#33 - First Game Done for 2010-2011 Season

I knew I had to include my Sens somehow in my 101 List, so I decided to commit to attending at least 3 games per season throughout my 1001 days, which I've figured equals 9 games total over the next 3 years.

I hope to get to many more than that - I just love being at Scotiabank Place supporting my team! - but 3 per season is my minimum goal.

Last night was my first game of the 2010-2011 season. Chris bought a 12-game pack for the year, and he offered to sell Luke and I tickets to three of those games. The first one on tap was last night's tilt against the Florida Panthers. Luke already had tickets to the game, so I had a spare ticket, and I invited Sarah to come along with me, knowing she's also a Sens fan!

The seats were great- second row of the third level, in the corner of the Sens' end. I was so relieved to get there. I'd been having a crummy couple of days, just feeling down and in a rut, and honestly, my hopes weren't high for my team.

The Sens have struggled in the early going of this season, and on top of that, I very rarely get to see a Sens win live. It's amazing how few wins I've seen over the years, in the many, many games I've been privileged to attend. I've been trying to think of when I last attended a Sens win at SBP, and I think it was the time they beat Montreal when I went with my uncle and cousins, and I met Wade Redden's brother, who was sitting behind us. So we're going back to 2008!

My family thinks I'm a jinx when I attend games, so I had them all well warned, especially with my recent crappy luck, not to expect big things from the boys in red, black & gold last night.

I was pleasantly surprised :) A nice 5-3 win, with some awesome goals from the likes of our captain Daniel Alfredsson (PRAISE ALFIE!!), Mike Fisher, Alex Kovalev, Milan Michalek, and Zack Smith. They actually led the Panthers 5-1 mid-way through the third, but Florida potted two late in the game to make the final score seem closer than it really was.

The Sens played very well, and for the first time this season, they were able to string together back-to-back wins. The panic is slowly subsiding...And things are finally starting to look up for this team.

A great night at SBP, and Game 1 for #33...Check!!

Lots to Check Off! - #63, #68, and #75

It was a busy weekend for me & my 101 List! This morning, I was thrilled to cross off three - count 'em, THREE!!! - tasks!

#63 - Go on a Haunted Walk - I've been wanting to do one of the Haunted Walk of Ottawa tours for years, so to get in the Halloween spirit, I rounded up a gang of friends and finally ordered tickets. We booked the 9 PM Ghosts and Gallows Halloween Edition tour last Friday night. I had a great time and was so glad that I had 10 friends to take along with me! Sharon, Priscilla, Josee, Evan, Lindsay, Ryan, Luke, Amanda, Troy & Steph joined me first for dinner at Darcy McGee's, and then we ventured out in the cold evening for our tour.

Priscilla, Lindsay & Ryan waiting for the tour to begin

Steph was the only one up for a little photo op at the jail! haha!

Evan in one of the cells

The Ghost and Gallows tour focuses mainly on the murder of Darcy McGee, and the hanging of his accused murderer Patrick Whelan. Whelan was convicted and hanged for the murder, but apparently it was on very shaky grounds, and it is rumored that he still haunts the old jail, unable to rest after being wrongfully accused and executed.

Our guide, a lively, theatrical girl named Katelyn, told us many creepy ghost stories while we spent the bigger part of the tour in the old jail downtown (near the NAC), which is now a hostel. The upper floors, however, are still open for tours to show what the jail was like back before, when it was home to some of the areas biggest, most violent criminals. According to our guide, it is believed to be the most haunted building in North America. She toured us through an original block of cells, the solitary confinement cells, Death Row, and the gallows, before taking us out into the courtyard.

I have to admit, I just had a bad vibe being in the jail, and I was glad when it was over. To add to our experience, while on Death Row, our guide's story was interrupted by a loud bang coming from one of the cells. (Of course, it was the one I was standing RIGHT beside...I don't know if I've ever jumped and screamed so loud in my life. Half of our group seemed to think the noise was authentic, while the other half believed it to be staged...I'm still not sure what to think...)

Overall, it was an awesome way to spend a Friday night with friends, hear a few creepy stories, and learn some local history! The best part? When we walked out into the courtyard, we discovered it was snowing...and I loooove snow! It did get a few laughs, too, when our guide deadpanned, "Pretty bad when the scariest part of the tour is the snow..."

#68 - Drink a Guinness - Someone tell me why I ever thought it was clever to put this on my list?? I hate beer, so why did I think it would be fun to test out a Guinness, an infamously thick, dark, foamy, strong beer? Ewwwwww....

I decided while at Darcy McGee's Irish Pub Friday night with Guinness posters hanging everywhere that it was a good time to get it done. And I forgot to specify that I wanted a small one, so they brought me the regular (BIG) sized beer...blech. But I drank it, just so I could cross it off. And honestly, it wasn't nearly as bad as I initially thought it would be. Steph called it strong horse piss, but I didn't think it was that bad.

But will I be ordering another one? Uh...no.

The empty glass...to prove I drank it!

Much happier with my rum & Diet Coke!

#75 - Dye my hair a dark colour - Saturday morning, I went to my hairdresser Lisa and confessed to her that I was ready for a change and wanted to dye my hair a darker colour. She was shocked! I've loved my blonde highlights for about three years now (they magically transform my natural mousy-brown hair), and never wanted to go dark. Last winter, Lisa convinced me to put in some lowlights for the winter months, and I couldn't wait to get the blonde back in come springtime.

But I really was ready for a change, and told Lisa I liked the colour of her (new) darker hair, so we went with that. I think she told me the exact name of it is "Dark Chocolate Blonde", so I'm still a blonde at heart! haha!

Please ignore my haggard face...I had a terrible headache on Saturday!

This is about as dark as I'll ever go, and it will probably go back to blonde before I leave for Cuba in January. But for now...I'm loving it!!

"L" and "R" Movies - Check!!

Tuesday I was down with a head cold; spent almost the whole day on the couch. So what better time to cross off a few more of those movies?

Last week, I stopped in at one of my favourite places - the Videotron in Aylmer. They offer awesome deals on previously-viewed DVDs. For anyone who knows me, you know one of my biggest addictions is buying DVDs. Seen it already? I don't care. Why not just rent it? I need to own it.

So when I was in there last week, I picked up a couple of movies that I'd seen already and loved, but I also grabbed The Runaways and The Last Song, both of which I'd been wanting to see but hadn't got around to yet.

The Runaways follows the creation and short-lived success of the 1970's all-girl rock band, which launched the careers of Joan Jett and Cherie Currie. Part of the reason I'd wanted to see the movie was because of the tie to Twilight - both female leads were played by Twilight alumni, with Kristen Stewart practically mirroring a young Jett, and Dakota Fanning channeling the Bowie/Bardot sex-kitten Currie.

Despite the uncanny likenesses between Stewart and Fanning and the real-life characters they played, I wasn't a huge fan of the flick, which surprised me. I love movies like Rock Star, so I expected to be wowed by The Runaways. And while there were moments that I did enjoy, overall I found it long, a little boring at times, and by the end of it, I didn't feel any connection to the band, their songs, or the '70's rock 'n roll scene. I was also completely annoyed by Michael Shannon's portrayal of Kim Fowley, the manager who brings the girls together and helps them climb the ladder to fame.

It brings me great shame to admit that I far preferred The Last Song. Based on one of Nicholas Sparks' mushy tear-jerker novels, and starring Miley Cyrus, The Last Song wouldn't win any awards. It follows the story of a troubled teen girl, Ronnie, who, along with her little brother Jonah, is sent to live with her estranged father at the beach for the summer. Ronnie falls in love with a local rich boy, and both she and her brother grow closer to their dad, only to find out he has a shattering secret.

I know, I know. Lame.

But you know, some days a girl just needs a chick flick. And bundled up in blankets, surrounded by kleenex, and pumped with Tylenol for my headache, The Last Song was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Plus, Liam Hemsworth, who starred opposite Miley, was pretty hot.

I don't even care that I'm probably old enough to have baby-sat him.

"L" and "R" movies...check!!!

#30 - "K" Movie - Done!

I love movies. I'd watch a movie every day if time allowed me to. So that's why it's kind of strange that I hadn't watched a new movie since creating my list until yesterday.

I must be busy or something.

In any case, after cleaning the house from top to bottom on the holiday Monday, I decided to treat myself to a movie & popcorn. I went down to Marcotte's and picked up a new release, Killers starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl.

I was glad to cross the "K" movie off my list of 26 movies that I'd never seen before starting with each letter of the alphabet...And I was glad Killers got to be the one! It was such a fun action-comedy starring two of my faves, and I loved every minute of it.

I've always been an Ashton Kutcher fan - I mean, who doesn't love Kelso? But let me tell you this: If you're an Ashton fan, you must see this movie. For one thing, it's a departure from his usual goofball comedy. Yes, he's still funny, but not over-the-top outrageously.

He plays the suave, cool international spy Spencer, whose job is killing people. In the south of France, he meets Jen (Heigl), who is holidaying with her parents. The two have an instant connection, and fall madly in love. Spencer gives up his single life and dangerous job in exchange for a normal future with Jen, putting down roots in the suburbs and hanging out with her and her over-protective parents (delightfully played by Tom Selleck and Katherine O'Hara - bonus!)

However, Spencer's old life comes back to haunt him, and before you know it, their friends, neighbours, colleagues, and even Jen's parents, suddenly have the potential to be their enemies.

It's an entertaining romp. And speaking of romp - apparently Kutcher bulked up for his role, and after his first scene in the elevator with Heigl, looking like this, I was picturing all kinds of romps with him...yummm.

And cue my latest phase. Holy hell.

I also have another item on the list that can classify as "in progress" - #3, knit a scarf or dish cloth. On Sunday, my mom got out some yarn and knitting needles after Amanda and I expressed an interest in learning, and we spent the afternoon passing the needles and yarn back and forth, knitting a long strip of white nothingness. (We joked that Amanda could give it to Luke for Christmas - a very skinny white scarf!) I'd had a few knitting lessons as a kid, so I picked it back up fairly quickly. Still nowhere near able to make something presentable (and worthy of crossing it off the list) - but it's...in progress!

In Progress

It's been almost a week since I started thinking about my 101 List, and I've only got one thing crossed off.

One thing.

How depressing...Kind of off to a slow start, eh?

But there are things on the list I am working on, so on the original list (which you can go to by clicking on the link under the Pages section to the right of your screen), I have marked them as "in progress".

#6 - Make Danica's scrapbook. This had to be one I tackled quickly, since the child will be turning two in a few short months, and it's important I document her first year before it's so long ago that I don't remember it. When I made Caden's scrapbook, I worked on it throughout his first year and had it to present to him (and Kara & Chris) at Christmas that year, two months after his first birthday. So I'm already behind the 8-ball with poor Dan. Not for much longer, though. I've already sorted through my photos to find all my Danica pictures, and I'm going to buy Baby Girl scrapbook supplies on Saturday. In progress.

#9 - Lose 20 lbs. Isn't this one always "in progress"? Ugh. About 6 years ago now, I dropped 70 lbs. in a year and a half. Since then, I've been steadily putting it back on. Up and down, total yo-yo-ing. Lose a bit, put 'er back on. But I'm on the right track. I've been cooking my own (somewhat healthier) meals rather than buying pre-packaged frozen crap, I've been attempting to buy more organic and healthy foods, and I've almost broken the chip-and-dip cycle. (You know, you buy a bag of chips and a container of dip...but then the dip runs out and you buy more. Then the chips run out and you have to buy more...and then the dip runs out again...and so on and so on, almost every night...so relieved that I've pretty much broken it!) Now if I could just get back to exercising a little more regularly...In progress!

#11 - Write a novel (at least a rough draft). I've always loved writing. And I wrote a so-called "novel" the year I dropped out of university. I decided that year to live my dream of becoming a world-famous author. Who needs school? Who needs a real job? Ha! I read that hand-written pile of crap now and laugh at myself for being so silly. It's ridiculous. And at a creative writing workshop I attended in high school, I remember one of the guest-speaking authors telling us that all writers need a day job. Hardly anybody writes a best-seller right off the bat. Point taken. So I've got all these storylines and characters swirling around in my head, and I've started writing ideas down in the hopes of getting something started soon. In progress.

#38 - Organize photos. Danica's scrapbook has helped in this endeavour. I've labelled all my packages of developed photos and put them in chronological order. Next step: getting all the pics off my memory cards and computer developed. I made a good stab at it on Saturday by developing everything from last fall, right up to Christmas Eve. But I can't afford to get everything done in one shot, obvs. In progress!

#83 - Acquire a taste for red wine. The thoughts of it causes me to make my "wine face". It ain't pretty. At Jared & Holly's wedding, I got so stinkin' drunk on wine (both white and red...and once I think I mixed the two to make "pink" wine) that the thoughts of it now makes my skin crawl. I can handle the white now (in very small doses), but red still gives me the heebie-jeebies. So last Thursday night I had a few glasses of strawberry Wild Vines with Brenda and Sarah. I know it's not officially "red wine" - I think technically it's zinfandel - but it's a step in the right direction. In progress...

So while there isn't a whole lot of action going on with my 101 List, two more friends have started 101 Blogs since I started mine! Check out my cousin Kayla's and my friend Mandy's. Both pretty cool lists!