Updates

OK, so I made the list into its own page (see link above) so I can update and cross things off as I go. I also divided it up into different sections, added some of the items you suggested (thanks Ro, Franklin and Dana!), and crossed off one thing already.

Also - just for Rosa, I made two of my previously secret items public. But I'm not telling which ones they are. You've got to work that out on your own.

In other news, I'm on Spring Break now. THANK HEAVENS. Last week was particularly brutal, so I'm happy to be home doing nothing.

Hello?? Echo,echo,echo...

Seriously people. I need suggestions. Help me out here.

1000 Days

So the idea of creating a "to do before you die" list isn't new. Recently, one of the authors of a blog I read has been sponsored by both Intel and Verizon to complete hers - it's been crazy to read the adventures she has had. It's turned into a bit of a movement - she asked readers to put their life lists on their blogs and send the link to her and she would post them. So you know I read them all. Sometime in December, a reader submitted a link to their lists of 100 things they wanted to do in 1000 days, with the last day being an important milestone of some kind.

The idea was being appealing to me - especially when I realized that in about 1000 days, I would be turning 30. So, I spent a lot of January brainstorming and in early February, my 1000 day countdown to 30 began.

In talking to Rosa tonight, she wanted to read the list, so I'm going to put it up on the blog in hopes of being held more accountable but also because I need suggestions! I only have about 70 items so far - I'm hoping you all can help me out. They are in no particular order or categorization, just as they came into my head.

Onward!

100 things to do in 1000 Days
1. Get some "professional" pictures of me and Dan (Franklin - call me!)
2. Figure out when it is necessary to make a will. If it's now, then make one.
3. Look into life insurance
4. Look into pet insurance
5. Get James microchipped (Lily already has hers)
6. Start planning for retirement (eek!)
7. Finish the emergency kit
8. Buy more handmade, give more handmade gifts
9. Make an advent calendar
10. Do want/need/wear/read one year for gifts
11. Find out more about bartering websites
12. Get at least 6 massages
13. Get at least 2 henna designs
14. Join a CSA
15. Move away from using antibacterial products
16. Use homemade cleaning products
17. Transition from plastic to glass in the kitchen (storage containers, utensils, etc)
18. Have some concrete plans for world travel
19. Have some concrete plans for where we are living next
20. Have some concrete plans around buying a home
21. Buy some really nice bras
22. Stay in Vegas on the Strip
23. Read at least 120 books
24. Learn how to play chess (in progress)
25. Learn how to play pool
26. Learn how to knit
27. Learn how to can/preserve foods
28. Learn how to make piecrust
29. Learn how to crack a whip (literally, not figuratively)
30. Learn how to properly fold a fitted sheet
31. Learn how to poach an egg
32. Learn more about world geography
33. Learn ____________
34. Learn ____________
35. Learn ____________
36. Lose a couple of pant sizes
37. Find a physical activity I love to do
38. Find my professional organization home
39. **
40. **
41. **
42. Get CPR/First Aid certified (again)
43. Stop biting my nails
44. Always take off my makeup before I go to bed
45. Finish researching the "list of women I should really know"
46-60. Individual San Francisco stairwalks (they each get their own number because each one is really a whole day trip)
61. Make cupcake list
62. Make chocolate list
63. See the Grand Canyon
64. Be up to date on our scrapbook
65. Go dogsledding
66. Complete a triathlon
67. Finish cooking our way through our seasonal cookbook
68. Go to a Steelers game
69. Get a good skincare regimen
70. Stay overnight in a treehouse
71. Reopen doors with other student affairs people I've lost touch with
72. **
73. **
74. Relax in a natural hot spring
75. Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
76. Visit 3 new states

(sidenote: the numbers with ** really do have items next to them, but they're secrets)

So there you have it. As you can see, I need 24 more things to do and 3 more things to learn. What would go on your before 30 list?

Chihuly gallery - Las Vegas

Exhibit A

of "Why I miss living on the same coast as everyone I know"

Scene: Facebook chat, last night

KK: Wow, you found that picture fast. A little creepy.

Ben: Don't be jealous of my facebook powerz.

KK: You're in the interwebz stealin their fotos.

Ben: I AM THE INTERWEBZ.

Fin.

City walk: McLaren Park and Excelsior (#99)

Ugh, that last post about the brewery tour would have been so much better had I written it when I actually remembered something - apologies. Hardly my best work.

While Dan and I have a car this month, we've been trying to get to different places in the city that would take a wee bit longer on public transit. So, we decided to do the city walks that were furthest from our apartments. This walk mostly takes place in the second largest park in the city, McLaren Park, which we had never heard of, so it was nice to explore a completely new area. The park was named for John McLaren, who was the chief gardener at Golden Gate Park for 60 years. I think that is a lovely gesture.

The walk took us through a bunch of groves, play areas, a couple different lakes, and other nature type things. At one of the lakes, Dan took approximately 47 pictures of ducks, which I have not included here, I know you're disappointed.

Other things we encountered:

Statues meant for children that also sort of look like they were made by children.

This woman with her 7 or 8 black lab puppies who were all not on leashes but all ridiculously well behaved who sort of adopted the bull terrier (the one that doesn't look like the others) and then the terrier would. not. go. back. to his owner. It was sort of heartbreaking to watch him have to leave his newly found gang.

The Jerry Garcia amphitheater. Underwhelming, don't you think?

This dog hanging out of his house window, just chillin, watching people go by.

Steep, steep stairs. Can't really tell from this picture, but remembering makes my calves hurt.

Walk stats - 2.3 miles, 1.5 hours

Anchor Brewery Tour

Way back in January, we went on a tour of the Anchor Brewery which is a San Francisco based brewery that has been making beer since 1896. They also make whiskey and gin, holler. Their steam beer is wildly popular in the Bay Area, so popular that I had to call in October to get a spot on the tour for January!

We learned that they make beer in a pretty old fashioned way, although I can no longer tell you details of the process (it's been a while since we went). I do know that they do everything in one small factory from the brewing to the fermenting to the bottling. The woman leading our tour was very knowledgeable, and gave us lots of statistics that I swore to remember to put in this very blog entry, but alas, I have forgotten them. The one I do remember is that Budweiser produces more beer in one DAY than Anchor Brewing produces in an entire year. Quality over quantity people.

After the tour, we got to do a tasting, which I was really happy about. While I like the Anchor Steam beer (most popular variety they make), I got to try several other smaller production varieties that I really enjoyed. They make a liberty ale, a porter, a holiday ale, and a barley wine style ale which is sweet - an after dinner beer. I'm a big fan. We've been on the lookout in stores but we haven't found any yet. I think a trip to BevMo is in our future.

Beer anyone? They are tasty!

Hops.