102 Tasks in 1002 Days

What do you do when you fail to keep up with your posting schedule and you promise people something vaguely special to compensate for it? You dig through old posts and try to pull at their nostalgia, that's what.

Originally, I thought about reviewing my most popular short stories and rants - kind of a Behind the Music deal. Then I thought that would be too vain. If I'm asked to produce such a series, I wouldn't feel so self-conscious about it... [insert over-exaggerated wink here because emojis are words now]

Some of my oldest friends and associates may recognize this post. Five years ago, I aimed to complete 101 tasks in 1001 days and document my progress. I failed at both, but just because you haven't finished a task in the time you allotted yourself doesn't mean you have to give up on it.

So here's my second attempt. I added a 102nd task because that's how sequels work. I'll be using this to add some structure into my life. Lord knows I need it.  Last time I did this, I included goals that were a bit too abstract. Reprehend me if you catch me trying to pull a fast one. Feel free to follow along or to create your own. I'll try my best to post every time I complete a task.


Start Date: Friday, Decemeber 18, 2015
End Date: Saturday, September 15, 2018

1. Have a complete manuscript for a novel
2. Complete a second manuscript
3. Find a publisher
4. Finish 2nd and 3rd episodes of TV pilot
5. Attempt to get it produced
6. Learn how to direct
7. Visit the West Coast
8. Complete a writing challenge
9. Complete a reading challenge
10. Learn how to tread water and swim laps
11. [sigh] Learn how to drive
12. [longer sigh] Buy a car
13. Pick up and retain Spanish and/or French
14. Decide if you want to attend grad school
15. Completely pay off your student loans? One can dream
16. Visit the Caribbean
17. Visit a non-European country
18. Produce more visual art
19. Devote a day to photography
20. Learn how to ride a bike
21. Attend DC/ATL Pride
22. Watch a Broadway Show
23. Become more vocal about social justice
24. Invest in stocks and learn how they work
25. Master the Adobe Suite
26. Live somewhere with a balcony [the dream!]
27. Attempt to ice skate
28. Become featured on a major website
29. Learn how to sing better
30. Find more queer spaces to meet people
31. Find an exercise routine you enjoy
32. Use Just Dance as a cardio program
33. Take a vacation alone
34. Learn 50 new recipes [7/50]
35. Learn how to bake
36. Learn better chopping and cooking techniques
37. Live somewhere with a kitchen bigger than a walk-in closet
38. Watch the Oscar winning movies of 2016
39. Attempt to watch House of Cards
40. Find a job with a steady income
41. Allow someone else to host Friendsgiving [shudders at losing control]
42. Seek ways to improve your speech
43. Revisit a therapist
44. Become more comfortable with physical contact
45. Attend another music festival
46. Determine rather you're Team Apple or Team Android
47. Find own insurance plan because you're an adult now
48. Attend a Comic-Con or gaming expo
49. Reconnect with your uncle
50. Write a webshort or play for my friends to star in
51. Utilize the new camera
52. Utilize the crockpot you purchased because Cyber Monday is the devil
53. Visit New Jersey for longer than a week
54. Reconnect with friends in New Jersey and elsewhere
55. Attend a concert by an artist you don't know
56. Attend a stadium concert
57. Find an apartment to hang the artwork you purchased in
58. Determine your relationship with religion
59. Learn more about family's history
60. Watch the entire Queer as Folk series because queer studies
61. Attempt a vegetarian lifestyle for a month
62. Stay up to date with dance crazes to remain relevant
63. Develop a palate for wine
64. Develop a palate for whiskey
65. Attempt to brew your own beer because you're hip
66. Camp in the woods sans technology
67. Stargaze and name constellations
68. Watch more science-based shows like "How It's Made"
69. Revisit Canada [or retreat there, whichever comes first]
70. Vote in the next Presidential Election
71. Become more attentive of local politics
72. Sit in the park and record more findings
73. Try new sex positions [giggity] [0/5]
74. Work to complete your next crazy idea with Brett
75. Learn how to sew
76. Compete in a local drag night
77. Learn how to actually apply makeup
78. Fight for women's right and become the feminist you were meant to be
79. Stand up for friends when they can't themselves
80. Vocalize your opinions in conversation, even if they're wrong
81. Try to DJ [maybe a friend's wedding]
82. Relearn how to read and write music
83. Write a song
84. Learn how to play the piano/keyboard
85. Sing Erykah Badu/D'Angelo style at an Open Mic
86. Be someone's #MCM because your ego needs stimulus
87. Keep up with this blog 
88. Market yourself through social media [without becoming annoying]
89. Set up a retirement plan because you will make it into old age
90. Determine a better conversation topic than "So... what do you do for work?"
91. Determine if you want children and if you have a biological clock
92. Date a guy, maybe a girl. Who knows? ...probably a guy, though
93. Participate in community service because I'm a good person
94. Purchase Legos and relive my architect dream
95. Attend my 5-year college and 10-year high school reunions and have cool stories to tell because I am the most interesting man in all of Baltimore
96. Decide if you want to live in Baltimore or move elsewhere
97. Buy more dress shirts and cardigans because you love cardigans
98. Limit your Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr time to two hours a day
99. Talk about your feelings with friends more
100. Guide nieces and nephews through the next chapter of their lives
101. Add $20 to savings account for each task completed
102. Make a new task list when this one expires

Thanks for your future encouragement and support. If you want me to cook for you, I'd be glad to use you as a guinea pig. If I can successfully bake a turkey for three consecutive years, I can guarantee you'll gonna love the way my food taste.

Word