101 in 1001—a long overdue update

I realized recently that I haven’t really talked about my 101 in 1001 list in quite awhile. I mentioned it once briefly in April and once again in July but the last time I showed my progress on the list was back in January! I feel like I’ve been slacking on getting things done and crossed off the list. I blame a lot of that on my mental, emotional, and financial state over the last 9 months. Things have been tough at times and I just haven’t been that focused on finishing up the list.

It’s the home stretch now.

I have just four more months to complete the last 37 items.

135 more days.

This is what I have left to do. I’m not sure I will finish them all but I’m going to try.

101 in 1001
Start date: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Finish date: Saturday, January 15, 2011

1. Send a “just because” package to a friend
2. Get back to goal weight
3. Eat whole foods (nothing processed) for 3 days in one week
4. Do 10 “regular-style” pushups
5. Take G-tot camping (just the 3 of us)
6. Go to a corn maze
7. Get a family portrait taken
8. Make bracciole
9. Make a cake and frosting from scratch
10. Make creme brulee
11. Host an “Appetizers” party
12. Host a wine and cheese party
13. Make a wooden “g” for G-man’s door
14. Take an art class (preferably glass blowing)
15. Edit home movies into DVD’s
16. Letterpress something again
17. Create a short art film (abstract, documentary, or conceptual)
18. Create photo books
19. Make plaster hand print (G-man’s)
20. Make a worm bin (composting)
21. Make a rain barrel
22. Build a platform bird feeder
23. Create prints for the bedroom
24. Compile an emergency kit for home
25. Organize the office
26. Put up cabinets in office
27. Canoe
28. Go to planetarium
29. Meditate on regular basis (2-3 times per week for one month)
30. Go on a guided tour (park, museum, etc.)
31. Attend two Summer/Fall Festivals (Blackswamp, Crosby Gardens, Apple Butter, etc.)
32. Take at least one class towards my Master’s Degree
33. Take a dance class
34. Attend a religious service
35. Learn to play a kid’s tune on the guitar
36. Read 20 books in 2010
37. Write a reflective essay about the process of 101 in 1001

And for anyone that’s interested, this is what I’ve done so far.

1. Participate in a walk for charity (4.25.10—March of Dimes, raised $370)
2. Volunteer for a least one hour somewhere (4.24.10—AIGA Toledo Student Portfolio Day)
3. Donate to a worthy cause (12.03.09–Sparrow’s Nest)
4. Write a letter to someone (4.19.2009)
5. Send a “just because” package to a blogger buddy (5.13.08)
6. Give $5 to a stranger in need (4.10.09—Spohr family)
7. Exercise (cardio) 3 days a week for one month (6.5.09–7.5.09)
8. Do Strength Training 2 days a week for one month (6.5.09–7.5.09)
9. Do Yoga 3 days a week for one month (6.5.09–7.5.09)
10. Buy bikes (again) and go on a long ride (6.07.08 rode to Penguin Palace & back—approx. 7 miles)
11. Eat breakfast (by 10 am) everyday for one week (7.18.08)
12. Do not eat after 10:30 pm for one week (7.18.08)
13. Take G-tot to Butterfly House 8.05.08)
14. Travel overnight with G-tot (3.5.09–3.8.09—Rockford/Chicago)
15. Take a hayride (9.26.08)
16. Take G-tot to Storytime at the library (9.18.08)
17. Take G-tot to the Art Museum (7.31.09)
18. Have a picnic with JQ & G-tot (7.11.08)
19. Become Zoo Members (4.27.08)
20. Take G-tot to an outdoor music event (7.11.08)
21. Take G-tot to the pool/beach (6.12.08)
22. Can something (homemade pasta sauce, homemade pickles, etc.) (6.29.08, rum soaked cherries)
23. Make homemade ice cream (6.14.08)
24. Showcase the harvest from our garden in one meal (7.10.08, 7.15.08)
25. Learn CSS (fall 2008)
26. Learn Screen Printing (5.13.09)
27. Sketch everyday for one week (6.30.08)
28. Enter a photography competition (Spring 2010—Toledo Area Artists competition, rejected)
29. Exhibit my artwork in a gallery setting (Madhouse 6.18.09–6.30.09)
30. Grow Melons or Pumpkins (2009 season, pumpkins/animals ate all blossoms)
31. Finish bird sanctuary in backyard (7.05.08)
32. Plant bulbs (4.19.08)
33. Enlarge garden (5.9.08)
34. Make a yard compost bin (April 2010)
35. Build a birdhouse (Spring 2010)
36. Make homemade suet cakes for birds (11.22.08)
37. Grow a root veggie (spring/summer 2008, green onions)
38. Remodel bathroom (11.26.08)
39. Repaint the living room (7.24.08)
40. Tile the back steps (5.13.2010)
41. Sell or donate unwanted items in basement (12.29.08)
42. Get all items from Gam’s that belong to us (7.26.08)
43. Meet neighbors (Toby’s wife & son) (Christine & Chase 11.12.08)
44. Befriend Amanda (other neighbor) (Fall 2008)
45. Network at a design function (1.29.09—AIGA Toledo event)
46. Contact a stranger for a student group function (10.14.08 Madhouse)
47. Take a train ride (7.15.2010, Toledo to Chicago)
48. Visit an aboretum—preferably w/ Japanese gardens (7.16.10—Anderson Gardens, Rockford, IL)
49. Learn to play Chess (2.6.10)
50. Play Risk with JQ (12.25.08)
51. Go to a book/poetry reading (Artomatic 4.18.09)
52. Go to an open mic event at a cafe/coffeeshop (8:15s @ Manhattan’s 7.20.09)
53. Attend a play put on by a local theatre group (The Full Monty @ Toledo Rep 7.24.09)
54. Obtain domain and launch website (2.02.09 & 3.24.09)
55. Launch Etsy shop (9.06.08)
56. Sell something on Etsy (9.11.08)
57. Take G-tot to a Mudhens Game (8.18.09, got game ball)
58. Enjoy a cup of coffee with a sunrise (12.25.09)
59. Read 10 books in 2008 (8.21.08)
60. Read 15 books in 2009 (11.10.09)
61. Get up by 7:30 am every morning for one week (7.26.08)
62. Take public transportation (or walk/ride bike) for an entire day (5.27.08)
63. Wear fingernail polish for entire week (11.20.08)
64. Wear toenail polish for entire week (5.31.08)

If you made it to the bottom, congrats and thanks. You are awesome for sticking it out.