I’ve been loathe to publish a bucket list. There is a misconception that you want people to know what you want so that they can get it for you. That’s not the case for me. I’ve not even put too much thought into it because I’m afraid. It’s really scary to say what you want aloud. Because when you do that you open up an entire Pandora’s Box worth of failures as to why you haven’t gotten to have those things. You see all the opportunities that you passed up and somehow remember them as the chances that passed you by because it’s easier to think the universe has it out for you. So I’m going to be brave and try to come up with some things that I’ve said I wanted before and put them down in a list to commit to myself that I can actually someday get them or get to do them for myself.
Choose a set of China that I will take out and use for everyday occasions as well as special ones.
Do a food tour across the world to see what they eat for their everyday meals in other countries.
Attend an intensive writer’s workshop.
Eat tapas in Spanish bars in Spain.
Drive a luxury vehicle or a convertible.
Visit the South and take several historical tours and eat really bad-for-me food.
Do a family lineage history tour to see where my people come from and figure out where it is that I’m going.
Own a great set of steak knives.
Learn to water ski and snow ski and then ACTUALLY SKI.
Learn to make the perfect, flaky pie crust.
Throw a great backyard party. On a regular basis.
Know the difference between Kansas City BBQ, St. Louis BBQ, Memphis BBQ. I know there must be others.
Take lessons for the cello and perform a recital.
Learn to shoot my camera in RAW, exchange lenses, play around with Photoshop. And then PRINT my photos.
Learn a real ballroom dance to perform.
Snorkel.
Save money and keep a real financial profile that’s functional and easy to understand.
Earn a doctoral degree. Probably in curriculum and instruction. It’s my strength.
Fly first class. Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. Wait. No, it does matter. I’d like to fly first class to an overseas location.
Dip my feet in the waters of every ocean on the planet.
Go to Milan and take in all the fashion I can manage.
Backpack and hike.
Change the oil in my car all by myself.
Do voiceovers for movies or television. I do a mean imitation of Anjelica Huston’s commercials she did for the American Steel Companies.
Plant a garden, watch it grow, see it through to the harvest.
Spend a week in Amsterdam with my friend Joe visiting bookstores and drinking beer. (Joe and I are internet friends and have never met, but he works in a bookstore.)
Learn to make gravy so well that people involuntarily say, “Ummm” when they eat it.
Rent a Winnebago for the summer months when my children can take a cross country trip with me.
Increase my vocabulary every month for a year. (With quizzes! And tests! And ways to apply them!)
Ride a motorcycle all by myself.
Take a painting class.
Find out the differences in culture between Italy and Sicily. (And be able to speak Italian while I do it!)
Eat more raw foods.
Take a regular pilates class using the equipment.
Spend a week in New York eating at lovely restaurants, shopping in expensive stores, and taking in a Broadway show. Or four.
Go to a remote island location where the water is so clear you can see through it and enjoy a sandy beach for hours.
Practice an entire routine with the Rockettes.
Have need for a ball gown.
Knit a baby blanket.
Figure out my home decorating style and make one room a sanctuary from the storm so that I can have a real “Happy Place”.
Take yoga for an entire month to learn the effects of it on my body and my mind.
Do a wine tour with a few friends.
Find the perfect pair of jeans. (Hips and thighs and butt, Jean Making People!) (Remember that I have a butt.)
Take a cruise that ports and get the chance to visit multiple places along the way.
Wear expensive diamonds out to a party and sparkle all night long.
Take a meeting with a book publisher to discuss my options.
November 22, 2009 @ 4:47 pm | Filed under All the cool kids are doing it, NaBloPoMo | Permalink | Comments (18)
Zoeyjane Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
Those are great goals. We have some in common, but you’ve gotta lot more culture than me!
Jeannette Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
You should participate in @taraSG’s 101/1001 project. 101 goals in 1001 days. http://tarasg101.wordpress.com/
But yeah, I’m totally scared to write down my goals for fear for not accomplishing them.
Laura Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
We could teach you to waterski next summer. We get the boat out of storage in May. I’m not willing to jump in the water until mid June. I’m in a suburb of Detroit.
Anna Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
Awesome list!
To help you with the jeans – I have heard that CJ jeans by Cookie Johnson (Magic’s wife) are supposed to be great for us girls with a figure! Also I tried the new Lee jeans and they fit great (and are much cheaper than the CJ’s). Good luck!
Lady M Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Ooooh, I want to rehearse with the Rockettes too! (I’m too short to actually be a Rockette, but you’re nice and tall.) I can get you an occasion for a ball gown easily though.
Jeff Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 1:04 am
I can teach you how to change your own oil. It’s pretty easy & rewarding.
And I’ll volunteer to be a gravy guinea pig. (That honestly sounds a lot dirtier than I meant it to…)
Avitable Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 6:15 am
Why would you ever want to change your own oil? That’s what mechanics are for.
Meg Evans Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Oohhh, I turn 39 (for the first time) on Wednesday, and I’ve been thinking about whether there is anything I want to do before I turn 40. And my 40th will be on Thanksgiving next year–a national holiday for real (instead of only in my head).
I hear you on the jeans…anyone out there who has given birth design jeans? Really, the muffin top has got to go!
Beth Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Girl, that is one hell of a list! I can put my own completed check next to a couple of those… but that’s all.
Kate Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
The CJ jeans are “it” but I hear that Penney’s carries a mean and less costly substitute. They may be the Lee ones mentioned.
If you want to try out our china – have at it. We don’t use it. Rather than invest in new stuff why not do the mixed place setting routine – eclectic rules.
Great list though – I did skydiving as one of mine – it was FAN tas tic.
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
I love your list. I haven’t put mine out there, I’m too chicken. I need to stop letting the ‘what if’s’ get in the way. I took ballroom dance in college, I loved it!
Amanda Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Man, I have my own list to publish this month…now I think I need to add to it. You have some pretty awesome ideas here.
Shelly Kramer Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 7:39 pm
This is a magnificent list, Kelly – now go do it!!!
Miss you!
Shelly
Mocha Momma Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
So, I’ve got a person to help me change my oil and test my gravy (thanks, Jeff!) and an invitation to water ski. I’ve also looked into those CJ jeans but will have to visit my local JCPenney store (my students work there, I have to go in the store!) to check out the Lee jeans.
You people are just so kind. Especially, you, Jeff. Now I’ll have to make you gravy.
Jen_Ann_W Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 7:58 am
I just wrote down my bucket list this year too – http://mouthfoot.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/do-or-die/
It’s less intimidating, I think, once it’s written. Instead of just a whimsy in your head, it now has a physical presence – which kind of makes it seem more do-able.
Although I have to say perfect pie crust still scares me.
Emama Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
Ohh…BBQ, you have to have Lexington style BBQ!! As in Lexington North Carolina, pig bbq, and while you are down here tasting it up I can help with the Southern style cooking..mashed potatoes with milk gravy, deep fried chicken, collard greens, homemade biscuits..I gotta stop, I’m making myself hungry! Great List!!
Joe Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
I think we would spend more time drinking beer than visiting bookstores, but you’re alwasy welcome to climb the ladder on my bookcase and browse.
Fly first class and you’ll be able to cross off two things from your list!
Lynn Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Learning to ride a motorcycle WAS on my list, but I took the ISU Motorcycle Class last spring and actually got my license. Next thing I knew, I was buying a motorcycle. It’s really easy to sign up, but they don’t start signing up for 2010 courses until February.
Here’s the link: http://www.motorcyclesafety.ilstu.edu/
It only costs $20 to secure your seat and that is refundable once the class is over.