078. Beat Mario with minimal cheating

I've been playing a lot of Mario lately. I was almost finished, actually. And then my sister had a party while I was elsewhere for the night and someone stole my DS, with the game still in it.

I'm seriously steamed, and also really sad. I bought the DS when I was in Germany two years ago, and it was the prettiest turquoise. My sister got me a new white one, which is very sweet of her, and much appreciated...but I kind of just want my old one back. : (

I guess I'll have to work on other goals for a while.

15. Finish writing The Vampire Wars
16. Actively participate in a NaNoWriMo Challenge
17. Complete a NaNoWriMo Challenge

Completed! The Vampire Wars sucks terribly, but its finished. Phew. I don't think I'll ever do a NaNoWriMo again since November is such a BAD month for me to take on such a project. March would be a better month for me. Maybe I'll do my own next year...


36/101 Completed.

I looked over my list today and realized I had actually finished a few things after all. Not nearly all I had wished to and some goals are in limbo. But it was good to actually look them over again.

( Read more... )

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
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 your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

( Complete list under here! )

I recently had a visit from one of my best friends, a Scottish guy that I met while we were both studying in Berlin. We lived together for a while that year. His visit was lovely (until I got the flu...ugh) but while he was here, I realized that I'm profoundly dissatisfied with my life as it currently is. I decided that I need to make some changes, so I'm really applying myself to a few of the things on my list that I think will help me feel a little more productive and fulfilled as a person.

One of the things I decided to do to mark this change in attitude was to cut my long hair. That's been on my list since the beginning, but after a while I just kind of gave up on it. No more; having long hair was sometimes nice, but more often than not I just felt disappointed by and self-conscious about it when I looked in the mirror.

( I'm not disappointed anymore! )

In short, goal #52 is COMPLETED, and more are soon to follow!

I can't believe how much I've actually managed to get done (or change...) on my 101 in 1001 list. Now it's getting the hard parts, the financial and the physical changes. I've switched back to my old job, so money is a bit of a figment - though thank you retail holiday season, hours are a coming.

Many of the money spending, goals were left either because of them being better quality items, or one of a kind things that I should be able to earn.

I've learned something this month, and that is not to rely on another person for your successes, or to even involve them in your goals. My fiance of SIX YEARS left me, and now that I'm over the initial pain of him hurting me as he has, I've sat down with my list with the intention of driving myself to achieve everything I want in life. Only I've realised that I included him in a ridiculous amount of goals.

So this post comes with an update, both in what I've already achieved, and changing goals to those which don't include him. Or any other man.

It's been a month, and I'm still bitter and angry about the whole break up.

Update time! Ok, here's my update...things are going well! I can see a lot of these that I've done without realizing, or are well on their way to being done.

Completed since last update:
20. Get rid of 5 things from each room of my apartment (freecycle or goodwill) - I got rid of SO MUCH junk when I moved out. It was very freeing.
22. Participate as Camper Come Early for Michfest
23. Learn how to play my guitar by Michfest 2009 or sell it.
30. Move to France. - I'm here!
33. Save every $5 bill I get in 2009. - I saved every $5 bill I received from January 1, 2009 until I left the States on September 15, 2009. $400.
76. Do two more Day in my Life entries [2/2] - I did the second one on October 24.


Still in progress:
17. Complete at least 100 workouts every year. - 93 workouts done so far this year!
21. Visit Spain - Planning to do this in April
26. Keep my weight under 165 pounds. - It spiked a bit before I left the States, but has been down since being in France.
50. Do not eat more than two nutella crepes per week - So far, I haven't gone over that limit.
53. See Wicked in London. [was Chicago, but that show closed] - Tickets purchased for December 21!


( Total list in progress )

Well, I was feeling pretty badly about not checking in with the comm for a looong time, but then I read the entries for the last few months and decided that I was in good company! :)

I've re-evaluated and replaced some of my goals. I've accomplished a few big ones, so that makes me happy. I've joined a local Japanese discussion group, started (& am maintaining) a monthly writers' workshop, and bought an inexpensive digital camera.

My biggest struggles are getting out of debt, losing weight, and getting organized.

Details are under the cut, if you're interested.

(x-posted to my journal)

( Read more... )

2. Finish all knitting projects currently on needles. Shawl, Antler Scarf, and Shrug.

I've finished the Shawl and Antler Scarf, but have written off the Shrug as I've lost the interest in finishing it and doubt that I'll ever get back to it. . .RIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.

15. Read at least 10 books I haven't read before.

Finished the last book The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne on 11/07/09.

17. Take 5000 pictures. (586/5000)

As always you can view my photo sets here.

26. Hopefully find gainful employment.

I'm currently enrolled in Tax School. While it's not a guarantee of employment, it's a start. And even if the job is for 3 1/2 months at least it's finally a little money hopefully coming in. :-)

31. Hang up clothes immediately after laundering for at least 3 months.

46. Go on Savannah Ghost Tour.

Went on a Charleston one instead. Since I live relatively close to both I figured six of one, half dozen of the other as to which city I haunt after dark. :-)

50. Locate 15 geocaches (1/15).

As I have purchased the GPS I'm now working on the second half of this goal. Found the Hidden Charleston: Bridges & Boats cache on 10/17/2009.

54. Visit my Friends dragonangel1369 and bellaland in Knoxville.

Went up to Knoxville for Halloween weekend. Went "trick or treating" with bellaland and was there for dragonangel1369's wedding and then spent Sunday with her and other friends up in Gatlinburg and Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

Wow. . .now that I've written everything out it seems that October was definitely a busy month. Five goals completed, go me.

July was the last time I updated, wow!

Anyway....

5. Make 5 New Friends, I made a friend at work who I hang out with outside of work so that puts me at 2/5

12. Try 100 new drinks, I have been making random drinks at home most have been delicious 20/100

15. Learn to cook 33 new things (changed slightly because i cook when i can) 11/33 Learned how to make a ramen noodle stir-fry, a dessert called "nothings" , super simply cupcakes with cream cheese icing and chicken pot pie soup over mashed potatoes

17. Do one photoshop project a month... kind of fell behind on this one

18. Downsize my stuffed animal collection - Done!

22. Keep a job for 6 months (4/6)

23. Become a Big Sister- I am almost done the paperwork then I just have to submit it and wait

40. Be a Zombie in the Halloween Zombie Walk every year - I sprained my ankle the day before but still went and had a lot of fun, just couldn't do the whole walk

45. Attend Central Canada ComicCon - Done! 2nd year in a row, it was a lot of fun

46. Make Chinese food with my Mom - Complete as well, we made delicious Chinese food for thanksgiving :)

52. Try 10 new restaurants 10/10 went to Grapes and the Pony Corral

60. Make flower cookies (rainbow) - Made them with my younger niece it was a blast!

80. Adopt a Cat - Well my sisters cat got pregnant (shortly after she made the appointment to get her fixed of course) and I said I would take one, they were born on the 5th (3 kittens total) so I am taking her home around the end of December.

98. Watch 66 Bad movies (6/66) Watched Twilight and Eragon , My roommates and I have started a playing a drinking game during which we must watch a bad movie, the first was Twilight and then Eragon and next up... Dragon Ball Z : Evolution

100. Find A cellphone plan that works for me - although its not perfect the one i am on now is working
( Complete list )

Sorry I haven't been around, but I have not given up on my list and have some achievements to report:

8) go to San Francisco - only for one day; I want to go back!

10) go back to New York - since I moved back east I go 1 or 2 times a month.

13) go to a regional burn - Playa del Fuego in Delaware.

38) make another costume AND 33) be in a parade - I was Gloomy Bear in NYC Halloween parade last weekend.


35) paint a mural - I can't paint on my walls so I painted a pair of stilt pants...


42) create a scavenger hunt ( It's under this cut; we did it at Playa del Fuego. )

68) join a group run - there is a running group at my new work.

80) go to the dentist - in September; all is well with mah teeth.

85) give blood - last month and it wasn't bad at all. The worst part was the iron test.

83) heal my piercing - it's got a bit more to go but is definitely going to stay - yay! This is the forth time I've tried to heal this piercing; I'm sooooooo happy!

91) wear my Custo dress out where at least 20 people will see it and feel good about how I look in it - I wore it to Ikea the day I bought all my furniture. A very satisfying purchase.

101) paint someone else's toenails - which I did this weekend and a couple weekends ago; both were guys toes.

Additionally I changed or added the following to my list:

16) see the Morning Show live

86) host a couchsurfer

37) go to Alaska

99) see Manhattanhenge

I know that several of us have completing NaNoWriMo as one of our goals. Anyone up for meeting via messanger or e-mail to offer supports and challenges for both Mission 2009 and NaNoWriMo?

Good luck writers in the next 28 days!

Updated.  Yay.

So, my first update in a couple of months, and I actually don't feel like I've done all that much. But progress is always good!

( Completed )

( Progress )

( Changed )

Updates for now... Bold is failed (atm)
55. Write a novel/Novela -->Ties into the next one:
56. Finish Nanowrimo this year… and win. --> It's National Novel Writing Month! I am 2626/50,000 so far.
( A few other points to see )

I need advice.
( Joblessness ensues )
Any advice you can give would be much appreciated, mostly because this is something which is going to determine the outcome of my life for a year or more. Not many of my list items are dependent on money or a job, but some, like graduating college, are time sensitive to me.

I started this at the right time, and then this whole year has been one disaster lurching to another!

The lovely new house I was moving into flooded completely, and took an extra couple of months to dry out / be repaired.
Then I was put on oramorph (pretty much heroin), for months for my back and couldn't do anything.
Then I finally got off the oramorph, only to get swine flu for a few weeks, and then end up in hospital with suspected appendicitis and have emergency surgery where they discovered it wasn't appendicitis but might be something far nastier.

And that's where I am right now.
I had the operation 3 weeks ago tomorrow and I'm taking it easy and recovering slowly.
I've barely done anything on my list, and so I'm going to switch over to Mission101, and start again anew. I know there's still time left, but I got derailed right from the start.

Best of luck to everyone with their missions, and thanks for a wonderful community!