24 in 2024

 My interpretation of 24 in 24 - a list of 24 things to accomplish this year, and each item on the list has 24 items because I thought that'd be a fun little extra challenge for myself. I'd already completed one item before I'd posted this (see #8):

1. Post 24 blog posts - self-explanatory but posts can be here, LJ, or other blog (3/24)
2. Watch 24 movies or tv series (new to me) - even one episode counts for tv series (13/24)
3. Read 24 (new to me) books ✓
4. Try 24 (new to me) foods (22/24)
5. Try 24 (new to me) restaurants/cafes/etc. (12/24)
6. Cook/Bake/Make 24 Meals/Desserts/Snacks - this will be a tough one because I don’t cook or bake - haha - (5/24)
7. Visit 24 places (doesn’t have to be new to me) - (4/24)
8. Walk 24 miles - this should be the easiest of the list (and it was)   ✓
9. Write 24 stories of any length (5/24)
10. Edit/revise/finish 24 stories (11/24)
11. Submit 24 stories somewhere ✓
12. Post to Instagram 24 times (6/24)
13. Listen to 24 (new to me) songs and/or artists (8/24)
14. Write and mail 24 letters (18/24)
15. Try 24 craft projects/crafty things (doesn’t have to be new to me) (4/24)
16. Research 24 people/places/event in my genealogy (1/24)
17. Review 24 relatives I’ve added to me family tree to make sure everything (dates, etc.) add up (6/24)
18. Make a deposit 24 times to my savings account ✓
19. Skip sugar in my coffee 24 times ✓
20. Do 24 things for my self-care (9/24)
21. Solve 24 riddles (3/24)
22. Make 24 fun things to include in letters to pen pals ✓
23. Do 24 of any Etsy shop related task: make, review, sell, post, inventory, freebies/thank you gifts (2/24)
24. Have 24 adventures (5/24)

Write 30 Minutes a Day in May - Melanoma Monday

This May I'm participating in the  American Cancer Society Virtual Challenge Write 30 Minutes a Day in May. Fundraising is done on Facebook so, if you have a Facebook account, please head over to my fundraising page and support my efforts! Or sign up for this challenge. Every dollar counts. If you'd like to  donate, but don't have Facebook (or you don't want to donate through that site), here are some other ways to donate. (Just follow the hyperlinks.)

I'm participating in this challenge in honor of all my friends and family who have cancer, all of those who fought their battles and won, and all of those who lost. I'd intended to list everyone and their associated cancers, but as I started to list them, I realized the list was too long. Too many people. Too many cancers. It was a harsh reminder of how important support is for the families, for research, and for the American Cancer Society and for organizations like it.

American Cancer Society has a toll free number, available 24 hrs. a day - 7 days a week, to answer questions and provide resources to those recently diagnosed, to those receiving treatment, to caregivers, and to loved ones. They might be able to help with rides to appointments and lodging for treatments, among other things. The number for anyone who may need it is: 1-800-227-2345.

May is also Skin Cancer Awareness Month / National Melanoma Month, and the 1st of May happens to be called Melanoma Monday, as a way of generating awareness about melanoma. The American Cancer Society estimates about 98,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, and almost 8,000 people are expected to die from it.

What are some of the risk factors? (this is not a full list - see this link for more risk factors: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html)

- Exposure to UV light, from sunlight or from tanning beds

- Moles, Fair Skin, Freckling

- Family History of Melanoma or a Personal History of Skin Cancers

What are some things you can do?

- Wear sunscreen. Avoid tanning beds. Cover up with wide brimmed hats in the sunshine and seek shade whenever possible.

- Check your skin regularly so you can notice any changes in existing moles or spot any abnormal growths.

- See your doctor or a dermatologist if you have any questions or concerns.

#MelanomaMonday #cancerawareness #30minutesadayinMay #AmericanCancerSociety #virtualchallenge

101 in 1001: List Six

from Day Zero Project (aka "101 in 1001 Days") 

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 organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. 

 

Start Date: June 28, 2021 

End Date: March 25, 2024 

* Completed tasks will be crossed out. 

* Tasks in progress will be in bold (so I can keep track of them easily). 

* Incomplete tasks will be left as is. 

My 101 

1. Leave an inspirational note in a book for someone to find. 

2. Take a cruise. 

3. Complete the 2021 NaNoWriMo challenge. 

4. Complete the 2022 NaNoWriMo challenge. 

5. Complete the 2023 NaNoWriMo challenge. 

6. Finish a Work in Progress. 

7. Read 100 books (audiobooks count). (74/100)

8. Start an IRA. 

9. Make a short film. 

10. Go apple picking. 

11. Renew my passport. 

12. Get my permit. 

13. Learn to cook something. 

14. Take the MENSA test. 

15. Host a tea party. 

16. Meet 5 new people. (1/5) 

17. Visit 5 places in New England I've never been to before. (2/5) 

18. Attend a film festival. 

19. Get certified in CPR. 

20. Pay off one credit card. 

21. Make a medical family tree. 

22. Attend the Portuguese Festival (Madeira Fest) in New Bedford 

23. Publish an article in a magazine or newspaper. 

24. Spend 45 days without going online (doesn't have to be consecutive) (3/45) 

25. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum 

26. Finish "Who Killed Robert Prentice?" by Dennis Wheatley 

27. Complete 25 creative writing prompts from Toasted Cheese (0/25) 

28. Visit Coney Island. 

29. Visit Old Orchard Beach, ME. 

30. Take Beanie on two college tours. (0/2) 

31. Donate 100 items to charity. (20/100) 

32. Participate in an armchair treasure hunt 

33. Do the Walk to Rivendell Challenge before my 101 in 1001 challenge ends. 

34. Write 30 blog posts. (1/30) 

35. Visit a city or town I've never been to. 

36. Get reacquainted with my local library. 

37. Host a Game Night. 

38. Make 5 things inspired by Pinterest (0/5) 

39. See 5 movies in the theater. (0/5) 

40. Watch 10 new-to-me movies (theater, at home via whatever method, etc.) (10/10)

41. Try 20 new things no matter how small. (20/20) 

42. Visit Rockport again. 

43. Visit Canada. 

44. Try audiobook narration. 

45. Take a tour of the Boston Public Library 

46. Take Beanie to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 

47. Lose 25 lbs. (0/25) 

48. From Learning to Love You More Assignment #53: Give advice to yourself in the past. 

49. Post the result of something inspired by The Soul Food Café. 

50. Create 10 new items for my Etsy Shop. 

51. Make a list of 101 quotes that inspire me (0/101). 

52. Identify 100 Things That Make Me Happy. 

53. Organize dad's photos into an album. 

54. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days are over. 

55. Make a list of 50 places I'd like to visit in my lifetime. 

56. Be able to do 10 pushups. (0/10) 

57. Submit 25 stories. (22/25) 

58. Send a query to a literary agent. 

59. Make a bucket list (100 things I want to do before I die). 

60. Purchase a first aid kit for the house. 

61. Answer the "50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind" 

62. Finish the list of books I own (LibraryThing). 

63. Take Beanie on the ferry to Salem. 

64. Be an extra in a movie. 

65. Make a family history book. 

66. Go on a day hike. 

67. Do Escape the Room. 

68. Do 5 Wits. 

69. See a live flamenco performance. 

70. See a live show (play, musical, concert, comedy, etc.), in addition to the flamenco performance in #69. 71. Try foods from five different cultures or countries. (2/5) 

72. Take a surfing lesson. 

73. Go to a scifi con.

74. Introduce Beanie to Farscape and The X-Files. (0/2)

75. Make a will.

76. Sign up for life insurance.

77. Complete 10 on my The Ultimate Reading Challenge list on Day Zero Project.

78. Go to a show at the Norwood Theater. 

79. Visit with my dad at least 5 times. (2/5) 

80. Visit with Uncle Carlos. (failed - he passed away)

  :(

81. Participate in the 21 Day Challenge to becoming a better you. 

82. Create a nice looking pedigree chart for myself. 

83. Create a nice looking descendency chart from whichever family I choose. 

84. Research at least 4 generations back on Beanie's side. 

85. Participate in MoreLoveLetters.com 

86. Take the train to Washington, D.C. to see the cherry blossoms. 

87. Bake chocolate chip cookies. 

88. Make ice cream from scratch. 

89. Bake some scones. 

90. Take five continuing education courses (online or in person). (0/5) 

91. Learn a new skill. 

92. Finish visual phasing of my siblings and my DNA. 

93. Write 100 letters. (21/100) 

94. Complete the 52 Week Money Challenge. (52/52) 

95. Bring Beanie to NYC for a day trip. 

96. Day trip to Providence. 

97. Get ice cream at Taikyaki. 

98. Transcribe 10 genealogy records for my research. (0/10) 

99. Put $10 into my savings for every completed item on this list. (6/101) 

100. Finish writing another 101 things before the end of the 1001 days. 

101. Complete all the items on this list. (6/101) 

Tasks Remaining: 101 

** previous lists: 

list one 

list two 

list three 

list four

list five

Books I Read in 2020

1. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

2. the Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

3. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

7. One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

8. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

10. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

11. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

12. The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

13. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Coriolanus

National Theater Live has announced its next full-length play scheduled for streaming, Coriolanus starring Tom Hiddleston in the title role, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination and won the Evening Standard Award for Best Actor (2014). I’m really looking forward to this one because I missed it the first time around when it was broadcast as part of National Theater Live in movie theaters. Also starring Alfred Enoch, Deborah Findlay, and Mark Gattis, you can check it out on the National Theater at Home’s YouTube page on June 4.

National Theater Live and Other Things

The National Theater will be streaming free full-length plays every Thursday as part of National Theater at Home. The streamed plays can be accessed on the National Theater’s YouTube page National Theater at Home. Each play will be available for one week.

Currently playing is Twelfth Night featuring Tamsin Greig and directed by Simon Goodwin.

Tune in April 30 and May 1 for Frankenstein, directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller in alternating roles of Frankenstein and his creation.

On May 14 Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo star in Antony & Cleopatra, directed by Simon Godwin.

The multi talented Gigi Edgley has been hosting talks and watch parties on Twich. She posts information about this and other projects on her Twitter @GigiEdgley, Instagram, and Facebook accounts as well as her website gigiedgley.com. Be sure to give her a follow and tune in!

Phryne Fisher fans rejoice! Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears is now playing on Acorn TV. If you don't have Acorn TV already, you might be able to gain access through your local library. With a library card from a participating library you can sign up at RB Digital to check out limited, free access to a multitude of British tv shows and movies through Acorn TV.

Lastly, Sunday May 3, the Letter Writers Alliance (LWA) is hosting a Virtual Letter Writing Social at 3pm Central time here: Virtual Letter Writing Social. As a reminder the LWA's shop is open until July 31 after which it will be permanently closed so stock up on those writing supplies while you can!

20 Albums in 20 Days: Days 1-3

I'm having fun participating in this meme on Facebook: 20 Albums in 20 Days

Rules are simple. Post 20 albums in 20 days that have made an impact on you. Post the album cover, no explanation. My rule is you can change the rules to suit you.

I thought it'd be fun to share the album covers on here, too. So here are Days 1-3. Feel free to play along!






 

A Month of Letters

Feb. 1 is the start of Letter Month (A Month of Letters challenge: http://lettermo.com). The challenge is simple. For the month of February mail at least one item (a letter, a postcard, an envelope full of stickers, whatever!) every day the post office is open. Write back to everyone who has written you; your reply counts as one of your mailed items.

I look forward to this every February!! A month of marvelous mail! There are a lot of lovely letters from 2019 that I've yet to answer so ...that's my focus for this month. That said I enjoy exchanging letters and plan on corresponding with many of my usual LetterMo pals and saying "hello" to others as well. Those whose addresses I already have are fair game.

Who else is participating in Letter Month! At the very least your mailbox will be happier!

Favorite Films of the Past Decade

Back in 2009 I listed what I considered the best movies of the decade. I decided to do the same this time around, but this time instead of the "best," this list is my favorites of the ones that I saw during the 2000s. So, without further ado and in no particular order, here are my

Favorite Films of the Past Decade

1. King's Speech
2. Tangled
3. Frozen
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
5. The Artist
6. Hugo
7. The Avengers (1, 3, and 4)
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
9. Captain America
10. Dr. Strange
11. too many other Marvel movies to mention
12. Skyfall
13. The Hobbit
14. Brave
15. Kingsman: The Secret Service
16. The Hunger Games
17. Jurassic World
18. Passengers of 7D
19. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
20. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Mayflower Essay Contest

As part of the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage to Plymouth, the New England Historic Genealogical Society at American Ancestors is sponsoring a Mayflower inspired essay contest for Massachusetts children in grades 5-12.

Children choose one of three topics for their essay. Deadline is June 10, 2020. More details are on the American Ancestors Essay Contest page.

Books I Read in 2019

I'd previously mentioned in my 2019 Year in Review that I would post the books I read in 2019 so here they are:

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
2. The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
3. The Knowing by Sharon Cameron
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
5. Painless Geometry by Lynette Long, PhD
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
7. Geometry for Dummies by Mark Ryan
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
9. Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman
10. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
11. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
12. Circe by Madeleine Miller
13. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
15. Matilda by Roald Dahl
16. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
17. The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M. Romero
18. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

January Goals 2020

1. Cake

2. Tea Party

3. Game Day

4. Free Taste of Chocolate Festival in Harvard Square

5. Prep for the Month of Letter Writing Challenge

6. Submit something somewhere

7. Read two books

My “goals” for January. If I complete two, I’ll be happy. Three or more will leave me ecstatic. Notice how Cake is the #1 priority. (hee hee!) 

2019 Year in Review

As usual I fell behind on projects I wanted to accomplish this year, but that’s okay. There’s always next year. I did manage to tick a few things off my list, and I did pick up a reading habit again (even if the “reading” mostly consisted of audio books).
 

Here are a few of the things that happened in 2019, in no particular order:

1. Lots of letters received but not as many sent. I need to improve on that!
2. I went to the Downton Abbey Exhibit in Boston..
3. More genealogy and DNA cousin discoveries.
4. Read a fair amount of books but did not meet my Goodreads challenge goal of 50 books.
5. Reached out to some relatives and offered them an extra (free!) DNA kit and either never heard back or was told "no, thank you"
6. Funeral for my Uncle Manny who passed away 30 Sep 2018)
7. Took some courses online through Future Learn and managed to finish some but not all
8. Did not finish this year's NaNoWriMo effort
9. Tried NYC Midnight’s MicroFiction Challenge and received really good feedback
10. Submitted flash fiction to Alone in a Room with Invisible People's Halloween Podcast and was thrilled to have it read on the podcast! You can listen to my story, "Once in a Blue Moon," here on the Apple Podcast or Podbean at 19:14.
11. Saw my first Broadway play, Betrayal, in November, starring Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton, and Charlie Cox, with special appearance by Eddie Arnold.
12.Took a bus to NYC for the first time
13. Rode the NYC subway by myself for the first time
14. Had lunch with Sharifa in NYC
15. Walk for Hunger in May
16. Took my niece to Harvard Square for the first time
17. Real ID adventures
18. Used Amtrak rewards points toward a free ticket (woo!)
19. Spent too much money
20. Saw some new shows on Netflix
21. Finally got to see the Avengers movies (;ast one / last two)
22. Played Monument Valley 1 and 2; also, Wizards United
23. Lost one pound (woo!)
24. Bean was concussed the weekend before her birthday.

25. Sick for the holidays and end of the year

January Goals

 

1. Cake
2. L.A. Burdick
3. Tea Party
4. Escape the Room

Those are my “goals” for January. If I manage at least two of them, I’ll be very happy. Mostly, I’m aiming to accomplish #1. Cake. Yep. (hee!)

2018 Review

2018 was eventful but thankfully not as eventful as previous years. Here are some of the things that happened in 2018, mostly in no particular order.

1. Made a new 101 in 1001 and started up this blog again.
2. Downton Abbey movie was announced!
3. Lots of letters sent and received!
4. More genealogy and DNA cousin discoveries
5. Read some books (I rediscovered audio books and podcast university lectures), saw some movies (finally saw ThorRagnarok), but didn't get much walking in (mostly due to the very hot summer we had)
6. In April Sharifa & Irvin visited Boston, and we got to hang out
7. Took my niece to L.A. Burdick for hot chocolate
8. Walk for Hunger in May
9. Letters Live, NYC in May
10. Helped with researching props for a NY festival play
11. Victory Gardens, Boston with my sis and dad (June)
12. June 10 - Sagres at Fan Pier, Boston, and the Boston Portuguese Festival on City Hall Plaza
13. The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at the MFA (Watson Adventures, Aug.)
14. Mid Aug.-Sep. 30 was spent worrying about my Uncle Manny. It was a deja vu feeling in many ways from the year before when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, and we had no word as to how he was until Oct. 7 when an internet angel actually went to his house (all I had was a PO Box and a vague description of where he lived) to check on him. Cells weren't working in his area so she snapped a photo and messaged it to me on Facebook once she was back in an area with reception. We were able to reach him by phone a week later and were overjoyed to hear his voice, but seeing his photo on Oct. 7 and being the receiver of such kindness from a total stranger had my mom and me crying happy tears. Fast forward to 2018 when he was supposed to visit us but had returned home early and fell ill. By all accounts he was ill when he was visiting other family, but he was worse when he returned to P.R. Weeks followed where the news of his health yo-yo'd between improvement and worsening. We got the call on Sep. 30 that he had passed away.
15. Finally attended the Boston Book Festival (Oct. 13)
16. November saw a get together with friends from high school, and it was great to catch up!
17. NaNoWriMo fail
18. Tried pork pot pie and a piece of English country manor farm cheese (it was green and had sage in it), although not at the same time

101 in 1001: List Five

from Day Zero Project (aka "101 in 1001 Days")

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 organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: September 20, 2018
End Date: June 17, 2021

* Completed tasks will be crossed out.
* Tasks in progress will be in bold (so I can keep track of them easily).
* Incomplete tasks will be left as is.

My 101
1. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
2. Take a cruise
3. Start a genealogy blog
4. Bring my laptop in for repair (4/19/19)
5. Complete the 2018 NaNoWriMo challenge
6. Complete the 2019 NaNoWriMo challenge
7. Complete the 2020 NaNoWriMo challenge
8. Finish a Work in Progress
9. Read 50 books (audio books count)
10. Start an IRA
11. Make a short film
12. Go apple picking
13. Renew my passport
14. Get my permit
15. Take the MENSA test
16. Learn to cook something
17. Host a tea party
18. Meet 5 new people
19. Visit 5 places in New England I've never been to before (0/5)
20. Attend a film festival
21. Participate in a charity event
22. Get certified in CPR
23. Complete all the items on this list (11/101)
24. Pay off one credit card
25. Keep a diary for a year
26. Go on a road trip
27. Get an article published in a magazine or newspaper
28. Keep a journal for this Day Zero Project (journal started on 9/22/18)
29. Attend the Portuguese Festival (Madeira Fest) in New Bedford
30. Spend 45 days without going online (doesn't have to be consecutive) (0/45)
31. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum
32. Finish "Who Killed Robert Prentice?" by Dennis Wheatley
33. Do 10 Random Acts of Kindness (8/10)
34. Complete 25 creative writing prompts from Toasted Cheese (0/25)
35. Visit Coney Island
36. Visit Old Orchard Beach, ME
37. Donate 100 items to charity (43/100)
38. Participate in an armchair treasure hunt
39. Do the Walk to Rivendell Challenge within the timeframe of 1000 days
40. Attend the 2018 Boston Book Festival
41. Write 30 blogs posts (14/30)
42. Visit a city or town I've never been to
43. Get reacquainted with my local library
44. Host a game night
45. Make 5 things inspired by Pinterest (1/5)
46. See 5 movies in the theater (0/5)
47. Try 10 new things, no matter how small (10/10)
48. Visit LaSalette
49. Visit Canada
50. Visit Rockport again
51. Try audiobook narration
52. See one of Beanie's games or performances
53. Take a tour of the Boston Public Library
54. Take Beanie to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
55. From Learning to Love You More Assignment #53: Give advice to yourself in the past
56. Post the result of something inspired by The Soul Food Café
57. Create 10 new items for my Etsy shop
58. Make a list of 101 quotes that inspire me (0/101)
59. Identify 100 Things That Make Me Happy
60. Organize dad's photos into an album
61. Lose 20 lbs (7/20)
62. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days are over
63. Make a list of 50 places I'd like to visit in my lifetime
64. Be able to do 10 pushups
65. Send a query to a literary agent
66. Make a bucket list (100 things I want to do before I die)
67. Purchase a first aid kit for home
68. Answer the "50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind"
69. Finish writing another 101 things before the end of the 1001 days
70. Finish the list of books I own (LibraryThing)
71. Be an extra in a movie
72. Take Beanie on the ferry to Salem
73. Make a family history book
74. Go on a day hike
75. Do Escape the Room
76. Do 5 Wits
77. See a live flamenco performance again
78. Attend a formal dress event
79. Try foods from five different cultures or countries (0/5)
80. Take a surfing lesson
81. Go to a show at the Norwood Theater
82. Visit my dad at least 5 times (0/5)
83. Say "hello" to and/or smile at 20 strangers
84. Participate in the 21 Day Challenge to becoming a better you
85. Create a nice looking pedigree chart for myself
86. Create a nice looking descendency chart from whichever family I choose
87. Research at least 4 generations back on Beanie's side
88. Participate in MoreLoveLetters.com
89. Say "yes" to something I would not normally do
90. Take the train to Washington, D.C. to see the cherry blossoms
91. Bake chocolate chip cookies
92. Make ice cream from scratch
93. Bake some scones
94. Learn something new
95. Finish visual phasing of my siblings and my DNA
96. Go to a festival
97. Go to a concert
98. Learn calligraphy
9. Complete the 52 Week Money Challenge (52/52)
100. Put $10 into my savings for every completed item on this list (13/101)
101. Take 5 continuing education or enrichment courses (5/5)

Tasks Remaining: 89

** previous lists
list one
list two
list three
list four

101 in 1001: List Four

from Day Zero Project (aka "101 in 1001 days")

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 organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: June 16, 2014
End Date: March 13, 2017

* Completed tasks will be crossed out.
* Tasks in process will be in bold (so I can keep track of them easily).
* Incomplete tasks will be left as is.

My 101

1. Put $10 into savings for every completed item on this list (1/101)
2. From Learning to Love You More assignment #53: Give advice to yourself in the past
3. Post the result of something inspired by The Soul Food Cafe
4. Make a list of 101 quotes that inspire me
5. Identify 100 things that make me happy
6. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days is over
7. Make a list of 50 places I would like to visit in my lifetime
8. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
9. Write a book
10. Donate my hair to Locks of Love
11. Send a card or flowers to someone going through a tough time
12. Get my driver's license
13. Take a cruise
14. Complete the 2014 NaNoWriMo challenge
15. Bring my laptop in for repair (completed 7/23/14)
16. Finish a Work in Progress
17. Read 30 books
18. Start an IRA
19. Make a short film
20. Complete two of the items on my 43 Things list
21. Go apple picking
22. Renew my passport
23. Make a bucket list (100 things I want to do before I die)
24. Purchase a first aid kit for home
25. Take the MENSA test
26. Learn to cook something
27. Meet five new people
28. Host a BBQ
29. Make a treasure map for my niece to follow
30. Visit 5 places in New England I've never been to before (1/5)
31. Don't log into Facebook for a week
32. Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"
33. Attend a film festival
34. Participate in a charity event
35. Get certified in CPR
36. Make a list of 100 things about me
37. Make a list of my 50 favorite movies
38. Finish writing another 101 things list by the end of 1001 days
39. Complete all the items on this list
40. Take three continuing education or enrichment courses
41. Organize Ella photos
42. Finish the list of books I own
43. Pay off one credit card
44. Go kayaking
45. Keep a diary for a year
46. Go on a road trip
47. Get an article published in a magazine or newspaper
48. Keep a journal for this Day Zero Project
49. Attend the Portuguese Festival in New Bedford
50. Spend three days without going online
51. Visit the Peabody Essex Museum
52. Finish "Who Killed Robert Prentice?" by Dennis Wheatley
53. Do 10 random acts of kindness (2/10)
54. Complete 25 creative writing prompts from Toasted Cheese
55. Try contact lenses again
56. Be an extra in a movie
57. Try a new breakfast place
58. Go on a harbor cruise or take a ferry ride somewhere
59. Visit Coney Island
60. Donate 100 items to charity
61. Update my genealogy research
62. Plan a family reunion
63. Make a list of 100 books I would like to read
64. Go on a day hike
65. Participate in a scavenger hunt
66. See a live Flamenco performance
67. Participate in an armchair treasure hunt
68. Do the Walk for Rivendell Challenge
69. Attend the 2014 Boston Book Fesival
70. Attend a formal dress event
71. Write 10 blog posts
72. Dye my hair
73. Try foods from three different cultures
74. Visit a city I've never been to
75. Take a surfing lesson
76. Visit my Dad (completed 7/20/14)
77. Go to a show at the Norwood theater
78. Say "hello" to and/or smile at 20 strangers (4/20)
79. Get reacquainted with my library
80. Start a birthday calendar to help me remember when to mail cards
81. Have/host a game night
82. Start a Smash! book
83. Participate in the local film community
84. Make three things inspired by Pinterest (1/3)
85. Complete the 2015 NaNoWriMo challenge
86. Complete the 2016 NaNoWriMo challenge
87. Do a craft show
88. See 5 movies in the theater
89. Visit a bookstore
90. Take a day trip to NYC
91. Visit Canada
92. Have coffee or lunch with three friends I don't see often
93. Try 10 new things, no matter how small (3/10)
94. Buy a lottery ticket
95. Say "yes" to something I would not normally do
96. Participate in the 21 Day Challenge to becoming a better you
97. Visit La Salette
98. Go on a whale watch
99. Visit Rockport again
100. Send a message in a bottle
101. Participate in MoreLoveLetters.com

Tasks Remaining: 93

** previous lists
list 3
list 2
list 1

Odds and Ends

* I surpassed my Walk for Hunger fundraising goal. :D

* I've seen a few movies since the summer. Contagion, The Hunger Games, The Artist, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Avengers and Snow White and the Huntsman. I've enjoyed them all to various degrees. Meant to do a little review on some of them, but I was lax. Maybe at some point.

* After all these years I finally made it to the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl. Lots of delicious ice cream for a good cause! I was super excited to have gone. lol My sister estimated I probably consumed over a pound of ice cream. (oops!) But it was yummy! (heehee) One of the new (to me) flavors I tried was Mission Fig from SoCo Creamery. Quite delicious! I couldn't decide whether or not I cared for Ben & Jerry's Blueberry Graham Cracker Frozen Greek Yogurt, but it was an interesting combination, not too sweet; I'd try it again.

* I've discovered I have a higher tolerance for sugar and milk than previously thought. (see my mention of ice cream above) The only side effect I encountered was an odd dream involving googlie eyes, but those who know me well know my (usually vivid and strangely detailed) dreams tend to be full of oddities anyway. ;)

Walk for Hunger in Less Than Two Weeks!

In 12 days (Sunday, May 6) I'll be once again participating in Project Bread's Walk for Hunger. This will be my 21st Walk, and as you can probably guess, it's something I look forward to every year.

The money that I raise by walking the full 20-mile route supports more than 450 emergency food programs in 129 communities in Massachusetts. Every dollar counts for the children, elderly, and disabled individuals who do not have enough food to get through the week.

• $20 provides 40 people at a soup kitchen with a bowl of hot soup and a sandwich.
• $50 provides 100 people at an emergency food program with a bowl of hot soup & a sandwich.
• $100 provides a week's supply of groceries for five families.
• $500 allows a community health center to provide immediate food assistance to 25 hungry families.
• $1000 permits a food pantry to give a week's supply of groceries to 50 families in need.

I've committed to raising $500 for Project Bread, and I hope you will be able to help me reach my goal by making a donation. Visit my Walk Page to learn more. From there, you can donate to me, or sign up to Walk! Thank you very much for your support. http://projectbread.org/goto/ctegan

My 2011 Review - The Good, The Awesome, The Bad, The Ugly

In no particular order, here are some of 2011's highlights:

* major face failure in January; one year later, and I’m still haunted by the mystery person
* I took a chance. Twice. Both times it paid off in the short run but not the long run. I don’t regret taking either chance at all. :)
* I sold a lot (for me) on etsy. :) Unfortunately I didn’t make enough new items to sell. All my crafting/creating plans seemed doomed to remain .. unfinished.
* Walk for Hunger! :)
* reconnected with old friends :)
* made a new friend :)
* met new people :)
* attended a film screening for P7D :)
* said goodbye to NHS
* went hiking on Blue Hills :)
* realized I was falling into the old oubliette/limbo/holding patterns and tried unsuccessfully to break the patterns before it was too late
* spent too much time online
* my writing suffered; it was basically nonexistent for 2011
* got my copy of P7D! :)
* gave up coffee for awhile :) but drank too much coffee for the remainder of the year
* got into a Facebook habit in February because I had a reason to play on there
* long walks in the nice weather :)
* went on an actual date (go me!) :)
* failed NaNoWriMo
* enjoyed the beautiful weather as much as possible :)
* realized early on that my crush wasn’t crushing on me after all and that he was just being nice because he’s a nice person; of course, it didn’t make the realization any easier and so I lived in hope & denial for a while; “Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.” (Charlie Brown)
* saw a movie at Legacy Place (holy cow! that place is big!)
* was disappointed to discover I wasn’t as high on someone’s friend list as I thought I had been and spent too much time trying to figure out if I was a friend, a sometimes friend or just an acquaintance
* was amazed to meet someone who was actually excited to spend time with me :)
* was called cute (yay!) :)
* Duck Tour! :)
* visited with family, including a visit with my Dad :)
* Found two pairs of pants that actually fit! :)
* Joined PostCrossing :)
* Got some pen pals! :)
* won a gift basket :)
* had a visit from Missy :)
* NYC! :)
* was beyond tired (exhausted!) in the beginning of the year and in the end of the year
* had lasagna (December) :)
* too many strange, random comments made to me than I can recall
* 101 in 1001 failure! but I made a new list so it’s all good
* cancer in the family .. again :(
* R.I.P. Ray LaPierre - December 23, 2011 - sad Christmas :(

I think that was pretty much it.