Building a Life List.

I have so much to say about this year and this project, but am not ready to put all the pieces together in words. What I am ready to do is declare this blog space my life list tracker going forward. I have my journal and photoblog and social networks, but this is a place to really focus on living life fully. I am going to start building my life list. Places I want to go, things I want to learn and whatever else fits. Some things may be small and some big, some may take my whole life, some may take next week. But I want to see growth and progress and learning, and to do that, you have to start somewhere, and for me that is going to be building this list. So many things made an appearance on the P30 list and then dropped. Well, that doesn't mean I don't still want to do them, so now is the time they come back and be part of the bigger overall life list.

I've read a few books recently that helped me kick off this list. Big props to "Dream It. List It. Do It" which was recently published by the 43things.com website, which is for life listing in sets of 43 things, as the name implies. I had forgotten I played on that site years ago, but never really liked it. Even the book has some annoying points for me, but it's a brilliant jumping off point. I've now read the whole list of 4000 something things they list and circled a ton, now I will go back and start to compile some semblance of a list from it. Watch for this list, and for it to grow, and shape over time. I encourage you to build your own life lists, share your desires and see what we can do together.

Here's to living!

East.

Oh my freaking word, it's this week. In 4 short days, I will be on a plane and on my trek across this country. I'm giddy, I'm scared, I'm...being me. I get up in the morning and I watch the New York morning shows and I watch raw footage of the cherry blossoms and the expected million people walking below them. DC will be beyond crowded, and unlikely not the best time to visit for a girl who hates crowds, but you know, I don't care, the blossoms are in peak bloom and I can't believe how lucky I am. My dad says he is jealous and my grandmother too. This morning someone called me inspiring and I think I needed it a lot because I'm starting to get nervous. Me...in New York? In Philly? In DC? I am not sure how I am going to see everything I want to see in the short time, but I have a feeling I will be back very soon. I know I am going to fall in love with these cities, the girl who used to think that she would work on that hill one day. I can't believe it's almost here, I can't believe I have to wait 4 more days.

Broadway

Nice! While Mary Poppins has mediocre reviews and me wishing I did my homework a bit more before buying my ticket, Gypsy opened this week to rave reviews and I have second weekend tickets. My first broadway show and I am seeing it 1 week after opening and it's a hit! YAY!

Project 30: Changes and Updates to East Coast

I canceled my stay at the Hotel Chelsea for Monday night since it's edgier than I want in that your stuff is likely to get jacked when you aren't there, which is bad. I am now at the Best Western in a different part of town, which will be nice since I will have my own bathroom and it's in a different part of town closer to Times Square and more happening things. I also called the hostel and she seemed nice and I'm less nervous about my stuff or getting there late and getting up early.

I have printed maps out the wazoo to draw on tonight and start to spec firmer tentative plans, especially for Philly and DC which I have barely thought about.


Storming the east in 8 days...

Project 30: East Coast Update

I now have:
A luggage and laptop lock
A ticket to tour the inside of the Statue of Liberty at 9am on Saturday, April 5th
A ticket to tour the inside of Independence Hall at 10 or 11 am on Wednesday, April 9th.
My actual physical tickets to Gypsy and Mary Poppins from the mail.
All the spending cash I could stash away these last few months so that I should be ok.

I need:
A lower cost parking / shuttle solution than $85.
(It's looking like my insane travel times and lack of friends has left me driving myself and using a coupon, but grr that I am flushing that money down the toilet.)
Airport transport from Long Island to Manhattan (LIRR here I come!)
Airport transport from DC to Baltimore (Oh DC Metro...)

All I have left is cleaning, laundry and packing. Really, can it be that simple? Can I really be ready 1 week before? I have everything bought, and all my things ready, so now all there is to do is wait and worry. Damn you anxiety! But I'm also thrilled and excited and can't quit looking at maps of New York.

Project 30: East Coast Update

I now have:

A train ticket from NYC to Philly
A train ticket from Philly to DC
A ticket to see Gypsy at the St. James Theater in NY on Saturday, April 5th at 8pm
A ticket to see Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theater in NY on Sunday, April 6th at 6:30pm.
A ticket to see the Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. the Yankees on Monday, April 7th at 7pm.

Updated Project 30 List - 3 Month Check-in

Project 30 Official List -
Updated March 1, 2008, 3 Months After Kickoff

December:
Purchase an Ipod - Complete
Visit Vegas & See a show (Spice Girls) - Complete
Whale Watching on Monterey Bay - Complete

January:
Tour St. George's Spirits, Makers of Hangar One Vodka - Complete

February:
See 'Wicked', the Broadway Musical - Complete
Ride a Mechanical Bull for Valentines Day - Complete
Multi-Course Dinner - AsiaSF - Complete
Winchester Mystery House - Wild Card - Complete
Kooza, Cirque Du Soleil Show - Wild Card - Complete

March:
San Jose Sharks vs. St. Louis Blues Hockey Game - March 14
Elephant Seals during Mating Season at Ano Nuevo - March 16
Dance Lessons - Friday Night Waltz - March 21st

April:
Broadway Show in NYC - April 5, 6 & 7
Tour Museums in DC - April 11 & 12

May:
Berry Picking
Birthday Party Bar Crawl
Secret Stencil Mission

June:
Train Ride Weekend to San Diego
Horseback Riding in Half Moon Bay

July:
Baseball Game #1
Limo in Napa/Sonoma for Winetasting

August:
Baseball Game #2
Monterey Bay Aquarium

September:
Disneyland
Football Game

October & November:
Spa Day
Art Show at my House
& Any unfinished Business

Unscheduled:
Gun Shooting
B&W Nude Pictures

Other:
1 WILDCARD
For use at my choosing at anytime I remember "Oh yeah, I wanted to do that" and want to count it towards the project. (I have removed the vodka cabinet & frames, since those are larger than the scope of the project and not as fitting, but have replaced them with wildcard and bday party.)

P30 Holy Shit

For $200...he will do my nudes.
Scott Church is my favorite photographer in the entire whole wide world, and the reason why I fell in love with erotic photography.
You may remember my frantic celebration of scoring 4 of his prints for only $100 in his insane New Years sale. (Normally $50 each.)
They are still unframed, but what if I could put me right up there too!
He is daring, and funny, and his web show has become a guilty pleasure while I get ready in the mornings.
*falls out of chair*
I could truly and possibly have him do this for me.
HIM?...shoot ME?
I'm just...stunned.
Must think how to make this happen.
(He is in rural PA, so I would have to be in a city he is teaching in, or travel to him.)
It must be done. Oh yes, it will be done.

Project 30: Nine Days East & Back

Tentative Itinerary with lots of travel methods and big sites.

Friday - Travel Day
Fly into Long Island Airport, Take shuttle to train station in Ronkonkama, Take train to Penn Station, Walk to East Village hostel, Estimate Arrival 11pm.

Saturday - NY Tour Day
Wake up and be out by 7am
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (Ferry), TKTS South Seaport Booth, Brooklyn Bridge, NYSE, Wall Street, Battery Park, Trinity Church, Grand Central, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Carnegie Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Tower, Bloomingdales, Saks, Tiffany's, NASDAQ, Radio City, Rockafeller, Times Square, MOMA, Museum of Television & Radio, NBC, Lincoln Center, Broadway Daytime, Broadway Show @ Night

Sunday - Museum Day
TKTS Booth Times Square, Gugenheim, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jewish Museum, Whitney Museum, UN, Museum of Sex, Gramercy Park, Flatiron Building, Museum of Natural History, Broadway Show @ Night

Monday - NY Leftover Day / Broadway Dark / Museums Closed
Leave hostel for Chelsea Hotel
Empire State Building @ Night
Central Park

Tuesday - Travel Day
Travel to Philadelphia via train

Wednesday - Philly Tour Day
Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Carpenters Hall, Christ Church

Thursday - Travel Day
Travel to DC via train
Lincoln Memorial @ Night

Friday - DC Tour Day
Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, White House, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, National Gallery of Art, Holocaust Museum, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, Union Station, National Archives, Smithsonian Museums, Arlington

Saturday - Festival Day
Cherry Blossom Parade - 10am, Grandstand Ticket to Purchase
Cherry Blossom Street Festival
Any leftover attractions

Sunday -
Metro and then transfer to Bus to Baltimore, Fly home to San Jose, Drive home to Santa Cruz

East Coast Update

I wish I had more money, this would be easier, but it's really forcing me to do my homework and figure it all out. I now have a reservation for a place to stay in all 3 of my cities in 4 different establishments. Though I still owe about $450 on the various places over the 9 nights still, I still think I'm getting off light with less than $1000 for lodging on a trip to a place where the average hotel was $200-$500/night, with most over $300, and I can deal with my moderate establishments. AND maybe the hostel for the first 3 nights in the beginning will help me be more social for the entire trip.

The next line items are to get Train tickets between cities, Broadway tickets online, Tickets to the monuments that I can online that I don't have and figure out a packing plan.

Project 30: Planning New York in April

I now have a reservation at a cool hostel in the East Village, that came by recommendation, for my first 3 nights and then I'm splurging on a random 1 night at the Hotel Chelsea, because the artist in me creams her pants just thinking about it. I have reservations to both. YAY. My hotel costs for NYC will be less than $250 for 4 nights. AWESOME. AND, I only had to pay a deposit. Woohoo.

That freed up some money for my next purchase. I now have a 3 day New York Pass with access to over 40 attractions. I saved myself $25 by buying it today on their Vday special. Their average 3 day savings at full price for an adult doing 3 attractions a day is $75. I'm guessing I save a bit more since I pack stuff in, so I bet overall, buying that pass just saved me at least $150, but probably closer to $200. Since this is a super budgeted trip, that just got very, very awesome.

I'm starting to feel much less scared and much more inspired. YAY for knowledgeable ladies and knocking things down. Logistics for New York are shored up, now on to Philly and DC!

P30: Austin here we come.

Ok, Bull, let's do this. I'm scared. I hurt my knee on a chair in the office, who can only imagine what this mechanical bull is going to do to me. I assume there is a bull. I didn't really think to ask. I just think the ladies have it handled. We even have chocolate strawberries on order from Amy's. I can't wait. Why does everyone keep demanding pictures like they won't exist? This is ME we are talking about. This is for the PROJECT and there is no way in hell I am going to miss this very unsexy moment in my life, as I fly through the air, since it will only happen ONCE. Yes, pictures. This is a BIRTHDAY PRESENT to myself after all. I must revel and laugh and enjoy. This is a gift. ENJOY it, stop stressing you silly girl.

The amusing thing is that I am wearing my zendik.org "Stop Bitching and Start a Revolution" t-shirt which is getting various reactions from everyone at the airport. I didn't think I would have to come through security again when I got here to SD, but I did. I've gotten strange looks and thumbs up. It's all just funny. Much like voting day and wearing my "Bad Samaritan" shirt, I didn't mean to stir up trouble. But hey...it happens. I meant to wear a sweatshirt.

See you in a Austin!

Project 30 Update

I've been a project slacker, but my life has just been more full than planned with work and other stuff. So yeah, anyway, January left me a little behind, (2 tasks) but that's why we have make up months! Today, I am off to Hollywood to stay in a fabulous hotel and see a fabulous show with a more than fabulous friend. I can't wait. " See Wicked in Hollywood with Maria, Task 5/30" here I come!

Project 30: Kicking off a year long birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday dear meeeeeeeeeeeee, Happy Birthday to me. Okay, not for another 6 months, but hey, it's the year of me and we're starting early!

December 1st saw the kickoff of my much anticipated adventure, Project 30, 13 months to complete 30 adventures that are on my life list. I will track my progress on lj, myspace and on Snapped in Sin and you can live vicariously through me. Hopefully you'll actually be joining me on some of my adventures as well...

We kicked the project off with project preparation! I've not been given flowers in so long, (and only 2 boys have ever bought the right kind), that I thought I should start a year of treating myself by treating myself to my favorite flower in the world - Stargazer Lilies!



And while a big spa and spoiling day is on the agenda, I felt it not fair to rush into that activity just because I was desperate for a haircut, so I took my snazzy little coupon to Tonic Spa and Salon and sexy girl Erin rocked my hair. Granted it isn't all blown straight anymore because I don't have that much time in my life to waste every day, but I still think it's cute and I'm happy. Yay for sassy new hair!



So with flowers making my house smell pretty and me feeling a bit better about myself we begin...

Here's to a year of wonderful adventures!

Project 30: Cirque du Soleil

I now have *1* ticket to Kooza in San Jose on Feb 28. This may just be a Project 30 wild card. Or just a nice thing I did for myself. I'll decide later. I was on the fence for a month now watching the tickets for the earlier dates sell quick, but at $55 through Goldstar in the last 2 weeks of the run before they are sold out vs. $80 or higher later to last minute it, I think I have to just say go. I've never really been drawn to it, don't really like acrobats or circus stuff. But, yeah, I guess I have to see it. If people who I think wouldn't like it said I should see it, I should see it. And well, since this is coming, I guess I'm going. (I'd prefer to see Zumanity in Vegas, but this will have to do.) It's a random Thursday night in February, and I'm going to go by myself. It should be neat. Yay!

Next up...Booking Wicked tickets w. , the NYC/DC plans, and then in 6 days I will be in VEGAS BABY!

And so it begins...

Happy December 1st and welcome to Project 30!

We already have one project completed. The Ipod will charge today while I am completing task #2.
(I bought it yesterday but waited to open it until this morning so it met the rules of the project.)

In just shy of 2 hours, I will be whale watching on the open ocean.
I'm terrifed and excited all at the same time!

Here's to a year of awesome and exciting adventures, friends and fabulous memories.

P30 and Travel

In a folder in front of me is a paid reservation for whale watching, booked itineraries to Vegas in December, Denver in January and Austin in February and tickets to a St. Louis Blues vs Sharks hockey game in March. Oh yes..it is happening.

Project 30 Official List

Project 30 Official List:

December:
Vegas & Spice Girls
Whale Watching

January:
Hangar One Tour
Seals at Ano Nuevo
Monterey Bay Aquarium

February:
Wicked w/ Maria
Austin & Bullriding

March:
Hockey
Secret Stencil Mission

April:
Broadway Show in NYC
Museums in DC
Horseback Riding in Half Moon Bay

May:
Train to San Diego
Spa Day
Art Show at my House

June:
Berry Picking
Dance Classes
Limo in Napa

July:
Baseball Game #1
Multi-Course Dinner

August:
Baseball Game #2

September:
Disneyland
Football Game

October & November:
Clean up Months.
Complete anything that hasn't been completed.

Unscheduled:
Gun Shooting
B&W Pictures
Ipod
Vodka Display
Frames for Pictures

Other:
2 WILDCARDS
For use at my choosing at anytime I remember "Oh yeah, I wanted to do that" and want to count it towards the project

Rules, Regulations, Stipulations, Explanations, Fine Print, Exceptions, Excuses, etc.
Goal is to launch the project on December 1, 2007 and complete the project by December 1, 2008, with the "13th month" allowed if absolutely needed. Right now the goal is to be done in 10 months, allowing for 2 months for rescheduling by very booked Spring activities due to unseen events. Notice Skydiving and Scubadiving dropped, as they were unrealistic project goals and bigger than the scope of the idea, being larger fears that need to be dealt with individually. Added since last discussion are Hangar One, Guns, the Aquarium, Ano Nuevo, and Disneyland, as well as the wild card concept. I reserve the right to change, modify, edit, bitch, complain, rearrange, etc. this list because it's mine and just mine and if you don't like it, I don't care so there. But yeah, come play with me, it should be fun. ;)

Project 30: Progress Update

I have flight numbers and times and plans in the works for almost confirming Austin in February. A Bull has been found in San Antonio.

I now have amazing seats for the Sharks vs Blues hockey game on March 14. Expensive Seats. 2 of them. Maybe i will have a sports loving boyfriend by then. No future football or baseball tickets available since the seasons are still going on.

I have begin planning NYC and DC. It seems smarter to do 1 long east coast trip and hit both on the same plane ticket. I'd like to be in DC sometime during the end of March, beginning of April for the Cherry Blossom festival, but I also wanted to be in New Jersey for the likely Poltz family show in May. Decisions, Decisions. But either way, it seems like it will be about a 10 day trip, 4 nights in NYC, 2 in PA and then 3 in DC, flying home the last day. No solid plans or decisions except actually, really investigating what I want to do and when I want to go.

Hangar One has tours of its distillery in Alameda on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm. I'm looking at January for this. Any weekends definitely out for anyone who wants to go?

Horseback riding on the cliffs in Half Moon Bay will probably be in the spring as well. It's $60 each for a 2 hour ride, and $20 for the group for a guide. (Or only $35 each if you go at 8am!) Is there anyone who wants to do this with me?

Whale Watching has humpbacks right now, and tons of dolphins. I want to go SOON. Maybe December 1 or earlier depending on who I can get to go when. A 4 hour cruise in Monterey Bay is $42 and parking is $3. Who's in and what are your date preferences for a Saturday or Sunday at 10:30am?

People have jumped on the berry-picking but we'll schedule that in Spring.

The gun-toting looks to be picked up by antiproton and cuz, so I'll coordinate that further there.

I wrote down all the sizes for frames I need.

I tried to figure out what Ipod I want based on my music collection and think I know now. That will definitely be magically in December, or much closer to my birthday.

I can get 3 private dance lessons, 1 series class or four drop-in classes, 1 free dance party for Only $159!

For the train ride, I'd like to go from Paso Robles (only about a 2 hr drive) to San Diego on the Pacific Surfliner with a group of friends, spend the night in SD and take the train back the next day. The train alone is about $170.

Multi-course meal will definitely be in SF. I'd expect to spend about $250 for myself for this.

Spa Day should be about $350. I need to pick a spa, I started looking. It will likely be a 2 part experience, with the spa stuff and then the hair stuff.

Limos in Napa are about $80 an hour for 6 hours and can take 6-8 people. I'm thinking probably spring again.

Additional Things to Consider for Project 30

Tour Hangar One facility in Alameda.
Go to a gun range.