Thursday, January 26, 2012

My list - revised

I posted my list, but left off a few important ones... like the Kentucky Derby, my favorite sporting day of the year. These are all written down... somewhere. Now they will be forever on the web.

Things to do... before 40

1. Learn how to fly fish
2. Visit the torch at the Statue of Liberty (made it as far as the crown... the torch is off limits)

3. Attend the Kentucky Derby (and if possible all three races in the Triple Crown)
4. Visit Mt. Rushmore
5. Attend a taping of the Bachelor/Bachelorette "After the Final Rose"

6. Learn how to shoot a gun
7. Conquer my fear of horses (attempted this... have a LONG way to go)
8. Ride in a hot air balloon
9. Meet Keith Urban (when he is aware of our encounter)
10. Attend a PGA Tournament
11. Attend an NFL Game
12. Visit the Grand Canyon
13. Swim with sharks
14. Swim with dolphins
15. Help with a Habitat for Humanity build

16. See the Aurora Borealis
17. Ride MARTA
18. Go to the Grand Ole Opry
19. Go on an African Safari
20. Visit Hawaii

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Old and the Homeless

You never know when you are going to meet someone special. For me, it happens all the time. Sometimes on the street or at the gas pump or in the automotive section at Walmart. I especially attract the old and the homeless. I like to think I have an old soul and that is why the old men like me, but I'm pretty sure it's much less complicated than that. My southern upbringing makes it difficult for me to ignore them, I don't want to be rude, and my sense of humor is warped enough to find it entertaining.


Sometimes it crosses the line. Like the old married man, who started stalking me and thought I would find it sweet to receive one card every day, for 5 days. Sadly, the post office wasn't on his schedule so they delivered them all at the same time.... oops. Or the homeless man who sat on a bench beside me one sunny afternoon, staring at my feet. He told me my feet looked good enough to eat. I seriously wondered if maybe he was some sort of starving homeless cannibal until he started talking about the art of pleasing a woman. You see, he was a masseuse back in the day and said most men don't know how to properly please a woman, but if they would read a simple book about massage they would learn. He then asked me for $6 so he could go down to the mission and take a shower. 
 
 
There was one Saturday morning when I had thrown on what is not my norm, a not-cute t-shirt and jeans. The t-shirt was from the FBI Academy so it had a little bit of a redeeming quality. I went to Walmart to have the oil changed in my car and while I was waiting I was approached by a man. He was probably in his early 60's, wearing sweat pants with a t-shirt tucked in and white tennis shoes which he had cut the toes out of. He weighed close to 400 pounds and his feet needed room to spill out. I was vigilantly texting, knowing if I was distracted by my phone I would be less of a target, but he walked up behind me and whispered in my ear, "Are you undercover?" I had to smile. Although the FBI Acedemy insigna was a small patch, it was on my chest so I couldn't be too surprised that he tried to read it. I told him yes, I was in fact undecover, I thought the t-shirt would throw people off. He then thanked me for not walking away, that a lot of women do that (the homeless man said the SAME thing) and then said, "Do you know whats great about you?"  and I reply with a no so he started to stumble on his words as he says, "Your smile. I mean your teeth. Um, your mouth... you have a pretty mouth." My car was ready at this point so I gathered my things and swore never to have my oil changed at Walmart again.






Monday, January 23, 2012

A few more things

The day before my 30th birthday I was able to mark the final thing off my list of 30 things to do. With a little tutoring before hand and maybe a few tips during my time at the tables, I played Black Jack in Vegas. I actually walked away with some winnings so I bought myself a birthday present from Tiffany's, the perfect end to a great birthday weekend. I knew though, I couldn't just stop there. I needed another list of goals to try to meet before I turned 40. Ten more things to add to the list that has become 40 things to do by 40.

I have already done a couple of things. I saw the once great Tiger Woods play golf at the PGA Championship and watched the Falcons play a preseason game. I went to the Grand Canyon. I touched Keith Urban, twice. I have a few more years to work on the rest of my list though. I hope to do the following:

1. Learn how to fly fish
2. Visit the torch at the Statue of Liberty (made it as far as the crown... the torch is off limits)
3. Visit Mt. Rushmore
4. Attend a taping of the Bachelor/Bachelorette "After the Final Rose"
5. Conquer my fear of horses
6. Ride in a hot air balloon
7. Meet Keith Urban (when he is aware of our encounter)
8. Attend a PGA Tournament
9. Attend an NFL Game
10. Visit the Grand Canyon
11. Swim with sharks
12. Swim with dolphins
13. Help with a Habitat for Humanity build

There are more written down somewhere, but these will do for now. I need more than 10, just in case something doesn't happen in time.

I'm trying not to notice the fact that the more I mark off this list the closer I get to 40.



Sunday, January 1, 2012

Live From the Heart

As another year comes to a close, I am once again amazed at how fast time flies. I'm not one for making New Year resolutions. It's great to want to start eating healthier or exercising, but if I haven't done it for the past 365 days I can pretty much guarantee it won't happen on day 366. I do, however, find myself looking over the past 365 days and reviewing the good, the bad and the ugly.


2011 was a vast improvement from 2010. It was filled with good and very little bad or ugly. I actually got to use my vacation time for vacations instead of random or mysterious medical issues. I went to the beach for the first time in a few years. Sunshine and sand are good for my soul. I visited a far away land known as Montana where I reconnected with some college friends and made a few new ones as well. I found the perfect red wine. I adopted my precious Bonnie Blue. I was able to mark a few things off of my list of things to do before I turn 40, like attend an NFL game (GO FALCONS) and a PGA tournament or touch Keith Urban (twice.... and like many psycho fans before me I swore I would never wash my hands again... and yes that's plural, there may have been a little groping).


I realize that it is all about perspective. In 2010 it seemed my life was so overwhelmed by the bad and the ugly that I didn't pay enough attention to the good. In 2011 I paid more attention to the good and in turn have a hard time remembering the bad.


Oprah encouraged her audience during her final show to "live from the heart." My hope for the new year is that I can hold true to that. I want to be able to recognize the gifts of the moment I am in. Remembering the good, learning from the bad, and appreciating those who are on the journey with me. 


Happy New Year!