tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:17:53 +0000Quinn's 101 tasks to complete in 1001 dayshttp://quinns101.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Quinn)Blogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-3295122346069053034Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:55:00 +00002009-07-10T22:13:18.119+02:00Guess where this year's holiday went? Me and my lover (that's a whoooole different story!) went to the north of Spain, spent a few days in beautiful Barcelona and then went to stay at the Picos de Europa. I can now happily cross off 63. Have a big multi-course meal at the Hard Rock Café and 60. Climb a (new) hill and enjoy the view as well. The pictures speak for themselves. We had a great time http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2009/07/53-go-to-barcelona-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-680492370301759838Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:34:00 +00002009-07-10T21:35:01.172+02:00It's funny going over this list after a while and go "Oh! I already did that one!" without remembering it had been planned. I celebrated the 2007-2008 new year with a bunch of friends in the north of our country. It was extremely misty that night, which scared the hell out of me since I couldn't see any fireworks coming before they blew up in the small alleys. Oh, did I mention we brought http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2009/07/58-celebrate-new-years-with-friends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-8881355640687663164Tue, 06 May 2008 18:44:00 +00002008-05-06T20:57:24.394+02:00Just finished reading a book that I'd really like to share something about. It is the true story of Canadian Kyle MacDonald who made a dream that started out tiny turn into something huge. He traded a paperclip for a house through 'trading up' in only a few steps. Of course, turning the paperclip into a fish pen into a door knob didn't seem to get him on his way at the speed of light, but from http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2008/05/written-inspiration-for-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-8617610286909630490Thu, 01 May 2008 12:06:00 +00002008-05-01T14:12:44.721+02:00Well... I've lost count as to whether I'm actually reading a book a month. The important thing is that I have found the joy of reading again. In high school and university, I had to read ever so much. I was so glad when that was over that I only went with magazines and other short bits and pieces, but never sat down to read a whole book again. The obligation of doing something just totally takes http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2008/05/79-read-book-month.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-8474188767466211189Thu, 01 May 2008 11:51:00 +00002008-05-01T14:13:00.809+02:00On one of my last days in Chile, I went after the lapis lazuli cross that I was looking for. I ended up buying another one than I had in mind, because of the ridiculous price of the one I had seen some time before on the airport. I mean, nobody pays 400 euros for a tiny silver item - much less in Chile. So I settled for this one. In the end, it's all about symbolism. Lapis lazuli is a typically http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2008/05/101-buy-nice-lapis-lazuli-cross-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-5546458229581695807Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:24:00 +00002008-03-06T22:32:34.130+01:00So why exactly did it take me years and years to write a letter to my foster brother in Ecuador? I don't have a clue. It has just been a matter of postponing every time, while the actual writing took me about half an hour all together. In the eight years that I'm sponsoring Cristián in the Manabi district, this is the second letter I have sent him. And it took me all those years to enclose a http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2008/03/44-send-letter-with-pictures-andor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-4731053753801989085Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:01:00 +00002008-03-06T22:19:18.479+01:00'Better late than never' also goes for updates, right?I've been cooking here and there, but not everything counts as healthy and/or three-course. But at Christmas, I really tried my best to cook up something nice for my parents and myself. The menu:A salad of smoked salmon, rucola, olive oil and pine kernelsOven-roasted chicken legs with sea salt and thyme, served with roasted chopped potatoes http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2008/03/2-cook-good-meal-once-month.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-3542285738953062788Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:58:00 +00002007-12-28T20:08:40.426+01:00So, little over a month ago I managed to complete the NaNo challenge. Around midnight on November 23rd, I had put my 50k in and received my winner's certificate! Since then, the whole pace of my life has changed drastically and my novel has been sitting quietly in its corner. I came back to The Netherlands on November 30th, picked up on a temporary job at the post office which during the http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/12/completing-nano-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-2188696053092632921Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:15:00 +00002007-11-17T03:22:36.588+01:00Somehow, my writing sort of keeps flowing. Not the type of flowing some people seem to experience, where they crank out millions of words and the story seems to write itself. It's still hard for me to sit down, concentrate and actually write, and to go past those first moments where I'm trying to settle on the next scene. But once I do, I get 500-1,000 words easily. It's been going in a steady http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-15.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-4325692773316047265Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:23:00 +00002007-11-16T19:29:37.338+01:00Found this in the mail today:It's from one of my NaNo mentors, who also manages to send out long daily encouragement e-mails to the group of newbies he has under his wings. And all that while juggling a busy real life and finishing his own novel in the first two weeks... Thanks, Devon!http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/little-nano-treat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-3509363219796664012Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:57:00 +00002007-11-15T04:01:07.038+01:00To be honest, I don't want to talk about day 12 and 13. Real life got in the way and I only got about 500 words written on either day. People seem to think I'm on holiday here, but I'm actually quite swamped and trying to balance important things, leisure and writing.Today was better though, I got quite some things done. Went to have a sandwich with a good friend in the evening and when I came http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-12-13-14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-3304362464719161520Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:29:00 +00002007-11-12T18:43:58.485+01:00Sniff. I went to take a walk in the center yesterday. The weather was nice, not too warm, not too cold, and it was a typical Santiago Sunday. I did my usual little walk from Plaza de Armas through Paseo Ahumada and back to the square through Estado. I can't even begin to describe all the different people I saw around there. It's like entering a movie scene. I love that place so much. I quietly http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/31-say-goodbye-to-my-lucky-coin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-4031196411910474538Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:27:00 +00002007-11-12T18:28:49.550+01:00Stayed up until past 1AM again, because I was desperate to break the 20k-mark. Well, I managed that, but don't ask how. Note to self: must start writing before 10PM.WordCount: 20,085http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-11.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-6052349719373506025Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:01:00 +00002007-11-11T04:28:49.216+01:00Yesterday was one of those days I'd rather forget quickly. I got up very early after half a night's sleep, because I needed to get some concert tickets on the internet that went into a special pre-sale. I went back to bed afterwards, slept until lunchtime (phonecalls woke me up twice...), got up, got very little done, went back to bed, got up again, and somehow stayed up until 2AM. Which of http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-9-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-419669957063519093Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:33:00 +00002007-11-09T03:34:58.355+01:00Woohoo, I made my goal for today! *does happy dance* And it's before midnight, too. I'm still rather far behind and wonder how I manage to write so little in days where I have few other things to do, but well. At least I didn't fall behind any more than I already am. Taking it day by day. How are all my fellow NaNo-ers doing?WordCount: 14,062http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-4653024359626644239Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:10:00 +00002007-11-08T05:12:18.091+01:00Nope, I'm still not learning. It's 1:10AM and I barely got 2,000 words in. I seem to have caught somewhat of a cold. Those dishes will have to wait until tomorrow.WordCount: 11,279http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-2898398630554193768Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:24:00 +00002007-11-07T23:17:26.863+01:00One down, two to go. This is one of the most fun points on the list for me as I love going to concerts. Seeing a good pop/rock band play live and being in front of the stage in a crowd just makes me feel so alive I could cry. Heck, I do that sometimes. Good live music has the power to make me feel like everything is falling into place, and that includes anything that's happening in my life at http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/54-go-to-3-concerts-of-bands-i-havent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-2689014833589800984Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:17:00 +00002007-11-07T05:11:15.137+01:00The last few days I have been falling behind on my wordcount. Well, that was to be expected, I guess. Real life took over. I've been going out with friends every night for the last week. Hence today my throat hurts like crap, but that's what you get from living the moment. Today was a rather peaceful day in which I tried to get back on track with some chores and get some words into my story. As http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-7027958688547647982Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:42:00 +00002007-11-07T21:13:09.454+01:00Awesomeness! Thursday night, right before I managed to get my 2,500 words in, I see this French girlfriend of mine come up on messenger with 'in Santiago' behind her name. An hour and a half later, me, her, another French girl, a Chilean guy and two of their friends were laughing our butts off over a cocktail in a club that brought back a million good memories. Those three used to be roommates (http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/lifes-full-of-surprises.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-9079378114586358162Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:39:00 +00002007-11-03T16:06:03.492+01:00Goodness gracious. Just how do people with real lives manage to do this? I feel like I've been running from one part to another, even though I'm at home. Quickly getting some logistics going for tonights barbecue in the most faraway and rich possible area in this city. Finishing up an article, reading my daily book chapter, answering urgent messages with a sandwich on my lap, and still have to http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-5711777446746021726Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:34:00 +00002007-11-02T01:58:49.429+01:00November 1st is finally here, and that means writing madness at NaNo. I was actually planning on getting a few hundred words in at midnight, but only got home at 2:15 from a pretty lame anti-Halloween children's party. Exhausted, too. Luckily I had lots of free time on my hands today, so I just started during the day.The beginning was pretty rough. Just to get those first few words on paper and http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/11/nano-day-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-3762910725419161033Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:30:00 +00002007-10-30T21:46:32.102+01:00Only two more days before NaNo really kicks off. I've been doing some research in the last few days, which I should be wrapping up now that writing time draws near. By now, I know where the family has moved to, what the secondary characters are like and why Christopher collects frogs, for example. How? Like this:Writing down unanswered questions about my characters and story. Somehow, reviewing http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/10/nano-planning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-9106775412862398892Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:18:00 +00002007-10-26T03:37:14.960+02:00If I don't conciously think about it every once in a while, I just forget about fruits. I drink a lot of juice, but since that's not quite the same and I'm trying to stay healthy, one serving of fruit each day seemed like a good goal. Apples and bananas are absolute favorites, whereas kiwi's don't get into this household - they make me choke. Did you know fruit allergies existed? Well, they do. http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/10/7-eat-piece-of-fruit-each-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-7411751519984448691Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:29:00 +00002007-10-24T21:08:25.131+02:00Presenting my biggest and most exciting project of the moment: I'm going to write a book in a month. What? Yes. That's the idea of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It's an annual event where tens of thousands of people across the whole world (it stopped to be national a long while ago, I guess) write like crazy during the month of November. The purpose is to write 50,000 words. It http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/10/83-take-part-in-nanowrimo-and-finish-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5708001634939213446.post-5087768628900014789Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +00002007-10-30T21:48:56.794+01:00Yeah, I'm enjoying having this list up. It's a good feeling to have made up your mind about what's important to you, and actually shoot for those things. It's also fun to ask friends about which point on the list they find the most surprising, and even more to see them inspired to jot down goals of their own. I ran across a great quote today that sums it up perfectly:Goals are dreams with http://quinns101.blogspot.com/2007/10/inspirational.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Quinn)0