Current Mood: great!
Current Music: "Somebody To Love" by Brittany Murphy, Happy Feet Soundtrack
A few months back, I wrote an epic post which mentioned a large but unfinished list. A list which chronicled my road to being a polymath. So, as I turn 21, I commit to writing my best attempt to compile the List of Things to do Before I Die:
The Arts
* see a Broadway play (on Broadway)
X get published (the Literary Edition at Purdue University: story 1, story 2)
* take it to the next level (get published in a more prestigious publication)
* take voice lessons
X perform for a large group (improv comedy with the Ship of Fools, Elliott Hall of Music for 1500 people)
* take it to the next level (larger crowd)
X write a novel (finished!)
* improve my improv (classes, perhaps professional workshop)
* be in a rock band
* write a rock song
* dance one amazing dance (this would require some practice)
* learn the Thriller dance
Education
* attend the ISDC
* read a dozen great pieces of literature (pick from a list)
* see a dozen great films (pick from list 1, 2)
* finish my college degree (B.S. AET)
* get SCUBA certified
* use my SCUBA skills to go on a big dive
X solo an airplane (Cessna 152, 2003)
* finish pilot's license
* take it to the next level (additional ratings or types)
* have a working knowledge of a foreign language (I've got a decent start in French, and a few Spanish vocab words)
* own a patent
X conquer differential equations (I passed it. Barely, but I passed.)
X learn a real secret handshake (I can't say who or what for, though)
Skills
* basic bartending
* horseback riding
X marksmanship (target shooting day)
* light a match with a rifle shot
X juggling three things
* take it to the next level (4 things)
* learn some yo-yo tricks
* ride a unicycle
* learn unarmed combat (Krav Maga sounds good)
* acquire and utilize a slide rule
X First Aid certified
* learn to parallel park and drive a stick-shift
* learn scoutcraft
My Body
* bench press my own body weight (I came within 10 pounds in high school once)
* grow my hair past my shoulders (I came within a few inches last year)
* shave my head
* grow a beard
* get a hot shave
* donate a gallon of blood plus 2 units
* donate my body to science (this should probably go last)
* fix my eyesight
* pass a swim test (see: failure)
Adventure
X be an experiment subject (voice study)
* visit somewhere where I stick out like a sore thumb
* navigate by the stars
* hike the Appalachian Trail
* go skydiving
* drive the Pan-American Trail
* go dog-mushing
* go cattle ranching
* explore all major biomes
* swim in every ocean
* go white-water rafting
* complete a marathon
* complete the Ironman competition
* ski somewhere gorgeous (like Colorado)
* live off the grid for a month
* break the sound barrier
* call upon my Second
* witness Aurora Borealis
* live on a farm for a year
* base jumping
* go urban exploring in a strange city
* be an experiment
* hunt a deadly animal
* cross the International Date Line
* ride a limousine
* see the Statue of Liberty
X attend an NFL game (2008, Bengals vs. Colts in the new Lucas Oil Stadium)
* ride along with a cop for a shift
* fly a P-51 Mustang fighter
* drive a super dangerous road
Other
* get married
* have a family
* save a life (whether or not I did the one time is debatable, so I'll leave it at no)
X be a mentor (Andrew Blatt)
* get stoned and watch Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin
* get it on to "Let's Get It On"
X go to a strip club
X get a lap dance
* meet a celebrity
* eat a 5-star last meal
* get in a scuffle
* do the dine and dash
X be a model (Purdue brochure)
* make a half court shot
* be on the Jumbotron at a major sporting event
* own and drive a Corvette
* earn more than my father
* work a salary job
* win a unique award
* anonymously pay for somebody's dinner
X participate in a world record (Firefox Download Day 2008)
* buy a round of drinks
* disappear for a lengthy time
* complete my space memorabilia and archive collection (probably an ongoing project)
* tour a nuclear reactor, power plant
* go to a fancy premiere
X light a lighter during a power ballad (Styx/REO Speedwagon concert)
X go to a comic-con (GenCon with Alex and John)
* test drive a car I clearly am not going to buy
X make an enemy (name witheld for security purposes)
X kiss under mistletoe
* ride a taxi
* fly first class
* ride a rickshaw
* get hammered
X host a dinner-mystery party (A Taste For Wine and Murder with the SoF)
* weld something
* tie and wear a bowtie
X have dinner with a stranger
Of course, it should go without saying that I'd also like to go into space. That's my life dream. I'd rather have that than the entire list combined.
Anyway, I will attempt to update the list with completed goals, as well as adding more. I'm 21, and that's supposed to be the peak of my physical state, so I best get busy checkin' things off. Suggestions for the list, anyone?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
Not that Krav Maga isn't bad ass or anything, but I highly recommend Bujinkan Dojo or Kuk Sool Won. Both are comprehensive martial art systems. Bujinkan is aimed strictly at self defense rather than sport. Both have clubs on campus so you could get started on one of your goals if you so desire. Good luck with all of your goals. Oh, also, I don't recommend doing a dine and dash but your call.
ReplyDelete* donate my body to science (this should probably go last) --haha, I like it.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that you want to save a life, but you give blood, right? Doesn't that save, like, seven lives each time or something?
I could help you with several of these things! I own a horse, my brother owns guns (which, if I do say so myself, I'm not bad with). I have actually seen the Aurora Borealis from my house. Obviously faintly, but still.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good luck with all of that.