101 in 1001

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.

Can I do 101 in 1001? I bet I can.

1. Make a list of 1001 things. Done - April 9, 2006
2. Paint the powder room.
3. Run a half marathon.
4. Triathlon.
5. Paint my fence. Done - May 6, 2006
6. Lose 10 pounds.
7. Make a quilt. Done - April, 2006
8. Write a poem.
9. Make a new web site.
10. Learn CSS.
11. Feed the homeless. Done - Second Thursday of each month.
12. Join a political group.
13. Have a rummage sale.
14. Get some moles removed.
15. Finish The DaVinci Code.
16. Cut off my hair. Done - May, 2006.
17. Organize my photos.
18. Get rid of all my textbooks.
19. Visit Washington DC. Done-June, 2006
20. Learn to ride a motorcycle.
21. Get on a Board of Directors.
22. Run a marathon.
23. Organize my iTunes. Done-June, 2006
24. Make a teddy bear
25. Clean out my basement.
26. Take swimming lessons.
27. Read S is for Silence.
28. Wash all the curtains in the house.
29. Pay off my credit card.
30. Start Christmas shopping in September.
31. Travel by train.
32. Repaint my patio furniture.
33. Join a weekly bowling league.
34. Have my nails done for no apparent reason. Done - May 10, 2006.
35. Make Christmas decorations for the yard.
36. Take a wine class.
37. Play 18 holes of golf. Done-July, 2006
38. Clean out the garage.
39. Get my teeth whitened.
40. Learn some Spanish words.
41. Get a full-body massage.
42. Take a week's vacation and just stay home.
43. Refinance my student loans. Done-June, 2006
44. Trace my family tree.
45. Get rid of all the Christmas lights that don't work.
46. Ask Aunt Jackie if she needs help with the travel agency.
47. Finish making a quilted wall hanging I started 4 years ago.
48. Host a pool party.
49. Cook every meal at home for a whole month.
50. Join the Polar Bear Club (jump in Lake Michigan on New Years' Day).
51. Ride my bicycle to work (15 miles each way). Done - May 3, 2006.
52. Get a new cell phone plan. Done - May 14, 2006.
53. Take the Metra (Chicago).
54. Carry my lunch to work every day for a month.
55. Sell more stuff on e-Bay.
56. File away all my important papers.
57. Attend Jazz in the Park.
58. Start my own volleyball team.
59. Ride my bicycle so far away that I have to stay in a hotel overnight before riding back home.
60. Paint a picture on real canvas.
61. Get rid of all my old magazines.
62. Take a French cooking class with my mother.
63. Buy some art.
64. Do something nice for Jeff.
65. Go in-line skating on the lakefront.
66. Make scrapbook pages.
67. Visit a state that I haven't been in before. Done-May,2006
68. Learn to play black jack in a casino.
69. Buy stock.
70. Graduate. Done - April 30, 2006.
71. See a play.
72. Get my passport.
73. Make a quilt out of BJ's memorable t-shirts.
74. Get a physical.
75. See my old friends from my old job.
76. Wear my contact lenses every day for a whole month.
77. Upgrade the patio. Done-July, 2006
78. Finish my recipe file.
79. Take a photo a day for 30 days.
80. Go strawberry picking. Done-June, 2006
81. Learn to take photos in the dark.
82. Sell all my old jigsaw puzzles.
83. Take a home inventory and put it in the safe deposit box.
84. Enter a baking contest.
85. Go to the Madison farmer's market. Done-May, 2006
86. Get the grass out of the raspberry patch.
87. Make a new recipe once a month.
88. Get Toby a license.
89. Get rid of my old dishes.
90. Clean out my dresser.
91. Make some funky beaded ankle bracelets.
92. Attend an art show.
93. Try a new restaurant. Done, August, 2006
94. Go on a hike.
95. Get the carpets cleaned.
96. Make something out of wood.
97. Open, watch, and participate in the TaeBo videos that I bought 5 years ago.
98. Take a tennis lesson.
99. New kitchen counter top.
100. License my bicycle.
101. Get a fish tank and fill it with fish.

I have until Monday, January 5, 2009.