Another Block Entry

Hi All,

I'm posting another brief synopsis of the project so far.  The past couple weeks have flown by.  Justin and I are getting our things settled, applying for jobs and I'm studying for school and the bar.  The lessons I've been learning aren't daily anymore - they are weekly.  I've continued to be more joyful, more open and happier because of this project than I ever was before.  So, I am sorry if these particular daily things aren't as interesting as they used to be, but for me they've been just as enlightening.

Day 278 - Learn the Animaniacs Song
Date: October 11th, 2010

With a little help from Justin, who, to his great shame, already knew all the words; I learned the song.  It was a delightful respite from things I've had to stretch to accomplish.

Day 279 - Learn to Throat Sing
Date: October 12th, 2010

One word.  Weird.  I assumed it was essentially humming, but it felt entirely different.  I would recommend googling some videos and attempting it.  You haven't lived until you've felt your throat vibrate.

Day 280 - Do a Chinese Firedrill
Date: October 13th, 2010

So, Justin, Ingrid and I were driving down to DC for the weekend (for job hunting, house hunting and vacation purposes) and Ingrid recommended that we do the old classic road hi-jink known as a Chinese firedrill.  For those who don't know, that's when everyone gets out of the car, runs a lap around it and jumps back in.  Usually this is done at an intersection, but not being much for traffic violations and danger,we decided it would be a better idea to do it in the drive-thru of a local McDonald's.  In short, it was amazing and we're awesome.

Day 281 - Hold my Breath Under the Appalachian Mountains
Date: October 14th, 2010

I've gone back and forth to DC a bunch of times and every time I come across the tunnel under the mountains I attempt to hold my breath.  I'd never previously succeeded.  Though I assumed I'd fail, I tried again, mostly out of habit.  When I saw the light start to open up on the other side of the tunnel, I was shocked to realize I'd not yet taken a breath.  Huzzah!  Huzzah for being awesome.

Day 282 - Sit in on an Inner-City High School Class
Date: October 15th, 2010

As part of a promise to Ben, I'm going to write a much longer and more detailed entry about this experience.  While I've generally attempted to refrain from political commentary, I'm suspending that rule for the purpose of this entry.

Day 283 - Read a Graphic Novel
Date: October 16th, 2010

I've been an avid reader from a young age.  While I used to enjoy picture books, I never read an actual graphic novel.  I was surprised at how fully the pictures told the story.  I'd expected the story to be somewhat barren without detailed prose.  Then again, you really can't go wrong with a title like "The Walking Dead".

Day 284 - Crack a Safe
Date: October 17th, 2010

As part of the awesome trip, we all went to the Spy Museum and did an interactive tour to stop a nuclear bomb.  That museum, man, that's some heavy stuff right there.  Part of the experience was shuffling through a room filled with hidden compartments and papers to look for evidence.  There was a safe in the corner and I spent about fifteen minutes looking for papers before realizing that no one had been able to crack it.  In a moment of divine ego-stroking, I figured it out in about 15 seconds.  I'm not exaggerating.  I walked over, looked at it, spun a dial and thought "oh, that's the trick" before solving the rest of the locks.  It was epic and I feel brilliant.

Day 285 - Have an Open and Frank Discussion About my Future
Date: October 18th, 2010

On the way home from DC, Justin and I had an eight hour car ride to entertain each other with.  Considering our decision to move in together and the fact that we're looking for jobs in the same places and all other manner of major life decisions, we decided to lay all our cards out on the table and start talking future plans.  By about hour five I'd realized that what he wants and what I want are so deeply in sync that I couldn't have planned it better if I tried.  By hour eight I was tired, but I knew exactly what Justin would do in the even that our youngest child (a girl), at the age of fifteen, decided she wanted to go to a concert with a boy on a school night if her GPA was 3.7 and she'd one cut school to see a walrus exhibit at the local zoo.  No, seriously, that's how detailed the conversation got.  It was lovely.

Day 286 - Watch a Hockey Shoot-Out
Date: October 19th, 2010

I went with Justin and his mom to a Red Wings game.  Other than the Wings losing, it was awesome.  We got to buy snacks from Justin's brother Aaron (he works at the Joe), watch a super exciting game and see the capper - a shoot out that broke a 4-4 tie.  Other than the Avalanche winning the shoot-out, it was super exciting. 

Day 287 - Learn to Read Braille
Date: October 20th, 2010

Not unlike secret codes and sign language, understanding braille feelings like being in a cool club where no one else know what you're writing.  The system is pretty genius, though my fingertips are definitely not sensitive enough to be able to read it by hand without practice.  I have new-found respect for the blind.  I'm just kidding.  I always respected the blind.

Day 288 - Call a Random Number and Have a Conversation
Date: October 21st, 2010

It took, I'm not even kidding, 15 calls before I managed to get a conversation past 30 seconds.  People are wary of strangers calling on the phone and wanting to shoot the breeze (I wonder why).  I was ready to give up when I talked to a lovely woman from Ypsilanti.  She has 3 kids, a dog named Trip and she works two jobs to get by.  We only talked for a few minutes, but she seemed utterly delightful.

Day 289 - ***Redacted***
Date: October 22nd, 2010

So, my project is to do a new thing every day for a year.  I did a new thing this day, but I don't feel it is appropriate to broadcast it on the internet.  I know that makes it more intriguing than not, which is counter to what I want... but here's what I'll say... Justin can vouch that I did a new thing for this day.  As can my mother.  Other than that, you know nothing and see nothing.

Day 290 - Attempt my own Baking Recipe
Date: October 23rd, 2010

Baking is chemistry.  I learned that on day one.  So what made me think I could make meringues without an electric mixer and with fake sugar, well, I'm not sure.  The result was a weird, puffy, souffle-omelet-rubber-cake-wheel that tasted bitter like my tears of disappointment.  Seriously.  It was a monstrosity.  

Day 291 - Had a PJ Day with my Boyfriend
Date: October 24th, 2010

I'm a big fan of laziness.  I wish laziness were motivated enough to be famous so I could write it a letter telling it how awesome it is.  Then I remember that laziness wouldn't bother appreciating my hard work.  In any case, Justin and I both needed a relaxation day so we stayed in PJ's, watched TV and cuddled all day.  Granted I applied to jobs and did some school reading, but it was an all day PJ fest and its the first time I've done that with someone.

Day 292 - Clean out my Basement
Date: October 25th, 2010

I've often done major cleaning projects when forced, yelled at or threatened with grounding.  I've rarely done them without such motivation.  For a long time, the basement room at my condo has been filled with things I'm "storing" there.  Which really means stuff I put there and forgot about.  So I decided it was time to clean it out.  Sort of like Spring cleaning, except that its fall and its just the basement.  It felt like Christmas though... I discovered a ton of stuff I forgot I had.  And its nice to have my basement back.

Day 293 - Get Keratin Put on my Hair
Date: October 26th, 2010

I was curious to see if there was anything, in existence, that could kill the frizz.  I think I finally found something.  Its called keratin and it helps build up the hairs' own proteins to make it stronger and less frizzy.  I'll let y'all know how it looks in a couple days when the salon styling wears off.