I Came, I Saw, I Kicked Ass.

So, I took the GRE today and I did better than my wildest dreams--740 on both Verbal and Math. Which, if you'll note, was higher (much higher for math) than my "ok, I'll stop here" scores. On D's advice, I'm not marking this goal as complete yet because I still have to get my essay scores back, and that won't be for another couple of weeks. I don't think I did poorly on those either, and if I didn't do as well as I wanted I believe I can retake those separately. So, Woohoo!

As a reward for myself afterward (which I would have done regardless of my score), I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up Anais Nin's Delta of Venus, so now I've officially bought my first non-necessary book, so that goal will go in the "in progress list" (though really, it should have been already because of the nature of the goal), and once I read that (hopefully, during my upcoming vacation), I'll be able to tick off one of the ten pieces of "classic erotica".

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.

27. Get CPR certified

What is it: There are a couple of reasons why this one is listed. First, it's just a useful skill to have, even though I don't know if I'll ever feel confident enough in my abilities to save the day. Second, depending on what jobs I'm looking for (and how desperate I get), CPR certification (along with first aid, or life guard cert.) can help me get a job either caring for children (camp counselor, nanny, etc) or lifeguarding. My college offers courses each semester, so I can easily take a class next semester to get certified and I'll have this complete by the end of the school year.




Status: Haven't started.

93. Get my own credit card

What it is: Given the state of the economy as of late and my status as a perpetually broke college student ($50 to my name ftw), this may seem like a Really Really Bad Idea. But hear me out. I have a credit card now that my father pays for to be used for flights to and from school and emergency purchases. In general, I just use it for those things now. I want my own credit card, in my name that I pay for so that I can improve my credit score (by not overspending and paying it on time) and maybe not live in an apartment for my entire life. Also, I enjoy purchasing things online and I feel more comfortable making those purchases with a credit card (with theft protection) than with a back card. My boyfriend informs me that this might be a Bad Idea anyway, even if I'm diligent about not spending more than I can afford at any given time, but we'll see.

I plan to wait until I have a steady income of my own before I make this goal a reality, anyhow.





Status: Not Started

72. Back up all important computer files

What is it: For Christmas, D got me a couple of flash drives to use for school and to back up important files--documents for classes and personal writing, music purchased, uploaded and downloaded, etc--and I've yet to put them to use. If my computer were to crash, I would lose a ton of data and be out all that money i spent on itunes. I have the flash drives still, though I don't know if they're big enough to hold everything. Completion of this task only depends on me getting my butt in gear. Beyond that, I would like to continue to move data to the flash drives regularly, but this task is really about that first initial downloading.




Status: Not Started

70. Buy no more than 15 non-necessary books

What is it: I've changed the number here a bunch of times--first it was 5, and I thought there's no way I can buy so few books, then it was 25 and I thought that was way too high, especially given that I'm not counting books bought with gift cards in this number (because it's not my money, and in many cases, the card will depreciate over time). So I settled on 15. Enough so that I can run out get the new novel from my favorite author, or get stuff from the COOP (where I won't get gift cards), but low enough to make this to require a substantial amount of effort from me.

I'm a self-professed bibliophile and I own way too fucking many books (4 6x3 shelves and more books besides) and what's worse, is that there are still a ton of books I haven't read sitting on my shelves. By limiting my book purchases, I'm hoping to save some money and focus on reading the books I already own (maybe that'll be a goal for my next list).




Status: In progress (2/15)

8/12/09- Purchased Anais Nin's Delta of Venus, as an End of GRE gift to myself.
Some time ago- Purchased Nerve: Literate Smut at the Book Barn with D

58. Move in with D

What is it: I almost feel like this one is a cheat because he and I have been planning this one for a while, so it seems like it's almost inevitable (Like if I put "Graduate from college" when I have no reason to believe I'm not going to graduate). But I still think it's a big step in Real Adult(tm)hood and in a Real Relationship which will require a good bit of effort on my part (as well as on D's) to get the logistics together, and also to adjust to living with someone other than family for The Long Hull. Right now, we're anticipating moving in together immediately after I graduate, so sometime this spring/summer.




Status: Haven't started.

56. Pay my own bills for something

What is it: It seems strange that I shouldn't have had to do this already, even if it was money given to me specifically for the purpose of paying my own bills (I've never even actually had to write a check, even though I have, I think, 2 checkbooks). Since this list is in part designed to help me become a Responsible Adult (tm), I figure it's time I get around to covering this very essential part. The completion of this goal might have to be put on hold until I actually have bills to pay--when my cell phone is not on my father's plan, I'm not living in a dorm, or I get kicked off my father's insurance plan when I graduate.




Status: Haven't started.

55. File my own taxes

What is it: I am still listed as a dependent on my father's taxes. Which makes sense since I'm a full time student and work under the table, only making a couple thousand a year, tops. In order to be a Responsible Adult (tm) in the Real World, I need to figure out how to file a tax return that won't have the IRS hunting me down. D's already had to do this and he's got the necessary software, so he can show me the ins and outs. I don't suspect to be able to complete this task until I actually have a real job and my father is no longer listing me as a dependent or footing the bill for my education, so probably after I graduate.






Status: Haven't started.

45. Work a full-time job

What is it: Seems strange I haven't done this yet, right? (For the record--I'd count 40 hours a week during the 4 or so months during the year that school is out of session as "full time") I don't work during the school year (though that might change this year), but I do work part time during the summer. I have nothing against working full time, I just have terrible luck picking jobs (I've waitressed, nannied, done clerical work for friends, and taken care of my elderly grandmother (she died)) nothing has worked out well. I probably won't be able to work full time until I graduate, so this will be on hold until I graduate.






Status: Haven't started.

30. Store $1 a day

What is it: In general, I'm not so great about saving money, mostly because I haven't had a reliable source of income and things like Christmas presents (and books) always seem to eat up whatever extra I have. $1 seems like a reasonable amount, even if it's just scrounging up 10 dimes or a hundred pennies. I'd like to keep a jar for this, and deposit the money into a bank account after every $100 I collect. This is another goal where it doesn't matter if it gets done every day, so long as it gets done (i.e. depositing 7 dollars once a week is acceptable)




Status: In Progress (30/1001)

17. Host a dinner party

What is it: Basically I just want to throw a "classy" party for some close friends (also, practice cooking for a group). A good meal, good booze, good conversation. Cocktail dresses. Mostly for the novelty of it, not out of some weird notion of "how things should be" or "what adult parties are like". I don't do keggers, really, so my social agenda now, is not too far off. minus the meal, of course.




Status: Haven't started.

13. Complete a resume

What is it: I haven't made one of these since Career Day in high school, and since I'm looking to become a Responsible Adult(tm) eventually I figure it's probably important. Really, if I sit down and do this with a decent template, it shouldn't be difficult at all and shouldn't take me a lot of time.





Status: Haven't Started

5. Learn to Cook

What is it: Another task that seems to be ill-defined, but I've got some specific criteria to meet so that I can consider this task complete. Basically, I feel that in order to be a Real Person(tm), I need to learn how to cook meals that are not ramen and soup or cheese and crackers. I have a few things I can make reliably (mm cheesy orzo) and i can follow a recipe without too much trouble, but I don't feel that I'm competent enough to say that I am able to cook.

I'm taking a "just for fun" class this semester called "Healthy Cooking on a Budget" which should go towards this goal's completion. I'll consider it done when I can (and have) prepared home-cooked meals for an entire week.





Status: In Progress