December 18, 2010
So we are at the end of 2010 and I have to say its been a pretty rocking year. And its not just about checking things off a list. I did a lot of L-I-V-I-N this year. Here’s how I did with my goals for the year:
#1 Write a Novel: Well, the original goal was to start my novel. I planned to participate in the National Novel Writing Month in November but it ended up not being a success. Oh, well, I’ve got my start and I’ll keep plugging along!
#16 Get in the Guiness World Book of Records: Did the Skinny Dip Record Challenge in July and got in to the Record book on that one.
I also donated 4 pints of blood toward my goal of being the World’s Biggest Blood Donor.
#30 Stay in the Best Suite in a Five-Star Hotel: We’ll put this one off until we can afford to blow the cost of mortgage on a night’s stay. So, you know, when I’m 80.
#36 Visit Every Country: Completed my year’s goals with trips to New Zealand in March and the Bahamas in April.
#37 Make a Fire Without Matches: Nada
#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written: I said I would read 12 books this year. Total for the year of the official books, I read: Kestrel for a Knave, Not Fade Away, The Art of War, Birdsong, David Copperfield, Brighton Rock, The Van, Bonfire of the Vanities, Possession, The Crow Road, Explaining Death to the Dog, and Crash.
But I generally kicked ass at reading this year because I read a lot of other books, some of which, while they may not be on the “official” list, are definitely on some “Greatest Book Lists” (some aren’t but hey, everyone needs brain candy every now and then). The other books I read include: 4 Dexter books, 6 Sookie Books, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Choke, Never Let Me Go, The Sun Also Rises, Bridges of Madison County, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Lovely Bones, The Other Boleyn Girl, My Antonia, The Remains of the Day, and The Princess Bride.
I think 33 books in one year is honorable.
#86 Run a Marathon: I ran the Outer Banks Marathon on November 14, 2010. The greatest accomplishment of my life.
#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor at Flying Saucer: So far I’m up to 123. I’ll put in the comments the total list as that takes up a lot of space here.
#99 Confess: Nada again.
Not part of my original goals for the year but also saw the Golden Gate Bridge (#67), visited California (#11), saw Penguins, Dolphins, and Seals in the wild (#38), swam with sharks (#2), went white water rafting (#90), attended a Carolina v. Duke basketball game (#48.5) and went skydiving (#38).
How did you do with your goals for 2010?
Congrats on all your progress. I kind of failed with some of my goals this year, but working on my to do list for 2011. You are a winner!!!
NO, you totally did awesome with NaNoWriMo and going to Greece and getting things accomplished on your 31 before 31 list! I’ve gone two years now without starting a fire without matches and confessing. I’m not putting those on my list for 2011.
Haha, I’ve done the same thing with visiting LA and writing my name over a star on the Walk of Fame. I don’t know why I find it so difficult to make it down to LA. But it’ll go on the list next year too!
GO girl!!!
Jessica, you are unstoppable!!! When I compiled the book I imagined it’d take a lifetime to complete the Things To Do in the book, you’ve going to complete the entire book in a few years!
Congrats, can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2011 …
Thanks Richard! If I didn’t have the goals set for each year, I probably wouldn’t get ANYTHING done, but breaking the list down into yearly goals makes it easier to grasp. But don’t worry, I’m sure it will still take a lifetime to complete!
Congrats! You have done amazingly well to achieve what you have and I can’t wait to read about your new adventures in the new year!
Thanks Shelley! You had a great year as well, riding Colossus, winning NaNoWriMo, amongst other things. I look forward to hearing about your adventures as well!
Dang girl! You rocked it this year! Congrats on your accomplishments!
Beers drank so far:
Rogue 21
Sweetwater’s Festival Ale
Ska Nefarious Ten Pin Porter (BTL)
Terrapin Moo Hoo Milk Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Stout (BTL)
Founders Dirty Bastard
Sam Adams Winter Lager
Big Boss Aces and Ates
Sierra Nevada Celebration
Lindemans Kriek (BTL)
Bells Oarsman
Foothills Hoppyum IPA
Lonerider Grave Robber
Negra Modelo
Eel River Acai Berry Wheat (BTL)
Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale
Heavy Seas Marzen
Abita Purple Haze
Sam Adams Oktoberfest
Fullsteam Workingman’s Lunch
Chocolate Truffle
Duck Rabbit Marzen
Carolina Oktoberfest
Woodchuck Amber
Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter CASK
Foothills Barrel Aged Total Eclipse Stout
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Mother Earth Endless River Kolsch
Foothills Hurricane Hefe
Fullsteam Summer Basil Farmhouse
Bullpen Pale Ale
Carolina Pale Ale
Carolina Summer Ale
Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale (BTL)
JW Dundees Honey Brown
Big Boss Blanco Diablo
Carolina Strawberry Ale
Big Boss Bad Penny Brown
Sam Adams Imperial White (BTL)
Smuttynose Robust Porter (BTL)
Floris Pomme (BTL)
Xingu Brazillian Black (BTL)
Kulmbacher Festbier
Ommegang Hennepin
Dogfish Head Palo Santo (BTL)
Sam Adams Double Bock (BTL)
Anchor Steam (BTL)
Allagash White
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout (BTL)
New Holland Dragons Milk
Founders Centennial IPA (BTL)
Red Oak
Duck Rabbit Brown Ale (BTL)
Left Hand Milk Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout (BTL)
Pyramid Audacious Apricot
Guinness Draught
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter (BTL)
Magic Hat #9
Smithwicks Ale
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
Mad River Steelhead Scotch Porter (BTL)
Lion Stout (BTL)
North Coast Old #38 (BTL)
Pete’s Strawberry Blonde (BTL)
Founders Porter (BTL)
Aviator HotRod Red
Lone Rider Shotgun Betty
Flying Dog Tire Bite
New Belgium 1554
Carolina Winter Porter
Woodchuck Pear Cider
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Woodchuck Granny Smith (BTL)
Lindemans Framboise
Big Boss Angry Angel
Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter
Foothills People’s Porter
Lonerider Sweet Josie
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter (BTL)
Ipswitch Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Leinenkugels Berry Weiss (BTL)
Battlefield Bock
Duck Rabbit Wee Heavy
Hummingbird Water
Flying Dog Road Dog (BTL)
North Coast Old Rasputin (BTL)
Flying Dog Gonzo Imp. Porter (BTL)
Avery Out of Bounds Stout (BTL)
Great Divide St Bridget’s Porter (BTL)
Fullers London Porter (BTL)
Brooklyn Brown
Victory Donnybrook Stout
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Murphys Irish Stout
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Highland Oatmeal Porter (BTL)
Anchor Liberty Ale (BTL)
Lagunitas IPA (BTL)
Sea Dog Raspberry Wheat (BTL)
Holy Mackerel Mack in Black (BTL)
Ska Porter (BTL)
Highland Black Mocha Stout (BTL)
Sam Adams Imperial Stout (BTL)
Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat
Sam Adams Honey Porter (BTL)
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout (BTL)
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
Sam Adams Black Lager (BTL)
St Pauli Girl Lager (BTL)
RedHook ESB
Sam Adams Light (BTL)
Highland Gaelic
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Sam Adams Cream Stout (BTL)
Wolf White Wolf Golden Ale
Becks (BTL)
Rogue Dead Guy
Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat (BTL)
Spaten Franziskaner Hefe-Weiss
Foothills Seeing Double IPA
That’s a lot of beer! You got a lot done this year. When you set your mind to something, you really get it done. I admire that quality about you.
Thanks Steve! I always say if I didn’t have the goals each year, or even the blog to help keep me accountable to those goals, I wouldn’t get as much accomplished. (and just so we’re clear, those are the beers I’ve drank over 2 years, not just last year)
WOW. that is a great list of things you’ve done this year. I have to admit I’m incredibly jealous!! I haven’t accomplished nearly that much but you certainly did inspire me to do something fantastic in 2011!