101 Things in 1001 Days: 1

I grew up spending the summer sailing, and it is still one of my positively favorite things to do. As much time as I've spent on the boat, I still have a lot to learn. This past week I took in as much as a could from my dad and uncle, both experienced sailors and teachers. I wasn't the captain the whole sail, but I did take the helm for a good long time. I'm crossing Number 1 off my 101 List!

Call me Captain Anna

The handy chart, which you may remember from such places as our bedroom

Me and Dad

Song of the Day
Today's song is Styx's Come Sail Away.

101 Things in 1001 Days: 11

At around 1902, my great great grandfather, built his family a vacation home on Chebeague Island, ME. I would like to think he also built the house for it to be enjoyed by generations to come. And for that I will always be grateful.

The house is named Khatmandu (my great great grandfather was a big Kipling fan), and just like my father and his father, growing up I enjoyed every summer there. It is unquestionably my favorite place in the world and I recently got to share it with some of my most favorite people, crossing #11: take more than four people to Maine, off my 101 List.

One of the best parts of spending time in Maine is enjoying the outdoors. Between the picnics, the sailing, and the hiking, you are seldom inside. Unfortunately, it was raining and cold almost our whole visit. I'll admit, Positively Anna was not feeling so positive. I was actually grumpy and frustrated that I wasn't getting to show my friends exactly the weekend I had planned. Luckily these friends of mine are troopers and even if there was a monsoon they would have managed to have a wonderful weekend.

My wonderful brothers join for the weekend, which made it all the more special.

Rain does make somethings look better

Chandler's Cove

Beachcombing with Inspector Gadget

When I was a little girl I used to collect these little yellow shells. They are still my favorite.

Maine, the only place it is cheaper to eat lobster than chicken

Becca enjoying the spa package...a relaxing lobster steam bath

I believe I'm shouting "I made fire" a la Tom Hanks, but it is hard to know for sure

And wouldn't you know it...as soon as we got on the ferry home, the sun came out! Oh well. Still an amazing trip.

Song of the Day

Please enjoy Van Morrison's Into the Mystic.

101 Things in 1001 Days: 35

Originally #35 on my 101 List was to be named Blogher's Blogger of the Week. At the time I was super engaged in the Blogher community. I still think it is a great site filled with very talented bloggers, but I lost momentum with this goal.

As I've worked on my 101 List I've realized the vitalness of being flexible (more on this here and here). The point of the list is to have fun and be challenged, not for it to be stressful and a giant pain in the ass. With this in mind, I decided to change #35, keeping it a goal about my blog but making it something more realistic.

My new goal was to blog every weekday of June. Mission accomplished! It was challenging but I posted 22 times. While I kind of already knew this, it became abundantly more clear this past month, that to find success with this blog, whatever it might be, I need to post regularly. I hope you've enjoyed the posts and I'll do my best to keep it up.

Song of the Day
Today's song is Bachman Turner Overdrive's Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

101 Things in 1001 Days: #34

A while back I completed #34 on my 101 List: take a writing class. At Gotham Writers' Workshop I took two free mini writing classes, which focused fiction and non-fiction. The goal of these free classes was clearly to encourage you to sign up for paid classes, but I still considered it worth my time. The teachers were great and in they provided helpful writing exercises.

Gotham is offering more free writing classes in July and August as part of the Word for Word program at Bryant Park.

Song of the Day
Today's song is Lady Gaga's Edge of Glory. I'm crazy about this song!

101 Things in 1001 Days: 48

Anna a.k.a. Bicycle Pirate

It has been a little while since I’ve crossed anything off my 101 List. On Saturday I got back at it, completing #48: bike the length of Manhattan. It was so great!  Matt and I rode from the West Village almost up to the George Washington Bridge (there was some construction on the end of the path).

We rented from Waterfront Bicycle Shop. They have lots of bikes in great shape and it is right across the street from the Westside Greenway Bike Path so you only have to cross one street (which is why I didn’t die this weekend). The Bike Path runs the length of the west side of Manhattan. It is very flat, lending itself to a leisurely pace. The path can get crowded so I would recommend this ride as a morning activity.

Matt a.k.a. Hell On Wheels

We had such a great time.  It was a beautiful day.  We saw parts of the city we had never seen before, and got some exercise. Best of all it only cost us $27 total! This my new must-do activity for when I have guests in town and I recommend you try it as soon as possible.  


Song of the Day
Today's song is Queen's Bicycle Race.

McQueen Exhibit

McQueen Exhibit.  Photo by The Photograph Studio

This weekend I went to Savage Beauty, the Alexander McQueen Exhibit,  at the MET.  You don't need to know anything about stitching or silhouettes to appreciate this exhibit.  You will realize as soon as you walk in that he was a creative genius.  The detail and variety of his visions are truly astonishing.  And if you don't believe that clothing can be art, this exhibit will definitively change your mind.

I'm a good ol' Scottish girl so I covet this dress from the Widows of Culloden Collection.  

We selected this pieces as our favorite from the exhibit, but the picture doesn't even begin to do it justice.  Guess you will just have to go see it. 

Photography by Sølve Sundsbø.


Song of the Day
Today's song is Jennifer Hudson's All Dressed Up in Love.

101 Things in 1001 Days: 78

I like my jewelry to mean something.  I enjoy wearing it more when it has a story.  I have a few pieces that were handed down from my grandmothers that are priceless to me.

I put "Buy myself a nice piece of jewelry" on my 101 List with the intention of buying something that I would have for a long time.  I got a signet ring.  I've been wanting one for years.  I hope to pass it on to my daughter or granddaughter some day.  Since neither of those women will exist for a while, I wanted something that would be meaningful to me now.

I bought my ring on my one year anniversary at my current job.  This is the happiest I've ever been at a job and I wanted to celebrate that.  I also am proud of my career and, for years to come, I know when I look at this ring I'll be reminded of my capabilities and what I'm able to accomplish.

Don't worry...I don't usually wear my ring on my wedding finger.  It is just dang impossible to take a picture with your left hand.

What is your favorite piece of jewelry?

Song of the Day

Today's song is Freda Payne's Band of Gold.

101 Things in 1001 Days: 45

I generally try not to write too much about my job on this blog.  I'm very happy where I work, but I think it is good blogger practice, and probably common sense, to not talk too much about your work place in such an open forum.  That being said, I have completed #45 on my 101 List: Do something great at work.  When I added this goal to my list I wasn't sure exactly what I was reaching for but I felt like I would know it when I saw it.  I won't get into specifics, suffice to say that as this project developed and grew I knew it was going to be "great."  And what I mean is that it was great for me.  It challenged me, it helped me learn new things, it allowed me to work closely with new colleagues, it challenged me some more, and in the end it was very fulfilling.

Song of the Day
Today's song is The Beatles' Hard Day's Night.