I have 169 days left. Where have the past two and a half years gone? I’m coming to terms with a few items on my list that won’t be completed, a few more that will be completed after the 1001 days, and a few that I am determined to complete before June 21. That said, here’s the latest.
MAKE: Postsecret submission
I sent this off over the summer (2008). It was never posted on the website, but it really wasn’t all that interesting. It prompted some serious thinking about other, “better” secrets that I should have sent. I’ll be sending more. It doesn’t really matter if they ever see the light of day again.
READ: 100 books in a year
I completed this in 2006, technically before I started the challenge. BUT I believe it was a noteworthy accomplishment, so I included it.
GO: On a date with someone I actually like
I started dating my amazing boyfriend on July 22, 2007. We’ve been on some pretty awesome dates. My favorite was when we went to Knoxville to see Jimmy Eat World as an early birthday present to me. One of the best nights of my life.
GO: Sightseeing in Washington, DC
I flew to DC in November 2007 to visit one of my best friends from Belmont who spent a semester there. I grew up hitting DC a few times a year on homeschool trips, but had been wanting to go back now that I’m old enough to appreciate it in a different way. I didn’t get to visit the Holocaust museum, so I’d like to go back at some point and see that (and revisit the Smithsonian museums as well).
DO: Leave $1 in a library book
This was one of the first things that I completed, in early 2007, but I don’t remember exactly when. I’m surprised that I didn’t update about it, because it was pretty exciting and I would have liked to remember what book I left the $1 in.
DO: Have $20,000 in a savings account
I had almost $19,000 in my savings account before I dropped $10k on my car’s down payment. A friend owes me another $2,000 which puts me well over $20,000. Too bad it was short-lived – But I consider my car a worthy investment.
DO: Get recertified in CPR
I was able to take a free CPR certification class through the sitter service that I work with part time. I’m officially certified for two more years by the American Heart Association (well, one more year – I completed this in January 2008).
DO: Write a wish, tie it to a balloon, and let it go
Amy and I bought some awesome balloons from the party shop at the end of my street. My balloon looked like a globe, and Amy’s balloon was tie dyed. Honestly, I don’t even remember my wish. I think it had something to do with world peace as a pseudo-joke on the global balloon, but seriously… world peace would be sweet. This was spring 2008.
DO: Participate in a paid focus group
Friday, December 12, 2008. I got $150 to sit around at Griffin Technologies and tell them that their ipod cases were all pretty ugly. It was awesome, except for the part where they rescheduled without telling me from the night before and I drove out there in the snow twice.
DO: Work with Food Not Bombs
Amy was brave enough to do this with me, and I have to admit that it was a little awkward entering an established group of friends and trying to pitch in and help out. This was probably one of the more difficult things I’ve done. I didn’t go back, but I learned a lot… mostly about the people providing the food.
DO: Carve a pumpkin
I carved my first pumpkin in October 2008, and it was an Obamalantern. Hilarious. Also a bit pathetic that it was my first, but better late than never.
LEARN: To change a car’s oil & filter
My friend Adria was moving to Jerusalem in August 2007, so I drove to Indianapolis for one last goodbye before she hopped on a flight. Her dad is awesome and suited me up in a mechanic’s jumpsuit and he taught me how to change the oil and filter in a car. Thanks, Dave.
LEARN: To like and cook fish
I can’t pinpoint an exact time when this happened, somewhere between becoming a vegetarian/pescatarian and realizing I needed way more protein.
LEARN: To knit
I learned once in college but completely forgot. I re-taught myself how to knit in the fall of 2007 and made a bazillion hats for everyone I know. Necessity is the mother of invention!
GET: A multivitamin that doesn’t make me nausious
Getting a capsule instead of a compressed tablet was the trick.
GET: Another piercing
I completed this one today (January 3, 2009)! I got a rook piercing in my left ear. My friend Libby wanted her navel pierced, so I decided to go along for the ride and get a piercing that I’ve sort of wanted for a while. Piercings are fun and semi-permanent.
GET: A record player & start a vinyl collection
My boyfriend gave me a brand new record player and my first new vinyl for Christmas last year (2007). I had been wanting the record player – it’s a Crosley that looks antiqued but includes an iPod jack and CD player – and it was the perfect gift.
GET: A doctor that I like
I sort of cheated on this one. I found a gynecologist that I like, but am still shirking around and haven’t found a PCP. I’ll probably do that before the end of the 1001 days out of necessity, though. And I LOVE my dentist too!
GET: A real piece of furniture
I bought myself a beautiful couch & loveseat set in January 2008. It only cost $450 on Craigslist, and the people even delivered it from Clarksville for me. The furniture is almost brand new and I’ll probably resell it at some point for more than I paid for it.
STOP: Sleeping on the floor
Some friends gave me a mattress out of pity… so after two straight years of sleeping on the floor/couch, I got a mattress in spring 2007. It does wonders for one’s back.
STOP: Spending money for one week – excluding bills
This was harder than one might think, being only a week… but the week that everyone wanted to hang out and do fun stuff seemed to be that week. I don’t remember when I completed it, sometime in 2008.
That’s it – a summary of everything I’ve completed this far. I’m doing a 26Things project this month, and hope to run a 5k at the end of the month (after completing my gym goal), so lots in progress. Feeling good.
