Fifty Questions: Number One

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

Recently someone online asked me how old I was. This isn't new, and it's not something I particularly mind, though I usually counter it with "How old do you think I am?"  In this case the person responded with 'No more than 27 ..." That made me think about this question.

Apparently, I don't 'act my age' - whatever that means. After all, what does it mean to act a particular age?  How should a twenty-something act? How should a forty-something act? I complain a lot that I'm 'old' .. but I'm kidding most of the time. Nevermind the fact that I sometimes think about the fact that I am older now than my mother was when she had my baby brother. I don't really think that I'm old.

Why should I?  True, my husband and I lead pretty dull lives compared to others. The height of excitement for us this past weekend was driving around to junk stores, and sitting down together and enjoying a night of crafty fun.  but does that make me old? No, it just makes me dull.  It also is what I really enjoy. Sure, I might talk big game about the life I used to lead .. but honestly, I don't think that life is sustainable.

So how old would I be if I didn't know how old I was? I would have to go with what that person guessed. I feel .. most of the time .. like I'm a twenty-something, just getting started on the real journey of her life. Add to that the fact that despite being married for almost 10 years hubby and I still act playful and silly an awful lot, It's like we're still both very young.

Now, if I could just get back the body I had at 27.

101 in 1001 - Third Time's the Charm?

Start date: 12-21-2010
End Date: 9-17-2013

Self Improvement:
001. Complete Living in Season’s New Year’s Dreams course (Blogfodder)
002. Complete Living in Season’s seasonal workbooks (Blogfodder)
003. Lose another 25/50 pounds
004. Work out on WiiFit at least 3x a week for 2 months/for 6 months/for 1 year.
005.Take dance lessons with my husband
006. Keep my home ‘drop in’ ready for 3 months/6 months/1 year
007. Have laser eye surgery done
008. Pay off CapOne card
009. Pay off Citi card
010. Enjoy 10 Manicures/Pedicures (0/10)
011. Enjoy 3 professional massages. (0/3)
012. Complete Year and a Day in Magick book (Blogfodder)
013. Decide if I want to do a teaching program and get my license, or continue with Masters and teach college.
014. Finish teaching program/take Praxis ii/get license OR complete masters program of choice
015. Keep a Daily Happiness Journal and use it at least 3x a week (Blogfodder)
016. Donate 100k grains of rice on FreeRice.com

Food and Drink:
017. Cook at least five recipes from each cook book I currently own, & blog about them

(Caveat: just the ones currently in the house. Most of them are packed up.)

018. Take a cooking class
019. Learn how to make 10 different cocktails
020. Make cookie boxes for family/friend gifts for 2011/2012
021. Create a personal cookbook/recipe file of my favorites (Blogfodder)

Creative:
022. Complete a jigsaw puzzle with my husband
023. Participate fully in the 52 in 52 knitting challenge (Blogfodder)
024. Participate fully in the Year of Stash Socks challenge (Blogfodder)
025. Take a quilting class
026. Go on the Believe in Yourself retreat
027. Complete a Journal Journey (Blogfodder)
028. Put together a wedding/Our Life scrapbook
029. Create a photo wall in my office with framed pictures of friends and family
030. Finish the afghan kit I have in the stash (Blogfodder)
031. Finish the beaded bag kit I have in stash (Blogfodder)
032. Finish the beaded scarf kit I have in stash (Blogfodder)

Photography:
033. Take a photograph to represent each month (0/33) (Blogfodder)
034. Upload photos to BlipFoto at least 3x/week for 1 month/6 months/1 year
035. Complete Project 365 (0/365)
036. Submit a photo to a photography competition (Blogfodder)
037. Take part in the 4am project
038. Take ten pictures of things that make me happy (0/10) (Blogfodder)
039. Take ten pictures of things that make me sad (0/10) (Blogfodder)
040. Make a coffee table book out of our travel photography
041. Photograph a landscape from the same location, capturing all four seasons (Blogfodder)
042. Participate in at least one 26 Things list (Blogfodder)

Reading/Writing:
043. Leave 12 notes in 12 different books for strangers to find (Blogfodder)
044. Answer the “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind”
045. Read 10 novels off the Modern Library’s Top 100 list (Blogfodder)
046. Read 10 novels off the 1001 Books You Must Read before You Die list (Blogfodder)
047. Blog about each of my 101 things as they are completed
048. Send two postcards a month through PostCrossing
049. Participate in and finish NaBloPoMo
050. Read 1 book every month and blog about it
051. Write 1 poem every week for 6 months/1 year/18 months/2 years
052. Reach 500 blog posts in my personal journal/photo journal/knitting journal
053. Submit my writing to a publication every 3 months
054. Read the books I own but have never finished

Movies/TV/Music:
055. See 10 movies on the AFI Top 100 list (Blogfodder)
056. See 25 movies on the IMDB top 250 list (Blogfodder)
057. Compile a playlist of my 100 favorite songs 
058. Compile a list of my 100 favorite movies 

Places to Visit/Things to See:
059. Travel somewhere by train 
060. Take a cruise longer than 3 days 
061. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day.

Things to Buy:
062. A traditional Anniversary gift for my husband on our 10th, 11th and 12th Anniversaries
063. An iPad

Other:
064. Drink beer (wine, mixed drink) at noon on Tuesday in a bar that faces a giant car wash
065. Leave 20 Operation Beautiful notes somewhere (Blogfodder)
066. Repaint our kitchen cabinets white
067. Repaint our bedroom
068. Paint bathrooms
069. Encourage someone to write their own 101 in 1001 list
070. Have my wedding rings resized
071. Frame and hang our diplomas when we get them in January/February
072. Decrease my stash by 1 tote/2 totes/3 totes
073. Have my holiday gift list finished by September 1st 2011/2012/2013
074. Have all purchasable gifts wrapped by December 1st 2011/2012
075. Frame the print we bought in Asheville last year, and my poster, and hang them somewhere
076. Clean out my closet every six months and donate old clothing to Goodwill/Tender Mercy

101 in 1001 - Again

I'm beginning this all over again. My original list I began back in September of 2005, and was only 15 out of 101. Having rediscovered the 101 in 1001 on Ravelry, I started all over again in 2008. I'm giving it another go, and going to make part of my goals keeping up with it.

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

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. 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 or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.


Calculating the End Date

You can easily find out when your project will end by using this handy tool at timeanddate.com.

Update: 101 in 1001 and life.

Completed the first of 7 baby bibs, and began the first of 7 baby burp cloths.

Not a whole lot going on otherwise. Spent today .. after finally getting some measure of decent sleep, downloading poscasts from CraftLit. Haven't really listened to them, but they sound like a simply marvelous idea, and better than sitting in silence. I'm really enjoying having the laptop, though I haven't done much more than use it to store music. Which I still need to probably copy to the desktop, along with all my pictures. Ugh.

Here's hoping I can actually sleep tonight. I'm sick of not sleeping. I'm also sick on 90+ degree heat all day long. The joys of living in the south. And I forgot to water tonight. But I'm sure as heck not doing it now. It's way too late and way too dark and I'm way too tired. I'll do a little in the morning if I wake up early enough to do it 'fore the sun comes up good.

Goodnight.

101 in 1001 Update

Completed:

* Purchase a new computer/laptop for myself. - Purchased Dell Desktop 5/26. Purchasing Laptop as well, but haven't placed order yet.
* Find a hedge maze and wander through it. - Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, May 24 2008. Willow Maze.
* Maintain an herb garden. - I finally decided to make the herb garden go away, but I maintained it for 4 months! And I still have both basils and the parsley replanted in my flower garden so I call this a success!
* Learn to knit socks on DPNs. - Gluttony Socks, completed earlier in the month!


In Progress:

* Lose 50 pounds.
* Enjoy 10 pedicures. (0/10)
* Enjoy 20 manicures. (0/20)
* Try 25 new recipes. (2/25)
* Cook a dish with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - not necessarily the same dish. (1/4)
* Clean off desk every 2 weeks for six months. (3/13)
* Make 25 pairs of socks (1/25)
* Knit 50 dishcloths. (2/50)

101 in 1001

I'm beginning this all over again. My original list I began back in September of 2005, and was only 15 out of 101. Having redicovered the 101 in 1001 on Ravelry, I'm going to start all over again.


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

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. 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 or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.


Calculating the End Date

You can easily find out when your project will end by using this handy tool at timeanddate.com.

(re)Start: Thursday, April 1, 2008
End: Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tasks Completed: 7

Completed and In Progress


Body, Mind, Soul (0 of 11)

* Lose 50 pounds.
* Enjoy 10 pedicures. (0/10)
* Enjoy 20 manicures. (0/20)
* Enjoy 3 professional massages. (0/3)
* Learn to belly dance.
* Learn to meditate.
* Practice meditations at least 3-times a week for six months. (0/78)
* Complete a personal medical history.
* Donate to the ASPCA, to Breast Cancer, to AIDS research, and to at least two other worthwhile agencies.
* Write to at least five people who inspire me. (0/5)
* Get a tattoo.


Culinary (1 of 11)

* Maintain an herb garden. - I love my AeroGarden! - I finally decided to make the herb garden go away, but I maintained it for 4 months! And I still have both basils and the parsley replanted in my flower garden so I call this a success!
* Try 25 new recipes. (2/25)

1. Meatloaf, from The Betty Crocker Cookbook
2. Chicken Salad, from The Betty Crocker Cookbook

* Cook a dish with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - not necessarily the same dish. (1/4)

1. Sage: Meatloaf from The Betty Crocker Cookbook

* Learn how to make 10 different cocktails. (0/10)
* Learn how to cook 3 favorite Thai foods. (0/3)
* Learn how to cook 3 favorite Italian foods. (1/3)
* Learn how to cook 3 favorite Greek foods. (0/3)
* Make my own pasta.
* Learn to make Thai iced tea.
* Learn to make Chai from scratch.
* Reduce my tea stash by half.


Travel (1 of 10)

* Travel to an overseas destination in the northern hemisphere again.
* Visit New York City again.
* See another play on Broadway.
* Travel somewhere by train.
* Find a hedge maze and wander through it.
* Travel to an overseas destination in the southern hemisphere.
* Visit Ocracoke/Atlantic beach in the fall.
* Travel somewhere West of the Mississippi.
* Spend a night in an upscale hotel just because.
* Take a cruise somewhere for more than 3 days.


Educational (1 of 11)

* Complete Associates Degree program at PTC.
* Begin Bachelors Degree program.
* Learn to understand/speak/write Italian.
* Learn to make 5 simple origami projects.
* Learn to make 5 intermediate origami projects.
* Take a culinary class of some type.
* Learn all the US State Capitals.
* Learn all the European Capitals.
* Finish a crossword puzzle at least once a week for three months. (0/12)
* Learn at least one poem by heart. (Not my own).
* Take a ceramics class.


Financial (0 of 6)

* Complete inventory of our personal property.
* Plan a monthly budget and stick to it for three consecutive months. (0/3)
* Draft a legal will.
* Save at least $25/month in Savings Account. (1/24)
* Save at least $25/month in Christmas Account. (0/24)
* Save at least $25/month in SAFF Account. (0/24)


Spiritual (0 of 10)

* Observe 12 consecutive full moons with a simple solitary ritual. (0/12)
* Perform a simple devotional twice daily (morning and evening) for a month. (0/30)
* Study the Tarot 1 card a week. Keep a journal.
* Study the Runes 1 rune a week. Keep a journal.
* Study the Celtic Tree Oracle 1 card a week. Keep a journal.
* Complete Herbal section of my BoS.
* Complete Diety section in my BoS.
* Complete Divination section in my BoS.
* Complete Basic Texts section in my BoS.
* Complete Basic Rituals section in my BoS.


Music, Books & Film (0 of 10)

* Read 10 books on the Modern Library (Random House) top 100 list. (0/10)
* Compile a list of my 100 favorite albums.
* Compile a list of my 100 favorite movies.
* Compile a list of my 100 favorite books.
* Compile a list of my 100 favorite songs.
* Read a book without stopping till it’s finished.
* Purchase an I-pod/MP3 Player.
* See 25 of the top 250 movies from IMDB :: http://www.imdb.com/chart/top (0/25)
* See 25 of the top 100 movies from AFI :: http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/movies.aspx (0/25)
* See 25 of the top 100 movies from Entertainment Weekly :: http://www.filmsite.org/ew100.html (0/25)

Note: Having signed up for Netflix, this will be much easier now. Now I just have to go through all three lists and add movies to my queue.

Home (3 of 13)

* Purchase a 'real' stereo system.
* Clean off desk every 2 weeks for six months. (0/13)
* Have the carpets cleaned professionally.
* Repaint living room.
* Replace hanging light fixture in Dining Room
* Replace ceiling light fixture in spare rooms (Office and bedroom) with ceiling fans.
* Create a photo wall in my office with framed pictures of friends and family.
* Complete a daily/weekly housework routine and stick to it for a month. (0/30 - 0/4)
* Replace our dinnerware with something that appeals to us both.
* Backup everything important on my computer and on Jason’s. Will be completed once new computers arrive, as all three have access to online backup service.
* Obtain either a document safe or a safety deposit box at the bank.
* Frame the 2 unframed prints we have.
* Purchase a new computer/laptop for myself. - Purchased desktop 5/26. Purchased laptops for myself and Jason 5/27.


Other (1 of 8)

* Update both blogs at least once per week for one year. (0/52)
* Send handwritten letters to someone twice a month for six months. (0/12)
* Write a complimentary letter to someone’s supervisor praising them.
* Write 24 poems. (0/24)
* Have my wedding rings resized.
* Reach 70 with Miranna.
* Reach 70 with Moreyna.
* Make a new 101 in 1001 list for the next 1001 days.


Knitting (1 of 11)

* Learn to knit socks on DPNs.
* Make 25 pairs of socks (1/25)
* Knit 3 garments for myself. (0/3)
* Knit 3 shawls. (0/3)
* Knit 7 baby bibs/7 burp cloths. (1/7 - 0/7)
* Knit 2 baby towels. (0/2)
* Knit a baby blanket.
* Learn to knit two socks at once on 1 circular.
* Have my holiday shopping/knitting finished 1 month before the holidays.
* Knit 50 dishcloths. (2/50)
* Knit 50 soap sacks. (0/50)