The World's Longest Post (and List!!!)

I have a lot of lists in my life. A slight compulsion possibly — lists at work, lists around the house, a weekly combination of to-do’s both at work and around the house. Let’s say I'm “goal-oriented” (it just has a nicer ring than a lot of other adjectives that may come to more leisurely folks’ minds).

So naturally, I made a BIG life list of to-do’s. Some silly. Some tough. Some I may need a winning Mega Millions ticket to achieve. But all in an effort to motivate me to leave work on time, enjoy my life, and to not simply wait for great things to happen. In only one short year, my list has led to some amazing memories, stories, and accomplishments... but even more so, as I turn 30, I know with confidence that I have so many exciting and unimaginable adventures still to look forward to!

Now... the list. Created on April 16, 2007.

STRENGTHEN MY BODY
1. run a marathon :: completed on October 28, 2007 (PR 4:42:44). hoping to do another soon.
2. complete a triathlon :: registered for Lions Sprint Tri in Marlboro on May 18, 2008
3. buy a bike :: completed on April 24, 2007
4. ride a century (100mile) bike ride in honor of my Uncle Ray
5. run 10 5ks :: 4 out of 10 so far (PR 26:36)
6. learn to swim properly :: taking Stroke Technique at the Y Mondays through end of April 2008
7. surf in New England
8. surf in Hawaii
9. surf in Indonesia
10. go rockclimbing outdoors
11. run in Central Park :: completed on August 5, 2007 at NYC Nike Half Marathon (full loop)
12. run up the stairs of the Chicago Sears Tower :: November 2009?
13. run a half-marathon in less than 2 hours (PR is 2:08:59) :: training for my second Boston Run to Remember on May 25, 2008
14. take boxing classes
15. do a yoga 30-day challenge
16. drink 8 glasses of water a day for one full month :: why is this one SO hard for me?!?
17. no soda for a full year :: started 10-01-07 and don't really miss it shockingly
18. compete at least three seasons of tennis league

FEEL THE ADRENALINE
19. go skydiving for my 30th birthday :: booked the jump for April 12, 2008 with my sister Tessa!
20. ride an elephant
21. ride a camel
22. go skinny dipping (with a hot guy, of course!)
23. gamble in Vegas :: completed on May 9, 2007 on a work trip
24. go white-water kayaking and/or sea kayaking
25. scale/belay down a building
26. climb a volcano
27. target practice at a shooting range
28. play paintball
29. go snowboarding out West
30. go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef
31. swim with sharks
32. swim with dolphins
33. drive a sportscar around a track
34. go dog sledding
35. climb Mt. Kilmanjaro

SEE THE WORLD
36. climb Macchu Picchu
37. go on an African safari
38. visit the Pyramids
39. drive across America from coast-to-coast
40. visit Japan
42. visit 200 places in the "1001 Places to See Before You Die" :: 43 out of 200 so far (yes, I only declare I need to go to 200... for God sakes, I'm not living until 1001!)
43. visit Stockholm
44. visit Kenya
45. visit Montreal
46. visit Morocco
47. ride a mule in the Grand Canyon
48. go on a mission trip
49. spend a weekend in a log cabin in the wilderness
50. spend New Year's in an exotic location
51. ride in a hot air balloon
52. go on a yoga vacation/retreat
53. visit a rainforest :: completed in Belize on December 24, 2007
54. fly first class
55. visit India
56. visit all seven continents :: only 2 out of 7 so far
57. go to Mardi Gras
58. visit Graceland
59. attend Maine's Lobsterfest
60. attend the Head of the Charles Regatta :: completed on October 21, 2007 - thanks Jeff & Sarah!
61. watch the sunset on the West Coast in a romantic setting
62. watch the sunrise on the East Coast in a romantic setting
63. spend an entire weekend on a sailboat
64. take a helicopter tour

FEED MY BRAIN
65. get CPR certified
66. learn to make paella :: completed on May 26, 2007
67. read the Bible
68. grow and eat my own herbs + vegetables
69. learn to roll sushi
70. learn to pray the rosary (in memory of my grandmother + with her rosary)
71. bake bread from scratch :: completed September 29, 2007 (rosemary bread... mmm)
72. learn to chop food like a pro
73. learn another language fluently
74. read/reread all 100 of the "Radcliffe 100 Best Novels" :: only 8 out of 100 so far, currently reading THE FOUNTAINHEAD
75. watch all 100 of the AFI's 100 years, 10th anniv edition :: 29 out of 100 so far, currently have RAGING BULL and DO THE RIGHT THING from Netflixx
76. learn more about investing
77. learn woodworking + make a piece of furniture :: finished a lovely teak coffeetable on 1-24-08

ADVANCE MY FUTURE
78. develop a better/stricter budget and stick to for at least 3 months
79. pick back up my contributions to my 401K
80. write a will
81. start a new 111 to-do's once this one is halfway finished

PLAY UP MY CREATIVITY
82. learn at least three songs on my guitar
83. take up art more regularly (though drawing, painting, photography, or mixed media)
84. commit at least three balloon animals to memory :: almost!
85. knit an entire sweater
86. sell some type of art/product
87. teach a class
88. be in another play or musical
89. write/illustrate a children's book and submit it to a publisher

GIVE BACK
90. convince someone else to start a list of life to-do's :: completed on 7-29-07, Lori and Missy
91. adopt a family for thanksgiving or christmas
92. volunteer once a week for at least 6 months
93. organize a charity event
94. be someone's mentor
95. donate hair to Locks of Love charity

SACRIFICE UNNECESSARIES
96. give up coffee for at least 3 months :: finished 1-1-07
97. go to bed no later than 11pm every weekday for a month
98. one week without a single curse word
99. go one week without complaining a single time
100. no computer for one whole week

OH YEA... SUPERFICIAL STUFF TOO
101. buy a car
102. buy a house/condo/2-square-foot-of-land!
103. own a pair of manolo blahniks or jimmy choos
104. wear a bikini and feel 100% gorgeous + confident with my body
105. eat at a Michelin-rated restaurant
106. be on a silly TV gameshow (reality TV shows DO NOT count)
107. do a keg stand with both my sisters (can you tell they helped me draft this list?!)
108. kiss someone in the pouring rain (a la The Notebook... *sigh*)
109. throw an old-school all-girls pajama party sleepover
110. go to the movies once a month for a full year
111. go on a picnic complete with basket, blanket, wine, and a cute guy