101 in 1001: the July round-up

Oh July.  July turned out to be a month of transition.  A month where I found myself still in a panic from having lost my job to finding equilibrium and beauty again.  By mid-July, I’d learned to move on and to do it slowly.  I started thinking about starting my own side business and even now, that’s still in the works and it’s super exciting.  It’s one of those things that I’ve always wanted to do but was always scared of doing.  And by owning a business, it will allow me to apply all of the lessons I’ve learned about things not to do in business but it will also allow me to understand what it’s like to make difficult decisions from a management point of view.  Most of all, I will take care to apply the principles that I strongly believe in: simplicity, efficiency, reason and creativity.

In July, I also experienced my first ever MRI.  It was beyond fascinating.  I have a CD with all of the images of my scan.  I can only say that we’re so fortunate to be living at a time when we have developed the technology to be able to see inside a person’s body.  And I have to say that my reaction has been pretty intense since I’ve been able to see images of myself.  It’s surreal.  If you’re a science nerd like me, and if you ever have to go for an MRI, just ask for a copy of the CD.  Physiotherapy was also awesome this month.  Though I still have a lot of strength to gain, I’m in less pain, I have more mobility; I am almost there.

And creatively speaking, the fire has been re-lit.  I have her to thank.  Because sometimes you meet someone who will inspire you, force you to be a better person, prompt you to ‘see’ again, to be vulnerable, to be honest… no matter how many walls you’ve built, how many smiles you’ve manufactured.  She’ll have none of it.  And no matter how long you end up knowing that person, the integrity and strength and beauty inside of her won’t change.  A few breaths, a few smiles, a few profound moments of silence.  Music, film, poetry and art can inspire but nothing is comparable to being in the presence of someone who matters a great deal to you.

Lastly, I finally finished reading The Catcher in the Rye.  I’ll be giving away a copy sometime in the next few months.  I loved it.

“It’s funny.  Don’t ever tell anybody anything.  If you do, you start missing everybody.”

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Alright, time to summarize my activity for the 101 list for the month of July – to see the full 101 in 1001 list, click here:

29. Pick a spice every month and learn how to use it, prepare food with it and how to store it properly: Cumin

30. Read at least two comic books every month:

See the book update list – I qualify graphic novels as comics

31. Giveaway one book a month on my blog: THE WINNER IS – D.!  Congratulations, you’ll get your book soon!

32. Document a day in the life of Julie one day a month, in pictures: Done!

33. Watch two TED lectures every month: Done!

TED Talks:

Imogen Heap performs “Wait it Out”:

Allison Hunt gets a new hip:

61. Read at least one Economist magazine a month – Done!

69. Read 101 books:

Books read in July 2010:

(I’ve decided not to link my books to Amazon anymore because it’s simply too much work.  Let me know if you do want me to continue doing this and I’ll take the time to do it.)

(Book) “The Catcher in the Rye” – J.D. Salinger

(Book) “Lessons Learned in Software Testing” – Kaner, Bach, Pettichord

(Book) “A Practitioner’s Guide to Software Test Design” – Lee Copeland

(Comic) “The Unwritten” – Mike Carey & Peter Gross

(Comic) “The Avengers: Triumph of the Wrecking Crew!” – July #18

Related posts:

1. 101 in 1001: the June round-up
2. 101 in 1001: the July book giveaway!
3. 101 in 1001: the July photo collage
4. 101 in 1001: the March round-up
5. 101 in 1001: the April round-up