Technicalities, and another book

So, I finished another book for goal 47. Another book that I had started before the 1st (and hence, before my challenge). 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. Really, this is one book broken down into 5 thematic parts (also called books, so this might get a bit confusing), but then contained in 3 physical books. In the first physical book (total of 350 pages), are housed the first 3 thematic books--The Part About the Critics, The Part about Amalfitano, and The Part About Fate. This is the book I just finished, so I'm counting it as one, and then I'll count the other two physical books (housing parts 4 and 5, respectively) as one each as well. I don't think this is cheating, but obviously I wouldn't count War and Peace as more than one book (or Infinite Jest, which is actually on my to read list, for that matter).

So to the story: Ostensibly, 2666 centers around a series of murders that take place in Santa Teresa, a small town just across the Mexican boarder. I say "Ostensibly" because, so far, these murders (numbering in the hundreds, all of young women) seem to only float in the background, until the very end of the 3rd part (where some of the characters go to interview a man who has been arrested for the murders. The narrative structure disintegrates and the writing takes on a phantasmagoric quality).

So far, the first three parts seem to link up only in the most tenuous of ways, but the plot is interesting enough, and the writing engaging enough for me to slog on another 5 hundred pages and find out if it all comes together in the end.


Other continuing goals: Goal 42, donating to Freerice.com. So far I've donated 10,000 grains of rice. I've decided to do them in 5,000 grain increments, because it will be easier to keep track. I need to play 200 times total to complete this goal (198 to go!)


Still telling D I love him everyday. Last night he "reminded" me (I hadn't forgotten, just hadn't said it yet. It was about 11:30) which annoyed me, but probably won't be a bad thing later down the road when I actually might forget or lose track of time.


Oh, and for goal 30--saving a dollar a day--I've decided to get ahead of myself. I plucked out all the quarters from my change jar and rolled $10 dollars of them, so I'm set for the next 10 days. I figure since it's the final number (1001) that's important, rather than the daily ritual of sticking a dollar in a jar, this is the path of least resistance.

And They're Off!

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66. Tell D everyday that I love him

What is it: When I was compiling this list, I shared this one with D and he said, "But don't you already do that?" He's right, of course. I probably do. We have contact in some form or another everyday and I'm sure "I love you" makes an appearance in one of its many incarnations (we have a number of disgustingly cute code words and phrases that approximate to the same thing). But I put this on my list because I want "I love you" to be a deliberate action on my part, to think about why I'm saying it every day that I say it. In this case, "I love you too" doesn't count.





Status: In progress (119/1001)

57. Visit Stranathan

What is it: Stranathan was my high school chemistry/bio teacher. He was the first person to seriously ask me what I wanted to do with my life (and listen to the answer), and he fought the administration to have me placed in higher level Physics. He's been a sort of mentor to me and I've been back to see him and chat a couple of times, but for one reason or another, I haven't seen him in over a year. I want to make at least one final visit before I move out of the area for good.





Status: Haven't Started.

34. Find a way to thank Mary

What is it: Mary is/was my therapist. She's helped me through the absolute worst times in my past, has been a constant advocate for me, but isn't afraid to tell me when I'm wrong, and I don't think I'm being hyperbolic when I say that, in a number of ways, she's saved me.I woudn't be half as well adjusted as I am today if it weren't for her. I stopped seeing her after I went off to college, but have recently come back since my mother's been slowly circling the drain and I've been trying to adjust to life as an Adult. I want to find an appropriate way to say "thank you".





Status: Haven't started

24. Keep in touch with college friends after graduation

What is it: I am a notoriously bad friend. Not in the sense that I'm not there for someone when they need me or that I'm a raging bitch (at least, I hope not), but I'm really terrible about keeping in touch with people. I'm phone phobic, and tend to take my sweet time replying to emails and facebook messages (which reminds me of a number of them still sitting on my to-do list as I type). I'd hate to lose out on all the great connections I've made in college because I'm being lazy or needlessly anxious. There are about 3 or 4 people that I want to stay in contact with after I graduate. In order to consider this task complete, I must still be in touch with at least two people through email, phone, or in person at the end of 1001 days. I would classify "Out of touch" as no contact of any sort in 3 months.

I can't actually start this task until I graduate in May, but until then I can practice calling and emailing the people I want to stay in touch with.



Status: Won't start until 2010

16. Cook a Holiday meal for friends/family

What is it: Seems to me that this is one of those things you do when you're really an adult. Granted of course, I'm likely to be doing major holidays (Christmas and Thanksgiving) with my family for the next couple years, but I'm hoping I can arrange it so that I can maybe do something small at my place either one of those holidays (Maybe christmas eve?) or maybe on a minor holiday (Labor day, Memorial day or July 4th cook outs). I can probably take pictures of this one ( or at least the meal).





Status: Haven't started.