2 more reads

I am seriously lagging on this blog and my goals. Ok so the only updates I have:

Read 10 Books: Finished Outliers by Malcom Gladwell and The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.



Outliers was awesome. A Sociology major's dream. If you have ever read or heard of Malcom Gladwell you know this man LOVES to research. In this book he looks into the stories behind success. It really opens your eyes to exactly what goes into that thing we define as "success." You might be surprised at what it takes. I would give this book 5 stars or whatever a 100% recommendation would be. It will reel you in, for sure. REAd THiS.



Philippa Gregory is famous for her historical fiction novels which center around the most infamous British courts. You might have heard of or seen the movie version of her novel The Other Boylen Girl. That book got me hooked on historical fiction. Back to The White Queen. This book was full of the typical drama found in the old British courts. It had plotting, scheming, war, murder and love. We follow the protagonist from life as a widow in the country to becoming one of the most beloved and powerful queens in England's history. If you want an indulgent page turner this is a good one. However, the ending left me hanging a little, so 3.75 stars. I really need to get on the rest of these.

1. Read 10 5 books
2. Write an article and submit it to a few magazines
3. Throw 2 great parties: I’m talking invitations, a full menu, create a “tablescape”, you know the whole domestic goddess thing
4. Run a race: over 3 miles
5. Volunteer:more than once, and actually enjoy it
6. Learn how to drive a stick shift: kind of done?
7. See 3 2 new places:destinations or noteworthy spots not something like the newest bar on the strip
8. Re-learn how to ski:after 13 years its time to get back on the mountain
9. Create 5 unique paintings
10. Learn how to spell:seriously, it’s embarrassing

Happy Days

So I left off in Boston.  There I was sitting in Boston Logan airport waiting for my plane when who sat down next to me?  The Fonz!  Yup, Henry Winkler sat down right next to me.  I played it cool but immediately texted my Mom and a select few that would appreciate this.  

He was a far cry from his Fonzie days: in his brown ugg boots, evergreen wide wale cords and tweed blazer.  He sat down to eat his tuna sandwich and chips with a Perrier to drink. After a few bites he got up, turned to me, and politely asked if I would watch his stuff while he went to get a coffee.  That's right he spoke...to me!  I of course said yes and then he proceeded to offer to buy me a coffee as well.  I declined, but thanked him for the offer.  Multiple people later scolded me for not taking him up on the offer so I could brag about it later.

When he got back he thanked me and sat down with, not a coffee, but a pizza.  He said the tuna sandwich was garbage and he had to find something better.  A few people who recognized him came up to ask for autographs and pictures.  He was so courteous and attentive to each fan.  Then he started chatting with me about the usual airport stuff.  His plane was way behind schedule and he was worried he wouldn't make it to Florida that night.  Then he asked for my name.  I gave it to him as he introduced himself as Henry.  Mmhmm...me and Henry, first name basis.

We continued to chat and he got up again to get water and said "Nic, I'm going over here to get a water.  Can I get you anything?"  Now, were into nickname territory :)  I again declined because I hate having to pee on the plane.  Don't worry I didn't tell him that.  When he came back he let me know all the details about my flight.  He had gone over to my gate and asked the crew what was going on and when we were going to be able to board.  Precious.

After another 45 minutes of chatting and Henry stopping to occasionally take a picture or sign an autograph, it was time for me to go.  We said our friendly goodbyes, and I got on my plane home.  Ciao Henry, thanks for the good times.

 This is more like it:

1. Read 10 7 books
2. Write an article and submit it to a few magazines
3. Throw 2 great parties: I’m talking invitations, a full menu, create a “tablescape”, you know the whole domestic goddess thing
4. Run a race: over 3 miles
5. Volunteer:more than once, and actually enjoy it
6. Learn how to drive a stick shift: kind of done?
7. See 3 2 new places:destinations or noteworthy spots not something like the newest bar on the strip
8. Re-learn how to ski:after 13 years its time to get back on the mountain
9. Create 5 unique paintings
10. Learn how to spell:seriously, it’s embarrassing

Beantown

See three new places:

Boston

Some of my college girlfriends and I went to Boston for the St. Patrick's Day weekend. Boston taught me that I have absolutely forgotten everything from my American History classes. We did this tourist thing called "The Freedom Trail" where you see all the historic places in Boston. I got to see the Old State House, Paul Revere's House, The Old North Church, Boston Common, etc. I have no clue what the Boston Massacre or the Boston Tea Party were, oops, but saw where they took place.

This is a statue of Paul Revere with the Old North Church in the background, where he hung the infamous lanterns. One if by land two if by sea. Go Paul.

That circle marks the spot of the Boston Massacre. The balcony, on the Old State House, is where the Declaration of Independence was first read out to the people of the United States of America. Chills.

However, I did know what Cheers was and we went an got a beer at the Cheers bar! I also stopped by Fenway and took a few pictures. The weekend was mostly freezing cold and rainy and as California girls we were struggling. Thank goodness CA welcomed us back with amazing weather this past week.

Where everybody knows your name.

green monster???

Back to Boston. On Saturday we met us with some college friends for a St. Patrick's Day dinner of corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes. Then we made our way to a good Irish bar for the required green beer and excessive drinking. We didn't even realize how late we were at the bar until we got to IHOP at 4am. Apparently, bars are open a lot later on the East coast.

Obviously

Anyway, that was the general trip overview. Saw some history, caught up with the ladies, got soaked, and drank a lot. Boston is such an amazing city and I would love to go back in the summer when the rain and cold wouldn't interfere too much.

Probably my favorite spot on the tour. This cemetery has some of the oldest graves in the country. I took like a million pictures of all the amazing gravestones. They were so chilling and beautiful and even though some were from the 1700's they were still in great shape.

Big names like Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are buried here. Above is the memorial to John Hancock. People leave pennies and stones as a sign of respect.


Next time.....a celebrity encounter

I love dead people

Sorry its been a while!


Read 10 Books:

Just finished #2. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach. Loved it! This book is so interesting but not for those who are easily queasy. It covers all sorts of stuff about dead bodies. You know how you hear about donating your body to science: but no one really knows what that means. Well, Mary knows. She researched all sorts of things we do with dead people.




I can't believe she (or anyone) actually has the stomach to do the stuff she writes about. I mean thank goodness they do because I am convinced it takes a very special type of person to work with dead people.

Anyway, I learned all sorts of cool stuff about cadavers and how we use them to make our lives better. Everyone wants to attribute our extremely safe cars these days to crash dummies. However, first they have to do all these experiments with human cadavers to figure out a human body's thresholds and then calibrate the dummies based on that info. Doctors practice procedures and surgery on cadavers to make sure they know what they're doing when they work on the real deal. Thank goodness, can you imagine being the 'practice' heart transplant or 'test run' face lift.

I highly recommend this book. Don't you want to learn about the history of body snatching and all the parts of dead bodies the Chinese ingest as 'remedies'?

Volunteer: more than once and actually enjoy it

I volunteered this past Saturday with the Princess Project. This organization provides prom dresses, accessories, and other fun stuff for high school girls who can not afford them. I helped at a Dress Sort. That means I inspected hundreds of dresses looking for stains, checking sizes, and zipping zippers. With over 2,000 dresses at the San Francisco location I am glad there were a bunch of other volunteers.

The actual giveaways (where the girls come in and pick out their dresses) aren't for a couple weeks but I will be there for the first day along with my roommates!




Learn how to drive a stick

So my boyfriend just got a new car and.....it's an automatic. Obviously, this goal is on the back burner for now. I don't even know anyone else with a manual. If they are so rare maybe its pointless to learn.

See 3 new places

Leaving for Boston on Thursday!!!



To refresh your memory here is the list:

1. Read 10 books
2. Write an article and submit it to a few magazines
3. Throw 2 great parties: I’m talking invitations, a full menu, create a “tablescape”, you know the whole domestic goddess thing
4. Run a race: over 3 miles
5. Volunteer:more than once, and actually enjoy it
6. Learn how to drive a stick shift
7. See 3 new places:destinations or noteworthy spots not something like the newest bar on the strip
8. Re-learn how to ski:after 13 years its time to get back on the mountain
9. Create 5 unique paintings
10. Learn how to spell:seriously, it’s embarrassing

taking the wheel

Learn to drive stick:

Saturday night my good friend said goodbye to my boyfriend saying she might never see him around again. Why, you ask? Because on Sunday he was going to teach me to drive stick and that would inevitably be the end of our relationship. She obviously knows me too well.

Sunday morning we drove out to an empty community college parking lot and I climbed into the driver seat. I said "I promise not to yell at you as long as you are not a jerk and don't yell at me."

Fast forward to now. I have decided that teaching someone to drive is the hardest most frustrating task one can take on. I mean think about it, how did your first few times behind the wheel go? Was there arguing, screaming, slamming on the breaks, slamming car doors, silent rides back to the house? See what I mean.

Back to the parking lot. I seemed to start off well. If you told me like a checklist of actions I could execute them and come to a stop, or shift into 2nd. Now, the trouble starts when that checklist is thrown out and now I am told "OK, go." Ah I can't remember that whole series! My teacher doesn't understand that those 3 or 4 simple steps seem overwhelming to me because it's second nature to him. The frustration starts.

So I only kill the car once or twice in our first laps around the parking lot. Then a few other cars enter the lot. I hope they are here to park, but lucky me, they are 15 year old kids learning how to drive. These kids add to my stress level, the anxiety kicks in and I start killing it it more often. You can see both myself and my boyfriend pausing and taking deep breaths before each exchange of words. We are both trying not to lose it.

Boyfriend decides I should take the road (yeah in case you are wondering that is a road as in not a parking lot) to another parking lot with no people. He almost has to turn the wheel himself to get me to turn out of my comfy parking lot. As we are exiting the lot (against my will) of course...I kill it. We are sticking out of the lot blocking both lanes of traffic on the road. I start panicking (even more than I already was) and kill it again. Now I am sweating profusely but 3rd times the charm and I get it started. We make it to another parking lot where I have to calm my nerves before making a few more circles.

I build some confidence and get on the road again to go to yet another parking lot. I decide to try parking. Short version, I can't park. Also, anyone who can parallel park a stick shift, on a hill, in San Francisco deserves a gold medal, Nobel Prize, and a PhD in driving.

I'll practice again soon. Maybe I'll make it to the streets by December.

P.S.= points to me and my boyfriend for keeping our cool the entire time

Blue Square

Learn to ski:

So after watching that video it should be apparent to you that I am a phenomenal skier. I mean maybe if I had started last winter I'd be collecting gold medals right about now.

Ok maybe not......I know I look so awkward, did not put my arms down once the whole weekend, and I swear I was going faster than it looked! Despite all those things, I was able to make it down the mountain and didn't even fall once the whole time!

The weekend started with a "Rise and Shine" private lesson with Terri. Terri was awesome and looks like a "little person" in all the videos I have, but I am pretty sure she was at least 5 feet. Skiing basics seemed to come back to me quickly (thanks dad) which was a pleasant surprise to both me and Ter. I could make it down the bunny slope fairly easily and could do the nice wide wedge turns. Anyway, my hour with her flew by and then it was time to go off on my own.

You saw how my first run without Ter went. I went on all the green runs Northstar had (the levels of difficulty go green circles, blue squares, and black diamonds) and built some confidence on day one. Then my second day on the mountain, in 10+ years, my boyfriend decided we should go to the summit (tip top of the mountain) for lunch. There are no green circle runs at the top of the mountain....ahhh.

So I worked up the courage by the end of lunch to make my way down, what he so casually called "an easy blue square that they can't technically make a green circle." Uh huh, sure. I was doing ok even after I freaked out at the very start of the run and forgot how to turn. After getting over that I made my way down. Until, I suddenly couldn't see my boyfriend in front of me anymore.

As I got farther down the run I saw that he had gone down what looked to me like a sheer mountain face...I'm talking 90 degrees to your death. (It was probably more like 45 degrees but hey this is day two for me). He is sitting at the bottom of this cliff impatiently motioning with his hands "come here" like it's some easy journey between here and there.

There I was stuck at the top of this slope panicking. I told myself I had to go down sooner or later so I should just start going. I slowly crossed the slope going across and not down even a little coming to a complete stop on the other side as I was too scared to turn my skis even a tiny bit downhill. I stood there frozen for another few minutes trying to gather some courage. Ok time to do this I can't live on this mountain.....I went to turn downhill and just couldn't make myself do it, freaking out again. Now came the tears, dammit.

All I could think was "I'm never going to make it down this mountain, I can't do it, I am stuck forever!" Then "why are you crying? This isn't going to help you get off this cliff!" Here I go.....extremely slow and steady, while quietly weeping, I made it to the bottom of this (honestly, mini) slope. I did it!

I went over to where my boyfriend was sitting waiting for me and started crying again. He laughed at me a little (jerk) then felt bad (as he should). After composing myself we finished the rest of run and got back in line for the chair lift. I told him we had to go do that run again. He protested, saying I didn't "like" that one. Uh yeah I hated it and cried and though I was going to die of hunger and hypothermia after being stranded on the top of that slope for months on end. Yes, I did not enjoy myself but I made it down and knew the best thing for me would be to go back up and do it again. I had to conquer that mountain before I let the memory of that run swear me off skiing forever.

So up we went. I was a ball of nerves but there was no turning back now. As, we came upon that slope again it looked a million times easier than before. In addition to that there were a bunch of other skiers and I couldn't take all day to make it down. So after only a few seconds I turned downhill and worked my way down. It was so much easier! The adrenaline kicked in and I didn't even pause at the bottom I just continued on down the run patting myself on the back for a job well done. By the time I got to the bottom I was physically exhausted but so psyched!

Learn to ski: check
:)

cross it off

I did it! See the awkwardness that is me skiing for the first time in about 12 years. Stay tuned for more about the trip.....

Slightly Slacking

So this past week has been pretty slow goal-wise.

Learn to ski:

I called Northstar to reserve a lesson for bright and early Saturday morning. I was excited about this goal at first. Now that it's days away I am TERRIFIED. I tried to mentally prepare myself and calm my nerves by watching some YouTube videos on 'How to ski.' Pretty sure it made me even more nervous. Damn. I want to back out of this trip so badly. Don't make me go!!

side note: Skiing is a really expensive activity.

Read 10 books:

The Libraries are still being a-holes and keeping multiple books from me. So instead I go to Barnes and Nobels on my lunch breaks and read there. Last week I picked up Einstein's Riddle: Riddles, Paradoxes, and Conundrums to Stretch Your Mind by Jeremy Stangroom. Not really the type of book I would qualify in my 10 for the year but, nevertheless, awesome.

I have always loved riddles and those kinds of things. You know...Mike is taller than Eric but shorter than Casey or you have a 3 gallon and 5 gallon container and need to measure our 4 gallons, etc. This book if full of fun things like that to torture your brain. Luckily, there are answers in the back to the ones that actually have answers. After reading that only 2 percent of people can solve Einstein's Riddle I printed it out so I can work on it later. I am determined to be one of the 2%. Wish me luck.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. --Albert Einstein

So that is everything I have done related to my 2010 goals.

In other news, I tricked a party of people into eating vegan 7 layer dip at a Super Bowl party...muhahahha. I got a few compliments, the entire thing got eaten, and no one had any clue! I love it.

I didn't pay to much attention to the famous Super Bowl commercials but this one killed me:




I also got a promotion at work. Go me!

Still on track

Yes, it's shocking but I am still working towards checking all of these bad boys off my list. In the past I would have abandoned this project by now. Not in 2010!

Read 10 books:

I just completed Test Drive your Dream Job: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love by Brian Kurth. I know sounds too self-helpish for most but was really a great motivator for anyone who wants to pursue a new career or who is looking to find work they love.

Book number 2 will be......Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by the AMAZING Dolly Parton. I am so excited but am having the hardest time getting my hands on a copy. It seems both the city libraries I am a member of are keeping it from me and I am not happy about it.

I have a mini obsession with Dolly and I am sure after reading her autobiography (that's right, she is so fab and intelligent she can write her own book) it will turn into a full blown stalker situation.

Write an article and submit it to a magazine:

I got a library book on how to write and submit and articles to magazines for publication. Not too exciting but since I am not a writer it might be best to seek some advice from whoever it is that wrote this book.

Volunteer: more than once, and actually enjoy it

While searching for local volunteer opportunities I came across The Princess Project!!!! I had heard about them before and thought it sounded like such a fun organization. In case you haven't heard about them; The Princess Project collects prom dresses and accessories and gives them to girls who cannot afford their own. :)

Shopping, styling, and helping girls.....sign me up! I think this will be a match made in heaven.

Photo via Nick San Pedro; Logo via The Princess Project

I'm on my way.

Learning how to ski:

I have planned two trips to Tahoe in February! Unfortunately, I have also had several conversations about ski accidents, unqualified ski patrol, massive head trauma, death on the slopes................uh...maybe I'll learn how to ski next year.

Learn to spell:

Since I don't have a 3rd grade teacher cracking the whip; I had to think of a way for me to improve my spelling skills on my own. My roommate decided the best way would be to sign myself up for an adult spelling bee. I thought it was pure genius! For some reason I was perfectly OK with the idea of humiliating myself in front of an audience. Weird.

After a quick search, it seemed the only adult spelling bees were small philanthropy events where teams of adults work together to spell given words. So my boyfriend suggested I throw one myself, compete, and raise some money for one of my favorite non profits. I kinda like it.

In the meantime, I decided to write down all the words that have that angry little red squiggly underline. Those will become the master list. Then I will force anyone willing, to test me or to challenge me in a spell off. This will be my Rocky-style uber-intense training for the bee.

See 3 new places:

I have booked a ticket to Boston! I know it's not Istanbul or Tokyo but I have never been and always wanted to go. PLUS, my girlfriends and I are going for the St. Patrick's Day weekend which I am pretty sure is THE biggest weekend of the year in Boston.

more to come....

Green Light

This year is my b*tch! 2010 will be the year I finally do all the things I usually talk myself out of.

My roommate and I made the joint proclamation that “2010 is OUR year” so I started by creating a list of things I want to accomplish in 2010 and then narrowed it down to 10 items. My hope is that keeping this blog will keep me on track with each of my 10 goals.

A little history:

Over the past few years I have begun to view my overly rational nature as holding me back. My logical thinking was keeping me from taking even the tiniest risks and as I saw friends around me taking chances I found myself envious of their more impulsive nature. I viewed them as fearless or free spirited and was convinced they were living a more fulfilling life. Although I longed for these qualities, I told myself it wasn’t in my nature to be a risk taker and there was no way to change the way I operated. So typical of me to talk myself out of any and everything. Ahhhh!

I am finally sick of standing in my own way. I may be starting small but the fact that I am even starting is remarkable. I am determined to live a little more in 2010 and to make more rash decisions; even if they put me at risk for epic failure. I need to learn how to fall flat on my face or at least how to do something I may not be the best at.

So what exactly have I gotten myself into? Here is my list as of January 18^th (in no particular order).

1. Read 10 books
2. Write an article and submit it to a few magazines
3. Throw 2 great parties: I’m talking invitations, a full menu, create a “tablescape”, you know the whole domestic goddess thing
4. Run a race: over 3 miles
5. Volunteer:more than once, and actually enjoy it
6. Learn how to drive a stick shift
7. See 3 new places:destinations or noteworthy spots not something like the newest bar on the strip
8. Re-learn how to ski:after 13 years its time to get back on the mountain
9. Create 5 unique paintings
10. Learn how to spell:seriously, it’s embarrassing

Well…..there you have it. Everything I will do in 2010. I am stoked for the hilarity that will be me attempting to accomplish each of these tasks. I can already promise you “Re-learn to ski” (which is first up) will be far from a smooth ride.

-n