January | 2010 | The Year of 52 Adventures

January 2010
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Updates from January, 2010 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

Try2StopMe 4:53 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply

WOW! i somehow figured this out. i have to say i am feeling a little silly as it seems no one else had such an “adventure” in signing on… i like to think i’m pretty smart- but sometymes it seems the easiest stuff is what gets me…

i have started my list- incomplete as it is, it’s a start. i happen to be a ritualistic list writer. now that i’ve started my focus has shifted to the parameters of the list in question, as opposed to it’s contents. this is something pretty typical of me and my obsessive nature over details and perfection… it’s quite frankly annoying. at the least to myself.

so in the honor of my OCD, i have committed to completing all 52, in hopes of letting go of / conquering my compulsions that limit me- those that say:
“you don’t have the right stuff to do this”
“you don’t know how”,
“it’s not good enough”,
“that’s nothing special”,
“no one cares”,
“you can’t do it alone”,
“you will never make it”,
“that’s not how it goes”

i can keep going… this list seems to be exhaustive. in the spirit of reclaiming mySELF however, i’m putting on my platforms and rising above and proceeding with the list of things that are “ALL WORTH IT”, “ALL GOOD”, and “ALL GOOD FOR ME”…

(More …)

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Try2StopMe, jscribe, and eatveggiesdrinkwine are discussing. Toggle Comments
- eatveggiesdrinkwine 8:36 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink
  
  Great list! I’m so scared of needles, but I love your idea of getting a tattoo of “52.” Who knows — I may join you! I understand the issue of thinking limiting thoughts and congratulate you on replacing them with expansive, positive thoughts.
- jscribe 8:36 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink
  
  I think this list looks totally awesome, and I might steal some of your ideas for myself. You totally can do it -and you are going to be awesome.
- Try2StopMe 12:57 am on January 14, 2010 Permalink
  
  thanks ladies! your support is appreciated 🙂
  i wish you success, courage and will- only 50 more to go!
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mizimoo 3:47 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: 1/52 ( 21 ), Edinburgh, nose, piercing ( 2 )

Adventure 1/52 Pierce My Nose (In Edinburgh).
The great thing about getting your nose pierced in January (In Scotland – ball achingly cold Scotland) is that after the initial nerve-melting sensation, being shoved out into a cold Edinburgh Street is a pretty good antidote to the eye watering pain.

Actually, in all fairness – I’ve had my nose pierced three times now and this was no more painful than the rest. Sensation bleeds out across the face, intense but oddly blunt. Like steely cotton wool filling the sinuses. What was different this time, was that the second the piercing artist (correct term!?) pushed the tapered cork up into my nostril, my left eye began to weep uncontrollably. Huge fat drops streamed down through her cupped fingers . In seconds though, the feeling of tearing cotton was over and my new oh-so-iridescent stud was in place.

My first Adventure was over. Although it was relatively simple – pierce my nose in Edinburgh, the city itself is over 370 miles from my home. And right now the UK is covered by about 8 inches of frost, ice sheets and snow flurries. So, the actual piercing was prefaced by 6 hours on a coach, 3  hours in a car, 20 agonizing minutes on a bus followed by one slippery sprint up Calton Hill, making it to the piercing shop 20 minutes before closing.   Epic. Epic and fantastic.

I could have had it pierced in Oxford, in fact I could have had it pierced anywhere in the world but unfortunately, I have fallen in love with Edinburgh.  Quite strangely, I have found myself in this city whenever I’m in transition. Eras have begun, ended and rebloomed in the city and right now (having just moved back to the UK from Japan) I felt the cities’ pull. Plus – this is the year of 52 Adventures! Surely, now more than ever, it’s time to jump into life, race 400 miles and arrive breathless and thrilled wherever our stories take us.

Let’s just say I’m getting used to this kind of thrill in my life.  Here’s to 51 more adventures!

India, yearof52adventures, mizimoo, and 1 other are discussing. Toggle Comments
- yearof52adventures 3:51 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink
  
  Lady, you have just inspired me to get a nose piercing! Me! The one who ran out of the doctor’s office and hid from a high school vaccination.
- jscribe 8:41 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink
  
  hahah that sounds like you Kim! I have my nose pierced already, but I, too, LOVE Edinburgh passionately and if I ever find myself there I shall pierce something else, just in honor of the 52 Adventures.
- mizimoo 2:09 pm on January 10, 2010 Permalink
  
  I think we should all pledge to pierce something in Edinburgh in honor of the adventures. By the way, I am snowbound in my village and clueless about what to do for my 2nd adventure. Help me! I need some snowed in adventure ideas!
- yearof52adventures 9:45 pm on January 10, 2010 Permalink
  
  Call EVERYONE in your phone book and tell them something spicy about yourself.
- India 5:47 pm on May 3, 2011 Permalink
  
  Thanks for the ingsiht. It brings light into the dark!
Kimberly Hula 2:52 pm on January 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Club 52 ( 2 ), design contest

If you are so artistically inclined
Do you have a repressed urge to design a logo? Have an intense need to let your inner designer fly? I would just love to enlist your help!

I plan to present any and all adventurers who successfully complete 52 adventures a “Club 52” sticker and t-shirt and the close of the year. (I’ll make an abridged version for those who choose to complete a different # of adventures)

It makes this something of an exclusive club! How fun!

But I’ve disastrous design skills, so I’m calling on YOU. Let’s see what you’ve got!

Submit all entries to: Kimberlyhula@gmail.com, subject heading: Club52 logo submission

xoxo

Hula

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myndevore 11:05 pm on January 8, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: letters, writing ( 7 )

Adventure #1: kicking off the year-long adventures
Greetings friends!

This week I worked on two year-long adventures:

6. Write down one sentence everyday.

27. Write letters to friends on their birthdays.

Adventure No. 6 was inspired by McSweeney’s Issue No. 22. This issue contains three slim volumes cleverly stored in a leather bound cover with a magnetic binding. One of the volumes is titled, “From the Notebook: The Unwritten Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald.” Fitzgerald, inspired by novelist Samuel Butler, began keeping a notebook filled with inspiration and ideas for future stories. Fitzgerald kept a list of ideas, a few words here and there to inspire him later. Some of the entries include: The Dancer Who Found She Could Fly, Driving over the rooftops on a bet, and my personal favorite, Girl and giraffe. McSweeneys selected 17 writers to use Fitzgerald’s ideas as jumping off points for their own stories. The stories are included in the issue. Such a brilliant idea!

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jeindeer 12:49 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Improv, No pants ( 2 ), organizing, sos ( 2 )

Planning: No Pants T Ride
This Sunday (1/10) is apparently the 3rd annual No Pants Subway Ride organized through Improv Everywhere. A Boston version is being organized by the folks at Boston S.O.S. (Society for Sponteneity), with the facebook event below. Fear not, it doesn’t involve No Pants Whatsoever; more like Less Pants Than Usual. Shorts are acceptable, even encouraged. Contributions have to fall within the threshold of “legal,” but they also are probably “unwise.” There were over 100 participants in Boston last year.

I’m a long-time fan of Improv Everywhere, and this is one of my favorite acts of street theater they’ve pulled off (har har har). The effort through facebook doesn’t seem to be very coordinated yet, but if they start putting down some concrete plans, I may just be swayed.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194245607559
http://boston.going.com/event-706868;No_Pants_T_Ride

Tweets by BostonSOS

http://www.soscities.org/

I say we pack the stands.

Aggie (anonymous), yearof52adventures, jscribe, and 1 other are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Anonymous 2:46 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  Seven of my adventuresom friends and I have decided that instead of making resolutions we would each make a list of things we have never done and will do in 2010. The lists are being shared and they are great. My list includes: make a souffle, go on a winter picnic, visit a local shrine, take a helicopter ride, go to the top of our City Hall and take a watercolor class to paint something to hang in my home. My friends’ lists include everything from making an apple pie from scratch to going to a National Park to watch the moose mate. We will help each other and join each other as we work to do our “firsts”. By the end of 2010 we will have an impressive list!
- jscribe 3:57 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  Anonymous! Join the Year of 52 and share all your adventures with all of us! So exciting!
- yearof52adventures 4:26 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  I have to agree with jscribe. I love the idea and think you should all team up with us. I’ll assign you as authors and you can regale us again and again with your lovely adventures.
- Aggie (anonymous) 5:50 pm on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  I will share our adventures as we undertake them,
jscribe 12:04 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: 1/52 ( 21 )

Adventure #1 – Finding the Words
“I’ll probably never write again.” I surely said, tipping back a pint of Stella at DC’s Fox and Hound about 6 months ago. After I graduated from my MA in Writing I put my realism hat on. I knew I’d end up in a desk job, try to make enough money to buy a condo and, in all reality never write much more than a grocery list ever again. There was no market, and I had no great ideas. I told myself that I was ok with this – that I went to grad school to develop a skill not to actually become a writer.

In the months since that decision, I’ve post a few times on my blog, written a weekly article for TheNewGay.net, drank beers, and watched Netlix. I’ve also felt disappointed. When some one said I was a good writer I said, “Nah, I don’t even write any more.” When some one said I was a writer at all I said, “Nah, I work for a non-profit.” I spent two years studying writing, I love the act of writing, so why wasn’t I writing?

The answers to that question were pretty simple. I was scared to start new work without support, without feedback, without deadlines. I was scared to fail.

In comes Adventure #1.

For the new year, I knew I needed to become a new me. Act instead of react; do instead of desire. I had to push myself. I searched online and found a Meetup Group of writers who got together twice a month in my neighborhood, and after a couple of days of second guessing my confidence and my ability, I replied yes. Yes, I would meet them at the Center on Halsted on Wednesday, January 6th. Yes, I would write.

Because I knew this was the jumping point for a Year of 52 Adventures, I embraced my nervousness. Like a rollercoaster. I made jokes, shared tips from my writing program and felt my heart go all a flutter as the group talked about parallelism, imagery, structure and repetition. I felt more in my element than I have in months with 4 strangers and a piece of new writing in my hand. I may put on a suit and ride the El to my job at a non-profit everyday, but in the Year of 52 Adventures, I’m a writer.
Kimberly Hula 2:27 am on January 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: 1/52 ( 21 ), Polar Bear Plunge ( 6 )

ADV. #1: Baptism by Ice
2 ex-boyfriends of mine walked into a 2009 New Years Eye party I was attending. Only one left unharmed.

This is not how I hoped to jumpstart my year of 52 adventures.

However, as a saving grace, it was the sage word(s) of the unharmed ex who really lent credence and gave meaning to adventure #1: The Polar Bear Plunge. See, after my fist met the shoulder of the harmed one, I put down my drink, found Mark (of the unharmed) and sighed. And sighed. I said how I always chose the wrong men and spoke how how I never learned and reminded him that I had punched someone! Punched him! Like a spoiled child. My racing words did little to suggest maturity and I was lothesome, near tears and without a drink. (More …)

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cupcakeemergency, yearof52adventures, and mjperry1 are discussing. Toggle Comments
- mjperry1 3:22 am on January 7, 2010 Permalink
  
  I love this, but for the life of me I can’t htink of the new vocabulary term you taught me – something about ritual washing? I think it started with an “A,” but I don’t think it was ablution. What was it.
  
  PS – thanks for not punching me.
- yearof52adventures 4:30 am on January 7, 2010 Permalink
  
  apotheosis!
- cupcakeemergency 7:53 pm on January 7, 2010 Permalink
  
  love it! So kicking myself for missing it. 2011?
jscribe 6:52 pm on January 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply

It Took Me a Minute
I’m getting a handle on WordPress just as I’m getting a handle on the beginning of my 52 Adventures.

My first one is tonight. The adventure was to join a writing group in my new hometown of Chicago. I meet tonight for the first time with my group. Woot!

On my still growing list:

join a sport
get behind the scenes at a history museum
ride the L from end to end
run a 10 miler, maybe a 1/2 marathon
ride my bicycle on the mean streets of chicago (as opposed to trails and paths!)
join a writing group
go on a blind date
volunteer with an LGBT organization
submit three pieces of writing for publication
learn to make real part appetizers (hopefully containing bacon)
learn to make a real dessert (that is not made of milk and cream and…ice)
take a mini road trip to see a historical landmark
eat a whole piece of fish without complaining

Thats the list so far i have so many more adventures ahead. I’m thrilled.

PS: Tweet #52Adventures

heididino, jscribe, and Lauren are discussing. Toggle Comments
- Lauren 7:50 pm on January 6, 2010 Permalink
  
  As far as the bacon part hors d’oeuvres are concerned— bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo are a huge party pleaser. Take pitted dates, stuff with some Spanish chorizo/Portuguese chourico (not Mexican chorizo), wrap in bacon, affix with toothpick. Seriously the easiest thing ever– then just brown them in a saute pan, or even throw them all on a cookie sheet and pop under the broiler, flipping once. So easy, and ALWAYS a huge crowd pleaser– doesn’t get any better than salty sweet! (Especially when the salty is bacon…) Give it a go!
  
  Maybe I should just be an adventure-facilitator? 🙂
- jscribe 12:15 am on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  Um. Theres not a whole lot id rather it than whatever it is you described. OMG. I want it. (I want to learn it!)
- heididino 4:09 pm on January 8, 2010 Permalink
  
  i’ll gladly try the dessert you make!
jeindeer 3:53 pm on January 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Jane ( 2 ), List of planned adventures ( 2 )

Possible Adventures
I don’t have 52, but some of the ideas I’m working with include:

Take an exhaustive inventory of all the belongings I have with me here in Boston.

Read a bunch of Poe, then take the “Raven in the Frog Pond” Poe walk through Boston as illustrated in the BPL exhibit.

Attend a B movie marathon in its entirety.

Participate in a poetry reading. As a reader.

Attend a cake decorating class.

Try to become an extra in a movie.

Detoxification week. No caffeine, alcohol, sugary junk food, or meat, and easy on the cheese. Not so much a “cleanse” as airing out the weird shamanistic relationship I have with food—ice cream doesn’t solve problems.

Take a chess lesson or attend a chess seminar to learn basic strategy.

Same deal with playing pool.

Extend my memorized multiplication tables up to fifteen–I’m embarrassed by how long it takes me to do simple math sometimes.

Go to a wine tasting.

Finish reading Infinite Jest in some specific place. It’s already been a memorable book for me, and I think it would be worthwhile to read the last hundred pages or so (granted, I’m not there yet) in a location I’d like to remember.

Beg, borrow, or steal my way back to Pittsburgh to revisit the participatory improv show I attended in undergrad, and actually go up for a few scenes.

Develop a “signature dish.” Document the preparation in some kind of faux food blog entry. (Sub-adventure: figure out how to work settings on camera.)

Play a board game in a public place, with the usual degree of enthusiasm I use to play board games, which is: an embarrassing degree of enthusiasm. Attempt to recruit passerby.

Possibly: No Pants T Ride on Sunday? The Boston version of Improv Everywhere’s annual No Pants T Ride is planned for this Sunday, and if they get their act together, I might be swayed.
Kimberly Hula 3:41 pm on January 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
Tags: Chicago Tribune, WGN News

Adventure for All: Surviving the cutting room floor!
It is with great pleasure I direct your attention to this article, re: the year of 52 adventures, in none other than the Chicago Tribune! (see it here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-talk-52-resolutionsjan06,0,2694118.story)

I am also OVER THE MOON to report that Chicago WGN News did a segment on our adventure blog!

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JScribe is discussing. Toggle Comments
- JScribe 7:20 pm on January 6, 2010 Permalink
  
  Soooo Awesome!