64. Buy a pair of funky boots

I've decided that every woman should have a great pair of boots. I love the classic black, but I am finding that I can also branch out and go funky. Well, funky for me (Ms. Conservative). And they were 50% off, which is hard to beat. Now I just need to do 59. (a new dress).

73. Go to a silent auction

Tonight I attended my 1st silent auction. And it was all I dreamed it would be. Here's what I walked away with:

1. A friend and I teamed up to get 52 combos from Chick-fil-a. I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of homeschool at chick-fil-a this year.

2. 4 tickets to see a soccer game - Morgan's been asking to play on a team, so I thought she might like to see an actual game.

3. I also won the auction on a restaurant that I've always wanted to go to, 131 Main. A great excuse for a date night.

And although not on my list of 101 things, I would love to go to a live auction.

I'd go with a lot less cash.

65. Research the Dirty Dozen and eat organic of them

So, now I know the Dirty Dozen and am going to make an effort to buy as many of them organically as is practical. I can buy conventional broccoli, but should always buy organic peaches.

The way I see it: even if I don't buy into the added health benefit or the sustainability of the environment or the better treatment of the animals that organic claims - it's only my pocketbook that is going to take the hit. 

53. Learn to play bridge

                     Thanks to some great friends who come over every couple of weeks to play cards, I now know the basics of bridge. Armed with chips, dip, M&Ms, and IBC root beer, I am ready to be the opener or responder - trump or no trump - finesse or be the dummy.

It's the best card game I've ever played. And I can't wait to get good enough to be able to drink some wine while playing.

38. read 2 autobiographys of people I've never heard of

Done! While Travels with Lizbeth was a good read, A Three Dog Life was not. It is about Abagail Thomas' journey after her husband of 12+ years got hit by a car and has traumatic brain injury. The book had so much potential, but her writing left something to be desired. It was more like James Joyce's A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man with a stream of consciousness.

At least I can check another thing off my list. And I've learned something with this one...I like autobiographies.

38. read 2 autobiographys of people I've never heard of: half way done

I finished Travels with Lizbeth by Lars Eighner last night. Very good book. It's about a writer who ends up having to live on the streets for 3 years. He writes about his struggle to find work, safe and warm places to sleep, and his next meal. He has along with him his dog, Lizbeth. Lars is gay, which causes for some lewdness at times; he writes about some of his sexual encounters as a homeless man. If you don't mind that, I would recommend this book. It's well written and brings up issues that would be perfect to discuss in a book club.

Proof that reading expands your ideas and vocabulary: Lars Eightner had a quote in his book about it being a "two dog night". I got the reference only because I had already picked out A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas. Which will be my second autobiography for 38.

53. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I’m attempting 53. Learn to play bridge. Gotta say it’s really hard. And I’ve decided that you have to be really smart to play it well. I now think of bridge players differently. I have more reverence, respect, and awe when someone says that they know how to play bridge. I'll be lucky to just memorize the bidding process and points, much less any of the strategies of playing the hand.

I've logged about 7 hours already trying to learn the fundamentals of the game. I'm about half way through the tutorial.

The silver lining: I didn’t say I had to learn how to play it well.  

76. 101 Things I'm Thankful for

 This list is pretty personal.  You'll have to take my word that it's done since I'm not posting a picture of it! But, here's a small sampling of what's on it.

1. the ability to laugh

24. butchers so I don't have to kill and prepare my own meat

38. watermelon margaritas

50. the cocoa bean and the smart people who can make it into something fabulous

74. the hot water heater

90. indoor plumbing and plumbers who fix it when broken

101. I have 3 beautiful and healthy children

Hope you all got the Thanksgiving reference with the picture. And I hope I don't get a call from a lawyer saying that I'm being sued since it's not my picture and I'm using it without permission.

Hope all you readers out there take time to think about the things in your life you're thankful for!

38. (autobio) updated

I've chosen Travels with Lizbeth as my 1st autobiography to read. Here's the 1st sentance:

"When I began this account I was living under a shower curtain in a stand of bamboo in a public park."

I can already tell this book has loads of potential.

24. Do a blog

I'm checking this one off because I'm anticipating that I'll keep doing this blog.

82. Organize Gmail Contacts

There's nothing clever, funny, or interesting to say about this one. It's just done.

12. Complete a Crossword Puzzle

Done! With a little help from the Internet (I mean, who knows that a gas in an arc lamp is xennon?) and a little help from my smart ass husband (who knew that Writer Anne's favorite dessert is Ricepudding), my very 1st (and last) New York Times Crossword Puzzle (so what if it was Monday's) is done. And I finally get to mark something off my list!

38. in progress

I just got back from the used bookstore. And I realized a few things.

1. I LOVE used bookstores. I already knew this though. Here's the realization: I would rather spend 2 hours alone in a used bookstore than any other place - even Starbucks. There's just something about a used bookstore.

2. Most people treat the bookstore like the library...quiet. However, there are a few people who come in laughing and talking so loud as if they were in the Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, or some other teeny bopper store. Come on, people. It's a bookstore. Have some (quiet) respect.

3. I LOVE biographies and autobiographies. I always thought I hated this genre since it's filled with dry writing about boring people in politics. So not true! I love them so much, that I couldn't choose just 2. So, I picked out 4 to read. And the nominees in no particular order are:

A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Travels with Lizbeth by Lars Eighner
Christabel by Christabel Bielenberg
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Stay tuned to see which one I read 1st...

A ghostly start

OK, so I couldn't think of anything clever for the title to this post. And I can't check anything off of my list for today, which I guess is okay since it's just the 1st day of the 1001 days. However, my sisters are well beyond me and have checked off a couple things today. I did at least get some groceries...a big accomplishment when you have 3 kids.

So, back to my title. I ordered the sheet music to Phantom today (48). That's a heck of a start if you ask me.