I can't believe there is a blizzard, it is only October!

Winter has arrived in Denver. And about 2 months too soon. Granted we get snow in October. But 12 inches today and another 6 to 12 over night and 4 more through out the day tomorrow. It is a little early for that. And it is Denver not the mountains. But on a plus size my office closed early and hopefully it will be closed today. I think I am more excited about snow days as an adult than I ever was as a child. Then again maybe that is because my school district very rarely closed.

With my office closing early today I was able to take my pictures for the week. Can you guess what the are? Why, Snow of course! And I was able to complete task 12, and finish entering all of my books into my goodreads database.

Status Update

I have been busy trying to complete items on the list. Some items will take longer to complete, as I made them last over a year or the complete 1001 days. But I am making progress. Below are some of the tasks I have made my biggest progress on. Check out the list to see all of the updates and progress. I have only 99 tasks to go!!

3, 16 & 19 - I have started taking a picture each week and have posted those. Only 49 to go for this task to be completed. I have started compiling lists of quotes and will begin posting those with pictures. I have also done my first entry in my current events journal here.

12. I found an online book database, www.goodreads.com, that allows you to enter books online and allows you to create a book shelf. The thing I like about it is that I can create my own categories for my books and list them in multiple categories. It also allows me to keep track of all the books I have read, currently reading and want to read. I am about half way done with this task and plan to finish this weekend.

38. Today I added the United States holidays to my iPhone. That was one thing I was disappointed with this phone. I, however, found a blog that gives directions on how to do this. It is very simple to do. I just created a google calendar through my gmail account and added the US holidays to my calendar. Just follow the directions in the blog and any number of calendars from google can be added to the iPhone. This task is now completed!

Picture of the Week: BRRR!!!

"I Will Never Know Why..."

I started keeping a current event journal after 9/11/2009. I started it to mark and remember my feelings during certain events in my adult life. I have written about momentous event in American history like 9/11, the beginning of the Iraq war, the capture of Saddam, and the latest presidential election as well as events in history that have had an impact on me.

This month I decided to write about the "O" magazine article "I Will Never Know Why" by Susan Klebold. This is an article written by the mother of Dylan Klebold, who was one of the students who killed 12 other students, 1 teacher and injured 24 others at Columbine High School. I am sure many people will be drawn to the article as this was a momentous, tragic, and horrible event to all of America and the world. I, however, typically try to avoid the majority of articles and any TV shows related to Columbine, unless it is directly related to somebody I know. I almost always avoid the articles and shows recounting the events. (I don't really need the events told back to me.) I find that most articles or TV shows have so many inaccuracies about the school, the students and the events.

This article, however, was very well done. It was written by Susan Klebold and she told of the thoughts she had during that horrible day on April 20,1999, and the thoughts she had after. I can only imagine how difficult is was for her to write that article and tell the world about her son and the horrbile things she had to go through. I also commend her for not placing blame and being brave enough to step out and show the world her pain and remorse. I can only hope people can also understand the pain and horror these parents went through as well. Not only did they lose their children that day, their children caused the pain of thousands of other people.

Never Forgotten

Photos of the Week: Fall is Here

FOOD!

I have 2 food challenges that I have started. The first is making a cookbook of items I cook, #91, and the second is cooking new recipes for dinner, #88. The first item I made was homemade Stromboli. It is a very easy and quick meal and something I make quite a bit. This recipe will be going in my recipe book.

I use the Pillsbury pizza crust that comes in the tube, and lay it out flat on a cookie sheet. I used some rotisserie chicken I made earlier in the week, peperoni and spinach as my filling. I chopped the meat and spinach so everything was in bite size pieces and mixed everything together and set it aside. I then took some cream cheese and heated it up in the microwave and then spread it out on the pizza crust, then added my filling and layered mozzarella cheese on the top.

The next step is rolling the dough up around the filling. I then layer the top with some cheese and cook according to the directions on the package. It is a quick and easy recipe that tastes great and a recipe that can use any left overs in the fridge.

The second recipe I made was slow cooker mac & cheese. Find the directions here. It was an easy recipe and tasty. But then how can mac & cheese not be be tasty. I do prefer the baked mac & cheese recipe I typically make, but this was an easy and quick alternative.

#71 - Stone Reader

One of my fun challenges is watching a movie starting with each letter of the alphabet. Today I watched Stone Reader. This movie is about a man who tried to read a book when he was 17 and could not make it through the book. He then read it later in life and loved it. The book inspired him to read everything about the author, but then learned that that was the only book written by the author and the book was now out of print. He went on a mission to find the author and get the book published again.

I found the movie a little slow at first but the exploration involved in finding the author becomes very intriguing. It is interesting to hear the interviews and the thoughts regarding reading.

SPOILER ALERT
The book, The Stones of Summer by Dow Mossman, is currently being published again and I am very intrigued about this book. Although it will not accomplish any of my goals, it will be going on my to read list. I will report back with the results on whether or not I am able to make it through and my thoughts on the book.

101 n 1001 List

Like many other people out in cyberspace I have decided to complete a 101 in 1001 list and maintain a blog during the process. The goal is to come up with 101 task to complete in 1001 days. Check out the Day Zero website, http://www.dayzeroproject.com/, for more details about the project. The website also has a list of blogs of people participating in the project. Now let's get to the good stuff, the list.

Tasks Completed - 13
Tasks in Progress

Start Date 9/29/2009 End Date 06/26/2012
CREATIVE & MIND GROWING ACTIVITIES

1. Finish scrap booking all photos
2. Get all art framed
3. Create and hang photos to make a photo wall
4. Take at least one photo a week of something new/interesting/different for a year (5/52)
5. Make a photo book of all 52 photos
6. Make my own calendar each year with my own photos (1/3)
7. Photograph the same thing in nature twice a month for a year (0/24)
8. Create photo book of these photos
9. Read 10 books I already own (0/10)
10. Finish 5 books I have already started and different from the 10 above (0/5)
11. Read 10 books on the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" (1/10)
1. To Kill a Mockingbird
12. Organize and make a database of all books or find a free online database - In process, using www.goodreads.com - COMPLETED 10/28/09
    
13. Sell unwanted books at a used book store or donate to goodwill
14. Reread all the Harry Potter Books (7/7) - COMPLETED 5/15/2010
15. Read the Bible
16. Compile a list of favorite quotes - COMPLETED - This is an on going process but I now have them in goodreads
17. Find a podcast related to work and listen to it once a week
18. Find one work related blog and really read it
19. Write in my current events journal once a month (1/33)

EXERCISE & HEALTH

20. Exercise on the wii fit at least 3 times a week for a year (1/156)
21. Wake up early and take the dog for a morning walk at least twice a month (0/66)
22. Get bike from dad's and get it tuned
23. Start rollerblading or riding my bike once a month (0/33)
24. Wash my face and brush my teeth every night again for a month (30/30) - Completed
25. Do monthly breast exams (9/33)
26. Go to dermatologist and get skin checked once a year (1/3) - 12/23/09
    
27. Go to the chiropractor
    

FINANCIAL

28. Pay off credit cards (0/4)
29. Save up 3 months of expenses in cash
30. Start making extra payments on car to pay it off early
31. Sell CDs that I no longer want
32. Save money for a new mattress - COMPLETED
33. Save money for a new stove
34. Fill piggy bank in basement with any money left in pockets when doing laundry and do not empty until the 1001days are up
35. Save $0.50 a day for 1001 days (23/1001)

HOUSE & ORGANIZING

36. Take inventory, including serial numbers and photos for insurance
37. Organize all music in iTunes
38. Add google calendars to the iPhone calendar to get holidays added - Completed 10/24/09
    
39. Add appropriate 101 items to calendar to help complete the list - Completed
40. Get posters from my room at dad's and hang in house
41. Decorate basement
42. Buy and install a shelving system for bedroom closet
43. Reorganize all kitchen cabinets - Completed
44. Finish painting/finishing walls in both bathrooms
45. Clean Baseboards twice a year (0/6)
46. Deep Clean bathroom at least once a month (6/33)
47. Really decorate for Christmas each year (1/3)
48. Buy a Christmas tree and sell small tree
49. Organize storage room so I can actually walk in it without doing acrobatics- Completed 12/26/09
    
50. Fix and use the correct kind of weather stripping on the front door
51. Make an inventory list of all bathroom, storage room and pantry items and only buy when needed or extremely cheap - Completed
    
52. Buy an at home dry cleaning kit and use it
53. Put up weather sealing on windows each winter (0/3)
54. Shred and file once a month (5/33)
55. Organize filing cabinet/Get rid of bills/documents over a year old each year (1/3)
    
56. Make copies of all important documents for records (ie driver's licence, passport, etc)
57. Finish hanging blinds in basement
58. Clean and vacuum car every quarter (1/11)
59. Fix laundry room floor and fix walls
60. Clean out and organize closet twice a year (2/6)
61. Stain and hang shelves in office - Sanded all shelves last weekend.
62. Start using vinegar and green items for cleaning once other cleaning products are used - Completed.  I use vinegar most of the time when I clean. 
    
63. Get new face plates for lights and plugs in living room
64. Hang new light fixture

FUN

65. Private (0/100)
66. Private (0/10)
67. Plan a day off each year to just stay home and relax together (0/3)
68. Do 10 new things we have never done for date night (0/10)
69. Go to the zoo
70. Go to the botanical gardens
71. Watch 26 movies I’ve never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet (17/26)
1. August Rush (10/21/09)
2. Bedtime Stories (10/15/09)
3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (11/7/09)
4. D
5. Every Little Step
6. Fast Times at Richmont High (11/6/09)
7. Good Luck Chuck (1/3/10)
8. He's Just Not that In To You (1/10/10)
9. Into the Wild (10/26/09)
10. Junebug (12/27/09)
11. K
12. Lars and the Real Girl (12/12/09)
13. Murder on the Orient Express
14. National Treasure - Book of Secrets (12/13/09)
15. O
16. Precious (5/10/2010)
17. Q
18. R
19. S - Stone Reader (10/3/09)
20. Talk to Me (12/21/09)
21. Up in the Air (3/19/2010)
22. Vantage Point (12/19/09)
23. W
24. X
25. Y
26. Z
72. Have game night 6 times a year (0/16)
73. Go to a high school football game
74. Go to a CU football game
75. Go look at Christmas lights in a new neighborhood each year (0/3)
76. Go to the driving range without getting frustrated and have fun regardless of how bad I am
77. Listen to my ipod on random for a 5 random days each year (6/20)
78. Go on a trip some where we have not been together
79. Complete 2 more challenging puzzles (1/2)
    
80. Get a massage at least once a year (0/3)
    
81. Keep all potted plants alive for the 1001 days (25/1001)
82. Get watch batteries replaced and start wearing a watch again - Completed - I got a Eco Citizen. No batteries required
    
83. Wear earrings for 30 consecutive work days (30/30) - Completed 1/8/2010
84. Finish collecting the 50 state quarters (45/50) (Need to check which quarters are missing)
    
85. Get a facial
86. Get eyebrows waxed

FOOD

87. Meal plan for 6 weeks (0/6)
88. Try 10 new dinner/lunch recipes (3/10)
89. Bake 10 new cake/cookie recipes (0/10)
90. Make my own Christmas cookies each year (0/3)
91. Create a recipe book of things I cook and family recipes
92. Decide to stay home and make breakfast instead of going out 30 times (0/30)
93. Make a red velvet cake from scratch
94. Find and try 5 new locally owned restaurants (0/5)
95. Sign up for Sleep in For the Cure each year (1/3)
96. Find cause to support in addition Breast Cancer research
97. Donate 100,000 grains of rice at freerice.com (50,000/100,000)

LIST RELATED

98. Print a couple of copies of the list for the house to help complete tasks
99. Document (Blog/journal) 101 in 1001 days (COMPLETED)
    
100. Make a new 101 list
101. For each task completed add $5 to a money jar (1/101)