AFI's Top 100

I figured out I have seen about 60 of the American Film Institute's Top 100 movies. So I've decided to see if I can watch them all. Most will be on TV sooner or later; or I might have to rent some. Stay tuned!

	MOVIE	YEAR
4	RAGING BULL	1980
11	CITY LIGHTS	1931
16	SUNSET BLVD.	1950
17	THE GRADUATE	1967
18	THE GENERAL	1927
19	ON THE WATERFRONT	1954
21	CHINATOWN	1974
22	SOME LIKE IT HOT	1959
30	APOCALYPSE NOW	1979
31	THE MALTESE FALCON	1941
35	ANNIE HALL	1977
37	THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES	1946
38	THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE	1948
39	DR. STRANGELOVE	1964
42	BONNIE AND CLYDE	1967
43	MIDNIGHT COWBOY	1969
44	THE PHILADELPHIA STORY	1940
45	SHANE	1953
46	IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT	1934
47	A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE	1951
49	INTOLERANCE	1916
53	THE DEER HUNTER	1978
58	THE GOLD RUSH	1925
59	NASHVILLE	1975
60	DUCK SOUP	1933
61	SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS	1941
62	AMERICAN GRAFFITI	1973
63	CABARET	1972
64	NETWORK	1976
71	SAVING PRIVATE RYAN	1998
75	IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT	1967
77	ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN	1976
78	MODERN TIMES	1936
79	THE WILD BUNCH	1969
80	THE APARTMENT	1960
81	SPARTACUS	1960
82	SUNRISE	1927
84	EASY RIDER	1969
85	A NIGHT AT THE OPERA	1935
90	SWING TIME	1936
93	THE FRENCH CONNECTION	1971
95	THE LAST PICTURE SHOW	1971
96	DO THE RIGHT THING	1989

OK - I missed journalling yesterday, but I did go for a walk/run with Steve. It was a better day for running. My calf muscles weren't as tight as Wednesday. I did a better job of stretching on my way to the track.

3 gratitudes for today:

I spent the morning at a Toastmasters speaking contest in White River Junction. I wasn't competing, just observing and I actually took part as a counter - someone who helps tally the scores  to determine the winner.

First, I am grateful that I found Toastmasters. It has helped me gain confidence in speaking in front of groups. I still get nervous, but I find it much easier to get through a speech.

Second, I am grateful for the people that I have met through Toastmasters. They are wonderful and supportive, and very nice! I have learned a lot because each one of them brings something unique to the experience.

Third, I am grateful for the chance to share the Toastmasters experience with others at Champlain. Next Wednesday I will be presenting a proposal to forma a Toastmasters club on campus. I hope we get enough interest to start a club!

So I was not so kind today. When I got home from the contest in the afternoon, I had big plans to do laundry, mulch the garlic, and do other odd jobs. But then Steve called from Burlington & said he locked the keys in the truck. So I had to run into Burlington to bring him the spare truck key. On the way into Burlington I got behind this obnoxious BMW driver. They would not let me pass, but insisted on going slow when I couldn't pass. I was not kind at all, especially to Steve when I got to  Burlington. No random acts of kindness today.

But a bonus for the evening - 2 deer were feeding under our crab apple trees. They took their time walking around - it was quite peaceful.

Yes! I did a short meditation last night before bed. I feel like I slept really soundly. Will try again tonight.

3 gratitudes -

1. I am grateful for our Intercultural U class at Champlain. We have been discussing cultural differences, power conflicts, racial relations. It has been very enlightening. Ame is a great leader and really is helping us advance in our understanding of differences.
2. I am grateful for the opportunities I have at Champlain. I get to take on really interesting and challenging projects. They are very fulfilling, even when they are frustrating and brain numbing.
3. I am grateful to my sister Lydia. Not only did we work together to make my mom's last years more comfortable, but we were able to support each other after she passed away. Our mom left a whole in our lives when she passed & my sister has been a great comfort.

Exercise:
I didn't really exercise, but I did some stretches and some upper body work with light weights. Day number 2 of movement!

Random Acts:
Hmmm - something to work on for tomorrow...

OK - so I failed in my first attempt at a more positive me. I actually couldn't find where to add a new blog post, was too busy to look it up, so I let my goals go. Shame on me - now start again.

3 Gratitudes -  Find 3 things you are grateful for every day.
 

• I'm glad today's another day & I get to start anew.
• I'm going to see Rent in a couple of weeks - yay! Just ordered tickets today.
• The college got a $10 mil gift on Monday. I am grateful we have such great support in our community.

Journaling -  Write about one good thing everyday. It also makes you relive the good moment - Can you say Oxytocin? That's a TED talk for another day.
 
I watched "A Class Divided" today on pbs.org. It isn't necessarily a good thing, because it shows how quickly we can fall into oppressive behavior. But ultimately, I have to believe that we can do better. It made me sit down & really consider how my actions reflect on the world around me. 
 
Exercise -  Teaches the body that movement is good.


My husband & I started the Couch to 5K program. That'll take care of a few days. Now I just have to commit to some kind of movement every day!

Meditation -  Focus on the task at hand. Get over the cultural ADHD we have developed.
Haven't started - maybe a goal for tomorrow. Or tonight? Relax before heading up to bed.

Random Acts of Kindness -  Whether deliberate or accidentalthey make you feel good.
 I picked up a piece of trash on the staircase toady - does that count? It looks better without the paper there & if I didn't tell anyone, does that count as an anonymous good deed?

This has been a bad week for me. I am having a hard time finishing a task - ANY task. I need to get it in gear. I have my capstone to do this fall, and the CDS, and student indebtedness reporting and looking at data in a new way and finishing the Financial Aid profile and the FA projections for DP! I think I need that meditation...

Today I was watching a Ted Talk video (LOVE TED Talks) by Shawn Achor (video can be seen here) about positive psychology and how to achieve a more positive outlook on life.


What he was saying about how no matter what we achieve, we always want more, and so are never satisfied, made complete sense to me. It is in our culture to want to do better, no matter how well we do. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for people having goals and ambitions, but I think all too often we focus on the negative and even when something great happens, we long for something better.


Shawn's message, ultimately, was that it is possible to change your mind to be more positive. By doing this you can celebrate your successes and actually work better. He says in 21 days you can focus your life on the positive by following these steps - every day, for 21 days:

1. 3 Gratitudes -  Find 3 things you are grateful for every day.
2. Journaling -  Write about one good thing everyday. It also makes you relive the good moment - Can you say Oxytocin? That's a TED talk for another day.
3. Exercise -  Teaches the body that movement is good.
4. Meditation -  Focus on the task at hand. Get over the cultural ADHD we have developed.
5. Random Acts of Kindness -  Whether deliberate or accidentalthey make you feel good.

This is my attempt a creating a little positivity in my life. Even with travelling next week, I'm going to make the commitment to do this & see where I end up.

3 Gratitudes

• I am grateful for my husband. As much as I can be a raging, umm, well let's keep this G-rated and say WITCH, he still loves me after 25 years together. Awesome. He lets me soar and encourages me all the way.
• I am grateful for the roof over my head and the comfortable life we enjoy.
• I am grateful for my family. I will expand on this in the next few postings, because there is a lot to be grateful for, but for now, I just want to say that my family, no matter how dysfunctional, crazy or absurd it gets, is still the anchor that keeps me grounded. 

Journaling, well, that is what this blog is all about. Sharing the TED talk that started it all is today's good news.

Exercise, Meditation & RAK - I'll let you know how these go tomorrow, since I am writing this on my lunch break. But I have a great idea for a random act. OK, not so random, but it's something.

Here's to a more positive me by June 21!~

1.