I won’t say I cheated on this — I didn’t. But I did pick a weekend that I was already traveling and thus not likely to be sitting in front of a computer. But I did have my laptop with me and could have plugged in at any moment. I went from Thursday night to Monday morning with no Internet — no emails, no nothing. Friday was the day I drove 10 hours to Rehoboth Beach and then checked into a motel until Sunday when I drove back to NYC. But I still could have been online Friday night, all day Saturday, Sunday morning before I left and then Sunday night (I was back in my apartment by 5pm).

And suprisingly, I rather enjoyed it. I thought I’d hate it and have withdrawals. But instead, I read. I wrote. I went for walks. And I survived. Now maybe I’m thinking I should try it at least once a month. It’d kinda fun.

The Score is Now:

34 Things Done

67 More Things to Do

525 Days Left to do ‘em in

It started innocently enough. Travis invited me to a cookout/party in Prospect Park yesterday…for those not familiar with New York, that’s in Brooklyn. We live in Manhattan. He suggested we walk and we could take Shirley, who would then be tired out by the time we got there and would act halfway civilized. I thought, “This will be good exercise and it will get me out of the house. And maybe I’ll meet some nice people. And it’ll be good to spend the day with Shirley. Don’t see why not.”

I said, “Yes.”  Instead of “No.”

We walked the first 9 miles (out of 12.4 ). [note: if you Mapquest the two distances it shows that it's only 8.25 miles from my house to the park...but if you use GmapPedometer and track the walking route, it's much further. We came down the Hudson River Parkway along the walking trail and then cut through the financial district to get over to the Brooklyn Bridge...once in Brooklyn, we had to circle around a bit to get off the walkway and to get to an area with major intersections so we could get a cab.] Once over the Brooklyn Bridge we took a cab the rest of the way ($10) because (a) we didn’t know how to get to Prospect Park because, though Travis looked up a map online, he neither actually LOOKED at the map nor printed it out (b) I was getting tired and cranky and (c) it was now 2:30 and the party was to have started at 1.

Shirley must have thought it was a free day for her, because for the entire 9 miles, she acted like it was her first day on a leash. I believe she probably pulled me most of the way. She lunged and ran and yanked and pulled and generally drove me to the brink. But I kept thinking, “at least she’ll be tired when she gets there.”  HA!!!

I put her in the little pop up crate and expected her to lie down and rest. I turned my back for 2 seconds and the next thing I know all the party goers are looking on in horror as Shirley is rolling her crate down the hill, end over end, doing all sorts of gymnastics inside. I’m just thankful she didn’t crash into anyone…or knock over any grills, etc. The little girl in the bubble is dangerous!

About this time David showed up and decided that all she needed was a little walk to calm her down (as if 9 miles wasn’t enough for her…i think she caught her second wind in the cab). So he took her to dog beach…a little area of a pond fenced off for dogs to play in. She dipped her toes in the water and wasn’t too interested until another dog showed up with a ball and suddenly she forgot all about the water and was all about going after the ball. It was funny to watch her dive in after the ball and get out there and suddenly remember she didn’t know how to swim. But the ball HAD to be caught and technicalities could wait. So she quickly mastered the art of swimming. This lasted for 2 chases of the ball before she turned on the other dog and we had to “remove” her from the water and from the park. (Remember, she’s supposed to be tired and sleeping in her crate at this point — but she’s fighting and getting evicted from the dog beach).  David had to change shoes, Travis needed a fresh drink and nearly an hour and a half later we arrived back at the party. Shirley was still lunging at everything that moved as if she did not understand the concept of a leash and limited mobility. I’m suprised I can even move my arms today.

By this point I realize I am STARVING. We didn’t actually “bring” any food to the party with us, using the excuse that we were walking all that way and we’d stop and get something nearby. Once we got to the park, we found that we were in an area where there was no “nearby.” So quick thinker that Travis is, he spots someone heading to the same party, LOADED down with grocery bags, and offers to help carry them…thus he can be seen arriving at the party with actual food. But I wouldn’t let him eat other people’s food, so by a little after 5 we packed up and headed out of the park to start trying to find a cab in Brooklyn (like finding a 4-leaf clover or a winning lottery ticket). Add to that, we had to find a cab that would also accept a wild dog who was still lunging at everything that moved.

Low and behold, by 5:30 we were in a cab headed back to Manhattan, and $29 later, we were back home.

So that’s what happens when you say “Yes” instead of “No.”

The Score is Now:

33 Things Done

68 More Things to Do

525 Days Left to do ‘em in

Easy. When you outgrow all your clothes, you have to get rid of the skinny clothes to make room for the fat clothes. Clothes, book and unused household appliances all went to the Salvation Army in 5 boxes and a couple of bags. (And while I don’t agree with the Salvation Army’s politics, I do agree with their tax-deductible donation forms and the fact that they’re just a block away) I lost count after 100 items. I could stand to do this one again, soon!

The Score is Now:

32 Things Done

69 More Things to Do

525 Days Left to do ‘em in

Ok, it’s not really Satan. Actually, it’s quite heavenly. But deep down I suspect that all the chemicals, as delightful as they are, are really not doing a body good.

This one was pretty easy up until the last day of the month. I  was really jonesing for the sweet nectar of Atlanta. But I persisted. Not sure if I’ll start back again, but at least I did one month and broke the cycle and the daily cravings.

The Score is Now:

31 Things Done

70 More Things to Do

638 Days Left to do ‘em in

Meet Sister Shirley Temple Black (of the Order of Perpetual Gratification). She was picked up as a stray off the streets and was taken to the pound, where she was given 3 days to be adopted or she’d be put to sleep. A nice lady came and rescued her and boarded her at a vet’s office while she looked for a home for Sister Shirley (who at that time was going by the name Holly).  She was all skin and bones and very shy, especially around men.  But in our first 3 weeks together, she has gained 10 pounds, has learned to sit and stay, and has really come out of her shell.

As a bonus, her rescuer was going to introduce her to a family the day after I met her, but since I got to keep her the family never got a chance to meet her. However, the rescuer also had two other dogs she was trying to get adopted, and the family ended up taking both of the other dogs after they didn’t get Sister Shirley.

The Score is Now:
30 Things Done
71 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em in

This one I did twice…one in San Francisco (arts marketing conference)  and one in Delray Beach, Fl (cultural tourism conference). No pictures of me doing the deed, but here are pics of the room before I started laying down my wisdom on all those previously unenlightened people.

The Score is Now:
29 Things Done
72 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em in

I’m going to miss that crazy bastard. He’s gone to live with a nice family in New Jersey that goes all out decorating for their kids on Halloween.  The $200 helps ease my pain, though.

The Score is Now:
28 Things Done
73 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em in

Done

The Score is Now:
27 Things Done
74 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em

I forgot to take pictures, but I did finally invite Barbara over to my apartment after 5 years of her asking to be invited. Barbara, Peter, Mark & Amy came over for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (ok, margaritas and chips/salsa).

The Score is Now:
26 Things Done
75 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em [...]

Big shock, I’m 42 and I’m going blind. Well, very slowly blind, but still…I don’t need glasses but I need reading glasses for the fine print.  Just the regular kind from the drug store for now.

The Score is Now:
25 Things Done
76 More Things to Do
645 Days Left to do ‘em in