Updates

Well, I can't think of any completions right now, but instead I would like to report some progresses.  That will make me feel a bit better that I'm not just sitting stagnant on this list (see Part 3 of original post and item number 97 on the list).

So!   Items I have made progress on:

1) Cut soda intake to less than 60 ounces per week.  So I'm only two days in on this one, but I feel it's worth noting.  I have opened one bottle of soda, a 16.9 oz bottle.  I'm actually thinking I might not even finish it tonight.  What has helped is actually something I will report on next in this post, as well as the addition of milk, bottled water and citrus green tea to my fridge, and hot cocoa at work!  Anyways, if I keep at the pace of 17oz per 2 days, that means I will have 59.5 oz over the course of the week.  Less than 60 oz!  I think I should try to keep this up!  Once I get it down to that amount, I may even be able to break my caffeine addiction!

4)  Start a consistent exercise routine.  So, I know it doesn't count as an exercise routine, but probably one of the biggest changes to my lifestyle that has occured recently is the addition of Friday night Football to my week.  The last two Fridays I have gone out to Pohick and played Full Contact football with my Brothers in Law and some of their friends.  It's a lot of exertion, it's a lot of fun, and it has inspired me to get fit and drink more milk, less soda.  So soon I intend to start working out and all that.  So... yay progress!

33/36) Replace broken dishes / Go 3 months without breaking a single dish. Anti-progress... last night broke another wine glass, tonight broke another spaghetti bowl.  The wine glass I'm not worried, we have souvenir glasses from all the vineyards we've visited, this was one and therefor not too expensive or valuable...  but the bowl...

60)  Design logo for Infinite Joy Weddings.  I've put pencil to paper on this one!  I've designed the first draft, I'm going to re-upload Adobe Illustrator and finish this project up.  It's a symmetric design, so it won't take too long since I've already got the draft.

75) Complete my resume.  I updated my resume today, Catherine looked it over.  I have my mentor looking at the document tonight, he should provide feedback soon!  I'm excited about that.  He's been in the business for many decades, so I think it will really help!  Once I get his feedback, I'll cross this one off!

76) Get the QA Manager position.  This is a good one too!  I've been informed that the position is mine, all I'm waiting on now is the award of SCOSS.  We win, I'm in!

So yeah, that's that!  Within a month, I should have at least three more completes without even trying too hard.  Maybe I can even take care of one of my salary goals ;-)

Hail to the Redskins!

Knock another one off the list!

I'm both excited and kind of upset by this one.  The item I knocked off the list this time was:

38.  Attend a Redskins Rivalry WIN!

Which I did.  Courtesy of my father and SAIC, I attended the 9/12/10 Dallas @ 'Skins game, wherein the Redskins fought their way to victory 13 to 7.  It wasn't a beautiful game, or a very good one really.  Both teams made many severe errors (the Redskins were better able to capitalize on the opponents incompetence.)  But it was very fun to watch.

I was in the 3rd level SAIC suite, which sits roughly on the 15, visitor side.  The view was amazing, the food and drinks were complementary, and the crowd was great.

So why am I upset?

Well, even though my list doesn't specify it, the assumption was that I'd be at the game with Catherine.  Unfortunately my dad only had one extra ticket...

Ah well, I guess next time I should be more specific?  Anyways, two down, 99 to go!

And the first has fallen...

So it didn't take long (mostly because it took me so long to post this list), but I've completed one of my goals.

85.  Go on another cruise

Yesterday Catherine and I attended the Washington Wine Academy's wine cruise.  It was a 2 hour cruise on the Potomac River.  We got 10 1-oz. pours each and all the cheese, crackers, and dip veggies we could want.  It was a lot of fun and one of the easiest trips into DC I've ever had in car (granted, we weren't even half a mile into DC, but that's not the point).

We were able to take the cruise because of a Living Social deal, so that's totally awesome.  It really was a great deal (half off!)

So yeah.  One down, one hundred to go!

And now to introduce...

EDIT - 9/11/10 - Completion!
EDIT - 9/12/10 - Completion!

My CIMI List.

I'm sure by now anyone who has found this page is familiar with the idea of a 101 things in 1001 days lists.  Well this is mine, and I call it a CIMI List for short (think Roman numerals, CI and MI)

I'll readily admit that half the reason I'm doing this is because my wife asked me to.  The other half is two-parts (so really, I suppose we are dealing in thirds not halves, as these are all directly proportional...)

Part 1 - My wife encouraged me to do it.
Part 2 - If I don't make a list, a real physical (or in this case electronic, though I have a paper copy) list, I forget things.
Part 3 - Even if I make a list, keep it in a notebook, or start a calendar, if no one else can see it, I end up ignoring it.  And it becomes useless.

So, here's my list...  in categories...  because it's easier that way.  For the record, it officially started on September 1st, when my wife started hers.  However, I didn't draft my list until the 3rd, so I guess I have 999 days...  Not to mention I haven't posted until now (the 12th...).  I'm just slow in posting the stupid thing.  So I think there will be a pretty quick "I did one!" type post...

           Making Me a Better Me

1. Cut soda intake to less than 60 ounces per week
2. Cut video game time to less than 5 hours during the workweek
3. Cut video game time to less than 4 hours during the weekend.
4. Start a consistent exercise routine.
5. Get over my personal apprehension of making phone calls
6. Surprise Catherine, with a Surprise.
7. Stay in touch with my parents and siblings
8. Get my wedding ring repaired.
   
   Culinary Delight!
   
9. Cook a completely new meal every night for 5 straight nights
10. Make a meal I'm terrified of trying to make
11. Bake a cake from scratch
12. Learn how to make my mom's apple pie
13. Learn how to make a complete Thanksgiving Dinner
14. Make our own holiday family tradition
15. Learn how to cook 365 completely unique meals.
16. Replicate 5 of my restaurant favorites
17. Help Catherine become a confident cook
    
    Being Rich
    
18. Make $60K annually
19. Make $65K annually
20. Make $70K annually
21. Put $5K into retirement (as a couple)
22. $500 baseline in my personal account
23. $1,000 baseline in the joint account
24. No more credit card debt
25. No more student loans
26. Pay off  the damn Saturn...
27. Restore my credit score
    
    Home Improvement
    
28. Buy a home
29. Buy all the furniture we want for the apartment we're in now.
30. Clean / restore all of our furniture
31. Decorate home walls!
32. Have a "theme'd" room
33. Replace broken dishes
34. Super clean the apartment
35. Keep the apartment clean for two months
36. Go 3 months without breaking a single dish
37. Get rid of useless junk
    
    Recreation
38. Attend a Redskins rivalry WIN  Completed 9/12/10
39. Attend a Capitals WIN
40. Attend a Nationals WIN
41. Attend a DC United game
42. Host another AMAZING party
43. Host an AMAZING formal dinner event
44. Attend a Dolphins game
45. Attend another concert
46. Own all existing Seasons of Top Gear
47. Attend a major MINI motoring event
48. Meet and make two new couple-friends (so... 4 people)
    
    Stupid Mutts
    
49. Kennel train Darcy
50. Kennel train Trevor
51. Train both dogs to roll over, and at least two other parlor tricks each.
52. Train both dogs to eat out of their own bowls
53. Train both dogs to heel
54. House-train both dogs COMPLETELY
55. Train Darcy not to snarl, EVER.
56. Adorable family portrait!
57. Have dog-friends
    
    Artistic Freedom
    
58. Launch Ed's webcomic
59. Launch my webcomic
60. Design logo for Infinite Joy Weddings
61. Paint portrait(s) of the dogs
62. Paint engagement portrait
63. Paint wedding portrait
64. Make a new abstract piece as awesome as the paper quilt and "Symphony in Flightless Color"
65. Complete wine amphora series
66. Finish all "in-process" art pieces
67. Display my work
68. Write one of my books, even if it turns into just a short story
    
    Career
    
69. Make $45K annually
70. Make $50K annually
71. Make $55K annually
72. Get out of HCI
73. Try something new (BD, PDC, Accounting, PM, etc.)
74. Become an auditor
75. Complete my resume 
76. Get the QA Manager position
77. Attend an exciting off-site meeting
    
    Locomotion/Travel
    
78. Revisit Jamaica!
79. Visit a foreign country in North America
80. Visit a foreign country in South America
81. Visit a foreign country in Europe
82. Take a 500+ mile road trip
83. Visit Jei in VA Beach / Newport News
84. Visit a vineyard outside of the Shenandoah and Loudon wine regions
85. Go on another cruise!   Edit -  Completed 9/11/10
86. Visit another State (one of the good ones) for a 3-night stay
87. See a famous landmark I've never seen before
88. Visit a famous landmark I've never visited before (yes, there is a difference between seeing and visiting, no they can't be the same landmark)
89. Visit CNU when all the renovations are complete (or as complete as they will be in 1001 days)
    
    Dreams
    
90. Be a $100K annual household
91. Put over $10K into MY retirement
92. OWN a new car/SUV that I actually want (Leasing the MINI doesn't count, cuz I don't own it.  but if I bought it, it would totally count)
93. Visit one vineyard in each of Virginia's wine regions.
94. Private wine lessons!
95. Watch and support Catherine's business as it takes flight!
96. Make a profitable business out of my Arts background
97. Actually use this list (see Part 3 above, it would actually be significant) - aka complete 20 goals each year
98. Welcome Greg back from a successful Tour of Duty
99. Meet a celebrity
100. Own and wear a fancy watch.
101. Be a father.