The To Do List

Bryan has turned me onto this ultimate to do list. So, basically I compiled a list of all the things I want to do by the time I turn 30. I dunno how any of my friends feel about that age, but (yikes!) I'm absolutely terrified of it. However, after I made the list, I was reading back over it and thought to myself - "Self, if you can achieve all of or even most of these things, then I don't think you will feel so bad about turning 30. I mean, look at how much you've already accomplished." Wow! I'm glad I had that talk with myself. I do honestly feel better about leaving my 20's. So, I have a lil under 5 years to accomplish these tasks. It seems like a lot of time, but I know me - the queen of procrastination. It'll be a week before my 30th, and I'll be cursing myself and having panic attacks about being old and life slipping away. But thanks to this to do list, it doesn't have to play out like that. I'm gonna hang it up in a place where I'll be forcing myself to look at it on a daily basis and consequently feel bad if things aren't being checked off. It's a reminder to keep doing, learning, and simply living (the good kind, not the go to work, go home, go to bed, repeat, where did the week go kind). Also, I'm excited - like really, really excited. Making the list made me stop and think about things. I had to think about what I want in many parts of my life - where I want to go, who I want to be, what I want to experience - the list keeps going. Now I realize that the things I really want aren't impossible to achieve, they are simply a matter of some effort, time, and dedication on my part. Just knowing what you want is half the battle. I have a clear understanding of where I want to be, and now, I just go do it!

So, here's the list (I'll keep you updated when I start to check these things off):

Things to do before I’m 30

PERSONAL
1. Get married
2. STOP picking lips!
3. Take an awesome vacation (Maine?)
4. Get a retirement plan
5. Complete all scrap booking
6. Learn to cook 5 (NEW) dishes well (must be able to repeat with ease)
7. Learn South Austin (as well as I know North)
8. Learn Excel (do CD Lessons)

ART
1. Build an art desk that meets my needs
2. Use large canvas already owned
3. Get a clear understanding of the route I’m going to take with found object art
4. Complete a new dot drawing
5. Finish dot soccer pieces
6. Frame all artwork I own by other artists
7. Sell at least one piece of my art
8. Participate in at least one art show/gallery/competition
9. Take at least one awesome photo shoot per year
10. Start and finish beaded canvas art piece

PROFESSIONAL
1. Find a job I enjoy/love (possibly using degree)
2. Make a salary of at least 35K

MATERIAL
1. Buy a drill press and use it!
2. Buy a Mac (Apple)
3. Buy a canoe or kayak
4. Buy a bow
5. Own a home

ATHLETIC
1. Run 5 miles without stopping
2. Obtain killer body
3. Use canoe or kayak (at least monthly upon purchase)
4. Start Tae Kwon Do
5. Obtain every belt possible in the time frame (TKD)
6. Learn Archery

The First Post (ooooh ahhhh)

Blogging. It's not a new concept to me. I even done it before....sorta (does myspace/facebook count?). But actively having and writing in a blog is very new to me...and very intimidating. However, not scared away too easily, I am vowing to pursue this though it shall be gentle and easy goings at first. So perhaps my biggest question is - "what do I blog about?". And yes I know - anything goes. That doesn't mean I want to expose everything nor do I want to bore anyone to tears. I'll have to tiptoe around until I find my groove. Perhaps my friends who already have found their groove will suggest some tips, topics, guidelines...what have you...in an effort to getting me to the same blogging status. I'm sure that in a matter of no time I'll be an old hat at this. Here's to hoping anyway.