Community service comes in all shapes and sizes

When I said that I wanted to do something meaningful for society, I did not have anything particular in mind. So when I got the opportunity today to do some volunteer work, I jumped on it. A new plan came to mind. I will do 30 hours of volunteer work this year and count that as helping society. I usually buy things for less fortunate people around Christmas time but giving my time is a nice new goal. I can do a soup kitchen or a charity event or anything that needs my time and energy. Today I did 5 hours of work with some friends at a local state forest. Basically everyone got in big 4 wheel drive Jeeps and went deep into the woods and picked up other peoples trash. I was hoping the experience would jump start my helping spirit. All it really did, though, was anger me that people are doing such stupid things and then just littering them all over the forest because they know they will get away with it and someone else will clean it up. Cleaning up after druggie litterers wasn't really what I had in mind when I said helping society but at least I did something for someone else (which is the point of community service volunteering). The environment and the forest rangers thanked me. Next time I volunteer my time I will pick a different community service to get a well rounded experience. This goal is definitely not complete yet, but it is started and it has a much clearer directions now. I'll keep you posted as I do more. 5 hours of volunteer work down, at least 25 to go.

Enjoy the ride

When I was younger I wanted a tattoo but my mom was against it and I was too chicken to get one. Last year I decided what I wanted to get (a phrase my dad wrote to me on my 18th birthday and a reminder to enjoy life) and was prepared to get it. My dad pointed out that I was almost 30 so I might as well wait until my birthday and make it a treat for the milestone. I figured that was a good idea because then I went a solid year with the idea in my head. The time is finally here. My brother took me to the tattoo shop in Philly as a birthday gift. I was excited but prepared for it to hurt. I was pleasantly surprised by how little it hurt and how quickly it was done.

I'm very happy with the end result!

 

 Here it is the day I got it.

This is me and the artist. My brother's friend is in the background.

 

 

Goal accomplished: Get a tattoo--check! 27 to go! 

Go big or go home

I have always loved Porsches. Boxsters are my favorite! I don't know why I love them so much, but I do. I have sat in them at the Auto Show a few times. I also got to ride in one when I was 17 because my cousins boyfriend owned one. From then on, I've always wanted to drive one. Yesterday I rented myself a 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder. I spent the whole day just driving around. It was amazing!

 

Here I am in the drivers seat.

 This is the car. There is still snow on the ground, but not on the road so it didn't stop me.

 

 

Goal accomplished: Drive a Porsche--check! 2 down!

Been There, Done That

When I started seeing bucket lists online and thinking about my own, I quickly realized that I had done a lot of things already.  It seemed logical to me to start my goals with "making a list of 30 things you have accomplished before turning 30." (thanks to my friend for thinking of this idea) So here it goes...

1. Gone parasailing, jetskiing, waterskiing, and surfing (all one time things, but all fun)
2. Read the classic novels (One summer I decided to reread all of the books I read in high school)
3. Been in a commercial (I wanted to be on real tv or in a movie but I was in an internet commercial so I am counting it)
4. Got my name on a plaque (It is in my high schools courtyard. Check it out next time you are there)
5. Been in a parade (One year me and my dad tried to go to as many parades as we could in a year, then I volunteered as a balloon handler in the Thanksgiving parade)
6. Learned to drive a motorcycle (The day I graduated grad school I said "now what am I going to do?" and my parents said "something you enjoy" and that was that)
7. Played the piano (My roommate and I did this together as a New Years resolution one year)
8. Gotten my masters degree
9. Been to 18 states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan (Michigan was only for a few hours but it counts)
10. Been zip lining (and a belay)
11. Learned to be a barista (I hated the job but the skill is nice to have)
12. Climbed the steps up the Statue of Liberty
13. Been to the Brickyard (when I was in 4th grade)
14. Been to a World Series game (when the Phillies played the Blue Jays and it rained for the entire night)
15. Watched the sunrise over the ocean (yay East coast living)
16. Seen the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller center (with college friends)
17. Won a sandcastle contest (in Florida with my friend at the time)
18. Seen a Broadway show (I wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. Next time maybe a musical)
19. Flown in a bi-plane (for Fathers Day 2 years ago)
20. Climbed a mountain (with my Uncle when we went to visit him in Nevada)
21. Run a 10K (It felt like torture at the time, but I was happy when I finished it)
22. Witnessed the change of a millennium (My great grandchildren will probably find this more exciting than any of you reading this now)
23. Rode a horse (Did not enjoy it. If the animal wants to go left and I want to go right, who has the power)
24. Seen a shooting star and found a four leaf clover (I can still remember exactly where it was in the field too)
25. Gone snorkeling (Don't worry, I didn't see anything dangerous)
26. Volunteered to help the less fortunate (every year at Christmas time and once for Habitat)
27. Seen a professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey game
28. Gotten slimed (ah, the joys of being a teacher)
29. Seen the Brady Bunch house (Its in California)
30. Been chosen as a volunteer in a Disney World show (I don't remember the name of it but I had to put on a huge jumpsuit and they dumped water on me as part of one of the shows. It was in a pretend boat at MGM)

And just for your curiosity, the things I have no desire to ever do...
Run a marathon (see #21 above)
Go on a cruise (Im claustrophobic and get sea sick, plus we have all seen Titanic)
Jump out of a plane (no thanks!)


There you have it! Goal accomplished: List 30 things you have done before turning 30--check! One down, 29 to go!

The List

I don't have 30 things on the list yet. But since its time to start crossing some off, I decided to start with what I had. I can add more as I think of them or as people suggest them. So far some friends have already given me some ideas. They said... 

• Learn a dance
• Make a $30 donation to a charity
• Make a list of 30 accomplishments done before 30

I am going to add those to my own ideas. In no particular order...

• Touch my toes
• Write a book \ get an article published
• Drive a Porsche
• Do something meaningful for society
• Get a tattoo
• Swim with dolphins
• Invent something
• Learn sign language
• Cook 3 meals without a cookbook or my moms help
• Earn a shirt with my name on it
• Go on the field at a professional baseball game
• Motorcycle to the shore

And even though these involve traveling I'm going to include them...

• Visit a castle
• Go to my ancesters town in Italy

As I complete something, I will be sure to take pictures. I know some of them seem strange, but I will explain as I go why I put each thing on the list. And remember, suggestions are welcome.

Birthday month

Its March! Ready, go!