So I had nine things that were either not done at all or only partially done. These items have been moved to my 31 before 31 list, aling with several new "chores."
As I retire this blog, I invite you to start keeping track not only of my 31 before 31 list, but my 40 before 40 list, which will be tracked on the same blog.
Thanks for the support on these lists. So far, it's been a blast!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Updates, sort of.
Okay, so it’s been a while since I’ve updated my already belated progress here, but I have a few chunks of achievements.
First, I did actually try 30 new beers (and then some) before my birthday, but I didn’t ever “review the last one. I splurged on a bottle of Brewmaster Signature Ale, a collaboration between Port Brewing in the US and De Proef Brewing in Belgium. This hybrid of Belgium and American Ale was not as good as I had expected. To be honest, it was pretty damn boring, and very bitter considering the low amount of hops. Oh well, it counts as number 30.
As for ethnic foods, I am over halfway there. By my count, I’m at 16, and while I am not going to take time to write about everything, I will say that a good chunk of that is Indian cuisine. For produce, I am only up to 12, but again, I have had so much already in my life that it’s hard to find new things to try. I’ve still got a week and some change before the new year, though, and I’ll squeeze in what I can.
My most exciting recent exploit is the fact that I ran, without stopping or walking, the entire three-mile trail around Green Lake in Seattle. If you live in the area, running, jogging, walking, cycling, and skating the path that encircles Green Lake is a big deal. I’ve been wanting to join this Seattle society since I first arrived in the area, and I am very excited that I finally did.
First, I did actually try 30 new beers (and then some) before my birthday, but I didn’t ever “review the last one. I splurged on a bottle of Brewmaster Signature Ale, a collaboration between Port Brewing in the US and De Proef Brewing in Belgium. This hybrid of Belgium and American Ale was not as good as I had expected. To be honest, it was pretty damn boring, and very bitter considering the low amount of hops. Oh well, it counts as number 30.
As for ethnic foods, I am over halfway there. By my count, I’m at 16, and while I am not going to take time to write about everything, I will say that a good chunk of that is Indian cuisine. For produce, I am only up to 12, but again, I have had so much already in my life that it’s hard to find new things to try. I’ve still got a week and some change before the new year, though, and I’ll squeeze in what I can.
My most exciting recent exploit is the fact that I ran, without stopping or walking, the entire three-mile trail around Green Lake in Seattle. If you live in the area, running, jogging, walking, cycling, and skating the path that encircles Green Lake is a big deal. I’ve been wanting to join this Seattle society since I first arrived in the area, and I am very excited that I finally did.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Giving Myself a Mulligan
Well, as far as completing my 30 Before 30 list has gone, I didn’t meet my goals. I completed 17 items completely, have some that are in the works, and several that haven’t even been touched.
But wait…I HAVE EXCUSES!!! In order, they read:
2. Try 30 new ethnic foods – I am about halfway there, but I find it difficult since Federal Way is sorely lacking in ethnic restaurants and since so many things have rice in them, which I don’t eat.
4. Lose 30 pounds – Technically – technically – I did this one. I lost 30 pounds since I started this list. The problem is, I put a large chunk of it back on. Flip-flopping work schedules, medical issues, and Little Rae’s Picture Cookies are largely to blame.
7. Inventory my DVDs – This is a work in progress. I have more DVDs than most people (and some stores) and I am not the world’s fastest typist. I’m on my way, though!
9. Read a classic novel, cover to cover, in one sitting – Ok, this one is just a result of chores and laziness. I tend to spend my free time running errands and working on the house, as well as watching movies and trading gripes about jobs with the missus.
10. Do 100 push-ups – This was harder than I thought it would be. It meant that I had to work hard and train. As if.
13. Run around Green Lake – I could have done this one, I just never made the time.
22. Try 30 new kinds of produce – This one proved a lot more challenging than I ever would have guessed, simply because I’ve had so many different kinds throughout my life. Finding new items isn’t always easy.
23. Write something and get it published – This is actually done. An article I wrote for the Inter Urban Runners Club was written and submitted before my birthday, but didn’t get published until after. Counts, though…
26. Have a picnic in a park – I just never managed to squeeze this one in. When we’re out of town, we like to try new restaurants. When we’re in town, we tend to sit on our butts and eat at home.
27. Beat Super Mario Bros. on the original NES – I never found time to get to this one either…
29. Find a town I’ve never heard of on a map, drive there, eat somewhere locally, see the sights, and leave – Again, I just never found the time for this one. Complicating matters is that a lot of the towns I’ve never heard of have nothing worth going to see.
30. Learn to juggle – Workin’ on it. Our lovely and gracious culinary artist Surtida taught me how, and I can kinda juggle, but not enough to count it.
If modern American society and video games have taught me anything, it’s that you can redo anything you want and still count it. So I’m gonna.
My reasoning is as follows: I started my list in January, so I didn’t even give myself a full year. That’s just not even fair.
That being said, I am extending my deadline to January 1. My pledge is to have completed this effin list by the start of the new year, which won’t exactly count, but dammit man, I can’t let it drop, and if I don’t set a new deadline, I’ll never finish.
While I’m off for a few days on my mini Halloween vacation, I plan on cranking through as many more things as I can. Once this is list is finished, I will also start work on my 40 Before 40, which will be tougher, but this time I’ve got a whole decade. *sigh*
But wait…I HAVE EXCUSES!!! In order, they read:
2. Try 30 new ethnic foods – I am about halfway there, but I find it difficult since Federal Way is sorely lacking in ethnic restaurants and since so many things have rice in them, which I don’t eat.
4. Lose 30 pounds – Technically – technically – I did this one. I lost 30 pounds since I started this list. The problem is, I put a large chunk of it back on. Flip-flopping work schedules, medical issues, and Little Rae’s Picture Cookies are largely to blame.
7. Inventory my DVDs – This is a work in progress. I have more DVDs than most people (and some stores) and I am not the world’s fastest typist. I’m on my way, though!
9. Read a classic novel, cover to cover, in one sitting – Ok, this one is just a result of chores and laziness. I tend to spend my free time running errands and working on the house, as well as watching movies and trading gripes about jobs with the missus.
10. Do 100 push-ups – This was harder than I thought it would be. It meant that I had to work hard and train. As if.
13. Run around Green Lake – I could have done this one, I just never made the time.
22. Try 30 new kinds of produce – This one proved a lot more challenging than I ever would have guessed, simply because I’ve had so many different kinds throughout my life. Finding new items isn’t always easy.
23. Write something and get it published – This is actually done. An article I wrote for the Inter Urban Runners Club was written and submitted before my birthday, but didn’t get published until after. Counts, though…
26. Have a picnic in a park – I just never managed to squeeze this one in. When we’re out of town, we like to try new restaurants. When we’re in town, we tend to sit on our butts and eat at home.
27. Beat Super Mario Bros. on the original NES – I never found time to get to this one either…
29. Find a town I’ve never heard of on a map, drive there, eat somewhere locally, see the sights, and leave – Again, I just never found the time for this one. Complicating matters is that a lot of the towns I’ve never heard of have nothing worth going to see.
30. Learn to juggle – Workin’ on it. Our lovely and gracious culinary artist Surtida taught me how, and I can kinda juggle, but not enough to count it.
If modern American society and video games have taught me anything, it’s that you can redo anything you want and still count it. So I’m gonna.
My reasoning is as follows: I started my list in January, so I didn’t even give myself a full year. That’s just not even fair.
That being said, I am extending my deadline to January 1. My pledge is to have completed this effin list by the start of the new year, which won’t exactly count, but dammit man, I can’t let it drop, and if I don’t set a new deadline, I’ll never finish.
While I’m off for a few days on my mini Halloween vacation, I plan on cranking through as many more things as I can. Once this is list is finished, I will also start work on my 40 Before 40, which will be tougher, but this time I’ve got a whole decade. *sigh*
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Almost there...
Wow. In 9 days I will be halfway to 60. This came up on me much faster than I thought it would. With regards to my list, there will be items left undone. This is really disappointing to me, but oh well, I wouldn't have done many of the things I did unless I had made this list.
I've got a few items to add today in the ethnic food arena:
Halvah, which is essentially a sesame seed bar from the Middle East, tasted exactly like you might think it would. A texture like marzipan and a flavor of toasted sesame seeds. Not bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat one again.
Menudo, a popular Mexican soup of hominy and tripe, was one of the most revolting things I have ever tried. Well, the soup itself wasn't all that bad, but I learned through tasting it that tripe - the inner lining of a cow's stomach - has neither a flavor nor a texture that I find even the least bit appetizing.
I've got a few items to add today in the ethnic food arena:
Halvah, which is essentially a sesame seed bar from the Middle East, tasted exactly like you might think it would. A texture like marzipan and a flavor of toasted sesame seeds. Not bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat one again.
Menudo, a popular Mexican soup of hominy and tripe, was one of the most revolting things I have ever tried. Well, the soup itself wasn't all that bad, but I learned through tasting it that tripe - the inner lining of a cow's stomach - has neither a flavor nor a texture that I find even the least bit appetizing.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Play it again, Bogie.
Humphrey Bogart, one of my favorite actors, appeared in 75 films before his three pack-a-day habit killed him. I cranked through a handful of Bogart films today, which completes my movie marathon portion of my list.
And no, I didn’t watch Casablanca. I’ve seen it too many times and it’s too famous to count, I decided.
Beat the Devil
A band of con men set out to steal parcels of African land rich with uranium. Bogart is more or less their stooge, until he falls in love with a compulsively dishonest English woman, whose husband in turn is seduced by Bogart's wife. They all wind up running from authorities of many nations in this humorous spoof of noir films.
The Maltese Falcon A classic and one of the films that launched Bogey into stardom. Detective Sam Spade is asked to help track down a solid gold statue that is encrusted with jewels. He does. Hmm. Not as heavy as you'd think...but check out the original version of this film that predated the Hollywood censors. Or the comedic version Satan Met a Lady. Yes, Bogart's is the third incarnation of this classic noir epic.
Action in the North Atlantic
Merchant Marines on a Liberty Ship get separated from their convoy to Europe by a German wolfpack in this WWII naval action-adventure. They survive two sub attacks, Luftwaffe strafing and bombing runs, fog, and storms during their time at sea. Like Das Boot, Run Silent, Run Deep, or U-571? You'll like Action in the North Atlantic. Oh, and if you liked U-571, you're an idiot.
Across the Pacific 
Passage to Marseille 
All Through the Night
And no, I didn’t watch Casablanca. I’ve seen it too many times and it’s too famous to count, I decided.
Beat the DevilA band of con men set out to steal parcels of African land rich with uranium. Bogart is more or less their stooge, until he falls in love with a compulsively dishonest English woman, whose husband in turn is seduced by Bogart's wife. They all wind up running from authorities of many nations in this humorous spoof of noir films.
The Maltese Falcon
Action in the North AtlanticMerchant Marines on a Liberty Ship get separated from their convoy to Europe by a German wolfpack in this WWII naval action-adventure. They survive two sub attacks, Luftwaffe strafing and bombing runs, fog, and storms during their time at sea. Like Das Boot, Run Silent, Run Deep, or U-571? You'll like Action in the North Atlantic. Oh, and if you liked U-571, you're an idiot.
Across the PacificA disgraced and dishonorably discharged Army officer decided to offer his artillery skills to the highest bidder overseas right before the outbreak of WWII. On a boat travelling to Japan, he is seduced into selling American armament secrets to Japanese agents. Or does he? Is he actually an American secret agent? Is he spreading disinformation?
Passage to MarseilleEscapees from Devil's Island are picked up by a tramp steamer as their hand made canoe bobs around the Atlantic. A complex story unfolds of French patriots who risk their lives to escape prison and try to get to Allied lands to take the fight to the Germans. An interesting study in patriotism and the rights of wrong-doers to make amends to their country.
All Through the NightWhen a sports handicapper's favorite cheesecake baker is murdered, his investigation leads he and his cronies to a ring of German spies and saboteurs. A light-hearted, action-packed bit of WWII US propaganda.
Everything in its place...
I have finally gotten every last stray audio track and digital photo on my hard drive into order. Every single one. Thousands of hours of radio shows, hundreds of musical albums, thousands of photos, and what have you. What had been scattered wildly about my computer for years is now all neatly placed into appropriate folders based on categories and titles. Yay! Organization rules!
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