150 Things To Do Before I Die

1. Learn another language and use it regularly
2. Write a book.
3. Lose weight & get toned, and maintain it.
4. Try six extreme sports: skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, parachuting, para sailing, windsurfing
5. Perform a kind deed for five strangers without expecting anything in return.
6. Fly in a hot air balloon.
7. Volunteer abroad
8. Donate anonymously to a charity or cause to which I have a passion for.
9. Get a doctorate degree in at least one subject.
10. Learn wine appreciation.
11. Pack my bags and set out for a random location without an itinerary.
12. Volunteer exclusively in one place.
13. Try a complete, all natural body cleanse.
14. Experience an OBE. (Out of Body Experience)
15. Start a group of my choice on Meetup.com
16. Fly first class.
17. Fly in a helicopter.
18. Ride an elephant.
19. Buy a boat and learn to use it. (Sailing?)
20. Buy a jet ski.
21. Grow my very own garden and grape vine.
22. Teach English in a foreign country.
23. Swim with the dolphins.
24. Grow and eat your own vegetables.
25. Take a late night skinny dip.
26. Sleep overnight in all 50 states.
27. Backpack across Europe.
28. Milk a cow.
29. Get it on to “Lets Get It On” by Marvin Gaye.
30. Buy a house.
31. Construct my family tree.
32. Pick up and move to another city.
33. Have a past life regression.
34. Go on an African photo safari.
35. Stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
36. Fire a rifle, shotgun, or pistol.
37. Have sex on a moving train.
38. Visit more foreign countries than U.S. States.
39. Eat dinner at the Top of The Hub.
40. Sell a piece of personal artwork (maybe on Etsy, Zazzle, or Cafepress)
41. Ride a camel in the desert.
42. Start your own Psychology practice.
43. Learn to dance.
44. Shower in a waterfall.
45. Learn to play the piano, well.
46. Spend New Years Eve in Times Square.
47. Learn to meditate for periods of time.
48. Zipline through the jungle.
49. Make a camp fire with flint.
50. Horse ride through the surf.
51. Read at least once a day for one year.
52. Make my own bread.
53. Make my own pasta.
54. Randomly spend one months pay on a shopping spree.
55. Take a pole dancing class.
56. Cut your own hair.
57. Spend a night at the opera.
58. Take a random class of my interest.
59. Read the plays of Shakespeare and understand them.
60. Give blood.
61. Write a heart felt letter to my favorite author.
62. Walk a marathon.
63. Ride a gondola in Venice.
64. Learn to skateboard.
65. Earn an award of appreciation in my career.
66. Go kayaking.
67. Achieve water skiing.
68. Write a cookbook.
69. Face an underwater fear. (ex. Scuba diving in a shipwreck)
70. Swim in the largest pool in the World . (off the coast of Chile)
71. Visit the wreckage of the Titanic in a submarine.
72. Go hiking in the rainforest.
73. Go fire walking.
74. Be on reality TV show.
75. Get my motorcycle license.
76. Learn to rock climb.
77. Visit the SEVEN NEW Wonders of the World.
78. Have a child.
79. Sleep in an overnight train.
80. Break a Guinness World Record.
81. Go Dirt Biking.
82. Ride the Ten Largest Roller Coasters in the World.
83. Adopt a pet from an animal shelter.
84. Visit a concentration camp.
85. Watch a sumo wrestling match in Japan.
86. Take a tour of the White House.
87. Make a six foot collage and hang it on my wall.
88. Ride a cable car in San Francisco.
89. Drink a European beer in Bavaria, Germany during Oktoberfest.
90. Go to the Brazilian Carnival.
91. Experience Mardi Gras.
92. Participate in the La Tomatina food fight.
93. Learn to play chess.
94. Learn to make pottery.
95. Learn how to read an astrological chart.
96. Sculpt something.
97. Complete a stained glass project.
98. Keep a greenhouse.
99. Learn to make my own wine.
100. Learn to draw well.
101. Learn to sew.
102. Design something with origami.
103. Collect something.
104. Make a huge list of books you want to read, and read them.
105. Watch every movie that has ever won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
106. Watch the Greatest Movies of All Time ranked by American Film Institute.
107. Learn to say "no" without feeling guilty.
108. Celebrate my birthday in multiple time zones within one year.
109. Invest in the stock market.
110. Become a member of an exclusive club.
111. Go on a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive.
112. Own a Chanel suit.
113. Own a beach house.
114. Become a Reiki master.
115. Establish a scholarship.
116. Join a big sister program.
117. Have a terrace.
118. Join a disaster relief effort.
119. Become a certified shamanic practitioner.
120. Get your blog listed in Time Magazine's Best Blogs List.
121. Write a textbook.
122. Have Dinner in Hells Kitchen.
123. Live in the wild, kill my own food, and eat it.
124. Go to a Broadway play.
125. See a show in Carnegie.
126. Go to the Sundance Film Festival.
127. See Cirque Du Soleil.
128. Go to an NFL game.
129. Try escargot.
130. Try cheese fondue.
131. Try fried green tomatoes.
132. Eat at the Undersea Restaurant Ithaa.
133. Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
134. Cook an entire Thanksgiving meal from scratch.
135. Ice skate at the Rockefeller Center during Christmas time.
136. Go to ten different countries for New Years Eve.
137. Sit on a jury.
138. Participate in a flash dance mob.
139. Catch a foul ball at a game.
140. Go on one trip alone.
141. Get backstage at a concert/event.
142. Throw significant other a surprise party.
143. Go to a masquerade.
144. Open up a thrift store
145. Put three dollars away every single day for a year. At the end of the year, invest the money in the stock market or buy bonds.
146. Learn a new word every day, for a year.
147. Throw a dinner party for my closest friends.
148. Buy the order for the car that places their order behind me in a drive through line.
149. Learn how to drive a stick shift.
150. Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty
151. Go whale watching
152. See production of Rocky Horror Picture show.



I want everyone to know that I take number 3 very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that I just started my newest blog Tone, Fit, Maintain. I will keep this updated regularly, as I do with Live Laugh Love, and track the progress in the journey I am about to face.

http://tonefitmaintain.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading!

Dream As If You'll Live Forever, Live As If You'll Die Today

Tomorrow, my *favorite person* in the entire worldddddd has the day off with me! We had a bunch of things planned for the outdoors... but I realized that the weather will NOT be absolutely amazing, as planned.



I started to look up some new activities, and I found a bunch of awesome things... but I also stumbled upon an interesting concept: "X of Things To Do Before I Die".

"Climb a mountain, skydive, have your portrait painted, be the member of an audience in a TV show, skinny dipping in Southern France...."



I think we've all seen these lists. I hope I speak for most of you when I say that many of us have even made our own!

But I was twelve. And I was a very different person back then. My interests, aspirations, dreams, and personality have changed a great deal since then. Hell, I couldn't even tell you where my list even IS!




But you know what, GOOD!

Lets start from scratch!

I took one of the quizzes that decided how well your life was going. This wasn't measured by everyday accomplishments, but rather, how much you've done on lists such as these.

"Plant a tree, swim with the dolphins, eat jellied eels from a stall in London..."



And you know what? My rating SUCKED! They told me I better *get out* and *get going* And I realized the quiz was right! I'm wasting precious time. And for all I know, I could die tomorrow and this blog would just STOP.

I need to get on with life. I'm going to make a whole new list. I'm going to assemble it neatly and make it official. And I'm going to post it to this site.



As soon as I finish brainstorming my main one hundred or so, I'm going to immediately begin by making the necessary plans to chip my heart away. That's right! Chip, chip, chip away! And I would like to set a specific goal for myself, or rather, a minimum. On average, I must experience X amount of goals within X amount of time. I will write more on this here when I establish my main list and brainstorm the rules....

I can't believe one of those stupid, immature quizzes actually caused some inspiration in my life.


Till we meet again, dear readers....*

The Best Things In Life Are Not Things

Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky. --Rainer Maria Rilke

Intelligence is sexy.

... really. A huge turn on.

When someone thinks and knows they're intelligent... or has an ego way too large for their own good... There is nothing more unattractive. Its funny how fine a line this is.


oh, and worth mentioning:

I discussed my theory of Seniors becoming "dumber" with age with a fellow Nurse colleague and she completely agreed. She says there is no doubt about it that their brain not only "loses" it, as we all know, but they actually become dumber. It is much harder and it takes them much longer to grasp simple, everyday concepts. References? Well, shes worked in hospice settings for X amount of years. Its good enough for me. The brain is such an interesting concept. I would love to study this further.


"Many moments in life are so whimsical. So majestic. Like a fairy tale. I've come to find that instead of waiting for these moments, we need to realize that they are already happening. When we feel like we're running a marathon, stop the rush. We just have to take a deep breath, open our eyes a little wider, and see the truth behind each moment. If you proceed with a smile on your face, you were successful." -- Me.



I would love to drink out of this mug everyday.

The Power of Persuasion

Dear "ASUWISH,"

When you passed me and I read your license plate, I couldn't help but smile. I immediately thought of the book & film The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. This probably wasn't its purpose & I'm sure it refers to something else. But it doesn't matter either way. Like art, I found my own interpretation. Thank you for setting such a positive mood on my day!



Your right-lane friend,

156 AL0

In Coffee Sitting, We Borrowed Hands...

I won't peel from a tanning booth.... but the summer sun won't fail.



I'm a very spiritual person. But I'm also very impressed with facts. Groups of brainiac scientists come out with these tidbits of information that they'd like to dub as facts, and I can't help but wonder a little. Some theories make so much sense. After I rationalize the pieces, I still truly see there is room for a higher power. The earth and our entire being was probably made the way they claim, if not relatively close. And you know what, I wouldn't doubt it. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a higher power at work. If there wasn't, then what would be the point? Accidents? But if we are just accidents, then what is the POINT of these accidents? Why do they happen, and for who? It always brings us back to the question of *WHY?* It just wouldn't make sense, or maybe I cannot fathom our existence just floating amongst itself, alone, without a purpose. How can there be nothing on the outside of all of this? Our atmosphere is so intricate and precise for us to survive and live within. Even our bodies. The detail is so precise. Our circulatory system, our digestive system. It is so complex. How is this accidental? or purposeless? or both. I'm not saying that I believe there is a god or something. I'm just stating that there MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE AT WORK, HERE.



And further more, after realizing REALLY how small we are in this large piece of existence, how is it believed that we are alone? People are sound so dumb when they ramble on about how we are the only living creatures in this entire universe. Seriously? DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF OR ANYTHING! Why WOULDN'T there be anyone else out there? How is that far fetched? Why would we have all this space, otherwise? Our galaxy is enormous.... and just so we can occupy a SPECK of the entire thing?

Anyways, I think I'll become a scientist soon. Yeah, I decided that this week. Yup.


I just found out you're suppose to go to the beach BEFORE you tan in a box, not the other way around. But how would this actually prevent you from peeling in the first place? I'm so confused.

I forgot my sweater again.

I am loving life.

Very rarely, weather can become so clear. How does that just HAPPEN? Its almost like a form of fate. "Everything that is meant to be will work out perfectly" I blame it on psychic awareness.

In other news, I'm not sure if its just deafness kicking in, but its odd old people can be so dumb. It usually doesn't really start to happen until they reach their mid seventies to early eighties. Watch for it when you have to explain everyday concepts. Observe carefully.

Thirteen *mostly* Conservative Republican counties in California want to break away from the state. They want to call themselves "South California" and become the 51st state. After doing some research, I realize it kind of makes sense. They vote tomorrow.

I learned three things today:

1) Sunflowers make a room POP. It alters my mood in a snap.

2) The hardest things are easy to achieve with patience. This goes for everything. Nothing really is ever as it seems. We plan all day long for no damn reason, because we still have no idea what hand we will be dealt. Chill.

3) There is a "gay" section on Horseneck Beach in Rhode Island... and happens to be where I do NOT sit. This is probably a good thing, I don't want to get into any trouble ;)

I'm so selfish. I expect ordinary, everyday strangers to automatically begin following my blog, and yet I haven't taken it upon myself to search for my own daily read. Such a bitch. I guess I'll get on it... I want good karma, right? :) But what shall I read? Does anyone know of any worthy blogs besides my own ;)

This is completely untouched, and beautiful

Priorities, Much?

Have you ever really stopped and thought about what you're skimming when you read the online news headlines? Yahoo. Aol. MSN. What they put up is unbelievable. Its outrageous.

Is this what we, as Americans, believe "news" actually is?! Who gives a fuck about "Victoria Beckham's Baby Bump", "Signs He Likes You" or "Food That Will Keep You Thin" that you will (lets be honest) NEVER eat?! There are MUCH more important things going on in this world than how Anne Hathaway wore her hair last night. And this is HEADLINE news. How superficial can we get? Small minds.

And whats funnier is that we read these SAME articles over and over and over again everyday because the headlines are so enticing.

"Degrees you Should Have Gotten" Umm? Really? No, I didn't read this just two days ago under "Top Ten Changes of Career... *One* rakes in over 90k" on the same website. And it all tells you the same things, like how you should take a two year degree under something completely bogus that only 2% of population would ACTUALLY consider doing, and is impossible to even FIND a job IN.

"Ways to Improve Your Credit Score". This one comes out at LEAST once a week... Yes I really need to know how to jack up my status with these loan companies, just to buy another car and house. Please, I'd love to stay in debt until the day I croak and they find my stagnant body under my desk in my cubicle.

The only reason we keep rereading this shit (especially the superficial stuff) is because a) guilty pleasures, sometimes we are curious about whats going on with that star even if we don't want to admit it b) we believe that it will deliver fresh news since they phrase the title a little differently c) we DO realize its the same article, but somehow trust that we've somehow found new information, or at that, something that we may not already know.


But no. We already do, usually know this information. And all thats actually thrown together in these one page documents are fluff... and we later find ourselves completely let down as we click out of the box. The next day, we're back for more.

Let's talk about something a little more important.

Summer Nights

Beach... Cookout... all we seem to need now is a fruity bottle of wine! Nay, we need not go overboard. They say everything is good, in moderation...



... but whatever. ;)


I want boat shoes. They're so dorky, but so cute.





They'd look great with a nice pair of ripped jeans. & I dunno why it took me so many years to realize it.

ho hummm

On Facebook, do you ever click on someone's name or their status update... just to regret it 0.05 seconds later because you realize the only reason you even considered caring was because you were THAT bored? That happened to me about five minutes ago. Oh wait, just kidding. That happens to me EVERY day. At least once. Speaking of, I think its a portion of the reason for starting this blog in the first place. I spend way too much time on the internet because my job entails it... I mean gosh, I need SOMETHING to do besides writing up work orders and smiling till my fucking face falls off.

But anyways, seriously. I honestly don't even CARE about more than half of my "Friends" on Facebook, or any social network, for that matter. And I'm sure if you're really honest, you'll probably say the same thing. We all know we just login to see the juicy details of what happened over the weekend, or who is still, regrettably, with who. I sit on here like a zombie. I find myself logging off because there is nothing to do, and then logging back in only a half hour later just to remember why I had logged off in the first place. I need to find a hobby.

Maybe I'll start that ten foot collage that I wanted to hang on my living room wall. That'll keep me busy when I don't wanna write essays for school.

I really wish this Blogger thing had spell check. Grr.


I learned three things yesterday.

1) Finding yourself at the top of a ferris wheel on the 4th of July with the fireworks going off is a moment that is truly, very hard to forget. It is the kind of moment you really do remember for the rest of your life. Its true, skeptics. That mumbo jumbo that saps feed you is true. You will never forget this one.

2) It IS possible to make new memories out of bad ones. (see number one)

3) Be careful of what you do in a photobooth. People can see you.



Oh wait, there is spell check on here :)

Happy Fourth Of July!

I am very proud to say that this is my very first post.... EVER! WOOHOO!!

This is something I am very excited to begin because I always wanted to do a blog. I'm sure everyone says that, but I don't give a fuck about everyone else.

Yeah, so I've tried it before. But I never saw them through because the topics I chose weren't interesting enough for me to stay committed. I need to feel the need to write and I need enough room to stay creative. If I don't... Its all over.


This won't happen again because there are no rules. And one thing is for sure- this is not "What I did today" bullshit. This is about real life. Real observations. Real conversations. This blog is my brain. And what goes on in my life and what is going through my head are two completely different things and are located on two completely different planes of existance.

Also, I was going to actually keep this blog a secret from the people I know in real life, but you know what? I change my mind :D

Get ready, readers ;)

World, Jessica. Jessica, World.