100 Things - January recap
Feb. 2nd, 2010 06:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coffeesnob318My New Year's Resolutions were six lists of 100 things. This is my first progress update:
• Read 100 books that I haven’t read before.
Off to a bit of a slow start on this one. But here’s what I’ve read so far:
1. On Writing by Stephen King
This book was amazing. Simultaneously poignant and practical. It's the best book on writing that I've read. And there’s a book list at the end.
I had forgotten how much I love the way he writes. I wish his fiction didn't give me nightmares.
2. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
I didn't like it. It wasn't a bad story; it just fell flat. He wrote the characters around the story instead of writing the story around the characters. It reads more like a news report than a novel. And it's a shame. The plot is okay, and the characters have real potential. There are images and themes that a better writer (or one more round of editing) could have captured. A writer can't just say, "This is magic," and expect the reader to go along with it. It's as if he forgot to edit the place in an earlier draft marked "Insert magic here." It seems unfinished.
I'm glad I read it, though. It was a quick read, and I learn just as much about writing from reading bad examples as I do from reading good examples. And this is a great example of how not to tell a story.
...and that’s it so far.
• Make 100 improvements to my apartment.
1. The first thing I decided the apartment needed was an outbox. This idea was inspired by Apartment Therapy. Basically, it’s a glorified Goodwill pile. I put anything that I’m on the fence about keeping in the outbox. If it stays there by the time I make a trip to Goodwill, out it goes. A fun aspect of the outbox is that friends can “shop” in it (eyes off the table – it’s been claimed).
2. Refrigerator – it was decorated with a lot of stuff left over from when it was Mel’s apartment. It now has only my stuff on it. Simple but important task.
3. New toaster oven! Christmas present from Mom and Dad. It’s red. :)
4. Replaced old utensil holder with a yellow one that actually matches the kitchen.
5. Started putting pictures up on the wall in the office.
Next on the list – putting up curtains and the rest of the pictures in the house, new shower curtain in the guest bathroom and new shower liner in my bathroom.
• Run 100 miles.
As planned, this one is still on hiatus. The knee is still a little shaky, especially, I recently discovered, in the rain. I’m now one of those people who creak when it precipitates. :/ I am shopping for gyms, though, so that I can start easing back into more activity than the yoga and pilates I’ve been doing at home.
• Have 100 firsts.
This one is proving to be a bit of a challenge. I’m going to have to get creative.
1. Highlights – pretty, shiny, copper highlights. Meredith was right. It really does make my eyes pop.
2. First time to use a bay leaf in cooking (see new recipes for details).
Wow, my life is boring.
• Update my lj 100 times.
Four times so far, not counting this entry. Five. I’m so counting this entry. What? It’s an update.
• Try 100 new recipes.
I’ve learned a few things in just looking for recipes to try. First, my concept of “simple” and foodies’ concept of “simple” – two different things. This first month has mostly been eating up most of the mixes and frozen meals that normally reside in my kitchen just to make room for the behemoth ingredient list I’m acquiring. But I guess that goes right along with my save-money-and-calories-by-cooking-at-home goal. I am happy to report that it’s working already.
Second, there are recipes for everything. For example, who needs a recipe on how to make a quesadilla? It’s a pretty simple thing to make, even for a non-foodie like I am. I may be including a few of these, though.
Third, I’m a pickier eater than I thought. I have modified just about every recipe that I have tried or am planning to try in the near future. Without further ado, here are the ones
I’ve tried:
1. Meatballs Vinaigrette – one of the first recipes sent to me. It is basically what it sounds like it is. Meatballs with a vinaigrette as a sauce. Now one might think to oneself, “Self, do meatballs really need more oil, such as the oil that a vinaigrette tends to bring to the table?” And the answer would be no. No, they do not. It didn’t taste bad (I ate them over a bed of rice), but it definitely made me feel bad. I’m going to stick to a nice tomato sauce or maybe something barbeque-ish when I do meatballs in the future.
2. Beans and greens – I am a sucker for a food that rhymes. This was pretty simple – just some white beans (I used navy beans) and dark greens (I used kale), plus some salt, pepper, and garlic. The new thing about this to me was that I had never seasoned a dish with something that was meant to be removed before serving. The visitor here was an onion with a bay leaf and a clove inserted into it. I liked this dish a lot, even though I scorched it a bit because I have a short attention span and neglected to add more water in time (that smoky flavor – I meant to do that. Yeah.). The recipe suggested drizzling it with olive oil before serving, but I stirred in a little goat cheese with the first serving instead. It was delicious both ways (and also without either – there was a lot of it – gave me a lot of chances to try different serving options).
So there you have it. My first round of resolution-keeping. Most of them are behind schedule, but I am not discouraged by this. I expect the pace to pick up once I get used to it.
• Read 100 books that I haven’t read before.
Off to a bit of a slow start on this one. But here’s what I’ve read so far:
1. On Writing by Stephen King
This book was amazing. Simultaneously poignant and practical. It's the best book on writing that I've read. And there’s a book list at the end.
I had forgotten how much I love the way he writes. I wish his fiction didn't give me nightmares.
2. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
I didn't like it. It wasn't a bad story; it just fell flat. He wrote the characters around the story instead of writing the story around the characters. It reads more like a news report than a novel. And it's a shame. The plot is okay, and the characters have real potential. There are images and themes that a better writer (or one more round of editing) could have captured. A writer can't just say, "This is magic," and expect the reader to go along with it. It's as if he forgot to edit the place in an earlier draft marked "Insert magic here." It seems unfinished.
I'm glad I read it, though. It was a quick read, and I learn just as much about writing from reading bad examples as I do from reading good examples. And this is a great example of how not to tell a story.
...and that’s it so far.
• Make 100 improvements to my apartment.
1. The first thing I decided the apartment needed was an outbox. This idea was inspired by Apartment Therapy. Basically, it’s a glorified Goodwill pile. I put anything that I’m on the fence about keeping in the outbox. If it stays there by the time I make a trip to Goodwill, out it goes. A fun aspect of the outbox is that friends can “shop” in it (eyes off the table – it’s been claimed).
2. Refrigerator – it was decorated with a lot of stuff left over from when it was Mel’s apartment. It now has only my stuff on it. Simple but important task.
3. New toaster oven! Christmas present from Mom and Dad. It’s red. :)
4. Replaced old utensil holder with a yellow one that actually matches the kitchen.
5. Started putting pictures up on the wall in the office.
Next on the list – putting up curtains and the rest of the pictures in the house, new shower curtain in the guest bathroom and new shower liner in my bathroom.
• Run 100 miles.
As planned, this one is still on hiatus. The knee is still a little shaky, especially, I recently discovered, in the rain. I’m now one of those people who creak when it precipitates. :/ I am shopping for gyms, though, so that I can start easing back into more activity than the yoga and pilates I’ve been doing at home.
• Have 100 firsts.
This one is proving to be a bit of a challenge. I’m going to have to get creative.
1. Highlights – pretty, shiny, copper highlights. Meredith was right. It really does make my eyes pop.
2. First time to use a bay leaf in cooking (see new recipes for details).
Wow, my life is boring.
• Update my lj 100 times.
Four times so far, not counting this entry. Five. I’m so counting this entry. What? It’s an update.
• Try 100 new recipes.
I’ve learned a few things in just looking for recipes to try. First, my concept of “simple” and foodies’ concept of “simple” – two different things. This first month has mostly been eating up most of the mixes and frozen meals that normally reside in my kitchen just to make room for the behemoth ingredient list I’m acquiring. But I guess that goes right along with my save-money-and-calories-by-cooking-at-home goal. I am happy to report that it’s working already.
Second, there are recipes for everything. For example, who needs a recipe on how to make a quesadilla? It’s a pretty simple thing to make, even for a non-foodie like I am. I may be including a few of these, though.
Third, I’m a pickier eater than I thought. I have modified just about every recipe that I have tried or am planning to try in the near future. Without further ado, here are the ones
I’ve tried:
1. Meatballs Vinaigrette – one of the first recipes sent to me. It is basically what it sounds like it is. Meatballs with a vinaigrette as a sauce. Now one might think to oneself, “Self, do meatballs really need more oil, such as the oil that a vinaigrette tends to bring to the table?” And the answer would be no. No, they do not. It didn’t taste bad (I ate them over a bed of rice), but it definitely made me feel bad. I’m going to stick to a nice tomato sauce or maybe something barbeque-ish when I do meatballs in the future.
2. Beans and greens – I am a sucker for a food that rhymes. This was pretty simple – just some white beans (I used navy beans) and dark greens (I used kale), plus some salt, pepper, and garlic. The new thing about this to me was that I had never seasoned a dish with something that was meant to be removed before serving. The visitor here was an onion with a bay leaf and a clove inserted into it. I liked this dish a lot, even though I scorched it a bit because I have a short attention span and neglected to add more water in time (that smoky flavor – I meant to do that. Yeah.). The recipe suggested drizzling it with olive oil before serving, but I stirred in a little goat cheese with the first serving instead. It was delicious both ways (and also without either – there was a lot of it – gave me a lot of chances to try different serving options).
So there you have it. My first round of resolution-keeping. Most of them are behind schedule, but I am not discouraged by this. I expect the pace to pick up once I get used to it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
100 new things
Date: 2010-02-02 03:27 pm (UTC)<3
margarett
Re: 100 new things
Date: 2010-02-03 12:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 05:01 pm (UTC)my little household is a fan of the stuffed meatball, which you don't need any sauce for :) Their favorite is being stuffed with some sort of cheese :p
no subject
Date: 2010-02-03 12:58 pm (UTC)And I'm totally going to read The Dead Zone. He talked about it just enough in the book that I really believe it's something I need to experience, even if I don't sleep for a week.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-03 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-03 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-03 12:59 pm (UTC)