Before I'm In A Nursing Home

At the rate I've been composing this list of 50 things I want to do before I turn 50, I'll be retired, on Chris Christie's timeline. I think I will offer up ten more items today.

1. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.  It's time to start shedding things I don't need or use.  For living on my own, I sure do have a bunch of crap.

2.  I have now lived in Windsor since 2002 and still know very little about my adopted home. One of my favorite sensory delights in the city is the smell of the distillery at Wisers (formerly Hiram Walker).  I have been meaning to take a tour.  This will be an easy one to check off the list.

3. Wine is my preferred adult beverage, so it would be nice to tour some wineries that are in located in Essex County.

4.  I have a bread machine.  It makes my life easy.  I want to make bread without the machine, which will overcome a slight fear I have.  This fear is less than the pie crust fear, it is still a fear.

5.  Once Andrew learns to ride his bike, a simple desire I have is to bike around Belle Isle with him.

6. This (former) English teacher has read neither Moby Dick nor War and Peace.  I now have more time for reading, so it's time to figure out what the big deal is about at least one of them.

7.  In my continued efforts to give less of my money to the corporations that are ruling (and often ruining) our world, I want to make all of my own cleaning products.

8.  Another reading goal - this time The Communist Manifesto.  I am sure that many are surprised I haven't read this.  I also have not read The Wealth of Nations because, to be honest, economic theory gives me a headache.  I'll try to read both of them.

9.  This is likely a bad idea, given my various back troubles, but I want to try a skateboard.

10.  I'm not fond of touristy stuff (except the Eiffel Tour), but I really want to ride the London Eye this fall.  I'm sure the view is spectacular.

The List Keeps Growing

Boy, 50 is a big number, but I feel pretty confident about being able to do many of the things that I am rolling out on my list.  These five make the numbers I have shared 15.  Enjoy.

1. My body needs to lose 20 pounds and to have better muscle tone.  I truly believe that I will better be able to handle the health issues that aging throws my way if I eat healthier and exercise more.

2.  Apparently, there is Family Space Camp.  We are so doing that!

3.  Go to the Headlands International Dark Sky Park. I'm a city girl, but I know that all the city lights are not good for us. 

4.  If it was good enough for Edgar Allan Poe, I've got to try it.  Not opium, I'm saving that for my 70th birthday.  I mean absinthe.  I just want a sip.

5.  Learn a card game, any card game.  Currently, not counting solitaire, the only card game in my repertoire is Go Fish.  I can never remember the rules to card games. Perhaps that can be rectified.

Five More Before Fifty

I started this series the other day, but work has been crazy busy, so I haven't even had the energy to write.  Sleeping in today gave me the boost I needed, so here are five more things to do before 50.

1.  I'd like to get involved and stay involved with some sort of community garden project. The yard at my duplex is not conducive to gardening, too much shade.  I, however, want to grow some of my own food as my own little gesture of telling Monsanto and factory farming to f-off. Plus, I might finally make some friends in Windsor. 

2. Before I turn 50, I am going to read some of my poems at an open mic poetry night.  I've already been on stage for the MOTH Story Slam.  This makes me a bit more nervous, but not paralyzed with fear. 

3. I've lost a bit of confidence in my writing abilities of late.  I can't bear to look at the novel I've written because it now sounds trite and trivial to me.  That said, it would be nice to find a little mojo and get back to writing and enter a contest - just to prove to myself that someone might like my work.

4.  An area in which I have never lost any confidence in the area of photography.  I'm no Dorothea Lange , but I have always been happy with my ability to compose a shot.  That said, I have never entered any of my work into a contest. It's time to change that.

5. Who wants to explore an abandoned building with me?  There's something enticing and inviting about a building that has been left to Mother Nature.  I understand the risks; they don't dampen my curiosity, though.

Not a Bucket List

In three months, I will turn 48.  This is a bit mind-boggling to me. In my mind, I'm still in my 30s.  Last week at dinner with a high school, we marveled at the idea that we were really only a couple of years from turning 50.  I have no idea what that is supposed to feel like. When my dad turned 50, we threw an over-the-hill party for him.   I don't feel old. I exercise far more than my parents did.  I go to concerts. I travel.

I am realistic, though. I know that my body might indeed become more and more uncooperative.  Because of that, I've made a list of 50 things I'd like to accomplish before I hit the half-century milestone.  Most of the list consists of little things, many of which I have put off from my younger days. I'd like to roll these things out over the next few days.  Here are the first five items on my Not A Bucket List.

1.  Play Let It Be on the piano. This is probably my favorite song of all time. The lyric s and sentiment have a great deal of meaning to me.  I want to be able to play a passable version of it when I need it.

2.  I want to make a pie, with a non-graham cracker crust.  I cannot lie, pie crust frightens me.  I feel like I don't have the right touch when rolling out dough of any type. I WILL overcome this fear before I turn 50.

3.  I would like to attend a weekend long silent meditation retreat.  Meditation has been a vital key to my return to health and I would like to deepen my practice.

4.  I have visited 14 states.  Not bad.  I would like to visit at least one more new state before my 50th.  Preferably one where the theocrats have not taken over the government.

5.  I want to get arrested for an act of civil disobedience.  If you know me, this requires no explanation.