Ahh, seems as if it's more than time to come in with my once-a-month review of what's been going on and even how much (or little) progress has been made with my 101 things to do in 1001 days.

The latter is working so slowly, especially because I'm running out of things that I can do in Illinois. I don't want to start taking classes on anything knowing that I probably don't have that much time left here, which is really hindering me. So I'm working on the minor things (playing games, reading books, watching movies, listening to music) and trying to get rid of things.

Honestly, I've been putting off getting rid of books and such so that I can get help. No one is ever around, and I have so much stuff that I just can't deliver it on my own. The library doesn't have the staff to help me, either. Hopefully, when Mark comes out here, he won't mind the extra errand of getting rid of all of those books. I'm so tired of looking at them, but I just gave up trying to sell them. Also, speaking of which, I was able to get all of my payments for them; I'm only missing one, but it was sent out a couple weeks ago. It seems to take about a month to get the payments in, but that's especially tolerable for the services that use PayPal.

I've been able to read two books so far. One was rather lengthy (The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas), while the other was just difficult in terms of the way it was written (Utopia by Thomas More). I think the latter is actually due to translation more than anything.

Apartment-wise... Ah. Mark called one complex that actually has a fair rental policy for people without jobs (since, clearly, I can't get one here with my minimal experience). I only really like it because, initially, I'll have to pay a higher deposit. However, the contract would be worked out so that I get everything over the normal deposit back when I'm employed. All of the others demand higher deposits, but they won't give the remainder back once you're employed (which I think is ridiculous, especially in this economy).

Anyhow, Mark has called them and found out that there is an apartment opening on the 15th. If this guy pre-leases this one, I might have to go slap him because I'm tired of getting screwed over by him (also means that I'll just find somewhere else to go, even if the deposit rules suck). I've already missed on two apartments in that complex, despite having told him the entire circumstances. I really hate dealing with trying to find apartments; this is one of the most tedious and ridiculous things I've ever had to do just for a glimmer of hope to leave.

Honestly, this only frustrates me so much because I am trying my damnedest to be there, and it's always some stupid piece of crap external circumstance that keeps be stuck here. I don't want to be away from Mark. I'm tired of seeing him sad because he wants me with him, and I'm tired of not being with him. Long distance relationships are a serious pain in the ass, but the outcome is more than worth everything.

... On to a happier subject, music? Added to my library have been Inara George, Hello Madness, Naked Empire, Nasdat, TV on the Radio, and Eiko Shimamiya (島みやえい子). All are amazing, and I'd recommend anyone to listen to them. (Conveniently, if you have an account on Demonoid, you can get Hello Madness, Naked Empire, and Nasdat since they all use it to help get their music out there. Guilt-free downloading~!)

I've put some writings up on Associated Content. I have them up on Triond, but I prefer the setup of the former. Yay. Constructive criticisms are welcome, so if you feel the need to say much of anything. It's just my way of picking up a little extra on the side by doing something I really enjoy.

Hmm, hmm, hmm. I think that's about it, really. Looking for things to get better, brighter... something of the sort. Hopefully soon, considering how much I've been trying.

*wanders off to go play Atlantica*

I think I'm going to use this to update at the beginning of every month with what's been done and what will hopefully be done in the near future. That works. It keeps people remotely up to date, and you'll still get bored of me just as quick!

I'm making slow progress in my 101 things in 1001 days. Really slow progress. A lot of the tasks I've set for myself can't be completed until, well, I move; this frustrates me a lot. Regardless, I'm working on some of the smaller things and one large thing.

First, one of the most tedious parts of my list was to finish games that I owned and had never completed (on my own, so watching someone doesn't count). I've since finished Persona 3: FES and Persona 4. Now to work on the older games whenever I feel boredom assaulting me.

Next up, one of my other tasks includes indulging in new music. This one was started purely by chance, but I'm always open to new music. Rather than describe the three bands I've started with (Au Revoir Simone, The Bird and the Bee, and Reverie Sound Revue), I'll just link to the post, which has examples of their music. Good bands, check them out. Amusingly, it makes my Last.FM profile look incredibly insane but diverse.

I'm still working on another task that involves reading the books in my library I haven't read (and recording the ones I've completed in my LibraryThing bookshelf. It's so depressing to see my room filled with books but only two completions on my list. Insert a lot of crying here. I'll work on that.

Oh, and books. I'm still trying to get rid of books. I've shipped a total of 157 books out to various companies. I've yet to receive payment, but I'm expecting some of it to come in shortly. If not, I'm going to be more than a bit annoyed; they were rated as being really good companies. I also have four boxes of books that should be going to the library soon. Yay for donating things. And, unlike those lists, I'm not making one for books that were donated. That's just too time consuming; it's bad enough I have to count them so I can get a receipt.

I'll be resuming my apartment search in a couple days. I'm really hoping to move to the San Diego area by the beginning of March. Despite the fact my family has known of this for awhile, two people decided to try to make this more difficult on me. Both of my parents are driving me crazy, which I may decide to explain at a greater length. The end result is that because my dad is going to be working twelve-hour days seven days a week until some time in April and my mother is taking yet another vacation at the end of March (she went with me to San Diego January 2-9), I was told I should "put my plans on hold because someone needs to take care of the dogs" while my mother is away. I love the dogs, but I don't really find it fair to ask me to put my life on hold because of someone else's selfishness. Sigh. Someone please help me figure out if I'm being truly spoiled or irrational about this.

I'm planning to go to a Flogging Molly concert on the 25th of this month with Mark, who is planning to fly in on the 24th. The primary reason is so that we can move me to San Diego, but that all depends on whether or not I can even get an apartment at the right time. Regardless, he still plans to fly in even if I can't move. He's such a wonderful boyfriend and a true gentleman.

Also, as a quick add, some people are playing around on FreeRice for their 101/1001's. It didn't make my list, but it's a great way to alleviate boredom, increase your vocabulary, and supposedly make a difference. Have fun.

With good reason, I noticeably stopped using LiveJournal for more than something to retain old conversation quotes or random quips of whatever else it was that I was writing (which, anymore, hasn't been a whole lot).

I figured I would provide a few links to what I'm working on for the most part.

I'm working on a 101 things to do in 1001 days with slightly different rules, which I'm cataloguing at naturgewalten.wordpress. Part of that also includes getting rid of books, so if one of you people happen to be fanatical about sewing or old childrens' books... Help? Otherwise, the vast majority of these are going straight to charity. Books are listed at whatanerd.ecrater, but I'm still in the process of listing them (pictures, descriptions, and so on). Right now I'm working on adding the 1974 Time Life series The Art of Sewing, which I have ten of the books from. If you're crazy enough to want any of it, please feel free to haggle. The store thing is so odd to me, but I always make exceptions for friends.

Considering I've started this, I'm also tempted to start another blog over at whatanerd.wordpress, but we'll see. LiveJournal's sort of faded out for me (obviously), and I only use it for communities anyway.

So, yeah. That's what I'm up to, and that's where I'll be if you've ever gotten curious.

( Lol, ew feet. )

[I'd only be a weirdo if I did it to myself.]