94. Do 12 week beginners walking schedule

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have gotten to week twelve of the 12 week beginner walking program, in which I will be walking 60 minutes at a time.

Why this is on my list: I want to be healthier, this along with 92 and 93 is to help me start exercising.

This goal will be tracked by continuing to post on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (6/12)

92. Complete the Two Hundred sit-ups challenge

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have successfully completed the two hundred sit-up training program and done 200 sit-ups in a row.

Why this is on my list: My body is pretty weak, and sit-ups will help with my core strength, which I really would like to work on right now.

This goal will be tracked by continuing to post on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (week 5/6 training)

Book updates

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper.

I have to admit, I have gotten sucked right in to this fantasy series.  The last children's fantasy series I read - Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles - were a little heavy-handed, so I wasn't expecting a lot here.  Now I can say I should not have lost faith is what has always been one of my favorite genres.

I'm not saying Cooper's stories are the most complex things I have ever read, although I felt a bit mind-blown during one reveal in this book's sequel, The Dark is Rising.  The story was a quick read, and exciting towards the end.  I still have many questions since I am just finishing up the second book of the five-book series.  I love the use of ancient English mythology in these books so far.  It isn't something I've been over-exposed to.  I feel like there are many legends I don't know, that I will happily discover through these books.  Looking forward to the rest of the series.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

When I was reading this book I was completely enthralled with the characters, and the voice of Suzie Salmon.  I thought using the voice of the dead Suzie was a very interesting way to learn about her family members in a very intimate way.  It was a good insight into a family's process of grieving and moving on with their lives.

Finally introduced to Jason Bourne

I finally watched the Bourne Identity as one of my movies.  I've been meaning to watch this for a long time.  I really enjoyed it.  It was a good action movie and makes me want to see the next movies.  It definitely felt like the start of  a series, and that there was  more to tell.

Shiver: My first YA book for the list

I just finished Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater for task number 22. This is a young adult novel about Grace, a girl who has always been fascinated about the wolves that roam the woods near her house. She is particularly attracted to one wolf with yellow eyes who saved her from his fellow wolves in an attack when she was younger.

Grace eventually finds out that this wolf is Sam, a werewolf. Wolves in this book are human in the warm summer months, and become wolves when cold hits.
Unfortunately, their summers are limited, and this may be Sam's last one.

Sam and Grace meet and are instantly in love. The book was good, but a little disappointing. It was slow moving, and the two characters were immediately in love, even citing their time as two different species as part of their long relationship. Sometimes the voice of the characters was good, and they were compelling, but at other times the language was too flowery. Sam especially was a little too emo and poetic for my tastes. It was a quick read, and especially at the end I was hooked into the plot, wanting to know what happened. I just had higher expectations for this one.

Fun at an Irish Pub

I got off to a good start on goal 45 the other day when I took Justin out to lunch at McGirk's Irish pub. We were celebrating Justin getting hired for his first teaching position, and we both enjoy pubs, so we decided to try out this local restaurant we hadn't been to before.

It is a nice place, that often hosts music. We decided we would like to go back there for dinner or later when it is busier and there is entertainment.

Justin had a buffalo chicken sandwich, and I had a reuben, but instead of sauerkraut it had coleslaw. We also both had a cup of their daily soup -- twice baked potato-- Which was delicious. I would definitely go back again.

I, Claudius

I started working towards goal number twenty today: Read 50 adult books I’ve never read before. I finished the remarkable I, Claudius by Robert Graves. Not knowing much about the history of Ancient Rome, I wasn't sure if I would find the subject of this novel boring or difficult to relate to. It was quite the opposite. The book is a fictional autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius, who was considered to be an idiot and an invalid by his family. He manages to survive several previous Emperor, all of his family to become emperor.

The book is fascinating because it is really less about Claudius than about his family members. We get his perspective on everyone from his manipulative grandmother Livia, his cruel uncle the Emperor Tiberius, and his nephew, the mad Caligula. I just found out there is a companion book that goes more into Claudius's reign, which I must read.

Another movie added to the list

An update on goal number 37

A for Adventureland. I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. The humor relied less on gags and more on the awkward characters, which was nice. Not the best movie I've ever seen, but I really loved seeing Martin Starr again, and Kristen Wiig is becoming a favorite of mine.

Update: Day 13

Well this is my first official update. I haven't gotten too much big done yet. I'm still in the organizational stages of this list. I haven't finished getting my blog set up or anything, but I'm happy with my list at least, which is a good start.

Here is what is in progress:

24. Get a job as a school library media specialist. I had an interview last Friday. They are going to have a round of second interviews of people they liked. Hopefully I get called back.

35. Cut down on the number of TV shows I watch by 1/3. I have created a list of shows I currently watch in order to determine the number of hours I need to cut down. This information is on the tasks main page.

37. Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet. (2/26)
I've now filled "O" by seeing Once and "L" by seeing Leap Year. My next post will be brief thoughts on the movie.

40. Stop watching TV after 7 pm 1 night a week (2/123) I've been doing alright with this one so far

42. Make 20 new recipes (1/20) This one is going to be pretty easy because I like cooking. I will shortly be posting about the food I made: a breakfast dish from my new Top Chef Quickfire Cookbook

44. Cook once a week while living at home. So far I've cooked once each week: Barbecue pork sandwiches and chicken parmesan.

66. Switch to curly girl hair method. I've started to do this, but I haven't switched to all of the techniques yet. So far the biggest thing I've done is switched my conditioner to one without "cones," which cause build-up on the hair. I've also been cleaning with conditioner instead of shampoo.

83, 84, and 85: All have to do with monitoring progress, blogging, and saving change to fund my list. So far so good.

85. Collect my loose change and keep it to fund my wedding

I consider this goal complete when/if: Throughout the 1001 days I keep my loose change, and cash it in at intervals to help fund the goals on this list

Why this is on my list: Some of my goals are going to take money, and this is an easy way to save up without thinking too much about it.

Edit: I am now keeping my change to go to my wedding fund

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: *in progress

84. Create a blog to track progress and update regularly

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have kept up with blog updates throughout the 1001 days

Why this is on my list: I would like to document this journey, and commit to actually using a blog for once.

This goal will be tracked by continuing to post on this blog

Goal Status: in progress

83. Review and update this list at least once every two weeks

I consider this goal complete when/if: I go over my list every two weeks, setting new weekly goals, and updating my blog

Why this is on my list: I need to me more organized, and allow for regular reassessing of my goals in order to be successful this time

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (9/60)

79. Give a present to a child on a wish tree each Christmas

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have fulfilled a wish on a wish tree for Christmas of 2010 and 2011

Why this is on my list: My family has often participated in this type of giving at Christmas, and I would like to start doing it on my own as well.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (1/2)
2010:  gave to a 17 year old girl (Twilight Eclipse movie)

78. Go to a park 4 times in one summer

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have gone to a park for at least part of a day 4 times in one summer.

Why this is on my list: I get lazy in the summer and want goals that will get me outside more.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress: 1/4

75. Go to 5 fairs or other local events

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have gone to five local events in 1001 days.  This will probably mean local festivals or fairs.  

Why this is on my list: I love going to local events in the community, and this will be a good opportunity to do that.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (2/5)
1.  Binghamton St. Patrick's Day Parade 2010
2. Apalachin Field Days 2010

72. Take 100 videos with my flip mino

I consider this goal complete when/if: I have taken 100 videos that I want to keep with my flip mino

Why this is on my list: I just got my flip, and I want to have this goal as a reminder to use it, and film my life.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress: 31/100 as of 3/6/11

70. Do something outside for 30 days total in one summer

I consider this goal complete when/if: During one summer I spend 30 days doing something outside, even just reading on the back porch instead of my room.  I'll define summer as June-August.

Why this is on my list: I am pretty lazy about going outside, especially when it is hot and sunny.  I'd like to work on this.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress (10/30) as of 6/30

67. Do my Wii Fit or Yoga DVDs 3 times a week for 3 months

I consider this goal complete when/if: During a 3 month period I exercise by using Wii Fit or my Yoga DVDs 3 times a week.

Why this is on my list: I have these exercise tools at my disposal and would like to use them to get healthier.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress
Week of 1/17: (2/3)

66. Switch to the Curly Girl hair method

I consider this goal complete when/if: I follow all parts of the Curly Girl Hair method in the Curly Girl book that work well for my hair

Why this is on my list: I never straiten my hair, so I figure I should do what I can to make my curly hair look as good as it can. The Curly Girl method involves cutting out harmful shampoo, and conditioners with ingredients such as silicones that build up in hair.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress

63. Actively seek out doctors to solve current medical issues

I consider this goal complete when/if: I make doctors appointments about various health concerns I have.  I have a list to discuss that I won't post here.

Why this is on my list: I hate going to doctors and tend to put off going a lot.  I have several things I need to get checked once I have insurance.

This goal will be tracked through occasional posts on this blog

Goal Status: in progress
I have had an OBGYN appointment, and have an appointment with my PCP soon