And so it begins...

101 Things To Do In 1001 Days

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

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.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start Date: Thursday September 20, 2007

End Date: Thursday June 17, 2010

Number of Items Completed: 15/100

Red Bold Text = Finished with Completion Date
Green Bold Text = In Progress

General
1. Blog about each of my 101 tasks at least once (28/101)
2. Get someone else to do this 101 things in 1001 days with me (Completed 10/5/07)

Fitness
3. Drop 10 pounds, and keep them off for the remainder of the project (5/10)
4. Drop 5 more pounds, and keep them off for the remainder of the project (0/5)
5. Be able to do the splits in at least one direction
6. Do a proper push-up on my fists (Mantis-style) (Completed 03/31/08)

Sports
7. Go snowboarding for the first time
8. Play bocce ball again
9. Take two dance classes (2/2) (Completed 09/02/08)
10. Ride a horse (NOT a pony)
11. Try playing tennis or badminton
12. Learn and get comfortable with a new martial arts set
13. Hit golf balls at a driving range

Health/R&R
14. Take 5 nice hot baths (1/5)
15. Floss every day (408/1001)
16. Get a massage
17. Get a pedicure or a manicure for the first time

Career/Finances/Independence
18. Land a great job that pays moola (salaried) (Completed 09/10/2008)
19. Move out (completed 2/23/08)
20. Clear any debts
21. Own a home (*sigh* … someday)
22. Finish my MCLE requirements (25/25) (Completed 12/02/2008)

Extreme
23. Go skydiving
24. Learn to drive stick shift (yes, it'll be extreme) (completed 4/6/2008)
25. Fly in a helicopter
26. Go paragliding again

Gaining Knowledge/Intellectual Pursuits
27. Read or re-read 20 books and blog about them (7/20)
- - - - - Strange Attractors, HJNTIY, The Boy Who Reversed Himself, Disorderly Conduct, Flight Vol. 1, Flight Vol. 3, Bone
28. Learn to change a tire and basic car maintenance
29. Read and understand at least one Mandarin-translated Manga series that I own (0/1)
30. Join and participate in Toastmasters
31. Learn CPR
32. Learn to and change a baby's diaper
33. Write 50 essays or articles about something I'm interested in and post it online (27/50)

Creativity
34. Get familiar and comfortable with shrinky dinks (Completed 11/11/2007)
35. Paint a painting
36. Take voice lessons
37. Make 5 framed collages of photos (5/5) (Completed 11/24/2007)
38. Take a series of guitar lessons
39. Learn to play at least 5 songs on the guitar (0/5)
40. Take a writing class

Relationships/Family
41. Contact my brother at least once a week (70/130)
42. Finish my parent's living trust
43. Convert home videos into digital format
44. Research and buy a DSLR for my mom
45. Write 10 snail mail letters to someone, just because (10/10) (Completed 1/17/2008)
46. Hang out with W & M-Y once a month (16/33)

Self-Improvement
47. Do 25 selfish things (4/25)
48. Do 25 unselfish things (5/25)
49. Do not say yes when I really mean no (kinda hard to keep track of, but I'll try to do this more)
50. Don't turn down invitations to social occasions, unless I have a real conflict
51. Get rid of 101 material items (35/101)
52. Write in my diary at least once a week (33/140)

Food
53. Try 100 new restaurants and Yelp about them (105/200)
54. Learn 10 of mom's special dishes/desserts (3/10)
- - - - - Yu Song, Pumpkin Bread, Almond Biscotti
55. Cook a 3-course dinner for friends/family
56. Make and decorate cookies
57. Try 5 new recipes (3/5)
- - - - - Corn Muffins, Gingersnaps, No Pudge Fudge Walnut Brownies

Fun
58. Participate in Gimme Your Stuff: http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com/
59. Go to a Star Trek Convention or a geek convention (I've been DYING to go for ages)
60. Watch 100 movies and write about each one (51/100)
- - - - - Bourne Ultimatum, The Illusionist, Metropolis, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Hot Fuzz, Wayne's World, Sunshine, The Incredibles, Juno, Transformers, Stardust, Who Am I?, Mr. Nice Guy, Cloverfield, Ronin, Garden State, Enchanted, No Country For Old Men, Be Kind Rewind, The Bank Job, Horton Hears a Who, Nikita, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Harold & Kumar 2, Iron Man, Wall-E, Indiana Jones 4, Sex and the City, Kung Fu Panda, Behind Enemy Lines, The Jerk, Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Secret of Nimh, Wanted, Hellboy II, Pineapple Express, Ghost Town, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Casino Royale, Stranger Than Fiction, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Role Models, Quantum of Solace, Bolt, Slumdog Millionare, Milk, Star Trek VI, Gran Turino, The Aristocrats
61. Make a snowman
62. Watch a sporting event live (Completed 12/13/07)
63. Watch 5 seasons of TV shows from my DVDs (8/5) (Completed 10/24/07)
- - - - - Monk (Season 4), Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me (Season 2), Heroes (Season 1), Firefly, La Femme Nikita, Heroes (Season 2), Lost (Season 1)
64. Have my fortune read
65. Participate in an online book exchange to help get rid of my unwanted books (Completed 9/23/07)
66. Fly a kite (maybe even one I've made)

Social
67. Host a movie marathon (Completed 10/31/08)
68. Throw a surprise party
69. Organize a picnic
70. Host a slumber party
71. Throw a holiday party (Completed 12/1/07, 10/31/2008)

Community
72. Donate to a worthwhile cause
73. Sit on a jury (but I don't really have any control over this)
74. Send a care package to a soldier in Iraq
75. Volunteer for an organization or at an event
76. Vote at every opportunity

Travel - General
77. Do a road trip
78. Go whale watching
79. Go camping
80. Fly first class
81. Go deep sea fishing
82. Go scuba-diving or at least snorkeling

Travel - North America
83. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge (Completed 10/14/07)
84. Visit Agnes in Vancouver
85. Visit Albert, Ming, and Vivian in Boston
86. Visit Jeff in Virginia (and hit up Washington DC)
87. Go to a water park in the US
88. Ride rollercoasters at Cedar Point, OH
89. Visit Costa Rica (and meet up with Jose, Erick and/or Nati)
90. Visit Amy in Texas
91. Ski at Whistler
92. Visit Daphne in Seattle
93. Visit Mexico
94. Walk the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon

Travel - Asia
95. Tour China
96. Visit Eric in Japan
97. Set foot in South East Asia
98. Visit Taiwan and friends who are still there

Travel - Europe
99. Explore Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.)
100. Explore Eastern Europe

And finally…
101. On Day 1001, publish a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list that includes anything I haven't finished already (hopefully, none)