The Red Route

Life List: 51-60 July 6, 2009

Yes, yes, I know I’ve been silent lately.  And seriously, I break that with a Life List addition?  I’m a horrible person.  Thank God I’ve come to terms with that.

DC was wonderful, as I hope to explain in a post shortly.  I’m just waiting on pictures of my kite flying extravaganza to get downloaded from John’s Big Camera, and I’ll be set to go.  Until then, here’s 51 to 60…

51.  Document my life experiences with pictures
I never take pictures of ANYTHING.  This is mostly because I married a photographer who I expect should do all of the picture-taking, but alas, he does not.  I find that I miss out on capturing memories because I just plain forget to carry a camera with me.

52.  Grow a garden
My grandfather, for as long as I can remember, has always grown a massive garden.  I absolutely love helping out in and amongst the plants, and “harvesting” is always my favorite time of year.  I want to start a small container garden soon, but would love to have a giant plot of yummies one day.

53.  Visit the Mayan city of Coba during the Serpent Ceremony
While we were in Mexico, John and I had the opportunity to visit the Mayan-Toltecan city of Tulum, just south of Xpu-Ha on the Yucatan peninsula.  The history of the place, as well as the grandeur of the ruins, was fascinating.  Coba, the largest of the ruins, is also the most intact.

54.  Tango in Madrid
Oooh, que sexy.

55.  Dress like a hick and attend a NASCAR race
John (surprise!) loves NASCAR and really wants to go to a live race.  I, however, want to people watch.  The best way to do this, of course, is to blend in with the natives.  I picture teased hair, daisy dukes, white platform flip flops, and a henna tattoo.

56.  Take John to a demolition derby
Again, John likes cars.

57.  Lick the Eiffel Tower
Reference my photo of the Washington Monument.  I plan to “lick” every phallic trademark monument I come across.  Hey, a girl has to have goals!

58.  Attempt snowboarding ONCE
It goes without saying that I am not a winter sport kind of girl.  I much prefer the beach to the slopes any day.  However, John’s a skiier.  I have absolutely NO desire to ski, but I figure snowboarding looks kind of cool.   If I hate it, then I never have to do it again.  If I like it, then I’ll be able to hang out with John and his family in Colorado every few years on the Robinson Family Ski Trip.

59.  Have a neat, well-decorated home
I hate cluttered homes, and I’m an organizational freak (when I have the time).  I want to have a home that I can invite someone to on a whim without worrying whether there’s junk on the coffee table or crap stacked a mile high in the guest bedroom.  What I don’t want is a house that feels sterile and cold because it’s too perfect.  I want a home that’s enviable without being uh-home-like.

60.  Find 100 geocaches
This is actually harder than you would think.  Not only is it hard to find the time to cache, some of those boogers can be downright impossible.  So far we’ve found 38.

Life List: 41-50 June 2, 2009

41.  Get my allergies under control
This year has been the worst allergy year I’ve ever had.  I’ve been miserable, and that has led to a load of other health concerns.  I want to start taking allergy shots or SOMETHING to help me manage these.  When my allergies act up, I feel like half a person.

42.  Take John to Yellowstone
John has been dying to go here ever since I met him.  I can’t wait to see his face light up when we hike out to the geysers.

43.  Lead a small group Bible Study…from my own notes
This is something that scares me, so sI feel the need to confront it.  I’m really unconfident in my abilities to converse about my religion.  I always feel like I sound stupid, and I want so much to be credible.  I think leading an in-depth study would help me gain my confidence here.

44.  Talk to my grandparents more
There are long stretches of time where I don’t speak with my grandparents, not because I don’t want to, but because I forget.  I know that their time is growing short, so I want to make sure they know how loved they are.

45.  Dance on the bar at Coyote Ugly
I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.  I think it sounds like an awesome amount of fun.

47.  Make more of an effort to take care of myself
Most of what I do everyday is for other people, and oftentimes my own health falls down the wayside.  That’s why I’m sick so often; I’m putting everything–work, relationships, etc.–before my own personal health.  This summer I’ve started Zumba, and I feel better than I’ve felt in years.  I don’t want to lose that in the coming semesters/years.

48.  Do more to take care of my mother
Now that my sister lives in El Paso, my mom is by herself in Booneville.  The worst I’ve worried about in the past has been her falling down and hurting herself and/or catching her house on fire, but a few weeks ago her house was broken into.  I’ve been really worried about her ever since.  This is sort of a vague life-list thing, but it’s important.

49.  Fly a kite on the lawn of the National Mall
This is a brand-new goal, and one I know I can accomplish since I leave for DC on Saturday.  There will be pictures of this!  🙂  (Last time I went to DC, I licked the Washington Monument.  I have to have another goal now).

Haha, so phallic. So inappropriate.

50.  Take Lindsey geocaching
This. Will. Be. Awesome.  Now that it’s on both of our lists, it must come true.

Life List: 31-40 May 18, 2009

31.  Write and illustrate a comic series or graphic novel
I’ve loved comics since I was a little kid.  I cannot tell you how many hours I spent engrossed in Marvel’s X-Men series.  I think it’s such a unique vehicle for storytelling.  Not only are the stories themselves poignant and often fascinating, the art is (often, not always) stunning.  I’d like to try my hand at one eventually.  John’s really the artist in this family, but I firmly believe that I can learn anything from a book, so I maintain hope.

32.  Watch the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean is supposed to be a beautiful dive spot.  The nice thing about this particular goal is that I’m giving myself plenty of countries to choose from.  France, Spain…keeping the options open.

33.  Forgive those whom I hold grudges against
I’m a huge grudge holder.  Every once in a while, I’ll have a dream about punching a specific girl from high school in the face.  This can’t be healthy.  I need to figure out a way to truly forgive and forget, especially since this list of “People I Loathe and Despise” is beginning to get unmanageably long.

34. See the Roman Colosseum
I’ve learned so much about this place from Dr. Fredrick, it would be a shame to die without seeing it.

35.  Publish an academic article
I think this would be a) a lot of work and b) kinda awesome.  I’m not sure I’m actually smart enough to do this, but whatever.  Surely someone thinks I’m enlightened enough to publish my crap.

36.  Own two horses
Horses were such a huge part of my life growing up.  I definitely feel their absence in my daily life, and I can’t wait to fill that.  John, of course, doesn’t know how to ride, but he’s willing to learn.  I really can’t wait to yell at him teach him the ropes.  Besides, it will be nice to have them running around again.  I miss being plugged in with the equestrian community, too.

37.  Read every book on that BBC list
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, I wrote about the BBC’s list of the 100 greatest books of all time a few months ago.  I think this would be a good place to start in terms of varying my reading interests.  Plus, if the BBC said they’re the best, then they obviously must be.

38.  Become proficient at CS4 (or 5, or 6, or whatever)
My first taste of Adobe CS3 came in the designing of my wedding invitations/programs, and it was a blast.  I really think this is going to become a necessary software to know (a la Microsoft Office) in the next 10 years.  Besides, I like playing around in Photoshop, and I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this puppy can do.

39.  Attend Courtney and Joel’s college graduation ceremonies
I want to celebrate in the achievements of my siblings (biological and adopted).  I can just imagine how proud I’ll be.  I’m sure I’ll cry like the sap I am.

40.  Learn how to ride a motorcycle
Seriously, I think crotch rockets are so cool.  I know they’re dangerous, but the gas milage/speed is so freakin’ appealing.

Life List: 21-30 May 8, 2009

Mmmm, here are 10 more.  I’m surprised by some of the things that are ending up on these mini-lists…

21.  Attend the Kentucky Derby
So, there are many problems I have with horse racing.  However, the Derby is so iconically American that I can’t not like it.  Well, that, and I am DYING to wear a big floppy hat and a sundress to watch the ponies.  Also, wouldn’t it be nice to pick a winner?

22.  Dig for diamonds in Murfreesboro
When I was little, before we would come to Arkansas on our annual vacation my mom would always let me order the Arkansas Department of Tourism’s travel guides.  Every year I would highlight the entire section on Murfreesboro, and every year we’d get sidetracked.  I still remember the daydreams I’d have about finding rubies and emeralds amongst the dirt.  Even though I know it’s a long shot, it would still be fun to go and play in the mud.

23.  Take a gondola ride in Venice
I think Venice is fascinating.  After Rachel went and told me all about it, I’ve been wanting to see it for myself.  What better way to experience the city than by taking gondola through the canals?

24.  Ride down a natural waterfall…again
I’ve done this once already.  When I was little, my dad and uncle snatched my sister, cousin, and I up on a whim and took us to the Catwalks in New Mexico.   It’s one of the best memories I have.  As we hiked up and down through the canyons, my uncle let us swim.  Swim in our clothes. We all took turns sliding down a small natural waterfall and plunging into  the chilly 60 degree water below.  It was fantastic.

25.  Own land
This was one of the stipulations I gave John before we ever started seriously dating.  I made it supremely clear that I want to have a few acres of land.  I’ve always loved my grandparents house–they have enough land that they can do whatever they want, but not enough that it becomes a daily chore to maintain it.  I definitely want to build a horse stable on it.

26.  Become bilingual in Spanish
Like not having read the Bible in its entirety, this is also a source of great shame for me.  Spanish is part of my cultural history, and it’s always pained me that I can’t easily and simply converse in the language.  I really want to learn this because there’s a whole section of my family that can’t speak English, and I feel like I’m running out of time to get to know them.

27.  Write a novel…

28.  …and have it published.
When I was in high school, I used to write constantly.  Was it good?  No, of course not.  But it inspired me to try to be a good writer, which ultimately translated into my degree path.  My uncle once told me that all English majors ultimately aspire to write, and that’s the truth.  I would love to publish a novel one day.  It doesn’t have to be with a major publishing house; just having a limited run with an independent press would be enough for me.  I just want to be part of the literary dialectic that I’ve worked for years to become fluent in.  (And this is my life list, I can end a sentence in a preposition if I want to)

29.  Earn my MA in English
I’m on the  path to this, but it’s something that I’ve always wanted.  I think that earning a second degree is big enough to warrant its place right here.  This is inspiration for me to write a great thesis.

30.  Learn a trademark 3 course meal that I can whip out for guests
Since getting married, I’ve realized that I really like to entertain.  I don’t think there’s anything that says “I care about you” more than inviting people into your house and treating them real special-like.  I’m not a huge fan of cooking, but I do enjoy making something really yummy for other people.  It makes me happy to see them happy, and I find that I like to take care of the people that I love.  Huh, funny that.  Anyway, I want to have a few recipes that I can whip up that are scrumptious.

My Life List: 1 – 10 April 29, 2009

So, this is an experiment that I stole from the wonderful Maggie Mason.  She has created a list of 100 things she wants to do before she dies.  I read through her (pretty nifty) list and decided that I needed to make a list myself.  I like how there’s something definitive about a list, and I’m always motivated to do things on lists because I get a thrill out of checking items off.

The goal in making my list is twofold: I want to list huge, ultimate sort of goals, but I want to make sure that I intersperse them with some that are both reasonable and affordable.  Part of the reason for a list like this is to help one pursue one’s goals, and those don’t have to be monstrous.  Hopefully, as this list comes together, there will be a few items that I could theoretically knock out in a weekend.

Because I can’t be bothered to figure out 100 things all at once, I figured I’d introduce my first 10 “to do’s”:

1.  Dive 10 different locations
This was an choice.  John and I dove Cozumel last summer, and it was truly one of the MOST amazing experiences I’ve had.  The truth is, I’ve always been fascinated with the ocean, so diving was a dream come true.  I want to dive at least 10 different locales, including Tahiti, Fiji, Turks and Caicos, and Australia.

2. Make a couture prom dress for a young girl who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to the prom
Growing up, I could have easily fit into this category had my mother not had a really good job.  A product of a single parent household, there were more important things on our purchase list than a $300 dress.  I would love to find a hard-working young lady who needs a little help, and then hook her up with a fabulous, gorgeous, made-to-order one-of-a-kind Cinderella-story dress.  This, of course, begs #3 on the list, which is…

3.  Learn to make couture clothing
I’ve always been fascinated with clothing production.  In no way do I aspire to be a fashion designer, but I do want to learn to make well-fitting clothes that look professionally done for myself.

4. Be in the chorus of a community theatre production of Hairspray
I’m not delusional–I know that I can’t act.  However, I can sorta kinda sing, and I’m a quick study when picking up dance steps.  I cannot even begin to express how much I L-O-V-E Hairspray!  It’s the only production that I’ve ever wished I could be a part of.

5.  Create an original piece of art and hang it up in the house
I’m a crafty person, but it’s hard for me to come up with original ideas of my own.  I want to paint/decoupage/photoshop an original piece to help me delve my own creativity.  Afterwards, I want to proudly display my freshman effort to remind me that I am capable of creativity.

6.  Take a year’s worth of ballroom dancing lessons…

7.  and then compete in a beginner’s competition.
I love to compete, I just do.  Also, I love to dance.  This?  This seems like the perfect marriage of the two.  Also, maybe I’ll get to wear something deliciously trashy.

8.  Visit every state in the United States.
When I was little, I didn’t travel much.  Don’t get me wrong–the vacations we did take I loved.  What I love about our country (with no nod to politics) is the diversity that we have.  From north to south, east to west, each state boasts its own attractions.  I want to set foot (because, let’s be honest, I’m not going to take a week long vacation in North Dakota) in each one.

9.  Own a competition dog
I had to phrase this a little oddly, but hear me out.  I want to have a dog that can do something extraordinary, and there are so many options!  Flyball, agility, herding, retrieving, long jump… I don’t care what it is, I just want to have a dog that I can have a real working bond with.

10.  Read the Bible cover to cover
This is actually something that really bothers me.  I’m strong in my faith, but I have yet to read every single page, Genesis to Revelation.  I hope to do one of those “Read the Bible in a Year” programs.  Though this isn’t the literal #1 on this list, it’s (so far) the figurative one.

What about you?  What are the top 100 things you want to do in your life?