the journey is home.

A recurring theme in my life as been trying to figure out were home is. Looking back, I have even talked about it when I went back to Zimbabwe after so many years away. I am forever trying to reconcile my Zimbabwean heritage with my American upbringing and my need to explore the rest of the world to find those pieces of myself in those yet to be discovered places. I find myself being uncomfortable with being in the same place all the time, I have travelled away from home at very opportunity since I can remember and in the recent months, I have gone above and beyond to prove that. It might have something to do with hating my job, but that's another story, another dollar. In the recent months so many changes have taken place and what I can say I have taken way from it is that for me at least, I have figured out that the journey is home. The constant exploration of new and old places and faces is what grounds me when the positive is hard to find or I am at my wits' end. Figuring out where home is like a piece of the puzzle that is my so called life slotting into place, discovering something about myself that settles the constant questions that are forever swirling relentlessly in my mind.

It's been months since I have felt like putting my thoughts down and I am glad I am getting my mojo back. It's definitely time to start again.

to the future and beyond.

Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament. - George Santayana

I have taken on an awfully big adventure. There is a project called the DayZero Project in which you put together a list of a 101 things to do in 1001 days. It took me a while to finish this list before it doesn't seem like a lot but a 101 things is quite a lot when you have to come up with them. This project was brought to my attention by Rebecca and I have tried to get other friends to join in. I like the flexibility and the motivation it sort gives you to try to be proactive about the things you've always wanted to do.


The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? 
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

October 19, 2009-July 15, 2012 

1)      Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years.

2)      Go to a music festival

3)      Go to Disneyworld

4)      Tip 100% to a really good server

5)      Take a vow of silence for 24 hours. 5 times.

6)      Complete a list of 100 things that make me happy

7)      Complete the Lord of Rings trilogy

8)      Finish seeing all 50 states. 20 down.

9)      See all Disney movies from 1930-2009. 

10)  Attend a Symphony

11)  Read 50 books

12)  Watch AFI’s Top 100 movies of all time (0/100)

13)  Road trip to Seattle

14)  Move to Washington, D.C

15)  Take a Picture of myself everyday for a year

16)  Spend the day at a spa

17)  Learn to identify 15 constellations

18)  Learn to Tango

19)  Be “Yes Man” for a week.

20)  Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

21)  Get a tattoo

22)  Learn how to make Sushi

23)  Go wine tasting  in Napa

24)  Make a Clock

25)  Take kickboxing class

26)  Go to a Drive- In movie

27)  Unplug for a weekend(0/5)

28)  Play in the rain

29)  Go to a shooting range

30)  Spend a weekend in Las Vegas

31)  Go on a cruise

32)  See 5 shows on Broadway shows

33)  Get second ear piercing

34)  Pay for coffee for the person behind me at Starbucks

35)  Bake Bread

36)   Try  10 new restaurants

37)  Lose 60 pounds

38)  Learn to meditate  and do so once a week (0/143)

39)   Try Pilates/Yoga

40)  Buy a DSLR camera

41)  Buy a Mac Book

42)  Try  one new recipe a month (0/33)

43)  Find a Job

44)  Finish a Master’s Program

45)  Get debt free

46)  Eat at Top Chef winner Harold Dietarle’s restaurant Perilla in NY

47)  Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen regularly

48)  Go the World Cup in 2010

49)  Train and run a 5k

50)  Ride a mechanical bull

51)  Eat dinner on top of the Space needle

52)  Join/start a book club

53)  See John Mayer in concert

54)  Save $50 dollars a month(0/33)

55)  Complete the 5, 000 word survey 

56)  Go to the Harry Potter themed section of Islands of Adventure

57)  Read all 100 greatest books 

58)  Get CPR certified

59)  Get a new pair of glasses

60)  Write a poem every month (0/33)

61)  Write in my journal once a week ( 0/143)

62)  Start my memoirs

63)  Go to 15 shows/concerts (0/15)

64)  Cook a 7 course meal for friends

65)  Drink more water

66)  Travel cross country by train

67)  Visit Mount Rushmore

68)  Write  a screenplay

69)  Go a ballet

70)  Donate 50,000 grains of Rice 

71)  Attend a Film Festival

72)  Complete a New York Times Sunday Puzzle ( 0/3)

73)  Learn to ice skake

74)  Do 75 creative writing prompts 

75)  Participate in a Scavenger Hunt

76)  Complete the 26 things Photographic Project 

77)  Do 25 random acts of kindness (0/25)

78)  Go to a Jazz/Blues bar in Chicago

79)  See How to Succeed in Business on Broadway

80)  Bake a cake from scratch

81)  Take myself out once a month (0/33)

82)  Take a Sign Language Class

83)  Treat Mom to a Trip

84)  Buy a Car

85)  Attend a food and wine festival

86)  Create a cocktail

87)  Learn how to use chopsticks properly

88)  Be an audience for Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert

89)  Eat 100% organic for a month( make habit)

90)  Stay in bed and breakfast for a weekend

91)  Compete a 1000 piece puzzle

92)  Go to the Renaissance Fair

93)  Ride the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier

94)  Go a professional Sporting Event

95)  Listen to Rolling Stones’ Top 500 songs(0/500)

96)  See Jason Mraz in concert

97)  Master 7 Classic Julia Childs Recipes

98)  Buy a digital camera

99)  Buy a pair of expensive jeans

100) Organize iTunes Library 

101) Spend a Weekend in Charleston, S.C