DC never fails to be interesting...

On the short walk from the Farragut West Metro Station to my office (one block), I have seen several interesting things this week.

1) On Tuesday, there was some sort of motorcade. It wasn't the presidential one, because there were only about 5 cars in it, but it was evidently someone important.

2) On Wednesday, this giant-headed George Washington mascot for the Washington Nationals baseball team (it's like over six and a half feet tall) was walking around on the sidewalk and waved to me.

3) Yesterday, I was outside the building on the phone for a few minutes and a woman drives up to the corner in a minivan. She decides she is going to parallel park in this tiny spot between two cars. I'm thinking, "There is no way she can fit that van in there..." Sure enough, she hit the car behind her TWICE and the car in front once. I don't think it did any damage, but still. So then she sits in her car for five minutes, putting on makeup and hoping that any witnesses will have dispersed by the time she gets out. She then walked a big loop around the sidewalk, came back, put a quarter in the parking meter of the car behind hers, put coins in her own meter, and then disappeared to wherever she was going.

4) This morning, McGruff the "Take a Bite out of Crime" dog was standing outside the Metro station exit handing out pamphlets about cyber crime.

In other news, I finished my 101 Things list. I've also read the first two Harry Potter books in the past day and a half, and I'm kind of ashamed to say that I might actually be enjoying them. The writing is a bit elementary (obviously, because it's meant for kids), but there are some subtle jokes that have made me laugh out loud a few times.

Lindsey comes back from Fairfax tonight, so tomorrow she and I might go hit up a museum downtown. Sunday is an Adventure Links 10 year reunion, so I'll be heading out to Paris for that...

Introduction

I guess you could say that I've jumped aboard the blogging bandwagon. It seems to be a pretty good way of keeping in touch with people. I just graduated from The Ohio State University, and with friends scattered in all different directions, several have started their own blogs. I've decided to join in.

I am a soon-to-be 1L (first year law student) at the University of Virginia School of Law. I will be moving to Charlottesville on Friday, August 17, and orientation begins the following Monday. As burned out as I was during my final spring quarter at OSU, I'm so excited to begin at UVA.

Between now and then, this blog will discuss my random summer exploits. I am working as a temporary receptionist for the Washington, DC office of Transwestern, a commercial real estate firm. My mom works in their Virginia office, and offered me as a fill-in when DC's receptionist quit last week. I had nothing else to do (since I did not get hired by any of the 50+ jobs or internships I had applied to) and the pay is $12/hr, so I was more than happy to pick up some extra cash before the move to Charlottesville.

Another bandwagon I jumped on was that of the"101 Things in 1001 Days" mission. I suppose I'm a conformist, but I think the idea is really neat and there are many habits I want to change and goals I want to accomplish. So this blog will also discuss my personal "101 Things" mission. For those of you unfamiliar with the project, here's some background info:

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 organising 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 Focussed. 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.

My list is not yet complete. I have 95 things so far (including leaving three blank slots under Academic, because I'm sure once I get to UVA I'll want to add a few things there). Apparently you aren't supposed to start your 1001 day clock until you finish your list, but I missed that detail so I've already started and am on Day 4. I'm going to keep adding to my list until I do finish it, but I'm also just going to continue with the same deadline as I originally had.

So anyway, here's my list so far...

Start Date: Sunday, June 24, 2007
End Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010

Regular font: Not yet completed.
Italics: Currently In Progress
Bold: Amount of instances completed.
Strikethrough: Completely finished. (Date finished in Parenthesis)

HEALTH:
1. Work out for at least 30 minutes three days a week, every week for two months.
2. Once #1 has been accomplished, do the same over a six-month period.
3. Drink at least 5 glasses of water every day for one month.
4. Eat at least something for breakfast every morning of every day for two weeks. (completed 07.16.07)
5. Once #5 has been accomplished, do the same over an additional month-long period. (completed 08.14.07)
6. Keep a health journal for at least a month.
7. Run a mile in less than 8 minutes.
8. Take a vitamin every day for a month.
9. Do 30 sit-ups every day for a month.
10. Run a 5k.
11. Do not eat fast food for three weeks. (0/3)
12. Get a bike and ride it instead of driving whenever possible.
13. Floss every day for one month.
14. Do one full pull-up.

MIND:
15. Find a cause about which I am passionate and support it.
16. Become informed about the presidential candidates.
17. Watch the news for at least 30 minutes every day for two months. (0/2)
18. Try to learn a new language.
19. Learn to say “Hello”, "How are you?", "Please", “Thank you”, “I love you”, "Excuse me", "What is your name?", "My name is..." in ten different languages. (2/10)
1. Italian
2. Portuguese
20. Do a crossword puzzle every weekday for a month. (completed 07.20.2007)
21. Learn a new word every day for a month.
22. Update my blog at least twice per week for 12 weeks.
23. Take some sort of class just for fun (i.e. dance, cooking, pottery, yoga, etc.)

ACADEMIC:
24. Find a study group and stick with them. [I have never studied with people before; I always do it on my own, but I know that will be very tough in law school.]
25. Get invited to participate with one of the law journals.
26. Obtain an internship with a judge or a summer associate position for next summer.
27.
28.

READ:
29. Read at least one book for pleasure each month, and keep a list of what I've read. (4/34)
SEPTEMBER 2007: Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
30. Read Don Quixote (in Spanish, preferably).
31. Read Les Miserables.
32. Read at least 10 of the books on the 100 Best Novels List that I have not read previously. (1/10)
33. Read all the Harry Potter books. (completed 07.22.2007)
34. Memorize a poem by Pablo Neruda.

FUN:
35. Find a new hobby.
36. Take at least one picture every day for a year and make scrapbooks or photo albums.
37. Have seen a total of at least 100 movies on IMdb's Top 250 Movies list. (36/100)
38. Make a cross-stitched pillow.
39. Participate in 26 Things.
40. Attend a symphony or opera.
41. See a midnight movie. (completed 07.11.07 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
42. Go ice skating.
43. See all three "Lord of the Rings" movies. (0/3)
44. Apply to be on "Deal or No Deal".
45. See a movie at a drive-in theater.

FINANCE:
46. Have at least $8,000 in my savings account (not including the money from the savings bonds I will be cashing in to help pay for living expenses during law school).
47. Set up and maintain Treasury bill account.
48. Invest a total of at least $1,001 into my IRA over the course of the 1001 days. ($301/$1001)
49. Keep my checkbook balanced.

SHARE:
50. Give blood at least 5 times. (0/5)
51. Donate little-worn clothes to charity. (completed 08.13.07)
52. Help build with Habitat for Humanity. (completed 08.25.07)
53. Participate in Relay for Life.
54. Participate in Race for the Cure.
55. Participate in a charity bike race.
56. Do at least 50 hours of volunteer work.

TRAVEL:
57. Visit a country that I have never been to. [Not Canada, Spain, Portugal, Morocco or England.]
58. Visit at least two of the ten states I have not yet been to. [Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Kansas, or Oklahoma.] (0/2)
59. Visit at least 10 museums in Washington, DC that I have never been to. (1/10)
-The Hirshhorn Gallery (06.30.2007)
60. Get the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die".
61. Once #60 is completed, try to visit 5 places from the book.
62. See a musical on Broadway.
63. Visit a bed and breakfast.
64. Go on a white water rafting trip that I have never been on before [not the Lower Yough or the Snake Rivers].
65. Go on a camping trip.
66. Go to a Packers game at Lambeau Field.
67. Visit Nathan in Phoenix.
68. Drive Skyline Drive.

PERSONAL GROWTH:
69. Get up by 7 AM on weekdays.
70. Keep in touch with friends who have gone their separate ways by emailing or calling at least once every two weeks.
71. Stop saying "like" when unnecessary. [As in, "And it was like so hot out."]
72. Aside from academic or work use, don't use the computer for five days. (completed 07.17.07)
73. Don't use swear words for one month.
74. Find a church and attend regularly.
75. Renew CPR certification.
76. Renew First Aid certification.
77. Say "you're welcome" instead of "mmhmm" or "yep".

AROUND THE HOUSE:
78. Put laundry away by the end of the day on which it's been done.
79. Organize my digital photos and keep them organized.
80. Do not leave dirty dishes overnight every night for one month.
81. Make my bed every morning for one month. (0/30)
82. Buy a new TV.
83. Learn to change the oil in my car.
84. Check tire pressure once a month for six months. (2/6)

JUST FOR ME:
85. Get a professional massage at a spa.
86. Get a manicure or pedicure.
87. Spend a whole day in bed for no reason other than I just want to.
88. Be in bed by 11:00 PM every night for a week.

FOOD:
89. Cook a lobster dinner.
90. Cook at least one new recipe per month. (3/33)
91. Learn to make three pasta sauces from scratch. (0/3)
92. Eat three fruits or vegetables that I have never tried before. (1/3)
-Pickled turnip (07.07.2007)
93. Cook at least 3 meatless meals per week for one month.
94. Make homemade ice cream.
95. Learn to make creme brulee.
96. Spend an evening making fudge.
97. Develop a signature dish.
98. Host a dinner or holiday party for friends.
99. Learn how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey.
100. Try 10 new restaurants. (6/10)
-4th Estate Grill, L Street (06.27.2007)
-Silverado, Annandale (07.14.2007)
-San Vito, Burke (08.07.2007)
-Christian's Pizza, Charlottesville (08.17.2007)
-Wild Wing Cafe, Charlottesville (08.21.2007)
-Adobe Gila's, Columbus (10.13.2007)
101. Try fondue.