The Next 45

The Next 45 Goals can be viewed here, or just look at the sidebar. Some are easy, some are hard, and some are postdated, so watch out for that. Might do some tweaking before the new year, but will set it in stone as of January 1, 2012.

If you are unfamiliar with The List, check it out at the sidebar. It shows all goals, including ones that were already completed and when that happened. The Next 45 have also been added to that list. Happy Stalking.

#11, #22, #33, #40, #68, #100, #228

Here's what's been happening, before I post the next 45!

#11: Visit Melanie in Connecticut: Went down a few weekends ago. Great time! Lots of performances, and my first solo trip to Foxwoods (to purchase HRC pins....)

#22: See ECSC: With Melanie as a soloist!! It was a wonderful concert--Bach's Magnificat.

#33: Sing at a Christmas Eve service: Checked that sucker off a few nights ago.

#40: Compose an original piece for chamber ensemble: I wrote a clarinet/flute duet for two siblings students I have. It's too hard for them, but I still wrote it.

#68: Buy new cuff links: Well, Dad got me some for Christmas. Still counts?

#100: Go to a CES game: 5-6th Grade Co-Ed Soccer.

#228: Get the CES piano tuned: Solely to appease that demonic high school teacher.

Next 45 will be here soon!

#224: See a Moose in the Wild

Melanie found it!

#120: Read a novel

The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time. Read it in a day. Excellent.

#7, #12, #167, #202, #225, #229, #325

Lots done over the past few days. It makes most sense to start with #225: Be in a Wedding Party (!!)

The lucky bride and groom are friends from college. I was groomsman number six, the most important groomsman. My duties included (but were not limited to): hand out rocks, hold keys, tell groomsman number 5 who everyone was that he didn't know, look awesome in a tux and create a wind tunnel under a table at the bachelor party. All of these were essential to the wedding, and I was happy to do my best in the situation. Being at the wedding helped me achieve goal #7: visit Jessica in Rochester, as it was her wedding! Kind of cheating, as it wasn't a unique trip, but she and her husband are moving, and I was specific, so it counts.

Speaking of being in Rochester and being unspecific, I went to a museum! Granted, it was a museum I had already been to, but that was years ago and The Strong Museum of Play has gone through a lot of changes! #202 is my sixth museum. Bangin'! Something that happened that I wasn't so proud of was #167...eat a garbage plate. Let me be clear: I LOVE plates...but it is simply not a good idea to go at 11:00 AM. It's just not. That being said, it's checked off.

We went to Ithaca for a few days in between and did an INSTANT GOAL! #325 is something I had wanted to do for a LONG time, but never thought I was going to be able to: Get all the recordings from Ithaca College from ensembles that I performed in. Made about 12 cds with works band (Maslanka's Golden Light, Hindemith sonata, The Cowboys, Sasparilla, Sleep...) to chorus (Faure Requiem, African Sanctus, NIA!...) to Vocal Jazz (September Song, Do You Know What it Means, Why Get Up...), to things I didn't perform in but loved (anything from WoCho...). Life is complete.

After Ithaca, Will and I went back to Rochester to present at the Mu Phi Epsilon conference. Lambda brought 7 collegiate members, and I was so happy to see all of them! Boston Alumni was well-represented, and Yuki won the performance contest, so I was psyched to see her perform at Eastman. Also so friends from Rochester Alumni, and a whole mess of faces I haven't seen in a while. Our workshop was well received, and we were very happy.

Ok, so it wasn't really planned this way...but Plymouth to Rochester to Batavia to Rochester to Ithaca to Batavia to Rochester to Batavia to Plymouth...that's a road trip. Holy F. I think a road trip is different every time, and as we spent a week driving all over creation, it totally counts. #7 is checked off.

So there you have it! Now, please don't comment on the fact that I have checked off almost ALL of the food items, and zero of the "fitness" or "hiking" or "sports" items.

#159 and #324

Back from Seattle! Here's what else happened...

#159: Try a New Recipe
Another delicious at home meal. Jill helped. Actually, she did most of it, but I made the sauce! Added lime, fish sauce, tamarind sauce, sugar and hot sauce of some kind. Fish sauce smells bad, but our Shrimp Pad Thai was delightful.

So have you ever thought, "I've ALWAYS wanted to do that!" about something supremely obscure? Part of the reason I added "add 50 new items on day 333/666" was for the goals I had forgotten about, or new goals to have. I've already started on these--watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail, hug Anderson Cooper, meet Jeanne Shaheen, deep fry something that no one has deep fried before...but there are some rare opportunities that come along and I've wanted to add them to the blog, but there was not a place for them. So I'm creating one. By taking away 5 from each of the "add 50 new goals" I get 10 new goals: Instant Goals.


#324: Instant Goal! Try Revolving Sushi!


The one that happened in Seattle (really a lot of them happened, but this one was the BEST) was eating sushi off of one of those revolving sushi lines. It was AWESOME.

Also, if you follow the blog avidly, which I know is a whole bunch of person, I've added pictures to the rest of the Seattle posts. Wonderful! (said like Prof. Oak in pokemon snap)

#155, #158, #202

In Seattle, making way through a lot of these goals thanks to the help of some friends!

#155: Find a Red Wine that I like
Yesterday we went wine tasting, my first time. As they grow a lot of these Pacific Northwest wines in the desert, they have a lot of tasting rooms close together right outside the city, as opposed to going to a vineyard. I said earlier that I found my love for Red Cat in sort of a gray area--between making the list and starting the blog, so that one doesn't count. Also, it's a chilled red so it feels too much like white. The red wine that I found I like is called, "Chocolate Wine"! It tastes like tootsie rolls. I don't love it, but I like it!

The picture has NOTHING to do with the wine, but I thought it looked pretty.

#158: Try and New Recipe
Seafood Alfredo, made with fresh crab meat, fresh scallops and fresh shrimp, all from the Public Market. Also, we got fresh pasta (lemon/basil fettuccine). It was delightful.

#202: Go to a Museum
The Experience Music Project in downtown Seattle, right next to the Space Needle.

Rawesome.

#1: Visit a new state AND #14: Visit Jill in Seattle!

#1: Visit a New State

AND

#14: Visit Jill (and Drew and Missy) in Seattle

Oh boy! Two big ones!  I'm going to achieve a lot of goals here, so expect a few posts from this great city. Seattle is wonderful, beautiful, fun and perfect. I'm so excited!

#201: Go to a Museum

Two friends recommended the Chihuly exhibit at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. Actually, they never said anything to me, but they did mention it on facebook, and I was stalking them so I found out about it. Thanks Lourdes and Emelia!!

It was an amazing exhibit. Also loved the instrument room, and saw a lot of European art, but no pictures of Saint Bartholomew. In Boston because I'm headed to Seattle tomorrow (!!) to see my good friend Jill. Yes, this alone is two of my goals: #1 (visit a state I've never been to) and #14 (visit Jill in Seattle).  I'm amped. Jill is also set on breaking a record number of goals, which is good because I have been slacking a little bit.

I decided not to count an opera I just performed in as performing in a musical for a few reasons, the biggest of which being I am a part of a lot of musical performances, so counting an opera as a musical would just be WRONG!

#115: Read a Play

Would I want to see this play? Maybe
Would I want to be in this play? Probably not

It was ok. The premise was that a man dies in a coffee shop and his phone keeps ringing, so some woman takes it and answers all his calls.

The most interesting part of the story was the interpretation of heaven/hell, and that you have to spend it with the person that you love the most, even if they didn't love you at all.

Otherwise...well, #115 is checked off!

#4: Visit a new Country!

Woo! Travbuddy tells me I have now been to seven percent of the worlds countries! (travbuddy.com/seecretajman) Ireland was amazing. It's too much to write about in full, but I loved it. Some of my favorite memories were going to a bar called Hussey's and one called Durty Nellie's, finding out what Black Pudding was, sleeping in a castle, discovering I was on tour with the parents of two of the New Kid's on the Block, trying to defeat jet lag, but mostly spending time with amazing friends. I was surprised at the prevalence of the gaelic language, as I thought it was mostly a dead language, or one that no one really spoke. It's actually on all government issued signs and taught in schools. I think it's silly to say something like, "everyone in Ireland is so nice!" or "The Irish are so friendly!" but it is true that everyone I met was very welcoming, happy I was enjoying their country through music and extremely willing to help me and go out of their way to make sure I had the best time in their towns. It was an amazing trip.

Ok, so on to some restaurants. Every one of them was new, so #152-154 are all checked off. I think this is the first one that I've completed that referenced doing something more than once (read ten books, go to ten museums...) so I'm psyched about that one. The first picture is from Nimmo's in Galway. It was very fresh, and although my bread has too many seeds all up in its business, it was very good. The second is from the Hotel Meyrick restaurant. Out of all the hotels we stayed in, this one had the best food. It, like the third picture, is also from Galway. On the third, we were starving, so I ran up to a bar and said, "where is the dirtiest and cheapest place to eat?" Without missing a beat, he instantly told me The Charcoal Grill was the place to go. It was fantastic, although one of my friends threw up after. This is, of course, just a selection of the places we ate.

Now as for the museums...There was one in Galway, but it was closed. We went to the Guinness factory, which had museum like exhibits, but I feel uncomfortable counting it. I did go to the Ireland Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin. They had a lot of creepy videos, and art work that I accidentally touched.

This guy is from outside the museum. He is art.

So that's #4 checked off, as well as #152, #153, #154 and #200! I read a little bit but mostly slept on the bus. Two novels currently unfinished.

Now, onto booking my flight to Seattle!

#150: Go to the Sugar Shack

This place was awesome. Food came out super fast and was very good. I did not think I would like it as much as I did. AND, there was one of those things you put your head it. Rawesome.

So life is pretty good. Also, although I've been a little...unambitious with the goals this summer, I think my Ireland trip is going to help. It's a country I've never been to (#4), with restaurants and museums I've never been to (#152-4, #200-7) AND I'll read on the bus (#120-9)!

Also, later in the summer I plan on hiking, and have planned the trip to visit Jill in Seattle, Washington. That's a state I've never been to (#1)! I'm amped. Also, the house is pretty clean, as is my car...just a few finishing touches here and there.

Also, #223, #224, #225 and #229 are sure to come this summer. The wedding party is Sean and Jess's. Boo-ya!

I won't be blogging from Ireland, so expect a big update around July 10 or 11.

#148: Get My Tuxedo Dry Cleaned and #151: Go to a Restaurant I've Never Been To

Too many caps in the title...

#148 I cheated a little because I gave it to Will to bring to the dry cleaners...although it's not like if I brought it there I would be dry cleaning it myself anyway.

#151 was Lago a few nights ago. Bangarang.

#198 + #199: Go to ten Museums

Two museums down on my recent trip to New York City with the eighth grade class: The Museum of the American Indian and the Ellis Island Museum.

Both were awesome because they were air conditioned. Also, the American Indian one was featured in Ghostbusters.

As I was on the eighth grade trip, I didn't have time to see a show/opera/symphony, but it was fun. Also, although I have not updated in a while, I have nothing else to report.

Oh well.

#24: Improve Drum Set Playing Skillz

Yeah, I rocked out so hard with the Middle School Jazz Band tonight I broke a stick. If that's not improvement, I don't know what is. Check this baby OFF!

#20: Watch a College Play

The Seagull! Caw! Caw! Caw!

I never saw this when it played in Ithaca, so I was psyched when Plymouth State did it--PLUS I got to see four of my friends. I was amped. It was good. Dragged Will along, and after seeing "Transitions" on Tuesday, it was our second musical this week, plus two performances of Voices of Light that we were both in.

A good, fulfilling, relaxing, exciting, musical vacation. Now then...concert on May 24th and then summer!

#112: Read a short story I've never read

Three short stories down, two to go.

Kurt Vonnegut, The No Talent Kid. Found in his collection of short stories, "Bagombo Snuff Box".

#173: Update Resume

I do this about every year, so I didn't have to do too much. I don't plan on leaving my school anytime soon, but I do believe in always keeping your resume nice and clean!

#232, #168 + Blog Revamp

As my friend Joe was going to come over today, but then canceled, I have found a lot of time to update this mother, especially things I have already done and forgot to update about. Most importantly, on the side you can see "The List' under pages, which shows the revamped list with what I've done and not done. Pretty sweet.

Here's what I forgot:

 #232: Do a jigsaw puzzle. They always do them at school and I forgot how much I like them! I'm also freakishly good at them. This was 1000 pieces and it was like that pictures making up a big picture thing:

Sometimes I wonder why I'm not dating anyone. I think puzzles and cats have something to do with it.

Also, completed #168: try a new kind of sushi. Patrick and I got a "Plymouth" roll at Thai Smile. It was fried and had a lot of stuff going on. I didn't love it, but didn't dislike it either. It was odd.

Lastly, here's a picture of the complete HRC pin board. Thanks to those who made contributions--namely Jessica, Melanie, my mom and NOT Jill.

#170: Delete 100 Facebook Friends!

Eat it facebook! Just deleted 100+ of my "friends"!

Starting number: 709
Ending Number: 598

I just deleted a few more because my real ending number was 601...not nearly as dramatic! By the way, everyone who I have talked to who has deleted a massive number has loved the experience. Not everyone should see everything you do. Lock up your facebook and delete the people you haven't talked to in years or will never see again--especially if you have had your facebook for a while. I've had mine since freshman year of college (when it was college only) in 2005 and accumulated a lot of friends that I've only talked to once or twice. Of course, this is not my first purge, but it might be my largest.

#145: Get a Haircut

Oh yeah! Did this too!

Hooray!

#41: Arrange a Piece for Band

This was hilarious. I decided I'm going to make every Tuesday, "Name That Tune -- The Mr. C Mystery" I'm psyched. Everyone was mad at me because the first song I picked was a song that no one knew except for two kids--but it was worth it.

There is an amazing video game called Portal and if you haven't played it, buy an xbox and do it. Anyway, Portal 2 just came out so I decided to arrange it's closing song, "Still Alive".

They loved it! They being the two kids who knew the song. Everyone else was pissed that I didn't do this instead.

#64: Buy a New Phone

Missed one! I've had my iPhone for a while now. I love it more than any phone I've ever had. Sadly, I have lately been watching Intervention on it late at night. This is a terrible idea, as I was very tired all week. Friends: if you care about me, please schedule my Intervention intervention immediately. Anyway, my new phone is amazing, and about two months old. Yay!

#231: Take All My Personal Days!

Check.

#111: Read a Short Story I've Never Read

This is my second of five short stories, and really I read like three of them, but all from the same collection and by the same author. It was David Sedaris, in his new(ish) book, "Squirrel Seek Chipmunk". My favorite, by far, was "The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck". I laughed out loud. While on a plane.

#35: Direct a Musical

Seussical Jr. was a lot of time spent working with my students, and a LOT of stress, but it's all worth it in the end when the kids have a great show and are thankful. I still don't like directing, but for the purposes of this blog I still have at least one more in me.

#21, #25, #35, #156, #233

Maybe my next goal should be to become a better blogger. Here's what's happened lately, in numerical order to the list, not necessarily chronologically:

#21: Watch a Community Theater/College Musical
I saw Chicago at PSU. I've seen the show on Broadway and have heard the songs a lot, but it was wonderful seeing a lot of my friends from ETC (and one from Master Chorale) perform. I went with Will, Pat and Angela rather spur of the moment, but it was worth it.

#25: Perform the Saint-Saens Sonata
Performed with Will at a Mu Phi Epsilon meeting.

#34: Start a Benefit Concert for the Eighth Grade Class
This went even better than expected: a casual night of music that raised $500+. It was probably the least polished performance I've had at Campton, but probably the one most liked by the parents as it was casual, fun...and pop music.

#156: Find a White Wine that I Like
Riesling! Specifically the Pacific Rim Riesling that I had with Angela at the Comman Man in Ashland.

#233: Complete the HRC Pinboard
Oh yeah! Picture to come...maybe. Probably not, but just come over to the house and I'll show you!

On a side note...
I am totally counting seeing Melanie at a Voce concert as seeing her at a Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus Concert...hopefully that's the last time I have to type that annoyingly long name. I am listening to Voce recording of "Sure On this Shining Night" right now!

Also, I'm not counting Red Cat as a red wine that I like, even though I do like it. It was a day before I started the list and as you serve it chilled I feel like I would be cheating.

Lastly, although I was nominated by Lambda to become a VP, the position I was interested in is one that I am not eligible for, so I'm passing on that one. Maybe it should be changed to: Present at the conference. I could deal with that.

#196: Learn to Ice Skate Backwards

Every winter my school has a half day every Tuesday for six winter weeks. The rest of the day the entire school goes to the mountain and skates, skis, snowshoes, swims or something of the like. After six times last year and three times so far this year, I have not fallen while ice skating once--although have come close. Also, I have recently perfected skating backwards.

Have to go back to making giant cupcake, which, now that I think of it, might qualify as another update! I may just pretend it does so I can upload a sweet cupcake photo. #196 is done!

#143 Grow a Beard

Alright, it's not the strongest beard I've ever seen, but I'm all set with it. I grew it out for Peter Pan, which ended today. It was a ton of fun, but I'm very excited to get back to my (extremely busy) music schedule. My first rehearsal back from break with the New Hampshire Master Chorale was wonderful, and it completely energized me for my upcoming concert with the kids...but I digress. This post is about beards! I feel confident that this was achieved because every student at school asks about it and calls it a beard. That's 300 people who thinks it's good enough, and that's plenty for me! I'm psyched to shave it off!

Also, I'd like to note that I started this blog on January 3rd (significant because if I want to complete everything on the list, I need to do one of these things every three days...1/3...omg!) and I've checked off nine of them. I think I'm pretty much on schedule for a win! #143 is crossed out, Melanie and Jenny stop cringing, I'm going to shave right now.

#26: Be in a Musical

This is one of the things that is more of a checkmark than a goal. I'm planning to be in a musical every January at the college near home. I love it because it has a huge cast (this year 82, not including crew/pit) and it's a ton of fun, especially because some of my students do it too. This year's musical:

Well...not the frothy delicious kind...but still good! We opened last night and have five more shows through Sunday. There is minimal singing (sad) but it's a lot of fun being a pirate. AND it helps me with my beard growing. I'll update Sunday or Monday with a picture. I hate my beard, but might keep out of spite for others who like it. Just kidding...I really hate the beard. It's going the second the show is over. #26 is done!

#142: Watch The Last Brickmaker in America

Perhaps the odd duck on the movie list, The Last Brickmaker in America is a 2001 made for TV movie starring none other than Sidney Poitier. As many things on the list, #142 needs a little background.

While student teaching I had a few vacations with the college and the school I was teaching at not line up. In these cases the college would shut down and not let students stay in the dorms or student apartments, so I went to my friends house in Rochester, New York. On one of these occasions we saw a movie on TV: Lilies in the Field. I think the channel was still on PBS from watching Lawrence Welk the night before with my friend's father, and the movie was required watching according to him. Here's a clip of the iconic final scene.

Anyway, for graduation...or a birthday? Or my recital? For some gift giving event, I got the DVD from my friend's father, and on the next gift giving occasion I got The Last Brickmaker in America.

It was the perfect snow day movie. It was all the inspiration of a made for TV movie, without any extra cheese...although if I had to give constructive criticism, it could use a little more "Amen!" Made in 2001 it was the last movie Mr. Poitier was an actor in that wasn't a documentary or he wasn't playing himself or something like that.

I'm making progress on #34, #26, #105 and #143 (while #208 seems to have fallen through, at least until next year) #142 is checked off.

#48: Write a Children's Song to use in Class

This one feels like cheating, because I had to write some songs and wasn't even thinking of the blog! I was asked to do a workshop at a Children's Arts Festival and it was called, "I've Gotta Crow!" or something like that. All the workshops today were based on the upcoming beard growing musical spectacular: Peter Pan. For this, I wrote two songs (let's just count it as one though, as they are short).

The first put "Usdasunalayi, Osiyo" ("welcome, hello" in the Cherokee language) into a greeting song as the children entered. The other was also based on Native American rhythms and used hand drums. The kids loved it, and I told them that they weren't authentic Native American songs, so everything was copacetic.

Another part of the workshop had kids write new words to the song, "I won't grow up!" If you don't know it there are probably a billion versions on youtube, as well as a really cool slower laid back version on iTunes (the third one down...don't remember the artist). My favorite one they wrote was the third grade:

I won't grow up! (I won't grow up)
I don't want to take a bath! (I don't want to take a bath)
Just to scrub behind my ears! (Just to scrub behind my ears)
And then clean out the cat box! (And then clean out the cat box)

Hilarious. #48 is checked off.

#110: Read a Short Story I've Never Read

I am having a frustrating time with my dead Italian friend. I'm reading his biography and it has entirely too much math at this point, so I decided to take a break from him. When I put down one book for another I rarely finish the first, so I didn't want to start another. As a short story enthusiast, I had a multitude of collections from different authors (Faulkner, Hemingway, Vonnegut) and chose one I haven't read since lying around on spring break in Aruba.

Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox...etc.) is highly recommended: they are light, but not fluff. I read "William and Mary" which probably doesn't have anything to do with the institution of higher learning, but I truly have no idea, knowing nothing about it.

I refuse to make this a book review blog, because I don't know how to write a review without ruining the ending, but the story was about a newly widowed woman (Mary) and her dead husband. William is a dickwad, but Mary isn't entirely endearing. William has an interesting surgery and Mary is not sure how she feels about it. It was a wonderful and welcome break from stupid math reading, and checks off #110.

#31: Sing my Favorite Hymn at Church

This was easier than I thought! A little background first...

I sing in my church choir, and although I'm not very good at going to the rehearsals, I'm pretty loyal for Sundays, especially when you consider I live 50 minutes away. Anyway, the first week of October we sing a hymn in church called "Tu has Venido a la Orilla" or "You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore" (#173 in the hymnal at my church). With a Spanish flair and lyrics like, "On the sand, I have abandoned my small boat and with you I seek other seas" and a little something about fish nets (although, I don't think it was a reference to the stockings) this was an instant hit in my mind.

Like most Sundays, I went back up to Plymouth after church to practice choir music for another ensemble that I'm in with a friend of mine. I told her about the hymn and she was familiar with it, so we sang it all day, even though we knew few of the words. It's quite catchy. You can hear a midi organ version without the words here.

She then said one of the smartest things I've ever heard about going to church. She mentioned that she wasn't particularly religious, but she greatly enjoys a community to come together one a week, sit, listen, talk with each other, sing, and just think about spreading peace. She said it a lot better than that...the way I put it sounds stupid, but you get the picture.

Anyway, the next week was a hymn sing Sunday. If you aren't familiar with the ritual, people in the congregation get to church early and sing whatever hymns they want. It's led by the pastor or choir director and people just yell out numbers. I called out #173, as the choir had taken so much time (ten minutes the previous Sunday) to learn it, and I had such fond memories, I thought it needed another go. Also, our church is in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Seems fitting to me!

The next month, the choir director was on to me, so when I requested it he said, "No! No! No! No more selections from the choir!" Luckily, it was my birthday, and people knew it, so pretty soon the entire congregation was yelling out 173! 173! It worked. We sang it. We went to the Lake shore. We wore fishnets. It was awesome.

Fast forward to this morning. I think I was absent on the December hymn sing, or at least gave it a pass to sing Christmas carols instead. Regardless, I was hankering for some Orilla. I opened up to it and guess what it said on the top: Epiphany! It's a song for the Epiphany season! And today was the Epiphany service! I pointed this out to the choir director. He groaned, but because it was Epiphany (by the way, wtf is Epiphany?) I planned on making a request. Someone else in the choir picked the first hymn and the director said, "No more from the choir!"

Heartbroken, I gave up. I'm playful, often sarcastic, and somewhat adventurous, but ultimately a rule follower. Fortunately, someone (and I wish I knew who so I could give them a hug) must have seen that it was an Epiphany song and requested, "173!" I yelled out, "Hey-oo!" and my choir buddy Carl yelled out, "Bingo!" much to the disdain of the alto section. I didn't care though, I've long known I'm a heathen, even if my church attendance record is well above average for a 24 year old.

Looks like Lakeshore has become a hit at my church. Number 31, by the grace of God, is checked off.

#157: Try 10 new recipes

Let me say first that I have many of my goals in progress. I'm currently rehearsing for a musical (#26) in which I'm a pirate. They asked me to grow out my facial hair, so I haven't shaved in almost a week (#143) and don't plan to until January 31. I'm also reading a biography (#105) on an Italian man who died a long time ago...more on that later. Unfortunately, I'm trying to base this blog on results, so when presented with a Saturday free from work and rehearsals, I decided to work on the 333.

I thought my roommate had a copy of Lord of The Rings, so I can check that off...but I couldn't find it, so I put on Dexter and started looking through a cookbook. I've been unimpressed with season three of Dexter, but have never been as in love with the show as others, so it seemed like good recipe-finding background noise. I went through my favorite cookbook first: GDL's Everyday Italian.

I highly recommend the book, it's very good...although this will be the third recipe from it that has not turned out well. Still, I'm convinced that this is because of my cooking, not because of her writing. I tried the Vodka Sauce, which I have looked at before, but never attempted as it calls for three cups of marinara. I suppose I could buy some, but was raised thinking that was a sin. I didn't have any (I rarely make it) so I looked at her recipe. I thought that it might be nice to make hers, as that's probably what she would do, and Giada can do no wrong.

I burnt the first thing that went in: garlic. She told me to let it simmer for ten minutes on medium high heat, and I did. And it turned black. Gave the sauce a "smokey" taste that some may enjoy, but I was not one of them. After the marinara cooked, I added vodka and cream to make the vodka sauce. Tasted awful. I tried smothering it with cheese, but it still tasted like burning and alcohol. Yum!

I added some sausage after plating the dish, which was a great idea, because it tasted like meat! The vodka sauce did taste like vodka...but a little too much. I took a picture with my phone, but couldn't send it, so I took a picture of my phone with my computer! The quality is oddly like the dish: disappointing.

Anyway, if you are good at cooking, give this a try. You're results will hopefully be better than mine! In the mean time, #157 is checked off.

#43: Arrange a Piece for Chamber Ensemble

I'm not the best at learning how to properly update my blog. If I was, I would put in a sound clip of the piece I just arranged for clarinet quintet: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry! How do you get middle school clarinet players practicing? Well, you can't. It's impossible. But this is my latest attempt.

This is also helping out with another goal, #34: Start a Benefit Concert for the Eighth Grade Class. I'm attempting to pull off Vivaldi's Gloria in the spring, which is tough for a middle school, but (apparently) doable. Also started work on Ticheli's Abra Cadabra for band, and it was...interesting. Have I dropped enough Ithaca College approved National Standard's of Music Education-esque titles to make you forget that I'm bringing a "chamber music" piece from the same singer that brought you the lyrics, "I kissed a girl, and I liked it"? Regardless, #43 is hereby officially checked off.

#169: Start a Blog

I have no intention to complete this project in its entirety, and that's ok.

The following is a list of 333 goals to complete in the next 999 days (well, 233 goals, adding 50 additional goals at Day 333 and at Day 666). This "333 in 999" idea comes from the much more common "101 in 1001" idea, which is probably a lot more doable, but after thinking it was 300 goals in 1000 days, 101 just didn't feel right to me. Also, in the 101 in 1001 they usually say "read 5 novels" and have it count as one goal. On my list, I'm counting it as 5.

Although I would like to do all of these things, I may not have time, I may not have the money and in the future, I may change my mind about certain goals. For instance, although it's probably a good idea to get a new car in the next 999 I currently don't want to. Some things are inevitable or extremely easy: get a haircut, get my tonsils removed, sing my favorite hymn in church. Some things are lofty or expensive: see Gustavo Dudamel conduct, visit Jill in Seattle, save a butt load of money. Some things may just not happen: see a moose in the wild, go to a fair, attend Mid West. Some are personal, and not something I want to publish for everyone to see, but still are goals. I know I can't do it all, but these are all things I'd like to do, and in this blog I'll document my progress.

333 goals in 999 days works out to be around 1 goal every 3 days. Appropriately, I'm starting this on January 3 (1/3), 2011. Also, as this is my first entry I am also completing one of my goals (!!!): Start a Blog (find under: Technology). Maybe another goal of mine should be stop using colons so much.  As I've typed far more than I think anyone will read (including myself) I won't type too much more about starting a blog, other than I will continue to make improvements on it, especially in these beginning days. Woo! Go Blog! One down, 332 to go!

Places to Go (15)
1-3. Visit three states I've never been to
4-6. Visit three countries I've never been to
7. Take a road trip
8. Go to Disney World
9. Go to Clark's Trading Post
10. Go to a fair
11. Visit Melanie in Connecticut
12. Visit Jessica in Rochester, NY
13. Visit Rachel in Maryland
14. Visit Jill in Seattle
15. See family in Conntecticut

Music--Audience (7)
16. See a Broadway Show/play I haven't seen
17. See an opera I haven't seen
18. See one symphony I've never seen
19. See Gustavo Dudamel conduct
20. Watch a community theater/college play
21. Watch a community theater/college musical
22. Attend an Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus concert

Music--Performance/Practice (15)
23. Learn to play guitar well enough to accompany a music class
24. Improve drum set playing skills
25. Perform the Saint-Saens sonata
26-28. Be in three musicals
29. Conduct a festival band or chorus
30. Personal
31. Sing my favorite hymn at church (Come to the Lakeshore)
32. Perform at Carnegie Hall
33. Sing at a Christmas Eve service
34. Start a Benefit concert for eighth grade class
35-36. Direct two plays/musicals
37. Play Milde every day for one month

Composition (15)

38. Compose original piece for band
39. Compose original piece for chorus
40. Compose original piece for chamber ensemble
41. Arrange piece for band
42. Arrange piece for chorus
43. Arrange piece for chamber ensemble
44. Write an article for a magazine/journal
45-47. Have three works written by different people for C.E.S.
48-52. Write and use five new songs in class

Politics (3)
53. Vote in 2012 Election
54. Work on a political campaign
55. Find Republican Congressional Candidate I like (2012)

Finances (16)
56-58. Invest in three stocks
59. Open Roth IRA
60. Save $10,000
61. Buy a new computer
62. Buy jumper cables
63. Buy a new car
64. Buy a new phone
65. Buy a new ringtone
66. Get picture for mom by her favorite artist
67. Buy new black concert shoes
68. Buy new cufflinks
69. Buy a new suit
70. Buy a computer desk that doesn't wobble so much
71. Donate $1 to charity of choice for every unfinished item after 999 days

Health + Fitness (12)
72. Join a gym
73. Take a fun class at the gym
74. Do a Wii Fit weigh in ("wii-in") every day for a month
75. Get my tonsils removed
76-78. Personal
79. Play tennis
80. Work out three times a week for two weeks in a row
81. Don't drink soda for a week
82. Take a snowboarding lesson
83. Go to the dentist

Presidential Mountain Range (13)

84. Hike Mt. Washington
85. Hike Mt. Webster
86. Hike Mt. Jackson
87. Hike Mt. Pierce
88. Hike Mt. Monroe
89. Hike Mt. Adams
90. Hike Mt. Sam Adams
91. Hike Mt. Quincy Adams
92. Hike Mt. Eisenhower
93. Hike Mt. Franklin
94. Hike Mt. Madison
95. Hike Mt. Jefferson
96. Hike Mt. Clay/Mt. Reagan

Sports (8)

97. Go to a celtics game
98. Go to a college football game
99. Go to a hockey game
100-104. Attend five C.E.S. Games [all different sports]

Literature  (25)
105-109. Read five biographies
110-113. Read four short stories I've never read
114. Read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
115-119. Read five plays [plays I'm in don't count] 
120-129. Read ten novels

TV and Movies (13)

130. Watch all episodes of Mad Men
131. Watch complete series of Six Feet Under
132. Watch The Godfather
133. Watch The Godfather: Part II
134. Watch The Godfather: Part III
135. Watch Lord of the Rings
136. Watch Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
137. Watch Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
138. Watch White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life
139. Watch Casablanca
140. Watch Gone with the Wind
141. Watch The Maltese Falcon
142. Watch The Last Brick Layer in America

Appearance + Cleanliness (7)

143. Grow a beard
144. Get a professional shave
145. Get a haircut
146. Clean out my car
147. Clean the entire house
148. Get Tuxedo dry cleaned
149. Get car washed

Food (19)

150. Go to The Sugar Shack
151-154. Go to four restaurants I've never been to
155. Find a red wine that I like
156. Find a white wine that I like
157-166. Try ten new recipes
167. Eat a Garbage Plate
168. Try a new kind of sushi

Technology (3)

169. Start a Blog
170. Delete 100 facebook friends
171. Have a facebook free month

Education (36)
172. Earn at least 15 credits toward masters degree
173. Update Resume
174. Attend Mid West
175. Attend IDRS (and actually go to workshops that will help me)
176-185. Learn ten new words
186-195. Learn ten new Spanish verbs
196. Learn how to skate backwards
197. Get a 100 on an eighth grade science test
198-207. Go to ten museum

Relationships (9)
208. Be in a relationship on Valentine's Day
209. Personal
210. Personal
211. Personal
212-216. Make five new friends

Miscellaneous (17)
217. Learn how to drive a stick shift
218. Build a square snowman
219. Attend a taping of a TV show
220. Ride in a limo
221. Win a Trivia Night
222. Host a dinner party 
223. Hear Emma (my niece) say my name
224. See a moose in the wild
225. Be in a wedding party
226. Listen only to NPR for a week
227. Ride horse back and send picture to Mr. Tortorici
228. Get C.E.S. piano tuned
229. Become a VP of MPE
230. Carve a Jack-o-Lantern
231. Use all of my personal days
232. Complete a jigsaw puzzle
233. Complete Hard Rock Cafe pin board

Adding Items (100)
234-283. Add 50 more goals at day 333
284-333. Add 50 more goals at day 666