Tiffany Does the 101

#17: P90X

2010-03-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to blog this, but I started the excercise program P90X earlier this week. Initially I was all excited and bright-eyed about it, but now it's set in: This exercise program is NO JOKE. In fact if I didn't know any better I'd be convinced that Tony Horton (creator) was trying to kill me! Despite the difficulty, I am determined to stick with it. Watching other people's P90X journeys on youtube is really encouraging. One P90Xer is a lady who goes by Nubiya1. She's a big girl like me, and she's going through the program for the 2nd time. Not only does she have determination to spare, but she cracks me up too. People like her keep me motivated. Oh, and it also worth mentioning that my fat jeans are too tight on me now! lol.
Exercising is hard. In fact I nearly didn't work out at all yesterday, but I made myself do it. If it were easy then everyone would be svelt and athletic (well, maybe everyone but the hopelessly lazy). That's why it's amazing when we hear of people losing 50, 75, 100 pounds. Because it's a hard thing to do! However, anything worth having is worth fighting for. And I'm fighting for my health. I'm fighting for my well-being, and for my right to wear my own jeans again. :-) I know what to do and what not to do. All that is left is to put it into practice.

So, with that, wish me luck! :-)

#11: Babysit Niece and Nephew

2010-03-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

My nephew Kenneth and niece Aaliya are here today. My daughter is estatic since she doesn't get to play with kids her age that often. :) I'm glad they're having fun. I just gave them corn dogs and they're watching the Lion King....makes me miss being a kid again! :)

Kindred by Octavia Butler

2010-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

So what happens when an African American woman from California gets pulled back in time to the slave era to save the life of her white ancestor? Yes, it's just as fascinating as it sounds! Kindred takes a modern day woman and transports her to a time and place where black people have absolutely no rights or protection. Every time Rufus, her ancestor, gets into trouble, she gets pulled back again to help him. Each time her trips become longer and longer, thus putting her in mortal danger .We've read about slavery in history books, but from this perspective, Ms. Butler really brings the ordeal of slavery close to home. I experienced a range of emotions at the prospect of being in Dana's shoes (main character). She is a complex character, and the people she encounters are equally complex. It's an enjoyable read, though it's hard for anyone to read it and not be touched on an emotional level. I believe everyone in America should read this book. In fact it was suggested by my African American history teacher. The history of African Americans is just as vital to U.S history as anything else, and everyone ought to appreciate that. Kindred's clever, striking blend of science fiction and history makes it a book that you won't regret reading.

Somebody's Heart is Burning by Tanya Shaffer

2010-02-06T02:11:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to read this book forever, but I finally got a copy and dove in. Usually it takes me a week or two to finish a book, but I soaked this one up in two days. It was incredible! I'm partially biased because I already had a deep love for Ghana and traveling to begin with. But aside from that, I really admire Tanya's amazing storytelling and ability to make friends where ever she goes, even if it's thousands of miles away.
The book is about the author taking a long trip to Africa to escape a relationship she's confused about. Along the way, she meets so many interesting people, including a saucy Ghanaian bachelorette, a black American extremist and a lonesome housewife in Burkina Faso. A running theme in the book is the stark difference between philosophies and beliefs in west Africa as compared to those in the U.S. I devoured every word of this book, since some of the themes I could really relate to and also because I've had a long-standing longing to travel abroad myself. It was a thoughtful, exciting insight into cultures in West Africa, especially in Ghana. This is a great book for any lover of travel stories, especially if living vicariously through a fearless female traveler sounds appealing to you.

The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine

2010-01-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

This book has been a lifesaver for me, and I'm sure for many people who've been called flaky or indecisive because they have too many interests to pick just one "calling." Growing up, the thought of being stuck in a cubicled office for all of my working life terrified me. I knew that I didn't want anything to do with corporate America, but I couldn't seem to pick just one thing to do, seeing as I had a bazillion interests (and I still do). What a relief to discover that nothing is wrong with me. I'm just a renaissance soul. This book is written by a woman who has spent her career working with such people, and who is also a renaissance soul herself. She hit all of my nails on the head, addressing such topics as focusing on interests instead of choosing one over the other, time management, common concerns, and other advice for functioning in a conventional world while still happily pursuing your interests. I'll be putting this book into practice in my life and even after reading it from cover to cover, I know I'll be referring back to it from time to time.

Little Chapel on the River by Gwendolyn Bounds

2009-12-30T04:23:00.000-08:00

I found this book at a gift shop in Leimert Park. It was sitting outside with some other books with a big "FOR SALE $1.00" sign. I figured I couldn't pass up getting a book for a dollar. This one looked like the most interesting of the bunch, and I'm glad I picked it up.
This is the true story of how the events of 9/11 unexpectedly flung a writer from the Wall Street Journal onto the road for true happiness in life. She unexpectedly finds this happiness in a small town, in a small bar full of a bunch of memorable characters. Among these characters is Jim Guinan, a friendly wise-cracking Irishman. I usually don't read non-fiction and I wasn't expecting much at first. In fact the book was a little slow in the beginning for me. But all in all, the author tells this story very well. She involves you in the characters lives, and by the end of the book I could understand why she was so endeared by this pub, lovingly christened the little chapel on the river.
A very good read, especially for a dollar!

The Farm @ Beverly Hills in Downtown L.A

2009-12-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

So husby finally got sworn in as a U.S citizen, and my mom came to town for the swearing in ceremony. So we all, including lil' one, went out to celebrate afterwards at the The Farm at Beverly Hills, which is a very nice-yet-kid-friendly restaurant downtown at L.A Live, across from the Staple Center. Yummy yummy food. I had a lobster sandwich, which was really good, but I really liked stealing from my mom's barbecue chicken salad. :) For dessert we ordered s'mores! They bought us a little fire in a pot and gave us homemade graham crackers, marshmallows and a hershey bar and we actually roasted marshmallows at our table. It was kinda pricey at $10, but it was fun all the same. We also all shared a big banana split. Oh, also I had a pot of green tea with jasmine and since I'm such a big green tea fan, I enjoyed it a lot.
Overall we had a very good day and a very good lunch! There are a lot of restaurants at L.A live but I hope I'll be visiting The Farm again sometime soon. I'm just sorry husby ate the remaining half of my sandwich instead of letting me save it for dinner. :p

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

2009-12-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

This book has been sitting on my mom's bookshelf for the longest but I never picked it up until I was there this last Thanksgiving. Well it's about this African American named Macon Dead (there's a story behind the name) who's growing up in early 20th century Pennsylvania. His family is rather dysfunctional and he's sort of trying to find his place in the world. The thing I loved about this book is that the characters have such depth. Every one has a story behind them, and all of their stories are interconnected somehow. It's an almost dark novel with bits of other-worldiness mixed in. As a writer, I have to say that the imagery and similes she uses are brilliant. One that stands out to me was when Macon lifted a heavy brass door knocker to a big empty house, and when it fell the sound was "soaked up like a single raindrop in cotton." She actually lets your see, hear, feel things in writing. Combined with the excellent plot, I can see why she won a Pullitzer prize. I'll have to read this one again sometime.

Smizing

2009-12-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

I was trying to smize (smile with my eyes, courtesy Tyra Banks)....

But Nana said I look kinda scary, so now I get the feeling that I was getting ready to bite into somebody's neck. Hm, were there any black people in Twilight?

December Ambitions

2009-12-01T16:23:00.000-08:00

By the end of this month, I will have:

Finished 5(count 'em, five!) books

Learned to sing Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye) in Italian

Called my older brother just to say hi

Dined at a new restaurant

Memorized Ghana's national anthem

Learned a new Anansi story

Finished NaNoWriMo at 15,116 words

2009-11-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

Which means I came 34,884 short of my goal. :( So I did not complete National Novel Writing Month this year. I didn't write as much as I could have. But I hated my story that I ignored it for days on end. Then in the end I caught up as much as I could, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. But on the upside I wrote 33 pages worth of fiction! Which is pretty awesome considering I started with 0 pages! Plus I learned some valuable lessons:

-On days you feel blah, caffeine rocks

-Consistency is the key to achieving a goal

- Writing stories about an afro-rocking business woman turned warrior princess of an underground rebel kingdom is probably not my specialty after all

-Dynamite and enclosed spaces don't mix! (something crazy one of my characters did)

So no, this was not a total waste. In fact it was fun to challenge myself to do something so ballsey as write a 100+ page novel in 30 days. I will try again next year. And next year, I will be ready. Oh yes, I will be ready!

#70: NaNoWriMo

2009-11-03T06:27:00.000-08:00

November 1st marked the start of National Novel Writing Month! (otherwise affectionately known as NaNoWriMo). Every year, thousands of people converge onto the nanowrimo.org website to register to participate in a mad, month-long writing sprint that will result in a 50,000 novel being written by each participant. That's if you don't give up, lose your sanity or break your fingers in the process (or all three...it's possible!). So I joined the challenge not to obliterate the remnants of my social life, or to avoid going outdoors for the month of November. No, I joined because I love to write. And very few people in their lifetime ever start to write a novel, let alone finish it. So even if my resulting literary piece is a pile a drivel, at least it is a pile of drivel that I had the balls and painstaking persistance to create. This is in fact my greatest fear, that the novel I'm working on now will be absolutely terrible and painful to read (or as the NaNoWriMo site put it, I'm "concerned that my novel will set new records for suckitude."), but the aim here is quantity over quality. Every great book started out as a rough draft so this is no different. I just have to keep on, even if I wake up every day this month and am struck with fear and dread upon remembering that I have a 50,000 word novel to write. These are just birthing pains. I know I'll be happy with myself in the end.

Switching to Wordpress

2009-10-28T23:50:00.001-07:00

I just realized that I would like to keep lists of all the restaurants and books and things that were involved in this so I'm going to switch over to wordpress. They have features for keeping lots of lists and things. So...*sigh* I bid you a fond farewell, blogspot. It was fun while it lasted. :) I'll give word once all my stuff has been transferred over to the new site.

*EDIT*

Blah, I changed my mind. Blogspot will suffice well enough. I will just do my best to fit all my lists into the left sidbar. :)

#84: Aquarium of the Pacific

2009-10-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

It just occurred to me that I compeleted one of my items! Back on the 16th. :P October 16th was my peanut's 3rd birthday so we took her to the aquarium. She loved it. I loved it! It was so neat...I was pointing out all the fish whose names I thought I had forgotten since I learned them in elementary. "Ooh, a sting ray! Look, those are sea urchins! And that's an orca!" Nobody likes a know-it-all, I know, but sometimes I just can't help myself. :) Had fabulous time. And also visited a new restaurant in Long Beach called Rock Bottom. Another one to scratch off my list!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

2009-09-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Well this is the second book I've read since I started my list...I know, not much progress, but at least I'm getting somewhere! Well about the book, it chronicles the political happenings in Afghanistan from the early 70s to 2003. The story mostly centers around two different women whose lives intersect because of the volatile political climate. Overall, it was an excellent book. With all of the talk of wars in the middle east, it was so fascinating to see things from the perspective of one who actually lived it. Mr. Hosseini does an amazing job of capturing human emotion and actually transporting the reader to Afghanistan. I read the book in two sittings, and both times I found myself having to remember where exactly I was. lol.

With respect to history, he doesn't go too much in depth about politics, which does the story well. He gives us enough background so that we know how it applies to the characters. He very successfully brings the picture from the national to the personal level and makes it so the reader can really connect to the characters.

Overall this is a well-crafted, realistic novel about love, loss, war, endurance and hope for the future. Some parts were very heavy and I had tears in my eyes. Other parts my heart was racing, and other times I was gasping or cheering. I reccomend this book to anyone, since I think anyone could relate to it and also gain an understanding of Afghanistan beyond what we see on the news channels.

# 65: Omenako Project Donations

2009-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm up to 35 dollars donated for the Omenako Project. :) I've been able to increase my donations by a teeny bit lately since I started freelancing for this company called Demand Studios. So happy about that. :) I need to review my list and see what else I could be working on now...I know I was suppose to be learning Spanish but I just haven't had the time recently. So, yeah. Time for a refresher!

Status Report

2009-09-04T00:35:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, happy September. :) I know my blog posts have become sparser....I believe all the important things I ought to do in my life are on my list, but it's the boring lil' details of life that get in the way. :p

For instance, currently I'm not employed, so I've taken to freelance writing on the web. So far I haven't been paid TOO much for it, but I decided that it's something I'd like to pursue more.

Second of all, I have put off web design school for now. A chain of events led me to enroll in a program for medical billing, since I think I'd have an easier time getting a job in that field sooner than I would as a web designer. I'm not sure when I'll take up my web design classes again. *le sigh*

Thirdly, no employed=no spending money= no doing fun exciting things on list that require money. I've been indoors the majority of the time, feverishly typing away on my computer and trying to scrape out a living. I'm sure Katie said it best..damn life for getting the way of the list!

Oh, but I have to give myself some credit. I have been practicing crocheting in the little spare time that I have, therefore working my way up to numbers 4, 7 and 69, my crochet-related goals. :) And also I've visited a couple more restaurants. So hopefully I'll get more time and resources in the future to pursue my other goals. *le sigh again*

That's all for now. :)

#3: Potty Training Anna

2009-07-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no updates lately...been really busy and not paying attention to my blog. :( But I'm happy to say I've hit another milestone! Or rather my daughter has. I was visiting my mom recently and she went to the toilet all by herself! Now I know that doesn't sound like a huge deal if you're not a mom, but after changing about 10,000 diapers in the last three years, I am pretty stoked! She's so smart and picks up on concepts so quickly. Next I'm teaching her her ABCs. Next thing you know she'll be doing arithmetic. If we stay on track, I'm sure she could graduate Harvard Law School by the time she's 14. :D But for now I'm totally thrilled about the potty. That's another goal down! 98 to go!

Rejected!

2009-07-07T00:59:00.001-07:00

Oh well. I guess I'll be watching from home like everyone else.

#65: The Omenako Project has a new website :)

2009-06-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy about this. The Omenako project started out as teeny tiny grassroots and now we've raised over 2,000 dollars, created a newsletter and now a website! Check it out:

http://omenakoschool.wordpress.com/

I'm slowly creeping up on my goal of donating 100 dollars to the project. I'm so happy to see it's progressing.

A new member of the forum volunteered to liaison with Omenako School's sister school in the U.S and now there is a fund raising drive in the works. Also the students from both schools will be exchanging correspondence. I'm so happy. One simple idea turned into a village of children being able to repair their school house and make friends halfway across the world. Every mighty river begins with a single drop! :)

Goodbye Michael...you mean so much to so many.

2009-06-26T03:11:00.000-07:00

So I got the news this afternoon that Michael Jackson had died. At first I heard he had a heart attack, and I was thinking, "Oh, he'll be okay." Because he's Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson doesn't die. But a mere half hour later, the L.A Times was reporting that he was dead. I was dead frozen with shock. Even now, I still don't believe it. Tomorrow morning I will wake up and realize that it all wasn't a bad dream. I'll realize that he's really gone.

I grew up on Michael Jackson...actually, who didn't? That is a part of what made him seem so immortal. Generation after generation, we were growing up on his music. My father LOVED him. I remember very distinctly him singing and moonwalking in our livingroom when I was younger and my brothers and sisters would laugh in delight. Despite all the bad things about my childhood, Michael's music is one of the few things that my family delighted in together. I remember we had taped a concert of his back in the 90s, and we watched it over and over and over again. He was amazing. He was great. He was better than a super hero. Who else could draw droves and droves of screaming fans and then make them faint and be carried off by medical staff by the dozens? I could feel his electricity through the screen.

I remember when "Remember the Time" came out...I was in the third grade. I went to school the day after seeing the video and EVERYONE was singing it. In my class, in the kindergarden class...the whole playground was abuzz with his latest work. I loved Black and White, I loved when he did "Scream" with Janet. And I even remember when he did "What's Up With You" with Eddie Murphy. And that's the way it was when the Jackson 5 was out...and when Thriller came out, and Smooth Criminal, on and on. He delighted people endlessly.

One thing I realize now is how frail he was in reality. He'd grown up under a harsh spotlight all his life. And now I believe the stress and trauma of his childhood is what claimed his life. I was watching CNN and everyone who knew him always said how childlike and frail he was. It makes me sad to think about. How could someone who brought me so much happiness have suffered so much pain in his life?

I'll miss him...I feel like a family member has died. He really was a part of my family and I'll miss him. I wasn't able to get through to my mom or siblings because the phone lines were jammed today. L.A is seriously buzzing now. My husband's friend works at UCLA med center where he died and he said that the atmosphere is just crazy. I'll try my family again tomorrow. I'll find out when the memorial service will be, because surely there will be one.

So, Michael, whatever peace you couldn't find in this life I hope you have it now. You've touched more lives than you could possibly know, and I add my voice to those who say we will miss you so much. But you will always be immortal through your amazing music.

#42: Get my Duafe Rose Tattoo

2009-06-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

I have been reading up on tattooes on tattoojohnny.com, and I'm glad that I decided to do some research ahead of time. There's a lot of stuff about tattooing that I didn't know about, like you can print a test tattoo to wear around to see if you like it, and that it's best if you take a pre-printed stencil for the tattoo artist to use instead of letting them draw it onto your skin. I am particularly glad for these things, because I would've been really upset if I'd been sitting there with a needle digging into my skin for two hours only to emerge with some hideous imitation of my original vision on my shoulder, permanent and destined to haunt me the rest of my life. I would probably burst into tears. So as soon as I finish designing my tat, I will print it out and put it on my shoulder to see how it looks.
As for my design, it will look something like my avatar. The symbol in the middle of the rose is Duafe, which is an adinkra symbol from Ghana that means feminine cleanliness and beauty. The rose is, well, just a rose. And I think roses are pretty. :)
I'm still planning to get it around my birthday. I know I said I'd get it if I lost 30 lbs. but that kinda blew up in my face. The sizzling salsa workout dvd got old and I discovered that there's a Cold Stone Creamery a mere five miles from my house...what would you have done?
Okay, so that's it for now. Over and out.

#30: My Thankfulness Journal, and #16: Meditation

2009-06-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's been awhile since I last made a post. No new exciting developments as of late. I think it's safe to say that the initial euphoria of having 101 of my wildest (or not so wild) dreams coming true has worn off, and it's left behind the stark realization that I have a lot of work to do. But, as I read from lifeoptimizer.org:

"Some people just want to do the things they like. When they need to do something “boring”, they try to avoid it or just do it half-heartedly. But the fact is, there is always “boring” stuff you need to do in order to succeed. You can’t do only the fun part."

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hmph.

On another note, I started my thankfulness journal. I wanted to start one so I could put my life into perspective. It's so easy to concentrate on negatives that it makes since to keep a tangible record of all the positives in your life. This is my first entry:

I am thankful for:

My daughter, who keeps me smiling, passionately scolding and busy all day by pure motivation of love.

The roof over my head and food to eat. So many will sleep on the street hungry tonight.

My ability to reason, and my intelligence. Let's face it, common sense isn't so common.

My health, my ability to wal, talk and care for myself.

Music.

Good food and the passion to make it.

My ChaCha job that puts a little money in my pocket, since a lot of people these days would love the chance to make a little extra money.

My mom, who gives me more inspiration, comfort and friendship than I can be grateful for.

My sisters, who love me no matter how dysfunctional we all are.

My awesome little brother who has grown up so much and become one of my best friends, whether he knows it or not.

Being able to listen to this Jason Mraz song without feeling like my heart is going to break in two (love songs have been making me sad lately but on this particular day I was feeling pretty good).

That I live in a country where you are free to become whatever you are willing to work for in life.

Chocolate.

That I discovered meditation.

And I'll make it a habit to write in it every evening. It's comforting.

Speaking of meditation, I have to say, meditating is freaking awesome. What, don't believe me? Fine, take CNN's word for it. Not only does it reduce stress, but it can also increase your brainpower, increase your attention span and ability to focus, and help you sleep better at night. Plus it's a chance to give your brain something of a little vacation everyday. And who doesn't need that?
I started taking an interest in it after reading Eat, Pray, Love (There's that book again. I do believe Elizabeth Gilbert has changed my life!) By the end of the book the author had become the woman she wanted to be, and her spirituality played a large role. Not to say that meditation is only for the spiritual. There are meditation techniques that are also secular in nature and work just as well. The main point it to calm and focus your brain.
That said, it's hard as hell when you're starting out. Come to find out, I have a little chipmunk at the back of my brain who chatters nonstop and I didn't really notice she was there until I tried to shut out all the distractions around me. *sigh* I read that this is normal, but it doesn't make that chipmunk any less annoying.
One thing that appeals to me most about meditation is that it can be used as a tool for self discovery. As described on Meditation Australia:

In the end, what naturally develops from practising daily meditation is the skill of listening, trusting and developing faith and love in oneself. This is the beginning of a true spirituality.

So I will keep practising being a good meditator and hopefullyI will get good at it. Also hopefully it will help me accomplish goal #26: Stop obsessively caring about what other people think of me.

That's all for now. O'er and out!

Friendship bracelets!

2009-05-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

The art of making friendship bracelets (or in my case, anklets) is alive and well! My friend Katee in Canada is also doing her own 101 list and one of her goals is to send friendship bracelets to one person on each continent (Does that count Antarctica? I'm not sure...I'd have to check with her, but I'm sure those scientists at weather stations in Antarctica are always getting asked to do wacky things). Well my bracelet arrived in the mail, and I feel rather special. It's good to know that there are still people striving for unity in the world, even if in their own small way.

#58: My Associate's Degree in Web Design

2009-05-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

I am enrolled in Cerro Coso Community College's awesome online Digital Media Arts program. The semester concluded earlier this month, meaning I have three more credits under my belt. I wish I could have taken more courses than just one, but my brain is still a bit rusty when it comes to academia. At first I tried to take three courses at once while working a full time job, and before the end of the first quarter I crashed and burned in a dramatic blaze fueled by my burnout. So I opted to take one class this time, and I'm just happy that I finished.
I had planned to take six more units over the summer, but I won't be able to afford it. So I'll put it on hold until fall semester and I can saved up a bit for school books over the summer. Also I'm studying to take the test to become a medical biller...hopefully that will result in some employment in the NEAR future. I don't know about you, but this recession is kicking my butt. :-/
At first I was dreaming about having an office job at a design firm in L.A, going to work every day, collaborating with my co-workers and watching as they bask in the glory of my web designing genius (more or less). But now I'm considering just freelancing as a designer, especially if I do become a medical biller. It would be a good way to bring in extra income and be creative at the same time.
It's good to have options. I'll be happy when I get to take more web design classes though. Until then, the task falls to me to retain everything I've learned over the past semester. Well, wish me luck with that. :p

#52: Sweet Concert!

2009-05-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

I had the strangest dream last night (not to say that my dreams aren't usually strange, but this one stood out). I was somewhere...I dunno where...I think at a beach house? It was near the water. I was there with a group of like five or six other people. There were three or four guys I'd never met before. They were all super cool and funny. My friend Eva was there, who has gone all over the world doing service projects, so I think that's what they all had in common, they were all travelers who went all over helping people. I spent a lot of time talking and laughing with all of them. Then I looked over and noticed on a bulletin board that I was signed up to go on a trip to Mexico along with one of the guys. I asked him if I was really going to Mexico, and he said yeah. I started to wake up then, but I thought I was still dreaming. I thought, "How am I going to go with my daughter? I guess my service project will be with little kids, like teaching a preschool or something..." Then I woke up fully and realized it had all been a dream.
So what does that mean? Am I suppose to go to Mexico and volunteer with an orphanage? Or maybe it was that bacon and fried cabbage I ate before bed? And I have been thinking about the Omenako project lately, so maybe that fit in somehow.
Well, that aside, I went to a big art and music festival yesterday called Fiesta Hermosa. It was a lot of fun, even though we got there later than I thought I we would. We got free California Pizza Kichen pizza (they had three new flavors and I was taste testing...yay for spinach garlic!). Of course I got a funnel cake because you can't go to a festival without eating a funnel cake. At least I can't. There was also this awesome band there called Don't Stop Believin'. One thing I definitely learned: Never underestimate the power of an awesomely talented tribute band singing hits from the 80s and 90s. In the distance I heard someone singing a great rendition of Sublime's "Santeria." When we arrived at the stage, they started singing "Paradise City" and their finale was "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. The crowd was so hyped. I was dancing and singing and clapping and acting totally goofy but I thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially when Anna put her hands in the air and started clapping along. :)
I also saw some really cool artwork. Seriously, there are very talented people in the world. There was an abstract piece I saw that had hues of pink and gold and yellow and red and it was sooo breathtaking. There was also an artist who painted very realistic, exciting paintings of cowboys in a shoot-out. I loved it. I wish I had had more time to walk around and absorb all the paintings.
Also there was sooo much JEWELRY. Beads and shells and dangly earrings galore. *Moan* Curse my brokeness! I would have made the jewelry vendors so much richer.
Oh, and I also saw a couple walking around and each of them had a lovebird on their shoulder. It was so cute. It reminded me of goal #101. Lovebirds are so cute and I can't wait to get mine.

Overall I had a lot of fun. They'll have the festival again on Labor Day so I hope I'll be able to go then.

A Black Girl Singing Irish Music!

2009-05-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

That's first thought that popped into my head after about an hour ago I heard someone on my daughter's t.v channel playing a lilting, celtic flute. I turned my head to see that it was a very lovely brown-skinned lady, maybe a couple years older than me, singing and playing "I'm Kelly Green 'cause I'm from Ireland..." Yay! A kindred spirit! I thought as I sprinted toward the bedroom. Yep, she's singing an Irish song. I was so thrilled and grinning ear to ear. I always find the coolest gems while watching Noggin!
I have always been a closet celtic music fan, since you don't find many non-white people who go absolutely gaga when Celtic Thunder sings Caledonia. So to see a brown-skinned person singing about Ireland totally made my day. Sure, we had a 5.0 earthquake about fifteen minutes later, but it doesn't matter. I've discovered an awesome new artist!
Her name is Rebecca Jordan, and her music style is more like acoustic pop (not sure how else to describe it). I like her track "This Town." Give it a listen!

#13: A Local Circle of Friends

2009-05-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

So last night, I got together with some ladies from a website for black women with natural hair called Nappturality.com. I had a BLAST. It was a night full of flamenco and bread pudding and poetry and other good stuff. I met a lot of awesome women there. We were laughing and talking over dinner at a mexican restaurant in Long Beach, then we went to a poetry lounge. I'd never been to one before but I liked it. The mood there was very cozy and intimate. The host recited an original poem called "Earth Tone African Rainbows" and it was about how her favorite color is brown, the color of her skin, and how it's beautiful and reflected all across Africa. It was so lovely.
One catch to attending the poetry lounge is that you had to get up on the microphone and share something on your mind (eep!). Well I wasn't too hesitant, as there was something I did want to say. So when I was on the mic, I said that I've come to realize how important it is to have people in your life (I got a resounding agreement), and for the past few years I have shut myself off from people for the most part because of a lot of things I was going through, but being able to spend time with all the ladies and have such a great time has really reminded me of how important it is to have people who make you laugh, and who you can learn from around you. All the women went "awwww!" lol. I got a lot of hugs when I was done. It was all warm and gushy-like. :)
So yes, I had a good time last night and made some new friends. I haven't done anything like this in so long. I don't really know why, but one of the reasons is that social situations make me so drained. I really did have a good time, and I was talking a lot more than I thought I would (which is good, since I'm usually the quiet one). But I felt soo tired driving home. And it's that tiredness that usually makes me reluctant to go into another social situation. I concluded that maybe if I do this more often, I will get more used to it, the way an out of shape person has to keep excercising before they grow accustomed to it. It's just unfamiliar territory for me...maybe that's why. At least that's my theory. So I'll keep at this socializing thing and see where it gets me.
Hold the phone, I just realized I also tried a new restaurant! Yayyy, that's one off my list. :) The bread pudding i had was soooo yummy and pretty...yes, pretty. I shoulda took a picture. It was drizzled with strawberry and white chocolate sauce and was garnished with strawberries and mint leaves. I def. have to return to that place again.
Okay my peeps, that's all for now. Over and out!

#65: The Omenako School Project

2009-05-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

So, Omenako is a tiny town in a tiny country called Ghana in western Africa. I know about the town because I belong to an amazing online community called Ghana Community Online, and one member's idea sparked a campaign to help the people of Omenako complete the school house for their children. The building they have now is just a frame...there is roof work to be done, walls to be repaired, and they don't have a kitchen. The government has a program that funds meals for school children, but one of the requirements is that the school have a kitchen. So there is much work to be done. It's so bad that the children regularly make their own repairs to the school. In the picture, these kids are carrying rocks instead of studying.
I'm not Ghanaian myself, but I met a couple Ghanaians in college who forever changed my view of the world and the course of my life. They are the friendliest, most amazing people ever. Westerners who visit the country always give accounts of not wanting to return home...I even read a girl's blog who said she cried the first hour of her return flight. And all the Ghanaian people I have met here in the states have really taught me the meaning of love and generosity. Which is why it it pains me to know that people in the world who still go without basic things like a school building. And it always seems like it's the nicest people who suffer the most.
So, I decided that as one of my goals, I want to donate a total of 100 dollars to the Omenako school project. I'm not working now, so I've only been able to add a little drop to my 100 dollar bucket, but the drop was appreciated nonetheless. It really is true...every little bit helps.
If you are reading this and feel so inclined, please consider donating to the Omenako project as well. 10 dollars will buy a bag of cement, 5 dollars would help too. I know everyone has their own worries to deal with at home, but no matter what, there is always someone somewhere who is struggling more than you. But a small act of generosity can go a LONG way in helping to make that person's life better. Especially if that person is a child.

Click here for the paypal link. And here is the message board thread about the project. Thanks for caring. :-)

24 Hours Just Aint Enough

2009-05-05T01:10:00.000-07:00

This is the subheading my friend Faf's blog, and I don't think I really fully understood it until now. I mean I've had to-do lists before...I've been absurdly busy before. But I think now it's more on a constant basis. Especially ever since this list popped up. Don't get me wrong, I love my list. It's just that..well...lists take effort to complete.
Like today, I woke up, fed Anna and realized that I haven't done the dishes in a while. My husband is one of those people who refuses to lay hands on a dirty dish unless I cry and scream and point out several reasons as to why he's a heartless human being...but since I don't feel like doing all that, I tackle the daunting mountain of dishes myself. An hour later, I'm done cleaning and realize that the laundry is still sitting and waiting to be folded. But I also have tons of school work, so I start toward the computer. Then I stall and realize that I haven't taken my mult-vitamins today. I open the kitchen cabinet and sort through the mess of bottles and swallow at least five different pills, and also fill up my water jug so I don't forget to drink all 70 ounces. I sit down at the computer. Anna rushes into the room screaming that the cartoon dinosaur on t.v is trying to eat her. I assure her that he's a friendly dino and she runs off, though she will surely return every ten minutes or so to update me on the goings on of the cartoon characters. What was I doing? Oh, right, homework. But then it clicks in my mind that my friend emailed me last week and I haven't gotten back to her yet...I'd better do that. I open my inbox and find an alert that I've recieved a new private message from one of my message boards. Oooh, this could be important...I head over to that website to check that message, and also respond to a few threads. Eventually I remember that I'm suppose to be emailing my friend, but by that time it's time to make lunch. I head back to the kitchen and whip up a meal, then spend ten minutes chasing Anna down and trying to get her to eat something besides chocolate pudding or cheese. I quickly eat my meal (carefully prepared to fit into my diet of course) then return to the computer. Homework, homework, homework, I think. I start to read my lecture notes, but my mind would rather be in a million other places. Where exactly is Sussex? Fried cabbage is yummy. Is Danny Devito still alive? When am I going downtown next? I should call my brother. Did I brush my teeth this morning? An hour later I am still reading the same paragraph. Frustrated, I decide that I ought to give it up for now. I have to excercise anyway. Oh, and not forget to drink all my water! I spend an hour or so excercising, trying to ignore Anna's screams of protest as my excercise DVD replaces her precious cartoons. After that, storytime, a couple diaper changes, updating my blog and cooking dinner, the day is done. And I STILL have not gotten to my homework. Or the laundry. Or a dozen other things I have to do. Life can be so frustrating. And to think I don't even have a full-time job (yet).
Who ever thought being a productive individual was so much work? I mean yeah, Benjamin Franklin praised the virtues of hard work and all, but he didn't have online classes and a toddler. Sure he invented a bunch of stuff, but did he ever have to regularly deal with such spontaneous problems as successfully bandage a screaming, squirming two year old's forehead after she runs headlong into the bedframe with a panicky husband screaming useless suggestions over his shoulder? Didn't think so Ben!
But I have to admit, he did pretty well in his lifetime despite all the challenges he encountered. He once said, "Energy and persistence conquer all things." And I'm sure there are a lot of authorities about getting stuff done...I can take a cue from all of them. But for some reason Ben is standing out to me today. I think because he invented and discovered so many things, wrote a lot and was highly regarded by others. That kinda describes me and where I want to be in life. Someone who is multi-talented and wants to inpsire others to live their dreams as well.
Well, another things that Ben did well is make lists. So I guess he and I are on the same page concerning that. So while I am at it, I think I ought to make a schedule for myself. Something inside me is kicking and screaming in protest. I don't like being confined...I don't like having parameters put around me. But rather than confinement, maybe I should rather see a schedule as the framework for what I am trying to build. Afterall I'm not saying "I can't do this and this and that," but rather, "You CAN do this and this and that, and here's how you're going to do it." And if there is anything that I keep myself from doing, well, it's prolly for my own good.
Okay, that's all I wanted to say. I'm going to make a schedule. :-)

Another great at-home facial

2009-04-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here's another great at-home mask brought to you by thegreenbeautyguide.com: Eve Lom Rescue Mask at Home. I can't wait to try this one.

#62: Anonymous Number Two

2009-04-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

I was out job hunting yesterday, and while I was driving "Beautiful Day" by U2, one of my all time favorite songs and bands, came on the radio. I was rocking out and playing steering wheel drums, feeling super good, and suddenly it struck me that now would be a good time to pass the good vibes on to someone else. So I pulled over into a Pier 1 imports parking lot and started writing my second anonymous letter.
I didn't feel as silly this time...I was more worried that a store rep would get suspicious and come outside demanding to know why I was sitting in the parking lot for so long. Luckily that didn't happen, and I left my letter on the windshield of a red mini cooper and drove off.
My letter basically said that I was doing this as a part of a goal I set to write 10 encouraging letters to people, and that I set that goal because I know that it can make a huge difference to hear a kind or encouraging word from a stranger. I wrote that no matter what they may be dealing with right now, be it money problems, family, relationships, work, etc., that nothing lasts forever. Every situation has the potential to get better. They should just do the best they can and give it some time. Everything will be okay.
*Sigh* I feel super great! I think I should've written "If you feel so inclined, please pay it forward and leave a letter for someone else" then I would've been starting a chain reaction. Think of it, one person after another finding letters on their windshields, on park benches, in their mailboxes, and one person after another leaving another letter in return. It could spread throughout my county, throughout the state, nay, throughout the entire country! At least it works in theory. :-) I'll keep it in mind for my remaining letters.

#72: Become fluent in Spanish?

2009-04-25T04:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so originally I had picked French as my first of two languages to learn. However, in my heart of hearts I know it would be more practical for me to learn Spanish. After all I live in Southern California, and this is practically Mexico. The thing is, that's also the problem! I've been surrounded by the Spanish language my whole life...catching snatches of conversation in the streets, seeing advertisements, converseing with Spanish speaking co-workers, hearing news broadcasts on the radio, even being scolded by my father from time to time (although he's black and comes from Michigan. Go figure!). I even have a friend who beat me to it, and went so far as to stay in Spain for a year for the sole purpose of learning Spanish. I know at least 20% of the language by now, and hear it almost every day, so that makes it all the less exotic. French, on the other hand, is way sexy. And sexy is more exciting than practical.
However, the more I look in the job ads these days, the more I see "English/Spanish bilingual preferred" and the more I kick myself for not taking the language in high school. But I'm an adult now, so the plus is I'm a lot more likely to pay attention in class. *sigh* Soooooo....I guess Spanish it is. *grumble*grumble* French will have to wait.
I shouldn't complain though. I've yet to hear any billingual person say, "Dammit, I wish I didn't speak that fricking second language!"
Orita, estoy muy ensada. Buenos tardes mi amigos!

#62: I wrote an anonymous letter

2009-04-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

I wrote the first of my ten anonymous, encouraging letters last night. I went to my apartment's laundry room around midnight (sneaking around corners in a very covert way) and left it on top of the dryer. Today is Sunday so it's likely someone was out doing their laundry today.
I have to say, it was kind of a scary experience writing that letter. At the back of my mind I was worried about whether or not it would be a stupid idea, or if the person who found the letter would think it was a stupid idea, and not even read the stupid letter and conclude that whoever wrote it must be stupid. At that point I asked myself why it was so important what the person who found the letter thought of me when they didn't even know it was me who wrote it to begin with? Furthermore, who said that they'd think it was stupid? What if they read it at a point in their journey when they really need encouragement? What if it reduces them to tears that someone could be so caring, or at least, makes them chuckle and conclude that the world isn't mostly comprised of mean arseholes afterall?
So with that, I sat down and wrote the letter I had been subconsciously putting off for days. And all the while, the voice at the back of my head is making me nervous by screaming "Your writing is too sloppy! You're rambling! The corner of the paper is smudged! THIS IS A STUPID IDEA!" But still I completed it, left in the laundry and hoped that someone would benefit from reading it.
What I learned from this: Don't let your fear of others' opinions keep you from doing something that you really want or really need to do. Maybe the fear is there because of something that happened in the past, or because you're scared of the unknown future, but what you do in the present is what really counts. And it really doesn't matter what people think of you. Most learn this lesson when they get older, but I want to learn it now. I want to live a life without being so worried about what people think of me, especially if they are criticizing me for doing something positive. And often I'm no even being criticized and it's all in my head.
*SIGH* Chicken soup for the soul. :D

#23: Friday is facial day!

2009-04-17T23:38:00.001-07:00

I decided that every week I should treat myself to a facial. Not only is it posh, but facials can do everything from remove dead skin cells to restore moisture to dry skin to treat oily skin and beyond! Here is the one I used...you can use it too. Even you, guys! Just keep it from your guy friends in order to maintain your manly reputation:

Tiffany's Alpha-hydroxy lemon pudding mask

4 tablespoons powdered milk (milk softens the skin)
1 tablespoon honey (honey draws out impurities as well as softens)
1 tablespoon lemon juice (lemon juice contains alpha hydroxy acid, which removes dead skins cells and encourages new ones to grow. It's also a natural skin toner).
1 egg white (protiens in egg whites help to tighten and rejuvenate your skin)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together with fork and rub on face with fingertips. Leave on face until dry (don't make any facial expressions or it will crack..this is a good test of will power). Rinse off with a bowl of purified or distilled water mixed with more lemon juice. Let face air dry, then rinse with regular tap water. Pat dry.

I feel great! It's so cool that you can make beauty products like facials at home...not only is it less expensive but you also spare your skin all those artificial ingredients that you can barely pronounce. If you like, you can also slice a couple pieces of potato or cucumber and set them over your eyes for 15 minutes to reduce puffiness. Add a bit of relaxing music and you'll REALLY feel spa-ish.

Day 6: So where do I go from here?

2009-04-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today, "Well, Tiff, you've got your fancy goal list...now how exactly are you going to do all of these things in the allotted time?" Good question. So I started thinking about what I wanted to do before the end of April. That's just twelve days, but still enough time to get some stuff done. So here's what I am focusing on for now:

Finishing first semester toward Digital Media Arts degree (#9)
Read the first of my 100 books (#27)
Continue drinking tea (#37)
Attend a concert (#63)
Start reading to Anna 20 minutes a day (#84)
Working toward weight loss goal (#14)
Start learning French (#18)

Now there are some goals that I have that are time sensitive. For instance, Nanowrimo occurs in November and November only. So here is a list of my time sensitive goals, just so I don't look at my calendar one day and go "D'oh! I was suppose to do such and such today!" Why give yourself high blood pressure and a desire to kick a hole in your wall if you can avoid it? And so:

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month): November (#101)
Hayriding in Yucaipa: Ideally between September and January (#20)
Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball: Every July (#42)
Caribbean Seabreeze Festival: Between July and August (#50)
Hiking in San Bernardino National Forest: Between April and August (#54)

There. I've added some organization to my life. :-) For now, I'd like to congratulate myself on already completing a few baby steps in my 101 step list. I'm still drinking tea each day and I've been faithfully drinking 70+ ounces of water each day. Besides having the need to pee 3-5 times an hour, the H20 is doing my body good and I'm happy I've been able to stick to it, despite the constant loo visits. And I hear that your body eventually gets used to the water intake and you stop having to pee so often after a few weeks. Good news for me and more motivation to keep going!

Day 5: Weight Loss and the Story of Anansi the Spider

2009-04-16T02:53:00.000-07:00

One of my goals is to lose 70 lbs permanently, so I guess it's notable to mention that I've set a shorter-term goal to lose thirty of those pounds by my birthday. My birthday is in the end of July (Like Harry Potter...*ahem*...but it's not like I read all the books or anything...). So that means I have roughly nine weeks to accomplish this. To start myself off, I've decided to do the cabbage soup diet...hey, don't roll your eyes. :-p Usually I am a staunch opposer of gimmick/fad/short term diets, but considering that I'm going to be 24 soon and found a super hot dress at Torrid that I'd love to be wearing while boogeying down on the dance floor on my special day, I decided to make and exception. :) The diet promises to help the dieter drop ten pounds in seven days. I don't have to buy any special powder or anything, so I figured what the heck. After this I'm going to start eating small meals throughout the day....meals that will NOT include cabbage soup, since I'm sure I'll be sick of it when all is said and done.

On another note, another one of my goals was to memorize ten Anansi stories. The stories are traditional folk tales that come from Ghana, West Africa. Anansi is a word that means spider. I'm not Ghanaian myself, but it's a country that is very near and dear to my heart since it's where my ancestors came from. As a result, I've learned a lot of things about the country and I've made a lot of friends from Ghana. Also, I love the food. The food is wonderful...*drools*....*blinks*.....*sighs*....Bah! I'm on a diet....
I've memorized the first of my ten stories. Appropriately it's the story of howAnansi stories, or Anansi Sem, came into being. I'm typing from memory, so bear with me:

Before the Ashanti people of Ghana told tales of the crafty spider Anansi, he was just a lowly, crawly spider with no real signifigance. One day, Anansi decided to do something about this. He went to Nyamkopon the sky god, and said, "Nyamkopon! Please make me great. I want to be the most famous creature in creation." Nyamkopon was skeptical of Anansi's request. Afterall, he was just a spider. But just to humor him, he agreed. "Alright," said Nyamkopon. "I will grant you your request, but only if you capture the venemous snake and bring it to me by sunset." By now, the other creatures of the forest were listening closely on this conversation between lowly Anansi and the sky god. When Anansi realized he was being watched, he said "Okay, I will do as you have said."
Now in his heart of hearts, Ananse was terrified. The viper was a very huge, very long snake. But as he had already made the commitment to catch him in front of all the animals, he had to follow through. So Anansi went into the forest and cut a long bamboo shoot. Then he cut some raffia grass, and set out to the place where the viper lived. The animals laughed as he passed by. "What, is he going to beat the snake with a stick?" said one "Perhaps he will whip the snake with the raffia grass," said another. Anansi was disheartened by this teasing, but still he continued on.
Anansi walked until he came to the deepest, darkest part of the forest. He looked around nervously for any sign of the viper. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him.
"ANANSI THE SPIDER!"
Anansi jumped. He turned to see the big viper slowly slithering toward him.
"Have you come to capture me?" hissed the snake. You see, news travels very fast in the jungle, so the viper was well aware of Anansi's task.
"N-no! No, not at all!" said a terrified Anansi. "See, the sky god ordered me to capture you, but I told him that it was a ludicrous task since you are so very long, so very smart, so very clever and cunning and--"
"Yes, yes, get on with it," said the snake impatiently.
"Well," continued Anansi, "I told this to the sky god, and then I went and cut this bamboo shoot in order to--
"In order to beat me with?" hissed the snake. Anansi was terrified!
"Oh no, great snake!" he said, "So that I can measure you, and show it to the sky god and the other animals of the forest, so that they know that you are indeed too long to be captured."
The snake thought about this for a moment. He was still wary of Anansi, but the spider's flattery had did the trick. "All right," said the snake. "You may measure me."
The snake then lay beside the bamboo shoot. To his embarrassment, he was shorter than the stick. He looked at Anansi as if to say "what now?" Anansi sighed. He looked to and fro, pretending to be very perplexed. "Well, I don't know," he said, stroking his chin. "I suppose...maybe if I used this Raffia grass to tie your tail to the stick, you could then stretch yourself longer?" The snake was so vain that he was willing to try anything to be as long as the stick. So Anansi tied his tail with the raffia grass. But still, he was too short. "Hm," said Anansi, again stroking his chin, "If I tie your middle to the stick, then you could stretch even further. " Desperate to acheive more length, the snake agreed. Yet still, he was shorter than the stick. Before the snake realized what was happening, Anansi then tied the snake's head to the stick, and then ran into the forest to tell the other animals that he had captured the great viper and so they could help him carry it to Nyamkopon.
While Anansi and the animals were carrying the snake, Anansi told them of how he had chased the viper down, and how they fought in a fierce battle and Anansi beat the snake with the stick. Finally, they arrived at Nyamkopon's altar just before sunset.
Anansi continued to tell his stories, and though Nyamkopon wasn't fooled, he was impressed by Anansi's cunning and determination. So that is why to this day, tales of trickery and cleverness are called Anansi stories, and they are told in West Africa, and also by the people of the West Indies and South America and even all over the world!

*Bows*
Than you, thank you. :) I'm gonna go update my list now...until next time!

Almost forgot...I saw a book!

2009-04-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

There's a lady at the park who sells books, and she had an old copy of one of the books on my book list (Zen and the art of Motor Cycle Maintenence). I asked her to save it for me until next week. It's weird because that was one of the last books that i added onto my list, and then it pops up the next day. The law of attraction in action maybe? I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Starting Pretty Good

2009-04-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

So today I had a good day...even though I woke up at like 2 o clock in the afternoon. :p I didn't go to sleep until six o clock this morning...my internal clock is all out of whack. I guess I could say I have insomnia, but I find it's more appealing if I say I'm nocturnal. Maybe I should've put one of my goals to get un-nocturnalized.
That aside, me and Anna went to the park today for the drum circle. I've always liked African drums so going to the circle is always fun. I forgot to write my anonymous letter though. Grr. That's what happens when you sleep through most of the day, stuff gets forgotten. But I drank about forty ounces of water..not quite 70 but it's forty more than i usually drink.
Also, I'm getting more into tea now. I was into drinking it before, but now I'm consciously tracking down teas I like. Ones with exotic ingredients like acai berry and rosehips...chai and hibiscus and passionfruit, oh my! (Sorry, could've resist. lol). Im' working on a tall mug of mango passionfruit herbal tea now. I think I'll get to like this habit.
Oh, and I called my older bro today too. He's doing good...so are his wife and youngins. It felt kinda weird talking to him, because the last time I called just to talk was like a year ago. There's no problem between us, we just don't talk so often. But yeah, it was pretty cool to talk to him. Very cool actually.
I guess that's it for now..going to update my list!

What I'm working on now

2009-04-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've thoroughly worn myself out with excitement over this thing...seriously I feel like I'm coming down off of an extreme sugar high. So before I crash completely, let's get down to the diddy do (yes, I make up my own expressions).

These are the things on my list I'm working on now:

Call my brother tomorrow just to say hello (#1)
Currently in school earning my A.A degree (#87)
Started drinking tea today (#28)
Starting my water regimen tomorrow (#22)
Writing an anonymous letter to leave at the park tomorrow (#62)

Gonna go lay down now...

Welcome to My 1,001 Day Odyessy

2009-04-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Did I spell Odyssey right? Well this is my blog chronicling a challenge I've taken on to complete 101 things in 1,001 days. 101 tasks may seem daunting, but with 1,001 days to do it (approx. 2.74 years), not so daunting. I know this will be full of fun, enlightenment, challenges, self discovery and oh-my-god-i'm-scared-shitless moments (looking forward to those). A few notes: On the goals where is says "start this" or "start that," I have to do it consistently for three weeks in order to consider it accomplished, because I heard somewhere that once you do something for three weeks, it becomes a habit.
AND Without Further Ado, My List!

Family Stuff

1. Call my big brother 10x just to say hello (1 /10)
2.Take family pictures
3. Read to lil' one 20 minutes each day
4. Crochet a dress for lil' one
5. Start taking lil' one to the park four times a week
6. Take lil' one to Gymboree
7. Pottytrain lil' one
8. Go to a family reunion
9. *
10. *
11. Babysit my niece and nephew

Friend Stuff

12. Go dancing with my girlfriends
13. Get a local circle of friends
14. Restore Paddy's baby picture
15. Write to all of my distance friends once a month

Health and Wellness Stuff

16. Start meditating each day
17. Complete the P90X program
18. Run a half marathon
19. *
20. Take self defense classes
21. Drop 70 pounds (4/70)
22. Start drinking 70 ounces of water each day
23. Give myself a facial every week
24. Take care of my hair and scalp and grow a big afro
25. Start using shea butter regularly
26. Stop obsessively caring about what people think of me
27. Jog on the beach at sunrise
28. Start drinking one (at least) cup of tea per day
29. Hike through San Bernardino National Forest
30. Keep a thankfulness journal (Journal. Not blog.)
31. Play a baseball game

Domestic Stuff

32. Learn to do cornrows
33. Start cleaning the house once a week
34. Start washing the dishes every day

Arts, Music and Literature Stuff

35. Learn to play the guitar (again)
36. Learn to play "Barracuda" on the guitar
37. Buy a djembe drum and play in a drum circle
38. Take African dancing classes
39. Go to 5 art shows/exhibits (0/5)
40. Write 50 poems/songs I am truly proud of (1/50)
41. Read 100 non-school books (0/100)
42. Get my Duafe Rose tattoo
43. Get my sun rising over Africa tattoo
44. Go to a ballet
45. Go to an opera
46. Attend the Labyrinth of Jareth masquerade ball
47. Go to the Seabreeze festival
48. Choreograph a bellydance to "Return to Innocence" by Enigma
49. Take voice training lessons or buy the American Idol voice training
50. Be in a karaoke competition
51. Go to Can of Jam at House of Blues
52. Attend 22 concerts (0/22)

Financial Stuff

53. Create a budget and stick with it for a year
54. Earn a 700 credit score
55. Get my own place
56. Buy a house
57. Start saving 50 dollars a month in a savings account

Giving Back & Community Stuff

58. Sponsor a child and encourage her to get an education
59 Volunteer in a homeless shelter 5x (0/5)
60. Plant a tree
61. Give 20 strangers a compliment (0/20)
62. Write ten anonymous, encouraging letters and leave them somewhere (0/10)
63. Take a Red Cross CPR class
64. Join a beach clean-up
65. Donate 100 dollars to the Omenako Project (2/100)

Crafty & Creative Stuff

66. Learn to paint, and paint Santa Monica Pier
67. Crochet a a cute top like this one
68. Start and maintain a scrapbook
69. Crochet or sew something, then sell it on Etsy.com
70. Participate in NaNoWriMo
71. Grow gourds, bead them and sell them on the beach

Travel and Language Stuff

72. Become fluent in Spanish
73. Intern in Ghana for one month
74. Visit a slave castle in Ghana
75. Learn 10 Anansi stories by heart (0/10)
76. Become fluent in French
77. Go to Sonoma county with my mom
78. Take a hay ride and drink apple cider in Yucaipa
79. Learn enough Italian to sing "Con Te Partiro"
80. Read a book in French
81. Visit Griffith observatory
82. Spend a day being a tourist in L.A
83. Visit Disneyland
84. Visit Aquarium at the Pacific
85. Learn to sing "Nkosi Sikilel e Afrika" (South African National Anthem)
86. Memorize Ghana's National Anthem

Education and Career Stuff

87. Earn associate's degree in web design
88. Design a portfolio website
89. Get my community website up and running

Cooking and Food Stuff

90. Host a dinner party
91. Find a recipe book and make all the recipes in that book
92. Try 20 new restaurants (0/20)
93. Go totally organic with fruits and veggies
94. Go to a restaurant that's been featured on Food Network

Other Stuff

95. Get boudoir pictures taken (ahhoooogaa!)
96. Go dumpster diving
97. Swim with dolphins
98. *
99. Get a macbook
100. Buy a bikini (and wear it!)
101. Buy two lovebirds and name them Ragetti and Pintel.

LIST TO BE COMPLETED: January 8th, 2012

I'll donate three dollars to charity for each one I don't complete and the unfinished ones will rollover to my next list. Here we go!