My 30 before 30

October 21, 2012.  Feels much closer than it actually is.  So here's the list.  I fully intend to accomplish every single item on here, however I am someone who loves to make lists and rarely crosses everything off.  Let's see how I do!

1. Attend a play at either the Idaho Shakespeare Fest, or the Boulder Shakespeare Fest.
2. Go on a spontaneous date with Kevin, complete with an overnight stay somewhere.
3. Take a French class, or at least get serious about my home-study French.
4. Go to the movies by myself.  Have not done this since I've been married!
5. Take my sister on a girls-only getaway.  Somewhere she's never been.
6. End my weight loss battle.  Seriously.  Lose it or get over it sister.
7. Make a complicated, intimidating recipe from Ad Hoc at Home.
8. Master a multi-course dinner menu, and serve it to friends.
9. Grow my own herbs.  As in basil, rosemary, and thyme.
10. Purchase a hot new dress and wear it out the same day.
11. Make a piece of jewelry that I would be proud to sell.
12. Attend 5 concerts, at least one at Red Rocks.
1. Tickets purchased to see Foster the People and Mayer Hawthorne at Red Rocks on 7/3.
13. Write a novella OR a draft of my cookbook.
14. Complete a 5k - run, walk, jog, whatever!
15. Buy and eat farm fresh eggs and produce.
16. Create a piece of art for my home.
17. Buy a stranger's meal for them.
18. Eat vegetarian for one month.
19. Create my signature cocktail.
20. Play a full match of tennis.
21. Make homemade gnocci.
22. Learn how to play craps.
23. Take a knife skills class.
24. Line-dry my sheets.
25. Visit a local winery.
26. Go skinny dipping. 12/23/11 Hot Sulphur Springs
27. Read 30 books.
28. Climb a 14'er.  
29. Scuba dive.
30. Go fishing.

Dear Santa,

I've been so good this year!  Can I please have this?

Off Day

Not to be confused with Day Off.  Which it was, this time.

I am a firm believer in embracing your emotions.  When you're sad, really let yourself be sad.  Drink a martini, cry in the bathtub, shout to the heavens how life is unfair, listen to some estrogen-charged music.  Then get your shit together and move on.

When you're happy, take a zillion photographs, give gigantic grins to strangers, sit with your blinker on at a green light way longer than you should because you just can't stop staring at the beautiful sky, smooch on your husband, pet the cat so much he gives you the stink eye because he knows you're way too high on life.  Embrace it.

But what do you do when you're having an off day?  Where something is wrong, but you just can't place it?  Where you're slightly crabby, a little mopey, and not quite happy?  These are the worst days for me.  It takes a few tricks to shake this mood, and here's what I've found works best.

1.  Buy a new magazine.  Something inspirational and that you normally wouldn't buy.  Yesterday, I picked up a copy of O because the issue's cover was full of positive headlines.  Just what the doctor ordered.

2.  Look through your photographs.  I like to scroll through my iPhone.  Seeing pictures of good times is almost guaranteed to help me through the funk.

3.  Do whatever you want, just for a few hours, guilt-free.  Yesterday I sat on the porch in the sun and read O, did a little browsing at the mall, and ate some chocolate.  Nevermind the never ending list of things you're supposed to be doing.  They will still be there when your mood lightens, and you will be much more productive when you feel better.

My Off Day ended at dinner time, right after Kevin did all the laundry.  Weird.

Jack's Mannequin

Yes, yes, yes.  I cannot wait for this record.

 http://www.altpress.com/aptv/video/exclusive_jacks_mannequin_album_trailer_people_and_things

Mad Men Collection

I am longing for a piece from the new Mad Men Collection from Banana Republic. 

I absolutely love the modest, completely feminine style of the show's clothing.  Banana Republic is the perfect store to collaborate with the lead designer from Mad Men to create a clothing line.  I might have to splurge on something.  And if not, at least I have some great ideas for thrifting!

Choices

I found this on Stumbleupon.  How true.

Expensive haircut.

Gustav got his hair cut.  

Which, for the record, is more expensive than when I get my hair done.  Every summer, when I pick him up from the groomers and let him out of his carrier, I laugh till I cry when I first see him.  Which is really rude, but he's just so damn cute that I can't help myself.  And he's not even embarrassed.  He loves it.  Not having to clean the 4 inch long fur all over his body totally makes up for the trauma of going to the vet.  And I think he's forgiven me by now for taking away his food bowl the night before the grooming (he loves food almost as much as I do) and for causing him to yowl until his vocal cords were raw on the horrific car ride to the vet.  I can't call him "Fluffy Kitty" anymore, unless you count that little saggy belly as "fluff."

Jeret Peterson

I'll never forget line dancing to Tim McGraw's "Where the Green Grass Grows" with you, how you had a giant crush on my best friend but never had the nerve to ask her out on a proper date, and the pride and exhilaration I felt as I watched you land "The Hurricane" last year.  Rest in peace, old friend.

image via

Everyone has demons, and everyone battles them in their own way.  Be kind, offer support, and pay attention to your friends if they seem to be headed down a dark path.  Suicide rocks you to your core and leaves many unanswered questions.  Help is always available.