Tweeking the Time Turner

101 Things

 

This will be the entry where Izzie keeps the updates and progress reports on the grand 1001 project.  Will be adding dates for progress and completion as we go along and only occasionally making updates as proper posts.

Nothing like having this list as the first post for the next 1000 days as a reminder notice to keep on track and take one step at a time. Will be interesting to see how it compares to all those other unsuccessful anti-procrastination measures

 

 

Another wicked idea stolen from cat_irix

"The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Cross them off as you do them, and add the dates. Include the date you started the list and the finishing date. (You can use this handy calculator to help figure out the finish date.)

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic.
1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities."


The Izzie 101 List

Lurking in the Lair

1.Plant almond, avocado, fig, pecan, walnut and mulberry trees (20 June 2007 ......5/6)
Replaced the walnut - which will not grow well in this climate with a lime and mandarin tree (23/09/07)
2.Be self sufficient in herbs and vegetables
3.Install solar panels and connect to grid
(request for application  5/9/07)
(got written quote 16/10/07- next thing is filling in the application form)
(signed contract for 1kw system 24/10/07)
(submitted government rebate and electricity company applications 8/11/07)
(installation of import/ export electricity meter 03/12/07)
(panels installed 14/02/08) Due to a stuff up, the electrician did not turn up
(connected to grid 23/02/08)
4.Install 2 rainwater tanks for the garden
5.Create a Circle Mandala garden (07/07/07 laid sawdust on some of the paths)
6.Grow 12 varieties of medicinal plants (29/05/07 ......2/12)
7.Grow 12 varieties of poisonous plants
8.Reduce water usage to 50% of  water bill from 2006
Better late than never. Should have read the meter on the start day. But got a bit distracted
Monday 13th August 2007 = 171.612 kilolitres
Tuesday 11th September 2007 = 202.800 kilolitres
30 kilolitres in as many days - there's got to be a leak somewhere. This seems ridiculously high
Friday 2nd November 258.731
Monday 5th November 261.811 Most strange indeed considering the serpent was absent over those 4 days
End of year reading
Water = 313.990 kl
Leak found and fixed 02/01/08
1st February 2008 = 331.384
19th February 2008 =341
Bill arrived 07/08 usage  was 160 kilolitres for 180 days
That's 40% of 06/07 usage and 60% of 05/06 usage so we'll consider this goal achieved
9.Reduce electricity usage to 50% of 2006 average
Monday 13th August 2007  = 6941 units
Tuesday 18th September 2007=7023
New Meter set to zero - 03/12/07
End of year readings
Electricity = 96
Gas = 0291
Friday 1st February 2008
Electricity = 139
Gas = 293
Since getting a new fridge for Christmas,  daily electricity usage has gone from just over 3 units per day down to just over 1 and since Saturday our usage is a decadent minus 4 or more units ;)
10.Grow Lucerne and Lupins for mulch  (02/06/07 The little buggers are now sprouting. Will need to plant some more)
11.Find a way of getting the essential oils out of oranges and eucalyptus
12.Lure galahs and corellas to lurk around the Lair

Out and about

13.Watch at least one  summer solstice sunset at Cottesloe Beach
14.Visit One Tree Hill (Orcland) at Full Moon
15.Organize itinery for 2010 Grand European Tour
16.Visit Tasmania
17.Visit the Art Gallery's Egyptian Exhibition (21/09/07)
18.Visit the Country Gardens Festival   (2-5 November 2007)
19.See the wildflowers in bloom (05/09/07) But it was so lovely, will be back for more
20.Go whale watching in Albany
21.Stay overnight at Rotto
22.Visit 6 gardening shows
(10/04/08 Garden Week 1/6)
23.Visit 6 Open Gardens 
(09/09/07 Josh Byrne's garden.....1/6)
(02/11/07 Jan Barry's artist garden in Bridgetown ....2/6)
(03/11/07 Lavender Garden in Bridgetown .....  3/6)
(05/11/07 Avonlea in Bridgetown  4/6)
(28/03/08  Holbrook Garden in Nannup  5/6)
(11/05/08 Dan's Garden in Victoria Park  6/6)
24.Visit 6 permaculture or organic gardens for inspiration
 (02/06/07 City Farm Permaculture Garden  1/6)
 (09/09/07 The Painted Fish and Josh Byrne's garden  3/6)
(04/11/07 Harriet's Patch Bridgetown 4/6))
(06/11/07 Earthwise Permaculture Garden 5/6)
(25/05/08 FERN Permaculture Garden 6/6)

Goblin Business

25.Do the Izzie taxes online (taxes done and big juicy refund cheque arrived but not online so it doesn't count)
26.Finish CV
27.Apply for 12 jobs
28.Start Chartered  Accountant  registration and study
29.Earn 20% of income from other than work sources
30.Pay $40,000 off house
31.Write  a will
32.Finish making Snowflake Bear
33.Buy 4 bookcases  (7th August 1 bookcase as a present ... 1/4)
34.Sort out the Broom Cupboard (24-25 January 2008)
35.Decorate Dolores's Den (Started the pink and fluffy evilness 20 July 2007)
(02/01/08 Only a bit of tidying and a new pink and fluffy carpet remains on the to do list)
36.Toss 10 things for 101 days (18 October 2007.......90/101)
(15 March 2008 lots of tossing in preparation for some very special visitors .........101/101)

Geekish Things

37.Find and learn five free open source software programs
38.Learn Linux basics
39.Get a new Preciousss ( we don't really need one but we wants one)
40.Back up important files at least once per month (February 2008 - complete back up)
(10th August  bought a new one touch back up external hard drive but still working out how the hell to use it)
This one's been on steroids. Due to losing everything not saved since our backup of 02/01/08 before the Great Crash, been seriously vigilant on this one and backed up the whole Izzie user folder once with absolutely everything in it including iTunes, all piccies and documents. Also backed up the more mundane stuff several times too
41.Learn to use a graphics tablet
42.Sort out and watch DVD collection
(Got them all in the one place but not watched any of them yet .... 31st August 2007)
43.Sort and put all computer related stuff in one place
44.Find 101 nice things to say about Bill Gates
45.Invent an alphabet
46.Translate the numbers from 0-144 in an Izzie invented language
47.Translate the Babel text also
48.Design a font

Bookish Bits

49.Reread "Gödel, Escher, Bach"
50.Reread "Animal Farm"
51.Reread “1984”
52.Read the Potter series again from start to finish
(Philosopher's Stone - 27/11/07 to 07/12/07)
(Chamber of Secrets 08/12/07 to 31/12/07)
(Prisoner of Azkaban 02/01/08 to 06/02/08)
(Goblet of Fire 07/02/08.......)
53.Read "Lord of the Rings" from start to finish without skipping all the boring bits
54.Read “This Perfect Day”
55.See all the Matrix movies
56.Read 12 science fiction novels (7 June 2007........1/12)
1- Dante's Equation - Jane Jensen ... finished 7 June 2007
57.Read “M C Escher – Visions of Symmetry”
58.Finish reading “Against the Gods”
59.Learn to make handmade paper
60.Make at least one handbound book from scratch – paper and all

Sybil Says

61.Follow five planets
62.Recognize 12 or more Constellations  (28 May 2007 ...... 1/12)
1 Scorpio 28 May 2007
63.Buy a telescope  (Uncle Vernon has given Izzie one as a present but two lenses are missing  21/03/08)
64.Find four unusual or beautiful tarot decks (01/6/07 ........3/4)  Completed 12 June - thanks to the Cat ;)
65.Design a tarot deck
66.Learn the properties  of the SEP field
67.Learn to use it and other protective shields
68.Do the 13 steps in Leslie Kenton's “Journey to Freedom”
69.Do 3 random acts of kindness each day for 101  days straight
70.Acquire a goblet or chalice – preferably with images of serpents on it ( 9th August 2007)
71.Reread the Izzie green spiral notebooks from 2002
(02/01/08 Started with January 2002)
72.Make a suitable Sybil Space upstairs in the Lair

Serpent Snacks

73.Try one new recipe every month for 6 months
(Split pea soup - it was supposed to be dhal but did not quite work out that way  29 August 2007........ 1/6)
(Another attempt - a much better consistency but still a bit bland and boring 05/12/07 2/6)
(Finally got it right - just as well as the ma and pa were the guinea pigs  11/01/08 3/6)
(Mayonnaise made from scratch - it was going so well but then got a bit impatient and it curdled. What a total waste of free range eggs and extra virgin cold pressed olive oil  08/04/08 4/6)
(Onion and celery soup  pretty good for total guess work  09/04/08  5/6)
74.Invite the Dursleys over for Dinner
(invite for Friday 11th January)
75.Bake sourdough bread at least once
76.Find and make 10 recipes with chickpeas
(2nd August 2007  Chickpea curry 1/10)
(12th February 2008 another improvised curry 2/10)
77.Learn how to cook at least 10 Juicy Beetroot Cafe dishes
78.Try out a Vietnamese Restaurant  (Viet Hoa 27/10/07 A bit boring and bland)
79.Try out a Korean Restaurant   (25 August 2007)
80.Make dark chocolate moon truffles
81.Make pesto instead of buying it  (09/04/08)
82.Make garlic soup
83.Make DIY Dukkah and Zaatar
84.Make Mango and Chai Lassi

Odds and ends

85.Adopt a Buchling (or even better - Become One)
(Buchlings are utterly adorable one eyed creatures obsessed with books who dedicate themselves to one writer and learn all their works word for word. We thinks that Anthony De Mello or Douglas Hofstadter are the most likely candidates for adoption)
86.Complete the Rostrum Intermediate Development Prgram (Public Speaking)
(Still got five speeches left on this list including a poetry reading, leading a discussion, conducting a tutorial or workshop and a competition speech)
87.Declutter and tidy the kitchen cupboards (28/05/07 ......4/13)
(03/01/08 10/13)
(10/01/08  13/13)
88.Keep them that way
89.Master the Dark Art of Feng Shui Sabotage
90.Make a Hexen- Ecke in our Garden of Arcane Delights
91.Make a frog pond
92.Plant a bird friendly native garden on the verge (full of prickly critters such as banksias, grevilleas and acacias with the odd evil South African import such as King Proteas)   (30/05/07 Completed but sort of cheated since it's in a different location than originallly intended. But will be doing the same thing on the verge also)
93.Design a quilt  (bought a gorgeous quilt book from a second hand book sale 13/10/07)
94.Find a nice fractal computer program
95.Do something useful with it
96.Make a Serpent Seal so that we can find a worthy use for those green and silver letter wax sticks

The Final Five

97.Begin a business from home (06/07/07 obtained a home business guide book from small business centre)
98.Sort out our munchies hoarding problem  (18/10/07 Days of not buying unnecessary nibbles  100/1001)
(January 2008 20 days of not buying munchies)
(February 2008  13 No munchies days)
(March 2008 19 No munchies days)
(April 2008  15 No munchies days)
99.Find five books from our present collection to read (Izzie's reading these days is largely online or from local libraries)
1 Finished "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows"  26 July 2007
2 Finished "Wishcraft" by Barbara Sher 13th October 2007
100.Find five things to be thankful for each day
101.Finish everything on this list

Intending to post regular updates around new moon time each month. Will be interesting to see if leaving an "Izzie Eyes Only" list always as the first visible LJ entry and seeing it all the time will serve as a source of inspiration or just another excuse for procrastination. Past experience with lists has often resulted in things getting achieved almost subconsciously long after you think you've forgotten they were ever there

PS 1001 Days from today gets the Izzie to Friday 19th February 2010.  A most uninteresting looking lot of numbers indeed. But whatever the clock says, hoping to get most of the house and garden stuff done by Wednesday 2nd January 2008

PS Moved to a new list as this one is getting too cluttered
Still the same old stuff but removed all the completed goals from the first 365 days.


The latest incarnation