family funnies -- Big Gulp, W/D on the curb, Kitten on his shoulder, elusive noodles, etc.  I do this with blogging, but I haven't been able to write about these funnies yet.  I can't seem to write them to sound as funny as they were lol


97. Clean out a dresser drawer once a month.
I'm in drawer maintenance now.  They are all quite clean.


98. Write down the crafty ideas so you don't have to try to remember them all. Create a book or gasp, a blog post, to put them in.  
I do this - I post everything on my blog.  Done.

99. Get rid of, recycle, gift, donate or otherwise move out of my possession every piece of electronic equipment or computer that hasn't been used in 2 years.  Big strides came when we had our garage sale this summer (2009). Actually I was a part of two garage sales this summer.


100. Get a professional family portrait taken frame at least one of the photos with in a month. Tom and I had our picture taken on a cruise last year.  It was professional looking and was nice.  I don't want it framed though.  I didn't like it well enough. 



101. Plan my own birthday party for the 18th of October, 2010 - the very last day of the 1001 days and celebrate the successes in the 101 goals!!
This is now less than a year away!

4 comments:

jb said...

#52 Oh yes!Graceland here we come!!! And we will bring SweetGreenBunny too!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Now that was a fun list! I love list!

Judith Bridger said...

I'm thinking I'll be in GS next year in Oct & Nov. Looks like I can make it for your 2010 Bday!

Lynn said...

This list is such a fantastic idea. I love the "plan dinners for 2 months" thing, where then you didn't actually have to MAKE the dinners :) That sounds like something I would do. I used to plan these elaborate weekly menus, even though I had to spend most afternoons in the car shuttling my kids around. I'd even buy the ingredients, then watch them rot in my fridge. What was I thinking?! So this one made me laugh as I can totally relate. Thanks for sharing these. This might be a fun thing to try to do for the new year.