101 goals update (day # 115)

A few months ago on Oct 1st of last year, I posted an entry where I threw down a gauntlet that will keep me busy for the next three years. 101 goals to complete in 1001 days. It was a daunting task, and while some of the goals are easy, I did go out of my way to make a few of them difficult. It’s been over three months since I started this challenge, and I thought it would be good to post an update. I decided to post the entire list and then highlight the ones that are completed. So to find out how much I’ve done and what is left to do… let’s review the list:

Creativity:

001. Finish the three novels I’m currently writing (0/3)

002. Write one poem a month (2/34)

I’m a little behind on this one, will have to pick things up.

003. Write a short children’s story for Ethan

004. Write a romantic story that makes someone cry

005. Complete three NaNoWriMos (1/3)

One of three Nanos has been completed. 50,000 words in 30 days for 2009 is complete. Two more Nanos (2010 and 2011) to go.

006. Complete two script frenzys: One adapted script (0/1) and one original script. (0/1)

007. Raise 1001 dollars for charity writing the the next three Blogathons (0/1001)

008. Publish one book (0/1)

Self:

009. Loose 101 pounds (9/101)

Since going on a diet and to the gym again, I’ve lost 9 pounds.

010. Get a new gym pass (1/1)

This task is complete. I got a new pass two weeks ago. Now the hard work begins but I’m doing all right.

011. Make a few pieces of clothing that don`t fit… wearable again. (0/3)

012. Get an exercise machine for the back room

013. Finish pro level in all the Wii fit games (5/20)

I’m pretty good at a few of them already. Others will require practice…

014. Do something special for my 35th birthday (Oct 28th, 2010)

015. Get a new suit.

016. Learn how to play a song on the piano. (0/1)

I’ve applied for piano lessons, might hear back from possible instructor soon.

017. Do Kareoke once a year (0/3)

018. Complete a walk for charity.

Places to Go:

None of these goals are even attempted yet, but I have plans in place that will result in around three or four of them being completed in March of this year.

019. Travel to visit a relative I haven’t seen in 10 years.

020. Take Leah on a cruise or some tropical island for vacation.

021. Hit a Casino and not lose everything

022. Have a picnic at Queenston Heights

023. Take Leah to Canada’s Wonderland

024. Visit a historic site.

025. Visit an Art Gallery

026. Visit a Museum

027. Visit a friend currently living in the US.

028. Go back to the Island (Newfoundland), visit some friends.

029. Take Leah to the Hockey Hall Of Fame

030. Take the kids to Disney World.

Playtime and Entertainment:

031. Reach level 85 with my Paladin in World Of Warcraft.

032. Play Stargate Worlds

034. Get 100% playing expert on Guitar Hero.

035. Get 100% playing drums on Guitar Hero (on Medium).

036. Play drums and sing vocals on Guitar Hero at the same time while performing ‘Hotel California’.

037. Take Leah to see a once in a lifetime concert (1/1)

Leah and I went to see KISS on Oct 2nd, 2009. These guys are Rock Icons and it was a once in a lifetime show… and we had a lot of fun.

038. Watch all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (0/7)

039. Take Leah to see her first broadway play.

040. Attend ten concerts (1/10)

Leah and I have seen one concert, that being KISS. Two more are planned for later this year, tickets in hand for U2 (July 3rd) and Bon Jovi (July 20th).

041. Attend one sports event in every major league (NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, CFL) at least once. (0/6)

042. See a baseball game at Fenway Park or Wrigley Field.

Relationships:

043. Meet five people on my OD favs list (0/5)

044. Reach out to friends I haven`t talked to in a while. (1/1)

I consider this one complete because of the awsome recovery that has been made in the relationship with my Sister-In-Law. It’s a shame we are getting along only after she and my brother broke up, but she’s the mom of my only neice, and I’m making an effort to be a part of their lives and giving the little one time to spend with my boys who are her only cousins.

045. Take my little brother out for a sports event.

046. Do something special for my neice’s 5th birthday.

047. Host an Academy Awards party

048. Do something special for my parent’s 40th Wedding Anniversary (May 21st, 2011)

I do indeed have something very special planned for this day. I got my hands on a rare photo that I am going to blow up to poster size and have professionally framed. This gift is going to knock their socks off.

049. Make one surprise candlelit dinner per year (0/3)

050. Take my older brother to a Sci-fi Convention

We are making plans for this one. I plan to open a savings account next week to start putting money away for this trip. Our plan is to attend next year’s annual Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas…

051. Take a non-immediate family member out for dinner

052. Do something nice for a complete stranger

I completed this when I sent out some hand down clothes from Ethan and Jon’s closet that they no longer needed. They are being used by a kid in Missori who was in need of clothes for his size. Jon grew like a weed some some of the 24 months stuff I sent was hardly used. I’m hoping the little guy there will enjoy them.

053. Host a ‘V for Vendetta’ party on the 5th of November.

Parenthood:

054. Teach Ethan how to ride a bike.

055. Take Ethan to one movie (in cineplex) a month (0/34)

056. Take Jonathan to his first in cineplex movie

057. Take Ethan to two concerts. (2/2)

I took Ethan to see the Backyardigans in November, and then to see Playhouse Disney last weekend… he loved both shows and we had a good time.

058. Go camping with the kids

059. Give the kids five picnics (0/5)

060. Take Jonathan to his first concert.

Jonathan went with us to see Playhouse Disney. He didn’t like it as much as Ethan did but he still went and behaved well for the first half of it.

061. Make Jonathan a gluten free birthday cake.
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I took on this challenge at the end of December and was successful. The cake turned out really well and while short in height, it was eaten and enjoyed by all at his Birthday Party.

062. Teach Ethan how to play chess

Reading:

063. Read one book a month (3/34) and of those:

1) The Lasty Symbol (Dan Brown)
2) Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Jeff Lindsay)
3) The Old Man And The Sea (Ernest Hemmingway)

I need to do some catching up with this one.

064. The entire Dexter series (1/4)

Have read ‘Darkly Dreaming Dexter’ and am now currently reading ‘Dearly Devoted Dexter’.

065. Lisa’s first book ‘Eyes Like Stars’

066. Three books that are at least 100 years old (0/3)

067. Five that are in my collection that I never got around to (1/5)

1) The Old Man And The Sea (E. Hemmingway)

068. One book recommended from someone else

The Root of All Evil:

069. Earn a promotion at work

070. See a dentist

071. Visit my member of parliment and have a long talk

I sent an email, a visit is next.

072. Attend a protest and make a sign for it

073. Write a legitmate letter of complaint to seven major corporations (3/7)

I’ve written letter of complaint to the folling:

1) Hungry Man (for spicy meal that had no warning)
2) Kellogs (for not offering any gluten free products)
3) My political party to discuss a name change for the NDP.

074. Eat in for 1 full week each month (1/34)

I have only done this once in three months. Must do better

075. Renew my vows

076. Go one full week without any unnecessary spending

077. Find an agent

All Things Nommable

078. Eat at 10 new restaurants (0/10)

079. Try a new type of Sushi

Went out for Sushi with my older brother, and we tried something called a dragon roll, that had fried shimp and a hint of chocolate. Weird, but was nice to try.

080. Eat and 3 lbs. Cheeseburger

081. Bake 25 times (4/25)

I’ve done a few homemade pizzas and a cake.

082. Try 25 new foods (4/25)

083. Host one pot luck dinner

084. Eat at my co-worker`s family resturant

085. Try 5 new drinks/cocktails (2/5)

New Drinks include

– Jolly Rancher Martini

– Chocolate Martini

086. Invite three couples to our house for dinner (0/3)

087. Share a banana split with someone

088. Eat the entire Volcano menu at Taco Bell (3/3)

This I finished throughout the month of Oct 09. I had the volcano taco, burrito and cruchwrap which is the entire menu in Canada. Spricy, but good.

089. Take Leah out for a special dinner at ‘North 44’ in Toronto.

I’m going to try to make this happen in March.

Cleaning and Organization:

090. Clear that overcluttered backroom once a year (1/3)

Leah helped a lot with the first cleanup. I plan to unclutter it again soon…

091. Decorate the kids rooms a little more

092. paint the kitchen

093. mend the walls after years of kid abuse

094. Get a lawn mower, so grass doesn’t get out of control

095. toss out the clothes I don`t wear anymore

096. organize the kids rooms and my own

097. Move all relevant files to the new computer

All pictures, videos and books I wanted to save have been safely stored on the new computer and a backup zip drive.

098. Get a High Def. Television

099. Get a new air conditioner

I got a new one from my brother Chris. It’s stashed at his place, waiting for summer to come to be put into action.

100. Organize my books out of the boxes and onto a shelf

101. Get rid of 101 things that I don’t need (0/101)

Well that’s not too bad… but not good either. Only 11 of 101 goals completed, but some are on their way. I’ve got a lot planned and will make at least an attempt to complete them all. I doubt I will be able to succeed at all 101 goals, but there will at least be an effort to do so.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I’ll be around, so until then… take care!

Peter