Where was I?

I really suck at this blog thing - which, I was completing expecting so suck at it and I wanted to prove to myself I didn't suck at it - but I'm not proving myself wrong so well. BUT - here are some updates:

#3 Listen to 10 classic albums all the way through

Done! This was one of the easiest and funnest tasks!  Thanks to Chris telling me about Grooveshark, I was able to listen to these albums while at work.  I will say that Miles Davis was such a snoozefest! And obviously, I love The Beatles, Elvis and Rolling Stones so those were fun to listen to.

#7 Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art or home decor

This is a work in progress. My all time favorite quote is by Eleanor Roosevelt and it is "The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." So, finding the inspirational quote was the easy part - now, how to work that into a piece of art or home decor for someone that doesn't have a creative bone in her body? That's the tough part. BUT, my boss does needlepoint crafts - and after the wedding I told her I'd need a new hobby - so, I approached her to see if she thought a needlepoint newbie could do needle point letters and work it into a piece of art. We talked about it, she knows an artist that can create a needle point pattern and I think it's going to look a little like this:

Much less detail - because I'm a newbie, but that's pretty much the idea, a landscape background with flowers to symbolize flowers and clouds to symbolize dreams.  Now the question is, do I make it a pillow or a framed piece of art?

#69 Send 12 cards or letters for no reason at all. (3/12)

So, I mentioned the fact that I mailed a letter to my "Dawson"...I guess he shipped out to Afghanistan before the letter reached him - because it came back to me.  I know I should forward it to his Afghanistan address, but I'm sort of slacking on it - I don't know why....I really need to get it done.

However, I did mail out 2 just because letters today! Big M's aunt died a few weeks ago...at the wake, her brother (Big M's uncle) and sister-in-law (Big M's aunt by marriage) mentioned to him that they wanted a copy of the big group family shot taken at my wedding. So, I made a copy of those pictures, bought cute thinking of you cards and mailed them out today! I gave Uncle Russell some special treatment and framed his picture.  It really felt kind of good inside to send a little package to him, just because.

Since I was heading to the Post Office, I made sure I completed everything that needed to be completed to get my name changed on my passport. There are still a few things that have my maiden name on them....but, I changed my name with all of my banks, credit cards, social security office, RMV and now passport, so I think I can finally check #59 Change my name with several places I haven't changed with, off the list!

I have 14% of my list checked off - and I still have 885 days left!!! Woot! 

Finances...BLECK!

Every year I've made the new years resolution to make a budget and keep to it. Every year, I fail miserably.  The way I manage to not over spend the money in my bank account is by constantly checking my online statement. Well, #53, Learn to balance a check book and keep it balanced is one way to help me stick to a budget.  With this week's paycheck, I decided it was time to get this under control. So, I tracked all my bills and such in my check book this morning.  Let's see how long I can keep at this. 

Also, on Tuesday night, Diana and I went to the mall, then met MaryBeth back at my house and we all chilled for a bit. It was really low-key, Doug was there, playing video games, but we ignored him, and he ignored us - so, I believe that constitutes as a girls night. So, we can give myself a Big Fat "In Progess" on item number 73, Have a Girls Night Once Every Other Month.  Next month, Board Game Night (#75)!

PS - I'm moving right along for Goal #3 - listening to Highway 61, Revisited right now! :-)

I get by with a little help from my friends....

Goal #3, Listen to 10 classic albums all the way through. When I'm in a funk, I like to listen to music. I'm in a funk (Re: my last post). So, I decided to start checking things off my day zero list. So, this brings me to goal number 3. I googled "Best Albums of All Time" and I came up with this top 500 list from Rolling Stones.  The list is pretty awesome, so this is the list I shall use.  I originally planned to listen to the top 10 albums listed however, that would mean 4 Beatles albums, and 2 Bob Dylan albums. As awesome as The Beatles and Bob Dylan are, I wanted more of a variety. So, I'm using the top 10 albums by different artists. The 10 albums I shall listen to are:

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
4. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
5. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
6. London Calling, The Clash
7. The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley
8. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
9. Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground
10. Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

However, there are tons of albums on this list that I've always wanted to listen to - so, if I'm feeling super ambitious, I may keep going with more than 10 and listen to all 500.

Big shout out to Chris McCarthy for introducing me to GrooveShark.  I am currently checking Sgt. Pepper off the list!!