rachel’s blog

Don’t worry, I haven’t decided to start writing in binary. I recently stumbled across an interesting project called “101 Things in 1001 Days,” which originated with a guy in New Zealand. The project idea has been gaining internet popularity, especially during the past year, and in spite of the fact that everyone else is doing it… so am I.

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 your part).

1001 days. That’s less than three years, and according to this nifty little calculator, my target date is November 5, 2009. I’ll be 30 by then. Hmm.

101 things. In case you were wondering, that’s a lot… and developing my list was surprisingly difficult! Some ideas came to me quickly, but when I started to get stuck, perusing other people’s lists helped to steer my thoughts in new directions. Some of the things on my list I have done before (sleeping out under the stars, going on a date, reading through the Bible, and maybe a dozen others), but the majority will be brand new experiences for me. I’ll let you guess which ones are which. Oh, and this will definitely help me follow through with my New Year’s Resolution to do new things!

The list feels a little overwhelming right now, but I also believe it’s doable, so it guess it meets the specified criteria. My entire list is posted below in bold type, and as I complete items, I will un-bold them and add the date.

:: THE LIST ::

1. Learn to like pickles.
2. Own a pet.
3. Get 8 hours of sleep each night for an entire week. (3/3/07)
4. Read through the Bible. (13/66 books)
5. Juggle 3 objects for 30 seconds.
6. Send a postcard to Postsecret.
7. Learn to whistle loudly (with my fingers in my mouth?).
8. Visit the local synagogue. (11/30/07)
9. Host 101 people in my home — but not all at the same time! (Prior to May 1, students don’t count…). (91/101)
10. Visit one of the 11 states I haven’t been to yet. (6/27/07)
11. Run a 5K.
12. Visit an Old Order Mennonite Church. (3/11/07)
13. Sing a solo. (3/18/07)
14. Drink a glass of wine. (6/29/07)
15. Watch someone get a tattoo. (04/04/0
16. Go on a date. (7/27/07)
17. Feel confident leading hymns.
18. Say “you’re welcome” more often than “yep.”
19. Identify 101 things that bring me joy. (92/101)
20. Grow tomatoes.
21. Read ten books that I own but haven’t read. (4/10)
22. Sell handmade cards.
23. Use the number keypad as naturally as typing letters on a keyboard.
24. Swim at the city pool. (7/22/07)
25. Ride my bike to work.
26. Refinish my $10 desk.
27. Vote. (11/06/07)
28. Help with a Habitat for Humanity build. (5/12/07)
29. Can or freeze something other than applesauce.
30. Re-learn the capitals of the United States. (2/18/07)
31. Make a comforter for MCC.
32. Write a Christmas letter. (12/31/07)
33. Buy something at an auction.
34. Release a book through BookCrossing. (2/12/07)
35. Carve a pumpkin.
36. Marry an amazing man. (OK, so this one isn’t completely up to me…)
37. Pretend to be a morning person for a week. (5/20/07)
38. Take a non-seminary class of some type.
39. Learn and memorize a song on the piano that sounds like it should be played in a hotel lobby.
40. Buy or sell something on eBay.
41. Climb on a climbing wall.
42. Write to an author. (7/16/07)
43. Eat/use up all food that is currently in my freezer or pantry.
44. Go on a real vacation. (7/4/07)
45. Win something. (6/16/07)
46. Own a hymnal accompaniment book. (4/28/07)
47. Fast for 24 hours.
48. Attend a worship service in Spanish.
49. Offer or receive something through Freecycle. (5/16/07)
50. Make bagels. (3/22/0
51. Edit an article on Wikipedia, even if it’s just to correct someone’s grammar. (2/27/07)
52. Create a pair of earrings.
53. Visit 10 Mennonite churches I’ve never been to (not including the Old Order church). (7/10)
54. Donate a gallon of blood. (0.875/1)
55. Go to a football game.
56. Read an issue of The New Yorker. (3/15/07)
57. Memorize one verse from each book of the Bible.
58. Learn about the original owner of my house.
59. Join the National Weight Control Registry.
60. Hit golf balls on a driving range.
61. Post a book review on Amazon.com.
62. Host a pajama party. (11/16/07)
63. Roast chestnuts on an open fire.
64. Go to a fair. (8/13/07)
65. Grow my hair long enough that I could donate it if I chose to.
66. Participate in 26Things (or something similar). (5/07)
67. Rely on just one alarm clock, not two.
68. Get a professional massage.
69. Attend a City Council meeting. (1/22/0
70. Do something active with Amnesty International. (2/25/07)
71. Spend a weekend at home internet-free.
72. Go to a car wash.
73. Have a consultation at a makeup counter.
74. Participate in NaBloPoMo. (11/30/07)
75. Learn to play a hymn on the hammered dulcimer. (9/20/07)
76. Get a better digital camera. (5/17/07)
77. Sew a purse/handbag. (5/15/07)
78. Host a dinner party.
79. Participate in a book club / reading group.
80. Ride a horse.
81. Learn to play chess.
82. Attend a Catholic mass.
83. Sponsor a child. (2/27/07)
84. Learn to play tennis.
85. Bake a beautiful loaf of bread.
86. Become confident with parallel parking.
87. Own a sleeping bag. (6/9/07)
88. Watch a foreign film with subtitles. (4/22/07)
89. Have a professional portrait taken.
90. Start an iJournal.
91. Be able to play guitar with worship music.
92. Paint something with chalkboard paint. (8/18/07)
93. Don’t wear a watch for seven (non-consecutive) days. (4/5/07)
94. Sleep out under the stars. (7/22/07)
95. Crochet a scarf or hat that I really like. (3/3/07)
96. Have a neighbor over for dinner.
97. Go Christmas caroling door-to-door. (12/16/07)
98. Do one trip from “Touring the Shenandoah Valley Backroads.” (5/19/07)
99. Get a credit card that gives me cash back. (7/12/07)
100. Make a cheesecake.
101. Be able to identify a non-Dipper constellation.