100 Things I love

Can you make a list of 100 things you love? It takes time to do this. And part of writing is actually taking the time to sit down and do things. It might seem tedious or useless, but the practice is just doing it. And getting use to it.

In Julia Cameron's book, "The Right to Write", the chapter on DRAMA instructs the writer to set aside thirty minutes and list 100 things that they love. Then keep a copy of this list and pull it out and read it whenever stress strikes. It will connect you to the sense of well-being apart from the current drama.

I passed over this chapter assignment and read on to other chapters. I've followed each chapter and its writing assignments (not always in order) but this one kept nagging at me as I thought it was a waste of time. I mean, 100 things?!? That's a long list that I might not be able to complete. I felt guilty for not doing the assignment.

So, today, as quickly as I can, I will list them. From 1 to 100. From the top of my head to the bottom of my toes, here are the 100 things that I love.

1 - Family - Family - Family!!!
2 - Friends
3 - Meeting with Dale about projects
4 - Meeting with Dwight about our comic strip
5 - Watching Jacob play baseball
6 - Watching Jacob sleep
7 - Watching Bella sleep
8 - Eating sushi
9 - Drinking strong coffee
10 - Writing
11 - Watching movies
12 - Eating popcorn at a movie theater
13 - Taking pictures of the kids
14 - Spending time with Donna. ALONE
15 - Mark & Brian radio show
16 - My iPod
17 - Driving with the windows down
18 - Playing Paintball
19 - Rice, Bacon and Eggs
20 - Dodger Dogs
21 - Dodger games
22 - A new pair of shoes
23 - A fast computer
24 - A good book
25 - Buying DVDs
26 - Buying books
27 - All songs by U2
28 - Rain
29 - A good joke
30 - Reading blogs and online journals
31 - A good juicy steak
32 - Beni Hana restaurant
33 - Donna's Shrimp Pasta dish
34 - Donna's beef with olives and stuff
35 - Christmas
36 - Thanksgiving
37 - A day off work
38 - Complete silence
39 - Hawaii
40 - Vacation in Alabama
41 - Disneyland
42 - Santa Anita Racetrack
43 - VEGAS, BABY!
44 - Writing "THE END" at the end of a script
45 - Apple Martinis
46 - Ice Cold Beer
47 - A soft pillow
48 - Clean sheets on a bed
49 - A long hot shower
50 - Visiting cousins in Sacramento
51 - Playing Fantasy Baseball with James
52 - Talking on the phone with Dale
53 - Talking on the phone with James
54 - RIP Factor all playing paintball together
55 - Memories of Summer Vacation
56 - Little tiny babies
57 - A babies breath
58 - A babies feet
59 - Hugs from my kids
60 - When Bella kisses me without telling her to
61 - The fact that Jacob read "Green Eggs & Ham" to me in one 45 minute sitting
62 - Saladang restaurant
63 - Chuan Shin restaurant
64 - An exciting Nascar finish
65 - Playing video games
66 - A Sunday afternoon nap
67 - Santa Barbara
68 - A two hour massage
69 - Sports Chalet
70 - No traffic
71 - A car wash
72 - Jamoca ice cream from Basin Robbins
73 - Calls from good old friends
74 - New Years Eve
75 - A paycheck
76 - The internet
77 - Watching TV
78 - San Diego
79 - San Francisco
80 - A long summer day outside of work
81 - Mangos
82 - A nice juicy apple
83 - A sweet orange
84 - Superbowl Sunday
85 - The NHL Playoffs
86 - Duke's Buffet
87 - Leaving work early
88 - Reading comic books
89 - Sleeping in
90 - Tommy Burgers
91 - My mom's fried chicken
92 - Costo
93 - Toy stores
94 - Comic book stores
95 - Walmart
96 - Late night poker with friends
97 - An ice cold coke
98 - Cell phones
99 - Palm Pilots
100 - People that love my scripts

And as quickly as I could, there's the list.

I got stuck around the 40s and then again in the 70s. I breezed though from 90-100 and thought I needed more.

Now when I'm in complete stress, I'll pull out the list and contemplate my well being. Let's see if it works.

Here's a couple of pics from my birthday dinner...

One of my best friends, Debbi, came up from Dallas and joined us for my birthday dinner at "The Yardhouse" in Pasadena (on June 11). Alex, who moved to Florida and worked with us as well came up with Debbi for a short vacation. We use to work together long time ago. The company centralized in Dallas. She went, Alex moved to Florida and I stayed. She was also one of Donna's bridesmaids. The last time we saw each other was in Hawaii, five and a half years ago. It was a nice birthday surprise to have her join us. She use to be part of the whole birthday gatherings.


Here are some of us that were at my dinner.
Dasie, Dale, my sister Liza holding Makena, ALEX, DEB, Jake, Donna and Bella.


That's the building in Pasadena where Debbi, Alex and I use to work.


Debbie's reaction to all the kids she has not seen. She saw Jake in Hawaii when he was 6 months old but has never met Bella, Colby or Makena.


Lori, Chip, Deb and Donna.


The three amigos. Jake, Bella and Colby.

You might think this outfit is all Jacob wears. Well, it practically is since its his favorite basketball uniform out of the five he has. He dreads it when it has to go in the wash and just so happens has it on whenever I have the camera out.