30 During 30
Apr. 29th, 2010 11:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
batskeetsSo I heard about this "30 Before 30" thing, and naturally, I like it, because I like lists. But, I'm already 30, so making such a list for myself would no longer be possible, right?
WRONG. I now declare this the 30 DURING 30 LIST. Here is the first half, in no particular order:
1. Read at least 30 books.
There are way too many things I want to read, and I'm also hoping that, if I read more, maybe I'll re-learn how to digest books quickly the way I used to. I figure, if I have to do one a month for book club, that's 12, so the rest is up to me.
2. Get myself a damned art show.
You know what? I *have* the photographs. And I'm taking more and better photos all the time. I don't care if it's a rinky-dink thing at a local Starbucks, I just need to get my work on display. This is long overdue.
3. Backpacking Trip.
I have never done this, partly due to lack of gear, and also partly due to doubting that I'd have the stamina for long hikes with gear on my back. Clearly, a few day hikes are in order before I can do this. And learning how to pee in nature without making a mess out of myself would probably also be a prerequisite. ;p
4. Lose 20 lbs.
The eternal goal, I know. Stupid body. But I got halfway there last year. And then I went to China and gained some back because, duh, vacation. And then I got back to the halfway mark again. And then my knee decided to start being a jerk, and around the same time, most other parts of my life went straight down the crapper. Medicating with food and alcohol is bad, but I think it's finally behind me. I can do this.
5. Run a 9-minute mile consistently.
I can bust out a 10-minute mile pretty well most days, as long as my knee isn't giving me grief. And, according to Mr. Treadmill, I've done a 9-minute mile once or twice, but it was sandwiched between two miles at a slower pace. To keep a 9-minute pace through a whole run? I WANT THAT.
6. Register for and run a 10K or possibly a half-marathon.
Whether it's a 10K or a Half depends entirely on my knee. I can do a 5K consistently, so a 10K would still be a challenge. But, if my knee holds up well enough for #4 and #5 to happen, I am absolutely going for the Half.
7. Japan.
This has needed to happen for what, ten YEARS? I think this year may be the one.
8. ROLLER DERBY.
I am SO going to try this. Some Saturday, I'm going to buy the pads and such, and then go there and roll around the track crashing into things spectacularly. But I'm convinced it'll be fun.
9. More bike rides that are not my current morning commute.
I really enjoyed my bike wanderings a couple Sundays ago, and when I take the "long way" home from work, I love it so much more. Biking down Hawthorne to work, with cars whizzing past me? Just doesn't compare.
10. Get better at biking.
Yeah, I know, I've been saying this for a while. But I should make it happen. Maybe then, I could A) go on longer rides, and B) take a less-direct and more enjoyable route to work. And maybe even C) have fewer knee problems because it will give me Quads of Steel.
11. Grow edible things in my yard.
Even though it was not my construction project to begin with, that greenhouse in the backyard has been sitting there unfinished long enough for me to know that it's obviously not going to be completed unless I make it happen.
12. Learn to Fight For Reals
I'm still not certain if this'll be in the form of traditional kung fu, or muay thai, or something else entirely. But, if I'm going to jumpkick the heads off of undead creatures when the zombie apocalypse hits, I'd better know how to do it right and proper. ;)
13. Take more photos of friends.
This is kind of a hard one, at times, because it's difficult for me to enjoy being in a moment while I'm photographing it. But, it's also wonderful to look back at those spontaneous moments of happy. Finding the balance will be tricky, but I suspect it'll be worth it.
14. Audition and get into a play.
We've been rehearsing for the Two Gents reading, and I've been having a *lot* of fun with it thus far. And it is, of course, making me miss acting. Whatever show I get into doesn't have to be anything big, I'm just in it for a fun ride.
15. Accumulate enough events to compete for All-Around Champion at Berkeley.
Assuming next year's tournament isn't scheduled after my birthday, this *should* be doable, if I nag Master Chen enough. I already have Nanquan and Nandao, and even if my Nangun form isn't competition-length yet, at least I've worked on that skillset. So, all I *really* need to learn from scratch is an additional empty hand form. My odds of winning the title are probably close to zero, but it'd be so fantastic to simply be able to say that I went for it.
WRONG. I now declare this the 30 DURING 30 LIST. Here is the first half, in no particular order:
1. Read at least 30 books.
There are way too many things I want to read, and I'm also hoping that, if I read more, maybe I'll re-learn how to digest books quickly the way I used to. I figure, if I have to do one a month for book club, that's 12, so the rest is up to me.
2. Get myself a damned art show.
You know what? I *have* the photographs. And I'm taking more and better photos all the time. I don't care if it's a rinky-dink thing at a local Starbucks, I just need to get my work on display. This is long overdue.
3. Backpacking Trip.
I have never done this, partly due to lack of gear, and also partly due to doubting that I'd have the stamina for long hikes with gear on my back. Clearly, a few day hikes are in order before I can do this. And learning how to pee in nature without making a mess out of myself would probably also be a prerequisite. ;p
4. Lose 20 lbs.
The eternal goal, I know. Stupid body. But I got halfway there last year. And then I went to China and gained some back because, duh, vacation. And then I got back to the halfway mark again. And then my knee decided to start being a jerk, and around the same time, most other parts of my life went straight down the crapper. Medicating with food and alcohol is bad, but I think it's finally behind me. I can do this.
5. Run a 9-minute mile consistently.
I can bust out a 10-minute mile pretty well most days, as long as my knee isn't giving me grief. And, according to Mr. Treadmill, I've done a 9-minute mile once or twice, but it was sandwiched between two miles at a slower pace. To keep a 9-minute pace through a whole run? I WANT THAT.
6. Register for and run a 10K or possibly a half-marathon.
Whether it's a 10K or a Half depends entirely on my knee. I can do a 5K consistently, so a 10K would still be a challenge. But, if my knee holds up well enough for #4 and #5 to happen, I am absolutely going for the Half.
7. Japan.
This has needed to happen for what, ten YEARS? I think this year may be the one.
8. ROLLER DERBY.
I am SO going to try this. Some Saturday, I'm going to buy the pads and such, and then go there and roll around the track crashing into things spectacularly. But I'm convinced it'll be fun.
9. More bike rides that are not my current morning commute.
I really enjoyed my bike wanderings a couple Sundays ago, and when I take the "long way" home from work, I love it so much more. Biking down Hawthorne to work, with cars whizzing past me? Just doesn't compare.
10. Get better at biking.
Yeah, I know, I've been saying this for a while. But I should make it happen. Maybe then, I could A) go on longer rides, and B) take a less-direct and more enjoyable route to work. And maybe even C) have fewer knee problems because it will give me Quads of Steel.
11. Grow edible things in my yard.
Even though it was not my construction project to begin with, that greenhouse in the backyard has been sitting there unfinished long enough for me to know that it's obviously not going to be completed unless I make it happen.
12. Learn to Fight For Reals
I'm still not certain if this'll be in the form of traditional kung fu, or muay thai, or something else entirely. But, if I'm going to jumpkick the heads off of undead creatures when the zombie apocalypse hits, I'd better know how to do it right and proper. ;)
13. Take more photos of friends.
This is kind of a hard one, at times, because it's difficult for me to enjoy being in a moment while I'm photographing it. But, it's also wonderful to look back at those spontaneous moments of happy. Finding the balance will be tricky, but I suspect it'll be worth it.
14. Audition and get into a play.
We've been rehearsing for the Two Gents reading, and I've been having a *lot* of fun with it thus far. And it is, of course, making me miss acting. Whatever show I get into doesn't have to be anything big, I'm just in it for a fun ride.
15. Accumulate enough events to compete for All-Around Champion at Berkeley.
Assuming next year's tournament isn't scheduled after my birthday, this *should* be doable, if I nag Master Chen enough. I already have Nanquan and Nandao, and even if my Nangun form isn't competition-length yet, at least I've worked on that skillset. So, all I *really* need to learn from scratch is an additional empty hand form. My odds of winning the title are probably close to zero, but it'd be so fantastic to simply be able to say that I went for it.
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Date: 2010-04-30 04:02 am (UTC)This has needed to happen for what, ten YEARS? I think this year may be the one.
You know always got a place to stay in Tokyo. :>