30 Things to do Before 30

Ah, my lovely roommate has read my mind and listed her first ten goals to achieve before the glorious age of 30.  I must follow suit.  I'm afraid that even in sitting here, I've thought of at least six more...but I shall try to limit myself to ten...in no particular order:

1. Write a book.  Ok...this has been on my list since I was 6, and the original goal was before 20...but I obviously missed that goal.  And note that "publish" is in no way connected to this goal...I'll shoot for that before 40.
2. Take up piano again.  I took about a year of piano in second grade.  Needless to say, I'm a little rusty.  I know a woman here who might be willing to give me lessons...
3. Learn to swing dance.  My (little) brother and I have found a swing dance studio in our town and have received the OK to give it a go!  Someday, ballroom dancing will be on the agenda...but I can wait to learn that with the hubby.
4. Visit Europe.  I won't even be really particular about where in Europe, but my preference is London, England or Florence, Italy.  But really...I'm not picky.
5. Skydive.  I have ALWAYS wanted to do this.  I simply do not want to be the only one paying all that money to go...I need a friend brave enough to join me.  If you're interested, let me know!
6. Learn to play the guitar.  I know I already have an instrument on here, but I really would rather play the guitar than the piano; however, I have a headstart on piano, so I'll try that first.  But I also know of a single, attractive, and all around great guy here who plays the guitar...maybe I'll ask for lessons.   
7. Move out.  I've been anxious to move out of the parentals' abode since I was...about 15.  And now that I am actually able to leave at any time, I don't really want to.  However, if I don't move out before thirty...I'm in huge trouble.  My real goal is by the age of 22!
8. Parasail.  This is another thing I've always wanted to do...and I fully intend to check this one off the list during the Senior Cruise I'm going on in May!
9. Get a masters.  Possibly two...or even three.  Ten years is a long time.  I intend to start next fall and see how long it will take me.  But I never intend to stop learning.  My doctorate goal is 40 years old.
10. Vacation with my girlfriends.  Court, we talked about doing this...but I'm serious.  Before I turn thirty, we're gonna go on a road trip out west.  It can be our last hurrah before we get hitched and settled down for a life of diapers and laundry.  (If road trip doesn't work out, we could always visit Europe, kill two birds with one stone.)

20 more to come!

Oh...and tomorrow I'm going to see Wicked in downtown Chicago.  AND I have a backstage pass! 

MIAgain

In a few minutes, I will be returning to MI to stay in my old house, visit my old church, see a lot of my old friends.

I do not want to go.

Of course, I am dying to see Sparky Barchenza...but that is where the excitement ends.  There really is nothing for me in MI, and quite frankly, I am so happy in IL that I never want to go back to MI again.  I have made wonderful friends here.  I have found a church that I love, as if it were my own family.  This is my home.

Strange how quickly things change...isn't it?   

Moving

I'm packing my dorm room for the last time.

Weird.

you are what you eat...

I am a pomegranate.

I may seem boring and unattractive on the outside, but break me open and I am a million pieces of juicy goodness.  Each piece is obnoxiously difficult to break from the rind; however, even one drop is worth the effort.  I'm seasonal, I stain your clothes, I'm healthy, and I'm all the rage.

Ok...maybe I'm not a pomegranate...but if I eat any more of them, I may turn into one.

"Home"

I am surrounded by all of the things that are familiar to me; and yet, nothing around me is familiar.   It's as if I am watching a play and am familiar with the scene--the lines, actors, costumes, even props--however, the set, the context within which everything is viewed, has changed into something completely unknown to me. 

It's odd how odd I expected coming "home" to be, but it is odder still how little oddity there really is in the situation.  I am home alone, lying on my couch in my living room, typing on my computer.  Sadie is at my feet.  The phone rings--even the ring is familiar.  The lamp behind my head is the same as it has always been.  The piano is the same.  The mirror on the wall is the same. 

I feel at home. 

I guess it serves as a reminder to me that my home is not my location on the globe, but rather my location in reference to what I love.  So, for now, I am at home. 

***Fun little fact for you:  I live across the street from a pedophile.  No joke.  He's a convicted sex offender, recently let out of prison.  There were signs all over the neighborhood.  I guess the kiddos didn't stop by his house on Halloween.