An American in Provence

I did it!!

All those months of studying, all those weekends spent either in class or on the train, all those times I did something other than study (read a book for leisure, watch tv, take a nap) and felt guilty about doing something other than studying, and it all paid off in the end.

Found out this afternoon that I made it.
Not valedictorian (I knew it was highly unlikely but felt a very very slight twinge of hope) but I think I did all that could be asked of me.

Honestly, international intellectual property law in a language other than your own, is not as easy as you may think.

They didn't announce the results as I had been told, they simply posted two lists one for Patents and one for Trademarks (maybe in a few years), and everyone rushed over to try to find their name on the list.

Searching...

Pi...
Pr...

Oh no!!!! No Po....
Frantically trying to see through everyone else in front, seeing that I am clearly not under Po....
and then thinking, well maybe my maiden name...

Yep there it was
Smith, Po.... Megan.

Oh thank god!!!

Pretty much everyone who was there got it, I didn't say any tears of unhappiness. I guess those who were pretty sure they wouldn't get it didn't come.

I spent today exactly as I wanted. Went to the park and read my non-patent book for a few hours, then came back and had a big bowl of ice cream and three pretzels, then took a nap, and went to the ceremony.

After the posting of the results, there were some speeches by the professors, and they announced who had the top grades. For the patents, all three were in the accelerated group (my group) one woman had the top spot, and a man and woman shared second place. Good for them. After that, some champagne (should not have drunk those two glasses right away) followed by orange juice and some nibbles. Everyone started dispersing around 6 pm- I thought people would be going out to celebrate, but I think everyone was wiped and just wanted to get home and see their loved ones.

Goodbye Strasbourg, I've enjoyed you and sure I'll be back.

I did it, I passed the United States Patent and Trademark Office Registration Exam. This is the exam for which I have been studying for six months. It was darn expensive too. All in all, it cost me about 1000$, though most of that was for the study materials, which I plan on re-selling.

I could only take the exam while in the US, so there was a quite a bit of pressure to pass it this time, since I wouldn't be able to re-take it again for another 1.5 or 2 years.

I could either take it at the USPTO office in Virginia in the summer, or at a company called Prometric all year round. This company has testing centers all over the US and administers hundreds of exams for different companies. I scheduled it with Prometric for the beginning of our vacation, mainly so that I could get it over with right away, and not be worrying about it our entire vacation. I would have felt guilty the moments that I wasn't studying.

Yesterday morning Dad drove me down to the testing center, and I checked in around 8:30. Had to show my passport and get my fingerprints and picture taken. The morning session of the test was 3 hours for 50 multiple choice questions. It doesn't sound hard, but believe me it was. It was harder than I had expected, so after the morning session I wasn't feeling too confident. I ate my lunch (1.5 peanut butter sandwiches on wheat bread, a small can of Rootbeer, and a clementine) and went back in for the afternoon session.
The afternoon session seemed to go a bit better, but it still took me the entire three hours (for another 50 questions).

The questions are multiple choice, A-E. They aren't technical in nature, but you really have to know the patent law. The questions are very particular, and you have to be very careful with the wording, dates, etc.

Here are some example questions; see how you do:
1. Assuming that a rejection has been properly made final, which of the following statements is not in accordance with the patent laws, rules and procedures as related in the MPEP?
(A) An objection and requirement to delete new matter from the specification is subject to supervisory review by petition under 37 CFR 1.181.
(B) A rejection of claims for lack of support by the specification (new matter) is reviewable by appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
(C) If both the claims and the specification contain the same new matter, and there has been both a rejection and objection by the primary examiner, the new matter issue should be decided by petition, and is not appealable.
(D) If both the claims and the specification contain the same new matter, and there has been both a rejection and objection by the examiner, the new matter issue is appealable, and should not be decided by petition.
(E) None of the above.

2. In accordance with the patent laws, rules and procedures as related in the MPEP, which of the following does not constitute prior art upon which a primary examiner could properly rely upon in making an obviousness rejection under 35 USC 103?
(A) A U.S. patent in the applicant’s field of endeavor which was issued two years before the filing date of applicant’s patent application.
(B) A non-patent printed publication in a field unrelated to the applicant’s field of endeavor but relevant to the particular problem with which the inventor-applicant was concerned, which was published the day after the filing date of applicant’s application.
(C) A printed publication published more than 1 year before the filing date of applicant’s patent application, which publication comes from a field outside the applicant’s field of endeavor but concerns the same problem with which the applicant-inventor was concerned.
(D) A printed publication in the applicant’s field of endeavor published 3 years before the filing date of applicant’s patent application.
(E) A U.S. patent which issued more than 1 year before the filing date of applicant’s patent application, which the Office placed in a different class than the applicant’s patent application, but which concerns the same problem with which the applicant-inventor was concerned, and which shows the same structure and function as in the applicant’s patent application.

3. In a reexamination proceeding a non-final Office action dated November 8, 2001 set a shortened statutory period of 2 months to reply. The patent owner, represented by a registered practitioner, filed a response on March 7, 2002, which included an amendment of the claims. No request for an extension of time was received. As of May 8, 2002, which of the following actions would be in accord with the patent laws, rules and procedures as related in the MPEP?
(A) The registered practitioner should file a request and fee for an extension of time of two months.
(B) The registered practitioner should file a petition for revival of a terminated reexamination proceeding showing the delay was unavoidable or unintentional, and the appropriate petition fee for entry of late papers.
(C) The primary examiner responsible for the reexamination should mail a Notice of Allowance and grant a new patent. The patent owner’s failure to timely respond to the outstanding Office action does not affect the allowability of the claims in the patent.
(D) The examiner should provide an Office action based upon the claims in existence prior to the patent owner’s late amendment, and mail a Final Office action.
(E) The registered practitioner should request an extension of time of four months, and file a Notice of Appeal.

Of the 100 questions, 10 are beta questions that are being tested for possible inclusion on future exams. You don't know which ones they are, and they don't count towards your score, but they might be the ones that you have absolutely no clue on. So of the 90 questions that count, you have to get 70% correct.

Anyway, at the end of the 3-hour afternoon session, I was able to get my results. I was quite nervous, because I didn't have a strong feeling either way, that I failed or that I passed with flying colors. The results came up on the screen, saying "Preliminary results show that you have passed the United States Patent and Trademark Office Registration Exam".
I read it over several times, just to be sure of what I was seeing.
The results will now be sent to the USPTO, then they will mail me the official results, then I have to fill out a form, and pay more money. Then they will post my name on their website under the heading:
The following list contains the names of persons seeking for registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Final approval for registration is subject to establishing to the satisfaction of the Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline that the person seeking registration is of good moral character and repute. 37 CFR § 11.7 Accordingly, any information tending to affect the eligibility of any of the following persons on moral, ethical, or other grounds should be furnished to the Director of Enrollment and Discipline on or before (date) at the following address: Mail Stop OED, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-145

Basically, if someone sees my name and knows of some great moral transgression that I have committed, they are supposed to contact the office and tell them. The office then does an investigation to decide whether it is true and whether it should bar me from becoming a patent agent.

Speaking of which, some of you are maybe wondering what the heck a patent agent actually is.
A patent agent is someone who has a math/science/engineering background who can write patents and file them with the USPTO. Then you "work" (more like argue and fight) with the office, trying to get your patents approved. It is a very technical and meticulous line of work.
A patent attorney is the same as a patent agent, but someone that has also passed the bar exam for a state, but also must have a technical background.

Foreigners can pass the USPTO exam if they are living in the US and also have a patent certification from another country, but if they go back to a foreign country, they cannot continue to practice in front of the USPTO. As I am American, I can pass the test and continue to practice even from a foreign country. Therefore, I will be the only one in my office in France who can do this. I did not tell my boss that I was going to take the exam. I wanted it to be a surprise if I passed, and if I didn't pass, well, I didn't want him to think the less of me.

Now that the exam is over, I can relax and enjoy my vacation.
Well, except for the Killer Cold From Toronto.

Last night, my parents, Alain, and I went to go see a local theater production of a play called "The Lying Kind".

Here is the description from the website:
On Christmas Eve, two English constables have the unpleasant task of telling an elderly couple their daughter has been killed in a motor accident. While they dither and delay, the stage fills with complications and eccentric characters, including a very aggressive huntress of pedophiles and a vicar who wears fishnets. The Rocky Mountain premiere of the play that had us rolling with laughter in London – a diabolical comedy full of very bad news and holiday cheer.

It doesn't sound like great comedy material, but it was absolutely hilarious. The entire theater was in an uproar.


It wasn't a long play, only 1:45 minutes, no intermission.
It helped to fill my 101 things item
#79 See 5 plays, operas, or live performances.

Here is a link to the website, with a movie preview
(sorry, can't figure out how to embed it).

Today, while doing my weekly grocery shopping at Casino, the first thing I saw was the big conspicuous Beajolais Nouveau stand. I have been trying to learn about wines, and bought an Eyewitness Companions "French Wines" book. It is part of my 101 things to do list.




So really, when you think about it, I have come a long way in my wine education.

My favorite online community is for Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, a company that makes perfume oils and other related items such as soaps, shirts, etc.

I did it peoples.
I had my eyes LASIKed on Wednesday.
Please excuse any spelling erros, I can barely see to type.
This is something that I have been thinking about for a long time and finally did to the tune of 1950€. I don't actually mind wearing contacts and glasses, but lately have been having touble with infections and stuff. So when I made my list of 101 things in 1001 days, number 23 was have LASIK done, if I am good candidate. My eye doctor, (the one who likes to torture me regulary) said that I was a good candidate, took all the measurements, and I scheduled my appointment at the Laser System downtown in Marseille. Alain came home from work and we took the metro downtown for my appointment at 13:45. The doctor arrived, we went in, I wrote the two checks, then changed into a hospital gown with booties, and went into the laser room. The technician put about a hundred drops of something in each eye to clean them. Once that was done, my left eye was covered up, and anesthesia drops xere put in my right eye. Doc says to me that he is going to "peler votre cornée" which sounds suspiciously like "peel your cornea" which is something I know I don't want.
There are some medical proceedures that you should find out all you can about so that you know excactly what will happen. This isn't one of them. It is better to not know anything, then when the doctor says that he is going to "peler votre cornée" thre is nothing you can do about it, and you can't go screaming back into the waiting room.
Also, when will doctors learn that sometimes the patient doesn't need to know exactly what is being done to them? I would have been fine with "I am going to do something to your something and it might (hurt, feel strange, etc)"
So he brought something like one of those tools at the dentist's office that spins round and round to polish your teeth and put it right on my eyeball. Another bad thing- most operations you can just close yorus eyes and not have to look at what is being done. Not with this one.
After that he removed the part that had been pele-ed, then turns off the light and tells me to not move. Trust me doc, I will do my best. The laser turned on and it was like flashes of blue light for 30 seconds.
Then that eye was done, repeat on left. Which was worse because now I KNEW what he was going to do.
When finally it was over (Alain was able to watch on a TV screen in the waiting room- I don't think he particularly wanted to. He said there were parts that he couldn't watch. Lucky! I had no choice.) I went out into the holding room and they offered something to drink. Not sure why. Anyway, I had a little tartlette and and orange juice, then changed back into my clothes and went back out. The doctor gave me a prescription for some pain killers and eye drops, and we were on our way.
Luckily Alain was with me, because I would have been still lost in the metros of Marseille.
On our way back, we went to the first pharmacy to get my eye drops. They had all but one. Great. Went to the se'cond. They didn't have it either. Went to a third. Non plus.
We finally just ordered it for the next day, but I was not a happy camper at this time. Really, they couldn't have given me the prescription ahead of time so I could get it filled before the day of the operation so that I wouldn't have to spend half an hour stumbling blindly from phamacy to pharmacy? Turns out that the drops that were missing were for the pain. Great.
Went back home, Alain closed all the shutters and left me there in the dark as he went back to work.
I had heard from someone that after about 2 hours it was all better and she was able to return to work. I am not sure if she was talking two hours Neptune time, but back here on Earth, there is no way it was all fine after two hours of Earth time. After two hours of earth time, my eyes were waking up from the anesthesia and saying "Good god woman, what DID you do to us.?!"
I felt like a lovesick teenager crying buckets of tears into my pillow in the dark.
They weren't tears of pain, though it did hurt, but just my eyes were watering watering watering.Which made my nose run. Which gave me sinus pressure.
I used an entire box of kleenex.
Not fun.
When Alain came home I put on a sleep mask in order to naviaget about our lighted apartment. I swear, our apartment is like a blind person's obstacle course. Go past the sack of cement, step over the pile of weights on the floor, go around the box of crown moulding, shuffle through the small corridor between th ecouch and the building supplies.
Really, I need to work on honing my sonar skills. Wandering around the apartment screeching Eeeee! eeee!! doesn't help and only seems to annoy Alain for some reason.

I sent in my absentee voter registration a few months ago and have been waiting to receive the ballot in the mail. So I was surprised when I received an email from the County Clerk with the ballot and instructions to be printed out. It was pretty simple- President/Vice-President, Representative, and Senator.Then had to sign and date the "security envelope" and have an adult witness and sign the security envelope so I made Alain sign it. I suppose he counts.

Put my ballot in the security envelope, taped it up, and sent it in.
Woohoo! I have done my civic duty.
For the 2004 election I stopped at the voting place early in the morning before going to work. I came out to my car and cried.
I felt so stupid. It was just the first time that I had ever voted in person and I was just overwhelmed for some reason. All the previous elections I had voted by absentee ballot for Colorado while I was away at college. Also, the other elections were not Presidential elections.
I have heard that they don't even bother counting the absentee ballots unless the margin of difference between the two candidates is less than the number of absentee ballots received; ie. if Candidate A is leading Candidate B by 500 votes and there are 501 absentee ballots, then they count the absentee ballots, but if there are only 499 absentee ballots, then they don't even bother.
Don't know if that is true, and I suppose it rather makes sense, but-
Nice to know that every vote counts and is counted!

I have been known to kill plants in my time.
But this beats all.
One week from healthy green Basil plant with leaves to an un-recoverable brown stick.
There goes my "101 things" resolution of:

# 68 get some herbal plants and not kill them

Guess I will have to try again. Hear that? It is a whole bunch of plants screaming "Don't pick me!! Don't pick me!!" as I walk by.
Guess if the plant actually had instructions on how to take care of it rather than a recipe for pesto on the side, that would help. Though who am I kidding? I would still forget. Sigh.

Next!

Yesterday, during my lunch break, I went to the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle in Aix. It is part of my 101 Things resolutions- visit one museum per month.

I was a member of the "Association of American Wives of Europeans" AAWE Paris for two years. It was a good group, regular newsletters, a yahoo group, book club, crafts group, Halloween and Thanksgiving parties, etc. However, it bothered me that it didn't actually have ANY activities for people not actually living in Paris. So basically I was paying a yearly subscription for a newsletter. The membership was not too much per year, but I wanted more local activities. This year I did not renew my membership and instead joined the Anglo-American Group of Provence.
http://www.aagp-provence.com/index.php
It seems to have tea parties, potlucks, American holiday get-togethers, book club, etc. We haven't done anything yet, but I am hoping to be able to participate after the nationwide holiday season is over.
I have been missing contact with other Americans lately, and mainly feel it on the holidays such as the Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.

For anyone who doesn't know what this is (gasp!) it is the United States Patent and Trademark Office exam, that one needs to pass in order to be a US patent attorney or agent.
It is a 100 question, multiple choice test with 10 questions that don't count because they are test questions for future exams (but you don't know which are the ten dummy questions).
In order to be able to take the test, you need to have a scientific or engineering degree, or some other technical qualifications, and be accepted by the USPTO before you can register to take the exam. It can be taken at Prometric testing areas.
I have decided to try and pass this exam. Why? I don't know. Just for fun I guess?
Hoping that it will help with my European Patent career.
As an American, I can file US patents directly with the US office (once I have passed the exam of course) for European clients instead of going through a US company.
I am going to try and take the exam the next time we go to the US, which will hopefully be for Christmas 2008. That leaves me 4.5 months to work my way through the 2000? page Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.
At least there is no written/oral exam like there is for the European Qualifying Examination.
Wish me a joyful 4.5 months!

Well, let's start with the most important goals first: trying every pizza from Chez Cyril. This is our favorite pizza place, even now when we live right above a pizza parlor. (For the record, we tried it, and we still prefer Chez Cyril).
So, here are all the pizzas that they offer.

(sept. 28th- 41 more to go!)

Nos Traditionnelles
1. Anchois (anchovies)
2. Fromage (cheese- emmental)
3. Anchois/fromage
4. Napolitain (anchois, fromage)- not exactly clear how this is different than #3, but it is 0.50€ more.
5. Jambon (ham)
6. Champignons (mushrooms)
7. Brousse (a type of cheese)
8. Chèvre (goat cheese)
9. Oignons (onions)
10. Poivrons (peppers)
11. Thon (tuna)
12. Roquefort (blue cheese)
13. Chorizo (a spicy sausage)
tried: ? Verdict: pretty good.
14. Figatellia (another sausage)
15. Gorgonzolla
16. Merguez (sausage)
17. Strasbourgeoise (no clue)
18. 3 Fromages (roquefort, brousse, fromage)
tried: August 7th. Verdict: Okay. Like the 4 fromages but less good. Obviously.
19. 4 Fromages (roquefort, brousse, fromage, chèvre)- our favorite. We have ordered this so many times, that when I call up and say I would like to order a pizza, the woman would recognize my voice and ask "4 fromage?" Oui. I think we don't need to test this one.
20. Mozza
21. Mozza, jambon
22. Mozza, champignons
23. Royale (jambon, champignons, fromage, mozza) very popular in France
tried: many times. Verdict: good.
24. Calamars (octopus)
25. Fruits de mer (calamars, supions (no idea what that is either), crevettes (shrimp), moules (mussels), fromage)

Nos Crèmes Fraiches
26. Fromage
27. Thon
28. Carbonara (oignons, lardons, fromage)
tried: ? Verdict: So so. A bit too creamy.
29. Royale
tried: October 4th. Verdict: just too rich
30. Fromagère (roquefort, fromage, chèvre)
tried: September 27th. Verdict: Very good but slightly burnt crust.
31. Lorraine (champignons, fromage, lardons (small bits of ham))
tried: ? Verdict: Okay.
32. Fermière (roquefort, brousse, fromage)
tried: September 20th. Verdict: Very good.
33. Novégienne (saumon (salmon), fromage)
34. Dijonnaise (moutarde (mustard), saucisse Strasbourg, fromage)
35. Indienne (poulet (chicken), curry, fromage)
36. Paysanne (poulet, oignons, fromage)
37. Tartiflette (pommes de terre (potatos), oignons, lardons, fromage, reblochon (another cheese))
tried: ? Verdict: Good.
Nos Spécialités
38. Orientale (merguez, poivrons, fromage)
39. Arménienne (oignons, poivrons, viande hachée fraiche (ground meat))
40. Marseillaise (thon, fromage, anchoise, câpres)
41. Corse (figatelli, brousse, fromage)
tried: September 12th. Verdict: surprisingly good. I usually don't like chorizo.
42. Forestière (champignons, roquefort, fromage, lardons)
tried: July 4th. Verdict: okay, not a big fan of lardons though
43. Provençale (mozza, tomates fraîches, parmesan, ail (garlic), persil (parsley))
tried: July 11th. Verdict: very good, has a pesto sauce on it.
44. Mexicaine (chorizo, poivrons, oignons, fromage)
45. Basquaise (poulet, poivrons, fromage)
46. Pizza du chef (mozza, tomates fraîches, oignons)
tried: August 1st. Verdict: too many limp onions. Would be better just the mozza. and tomatos.
47. Parmesane (aubergine (eggplant), fromage, parmesan)
48. Campagnarde (sauce tomate, crème fraîche, champignons, roquefort, fromage, mozza, oeuf (egg))
tried: August 22nd. Verdict: Meh. Think it is the egg that I don't like.
49. L'Italienne (sauce tomate, crème fraîche, champignons, jambon, fromage, chèvre, oeuf)
tried: September 5th. Verdict: so-so.
50. Montagnarde (jambon, fromage, tomates fraîches, chèvre, lardons)
tried: July 18th. Verdict: good, but still don't like lardons.
51. Ola (poulet, curry, fromage, tomates fraîches, parmesan)
52. Romaine (poulet, champignons, jambon, curry, fromage, parmesan)
tried: ? Verdict: Okay if you like curry and chicken on pizza. Otherwise, no.

As you can see, we have our eating cut out for us.
Some will obviously have to be choked down. Curry on a pizza anyone?

The 101 things in 1001 days is a project where you make a list of 101 things that you would like to accomplish in 1001 days (almost three years).
http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp?view=gettingstarted
I have decided to go ahead and do this.
As you will see, it is mixture of travel, financial planning, personal growth, and just plain ol' life.
Here is my list.

1. learn shorthand
2. take a ride in a hot-air balloon
3. go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower
4. have a baby
5. save X€ per year
6. run a half marathon
7. be able to write with my left hand
8. read my daily devotional book (daily)
9. eat frog's legs
10. visit Thailand
11. read 10 classic French books
12. pass the USPTO exam December 2008
13. graduate from the CEIPI
14. try to make two new recipes per month
15. plant some berry bushes
16. visit Corsica
17. visit Grasse
18. make lavender sticks
19. finish at least two of my crosstitch projects
20. hike up Mount Ste. Victoire
21. not buy any new beauty products (such as body wash or lotion) until I run out of the ones I currently am hoarding
22. take better care of my fingernails- file, buff, polish
23. get my eyes LASIKed, if I am a good candidate
24. take better care of my clothes- wash, fold, iron, etc.
25. write to my elderly relatives/friends once a month, as they don't have email
26. visit one museum per month- done July, August, September
27. buy/have made some nice stationary
28. take a picture of every one of Aix's fountains and post on my blog
29. go through closet every six months and get rid of clothes I don't wear anymore
30. drink one scoop of protein powder per day
31. go rollerblading at least three times each summer
32. Finish collecting the US State quarters- working on it
33. Do yoga once per week
34. make the donation I promised
35. sign up for UU worldwide
36. write my cheese blog posts, at least 25 per year
37. get life insurance
38. write my christmas cards in November so that they are ready to send on time
39. finish renovating our apartment
40. eat real escargot
41. write my New Year's cards (for France) by Dec. 15th
42. Get my digital photos developed every 6 months
43. weigh myself once a week
44. open PEL account
45. increase our mortgage payments
46. back up our computer once a year
47. balance checkbook once per month- done
48. buy an original piece of artwork
49. join the American group of Provence- done
50. watch a French movie, in French, once per month
51. go to Farmer's markets as often as possible, try to buy vegetables I don't recognize
52. complete my Soduku expert level book
53. vote by absentee ballot in the nov 08 election
54. buy Lily of the Valley room sprays and candles
55. buy and plant wheat grass seeds every December
56. eat at the Richebois once per year
57. Treat my in-laws to a Bouillabaise meal
58. participate in Switch Witch
59. start another crosstitch quilt
60. go for twice yearly picnic/hikes
61. read Les Miserables in French
62. try every pizza from Chez Cyril- working on it, one week at a time
63. complete my Gaultier Summer perfume bottle collection
64. make solid perfume
65. wear sunscreen every day from June-August- yes
66. buy the ring I have been wanting at the end of the 1001 days if I have completed everything
67. visit Bretagne
68. get some herbal plants and not kill them
69. get my French citizenship
70. go back to US at least twice- Christmas 2008
71. buy a Calligraphy pen and ink
72. don't buy any new perfumes
73. find a store that sells atomizer parts
74. frame Manon's crosstitch and give it to her
75. buy a teapot from Cie Anglaise de Thé
76. go to the beach at sunset and have a pizza, at least 3 times
77. buy 5 new items of clothing thas i wouldnt normally buy and wear them
78. keep a journal of my 101 things- yes
79. see 5 plays, operas, or live performances- seen "The Lying Kind" Dec 08
80. make chocolate chip cookies twice a year
81. make an american apple pie once per year
82. write a list of 101 things that make me happy- list begun
83. learn about wine tasting
84. stop at five wine places and buy wine bottles
85. buy an olive tree
86. visit Meme and Pepe at least once a month
87. write in journal once a week at least
88. visit Bordeaux region
89. complete my "List yourself" book
90. get back into contact with 5 old friends
91. complete a book in NanoWriMo
92. save 1€ a day for 1001 days, and then do something fun with it
93. Read a book on each of the major religons
94. subscribe to one magazine for a year and read it!
95. make two new friends
96. send 2 postcards to PostSecret France- sent one
97. read a book about the history of France
98. clean our bathroom once a week
99. receive 99 postcards
100. send 100 postcards
101. write a new list of 101 things

So starting today, I will end on April 1st, 2011. That sounds like a good date to end, doesn't it?
I will be updating my list, with any and all progress.
Wish me luck!