30 before 30

Looking extra classy on my 26th birthday

There's a big event coming up in about 10 months.  This lady is turning the big 3-0.  Never having been a person to be too concerned about birthdays, it feels strange that I'm putting so much thought into this date.  Thirty sounds so...adult.  And I feel so....not.  I have a good job, I'm married, I've purchased expensive things without the help of my parents, but in my head I'm still 20 years old.  When I tell people my age, it still shocks me sometimes.  Not sure what it is, but to make this birthday more fun and less depressing, I made a list of 30 things to do before the big date arrives. Without further ado, here it is:

Josie Josie's 30 before 30 List

1. See a Roller Derby Match

2. Sew a Blanket

3. Sew a Dress

4. Aquire a hardcover set of Harry Potter novels

5. Get to the top of Mount Finlayson

6. Pay of and close line of credit

7. Finish reading the Wheel of Time series

8. Swim in the ocean

9. Make 3 pieces of art for the living room wall

10. Start a blog and post 1x per week (minimum)

11. Go fishing

12. Move bedrooms in the house

13. Amass a thrifted mug collection

14. Hold a plank for 45 seconds

15. Make candy

16. Try 10 new recipes

17. Learn to play a song on an instrument

18. First draft of Zombie Screenplay

19. Make a green smoothie

20. Watch "Bullit" "Running Man" & "Total Recall"

21. Have my Tarot Cards read

22. Knit something (even just a dishcloth)
23. Feng Shui 1 room in house
24. Find better wardrobe storage
25. Do a minimum 2 week detox
26. Make a craft from an old book
27. See a live performance that isn't a concert
28. Find a pair of leopard print shoes
29. Volunteer somewhere
30. Go the the Museum & Art Gallery




So there, now it's on the internet, I've gotta make a dent in it!

So many books, so little time.

I though I'd start with something easy. Like reading. I already like to read, I just usually choose to read books that one might not necessarily call literature. Remedying that is my first goal. I found there are a large number of necessary reading lists floating around the Internet, each more pretentious than the last. Perfect. That, combined with a small list of books I had planned to get around to reading left me with a hefty list of books that should occupy me until my demise at age 95. Oh my. At least I've already read a few of these books.
So along comes Sunday morning. After placating Steve with fresh pancakes and coffee, I convince him to come with me downtown to the best used book store in my realm of existence. Not having a read a novel since High School, he is hard pressed to share in my excitement. His demeanor is improved, however, when I mention that there are many books in the non-fiction section about cars and building things. Himself thus occupied, I steal away upstairs, freshly printed list in hand, to peruse the shelves for literary gems at a discount price. I have a few books pre selected and am delighted to find that they are of a reasonable length. Apparently literary genius does not equal 1000 pages of monotony.
All is well and I am happy as a clam until I start to look for Kurt Vonnegut Jr's Slaughterhouse Five. Vonnegut is no where to be found in literature, general fiction, sci-fi or fantasy. Curious. Maybe the store owner has a hate on for him? Refuses to stock him in the store? These are the kind of idiosyncrasies that make people interesting. Overcome with curiosity, I decide to ask someone who works there. She informs me that all the "subversive culture" books are kept in a locked cabinet. Subversive culture? Sweet. I like this Vonnegut guy already. But my excitement was short lived. Apparently they have a hard time keeping said book in the store. It being a used bookstore, the rely on people bringing in their books. I guess everyone likes Vonnegut. I eye my pile of books with fresh eyes. They don't keep Fitzgerald or Faulkner locked up..how interesting can they be?
But before I can consider replacing the books I've already chosen with other books, Steve appears at my elbow, Woodworking 101 and Wiring a Volkswagen in his hands.
"I'm ready to go." He says, eyeing my collection of paperbacks, "You don't need more than 4 do you?"
I suppose not. Another day Mr. Vonnegut, another day.

A Noble Goal

Hello.
I am on a quest. A lofty, noble quest. One that will test the limits of my already limited patience and the strength of my mediocre ability to follow through. The inevitable guilt I will feel when abandoning one pursuit for another will no doubt be great, but I fully intend to ignore it.
I plan on becoming an interesting person.
You know the kind of person I mean. Everyone has an friend or two who can do everything. They read literature, play instruments, follow global events, speak five languages and always seem to make you feel like your life is vapid and inconsequential in comparison. I want to be that friend.
It's going to be a hard road.
Wish me luck.