Advice from Eve Ensler

Courtesy of Glamour Magazine, December 2009 issue.

Progress: Day Seven

Interested in my progress? Wish to check out my original 101 goals? Click the picture in the left hand column that reads "Amanda's 101 goals in 1001 days" for all things related to the Day Zero Project!

My progress on much of anything has been a bit side tracked due to unforeseen circumstances, such as massive book sales at Barnes and Noble and randomly scheduled lunches with friends. Thank goodness for 1001 days!

21. Watch between 75-100 movies (6/75+)

• The Producers
• 10 Things I Hate About You

22. Read a minimum of 100 books by the end of the 1001 days (1/100+)

• Single State of the Union: Single Women Speak Out on Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness

73. Donate $1 to a charity organization for every goal I complete (2/100)

81. Purchase a portable hard drive -- my parents purchased one for me as a gift for the upcoming semester. Thanks, mom and dad!

For all of you Jessica Valenti fans out there...

As a feminist who, in part, owes quite a substantial amount of gratitude to Jessica Valenti for the profoundly influential nature of her texts (all of which I have read and adored; she's had such an impact on my life), I was ecstatic when I saw that she opened herself up to questions from the public. Despite a little hesitation due to nerves, given the fact that she is a phenomenal author, I finally decided to inquire about her writing style (that still has yet to be answered...patience is a virtue, though!). Minus that fact, the advice and commentary Valenti provides is quite motivating, particularly in regards to pursuing graduate degrees in women's studies or blogging.

If anyone is interested, here is the link to ask whatever you so choose about this brilliant feminist author! She's literally answering all questions, so pose anything you'd like to know/learn about/from Valenti.

My favorite response:

Why do you believe girls are outdoing boys in school these days? Are they just smarter?
Nah, I think they're just hiding all the answers in their vaginas.

BRILLIANCE.

Progress: Day Four

14. Workout five times a week for the next twelve months (0/52)

• I did my first workout today for week one. Hopefully I'll keep up with this!

21. Watch between 75-100 movies (4/75)

• Iron Jawed Angels (which is ABSOLUTELY phenomenal)

22. Read a minimum of 100 books by the end of the 1001 days (0/100+)

• I have nearly completed Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms
• I have begun Collins' The Woman in White
• I purchased two books (one for a penny, the other for four dollars with free shipping) that I will begin immediately from Seal Press via Amazon entitled Single State of the Union: Single Women Speak Out on Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness and The F-Word: Feminism in Jeopardy- Women, Politics, and the Future

46. Send a letter to a member of the Armed Services who is stationed overseas (1/1)

Xerox has a program entitled "Let's Say Thanks in Support of Our Troops" that allows you to attach a message to a postcard designed by kids all across the country, and they send these cards free of charge to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Such a kind gesture takes literally two minutes, so join in and express your gratitude to a solider fighting for our freedom! :-)

Love, love, love.