Pride...

So it may be one of the seven deadly sins, and I really don't want to brag, but I am nearly done with both my Christmas shopping AND with getting all my Christmas cards sent out. BAM! Those who know me might ask, "Already? It's only December 8!" Oh yeah, I know. I'm just that good this year. I'm on the ball, turning over a new leaf, as it were. :) No, but seriously, I am trying to do some good things for people who mean a lot to me in my life. And it starts with a Christmas card and/or present. Where will it go from there? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: it isn't going to stop.

"Dead Week"

Another thing I don't usually do is post twice in the same day, but I don't really think I can count the previous post as a real post.

Dead week is one of those things that I never ran into while in undergrad. When I was at Luther, the only prep time we had for finals was a "reading day." During that day, we were supposed to dedicate all of our time to studying. The apparent idea behind dead week is the same. You're supposed to be preparing yourself for the onslaught that is known as finals week. There aren't supposed to be any tests, homework, papers due, etc. Yeah. Something like that.

I, myself, have two finals this week, one by choice, and the other is the lab portion of my microbiology course. The choice one is Case Study. I could either take the final Thursday or next week during its regularly scheduled time. I am pretty sure I'm going to choose Thursday. Why? Simply because I don't want to have to worry about studying for it next week when all of Satan's demons are allowed to roam the halls of the vet med building at Iowa State, chanting in students' ears, "AHAHAHAHA, there's NO WAY you're going to remember all the stuff you're going to be tested over!"

To that I retort, "BS." With one less final to worry about next week, and a final each day Monday through Thursday, I AM going to remember all the stuff I have to, by gum. I'll get it done. Life will go on as it always has. AFTER my tests are all done, that is. Hopefully the world won't have moved TOO far in the meantime. But I'll catch up. I just bought some new running shoes, after all.

101 in 1001

Ok. So I'm not one for buying into trends. But I heard a really good idea from a pretty good friend of mine and I decided to steal it. It's 101 goals that I have to complete in the next 1001 days, roughly 2 3/4 years. They're supposed to be pretty specific, that way I know when I complete them. So far I'm doing pretty well. I don't mean to be selfish, but there are a number about myself. But I also tried to include a bunch of things done for others as well. I am also happy to report that I am doing a pretty good job of progressing on #75. Go ahead. Have a look at it. You know you want to! :)

1. Visit Europe. Even if it's only for a week.

2. Go to a nursing home and talk to a WWII vet. Thank him.

3. Thank an Afghanistan vet for their service.

4. Find Anthony's grave.

5. Write a letter to Mrs. Cox expressing my gratitude.

6. Help a stranger on the roadside.

7. Volunteer in a construction project. (HH, etc.)

8. Randomly picnic at a park with someone I care about.

9. Make an entire meal from scratch. (it must be edible and delicious!)

10. Test drive a car I can't afford.

11. Eat at a Chinese restaurant I've never eaten at before.

12. Run a triathlon.

13. Spend an entire day in bed and not regret it.

14. Go to a zoo.

15. Go to Hannibal, MO and take the long tour of Mark Twain Cave.

16. Have a weekend of wine tasting with someone I care about.

17. Gamble in a casino and actually come out ahead when I leave.

18. Go a week without biting my nails.

19. Rock the show at RJ's wedding.

20. Write letters of thanks to five people who have made a difference in my life. (0/5)

21. Find a way to thank K&K for being awesome friends.

22. Get my DVM.

23. Reconnect with high school friends.

24. Take a trip without knowing where I'm going.

25. Go to 5 concerts. (0/5)

26. Get a tattoo honoring my dad.

27. Think about "My Wish" not only in terms of myself, but what it could mean applied to other people.

28. Meet a celebrity. (not a bubblegum, but someone who makes a difference)

29. See Brett Favre play just one game.

30. See another game at Lambeau Field.

31. Learn how to play bridge AND euchre.

32. Go to the state fair, spend the whole day there, and take my time.

33. Change all of the lightbulbs in my house to compact flourescents.

34. Slow dance in an empty room with no music.

35. Paint my trailer!

36. Clean my shower on a weekly basis.

37. Buy a new/bigger bed.

38. Pick a person randomly from the phonebook and call them to tell them how wonderful they are. (writing a letter would also fulfill this)

39. Own an argyle sweater/vest.

40. Play an epic game of the dot game.

41. Visit my Uncle Steve.

42. See Casting Crowns at their home church in Atlanta, GA.

43. Go squirrel hunting with my brother.

44. Spend a whole day with my sister, just hanging out.

45. Go to a Memphis Redbirds game with Jon.

46. Buy my mom flowers.

47. Climb a mountain. Any mountain.

48. Drive a car 100mph.

49. Learn to play guitar.

50. Sing a song from Beatles Rock Band in front of someone I think might care about my pitch, but have fun anyway.

51. Score more than 10,000 points in Farkle.

52. Read all of the Joseph Ellis books I own. (0/4)

53. Ride all 14 days of the next two RAGBRAIs.

54. Volunteer in a children's hospital.

55. Go tubing down the Upper Iowa River.

56. Go hiking at Malanaphy Springs. :)

57. Have lunch with Drs. T & D and thank them for being there for me.

58. Dognap Belle for a few days.

59. Take Duke for a long walk.

60. See a play in NYC.

61. Go to a big museum, and take at least two days to get through it all.

62. Read all the Harry Potter books. (0/7)

63. Watch "Pride and Prejudice"

64. Donate the clothes I don't wear anymore to charity.

65. Send out Christmas cards to my friends.

66. Host a BBQ for the Fourth of July.

67. Go to an Iowa bowl game. And tailgate. :)

68. Save more money for the R fund.

69. Stretch at least twice a day, every day, for a week.

70. Walk in the rain. Without being in a hurry, or using an umbrella.

71. Clean my car thoroughly.

72. Write a sincere letter of apology to someone I have hurt.

73. Clean out my refrigerator.

74. Take the cans back and donate the money to charity.

75. Drop at least 50 cents into every Salvation Army bucket I see over the holidays.

76. Replace the leaky windows in my trailer.

77. Plant new flowers in my flower bed.

78. Do not have an ER-requiring accident in the next 1001 days.

79. Spend a day hanging out with my aunt.

80. Pay off my credit card and keep the balance <$300.

81. Go for a sleigh ride. Horse-drawn, of course.

82. Go skiing.

83. Read all of my CS Lewis books. (0/4)

84. Be able to swim 1000 meters without stopping.

85. Eat at the Canteen and take someone who has never been there before.

86. Go camping.

87. Drive to Luther for Homecoming.

88. Go to C@L one more time.

89. Shovel the snow out of someone else's driveway/sidewalk.

90. Vacation on a beach with someone special.

91. Visit MoMA.

92. Help my mom when she moves.

93. Steam clean my carpet and couches.

94. Watch a terrible movie at the theater on purpose and laugh about how awful it was later.

95. Research options for internships/residencies.

96. Along that line, get some good letters of recommendation.

97. Allow A. to teach me how to shop on Black Friday.

98. Win a stuffed animal from one of those dumb crane machines.

99. Start a fund with all of my loose change. Do something worthwhile with it.

100. Donate $5 to charity for each item left undone.

101. Make a new list!