Sell Crazy Someplace Else: Absolute Happiness

101/1001 v. 2.0

Mission: Accomplish 101 discrete tasks in 1001 days

End Date: December 2, 2014

Green tasks are in progress.

HOME

1. Bring all wedding gifts from parents’ house to our house.

2. Choose wedding pictures to have printed and to make parents' albums.

3. Put together an emergency box (water, flashlights, etc.) for the house.

4. Put together “72-hour kits” in case of emergency/evacuation.

5. Put together an emergency box for both cars.

6. Write and properly execute wills.

7. Complete china service.

8. Complete silverware service.

9. Learn how to iron clothes properly.

10. Fully unpack house.

~~11. Set up guest room.~~

12. Set up ~~office~~ Lil Man's new room.

~~13. Set up “launchpad” in entry.~~

14. Put together a Task List/Control Journal for the house.

15. Back up computer.

16. Organize front-hall closet.

17. Organize master closet.

18. Plan and start an Evening Routine.

19. Plan and start a Morning Routine.

20. Start a filing system for paying bills and saving paperwork.

21. Hang pictures/paintings in house.

22. Get family room couch and chairs fixed.

23. Create a photobook of Lil’ Man’s art.

~~24. Create a photobook of Lil’ Man’s first year.~~

25. Hang and maintain a height chart for Lil’ Man.

~~26. Put clothes in hamper (not on floor) every day for 1 month.~~

~~27. Get a hamper for dry cleaning.~~

28. Get the kitchen to a shiny sink before I go to bed for 21 days straight.

FOOD

~~29. Start buying grassfed meat and pastured poultry.~~

30. Make homemade yogurt.

~~31. Join a CSA.~~

32. Follow a menu plan for 1 week.

33. Follow a menu plan for 1 month.

~~34. Bring lunch and snacks to work for 4 days in a week.~~

~~35. Bring lunch and snacks to work for 4 days per week for 1 month.~~

36. Make matzah ball soup.

~~37. Make a green smoothie.~~

38. Make jam.

39. Preserve a food by canning.

40. Make fresh pasta.

41. Bake a pie.

~~42. Go apple picking.~~

43. Bake 10 new things and blog about it.

44. Cook 10 new things and blog about it.

HEALTH

45. See a personal trainer to start a weight-training regimen.

46. Get eyes checked.

47. Take meds & vitamins every day for a month.

48. Floss every day for a month.

~~49. Exercise 30 minutes 3-4 times/week for 1 month.~~

50. Try Zumba.

51. Reach a healthy BMI.

52. Do the Couch-to-5K program.

~~53. Find a new foundation (makeup).~~

~~54. Put on makeup before I leave the house every day for 1 week.~~

55. Take a yoga/pilates class.

SELF/SPIRITUAL

56. Have Friday night Shabbat dinner at our house for family/friends.

~~57. Have a sukkah for Sukkot.~~

58. Make hamentashchen for Purim.

59. Make mishloach manot for Purim.

60. Go to a Tashlich service at Rosh Hashanah.

61. Go to Shabbat services at least once a season.

62. Have a dairy meal for Shavuot.

63. Write a list of 50 things that make me happy.

64. Make a list of 5 people who have positively influenced me and write them letters.

65. Contribute to our tzedakah box every week before Shabbat candlelighting.

66. Bake challah and freeze small portions for use over a month.

RELATIONSHIPS

~~67. Take Lil’ Man to the Zoo.~~

68. Take Lil’ Man to the Playseum.

~~69. Play in the leaves with Lil’ Man.~~

70. Send Mom flowers for no reason.

71. Send 5 friends flowers for no reason.

72. Bring JD breakfast in bed.

73. Create our own “Family Rules” and display in house.

74. Write an “If Something Happens to Me” Letter.

FUN

75. Learn how to play the piano.

76. Read all of Shakespeare’s plays. (9/36)

77. Ride in a hot-air balloon.

78. Take a golf lesson.

79. Learn how to play bridge.

80. Complete a needlework project.

81. Make/do 10 things on my Pinterest boards.

82. Read 10 books that I haven’t read from 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

83. Write a blog review of the 1001 Books… I read.

~~84. Have a picnic.~~

85. Take a picture of Lil’ Man at least once a week.

~~86. Write an article for my work newsletter.~~

87. Knit something.

88. Ask 20 friends to suggest one book and read them all.

89. Write a blog review of the “20 Books from Friends” I read.

90. Take a photo of the same place every month for a year and turn it into a calendar.

91. Host a dinner party.

92. See 10 classic movies I’ve never seen.

93. Go horseback riding.

94. See a play/musical.

~~95. Listen to a lecture online.~~

96. Write a blog post once a week for a year.

97. Pay for the person behind me at Starbucks.

98. Have a girls’ weekend.

99. Donate blood.

~~100. Do swab test for bone marrow donation.~~

101. Create and send out a family photo holiday card.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Absolute Happiness

Do you remember the times in your life when you felt absolute happiness? You know, the time where you were so filled with joy that it felt that your heart would burst?

I feel this way whenever I'm lost in a good book. I also get this feeling when I'm laughing with BFF. I had it on the day that John Dear and I got engaged. (I probably would've had it on our wedding day, but I was sick and hopped up on Dramamine most of the day).

I feel it in less momentous occasions. This week's season finale of Grey's Anatomy. Right at the end, where Meredith and Derek got together. Bliss. Nirvana. The first year's season finale of Friday Night Lights when the team wins the state championship. My heart exploded in joy.

This weekend at the beach has been so peaceful. I've finished two books in two days and will hopefully finish another today. John Dear and I both had massages yesterday. We'll probably go to the outlets and maybe see a movie today. I'm at peace and I'm happy.

15 comments:

annacyclopedia said...: That's wonderful, Jen. It's so great to really enjoy being happy. Glad to hear you had such a fantastic weekend.; May 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Antigone said...: Sounds blissful.; May 25, 2008 at 11:32 AM
MissNoAngel (find me on Twitter) said...: I could use a little bit of that right now...maybe I should head for the beach too! lol I've been meaning to, actually.

Glad you have found some zen!; May 25, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Anonymous said...: That does sound like bliss. I hope the rest of the weekend is just as wonderful!; May 25, 2008 at 1:23 PM
DC said...: Thank you so much for the comment on my blog! I hope you are having a wonderful time at the beach.

"Friday Night Lights" is one of my all-time favorite shows!! Also, I lived and worked in DC for a year between undergrad and law school. I always thought I would go back after law school, but fate had other plans.

I can't wait to follow your story and cheer you on! Please stay in touch.; May 25, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Io said...: I'm glad you're having such a good time of it lately and re-finding the joy.; May 25, 2008 at 5:30 PM
JJ said...: Happy is bliss...; May 25, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Lollipop Goldstein said...: Mmmm...that sounds so nice. Which beach are you guys at?; May 25, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Mommy Meryl said...: What a great post!! I have enjoyed reading your blog.; May 26, 2008 at 3:36 AM
seussgirl said...: Just found your blog through NaComLeavMo! Your Thoreau quote on the side? I wrote a paper on it in high school. :)
I liked your happiness post!; May 26, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Miss Feisty said...: Hello! Over from NaComLeavMo...

Sometimes when life sucks, it is nice to remember those times when we were happiest, I agree :); May 26, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...: Thanks for stopping by for NaComLeavMo! I'm really enjoying visiting the other blogs. And I WISH I had the time to read all weekend - it's all I really wanted to do, but alas, life got in the way. I did manage to read all of Water for Elephants though - FANTASTIC! I'll be posting my review within the next few day, so please come back and check it out!; May 27, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Marie said...: Yes I was absolutely crazy, over the top happy, about Meredith and Derek. You weekend sounds fantastic.; May 27, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Hope said...: I love those happy moments...they sure make us feel awesome.

I LOVED the ending of Greys too, how sweet was the candles outlining the house...awwww

((HUGS)); May 27, 2008 at 8:59 PM
SassyCupcakes said...: That sounds like the perfect weekend. Just blissful.; May 28, 2008 at 9:23 AM