Day 39

12) Master 10 lunch recipes (0/10) Greek Garbanzo Bean Salad; Mediterranean Pasta Salad

On Thurs night I made Mediterranean Pasta Salad. I used dried tarragon instead of fresh, and when I first served it luke warm it was a little bitter. I also am really sensitive to onions. Chopping them myself causes my eyes to blur with tears, and even being around ones someone else has done is irritating. Serena told me about pre-chopped onions @ Trader Joes which is the route I'm going to take from now on. The salad tasted great the next day after being chilled. It gives you pretty strong breath though.

44) Visit the library and check out 5 books 5/13/07

I completed this task yesterday. The goal behind it is for me to start taking advantage of the library. I took out 4 picture/guide books of Arizona (for the painting I'm doing), a couple CD's (one classical & Jacques Brel is Alive...), and a couple books (Lolita & Monster of God).

50) Spend 150hrs drawing (1/150) 1hr 5/11/07

I'm so much happier working with color, painting, or even sculpting, but I know drawing is the foundation for all visual art so I have to buckle down. I hope by doing this to improve the perspective, proportions, and realism in my pieces.

68) Save $10 for every item completed on your 101 list to be spent as you choose but subtract from this $25 towards a charity for every uncompleted task (hold money in a “piggy” bank) ($60/$1010 4/10/07, 4/14/07, 4/23/07, 5/5/07, 5/13/07*2

On Saturday I went to this Japanese $1.50 store with Serena and her dad and got a traditional Japanese Lucky Cat in the form of a piggy bank. Yeah!

86) Color an entire coloring book purchased 5/13/07

Yesterday I purchased a big Disney Princess coloring book. Yup, you heard me right, and I'm going to color Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and the rest of 'em from head to toe. The primary reason for this goal is just the sheer childlike enjoyment of it all. But, it will also further improve my skills as a colorist.

99) Call Dad once a month (2/33) 4/8/07, 5/13/07

Yesterday, it being Mother's Day, I decided to call my dad and step-mother Jonie. I don't know that I've ever before called Joan on mother's day because I consider my birth mother to be my only mother, and Joan has no children of her own. She's also a rather bitter and argumentative person who's close mindedness influences my father's open minded nature. But how can I help anything by begrudging her acknowledgement in my upbringing? She may not have been the most positive example but negative people show you what not to be. I also know she loves my sister and I as much as she loves anyone. So I decided to take the higher road, and it made Jonie extremely happy. My dad also thanked me for calling her, giving me the impression that she'd been listening for the phone all day. More and more I'm realizing the power of actions. Another development from this phone call is my dad offered to pay for my laser eye surgery (if I qualify), which would be awesome.

78) Collect in a book 50 quotes that inspire you (50/50) 5/13/07

I felt immediate effects of this customized philosophy when I began incorporating one or two of these babies (or at least the concept behind them) into various conversations. When I get around to it I'll post the quotes somewhere on this page.