Three for One

I'm marking goals off my list, people! I'm accomplishing things and I won't lie - it makes me feel like a superhero.

First off, I moved by myself (#92). I've always had the help of at least two family members and/or friends, but this time? I. Moved. By. Myself. I emptied my storage unit into a Uhaul and I drove that Uhaul all by myself to my new home, and I backed that Uhaul down my new driveway, and I unloaded that Uhaul and then reloaded it with things I had stored at my parents' house. By. Myself. The best part is, it only took six hours, and that includes two loads at a leisurely pace, a lunch break, a mattress struggle, and a Goodwill drop. I was sore as hell Friday night and all of Saturday, and I still have some fierce bruises fading away, but I did it.

Going hand in hand with my moving goal is emptying my storage unit (#91), since the vast majority of my stuff was in there. Mostly boxes of books. All I could think about as I huffed and puffed my way from the storage unit to the truck was that stupid essay, "Date a Girl Who Reads". I mentally composed a whole rebuttal about how you should never date a girl who reads, much less be one yourself, because if you love to read, you more than likely love to own your favorite books. And if you love to read, you probably have a lot of favorite books. And unless you're content staying in one place for the rest of your life, you're more than likely going to have to pack up and move all of those books. I have always been a reader, and have always been proud of that fact. But moving boxes of books out of storage made me realize that I do not need a physical copy of every book I love.

Which leads to drastically cutting down on my belongings (#90). I had already cut down quite a bit when I first put things into storage before traveling, but knowing I would be moving myself found me really thinking about what I needed in my life. I gave a lot of stuff to Goodwill. Unfortunately, I hadn't been that ruthless when I packed my storage unit, so while unpacking (after moving everything…) I really went through my things and took a whole carload of belongings to Goodwill. It feels amazing. Then again, I'm living in a studio I affectionately call my treehouse, so it's not like I have the room to keep every little thing I've ever touched. I still (sigh) have tons and tons of books. But maybe in time I will learn to part with them too. Until then, I'm incredibly pleased with my 101 in 1001 progress so far!

Take That and Rewind It Back

New Years' night found Kim and me stretched out our on backs, staring at the hotel's ceiling. We had walked around the French Quarter and surrounding area for about ten hours that day, retiring to our room at nine o'clock. We laid as still as we could, as if that would help sleep come sooner.

"Have you ever thought about a reverse bucket list?" Kim asked, breaking the silence.

I hadn't. I had just re-considered my 101 in 1001 project, thinking of things I'd like to put on my list, which was basically a bucket list with a deadline (though when put that way, sounds more morbid than it actually is).

We named a few experiences that we considered accomplishments worthy of a reverse bucket list, then lapsed back into silence to be with our own thoughts. However, being Kim and Allison, seconds later we were cracking jokes about the state of our room and laughing until we couldn't talk anymore.

Kim's idea of the reverse bucket list stayed with me during our train trip home the next day, and I had to compile a concrete list. I thought it was especially fitting to share after starting a project to accomplish even more. I love the idea of looking back on my life and being proud of what I've done, instead of just focusing on thing I want to do one day.

- lived alone without going crazy
- lived with roommates without going crazy
- survived living on my own, financially
- saved a nice nest egg while supporting myself and living on my own
- didn't get married (despite a couple what I like to call "near-death experiences")
- didn't have kids (this and the above are accomplishments in the south, trust me)
- took an improv class without dying
- took a comedy class and workshopped good stuff
- had a sketch read in front of an audience at the end of the course
- took a comedy workshop with a former SNL writer
- admitted I was unhappy and changed the course of my life
- traveled by myself and wasn't lonely
- traveled by myself abroad
- explored a new city on foot without internet/GPS help
- explored a new state (from state park 3+ hrs away back to inner city) without GPS
- became a self-employed freelancer
- completed 50,000 words for Nano 3 out of 3 attempts
- lived out of a single backpack for three weeks at a time
- lived out of a single backpack for three weeks one time, without doing any laundry
- got the only piercing I wanted and stopped
- got the only piercing re-done after I had to take it out for a job promotion
- dyed my hair countless colors in high school to get it out of my system and be a grown up now, ha!
- got tattoos as souvenirs when I travel
- donated money to a charity I liked
- started volunteering for a great organization
- worked in a library
- dated someone involved with the CIA (shhh)
- learned to mow the grass
- saw my favorite band live five times...so far
- photographed bands on tour for two years
- had my photographs used in album liner notes
- rode the Aerosmith Rock N Roller Coaster
- stood on Four Corners
- traveled on a train
- graduated from college
- earned two degrees
- got a full ride to grad school
- moved to a city where I knew no one for grad school
- have kept the same phone contract and number the entire time I've had a phone - over 7 years
- named my major belongings (car, computer, laptop, ipod, phone) and have convinced others to refer to them by name
- hosted a yard sale and made some pretty good money, donated the rest of the crap to Goodwill
- lived without TV and cable (happily)
- got people at my old office to start recycling

101 Things in 1001 Days

I started a 101 in 1001 project back when I moved to northern Virginia for grad school in 2009. Though the time period would last the duration of my degree (starting on my 24th birthday and continuing just past graduation), I thought it would push me to try new things that weren't related to school.

I created a separate blog for this purpose, but you know what? Keeping one blog is more than enough, and I hadn't counted on grad school, tutoring, writing, and the social skills all of that required to be so taxing. I can't be sure how many items I checked off that original list, but it was not quite 101. Probably closer to 1.

The direction of my life has drastically changed since that list was drafted, and I feel more driven to complete things because I want to, not to distract me from something else in my life. I decided to compile a new list, starting today, 01/11/12 and ending 10/08/14.

I've included a variety of goals under topics like Entertainment, Creativity, Travel, etc. Some are serious "bucket list" type things, and some are just for fun, to step out of my shell and take time to laugh at life. The entire list has its own home under the 101 in 1001 tab, and I'll make updates as I mark things off.

Postage Paid

Dear You,

When we met, I was standing in New Orleans' Jackson Square with two of my best friends and thousands of strangers. We yelled at the top of our lungs and we hugged and we smiled until you were a few hours old. Each day since then has been full of happy.

2012, you are still so young; you are wide open and full of potential. I have a lot of goals to accomplish this year, many projects to complete. No plans are set in stone and there are several possible paths I could take that would shape my future in countless different ways. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

2011 paved the way for you and I'll never forget it. It sounds strange to say 2011 might be the best year of my life, considering I lost my two remaining grandparents just hours apart, I lost my job, I gave up my home. This time last year, I was just getting settled. I planned to stay in one place, at one job, for 2-5 years. Then everything was uprooted - and I couldn't be happier about it.

In 2011, I learned about myself in the way only being truly alone in the desert can teach. I cut the ties of relationships that strangled me, strengthened those of value, and met countless new people who have affected my life in small (and not-so-small) ways. I went outside my comfort zone and pushed myself into situations I never otherwise would have experienced. I traveled to places I wasn't sure I'd ever see, and that has helped me learn how I want to travel in the future.

2011 was filled with new adventures, people, books and music, and I look forward to so much more of that in 2012. I have high hopes for you.

Love, Me