Crossing Things Off

Less then six months left to complete my 101 in 1001 and progress continues, albeit slowly.

I've reconciled myself with the fact that I probably will not complete some items on this list before August, particularly the ones that involve large amounts of cash, but I'm happy with the progress I've made so far. I'm especially pleased to see that section with the most items crossed off is "Personal Improvement;" it shows that I've been making some positive changes to my life since November, 2004.

143 days to go!

Personal Improvement:
Get down to a more healthful weight Getting there, slowly but surely
Figure out what I want to do professionally Completed January 2, 2006. Not doing it yet, though ;-)
Find an organization for which to volunteer regularly Completed March, 2007
Stay away from fast food for a month  Completed March, 2005
Do 5 pull-ups
Do 100 push-ups
Do 100 sit-ups Completed December, 2006
Complete the AIDS Marathon training program Completed December 10, 2006!
Create and maintain a regular exercise routine Completed June, 2006. 
Incorporate more faith into my daily life Completed March, 2007.
Spend more time with worthwhile friends Completed, and yet still in progress *g*
Take care of all necessary (overdue) dental work Completed September, 2006
Fast for 24 hours Completed February, 2005
Do yoga weekly Completed June, 2006
Attend one Bikram class a week for three months
Learn a martial art Removed March, 2007 (in less than 5 months? No.)
Develop a Sunday ritual Completed February, 2007
Follow a regular skin-care regime for a month Completed March, 2007
Organize all of my personal information into my Palm Completed December, 2005
Learn to return Netflix DVDs within two weeks Woo! Done!

Continuing Education:
Speak French fluently (again)
Learn to speak German Removed September, 2006
Take a digital photography class
Subscribe to decent periodicals rather than trashy magazines Completed December, 2006
Read the newspaper every day for a month
Learn to play chess Completed January, 2007
Read all the unread books in my library Completed August 9, 2005. Now I can buy more books!
Read Shakespeare's complete folio
Read the bible cover to cover (again)
Read the Koran cover to cover (again) Completed August, 2006
Learn all the state capitals by heart (again)
Develop a decent knowledge of wine Completed December, 2006. (I'm not an expert by any means, but I've learned enough to order intelligently and keep my wine rack well stocked.)
Learn to drive a manual transmission
Read at least one of the books to win a Pulitzer Prize from each of the last 10 years. In progress
Have Justin teach me all the Mac tricks & tips Completed March, 2007

Sports & Recreation:
Learn to snowboard Removed March, 2007 (no more snow before this list expires, boo!)
Skydive
Play poker in Las Vegas
Spend an entire day seeing movies Completed December 19, 2004
Throw a blow-out party for my 30th birthday Gotta start planning - yikes!
Become a pool shark Removed March, 2007
Host a formal masquerade ball
Learn to play golf
Climb another mountain, preferably Half Dome or Mt. Washington

Financial Stuff:
Pay off all credit card debt Completed August, 2006. WOOHOO!
Stop paying rent and start paying a mortgage Removed March, 2007 (Not gonna happen)
Save $5 a day for 6 months
Start a stock portfolio
Start a financial plan for future children
Start a financial plan for retirement
Draft a legal will
Pay all bills on time for 3 months Completed May, 2006.
Repay Avril Completed June, 2006.
Repay the "Santa Barbara Bank"

Hobbies & Creativity:
Complete a screenplay
Print and frame the favorite photos that I have taken In progress
Begin assembling a comprehensive family tree
Write a poem for someone Completed October 17, 2005
Finish organizing recipe book In progress
Crochet an afghan Completed December, 2005
Organize iPhoto albums Completed July, 2005
Organize iTunes playlists Completed April 25, 2005
Have & maintain a garden Completed June, 2006.
Finish renovating my bungalow (construction, restoration) In progress
Compile a list of 50 favorite films
Compile a list of 50 favorite books
Compile a list of 50 favorite songs
Start a collection
Transfer all CDs into iTunes

Friends & Family:
Send handwritten thank you cards to everyone for a year Completed January, 2007
Get engaged Removed September, 2006
Beat Apollo at chess Removed September, 2006
Get in touch with at least one lost friend Completed December 18, 2004
Meet Brandon in person
Host a dinner party every other month for a year Removed December, 2006 (I don't have a year left to finish the list, oh well)
Throw a housewarming party, finally!
Visit Kathy
Send my parents on a wonderful trip Removed March, 2007 (Not gonna happen this year)
Leave surprise love notes every day for a week Removed March, 2007 (For whom?)
Send Birthday cards - on time Completed April, 2007
Attend every Plemu function

Stuff:
Furnish my bungalow
Buy a Nikon D70 (or equivalent)
Buy myself a fabulous piece of jewelry Removed March, 2007 (Not gonna happen)
Buy a luxurious bathrobe & slippers
Buy one pair of unbelievably fabulous, outrageously expensive shoes Completed October, 2006 (OK, they were a gift...)
Manage to maintain my hair for 6 months straight Completed March, 2007
Build an elegant, timeless wardrobe of quality clothes & shoes In progress
Buy USC season football tickets Removed March, 2007 (Not gonna happen)
Buy & maintain a saltwater fish tank
Buy an iPod Completed April 11, 2005
Buy a G5 (or 6!) desktop Completed March, 2007 (OK it's not a desktop, but I bought a shiny new MacBook!!)

Adventures:
Attend my 10 year high school reunion I RSVP'd to go, but I had to open a show instead!
Sing in public Completed September, 2006
Perform stand-up comedy Completed ;-)
Eat a traditional picnic under a tree somewhere Completed August 6, 2005
Attend a formal Mardi Gras ball in New Orleans Removed December, 2006 - Mardi Gras falls in the middle of my crazy work season this year *sigh*
Drive a convertible up the California coast in the summertime I just realized that I did this last year. Oops.
Spend an entire day at a spa Completed Dec 11, 2006
Get a dog
Hear a concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
Kiss in the rain Completed January 2, 2006
Make love in the sunshine Completed ;-)
Dance in the moonlight Completed ;-)

Finish this list