The 101 List

Guys. I finished my 101 list. Well, finished in that it is over. I got 68 completed, which I think is a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Especially since I was only aiming for 50%. Take that, list!
 I am definitely planning on another 101 list, but I'm taking a month or so to recuperate and reassess. So expect greatness!

Following are the pictures I took for each task completed (per #52). Thanks for your support over the years! Man. It really has been years. It feels like yesterday that I started, but here we are. You people are the best people. Please keep being the best.

1. purchase a disco ball

 2. write a song

3. hike timp

4. run a 5k

6. visit a new country

8. pay off my loan

10. keep a dream journal

11. NaNoWriMo

13. make an item of clothing

14. batting cages

17. read my height in books

18. one month of no fast food

19. road trip to somewhere i've never been

22. learn 10 songs on guitar

22. attend a convention in costume

23. see three bands in concert i've been meaning to see

26. ghibli movie marathon

27. MoMA

28. read the ensign monthly for a year

31. get a caricature

32. send a secret to postsecret

34. facebook fast for one week

35. host a fancy dinner party

36. attend a film festival

37. do some volunteer work

39. go to 20 museums

40. take a photo class

41. attend a midnight premiere in costume

42. defeat windwaker

45. get a mani/pedi

46. create a wall-spanningly huge work of art

47. go geocaching

48. go to 20 new restaurants

50. see a play on broadway

51. go barefoot for a day

52. take a picture for each task completed (i didn't take a picture for this one - too meta, still calling it good)

53. grow a plant from a seed

54. cedar point. live it. love it.

55. go to the dentist

56. for one month, pay for everything in cash and save the change

58. pass jlpt 2

59. wreck this journal

61. fold 1000 cranes

63. keytar?!?!

64. buy and eat a rotisserie chicken

66. hourly comics

68. stay up for 24 hours straight for good reason

70. kiss someone at midnight on new year's

72. every week, listen to a new album as recommended by a friend

[redacted :)]

76. write real letters to friends

77. create and upload a video to youtube

78. blog tri-weekly for a month

79. journal hourly for one week

80. for one day, make all decisions with a magic 8 ball

83. read the standard works straight through

84. learn how to say garlic in 20 languages

85. watch 50 new movies

87. wear makeup everyday for a week

89. leave a 100% tip

90. pull the prank of a lifetime

91. watch a scary movie with a boy

92. one week of no spending money

95. go to the movies alone

96. buy crazy eyeshadows

97. go to the wizarding world of harry potter

98. cook 50 new recipes

101. spend $50+ on a meal for myself

Hourly Comic Day

101 List: The Final Stretch

Well, we're getting down to the wire, folks. I have 34 days remaining on my 101 list.

I still have (among other things):

• 692 cranes to fold
• 2 video games to beat
• 5 albums to listen to
• 1 vest to sew
• 6 songs to learn on guitar
• 11 random acts of kindness to complete
• 1 dentist appointment to schedule (eek)
• 2 languages to learn how to say 'garlic' in
• 7 days of consecutive makeup wearing
• 7 chapters of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain to complete

I've given up on a lot of things, but I still feel really accomplished at this point. I'm aiming for at least 60% by the end of things. I can make it. It's gonna be great.

#101: Forage

So this Thursday I completed goal #101 - Spend $50+ on dinner for myself. I joined Erin, a friend from my ward, and we hit Forage in Salt Lake City. It was a 15 course set menu, and I ended up paying $110.59 with the tip. It was an experience, though, and I'd say it was worth every penny.

Apologies for the crappy photos - it was dim as heck in there. And for some I forgot to take a picture of some beforehand...

Course #1: apple and cow parsnip - warm juice served in small sake cups - earthy and sweet

Course #2: buckwheat - salted fried buckwheat cube with yogurt and salmon roe on top. Erin called it a grown-up filet-o-fish, I called it delicious.

Course #3: onion - onion meringue filled with Gruyere cheese

Course #4: soft scrambled egg | maple syrup | sherry cream - People rave about this item. It's the one constant on the ever-changing menu, and with very good reason. Served in a hollow egg shell, bottom layer of soft eggs, topped with syrup, cream, and garlic chives.

Course #5: carrot and oak - a platter of smoking leaves, harvested from the backyard, maybe. An orange carrot and a purple carrot and dollop of chivey yogurt on a rock

Course #6: celery root and frozen horesradish - Probably least favorite here - horseradish granita/sorbet, topped with celery root foam, served with ribbons of pickled celery root and dill sprigs

Course #7: leaves and stems with roasted chicken vinaigrette - spectacular dressing made from chicken stock, with caramelized onions hiding under the greens. A comforting salad.

Course #8: cabbage roasted whole in juniper branches - The smell of the roasting juniper branches was enough to make me love this dish - they plated at the table - the chef brought out the cabbage, adding it to a bowl with house made sour cream and some type of crouton. The chef added the cabbage and the server topped it off with lamb broth, making it like a cabbage soup.

Course #9: toasted grains with mushrooms and woodruff - shiitake mushrooms with a mix of grains and woodruff - still not sure what that shiz is

Course #10: steamed trout with wild cress - lightly steamed trout with cress and tiny flowers. Topped with a buttermilk dressing.

Course #11: beets with black walnut and fermented elderberry - earthy earthy earthy. the elderberries were good. The black walnuts were heavenly.

Course #12: pastured pork with acorns and sunchokes - favorite. First favorite. The pork was the most tender pork I have ever had in my life. It literally melted in your mouth. The acorns and sunchokes added a lovely crispy side note.

Course #13: aromatic quince - Quince prepared multiple ways - meringue puffs, quince mousse, topped in quince juice. I liked the presentation on this one, all in a big clear bowl

Course #14: flavors and textures of autumn - chips made from beet and pumpkin, some kind of cream, and a pumpkin sorbet, with candied pumpkins

Course #15: pistachios from hurricane - pistachio cookie, topped with pistachio mousse, topped with crumbled pistachios

All in all a good time, and one more goal down!