For 26 Things November 2011 there is a little twist – there’s 13 items on the list, but you have to take 2 different photos of each item/theme.
So for example, for ‘Weather’ you could take a photo of the rain and then another photo of the sunshine!
Here is the list of 13 items – remember to take 2 photos of each:
1. Dark
2. Glow
3. Smile
4. Weather
5. New
6. Round
7. Tangle
8. Up in the air
9. Patterns
10. Tomorrow
11. Eyes
12. A sign
13. A Self Portrait
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind
Since one of my goals (Goal #90)consists of answering these questions, I figured I'd better share what they actually are. So without further ado: 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?22. Why are you, you?23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?25. What are you most grateful for?26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?32. If not now, then when?33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?Getting back into the swing of things...
I figured to show I'm making an effort here, I'll make a quick update of a couple things I've gotten done, or remembered since I posted last that should have been part of the uber-long update.
Goal #18 (Submit to PostSecret): I mailed my postcard last night. Not really expecting to see it show up on the site, but I'm glad I did it anyhow.
Goal #20 (Complete a 26 Things List): I visited www.sh1ft.org and discovered that 26 things is apparently an annual event, and it was held in November. So I think what I'm going to do is take the Scavenger Hunt list from this year and do it on my own, and upload it onto a photosharing site, just like I would have if I had participated in the November event.
Goal #22 (Try 5 new foods): I tried tomato pudding (not as gross as it sounds, but not my cup of tea) and Divinity at the staff Christmas party in Iron Mt. last week, and then I tried candied apple with my potato pancakes at the Swedish Pantry with Nancy and Pasqua yesterday. So, adding those new foods to the previously mentioned kale and avocado, I have achieved my goal. Woohoo!
Goal #23 (Eat at 5 new restaurants): I realized that I forgot to mention having my birthday dinner at Beachcombers with Codi, which gives me 2/5 rather than just the one. I also ate at a Tim Horton's downstate, but since it was just a grilled ham & cheese sandwich, I'm not really counting it.
Goal #24 (Cook/Bake 10 new dishes): I forgot to mention in the last post that I made pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes and Leftover Turkey Chowder over Thanksgiving weekend, giving me 2/10. I'm also hoping to make a couple new dishes during the upcoming Christmas weekend.
So, I think that catches me up for the moment. I'm attempting to get things more organized, which will hopefully make my 101 goals go a bit smoother, Wish me luck!
Goal #18 (Submit to PostSecret): I mailed my postcard last night. Not really expecting to see it show up on the site, but I'm glad I did it anyhow.
Goal #20 (Complete a 26 Things List): I visited www.sh1ft.org and discovered that 26 things is apparently an annual event, and it was held in November. So I think what I'm going to do is take the Scavenger Hunt list from this year and do it on my own, and upload it onto a photosharing site, just like I would have if I had participated in the November event.
Goal #22 (Try 5 new foods): I tried tomato pudding (not as gross as it sounds, but not my cup of tea) and Divinity at the staff Christmas party in Iron Mt. last week, and then I tried candied apple with my potato pancakes at the Swedish Pantry with Nancy and Pasqua yesterday. So, adding those new foods to the previously mentioned kale and avocado, I have achieved my goal. Woohoo!
Goal #23 (Eat at 5 new restaurants): I realized that I forgot to mention having my birthday dinner at Beachcombers with Codi, which gives me 2/5 rather than just the one. I also ate at a Tim Horton's downstate, but since it was just a grilled ham & cheese sandwich, I'm not really counting it.
Goal #24 (Cook/Bake 10 new dishes): I forgot to mention in the last post that I made pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes and Leftover Turkey Chowder over Thanksgiving weekend, giving me 2/10. I'm also hoping to make a couple new dishes during the upcoming Christmas weekend.
So, I think that catches me up for the moment. I'm attempting to get things more organized, which will hopefully make my 101 goals go a bit smoother, Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Holy Slacker-ness, Batman!
I have not abandoned the project, but I did put it on the back burner...and kind of forgot it was simmering back there. It's been kind of a crazy year, but I'm trying to get things back on track, and resuming this project is part of that. After reviewing my goals - sadly, I couldn't remember most of them - I see that I haven't made a lot of progress on them, but I'll do my best to piece together what I can remember accomplishing since March.
***Warning: This is kind of a long one. Apparently, I made more progress than I thought. Plus, I'm long-winded.***
Goal # 3 (Participate in at least 10 volunteer projects): I helped the NCA Promise (a scholarship program for the local high school) by volunteering at a concession stand during the 4th of July celebration in Hermansville, and helping set up for the annual Halloween carnival. Codi and I went together and adopted a little girl from the Salvation Army's Christmas Angel project, and I'm doing several hours of bell-ringing for their fund-raising campaign as well. I'm also thinking about organizing a book drive for the Hermansville library, but we'll see...At any rate, I've got 4 out of 10 completed.
Goal #9 (Read 5 Biographies/Autobiographies): While I have done a lot less reading than I would have liked over the past several months, I did manage to read a few memoirs recently. "Naked" by David Sedaris was excellent, and I definitely plan to read more of his writing in the future. He's one of the few writers who has actually made me laugh out loud while reading (Thankfully, I was alone in the house at the time, with only my landlady's goldfish to give me funny looks.) The second was "If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)" by Betty White. It had a lot of very short chapters and a number of pictures and was a quick easy read, especially since I adore Ms. White. I also read "Goodbye Jumbo, Hello Cruel World" by Louie Anderson, which I enjoyed as well. I am currently reading "Fat Girl" by Judith Moore, which I am having a few issues with. Not because of the writer's skill, but because her viewpoint bothers me a bit. Still, 3 1/2 out of 5 isn't too bad.
Goal #11 (Book List): I haven't made nearly the progress on this goal as I would have liked. I did read "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, which I really enjoyed, even though it was tough to take at times. I got a good part of the way through "A Farewell to Arms" before setting it aside - I'll probably have to start it all over again. And I have picked up a number of other books from my list, but I keep finding more interesting things to read instead. So right now, I'm at 1/10.
Goal #12 (Movie List): I have watched quite a few new-to-me older movies since I last posted (i.e. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" & "Meet Me in St. Louis") but apparently only 3 of them were on my list - "A Clockwork Orange" (weird as crap), "Singin' in the Rain" (loved it, think I need to buy a copy), and "Gone With the Wind" (Good, but I kind of preferred the book.) Which puts me at 14/20 - so, I'm in good shape on that goal. Of course, that's one of the easiest ones I have.
Goal #19 (Postcrossing): I love this project - I've sent 15 cards (only 13 were registered as received, and I have 2 more that need to be sent out) and I've gotten 15 postcards from all over the place. I want to start an album of my postcards. My profile at Postcrossing can be found here http://www.postcrossing.com/user/ngearhart
Goal #22 (Try 5 new foods): I'm sure I've tried a number of new things, especially since I've been staying with Pasqua, who has much broader culinary tastes than I do, but the only things I can recall at the moment are avocado, which Nancy actually introduced me to, and I like quite a bit, and kale, which I tried at a culinary class at the Bonifas Art Center that I attended with Pasqua. It was not bad, but not something I plan to rush out and buy. Also, I've been trying to be better about eating tomatoes, which I like in sauces and cooked as part of dishes, but not so much when they're raw - this isn't a "new" food for me, but it is a pretty big step for me to voluntarily eat raw tomatoes. Anyhow, with avocado & kale, I've got 2/5 down.
Goal #23 (Eat at 5 new restaurants): While I was in Lansing, a friend took me to supper at a Mexican restaurant called "El Azteca." No t very high-end place, but really good Mexican food. (1/5)
Goal #29 (See a movie in 3D): I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in 3D. This actually wasn't too difficult, since this year has seen the whole 3D movie thing explode.
Goal #39 (spend a day with each sibling): Codi and I went to Appleton this summer after I won a certificate for a free stay at a hotel there. We went out to supper, had a drink at the hotel bar, hit the mall a couple times, had a lot of fun at this huge arcade near our hotel, and got totally goofy with this stuffed animal that we got at Build-A-Bear. It was a lot of fun, and a time-out that we both needed. I knew Codi'd be the easiest one to accomplish with this goal though - the boys are going to be a bit trickier. But I'm at 1/4 now.
Goal #40 (Visit Sam & Liv): Made another trip to WI this summer for Sam & Herb's wedding, where Codi helped me take pictures. I was very happy to be part of their special day.
Goal #48 (Attend 5 Concerts): Thanks to Roseanna's VIP connections at the casino, I'm WAY ahead on this one. This year I've seen Fab Four (Beatles cover band), Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, The Zack Brown Band (Kenny, Kracker, Billy & ZBB were at Lambeau Field together for the "Goin' Coastal Tour"), Randy Travis, and LeeAnn Rimes. Plus, I saw Carrot Top and Ron White perform. Not exactly concerts persay, but I'm counting them anyhow. Add Little Big Town to the mix (mentioned in a previous post), and I'm looking at 8/5 (or 11/5 if you count each of the Goin' Coastal participants separately.)
Goal #50 (Take at least 1 art class): Gotta love the Bonifas for this one. I took a class on triple-strand necklaces this summer, which helped out when I was working on the jewelry for Sam's wedding. I also went to two art appreciation classes, both part of the "I Love the Great Masters" series - one on Portraits and one on Landscapes. Very interesting stuff.
Goal #66 (Meal plan): I managed to create a weekly meal plan that I stuck to once this year, as part of a Diabetes education class I was taking. But hopefully I can get my act together and be better with it once I get myself settled in one living space. So, 1/10.
Goal #68 (Exercise 30 mins 3x week): I began working out at the YMCA's fitness room 3-4 times/week (always for at least 45 minutes) shortly before staring my Diabetes education class, and reduced that to once or twice a week once I started taking water aerobics twice a week (a 45 minute class). An extremely irritating leg infection has kept me away from the Y for the past month and a half, but I'd like to get involved again at some point. Anyhow, I had over 4 months there, but I'm going to be a bit conservative, I'm going to say 16/25.
Goal #71 (Visit downstate Family and Friends): Codi, Jae and I went down to the Finley Family Labor Day celebration, so we got to see pretty much all of the downstate family there, which was awesome. I also got a chance to have supper with Sue Katzman, who has been a friend of the family since I was in elementary school, when I went to Lansing for a work conference.
Goal #75 (Try 5 new mixed drinks): I got a chance to try some of Pasqua's homemade Limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur) which was very good. Not sure that most people would call it a mixed drink, but I'm counting it anyhow. 1/5
Goal #81 (Try 3 types of wine): A local winery provided beverages at the art appreciation classes at the Bonifas, so I was able to try their Cherry Wine and a white wine called C Marie, both of which were very good. I also had a white wine at Dad & Roseanna's wedding, which was NOT very good - in fact, it was pretty terrible, even according to the folks there who like wine enough to drink it on a regular basis. I also got to try some champagne at he wedding, which was MUCH better than the wine. I also picked up a bottle of Sangria, at one point this summer which I enjoyed as well. So I'm 4/3 on this one, but I think I'll be trying more as I go along.
So, I think that about covers it. And I really am going to try to be better about keeping up with this from now on - both by actually working on my goals, and updating things more regularly. Maybe I'll make that this year's New Years Resolution. :)
***Warning: This is kind of a long one. Apparently, I made more progress than I thought. Plus, I'm long-winded.***
Goal # 3 (Participate in at least 10 volunteer projects): I helped the NCA Promise (a scholarship program for the local high school) by volunteering at a concession stand during the 4th of July celebration in Hermansville, and helping set up for the annual Halloween carnival. Codi and I went together and adopted a little girl from the Salvation Army's Christmas Angel project, and I'm doing several hours of bell-ringing for their fund-raising campaign as well. I'm also thinking about organizing a book drive for the Hermansville library, but we'll see...At any rate, I've got 4 out of 10 completed.
Goal #9 (Read 5 Biographies/Autobiographies): While I have done a lot less reading than I would have liked over the past several months, I did manage to read a few memoirs recently. "Naked" by David Sedaris was excellent, and I definitely plan to read more of his writing in the future. He's one of the few writers who has actually made me laugh out loud while reading (Thankfully, I was alone in the house at the time, with only my landlady's goldfish to give me funny looks.) The second was "If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)" by Betty White. It had a lot of very short chapters and a number of pictures and was a quick easy read, especially since I adore Ms. White. I also read "Goodbye Jumbo, Hello Cruel World" by Louie Anderson, which I enjoyed as well. I am currently reading "Fat Girl" by Judith Moore, which I am having a few issues with. Not because of the writer's skill, but because her viewpoint bothers me a bit. Still, 3 1/2 out of 5 isn't too bad.
Goal #11 (Book List): I haven't made nearly the progress on this goal as I would have liked. I did read "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, which I really enjoyed, even though it was tough to take at times. I got a good part of the way through "A Farewell to Arms" before setting it aside - I'll probably have to start it all over again. And I have picked up a number of other books from my list, but I keep finding more interesting things to read instead. So right now, I'm at 1/10.
Goal #12 (Movie List): I have watched quite a few new-to-me older movies since I last posted (i.e. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" & "Meet Me in St. Louis") but apparently only 3 of them were on my list - "A Clockwork Orange" (weird as crap), "Singin' in the Rain" (loved it, think I need to buy a copy), and "Gone With the Wind" (Good, but I kind of preferred the book.) Which puts me at 14/20 - so, I'm in good shape on that goal. Of course, that's one of the easiest ones I have.
Goal #19 (Postcrossing): I love this project - I've sent 15 cards (only 13 were registered as received, and I have 2 more that need to be sent out) and I've gotten 15 postcards from all over the place. I want to start an album of my postcards. My profile at Postcrossing can be found here http://www.postcrossing.com/user/ngearhart
Goal #22 (Try 5 new foods): I'm sure I've tried a number of new things, especially since I've been staying with Pasqua, who has much broader culinary tastes than I do, but the only things I can recall at the moment are avocado, which Nancy actually introduced me to, and I like quite a bit, and kale, which I tried at a culinary class at the Bonifas Art Center that I attended with Pasqua. It was not bad, but not something I plan to rush out and buy. Also, I've been trying to be better about eating tomatoes, which I like in sauces and cooked as part of dishes, but not so much when they're raw - this isn't a "new" food for me, but it is a pretty big step for me to voluntarily eat raw tomatoes. Anyhow, with avocado & kale, I've got 2/5 down.
Goal #23 (Eat at 5 new restaurants): While I was in Lansing, a friend took me to supper at a Mexican restaurant called "El Azteca." No t very high-end place, but really good Mexican food. (1/5)
Goal #29 (See a movie in 3D): I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in 3D. This actually wasn't too difficult, since this year has seen the whole 3D movie thing explode.
Goal #39 (spend a day with each sibling): Codi and I went to Appleton this summer after I won a certificate for a free stay at a hotel there. We went out to supper, had a drink at the hotel bar, hit the mall a couple times, had a lot of fun at this huge arcade near our hotel, and got totally goofy with this stuffed animal that we got at Build-A-Bear. It was a lot of fun, and a time-out that we both needed. I knew Codi'd be the easiest one to accomplish with this goal though - the boys are going to be a bit trickier. But I'm at 1/4 now.
Goal #40 (Visit Sam & Liv): Made another trip to WI this summer for Sam & Herb's wedding, where Codi helped me take pictures. I was very happy to be part of their special day.
Goal #48 (Attend 5 Concerts): Thanks to Roseanna's VIP connections at the casino, I'm WAY ahead on this one. This year I've seen Fab Four (Beatles cover band), Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, The Zack Brown Band (Kenny, Kracker, Billy & ZBB were at Lambeau Field together for the "Goin' Coastal Tour"), Randy Travis, and LeeAnn Rimes. Plus, I saw Carrot Top and Ron White perform. Not exactly concerts persay, but I'm counting them anyhow. Add Little Big Town to the mix (mentioned in a previous post), and I'm looking at 8/5 (or 11/5 if you count each of the Goin' Coastal participants separately.)
Goal #50 (Take at least 1 art class): Gotta love the Bonifas for this one. I took a class on triple-strand necklaces this summer, which helped out when I was working on the jewelry for Sam's wedding. I also went to two art appreciation classes, both part of the "I Love the Great Masters" series - one on Portraits and one on Landscapes. Very interesting stuff.
Goal #66 (Meal plan): I managed to create a weekly meal plan that I stuck to once this year, as part of a Diabetes education class I was taking. But hopefully I can get my act together and be better with it once I get myself settled in one living space. So, 1/10.
Goal #68 (Exercise 30 mins 3x week): I began working out at the YMCA's fitness room 3-4 times/week (always for at least 45 minutes) shortly before staring my Diabetes education class, and reduced that to once or twice a week once I started taking water aerobics twice a week (a 45 minute class). An extremely irritating leg infection has kept me away from the Y for the past month and a half, but I'd like to get involved again at some point. Anyhow, I had over 4 months there, but I'm going to be a bit conservative, I'm going to say 16/25.
Goal #71 (Visit downstate Family and Friends): Codi, Jae and I went down to the Finley Family Labor Day celebration, so we got to see pretty much all of the downstate family there, which was awesome. I also got a chance to have supper with Sue Katzman, who has been a friend of the family since I was in elementary school, when I went to Lansing for a work conference.
Goal #75 (Try 5 new mixed drinks): I got a chance to try some of Pasqua's homemade Limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur) which was very good. Not sure that most people would call it a mixed drink, but I'm counting it anyhow. 1/5
Goal #81 (Try 3 types of wine): A local winery provided beverages at the art appreciation classes at the Bonifas, so I was able to try their Cherry Wine and a white wine called C Marie, both of which were very good. I also had a white wine at Dad & Roseanna's wedding, which was NOT very good - in fact, it was pretty terrible, even according to the folks there who like wine enough to drink it on a regular basis. I also got to try some champagne at he wedding, which was MUCH better than the wine. I also picked up a bottle of Sangria, at one point this summer which I enjoyed as well. So I'm 4/3 on this one, but I think I'll be trying more as I go along.
So, I think that about covers it. And I really am going to try to be better about keeping up with this from now on - both by actually working on my goals, and updating things more regularly. Maybe I'll make that this year's New Years Resolution. :)
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