Enjoy where I am and what I have more

You're amazing, Laurie. I just might take you up on that list challenge...

It could be a fun-furry hat made with dollar or less fun fur and homespun held together. I am using this particular combo (from stash yarn) to make the very kitschy christmas tree (from knitty gritty tv show) since I didn't feel like rummaging through the bowels of my closet for the real (faKe) tree this year. I know you will get many of your wishes for the New Year, so I will join you in the very positive act of crossing things off the list happily succeeded! Indeed!

Linda -- I agree with that, but this is a targeted to-dream list.

It's for seeing what more your life can experience, not for beating yourself over the head with stuff you should do or should like or should do for others. It's a totally happy list!

Like if you've always wanted to play guitar, or if you always thought maybe you should go roller skating on real four-wheel skates, or if you always wanted to eat breakfast with your sweetheart at Marmalade on a Sunday. It doesn't have to be all big stuff, one of mine was about making a chocolate cake! But some of mine are big, like "Eat at the Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower."

I am all for loving life right now and being grateful for what I have. But being grateful doesn't mean you can't include more stuff to love, more experiences and people to be happy and grateful for!

I'm taking you up on that challenge, esp what I want to accomplish in even 1 year time! Good for you, you should toast yourself with a wonderful bottle of wine and just think what 2008 will bring :)

And because apparently I still have more to say about this... one of the things that makes me most grateful is re-reading my old list and seeing how much I have included in my life, how many things I have marked off. In each one's place a new dream can come alive!

That doesn't dishonor the old dreams, or mean I am less thankful for what I have. It simply means that like a big blob of gratitude, you can smooge out and encompass even more happy things.

Yes, "smooge" is a word. heheheh.

There's a whole big Hollywood movie coming out with just this listy idea as its basis. But in "The Bucket List," the protagonists find themselves old and/or at the end of their lives before they get around to doing all the great joyful things they wanted to do. We shouldn't wait that long! We should dive into life without waiting ever so patiently for everyone else's needs to be met first. Now I have to go make my list (well, that, and paint the ceiling, hang the laundry, etc).

Amie -- I love the idea of things to accomplish in 1 year's time!! I do that in my New Year's Resolutions, and I am serious about traveling in 2008. I think that all the traveling for the tour made me remember how much I love it, love airports (I know, I am crazy) I love sitting there and thinking how a little girl who used to live in a trailer is in an airport, about to fly away somewhere, and could be anyone going anywhere. That feeling never gets old for me, I love it.

I love packing for a trip and planning it and rolling my little bag through the airport. I love the guessing game, wondering who your seatmate will be or if they serve food on board or if there's a movie.

I'm a goob!

I love making those lists, though, it feels good to dream up stuff ;)

I have always wanted to make one of these lists, but I procrastinate. I guess #1 would be procrastinate less!!

I have a list too, but it is ongoing and fluid (and isn't up to 100 yet). I add things as I go, I cross things off as I do them. It's in a pretty hardcover notebook with plenty of pages, and I love seeing how things change over time and I love crossing some of the big ones off. And I have been blessed enough to cross off some pretty big ones over the past few years (including 'write a novel', now the one I'm aiming to cross off it 'get it published'!)

I LURVE lists! Thanks for the reminder that I have to update my "life list," too.

Oma's chocolate cake has made me and my friends and family VERY happy on many occasions since you posted the recipe. So your number 93 (as well as numer 1) extends way beyond your list. How cool is that, Miss Goob?

Oh Marilyn, I love that.

I so have one of these lists! I call it my Life List, and I get it out once a year on my birthday to cross off anything I may have accomplished, remind myself of what I want to do, and add any new goals. I first wrote it when I was in Middle School, so some of the goals are really random (like "meet Joe McIntyre from New Kids on the Block" LMAO), but I keep them in there because they make me crack up everytime I see them and remember how silly 12 year old girls are!

I'm going to make a Big List, too -- what a great idea! (And you should definitely go to Sedona -- it's so ... wow.)

come to the Philly area and I'll totally hook you up with Krav Maga classes! Or at least a wicked Krav seminar- if we can stop laughing long enough!

If you're serious about visiting Russia, you can take cruises that will stop in Finland as well as Russia (in St. Petersburg rather than Moscow) and that also stop in the Baltics (which are beautiful). I had a roommate who took one. I on the other hand went to another city in Russia and I honestly can't suggest it enough. It's an amazing country, particularly for people who grew up with more of the Cold War than I did.

A list might be kind of fun...I'll have to give that some thought.

Oh and did you have to tell everyone about the bonus entries? Geez, trying to win here and I just found and finished those yesterday!

Hi, just wanted to say that I'm totally LOVING your blog! Soooo fun to read.

One (travel-related) item on my list: I want to go to a mustard festival. It seems like a silly, and yet strangely gratifying thing to base a trip around.

Laurie - thank you for a wonderful post.

Now I must return to my lurking. :)

Item #'s 23-25 have also been on my "places to see before I die" list. I'm so envious that you've done them.

Yep, I'm a list-maker, too. I think it's an early sign of Alzheimer's, actually, but only in my case. (Certainly not in yours!) My mom was a big list maker and now has Alzheimer's. My sister is a huge list maker, and I'm thinking she's next in line to get it.

Anyway, I got to scratch "ride in a hot air balloon" off my list a few years ago, when a friend got a ride for her birthday and invited me. That was way cool.

I think I will definitely revisit my "places to see and things to do before I die" list -- it's been a few years, myself.... Thanks for the kick in the pants!

I know a beach in Mexico where there are waiters to bring you drinks -- and food -- while you sun yourself. I just don't know about the red bikini pants. I bet if you tip them enough though...

And now you have inspired me to write yet another list. I'm starting to think that it's a very Cancer thing, this list thing and all. My lists are usually more short-term as in within the next six months or so. I guess I get afraid that if I look too far ahead, I'll end up disappointed or something. Or I'll completely change my mind about stuff on the list. But I guess that would be OK because I'd just revise it.

I read your blog all the time and you strike me as one of the funniest, sweetest people on the planet and if I met you in real life, I'm sure I would find it all to be true.

I have wanted to make a list like this for a long time, and after your post I think I'm going to start one. You have inspired me to just do it and have fun with it. Thank you so much.

You can come to Moscow and wear a funny hat and stay at my house. And I'll teachyou some kung fu if you want. It helps with the werewolves.

Eric

"Pausing smoking until [your] 60's"? That one makes me crack up every time! I'm sure your parents cringe every time they hear it, too. Thanks once again for providing my chuckle of the day, Laurie. You are SO much more fun than my never-getting-written M.Sc. thesis about rocks. I suppose if I wrote my own list, the numero uno item would have to be "finish writing the damn thesis about rocks, already".

Hi Laurie,

I have multiple lists all going at once and update the ones close at hand most often. But there is a website (listography.com) that allows you to make lists, read other people's lists and suggests lists that make you think and remember in a very sweet way (mainly fun childhood memories). It's a website that won't ever take the place of a good handwritten list but fun to visit and use anyway. Cheers!

My comment in the form of a list:
1. OMG big big big *huge* *HUMONGOID* congrats on getting out of debt! That is so great! Please write more about it. (Yeh, I know, two words: spend less. I still want details.)

2. May I propose as a candidate for your new list:
Go to Massachusetts and see lots of extremely historic stuff including the rude bridge that arched the flood (well, look where it's located, after all, right in the very heart of Yankeedom, the poor thing can't help being rude) and also meet Lucia and Maryse and Stitchy (again) and all our knitting friends. To assist you with your #4 (presuming it's still on your new list), I will teach you all the bad French words I know.

3. Candidates for my list:
a. Visit England, France (again), Iceland, Italy, Spain, Japan, several other countries, and all the states I haven't been to yet.

b. Whenever I find myself thinking, "I can't do that," ask myself, "why not?"

c. Think, "I can't do that" more often (see b above).

d. Sell at least one knitting pattern.

4. That is FANTASTIC! (see #1).

OMG! HOW DID I MISS THAT CAKE RECIPE!?!!? THAT is first on my list--make that cake!

One question--the shortening ingredient. Is that butter or lard or crisco? I can/will do any of them, but I would need to know which.

I love list-making too, but mine seem to be more books I want to read/CDs I want to buy and the smaller day-to-day ones that keep my mind sane. I keep a more informal life list, but it tends to have a few selected items on it, rather than 100. My life seems to have been such an adventure that having just a couple of items to accomplish is enough to kick-start the universe for me. Right now I'm working on getting my CPA.

I don't know that I'd recommend this approach to anyone. It's been a lot of fun--REALLY--but as Jerry Garcia said, "What a long strange trip it's been."

Keep on truckin', Laurie.

Phyllis
:)

What an awesome idea! I will be alone for the holidays, and this list will be a really fun thing for me to do while I curl up in front of the telly with hot chocolate.

I adore making lists. I seldom look at them again, but I do love to make a list!

Phyllis -- we use crisco for shortening, hope that helps!

Lucia -- I should write about the debt thing, I wrote a lot about debt in the past and figured people were tired of it LOL. And yes, Boston is on my list!!!

And Mary in VA-- I haven't done 23-25 yet, but they are still on my list, the new one I'm making will probably have loads of travel on it too. I think I'll make my list and maybe share it and just "bleep" out the ones I want to keep private.

Dagny ... gotta love the listy girls... I'm so glad we have that gene in common!!!

Sedona! Definitely add to your list! Visit the Cathedral in the Rocks!

New years traditions, I thought you'd appreciate this. A woman I know goes into her basement on New Years eve and breaks a plate for her grievances (that's one plate per grievance), then sweeps them away and begins the year anew! That's a lot of flea market purchasing of dishes for the year, but I love the symbolism of smashing to bits your resentments, sweeping them up and throwing them away, starting clean.

My new years resolution ... start making lists!

Oh, cool -- I'll see you at the ice hotel and in Dubai, then! I soooo want to go to that hotel that looks like a sail. I came >this< close to getting a work gig over there, but it didn't pan out. I have a friend who worked over there who said that the very loud call to prayer at 5 am woke her up every morning! And that they have a six-day work week. Eek!

I make a list every year too, sorta like yours, but sorta not. I list the places I want to go, and things I want to do in 5 years, or 10. Divorce and knitting were not on any of my lists, but here I am, just like you, Laurie! (Okay, without the book tour and all!) You write 'em, I'll buy em. Yep, librarian. With luck, I will meet you in Jan, as I feel destined to win the sweepstakes! :)

It's telling when so many of your list items group around one concept. For me, it came to 30 items of smartening probably because I'm so insecure about my educatin' around all of the super geniuses 'round these parts. Maybe I should have added "102. Actually have self-esteem"!

I totally made a list of my own!! Thanks for the inspiration... I could use more goals in my life.

Jill Smolinski, the novelist who wrote "The Next Thing on My List," has a blog called, "My Life List". http://todayslifelist.blogspot.com/ Every day or so she posts about the thing she did that day. She's been doing long enough -- her latest post was #272, I think -- that she has accomplished pretty much all the big things she set out to do. You might want to read her archives.

Congrats on all the things you have accomplished and having set yourself many worthwhile goals. I need to make a list for myself; the number of years I have left is fewer than the ones I have already lived so it's time to get cracking.

I keep a list of things I want to do at www.43things.com. It's great because I can see my goal and write about how I'm doing and then cross things off when they are done. It's also inspiring to see other peoples' lists and who is doing the same things I am.

Sedona is lovely! It's a bit crowded, but if you drive around outside of town, the views are amazing. All of Arizona is really quite pretty. My favorite was the mountains northeast of Phoenix. I had to travel there for work and ended up driving 700 miles in two days, just to get out of my hotel room for a while.

I love to travel too - I just need to find a perfect friend to travel with. :)

I've always wanted to learn to play the violin, the banjo, and the guitar. Maybe I'll get around to ticking one of those off my list. Off to check out Grandma's cake recipe. :)

Must it be 100? I'm a simple girl. Ten works for me...

1.Write a New York Times bestselling novel.
2.Learn to sing.
3.Work a job with flexible hours and good pay.
4.Complete bellydancing lessons.
5.Grow a huge vegetable garden, have fruit trees and a climbing raspberry bush.
6.Buy a house to accommodate said agricultural aspirations (CAP all ready provided the dimensions for the above-ground garden pod. Thank you, auntie!).
7.Visit the Scottish Highlands, the faerie rings and regain my sense of majic.
8.Own land in the Rockies. Build a cabin with my bare hands. Live in it for a year to really think about why it doesn’t matter that I don’t know the meaning of life.
9.Raise a litter of orphaned kittens and see them adopted into wonderful homes.
10.Get a degree as a DVM or RN. Can’t decide right now…

Love this entry Laurie! I started my list this summer. #18 was to start a blog, which I did here: http://livemusingsnightly.blogspot.com/

#32 is to meet Crazy Aunt Purl.

So I entered the contest.

#12 is to forget my horrifying second marriage. Still working through that one.

Love this entry Laurie! I started my list this summer. #18 was to start a blog, which I did here: http://livemusingsnightly.blogspot.com/

#32 is to meet Crazy Aunt Purl.

So I entered the contest.

#12 is to forget my horrifying second marriage. Still working through that one.

Love ya!

Funny, I think I am the only person commenting who does NOT like to make lists. I think I don't want to hold myself accountable to it. But I have completed the things this year that I insisted, in my mind, on doing. And returned to knitting - something I didn't expect to do. Mostly I am looking to 2008 to being a better year all around. Comments on YOUR list: I recommend Sedona - and it's not too far from you. And it's hard to go wrong in Italy. There is just SO MUCH history and beauty to see there.

#23 - if you do come to Dubai....do holler. It would be an honour to meet you!

Not only have I always loved lists as a kid I would put little square check-boxes next to them so I could feel the surge of accomplishment as I check them off.

Every year for my New Years I write my resolutions on fancy stationary seal them in a pretty, matching envelope and write on the outside "Do Not Open Until Dec 31, ___(the next year)" Recently I found all of my resolution envelopes and I realized I've been doing this for 18 years! More than half my life! It's amazing to see what you thought was important a year earlier, 5 years earlier etc..

But I have been also thinking about a big Life list too...must go off and ponder...

Best post ever!

Selvedge:The Fabric of Your Life: Textiles in Fashion, Fine Art, Interiors, Travel and Shopping Nov/Dec '07 issue the cover shot is a model in a wool ear flap hat standing in front of the Ice Hotel in Kiruna, Sweden. There seem to be reindeer(?) hides over the door behind her. She has very pink cheeks.

I love lists, too! Now you have just inspired me to make my 100 Things list over Christmas vacation (I have 12 days to do that). It will be very thought provoking--thank you as always for your inspiration.

Happy Holidays!

Lesli

Congrats on accomplishing so many things on your big list!!!
And GOOD. FOR. YOU. to be out of debt! That is so awesome! I'd love to hear more about it too.
So, are you working on #2 on the old list? Hmmm?

I started one of these lists a few years ago...never finished it though. I'll have to start a new one.

Hope you have a great Christmas!

Hm.... are we "allowed" to include things that a former self wanted to do, and you did, so you can have pre-crossed-off items? Because I did a few of the things that I really wanted to do as a younger woman already (give birth, perform comedy, etc.), and the Red Line o' Accomplishment would be a nice boost....

Keep checking them off, babe!

Definitely put Sedona on your list. I lived there as a small child in the late 50s. The landscape is amazing. The town has become sadly commercialized, but they have protected most of the significant scenery outside of town.

Think of me at the age of five crossing that main drag to my father's gas station all on my own. It was once a sleepy little town far from anywhere.

January 10th will be 11 months since I quit my 2 pack-a-day habit. Thank you for being yet another role model for me. I only hope I can tell my grandkids that I did it for them (and when I start up again on my 65th birthday maybe you'll come share a smoke with me!).

:)

I think you should add Visit Alaska! You can go visit the folks in Anchorage (Trixie) and come to Seldovia (see Seldovia.com) to join us in our Tuesday night SnB. We have wine! You would be more than welcome and we have snow. Just think of all the knitwear you can pile on. Just 5-6 short flight hours away. Alaskan airports are hilarious anyhow. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Oh Laurie! Congrats on quitting smoking! That is a BIGGIE! When I started smoking at 14, I always *knew* I would not smoke past the age of 30. Why you ask? I thought old people looked really stupid smoking and at 14 - being 30 just seemed so OLD! So I quit when I was 29 - I am now 39 and am so glad I quit!

As for thinking 30 was old - NAH! I look at myself and I see the grey hairs, the stretch marks, the bags starting to appear under my eyes (Coach Bags, perhaps?) - and I remember what my not-boyfriend told me: "Baby, you earned every mile you've got! Be proud!" He also was the first person to comment positively on my grey streak ala Mrs Munster: "Don't you ever dye that grey. It makes you even more sexy and it reminds me I am not messing around with a dumb b*tch"

While I am proud in that - I am a big loser in the list department. I am in a depression right now and I decided to give up on my dreams since I am now past the age when those things should have happened. I never wanted my son to grow up all alone like I did with no brothers or sisters. I never got married and I think I am a wee bit too old to safely get pregnant - after all, we all can't be Madonna and have a fleet of doctors, trainers, dieticians, etc. I have been able to admit that I can dream again and make a list, but I just have not been able to do it yet. but I am trying...

I love reading your blog, Laurie - you are the bee's knees! And I love the puddy cats, too!!! MWAH!!!

I wanted to say a BIG thank you to Purl and the Furballs for all the joy that you brought me this year, so I made this:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1624773527

Happy Christmas you guys!!

Holy dancing furballs, Batman!

Bonnie in UK - I almost peed my pants seeing Soba, Bob, Frankie and Laurie like that!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! Made my day!!!

I used to teach Krav Maga - there is nothing more empowering. Plus you will feel So physically fit that you won't want to pick up your cigarettes ( even when you're 60) Happy listing.

I just started writing my list. And I noticed that I was putting down a lot of "little things", bake a cake, go on a hike, knit a scarf with a cable on it. And it made me pause and think about my life right now. I guess it's pretty busy, and just getting time to do little things doesn't happen very often. But I think having a list of even little things, will help me take full advantage of any free time that does pop up.

I think I'd go insane from all of the stress of trying to cross stuff off if I had a list like that.

Lists are how I get work and chores done and I don't think my life should be either!

I AM taking you up on that list challenge - it's the time to do it, I think. In 2008 I turn 50, and since 2001 most of my former life has been stripped away - time to make a whole new set of goals.

#38. If you want some pointers on Budapest let me know. I am Hungarian by marriage :) and have visited Budapest 4 times now. It is a fabulous and beautiful city with unbelievably good food. Great wine too! My husband can help with the ins & outs of the city and a place to stay.

I have been lurking for 2 years now but you have made my day many many times! Either by having a huge grin for the rest of the day or the comforting feeling that there is another goob out there like me.

Ok, I will!

OMIGAWD - that store in Mission Viejo is probably less than 10 miles from my sister's place! - WAAAHHHH!! - I wanna come to California!!!

Mom's already out there for the winter - I could stay on the couch, though....

Laurie, your list is amazing. I also think you're a mind reader -- this idea has been rolling around in my head for the past few days, and this post has prompted me to do it. Thank you!

Laurie,

I'll second the come to Alaska from apparently another Sharon in Alaska. I'm in Fairbanks it's a great state, north to south. Also Moscow, it is amazing, go to Red Square in a furry hat on a snowy day then take the train to St Petersburg, one of the great walking cities.

I remember some of the things on my list after my divorce. Like...a new pair of shoes. and a new pair of jeans. The difference, I had three kids to raise. So shoes were a big deal to me. I like reading your blog. I too, am a blog reading junkie. I'm hooked

Hey Laurie,

I once had a psychic tell me to make a list of the 25 qualities I wanted in a man- and that I had to be very specific. I made that list, and less than a year later, I met my husband, who matched about 22 of them- having blue eyes being one of the qualities I wanted in a dude, and Jay has brown. Still, she said it was important to put that energy out there in the universe, and I believe it works. List on!

Wow. You are talking my language here.

Hi, my name is Sandy, and I'm a compulsive list maker. (Hi Sandy!)

I have separate lists. In no particular order:

1. List of errands and things to-do (sub list of groceries needed)
2. List of personal goals
3. List of Christmas gifts/cards given/sent
4. List of places to visit locally
5. List of places to visit in United States
6. List of places to visit internationally (short list)

But I never did think of making a list of 100 things to do before I die. (Wait, I need to put that on my to-do list.)

My friends often joke that I stay calm in a crisis, but usually the first words out of my mouth will be -- OK. We need a plan. Then I will search for paper and pen while we compile a list of things that need to be done to fix the problem.

It's a sickness, I tell you.

But I'm pretty freakin organized!

Wow, 100 things on the list? I only have twelve but I cross them off as I achieve them and write in new ones. I get so much more done if I write it all down! This year I managed to put a big red tick by: attend high school reunion and have a fabulous time (not hide in corner being an emotional wreck worrying about being too fat/old/frumpy/dull), be whisked off to a secret location by a handsome man for a wild weekend with no kids or telephones, save someone's life, learn how to knit with dpns, dance with wild abandon, complete a series of half-marathons (walking!), make a will and sort out paperwork in case I get run over by a bus.

I'm working out some replacements. Travelling more is definitely on my list - especially a trip to Rheinbeck.

Have you got New Zealand on your travel list? What about bungee jumping, white water rafting, parasailing or zorbing? Come and see us!

Well dang girl, the next time you feel a yearnin' for the French countryside, you just let me know! We have a spare bedroom and I love to play tour guide!

Odessa is a beautiful place, too ... on the Black Sea; but watch out for the ladybugs, they bite. It's in the Ukraine, I think ... it was all USSR when I went.
I'm on my third tour ... uh ... visit to Iraq. I don't reccommend it, there's too much more of the middle east with just as much history, and fewer explosions.
And Martha? NEVER too old for some stuff ... I'll be 53 in two weeks, and I'm still doing the kid stuff(Military, Harley, travel ...), going strong. It's when you give up on it and quit that things go downhill! Hang in there!

I was given a copy of my Gram's famous (or infamous, depending) chocolate cake recipe over the summer...after reading this tonight I'm going to make one over the holidays for my kids...thanks for reminding me and making me think of Gram, Laurie...She was a character for sure! And I miss her...

You would definitely love Sedona, AZ. It's one of those awe-inspiring places to visit like the Grand Canyon. Beautiful red rock country. I went to NAU in Flagstaff in my youth and loved going to Slide Rock & Grasshopper Point for water play. There's a place there considered a Place of Power (or somesuch thing) that some people have to stand on. A visitor from Guaymas, Mexico told me about that!

I started a list a few months ago of 100 things to accomplish before 12/31/08. I'm almost half-way done with it. Woo-Hoo!

I was happy to read that ice-cold Finnish vodka in Helsinki is on your list!

You should check out www.elifelist.com It's just a cute way to keep track of the things you want to do in your life (and you can leave some of them private :) )

My son & I spent three weeks in St. Petersburg and Moscow this summer. It was awesome. If you get to the point of planning a trip, I'd be happy to share tips. The url I listed is my blog. If you check in June and July, I wrote a lot about our trip.

Forgot to add, that even though we're vegetarians, my son bought a furry hat while we were in Russia!

I went to Russia after my freshman year of high school in 1987(during the summer, so no furry hat wearing for me) and I would recommend to you to add Leningrad to your list of places to visit (as long as you're in the country and all). The Hermitage is simply AMAZING. Moscow was great too, Lenin's tomb was so interesting to see. Standing in line in Red Square is kind of boring, so be sure to bring your knitting! It is fun though to watch the newlyweds pass you by on their way to the front of the line to visit Lenin. (Seriously though, wtf. Get hitched and visit some taxidermied dead guy?)

Oh, and one other thing you should totally add to your list is to take a road trip to the Bay Area to hang out with the Bobaknitters! Boba! And knitting! It's a magical combination. :)

I am a list-maker, too; couldn't keep everything straight without my daily to-do lists. But a "100 things I want to do before I die list" is not something I think I'll ever aspire to. Maybe I have no aspirations! I do love my life, pretty much, and a lot of my wishes and dreams have come true (ride my horse on the beach, ride my horse in the mountains, ride my horse in a horse show and WIN). Some of the other things I'm doing now or have done I never dreamed would be part of my life (have my own Shetland sheep from which I spin the yarn and knit real stuff, be a mom), so who knows what the future holds!

I am a list-maker, too; couldn't keep everything straight without my daily to-do lists. But a "100 things I want to do before I die list" is not something I think I'll ever aspire to. Maybe I have no aspirations! I do love my life, pretty much, and a lot of my wishes and dreams have come true (ride my horse on the beach, ride my horse in the mountains, ride my horse in a horse show and WIN). Some of the other things I'm doing now or have done I never dreamed would be part of my life (have my own Shetland sheep from which I spin the yarn and knit real stuff, be a mom, have a blog), so who knows what the future holds! But best of luck on YOUR list; I think it's awesome that you've done so many cool things (a BOOK, lots of TRAVEL, being debt FREE, quitting SMOKING -- you ROCK!). Merry Christmas, and thank-you so much for all the fun, sometimes thought-provoking entertainment your blog has added to my life!

Some things on my Life List I have actually managed to do: I remodeled my mother's 100-year-old house, got out of debt (done, except for mortgage of course), let my hair grow long when it turned grey, and visited a number of cities on my see-America list.

A few important things I haven't checked off:

-- Visit Ireland and go stand on the shore near the village my great-grandmother left behind for a better life in America. For some reason I always picture her standing on the shore, looking westward.

-- Experience the Winter Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge, New Grange or Glastonbury Tor

-- Write a novel, my own whole entire book, with my name on it ... a whole entire book of imaginary, non-work-related, non-instructional, non-educational, non-explanatory writing.

-- Meet the Dalai Lama, however briefly.

-- Sail on a tall ship

-- Hike the entire Appalachian Trail and not just pieces of it.

One thing, sadly, I shall never, ever be able to check off my Life List ... and neither will anyone else:

Dinner at Windows on The World. :-(

Thanks for this inspiration! I posted my list - at least how it stands for now. This really made me think.

A huge CONGRATS on your one year of pausing smoking - I am approaching my 2 month mark which will be on Xmas. Never in my 18 years of smoking had I stopped this long. Thank God for Zyban.

I smell your next book!