If you’ve known me for any length of time, you’re probably picking yourself up off the floor. “You, organized?!” Yes, me. The girl who draws up epic to-do lists, and either loses them or never gets round to them. For whom procrastination is no longer simply a bad habit, but bordering on a lifestyle choice.

Unfortunately, I know myself too well. This won’t last, so stay tuned for next week’s post, entitled “why is the Universe trying to screw me over?” (because one can’t ever accept responsibility for ones own failings, dahling…)

Anyway, I’m checking in to declare another 2(!) items crossed off my list:

5) Take a creative writing class

and

 7) Take sculpture class

 I like art. No talent whatsoever, but I don’t really care. For me, it’s just a fun hobby. However, most of what I do tends to be drawing or painting, so I decided to move up a dimension, so to speak, and give sculpture a shot.

 Clay is definitely a fun (if slightly messy) medium to work with. The class was thoroughly enjoyable, and I even have two sculptures to show for it. They’ve yet to be fired, but once they have I can post some pictures. Some of ladies who attended this class are also going to attending the pottery class I’ve signed up for, which commences in two weeks time :)

Whilst learning sculpture class was a bit of a whim for me, writing is a real passion of mine. I’ve been an avid reader since childhood (I think the local librarians must have dreaded my approach) so this naturally spilled over into a desire to write something of my own.

In my first year of high school, I was blessed with the perfect English teacher – Mr Brian Pasteur. This man was, quite simply, awesome. He was a Canadian exchange teacher, and used to say that he had once taught Alanis Morrisette. But more importantly, he was a writer himself, and he clearly believed in challenging us. One day we would study “The Rocking Horse Winner” (something which I then studied 4 years later for my Higher English); the next day it was song lyrics, and the day after, we’d be writing haikus. It was just so wonderfully electic, and enormously stimulating.

Unfortunately, since then I’ve rather lacked focus is my writing. Started more projects than I care to even count, and finished zero. I hoped this class might give me back some the direction I lost all those years ago.

Again, this was another experience which I thoroughly enjoyed. The tutor came up with some fun interesting, yet stretching exercises for us to do, but what really made the class special was my fellow students.  Some of us had worked on novels (one gentleman had even had some his published!), some were scriptwriters, and we even had a poet in the group. I enjoyed reading everyone’s work, but when it came to my distributing my own… Nervous doesn’t quite go far enough.

Probably the most important thing I got from this class was the idea that writing need not be isolating. It can be an incredibly social experience. I’ve exchanged email addresses with the class, and I hope to see some of their names gracing the bookshelves of my local Borders or Waterstones in the near future.

~*~*~*~*~

In other news…

I’m loving this free trial with Tesco DVD Rental. Another two foreign films to add to my list, bringing me to 5/15.

La Dolce Vita – Italian

The Orphanage – Spanish

The Prince, or specifically its author, Niccolo Machiavelli, has fascinated me for a long time. Machiavelli was a 16^th-century Italian political theorist and civil servant of the Florentine republic. The adjective “Machiavellian”, meaning crafty and deceitful, is derived from his name.

A bit of background… I first came across the term – and the man himself – when studying Shakespeare’s Othello towards the end of high school. I enjoyed it so much that I based my Advanced Higher dissertation on it. My topic was a study of two Shakespearean villains – the first being, naturally, the malevolent Iago, and the second being Angelo from Measure For Measure. Based on traditional classifications of Jacobean drama, I concluded that out of the two, only Iago was the true Machiavel.

But how did Machiavelli’s name become a misnomer for evil-doers?

In his lifetime, Machiavelli wrote a number of political texts, the most famous of them being Il Principe and Discorsi. Il Principe is perhaps the more famous of the two. In it, Machiavelli described how a new Prince should structure and govern his state. Many critics were horrified by its contents – it seemed to advocate the use of brutality in ones rule, and that it was more important to fully subjugate a man than to allow him some freedoms, as men will forget smaller insults less readily then larger ones.

Intrigued by this, I bought the book a few years ago, and never actually got round to reading it. Until, that is, this week.

My conclusions? In some respects, history has treated Machiavelli unkindly. Yes, the book does talk often of subjugation and deceit, but it also discusses more peaceful and savoury methods of rule. He holds both the cruel and the compassionate in equal regard – from his contemporary Cesare Borgia to the pensive and thoughtful emperor Marcus Aurelius. Violence is advocated only when necessary – though Machiavelli’s definition of “necessary” is a little looser than mine. Yes, some statements and tactics are a tad unsavoury to the modern reader – but there is no all-out evil in the book.

Overall though, I found it an interesting and thought-provoking read. At the very least, next time I use the word “Machiavellian”, I’ll do so with a tad less conviction.

5)      Take a creative writing class

I’ve started attending some classes in this at the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde. This I am definitely enjoying – it’s very workshop-based, with each of class taking turns to read out some of our work and have it critiqued by the others. It’s my turn this week, and I should really be working on my piece but for some reason I’m seriously lacking in motivation. Must give myself a good kick up the @rse

7) Take a sculpture class

Again, another class I’ve started attending at the CLL. Very messy, but also very fun. Hopefully once my work has been fired, I can post some pictures.

36) Watch 15 foreign language films

This one, at least, has been going fairly well. Helped in part by serendipity. At the start of the year, I took out a free trial subscription with Tesco DVD Rental, and cancelled in before the trial ended. Then, about a fornight ago, I received a voucher entitling me to an additional 60 DAY (!) free trial. So, I’ve filled my rental list with lots of foreign langauage movies from all across the globe.

So far, I have watched (from both Tesco and my own collection):

Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain – French

Un long dimanche de fiançailles – French, again

El espinazo del diablo – Spanish, and featuring my favourite director,  Guillermo del Toro.

Hopefully this is an item I can cross off with some ease

53)      Work down the toiletries in the house before buying any new ones

I have a frightening number of unopened tolietries at home – an entire bathroom shelf full of them. So, after throwing away any that I thought could be too old to use, I have begun to work my way through them. Thus far, my total used up is 1 box of pores strips and a Boots face scrub. Little baby steps, but still on the right track.

Hoping to check in a bit more frequently

I am very pleased to have crossed the first item off my list – although this particular challenge is more of an ungoing project, at least I’ve laid the foundations. Over the next few weeks (in addition to hopefully crossing off several more items), I’ll get to work on improving the blog itself.

As I work my way through the list, I’ll hopefully start uploading photos as well.

A toast to the next 1000 days, and to the things I’ll do and learn on the way!

Tonight, I’m losing my blog virginity, so to speak (that sounds a lot saucier than I mean it to!).  I suppose the natural thing to do, therefore, is introduce myself.

Andrina isn’t my real name, but my non de plume, so to speak. I hate my own name – I have a rhyming first and last name, so ‘nuff said on that subject. What can I say about myself? I’m a quirky, deeply sarcastic individual who is, inherently, a bit of a hippy chick at heart – I just want to save the world.

I am, at this very moment, 22 years, 3 months, 3 days, 2 hours and 8 minutes old. Tomorrow, July 5th 2009, is exactly 1001 days from my 25th birthday.

Inspired by some lovely people (you all know who you are!) I met on an Internet forum, I have decided to start this blog as I tackle my way through my “101 In 1001″ list.

WHAT IS 101 IN 1001?

Simply put, it’s a list of 101 things I want to do in the next 1001 days. Some are major (getting into University to study Medicine, a lifelong dream) and some are fairly minor (having a Lord Of The Rings movie marathon).  Some of them will help me develop as a person,  others are just notions that have taken me. Some are financial, some deeply personal. Through this, I hope to learn a great deal: about myself, about others, and about the world.

SOUNDS CLICHED… WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

I am one of “those” people. The “I’ll do it later” type. “I’ll get round to it one day”. And, to be perfectly frank, I loathe myself for it. I so badly wish I was I was different – someone who didn’t put things off, someone who grasps at the wings of opportunity and soars. (Wow, two clichés in one post. Must try to fit in a third one).

So, here’s to it… Tomorrow the list will begin.

_________________________________________

ANDRINA’S LIST

1)       Graduate from University

2)       Get into medical school

3)       Improve my French

4)       Learn sign language

5)       Take a creative writing class

6)       Take a pottery class

7)       Take a sculpture class

8)       Give a presentation

9)       Understand strategies in chess

10)   Attend academic conference

11)   Read a novel in French

12)   Have my IQ tested

13)   Write an article on vegetarianism

14)   Attend philosophy class

15)   Learn how to juggle

16)   Read Dante’s Divine Comedy

17)   Visit 10 art galleries I’ve never been to before

18)   Visit 10 museums I’ve never been to before

19)   Obtain a First Aid Certificate

20)   Improve my IT skills

21)   Improve my photography

22)   Improve my drawing skills

23)   Complete the Times crossword

24)   Be able to knit

25)   Learn card tricks

26)   Learn how to play the piano (to at least Grade 2 standard)

27)   Read all of Jane Austen

28)   Read Plato’s Republic

29)   Read The Prince

30)   Read A History Of Western Philosophy

31)   Try 10 cocktails

32)   Complete the series of pansy paintings I’ve been working on

33)   Visit my hometown as a tourist

34)   Visit Glasgow as a tourist

35)   See London West End show

36)   Watch 15 foreign language films

37)   See Rocky Horror Show musical

38)   See all 3 original Star Wars films

39)   Watch LOTR EE back to back

40)   Spend entire day in cinema watching films using my Unlimited pass

41)   Have a dedicated DVD afternoon/evening

42)   Visit House For An Art Lover

43)   See London West End show – Wicked

44)   Get a henna tattoo

45)   Spend a whole day watching all of Heroes (season 1 – season 3)

46)   Try as many different cuisines as possible

47)   Make £400 from cashback sites

48)   Make £200 from surveys

49)   Take part in a least 3 new MSE challenges

50)   Have enough savings to fill an ISA allowance

51)   Spend an evening pampering self using only freebies

52)   Put ten pounds into bank for every item I can tick off this list (4/100)

53)   Work down the cosmetics in the house before buying any new ones

54)   Make £50 from writing reviews

55)   Conquer a Munro

56)   Climb Arthur’s Seat

57)   Go for a month (!) without eating any chocolate

58)   Make more of an effort to walk home from the station

59)   Be able to fit into size 8-10 clothes

60)   Run a 10K

61)   Start a blog chronicling my exploits as I work through my list (work in progress as of 05/07/2009)

62)   Finish writing my novel

63)   Write 10 really good short stories

64)   Take driving lessons

65)   Pass driving test

66)   Have a picnic

67)   Host a dinner party

68)   Host a tea party

69)   Spend as much time with my grandparents as possible

70)   Make my own bread

71)   Be vegan for a week

72)   Start compiling a capsule wardrobe

73)   Make my own cosmetics

74)   Take part in more volunteering projects

75)   Grow my own veg

76)   Walk a dog

77)   Bake tablet

78)   Bake muffins

79)   Keep a diary every day for a whole year

80)   Create a mini-spa experience at home

81)   Go to Pitlochry

82)   Spend day at the beach

83)   Compile my own recipe book

84)   Visit Bath

85)   Fill a sketchbook with my doodlings

86)   Pick berries in a field (legally, of course!)

87)   Learn to walk confidently in heels

88)   Donate blood as often as possible

89)   Complement a member of staff on excellent service received

90)   Go on a canal barge

91)   Make my own jam

92)   Stop feeling like a miserable underachiever and recognize what I have already achieved in life

93)   Master the art of getting up early

94)   Get a proper organiser, and use it!

95)   Keep a plant alive for more than a few weeks

96)   Always endeavourer to buy Fair Trade goods – tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar and any other cash crops

97)   Continue to promote the anti-Nestle campaign

98)   (a highly personal one, and one I hope you’ll forgive me for leaving off the public version of my list)

99)   Be an audience member for TV show taping

100)             Request a song on the radio

101)            Start a new 101 in 1001 list