101 / 1001

From Day Zero

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).

purple = completed
teal = in progress

1001 days = Monday, February 28, 2011

1. Learn to knit socks (toe-up and top down). (0/2)
2. Learn to crochet.
3. Learn to hand-dye yarn.
4. Learn to spin on a drop spindle.
5. Learn entrelac technique and knit a GYC Entrelac scarf.
6. Knit a Forest Canopy shawl and a Hemlock Ring blanket. (0/2)
7. See a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
8. Have a meal at a raw food restaurant.
9. Have lunch or dinner at The Spiral Diner again.
10. Go whale watching. Take handfuls of Dramamine.
11. Attempt at least two new recipes per month. (1/64)
12. Visit the USS Arizona Memorial.
13. Revisit Manzanar.
14. Visit Key's View in the Joshua Tree National Park on a non-foggy day.
15. Volunteer at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome, Italy.
16. Volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
17. Learn to communicate passably in Italian.
18. Make a donation to the House Rabbit Society or sponsor a rabbit at a sanctuary in memory of Iris.
19. Make use of my sewing machine by sewing one dress, one skirt, and three pillows. (0/5)
20. Write and send at least one letter/card per month. (1/32)
21. Write more regularly in a paper journal ("more regularly" = twice per week, minimum). (3/286)
22. Write one short story.
23. Write ten poems. (0/10)
24. Read at least two books per month. (2/64)
Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
25. Visit the gym twice per week. (0/286)
26. Sign up for (and attend) 20 ashtanga yoga classes (0/20).
27. Take flamenco lessons.
28. Take Western swing lessons.
29. Put Western swing lessons to use at the Broken Spoke in Austin on a Jesse Dayton night.
30. Attend an opera.
31. Knit a February Lady Sweater.
32. Spend the night at the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook, AZ.
33. See Beirut in concert once. Or DeVotchKa. Or The Gotan Project. Or, ideally, all three.
34. See Emmylou Harris peform live.
35. Take my grandfather shooting at the indoor range once per month. (0/32)
36. Watch 50 of the NY Times' Top 1000 films. (0/50)
37. If my blood pressure and iron level ever raise above that of a zombie, donate blood three times. (0/3)
38. Send a care package to someone from AnyMarine.com.
39. Paint my toenails once per month (since I doubt I'll be getting over my foot fungus phobia enough to go for a pedicure). (1/32)
40. Knit a Jayne hat.
41. Make sure all Christmas gifts are purchased/made before December 1st each year.
42. Visit 3 states I haven't yet. (0/3)
43. Learn how to drive stick shift.
44. Bowl better than a 78 at least once (without lane bumpers this time).
45. Take a class at the Dharma Center.
46. Send cards just because to aunties C, Betty, and Ginny.
47. Take my grandmother out for coffee or to run her errands or whatever at least once every two weeks. (1/72)
48. Make another Think Ink appointment to have Dave add some poppies to my right arm for better symmetry.
49. Spend a day or two checking out historical sites in Delaware.
50. Attend a professional hockey game.
51. Take a pottery class.
52. Try archery.
53. Go indoor rock climbing at OKC Rocks once.
54. Learn to identify constellations.
55. Watch a meteor shower.
56. Be able to do ten real push-ups.
57. See a movie at a drive-in.
58. Fly a kite at Lake Hefner.
59. Own a scooter.
60. Get out in the ocean deeper than my knees.
61. Consider getting a massage. Possibly actually get one.
62. Travel somewhere by train.
63. Start a new tradition of celebrating my birthdays without any drama. Begin with 35th birthday.
64. Join a monthly sock yarn club (after I learn to knit socks).
65. Create my own stencils and handmake prayer flags.
66. Learn Hawaiian applique and make a pillow or small wall hanging.
67. See the Aurora Borealis.
68. Own a nice fountain pen.
69. Take a stained glass class.
70. Overcome fear of overwhelming lingerie departments and buy a pretty bra that a.) fits and b.) doesn't come from Target or Gap.
71. Knit through my yarn stash.
72. Subscribe to a (non-trashy) magazine. (Yoga Journal)
73. Clean out my car. Keep it clean.
74. Attend a Cirque du Soleil performance.
75. Keep a bird feeder constantly filled. (6/143)
76. Plant a balcony garden. Maybe even a buy a hanging plant if I can ever figure out how to install a hook.
77. Read at least one book of poetry every two months. (1/16)
Behind My Eyes by Li-Young Lee
78. Get a haircut every 8 weeks and book next appointment at the end of each visit so I can't forget and end up looking like a refugee from a topiary garden. (0/16)
79. Read 5 books recommended by friends and family. (0/5)
80. Go canoeing on the Illinois River.
81. Sort through my stuff and take some donation bags to the Pets and People thrift store.
82. If possible, attend a Pema Chodron retreat.
83. Knit or crochet at least five mini-blankets to donate to shelters for The Snuggles Project/Hugs for Homeless Animals. (0/5)
84. Sponsor a sheep or an alpaca at a sanctuary.
85. Try 6 new (to me) local, non-chain restaurants. (3/6).
Shamrock station off Portland Ave. (best burritos ever)
Sweet Basil (Norman, OK)
Pops (Arcadia, OK)
86. Attend a wine tasting.
87. Pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers each week. (2/143)
88. Donate a knit or crochet hat to the Dulaan Project.
89. If possible, attain some sort of positive resolution regarding situation with bio-dad.
90. Get a girl-style bicycle for riding around the lake.
91. Look into aikido lessons.
92. -coming up with something new-
93. Learn to be less jittery about pictures. Eventually not run/hide whenever an occasion for being on the firing end of a camera arises.
94. Shop at the farmers' market once per month. (0/32)
95. Make gifts whenever appropriate. Or buy handmade items. Unless recipient has something specific in mind.
96. Find one dressy dress appropriate for dinner with my grandparents (covers my left arm) and one dressy dress appropriate for not having dinner with my grandparents. (0/2)
97. Attend a reading at Full Circle Bookstore again. Possibly even read myself.
98. Attend a ballet.
99. Sponsor a cat at a no-kill shelter.
100. Save $5 for every completed item. Donate $10 for every incomplete item.
101. Start a new list of 101 Things at the end of 1001 days.