101 in 1001: (Less Than) One Year to Go

On January 1, 2012, I began my first ever 101 in 1001 list.  The goal was to conquer all the items on my list my 30th birthday.  So now, I have just under a year to go.  It seemed a good time to update you on my progress.

I attempted to shorten this post by cutting out the items I’ve already accomplished (you can view the whole list here).  Unfortunately, this post is still crazy long.  My apologies.

Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
It’s not surprising that my interests and motivations have changed since the beginning of last year.  These are the items that I’m really not feeling, 640 days later. I haven’t decided if I’m going to rewrite them or still do them or what.

2. Participate in NaNoWriMo – at the time that I set this goal, I thought I had a book in me, but at this point in my life, I’m not feeling like I’m in a place to turn out a book next month.
12. Own real diamond earrings – it’d be nice, but it’s less important to me than it used to be and I’d rather spend the money elsewhere.
19. Spend 2012 going through this decluttering/organization calendar – So, I didn’t do this…and now it’s not 2012…
24. Visit each of my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on both sides at least once – Really? I thought this was feasible?  It does look like I’ll have seen most of them, so I may just reword this one
26. Take a Zumba class – this is no longer an activity that actually sounds enjoyable to me
28. Run a race in Maine – Once upon a time, I ran.  That hasn’t really been the case since 2011.
33. Run an entire 5k (no walking breaks) – see above
46. Host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner – note to self: the world does not revolve around you
54. Make and perfect my own tea blend – but there’s so much great tea out there already!
69. Beat Portal 1 – once, I tried to be a gamer.  That is less of a concern now
82. Read 7 Pulitzer Prize winning books – at this point, 7 may be a bit excessive.  Especially since it took me 6 months to finish the last book I started. 84. Complete an entire MIT Open Courseware course for a subject I teach – I just don’t feel like I have the time for this, on top of the grad class I’m already taking for credit
86. Take a grad level science class–and pass – I’ve changed my masters focus away from science, so I don’t expect to be taking any relevant classes
97. Post to the Food in Jars Flikr pool – Best I can tell, the Flickr pool no longer exists

Need Serious Focus
These items are do-able, but only if I really focus in the next year and am really intentional about them.  These are the items that require travel, time, money, energy and planning.  Some of them I’ve already started, but others have a long way to go.

1. Pay off at least 1 student loan
3. Keep the kitchen table clean for a month
4. Unplug from the phone, internet and television for a weekend
5. Go without makeup for a week
7. Leave 25 Operation Beautiful notes
9. Participate in Black Friday shopping at some ridiculous hour of the morning
29. Read The New Rules of Lifting for Women
34. Go to Canada
35. Visit 2 more (new) states
38. Visit the Susan B. Anthony museum in Rochester, NY
64. Get a chest freezer or second refrigerator
65. Refinish a piece of furniture
72. Go a week without watching TV, Netflix or Hulu
80. Go to 3 local productions
81. Attend a poetry reading
83. Attend a game for each high school sport
87. Create full year curriculum for all classes I teach
89. Write 5 guest posts
90. Conduct and post an interview
91. Do 5 vlogs
96. Read 5 food related nonfiction books

Just Need to Be Done
These items are not hard. Many of them don’t even take that much time or planning. But for whatever reason, I’ve put them off for almost two years. I really just need to start taking care of these items and checking them off.

16. Write a letter to myself to be opened in 10 years
17. Memorize a Psalm or other bible passage
18. Get together with at least 3 college friends
22. Write 15 snail mail letters to friends
23. Go on a trip with my sister
30. Be able to touch my toes
37. Explore Albany, NY
41. Get postcards for states I’ve visited but don’t have cards for
42. Go to the Troy Farmer’s market
47. Surprise my coworkers with baked goods
48. Eat only locally grown/made food for a day
49. Successfully can applesauce
50. Make pierogies from scratch
57. Buy, try and cook with Sriracha
59. Cook using tea as an ingredient
60. Create 15 original recipes
61. Decorate the outside of our home for the holidays
67. Find a way to display my elephant collection
68. Have a complete set of Fiesta for 12, including lunch plates and mugs
70. Watch the first 50 movies on IMBD’s top movies (19/50)
71. Watch Gone with the Wind
79. Go caroling
85. Earn my special education certification
92. Write a “day in the life” blog post
93. Add 5 new quality food blogs to my reader
94. Do a “what I ate Wednesday” post
95. Learn to use my new camera
99. Move all recipes to Recipage
100. Back up my blog

I’m more than open to your tips, suggestions and ideas about how best to conquer the last of my list. And, in true Emily fashion, I’ve already started brainstorming ideas for my next 101 list.