"Everyone's a superhero. Everyone's a Captain Kirk."

Three down. Forty-nine to go. This week I will begin to memorize "99 Luftballons" in the original German (Task #8). Also, since tomorrow is conveniently February 1 and a Monday, I will begin my one month hiatus from fast food (Task #10). I just thought of this, but February is a short month. I didn't plan it that way, but it'll work out nicely.

I guess I need to operationally define "fast food" (Can you tell I'm currently taking a Behavior Modification class?). "Fast food" consists of any restaurant with a drive-thru or drive-in-and-order-in-your-parking-spot (a la Sonic). Sit-down, non-fast-food restaurants, such as McAlisters and Chile's do not constitute "fast-food" (obviously), and are up for grabs within reason. Those restaurants may only be eaten at once every 10 days, unless it is a family dinner that I did not plan myself as a way to cheat.

And now, for fun, here is the English translation of 99 Luftballons (originally sung by Nena)!

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got.
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone.
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, Something's out there.
Floating in the summer sky.
99 red balloons go by.

99 red balloons.
floating in the summer sky.
Panic bells, it's red alert.
There's something here from somewhere else.
The war machine springs to life.
Opens up one eager eye.
Focusing it on the sky.
Where 99 red balloons go by.

99 Decision Street.
99 ministers meet.
To worry, worry, super-scurry.
Call the troops out in a hurry.
This is what we've waited for.
This is it boys, this is war.
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by.

99 Knights of the air
Ride super-high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a superhero.
Everyone's a Captain Kirk.
With orders to identify.
To clarify and classify.
Scramble in the summer sky.
As 99 red balloons go by.

99 dreams I have had.
In every one a red balloon.
It's all over and I'm standing pretty.
In this dust that was a city.
If I could find a souvenier.
Just to prove the world was here.
And here is a red balloon
I think of you and let it go.

SO, Creaves, they DO say "Captain Kirk!" Our ears did not deceive us!

99 Luftballons music video

Task #24- Write a Letter to Someone in the Military

So, near the end of each month, I'm going to review my progess. This month took me a while to get started, but I have now successfully completed three tasks: 9, 14, and 24.

Task #24: Write a letter to a person in the military.

Yesterday, I did some research on different organizations that send letters to troops. My friend/classmate gave me the names of two great organizations that I had actually seen in my own research. She said both of these organizations were really great ways to support and thank our soldiers! Adopt a Soldier and Cup of Joe for a Joe.

I decided upon Cup of Joe for a Joe for now and bought a soldier a cup of coffee and sent a message. Not a letter technically, but same general concept. It was easy and yet will brighten up a soldier's day and let him or her know that he/she is appreciated. Also, when you donate/write the message, you have the option of sending your email address to the soldier(s) you sent the coffee to, and they have the opportunity to respond to you, which is so cool!

I plan on looking more into the Adopt a Soldier Program as well. It is time I got off my lazy, ungrateful butt and started telling these people how thankful I am and our country is for their courage, sacrifice, and commitment to our country. I hope you will join me in this!

Hello! Task #14 is Complete!

Okay, Task 14 is done! I have it documented on a video, which I am currently trying to upload. Here are some cool facts about some of the greetings I learned.

*Did you know that Lithuanian is a very difficult language? There are different greetings for different times of day (including evening and night) as well as for different ages and genders of people.

*Punjabi- Sat sri akal. This is a greeting used among Sikhs. Greetings used in Punjab (the language) depend on the religion of the one being greeted. The entire phrase is "Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akaal," which essential means, "Blessed is the person who says "God is Truth." Sat sri akal/sat shri akaal is such a commonly used phrase (such as our "Hey" or "How are you?") that is is often used in shorthand as SSA when used in text messages, emails, etc. (http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sat_Sri_Akal)

*In Punjabi, if speaking to a Hindi person, the greeting is "Namaste" (the phrase often used in yoga).

*Welsh- Shwmae
Thanks to Gillian for helping me learn how to pronounce it correctly!

*Yiddish- sholem aleikhem (Translation: "May peace be unto you.")

A sweet family portrait

Here is the new family photo. Hooplah is front and center, Filbert is on the left, and Gertrude is kind of hidden in the back on the right.

People, this is what grad school does to your brain. It turns it to mush. You will start talking to cactii and calling them your family. Pretty soon, I might start walking around asking people "Have you seen my cactii? They're very friendly. They're not mean like most cactii."

By the way, I'm on my way to completing Task #14. Merhaba selam! (Turkish!)

I like to talk to plants.

Icelandic greeting: done (I can't spell it, but I can say it- gothan dahg!)
Bengali greeting: done (Namaskar!)

Two down. Eight to go.

I'm going to try to put up a video blog entry where I (clumsiliy) say all 10 greetings. It may or may not work. We'll see.

In other news:
*Did you know there are now Almond Joy Pieces (like Reese's pieces, but more tropical)? The clerk at Wal*Mart and I were dancing for joy over the find. Really, we were dancing. The people around us just kind of stared. Obviously they don't appreciate Almond Joys the way we do.

*This weekend was spent with about 40 relatives, 20 of whom I'd never seen before in my life. We bonded over homemade pickles, catfish, and mullets.

*My generous grandmother gave me a pot with three cactii in it today. I named them, because I intend on talking to them. Filbert, Gertrude, and Hoopla (who was originally named Hooray) are their names. I can tell them apart and hope I don't kill them. I have a thumb of death. What makes things worse is that I thanked my grandmother for them. "Don't!" she scolded. Saying thank you for plants is apparently bad luck. But cactii seem pretty hardy, so maybe they'll last a week or two with me.

Hi, Hello, How Ya Doing?, What's Up?, Hey, Howdy, Yo...

1. Icelandic - góðan dag (formal; pronounced gothan dahg), hæ (informal; pronounced "hai")

2. Lithuanian - laba diena (formal), labas, sveikas (informal; when speaking to a male), sveika (informal; when speaking to a female), sveiki (informal; when speaking to more than one person).

3. Punjabi - sat sri akal

4. Swahili - jambo, Habari (hello), Habari gani (How are you?)

5. Thai - sawa dee-ka (said by a female), sawa dee-krap (said by a male)

6. Welsh - shwmae (South Wales; pronounced shoe-my), "Sut Mae" North Wales( pron "sit my") or "S'mae" ( Pron "S' my") or simply "Hylo"

7. Yiddish - sholem aleikhem (literally "may peace be unto you"), borokhim aboyem or gut morgn (morning), gutn ovnt (evening), gutn tog (day), gut shabbos (only used on the Sabbath)

8. Turkish - merhaba selam (formal), selam (Informal)

9. Greek - γεια σου (pronounced yah-soo; informal), γεια σας (formal)

10. Bengali — namaskar (In West Bengal, India)

Just for fun:
Ung Tongue - Hello (This is a made-up language, like Pig latin. This is pronounced Hung-ee-lung-lung-oh.)

Klingon - nuqneH? [nook-neck] (literally: "what do you want?")

(http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Hello-in-Different-Languages)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_language)

Now, I just need to start memorizing them. I will only memorize one or two general greetings per language, instead of focusing on morning, afternoon, and evening greetings. Grad school is taking up a huge portion of my memory space.

Yodel-ay-ee-ay-ee-ay *coughs* ay-ee-ay-ee...

I have my work cut out for me. (Task #50)

This week's goal is to memorize how to say "hello" in ten languages (not including English, Spanish, French, or Pig-Latin). (Task #14

Works in Progress

"Leggy Blonde" by Flight of the Concords is currently playing on my iTunes. Thank you, Creaves, for my new theme song. "Leggy leggy leggy leggy leggy leggy leggy leggy..." So funny.

Anyway, I have begun the process of completing some more time-consuming, planning-necessary, I'm-probably-going-to-pull-my-hair-out tasks. For instance, last week, I began working on learning Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" (Task #37). I have my work cut out for me. I have recently acquired Trans-Siberian Orchestra's newest cd "Night Castle" while I saw them in concert (Go! They have a Spring tour this year.). They feature the lesser known part of Moonlight on the cd and title it "moonlight and Madness." After listening to the INSANE piano solo at the beginning of the song, I am more than slightly intimidated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQC5M7WgTX4

I am now also in possession of a recipe for Challah/Hallah bread thanks to a former roommate (Task #30).

Plans to begin memorizing 99 Luftballons are in the works.

In other news, I tried kumquat cake today.

Task #9- Introduce myself to a complete stranger (1 out of 52)

Ok, so I have decided to refer to each task by it's original number. I think. I might change my mind once again.

I actually technically completed 2 tasks this week (Learn a new game) because my friend taught me how to play a couple of video games. However, I did not play much of either, so I will wait to complete that task when I play a full game.

As for Task #9, it came about in a different way than expected and at a really cool time in my life.

I was on my second airplane ride of the day, as I was going to Chicago to visit a friend, and the guy next to me asked me if I had ever ridden AirTran before. "I'm not sure. I don't think so." "Me neither," he replied. We continued talking and he told me he is originally from Ghana, has been studying in America, and is working toward becoming certified as a pilot. Midway through the very full conversation, we exchanged names (he initiated it, but I still technically introduced myself to a random stranger). It was so interesting, because, although his life is much different than the main character's in the book I've been reading (Dave Egger's What is the What), he still has much more insight about living in Africa than I ever would.

I love it when life throws surprises like that!

I still have two days left in my week, so I might try to complete another task, since I'm behind... One down, fifty-one to go.

You win some. You lose some.

So, I haven't read any since my last post. Why? you ask. A mix of procrastination, having to much to do, and grad school. However, I will modify this task (although I will also attempt to complete it again, later on). I am going to read more than 150 pages in a week. For some of you, that's no problem, but for me, it's a big accomplishment. I tend to skip pages, chapters... I'm not sure if I have read a whole book in years. I love to read, but it's just a fact of life for me. Weird, I know. So, I have about 50 pages to read before 11:59:59PM tomorrow.

So, I will count the 150 pages as my task (kind of), but will also make myself finish this book. It's my compromise. In my life, I've life that occassionaly compromising is necessary. I am going to also attempt to complete this task again with a different (and most likely shorter book). I'm kind of ashamed that I failed my very first task. But that's how we all learn right? Through failure. So, I will not let it adversely affect me, and will instead move forward. I also now am behind another task (plus the one I misssed from the first week of January), so I will complete two tasks next week.

Task #1 Update

Um, I think I bit off way more than I can chew. But I will prevail she says as she frantically grabs her book...
I have finally made it past page 100. I have until 11:59:59 PM EST on Thursday to finish Dave Egger's What is the What

I cannot think of another book I have ever read in which I have felt myself so emotionally invested in a character. I feel like I am watching this main character and so often want to cry out "Wait! Achak! Don't go into the forest! Duck, Achak! Those are guns. Run!!!!"

My goal is to read 100 pages today.

Of British accents, cool points, and Harry Potter

News: I got food poisoning last night. I was afraid I'd be set back a bit (and maybe I was) in completing the first task on my list, but I am happy to say I read a little tonight and plan on reading a bit more. This book is fantastic! Not in the entertaining kind of way, but in the socially conscious, makes-you-think kind of way.

Harry Potter is on. I wish I talked like the British. "Turn out your pockets." "It's just a bit of parchment." That is so much cooler than "Show me what's in your pockets, brat." "Dude, it's just a crapload of paper. Chill." This is why I must promptly move to England, acquire a British accent, and gain about 1,000 cool points. I have been seriously lacking in cool points recently. A British accent might help in that area.

Now I am just rambling. That's all for now.

Task #5: Read an entire book in a week

Task #1: Read a book in its entirity (without skipping any chapters or pages) in one week (must be at least 150 pages).

Well, dear readers (all two of you), I have often been deemed an overachiever by my friends and family. I often try to deny any such accusations, but today, I have proven them all true. My book of choice is Dave Egger's "What is the What." I bought it today and did not look at the page count. 535 pages. I have until 11:59 PM on Thursday to complete it. I am about 26 1/2 pages in, after an hour or two. I have my work cut out for me. I picked this task for this week because it will most likely be the least-grad-school-filled week for the rest of the year (except maybe the end of December, which I'm saving for the more difficult,complex tasks). I should not have much homework due this week. Watch all my professors decide to assign a paper a piece due next Thursday. Lovely.

Anyway, I chose this seemingly overwhelming book on purpose (even though I was oblivious to its length). I could have chosen a 150-pager out of the teen fiction section, but what would I have achieved by that other than getting frustrated by realizing the crap that teenagers are being enticed by nowadays? If I see another vampire-teenage-romance, I might vomit. Seriously. Old-school vampires are the only way to go. (Interestingly enough, I'm currently listening to the original cast recording of Dracula the Musical. Thanks to my friend Creaves for introducing me to it.) Moving on from my vampire rant...

Of the 26 1/2 pages that I've read of "What is the What," all of them have been intense, emotional, and incredibly poignant. The novel is based on the true story of a Sudanese man who was a refugee as a result of the wars in Sudan. Because he could not remember all of the facts and conversations that took place in his childhood, the book was deemed a novel, although most of it is indeed factual. The book opens with the main character, Valentino, being robbed. He is beaten and wakes up later to find himself bound by a telephone cord, his mouth taped shut by packing tape. "My voice and movements are restricted by the things I own" (Eggers, 26). That sentence really speaks to me. I am intrigued by this book and will write a review once I finish it by next Thursday.

So, my quest for getting out of the ol' comfort zone has begun! Pop open the champagne (or the Pringles, for those of you who are more conservative)!

Note: I know this task is technically #5 on the original list. Since I'm completing the tasks out of order, I will enumerate each one in the order I complete it. So, this week's task is now #1. Also, my weeks are going to be Friday-Thursday, to get a jump start with the weekend. I will have to double-up tasks one week since I have already lost the first week of January.

Let the Games Begin

So, I know I said I'd post my To Do List For 2010 by January 1, but complications arose and I am just now getting around to it. Don't hate.

So, I have here a list of 52 tasks to complete by December 31, 2010. For those of you who failed math, that's one task to be completed each week. Some will be difficult. Some will be dangerous. The whole year will most likely be hilarious and disaster-stricken. Don't believe me? You must not know me.

Before I list the tasks, I must write out the rules. There are 52 tasks, meaning one task is to be completed each week. If, however, extenuating circumstances occur (such as grad school devours my life or I get bitten by a chipmunk... oh, wait. been there, done that), then I can double up tasks. Other than that, each task must be completed in it's own week. I do not have to complete the list in order. I must write about my experiences in my efforts to complete each task.

1. Go on a picnic.
2. Eat a rutabaga.
3. Sing at a karaoke bar.
4. Take a morning yoga class that meets before 10 AM for a month.
5. Read an entire book without skipping any pages in one week. (Must be over 150 pages).
6. Meet a celebrity.
7. Go horseback riding (when cleared by doctor).
8. Memorize 99 Luftballoons (in German).
9. Introduce myself to a random stranger.
10. Go 1 month without eating any fast food.
11. Audition for something.
12. Create a work of art.
13. Smile at a stranger.
14. Memorize how to say "hello" in ten languages (not including English, Spanish, French, or Pig-Latin).
15. Watch The Wizard of Oz to the Pink Floyd's" Dark Side of the Moon" album.
16. Teach someone how to do something.
17. Learn how to play a new game.
18. Go on a road trip.
19. Do something completely spontaneous that no one would ever expect me to do.
20. Secretly make someone's day brighter.
21. Go on a good date.
22. Eat an entire grape tomato.
23. Memorize the entire Animaniacs Country Song.
24. Write a letter to a person in the military.
25. Go two weeks without buying anything other than necessities.
26. Have a jam session.
27. Learn how to play chords on the piano.
28. Visit someone in a nursing home.
29. Show someone appreciation by more than just saying "thank you."
30. Make a loaf of Challah bread.
31. Volunteer.
32. Win.
33. Lose.
34. Tie.
35. Tell someone the truth even though it is very difficult.
36. Babysit.
37. Master the Moonlight Sonata. All of it. Up to speed.
38. Perform (not including karaoke).
39. Make myself look stupid on purpose.
40. Go somewhere secluded and yell at the top of my lungs.
41. Learn how to belly dance
42. Go to a rock concert.
43. Learn how to whistle.
44. Go to a lecture on something other than psychology, dance, or the arts and stay awake for the whole thing.
45. Go to bed before 10pm four nights in a row.
46. Ride in a grocery cart.
47. Learn how to play backgammon.
48. Eat escargot.
49. Eat a piece of sushi previously thought of as revolting.
50. Learn how to yodel.
51. Beat a video game.
52. Touch all the bordering (ocean-based) bodies of water in America within 6 months of each other.

There they are. The 52 things that just might kill me. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right? Right?