Macbook + Bookstore cafe = Lady of Leisure

Another Monday, another session of bookstore blogging. My first hotel review was published on tripadvisor here a few days ago and I just submitted a second. All good writing practice I think. Photos are continuing on Flickr, including this one of Pittsburgh - no photos were allowed in the Andy Warhol museum, so I was happy to find this sign on the way back to the hotel, and happy that it was attached to one of the yellow bridges I found so cute about the city:

I ordered myself some MOO cards - much more fun than my old business cards, and much more "me". I was tempted to title myself Lady of Leisure, but thought I may occasionally use them for a job interview, so kept it simple...

I finished Dreams From My Father, which I really liked - pretty multi-talented president... I keep wondering how his success has impacted all the people he came across early in his life.

Also bought fresh flowers, so am half-way through that task. Pretty off-white roses, cut short, filling a short, round vase, on the table for the dinner party we hosted last night.

As mentioned in the last post, I've come up with three new/replacement goals for my half-time update. They will be:

- Post 101 comments on flickr photos or blogs

- Clock up 50 gallery visits

- Learn Spanish to a level were I can reasonably call myself Intermediate

Should help keep me busy... Off to buy some Spanish software.

A plus mes amis...

Heavenly posting

This post comes from atop a "Heavenly" bed in the Westin in Pittsburgh. It is a seriously comfortable perch. Have spent the last week in New York (and now briefly, Pittsburgh).  Accomplishments this week:

Continuing success in Project365: fave pic of the week:

N for New York added to the A-Z travel list. I'm quite put out that Pittsburgh begins with P and I've already been to Paris... hmph. But for now, in this role as a Lady of Leisure, I shall happily go where my man's meetings happen to be. I've set up a Flick set to track progress of this goal and done some internet browsing into RTW airfares to potentially hit up some more locations. I also revisted an old favourite site, Seat61, to check out options for task #1 - retracing the Orient Express route across Europe - I might now have a little more time to follow through on that one.

I reviewed my first hotel on TripAdvisor, the Covent Garden Hotel in London, which I loved. I'll update with a link when the review gets posted.

Another one of the 'new' tasks, I tried to extend a loan on kiva, but had issues with my Aussie credit card, so will set up a paypal account and try again.

I finished another book - The Trout Opera - which brings me to 41 out of 50; blogged on my Big Issue acquisition for task #67; and donated a few more grains of rice.

I found out that 101in1001.com.au was available, so I grabbed it and re-hosted the blog here. Hopefully all the redirects are working!

Have another week in New York ahead and will spend some time coming up with the last few new tasks that I left free at the half-time update.  

A bientot...

#67. Buy a Big Issue

Status: Complete

This is a bit of a belated post. I wrote here about my first attempt to complete this task and was actually able to follow through a week or two later and get a copy of the Big Issue edition I was after, featuring John Clarke. I was pretty impressed overall - took it with me on the plane and read a fair chunk of the mag. The feature article was interesting, with some good anecdotes about Clarke that I hadn't heard before. I won't be buying every edition, but will definitely keep an eye out for fun-looking features and pick up the odd copy.

Flying solo

I am, quite literally, flying solo yet again. Will be somewhere in between Sydney and New York for the next day or so. I think I'm settling in to the life of the solo traveller - airline lounges, window seats... I just wish I'd started downloading Grey's Anatomy a little earlier - itunes is telling me there's 43 minutes remaining on the download and my flight boards in 20. So close! Will have to make do with the one episode I have, some movies and my book. And finish the download in LAX :) 

Still going with Project 365 - I like this one from the day before yesterday:

Now I have to think up a couple of days' worth of interesting airline lounge photos....

Boarding now - to be continued from LAX...

Some accomplishments...

I've ticked off 2 tasks in the last week-and-a-bit. Finally signed up with builders and convinced a friend to have a go at 101. Have also been keeping up with a few "in progress" bits and pieces. Still snapping away on my Flickr365 project - narrowly missed a few days, but so far no real misses. Have added to my travel with C for Canberra and B for Byron Bay. I read another book towards my 50 - Enduring Love - quirky, plenty of suspense, good for the plane. Donated a few more grains of rice, though probably getting a little behind on that one - hmmm. That's all for now.

xx

#98. Spreading the 101 word

Status: complete

I finally convinced Lily to join my 101 mission - doesn't mean I won't stop looking for other converts... Go and check it out, I'm sure it will be fabulous!

#57 Builders signed

Status: complete
Letter of intent emailed while on the train to the airport in Paris.

Scribblings over a coffee

Not much of an update this week - finished up some study and enjoying a blissful Paris pause... Keeping with Flickr365. And a little freerice...
A bientot!