Thirteen Things about LINDSEY

1. As you can see, I am back and ready to go! There was a bug in DirectAdmin, the software that the server uses, and it allowed hackers to manipulate anything running on PHP, especially WordPress. However, my host ROCKS, and in less than a week she had physically replaced the hard drive on the server, re-set up EVERYONE’S accounts, restored all the databases (in mint condition), and all websites were back up and running! She’s my favorite :-)!

2. As much as I hated the site being down, and as much as I missed blogging (I was gone less than a week, how pathetic am I?), it was probably good that I couldn’t blog. Last week we did an intense business simulation that absolutely consumed my week. I literally had time for NOTHING else. And that was supposed to be the easy week between sessions! I don’t know what they were thinking!

3. Speaking of . . . school is killing me. The further I get into this program, the harder and more intense it gets. I have NEVER had this much work for school. And it’s not easy work. Some of it makes sense . . . a lot doesn’t. I’m working hard to grasp the concepts, but there are SO MANY new ones that I feel like I’m lost. The schedule is crazy, the work is hard (and in high volume), and my brain doesn’t like to work this way.

4. One nice thing is I FINALLY have a roommate ;-)! Ben finally moved up here this past weekend, and it’s been really nice having him around. He’ll sit around and talk about artsy things with me, which apparently my brain is craving. It’s amazing how an intellectual conversation about something artistic makes my constant headache GO AWAY! Plus, Ben gives me hugs, which I was quite deficient on after a summer of living alone!

5. This sounds so trivial, but one of the things that has made school be so exhausting has been waking up MUCH earlier than I have been the past 4 years. I have to be up around 6AM and be sitting in the classroom ready to go for class at 8AM.

6. One of the things that has gotten me through those hard mornings is coffee! Yup, I was able to cross off #93 on my list of 101 in 1001 - I’ve switched from Diet Coke to black coffee in the mornings!

7. Another thing that gets me through the mornings - breakfast! When I was waking up at 11AM every day, it as easy to skip it, but now I eat it every day! Mark #18 off the list!

8. This past weekend (I didn’t have much homework) I was able to finish watching all the DVDs that I own. I had a couple of TV shows to go, but now I’m good! Cross #82 off!

9. As I posted in my post about backing up, I am now backing up both my websites and my hard drive regularly, knocking off #67 and #68 on my list!

10. Tomorrow my parents, brother, and cousin are all coming up here. And on Friday Bo (my brother) will be moving onto campus at Elon University, 45 minutes from my apartment. He’s growing up so fast, I can’t believe he’s starting college!

11. Along with all my family, the puppies are coming to visit! And since they’re all gonna be busy moving Bo in (and my parents will be staying in a hotel), the puppies get to live with me for the weekend! Woo hoo!!!! I’m so excited, they’re so adorable, and I miss them so much! They are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - the black one (Tricolor) is Olive, and the tan one (Blenheim) is Ella :)!

12. After browsing around blogs yesterday, I found a post about FlyLady - and decided to join. We’ll see how it goes!

13. Before the crash I did a lot of blogroll checks for Thursday Thirteen, and now that I’m back, I’m gonna pick up where I left off! It was actually a lot of fun because I visited a lot of sites that were newer to the blogroll, so I hadn’t seen them before. But goodness, we’ve got a lot of participants now, LOL!

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The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

This project was taken from Triplux.

The things that I say I want to MAINTAIN will be counted as completed if they are maintained for at least two months. I figure that if I maintain something for at least that long, then it’ll be habit. If, however, I stop doing it before I reach the due date, I will take the completion date off and I’ll have to do the two months again before I can put on a new date.

Tasks I have completed will be struck through and a completion date will be listed that is linked to a post about the completion of that task. Tasks that I have begun will be italicized and a beginning date will be listed.

Started: December 19, 2005
Due Date: September 15, 2008
Tasks Completed: 61
Tasks in Progress: 12
Tasks Remaining: 40

1. Make this list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, and make the items be actual things that I will be able to complete and will somehow be beneficial to my life. (Making a list of my 50 favorite actors does not make my life better – though that would make for great procrastination the night before a paper is due.) Completed 12/19/05

Religious
2. Create and MAINTAIN my faith blog Reading Red Letters. Completed 11/08/06
3. Plan a religious fast and complete said fast (probably 3 days, but that’s flexible).
4. Read the Bible from beginning to end.
5. Officially join Episcopal Church. Completed 4/17/06
6. Read at least 10 books by C. S. Lewis.

Family
7. Stay in touch with Bo once he’s at college. Completed 11/08/06
8. Go to at least two concerts with Daddy.
9. Complete a Bible study with Mama.
10. Spend a day at the spa with Mama. Completed 5/31/06

Health
11. Start and MAINTAIN regular exercise.
12. Learn to eat at least 3 new fruits and vegetables.
13. Reach my weightloss goal and MAINTAIN it.
14. Start and MAINTAIN regular flossing. Completed 11/08/06
15. Get my stomach into fit enough condition so that a pierced bellybutton won’t look ridiculous (and if I keep my courage, actually pierce the bellybutton – but even if I don’t go through with it, the option is nice to have).
16. MAINTAIN taking vitamins regularly. Completed 11/08/06
17. Start and MAINTAIN monthly breast self-exams (and no, 21 is not too young to start doing this!). Completed 12/3/06
18. Begin eating breakfast everyday and MAINTAIN it! Completed 8/19/06

School
19. Study for and take the GRE. Completed 5/22/06
20. Get caught up in school after having mono (complete all my incompletes). Completed 3/2/06
21. Graduate from Wake Forest University. Completed 5/15/06

Living Parables
22. Get Living Parables reimbursement/business manager issues worked out. Completed 5/19/06
23. Get Living Parables scripts published.
24. Get new Living Parables constitution approved. Completed 5/19/06
25. Make a video of Living Parables performances for all members.
26. Organize Living Parables Coordinating Director materials and create a timeline for next Coordinating Director. Completed 5/19/06

“Real World”
27. Get a job. Completed 1/30/06.
28. Set up a new place to live (once I figure out where I’ll be after graduation). Completed 7/10/06
29. Get post office box at wherever I move to after graduation.
30. Switch my financial managing to a computerized system (i.e. Microsoft Money). Completed 1/5/06
31. Get a credit card that is mine, and only mine – my parents aren’t on the account. Completed 7/17/06
32. Save $5 a day and deposit into my savings account. Completed 11/08/06
33. Host a formal dinner. Completed 8/4/2008
34. Get a pet (something I can pet and play with). Completed 12/4/07

Travel
35. Travel to Europe (anywhere in Europe for any length of time). Completed 6/19/06
36. Visit Stephanie in New York. Completed 6/7/06
37. Take a trip to California. Completed 6/8/08
38. Take a vacation to Atlanta with Mama – go shopping and see an exhibit at the High Museum.
39. Travel to Washington, D.C. At least see major monuments, the White House, and the Smithsonian.
40. Buy nice map and put a push-pin in every place I’ve been.
41. Go to the MOMA. Completed 6/8/06

Personal Betterment
42. Begin creatively writing again (re-write novel).
43. Pay for the person behind me at a fast food drive thru.
44. Become an organ donor. Completed 5/26/06
45. Give blood.
46. Subscribe to a newspaper and read it regularly. Completed 12/28/06
47. Stop biting fingernails.
48. Update my journal and MAINTAIN it. Begun 11/21/06
49. MAINTAIN cleaning my apartment (dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing the shower, etc.) on a regular basis – AT LEAST once a month. Completed 11/08/06
50. Sponsor a child in an impoverished country. Completed 1/23/06
51. Become more politically aware. If someone talks about something that I don’t know about, don’t say “oh, we don’t keep up with current events in college” – ask them about it. Completed 11/08/06

Organize/Purge
52. Organize, file, and store all my notes/keepsakes from my undergraduate classes. Completed 6/15/06
53. Sell all textbooks that I will never use again – if they’re too used to sell, get rid of them. Completed 7/11/06
54. Finish entering all my DVDs into a database. Completed 11/29/06
55. Finish entering all my CDs into a database. Completed 12/14/06
56. Finish entering all my books into a database.
57. Sell, donate, give, or throw away 101 items. Completed 5/18/06
58. Sort through all my chick lit – take the majority and release them into the wild with Book Crossing. Completed 6/3/06
59. Take all my collected change to the bank and turn it into paper cash. Donate cash to my church. (Final amount: $165.52) Completed 12/5/06
60. Sort through all of my clothing, especially what’s at my parents’ house. Donate to Goodwill. Completed 5/18/06

Technology
61. Get Mama’s beads inventoried and make the inventory something she can easily work with daily. Completed 8/4/08
62. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
63. Re-create email filing system and MAINTAIN it. Completed 6/15/06
64. Get a Palm Treo. Completed 12/4/06
65. Get a desktop PC that works with my home media setup. Completed 6/12/06
66. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
67. Regularly back up my computer. Completed 8/21/06
68. Regularly back up my websites. Completed 8/21/06
69. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
70. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
71. Complete The Sims 2 Legacy Challenge.
72. Get all Mama’s email switched from Yahoo to her ISP account. Completed 8/4/08
73. Reformat artists’ names on my iPod so that each one isn’t listed more than once. Completed 8/4/08
74. MAINTAIN updating Doodlebug Designs. Completed 6/10/07
75. Write 1001 blog posts. (471/1001) Begun 12/19/05

Entertainment
76. Read 75% of the list of books that my friends have sent me. (24/85) Begun 12/19/05
77. Clear my current Netflix queue. (231/494) Begun 12/19/05
78. Read 75% of the Greatest Books in 101 Things to Do Before You Die. (17/64) Begun 12/19/05
79. Watch 85% of the Greatest Films in 101 Things to Do Before You Die. (91/112) Begun 12/19/05
80. See a Cirque du Soleil show that I haven’t seen before. Completed 6/8/06
81. Have a Star Wars marathon day and watch all the movies in chronological series order – with someone else! Completed 5/27/07
82. Finish watching all the DVDs I own (includes TV shows). Completed 8/22/06
83. See 75% of IMDB top 250 movies as of September 1, 2008 (this list changes). (144/188) Begun 12/19/05
84. See 100% of AFI top 100 movies. (71/100) Begun 12/19/05
85. See 100% of Netflix top 100 movies as of September 1, 2008 (this list changes). (63/100) Begun 12/19/05
86. See 75% of Entertainment Weekly’s top 100 movies. (49/75) Begun 12/19/05
87. Read 50% of books on the Modern Library (Random House) top 100 list (board). (10/50) Begun 12/19/05

In the Kitchen
88. Learn to use cast iron skillets without messing up the seasoning.
89. Start and MAINTAIN a wine journal. Begun 8/23/06
90. Drink a vintage wine. Completed 8/4/08
91. Organize recipe book. Completed 3/2/08
92. Find and make a good cheese fondue recipe (may require several tries).
93. Switch from Diet Coke to black coffee in the mornings - it may take more time, but it’s less chemicals and more caffeine! Completed 8/19/06

Just for Fun
94. Learn how to build a fire for my fireplace. Completed 1/14/06
95. Attend my 5-year high school reunion. Can’t complete
96. Lean to drive a stick shift.
97. Test drive a hot sports car with no intention of buying it.
98. Inspire at least five other people to make a 101 in 1001 list. Completed 8/6/2006
99. Win something (anything) from a lottery ticket.
100. Shout “Drinks are on me!” in a pub or bar.

Green Living
On January 24, 2007 I changed 4 of my list items to better reflect my goals. Here are the new items for my list.
62. Change all the incandescent light bulbs in my apartment to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Completed 8/1/07
66. Stop using plastic bags at the grocery store and switch to reusable canvas bags. Completed 1/1/08
69. Switch a significant portion of my food and cooking supplies to organic. Healthier for me, healthier for the planet. Completed 6/26/08
70. Search for organic and free trade coffee and tea that I like, and make the switch. Completed 8/4/08

101. On September 15, 2008, publish a new 101 in 1001.

It’s Blogcess - 22

This week “It’s Blogcess” is all about the last time you did something.

1) The last time you filled up your automobile how much did you pay per gallon?

$2.40ish, $2.50ish . . . too much, it cost about $55!

2) What was the last piece of clothing you purchased for yourself?

A new bra (that counts, right?)

3) What was the last thing you bought at the grocery?

Eggs! We made breakfast at 3AM!

4) What did you do on the last night you went out with friends?

There was a party at the theatre house on Saturday . . . and we went to dinner yesterday evening, so one of those.

5) Let’s spread some “It’s Blogcess” linky love?

Hmmm . . . Sunshine Sigs! I’m an assistant manager at this MSN group - it totally rocks! I never would have started my website or blog without this group! Let me know if you wanna join!

The Non-Stress Diet

This diet is designed to help you cope with stress which normally builds up during the day.

Breakfast

1/2 Grapefruit
1 Slice Whole Wheat Toast, Dry
8 oz. Skim Milk

Lunch

4 oz. Lean Broiled Chicken Breast
1 cup Steamed Spinach
1 cup Herb Tea
1 Oreo Cookie

Mid-Afternoon Snack

Rest of the Oreos in the package
2 Pints Rocky Road Ice Cream
1 Jar Hot Fudge Sauce
Nuts, Cherries, Whipped Cream

Dinner

Loaves of Garlic Bread with Cheese
Large Sausage, Mushroom & Cheese Pizza
4 Cans or 1 Large Pitcher of Beer
3 Milky Way or Snickers Candy Bars

Rules For This Diet

1. If you eat something, and no one else sees you eat it, it has no calories.

2. When drinking a diet soda while eating a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled by the diet soda.

3. When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count as long as you don’t eat more than they do.

4. Foods used for medicinal purposes NEVER count. Example: hot chocolate, brandy, toast, and Sara Lee Cheesecake.

5. If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.

6. Movie-related foods do not have calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one’s personal fuel. Example: Milk Duds, Buttered Popcorn, Junior Mints and Tootsie Rolls.

7. Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breaking the cookie causes calorie leakage.

8. Late-night snacks have no calories. The refrigerator light is not strong enough for the calories to see their way into the calorie counter.

9. If you are in the process of preparing something, food licked off knives and spoons have no calories. Examples: Peanut Butter on a knife and ice cream on a spoon.

10. Food of the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are spinach and pistachio ice cream, mushrooms and white chocolate.

11. Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other.