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?

Why I Fear Growing Older

I fear growing older. Not because of wrinkles, heart attacks, or diverticulitis. I fear growing older because I am a woman from the South and will therefore be expected to:
a) be hospitable to a fault, hosting tea parties and bruncheons;
b) attend all-female parties where everyone talks one octave higher than usual and chats about furniture, paint colors, and joint pain;
and last, and definitely least,
c) wear festive holiday sweaters with great orange pumpkins or reindeer complete with blinking red-noses.

This morning, I was jarred to consciousness not by my trusty alarm clock, but by the voices of 30 women exploring the bed and breakfast and catching up on their lives RIGHT OUTSIDE MY ROOM. What made it even better was when they tried to get into my room (luckily I lock my door obsessively), and then, when that act proved unsuccessful, would belt out "I think this is the Christmas room, but it's locked." Wow. Another favorite is (again, after trying to open my door), "This is where [insert my name here] lives." If this is where I live, why try to open the door? What if I had been naked? Not that I was. Anyway, maybe they didn't actually try to open the door that time, but I was still half-asleep and in an immediately grumpy mood. Who would have thought?

My aunt had a group over for a luncheon today. I walked downstairs (after taking my sweet time getting ready) because I had told her I would help if she needed it. I received some pretty fantastic stares and in return just stared blankly back. My aunt informed me that the woman who was going to come help clean up was unable to make it and would I please help clean up when the women began to leave. Sure. Then they all left the kitchen, I snatched a remarkably tasty chocoalte chip cookie, and dashed back upstairs to cower in my room. I was just settling down to work on some school and work stuff, when all of a sudden, I heard piano music. I had a feeling about what was going to happen. I just held my breath, hoping I was wrong. And then I heard it. Wafting up the stairs, right into my cochlea. They were singing. Actually, I was half-wrong. Only one was singing, but still. I really wanted to stomp out of my room, lean over the rail, and start rapping or reciting The Raven (if I actually had it memorized) or just screaming free associations. "Opera, pointy bras, 1950's, butter, PAULA DEAN!" That would've worked. No more rude awakenings by wanna-be intruders clad in snowman-sweaters.

Once I heard less voices, I snuck downstairs and began washing the masses of dishes. Thankfully, a lady was really nice and helped me out for a litle while. I got a glimpse of what it must be like for that lady who has 19 1/2 children. Except there were more than 19 1/2 people here, I think.

So, dear readers, the moral of this little story is twofold.
1) Memorize "The Raven" and various rap songs to use in case of similar situations.
2) I dread growing older. I also dread ever feeling like I must don a sweater with anything resembling a Christmas tree, a reindeer, an elf, or a snowman on it.