That's a good question. I have been job searching like a maniac. Organizing four years worth of design work is no easy task. I have uncovered some fun design projects of mine though. My life plans change day by day. I roam around craigslist job listings in cities I've never been to, dreaming about my life there. The other day my crossing guard asked if I was going back to school. "I've actually graduated," I said. "I'm just job searching now." She changed her facial expression, got all serious and said, "Well, I hope you find your dream job, I really do." She always puts a smile on my face. Her and her adorable puppy :). So I'm in search of my dream first job. It's definitely not the same as my dream job. You'll know when I'm the art director at USA Today, but I don't think they'll hire me now. I've tried. I've got 52 days to find a job or me and all of my stuff (it's no small amount) are headed back to Central NJ where I started. I have a list of fun things I'd do if that happened. It would definitely be a change. But then again, so would a job in Los Angeles and I'm not saying I'm not considering that! Some days I think I'd be completely content getting in my car and driving to places I've never been. I've learned not to trust myself on those days.
The girls and I are going to a bar called Madhatter tonight. They love it, but I've never been. I told my sister that if it's not decorated with huge chairs and isn't a vision of Alice in Wonderland I'm going to be disappointed. Even their site is decked out. Here's hoping.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
1001 Achievements - Horseback riding!
I conquered # 87 on vacation: "Conquer my fear of horses and ride one."
And I did that. I rode one.
This is evidence of me on a horse. I'll probably never do it again, but it's checked off my list.
[COURTESY OF SUSAN KIRKPATRICK]
And I did that. I rode one.
This is evidence of me on a horse. I'll probably never do it again, but it's checked off my list.
1001 Achievements - Television
On vacation I achieved # 27 on my Day Zero list, "Don’t watch any television for a week."
Honestly, how could you stare at this:
When you can be staring at this?:
Honestly, how could you stare at this:
[COURTESY OF SXC.HU]
When you can be staring at this?:
1001 Achievements - Book Reading
Over the past three weeks I've completed a few things on my Day Zero list. Let me remind you of the task.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
Beginning: January 20, 2009
End Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
This is the reading edition. I've completed 2 parts of 7 parts of # 19 "Read the entire Harry Potter Series… again"
Before vacation I completed the first and second books in the series.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
An even bigger personal feat is that I finished Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
That knocks part of # 20 ("Read at least 4 books off of a greatest books ever written list: a. Gone With the Wind, b. Pride and Prejudice, c. Schindler's List, d. The Thorn Birds) off of the list and # 47 ("Read Gone With the Wind") off the list!
My mother bought this book for me years ago and I could not get past the first 50 (of 1000) pages! I finally conquered it on vacation.
Now I'll have to get the movie on Netflix!
I'm going to start Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and crack open The Thorn Birds.
Bring on the reading.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
Beginning: January 20, 2009
End Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
This is the reading edition. I've completed 2 parts of 7 parts of # 19 "Read the entire Harry Potter Series… again"
Before vacation I completed the first and second books in the series.
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
An even bigger personal feat is that I finished Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
That knocks part of # 20 ("Read at least 4 books off of a greatest books ever written list: a. Gone With the Wind, b. Pride and Prejudice, c. Schindler's List, d. The Thorn Birds) off of the list and # 47 ("Read Gone With the Wind") off the list!
My mother bought this book for me years ago and I could not get past the first 50 (of 1000) pages! I finally conquered it on vacation.
Now I'll have to get the movie on Netflix!
I'm going to start Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and crack open The Thorn Birds.
Bring on the reading.
Much Needed Updates
WOW how the time flies. It's June. When did that happen? My lack of a computer leaves my updates few and far between but I'm here to rectify that. Since graduation my family went on vacation to beautiful St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
After arriving back in DC, I had a weeks worth of relaxation and prepping to surprise Terence with some friends from FL to celebrate his birthday!
And all in that time, I've achieved a lot of things on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Those updates to follow. Now it's time to bunker down and evaluate my life. I feel differently about it every day. I go from excited to terrified but that's how it goes I guess. Feel free to leave any advice you have!
After arriving back in DC, I had a weeks worth of relaxation and prepping to surprise Terence with some friends from FL to celebrate his birthday!
And all in that time, I've achieved a lot of things on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Those updates to follow. Now it's time to bunker down and evaluate my life. I feel differently about it every day. I go from excited to terrified but that's how it goes I guess. Feel free to leave any advice you have!
Friday, May 14, 2010
I've Done Graduated
(COURTESY OF SUSAN KIRKPATRICK)
A photo of the family after my graduation ceremony!
1001 Revisited
Since it was requested . . . here's the most recent version of my day zero list (the point of this blog!) Feel free to comment!
Italicized items are in process
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
Beginning: January 20, 2009
End Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
1. Learn Conversational French
2. Learn Sign Language
3. Swim with a dolphin
4. Host a board game night
5. Visit all 50 states
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
6. Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean (I put my feet in the Gulf of Mexico!)
7. Don’t text message for an entire month (January 6, 2010-February 6, 2010)
8. Build something
9. Visit the Ben and Jerry’s Factory (In Waterbury, VT)
10. Go to Ireland
11. Watch Star Wars for the first time (just the first movie) Watched Episodes 4, 5, & 6 on 02/14/09, finish the whole series on 09/19/09.
12. Take daily vitamin every day straight for a month (Finished May 2009!)
13. Set and FOLLOW a month long workout routine.
14. Learn how to drive a manual.
15. Make a photography portfolio
16. Buy a bicycle
17. Go two weeks without cursing
18. Keep a piggy bank and put ALL excess change in said bank
19. Read the entire Harry Potter Series… again
20. Read at least 4 books off of a greatest books ever written list
a. Gone With the Wind
b. Pride and Prejudice
c. Schindler's List
d. The Thorn Birds
21. See Dave Matthews in Concert... no matter how old he is and no matter how old I am. (http://www.davematthewsband.com/). July 23rd, 2010!
22. Decorate an entire room of my own by myself.
23. Go to the New Jersey Botanical Gardens
24. Straddle 5 state lines… Photographed. (2/5)
25. Finally organize all of the postcards I have collected.
26. Create and mail in a Post Secret postcard.
27. Don’t watch any television for a week.(Vowing not to watch TV on vacation in 2010!)
28. Don’t use any plastic bags for a month. (Thanks to the DC Bag Tax I haven’t used plastic bags!)
29. Don’t buy bottled water for a month.
30. Paint a room a crazy color
31. Run in a mini marathon (Ran a 5k in April of 2010!!)
(http://cherryblossom.org/results/2010/2010cucb5k-f.htm)
32. Dress up for Halloween (seriously, even though you hate Halloween)
33. Watch the end of the West Wing series
34. Watch the end of the O.C. series
35. Learn how to surf
36. Learn how to play guitar
37. Go to a wine tasting (Silver Decoy in NJ, Feb 13, 2010)
38. Go to a drive in movie
39. Go to a planetarium
40. Listen to all of the music on my iPod (5535 items, 49.7 days worth of music)
41. Skip dessert for a month
42. Stop biting my nails for an entire month (Would you believe I did this? No me either.)
43. Make something from blown glass
44. Learn how to make pottery
45. Color an entire coloring book
46. Send 101 cards (70/101)
47. Read Gone With the Wind
48. Don’t use Facebook for two weeks
49. Pay Dad back for the accident ($500)
50. See 50 of IMDB’s top 250 movies (http://www.imdb.com/chart/top)
51. Do Photo Project 365 (http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/)
52. Go to a Salsa Club
53. Buy nothing for a week.
54. See the sunrise (01/20/09, Inauguration morning, the day I started 1001!)
55. See the sunset.
56. Do the 26 Things project (http://sh1ft.org/26things/)
57. Reread Childhood books
58. Attend a film festival
59. Go to Atlantic City (Post 05/05/09) and gamble with only $40. Whatever happens, happens, no continuing with winnings.
60. Keep a journal everyday.
61. Go to church every Sunday for three months straight
62. Organize iTunes
63. Organize all of my crap/memorabilia
64. Don’t eat out for an entire month
65. Ride in a hot air balloon
66. Graduate
67. Make my own website (buy the web space... don’t cop out)
68. Keep a dream glass
69. Get over it.
70. Sing in front of people
71. Read five banned books
72. Dress up for an entire week for no reason.
73. Go crabbing
74. Donate to Locks of Love (1/1-2)
75. Buy fruit from local farmers for an entire month
76. See Penguins in their natural habitat (Saw penguins LIVE at the Florida Aquarium 03/14/09 and the Lowry Park Zoo 03/08/10).
77. Travel to a Spanish speaking country and use as much Spanish as possible
78. Seriously consider backpacking across Europe in 07/2010. Do everything humanly possible to go.
79. Read more books per year than the previous year (32 in 06, 33 in 07…)
80. Donate to a charity every year (1/3)
YEAR 1: Doctors Without Borders for relief in Haiti $35
YEAR 2:
YEAR 3:
81. Go to the beach without getting sun burned (Achieved in Tampa!)
82. Finish and frame a puzzle with over 5,000 pieces in it.
83. Attempt (legitimately) a NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/)
84. Write a message in a bottle and let it go at my favorite spot by the beach.
85. Go through an entire semester without missing class.
86. Go sky diving.
87. Conquer my fear of horses and ride one (vacation 2010!).
88. Send someone I love flowers anonymously.
89. Keep five plants/flowers/trees, and keep them alive. (I have 4 and they are doing well!)
90. Fill someone’s expired meter.
91. Go to high school reunion.
92. Give up all caffeine (including chocolate) for two months. (Gave it up for lent! 40 days!)
93. Go to ten new restaurants on the list of Washingtonians Cheap Eats 2009 list.
(http://www.washingtonian.com/packages/cheapeats)
1. A & J in Rockville
2. Four Sisters in Vienna
3. Joe’s Noodle House in Rockville
4. Guajillo in Arlington
5. Comet Ping Pong on Nebraska Avenue
6. Surfside on Wisconsin Avenue
7. Amma Vegetarian Kitchen in Vienna
8. Kotobuki in the Palisaides
9.
10.
94. Shadow a journalist, designer, or Mr. Zink for a day.
95. Write your life story in a day.
96. Edit it later, make a memoir?
97. Identify 100 things that make you happy.
98. Start a blog and keep up with it. (And I started a Photo Blog!)
99. Finish all shopping for the year by Halloween (Birthdays, Christmas, Etc.)
100. Donate $10 to charity for every item I do not achieve by 10/18/2011
101. Create another list.
Italicized items are in process
Red items are completed!
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
Beginning: January 20, 2009
End Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
1. Learn Conversational French
2. Learn Sign Language
3. Swim with a dolphin
4. Host a board game night
5. Visit all 50 states
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
6. Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean (I put my feet in the Gulf of Mexico!)
7. Don’t text message for an entire month (January 6, 2010-February 6, 2010)
8. Build something
9. Visit the Ben and Jerry’s Factory (In Waterbury, VT)
10. Go to Ireland
11. Watch Star Wars for the first time (just the first movie) Watched Episodes 4, 5, & 6 on 02/14/09, finish the whole series on 09/19/09.
12. Take daily vitamin every day straight for a month (Finished May 2009!)
13. Set and FOLLOW a month long workout routine.
14. Learn how to drive a manual.
15. Make a photography portfolio
16. Buy a bicycle
17. Go two weeks without cursing
18. Keep a piggy bank and put ALL excess change in said bank
19. Read the entire Harry Potter Series… again
20. Read at least 4 books off of a greatest books ever written list
a. Gone With the Wind
b. Pride and Prejudice
c. Schindler's List
d. The Thorn Birds
21. See Dave Matthews in Concert... no matter how old he is and no matter how old I am. (http://www.davematthewsband.com/). July 23rd, 2010!
22. Decorate an entire room of my own by myself.
23. Go to the New Jersey Botanical Gardens
24. Straddle 5 state lines… Photographed. (2/5)
25. Finally organize all of the postcards I have collected.
26. Create and mail in a Post Secret postcard.
27. Don’t watch any television for a week.(Vowing not to watch TV on vacation in 2010!)
28. Don’t use any plastic bags for a month. (Thanks to the DC Bag Tax I haven’t used plastic bags!)
29. Don’t buy bottled water for a month.
30. Paint a room a crazy color
31. Run in a mini marathon (Ran a 5k in April of 2010!!)
(http://cherryblossom.org/results/2010/2010cucb5k-f.htm)
32. Dress up for Halloween (seriously, even though you hate Halloween)
33. Watch the end of the West Wing series
34. Watch the end of the O.C. series
35. Learn how to surf
36. Learn how to play guitar
37. Go to a wine tasting (Silver Decoy in NJ, Feb 13, 2010)
38. Go to a drive in movie
39. Go to a planetarium
40. Listen to all of the music on my iPod (5535 items, 49.7 days worth of music)
41. Skip dessert for a month
42. Stop biting my nails for an entire month (Would you believe I did this? No me either.)
43. Make something from blown glass
44. Learn how to make pottery
45. Color an entire coloring book
46. Send 101 cards (70/101)
47. Read Gone With the Wind
48. Don’t use Facebook for two weeks
49. Pay Dad back for the accident ($500)
50. See 50 of IMDB’s top 250 movies (http://www.imdb.com/chart/top)
51. Do Photo Project 365 (http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/)
52. Go to a Salsa Club
53. Buy nothing for a week.
54. See the sunrise (01/20/09, Inauguration morning, the day I started 1001!)
55. See the sunset.
56. Do the 26 Things project (http://sh1ft.org/26things/)
57. Reread Childhood books
58. Attend a film festival
59. Go to Atlantic City (Post 05/05/09) and gamble with only $40. Whatever happens, happens, no continuing with winnings.
60. Keep a journal everyday.
61. Go to church every Sunday for three months straight
62. Organize iTunes
63. Organize all of my crap/memorabilia
64. Don’t eat out for an entire month
65. Ride in a hot air balloon
66. Graduate
67. Make my own website (buy the web space... don’t cop out)
68. Keep a dream glass
69. Get over it.
70. Sing in front of people
71. Read five banned books
72. Dress up for an entire week for no reason.
73. Go crabbing
74. Donate to Locks of Love (1/1-2)
75. Buy fruit from local farmers for an entire month
76. See Penguins in their natural habitat (Saw penguins LIVE at the Florida Aquarium 03/14/09 and the Lowry Park Zoo 03/08/10).
77. Travel to a Spanish speaking country and use as much Spanish as possible
78. Seriously consider backpacking across Europe in 07/2010. Do everything humanly possible to go.
79. Read more books per year than the previous year (32 in 06, 33 in 07…)
80. Donate to a charity every year (1/3)
YEAR 1: Doctors Without Borders for relief in Haiti $35
YEAR 2:
YEAR 3:
81. Go to the beach without getting sun burned (Achieved in Tampa!)
82. Finish and frame a puzzle with over 5,000 pieces in it.
83. Attempt (legitimately) a NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/)
84. Write a message in a bottle and let it go at my favorite spot by the beach.
85. Go through an entire semester without missing class.
86. Go sky diving.
87. Conquer my fear of horses and ride one (vacation 2010!).
88. Send someone I love flowers anonymously.
89. Keep five plants/flowers/trees, and keep them alive. (I have 4 and they are doing well!)
90. Fill someone’s expired meter.
91. Go to high school reunion.
92. Give up all caffeine (including chocolate) for two months. (Gave it up for lent! 40 days!)
93. Go to ten new restaurants on the list of Washingtonians Cheap Eats 2009 list.
(http://www.washingtonian.com/packages/cheapeats)
1. A & J in Rockville
2. Four Sisters in Vienna
3. Joe’s Noodle House in Rockville
4. Guajillo in Arlington
5. Comet Ping Pong on Nebraska Avenue
6. Surfside on Wisconsin Avenue
7. Amma Vegetarian Kitchen in Vienna
8. Kotobuki in the Palisaides
9.
10.
94. Shadow a journalist, designer, or Mr. Zink for a day.
95. Write your life story in a day.
96. Edit it later, make a memoir?
97. Identify 100 things that make you happy.
98. Start a blog and keep up with it. (And I started a Photo Blog!)
99. Finish all shopping for the year by Halloween (Birthdays, Christmas, Etc.)
100. Donate $10 to charity for every item I do not achieve by 10/18/2011
101. Create another list.
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