Meanwhile...

Oh boy. Where to start?? In short, I realize my last post was much too long ago.

AND I am over a month past the date I was supposed to have accomplished all, if not some, of my Day Zero Project tasks.  I've looked back over the accomplished tasks and leftover tasks, and there are a few that were completed in the recent months (going to the ballet, organizing my bills, taking regular "art breaks" at work for my own sanity) that I can remove but that still leaves me with a staggering 60 tasks unaccomplished in this challenge. 

60....out of 101...
I suck.

So what now? Well I think it's only fitting I give myself a consequence so I'm going to do something with those 60 items. I am going to review them and put them on a new list. AND I'm going to donate a dollar for every unaccomplished task from this first attempt to a local charity. I've yet to decide on one but if you have any suggestions please feel free to share. I'll come up with a charity before the end of the month and write the cheque for March 1 2012. 

I suppose time flies when you're having fun definitely applies here. The last half of 2011 was a pretty busy one, though looking back now it's hard to recall all of it though I know it was spent in good company usually paired with good food and wine and fantastic stories.  

One of my treats to myself this fall was buying a 5-game ticket pack with Michelle and Ryan for the Sens. We saw our last one a couple of weeks ago. It was such an awesome treat that would come up every few weeks "what am i doing this week... OH YEAH! i have tickets to a game. Yay!" :) Definitely want to do that again next season, it was well worth it.

In December Jocelyne and I went to see The Nutcracker ballet as performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet Company. It was my first ballet and I chose it because since I was little I have been in love with the magic of this story. I also went to hear the NAC Orchestra for the first time, and though it wasn't on my list, it was a lovely evening. 

Had a second absolutely epic week in Tremblant. Getting better on the board. It definitely helps to have someone pushing you to not take the easy runs every run ; )

Back to the list....
My falling short of accomplishing the artistic goals I had set out is disappointing. They are still in the works, and I have signed up for two free Art House Co-op projects that will be completed in the next month. http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/themeal and http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/4x6exchange2.

That's the latest and once I have a new list I'll post it and take a second stab at this whole Day Zero thing.

NAC

Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant

Christmas dinner with 3 of my favourite ladies :)

A bit of a stretch

I feel like after reading the entire Twilight saga in a week that I went through a reading detox. Things got so busy with the weeks leading up to our surf trip, and even after coming home it was always something every week. Either a birthday, an amazing day out in the country taking pretty pictures, random (crazyfun) roadtrips, or another birthday here and there, and reading just didn't factor in. I have honestly had very little "me" time lately. Summer has been a blast but sometimes we just need to decompress.

In June, while on our trip, we had a fair amount of down time. Surfing was both physically and mentally exhausting and on occaisions we'd take a couple hours out - pretty much a necessity - and nap, play cards, or read. I brought along with me one of the 3 novels Shawn had lent me. Two of these are James Rollins, his favourite author. I had never read or heard of him but they are comparable to the Dan Brown novels (also whom I have not read but thanks to Hollywood, he's on my radar). Shawn insisted it might be something I'd enjoy at least to try it on for size. So I chose The Judas Strain to start.

Now...I have always been someone with a very active imagination. I can spend hours a day dreaming coming up with various plots or scenarios on pretty much anything in my life or stemming from pure fantasy. Well, this book ceretainly awakened that active imagination subconsioucly, and after a few days of reading, the suspense and action started top seep into my dreams at night. I was always running from something, or looking for something, and it was always a dire situation.

The Judas Strain is the first action/suspense/mystery novel I have ever read. Its brilliant. However...it was almost too much for me. There is so much going on in every page, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold infront of my eyes. So many details, so many key players, and several locations. My brain often felt in overdrive! I think this is why it took me nearly 2 months to finish this novel. I could only ever get through a handful of pages before I would feel like I needed to put it down, breath, and move on to something else before I went crazy.

I read the last quarter of the book in the span of 2 days while I was sick from work. I thought, ok here comes the end of July, and I have definitely..shamefully...dropped my 2 books a month quota, so lets at least get this under my belt. Reading something so far out of my realm was a challenge but also thoroughly satisfying. After a few fluffy books I think I'll be ready to take on the next James Rollins sitting on my book shelf. I have picked up one of the books Kate lent me months ago to start on. Bitter is the New Black. Its a 'chick-lit'. And I have no doubt I will devour it in a matter of days. Might meet my monthly quota afterall!!

If you want to learn more about James Rollins and his novels, you can check out his web site here http://www.jamesrollins.com/.

A few things ticked off the list...

I recently updated my first post with some things I've been able to cross off my list in the past month.

- I learned how to surf on my holiday in North Carolina, where I also camped for the entire week. Thats two birds with one stone, woot!!
- I have recently picked up a new sport. Shawn is teaching me how to play tennis (not so much teaching as he has sorta thrown me into it saying "you can do it!" and me hoping I don't hit myself in the face with my racket)
- I saw a couple of shooting stars while star gazing at Pam's during her graduation party in early June.
- I went to a favourite band, No Doubt, in concert in Montreal on June 17th.

:) You can check out my progress with my day zero project by checking back to that first post every now and then.

This weekend I will be doing some more camping for my birthday!! I'll also soon be able to check-off my outdoor concert goal with Bluesfest starting here in Ottawa next week!! I am very excited to see Our Lady Peace!! Um..and Ice Cube?!? For real??? haha. I have the amazing opportunity to see all of the shows this year thanks to a very generous birthday gift :) This will not be wasted, I can't wait!!! :D

By Monday, January 16, 2012...

...I will have succesfully {hopefully} tackled the following..

I have always toyed with the idea of starting my own blog, but as often as I thought about it I would quite quickly come back with the thought of...well what could I possibly have to say? Ask many of my closest friends and even they will tell you I'm more often than not the quiet one. And I often play things safe. I think this among other reasons is why the idea of the Day Zero Project is so attractive to me.

My friends could also probably you that I have a knack for being long winded...so I digress and will get to the point of why I, and you, are here.

My list. Number one as you see is to start a blog. To keep track of my progress for myself and for those who wish to share in my journey over the next 1001 days. The blog will accomplish not only to ensure I stay accountable for the goals I have set out, but it will also give me an outlet to talk about the significance, big or small as they may be, in my life.

101 Things to Do in 1001 Days

1. Start the blog! - April 20, 2009
2. Read 2 books a month ~ in progress, keep your eyes on the book list for updates ~
3. Visit at least 3 of the 5 Great Lakes
4. Learn to surf :: June 1-3 I took surf lessons with Steph and Brad down in North Carolina. What an amazing experience!!!! ::
5. Pick up a new sport. :: I am learning how to play tennis with Jocelyne and Dan :)
6. Go to Maine.
7. Re-Read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. (why? because we had to read it for our first year intro to comms' research methods and i never finished it)
8. Visit Laura in Edmonton.
9. Go on a road trip with no predetermined destination.
10. Go a month without junk food.
11. Plan a sisters holiday.
12. Buy my first car.
13. Improve my french. :: in progress
14. Purge my excesses. Do an inventory and cut what I don't need/no longer use/wear; donate the casualties.
15. Put my credit on ice for an extended period until my balance is back at zero.
16. Set a monthly budget, decide on a strategy and stick to it.
17. Document "a day in the life" in pictures (Inspired by Tor)
18. See a favourite band in concert. :: June 17th 2009 - Went to see No Doubt in Montreal with my sister!! Amazing show!!
19. Go camping. :: Camped for the week in North Carolina. Will also be camping for my birthday weekend coming up.
20. Try rollerblading again.
21. Organize my music finally.
22. Host a "family dinner" night with friends.
23. Watch the sunrise.
24. Skinny dip.
25. Read 7 novels in french.
26. Get a membership to the Bytowne theatre.
27. Begin painting again, create a series.
28. Take a writing workshop or class.
29. Go to an outdoor concert.
30. Make a scrapbook of my trips to Bermuda.
31. Send postcards on my travels.
33. Have a girls night in.
34. Stay up all night.
35. Give up Facebook for 2 weeks.
36. Give up my bus pass for a month and bike to work every day.
37. Host a craft night.
38. No more being lazy. I have a gym membership and I hardly use it. I will work out for an hour 3 times a week in addition to me weekly hour sessions with my trainer. Get my money's worth out of this.
39. Start an RRSP.
40. Go canoeing.
41. Go to the Biodome.
42. Ride a rollercoaster.
43. Ride a rollercoaster I have been to scared to ride. TBD.
44. Go to La Ronde for the first time!
45. Renew my passport (this will be coming in the 1001 days)
46. Pick a random topic p/month and learn everything there is to know about it. Started April 21.
- May: it will be Italy.
47. Learn to knit a scarf.
48. Make a list of 100 things that make me happy (also inspired by Tor!) - April 29th - in progress
49. See a ballet.
50. Go to an opera.
51. See a broadway show.
52. Drive a boat.
53. Try Zip-Lining.
54. Go on a hike.
55. Do something once a month that challenges my normally shy nature. (this is going to be tough)
56. Go to the east coast and visit Sam, and my cousin Alli while she's at St F.X.
57. Learn how to drive a manual tranmission.
58. Learn 5 new constellations.
59. Plant a tree.
60. Take a cooking class.
61. Walk for a cause.
62. Leave a book (bookcrossing.com)
63. Sew myself something.
64. Make a time capsule.
65. Win something.
66. Keep a journal.
67. Have a work friends night out.
68. See 5 foreign films.
69. Take an "art break" at least once a month - Take advantage of where I work and see the art I love so much!
70. Have a spa day with someone.
71. Play golf (i.e. find someone patient to take me and teach me how to golf)
72. Do yoga.
73. See a shooting star. :: June 2009 - laying out on Pam's backyard with the gang, caught a glimpse of 2 shooting stars that night :)
74. Buy a lottery ticket.
75. Go on a picnic.
76. Go sailing.
77. Go fishing.
78. Learn how to *actually* throw a football (yes i'm serious)
79. Create a photo-story series.
80. Make artwork from 10 of my favourite photos.
81. Go surfing again!
82. Send christmas cards.
83. Update my resume.
84. Fly somewhere.
85. Donate to a food drive.
86. Use an audioguide and tour the Gallery's collections.
87. Back up my files and photos.
88. Update my design portfolio.
89. Visit a lighthouse.
90. Ride a horse. ::Photoshoot with Gen June 20th 2009 I got to get on a horse. So beautiful!
91. Plan my dream trip to Italy.
92. Learn a new style of dance.
93. Try 2 new recipes a month.
- May: 1) Rolled oats apple cake - and it was a big hit! yay!
94. Organize my bills.
95. Read through the entire Bible.
96. Plan and embark on a random weekend getaway.
97. Go snorkeling.
98. Cook dinner for my parents. - May 10 - My sister and I cooked my parents an amazing 4 course meal for Mother's Day :)
99. Take an art class.
100. Make something to put in the silent auction for our United Way Workplace Charitable Campaign.
101. Make another list at the end of 1001 days! :)