How does one introduce a man like mysterg?
Do you talk about his candor? The way it seeps and slips into his posts, slowly revealing the writer behind the mystery, although we may never, in fact, learn his real name.
Do you introduce him as a new(ish) blogger? Opening him up to wonderful and fresh readers, although he, in a short time, has amassed a loyal group of readers and supporters himself.
Or do you comment about the body of work on his blog? The way it has grown and shaped itself over the last few months to become one of the very first blogs we seek to fetch from our Google readers, accompanied by our morning coffee (as I do) or an evening class of merlot (as I also do… several times… you don’t?)
How does one introduce a man like mysterg? You. Tell. Me.
I am thrilled, if not over the moon right now, to have him over at my place today. Without further ado, my friends, I give you the author of Meditations In An Emergency, mysterg!
***
I hate lists. Perhaps it is my inner-Jew coming out. Or perhaps it is because they serve as a reminder of commitment, and whilst I’m maturing like a fine wine with age, when it comes to commitment I can still put Chandler Bing to shame.
However…
I discovered reinventing sandyb a few months ago and something about her blog connected with me. Perhaps it was the promise of pictures of her at a nudist beach that were never forthcoming. Or perhaps it was that despite my fear of commitment, I’m a sucker for a girl in a wedding dress, especially if there’s even the slightest chance of making them even more of a blushing bride…
However, more likely, it was a combination of starting my own reflective blog and the impending deadline of my 30th birthday in eighteen months that made me start giving serious consideration to making a list of my own.
Now, I’ve already achieved quite a lot on the list in my head, either through luck or by hard work. But there is still plenty more I want to achieve. However my list is going to have to run until my 40th birthday, because with a year of travel due to commence shortly, I neither have the time or the money to complete everything before I’m 30.
So, without any further ado, I present my list:
1.) Travel into Space or Become an Astronaut
2.) Fly in a Harrier Jump Jet
3.) Take flying lessons (plane or helicopter)
4.) Travel around the world
5.) Live and work abroad for (at least) one year
6.) Become fluent in another language
7.) Write and publish a novel
8.) Write, direct and produce a feature film
9.) Complete my PhD
10.) Skydive
11.) Ride the Cyclone at Coney Island
12.) Play a game of football at my team’s stadium
13.) Meet a Blogger
14.) Fall in Love
15.) Learn a magic trick
16.) Grow long hair and a beard
17.) Learn how to tango
18.) Run a Marathon
19.) Watch England win the World Cup
20.) Take piano lessons
***
[UPDATE!] Mysterg and Cheryl have started something here… I have two more awesome Lists in the que for the coming weeks (thank you!) Keep the comments and emails coming- they are loved! If you’d like to post your milestone Birthday List here, hit me back and we’ll make it happen.
xo
sb
//Meet a Blogger//
Hi!
::shakes hand::
I just recently published my “before 30″ list on my blog – some of the same goals as your list here (specifically the PhD and the novel). I’ve just turned 27, so I have time I hope! (But I’ve already started a list of things that didn’t quite make the cut, ready for my “before 35″ and “before 40″ lists…)
That’s great Rachel! Thanks for stopping in. You do have time before 30, but wondering, what will you do before your next birthday? I make a list every year on my birthday- this one just happens to be a bit more significant b/c it’s a milestone year (or so I’m told). I have one of my favorite bloggers posting her List of things to accomplish before her birthday this year. Always curious to know what people will do this year! Going to visit this fabulous List on your site now…
We have similar goals for sure – although I’m an expert procrastinator which is one of the reasons why I decided on 40!
Now thats a list. its about time someone actually has dreams that are extrordinarily rare, and difficult, yet still believe its possible to accomplish. That harldy ever happens now days.. At the rate we’re going, when this new generation of younger people mature to the mature, working level, there will be a substantially less number of people accomplishing spectacular goals..
Anyway, you should make a #21.. : To accomplish 1-20 before 40. =)
#’s 3,4,6,18 & 20 are on my list aswell. As far as the Cyclone on Coney Island.. Good Luck with that.. If you do it, then you have to sit in the back.. And have your hands up. Its the oldness of it that is terrifying. The back part is the part is the part that sticks up off the rail on the top of the hills.. When you have your hands up on that part.. Start praying.. Because when it drops.. You are sure to slip right up out that thing, and be forever lost somewhere screaming in the Bermuda Triangle. Good Luck With That.
Good Guest Post.. Both of you are marvelouosly entertaining & inspiring. Take Care.
-Brandon M.
Officially, this is one of my favorite comments on this blog- thank you, Brandon M. I’m not sure if you have a blog, but if not, you are welcome, if you’d like to post your List on here. It would be my pleasure. My email addy is on the right.
In my mind, you have to set your sights high, otherwise what is the point?
The Cyclone is possibly my favourite one – I went to New York a couple of years back but didn’t get the chance – so it’s a bit of unfinished business!
Wow, my list is pretty similar, right down to the part about growing a beard! Oh but I don’t want to direct my film, I just want to write it…sigh.
@Sandy! Are you going to tell us about your formerly missed opportunity?
@mysterg- I’ve seen you around…I think I need to add you to my reader! You’re witty, have a fear of non-flying birds (mine is the terrifying ostrich *shudder*), ambitious and love to travel- hell! I would blog-date you if I wasn’t in the middle of a dating hiatus!
Ooooh… there have been MANY new revelations about the opportunity and, although I’m itching to say, I can’t yet. It’s still going on! In due time, my friend.
So, you’re into screenwriting, too? Love that. I took a great screenwriting course this summer and fell in love with it. A whole new way to write, see the world and think, in general. I wrote three short films. One of my goals is to see one of them made, albeit low-budget, some day soon.
Does the revelation involve an illicit liasion with a stranger in your wedding dress?…if so I am your man!
I would definitely blog-date you providing you shave – I have some standards and that would just give new meaning to “running your fingers through her hair!”
Also I would love Sandy to scratch that itch…
Like brown on rice, baby, I’m on it.
Ooh good list! I haven’t got one of those.
But Mysterg, you don’t say which ones you’ve done!
(also, SandyB – I LOVE your background image!)
Why, thank you! Decided to dress the place up a little for 2010. Glad you dig it.
Having just completed the list, I haven’t completed any of them yet, but I hope to complete up to six (and a half) in the coming year.
@Sandy, I often drink wine in the evening or coffee in the morning to Meditations as well. Though I don’t want any fucking merlot!*
I think there are universal drinks that go well with certain writers. Usually when they are worthy of such drinks. (Philip Roth – Scotch.)
* I feel like an idiot, and pretentious at the same time, if you did not get that reference.
@Mysterg, I always wanted to learn to Tango. I almost took lessons, once. But then I thought “walking without falling is difficult enough.”
What, no merlot? I get it, I do… although I have dipped into the wine already tonight, so…
Fridays however, those are for gin.
Maybe we can try to learn together – if you’re not afraid of having black and blue feet?
(2) The UK have a harrier that has been converted so that it can more or less fly itself, and literally can land itself. (Not joking; try a websearch for Harrier and VAAC).
(19) No!! Pleasse dear Lord no!!! We’re fed up of hearing about 1966, oh and the next time you played Scotland you got a cuffing!!
Re girls in wedding dresses, oh yes, and more so if they look as sensational in their wedding dress as Sandy does! :D
That is AWESOME! And yes we are fed up of hearing about 1966 – so it’s about time we started to hear about 2010!
Thanks for having me gorgeous! You know, I’ve been going around encouraging other people to make their own lists in the last few days, with varied success.
Someone suggested that I should add ‘touch a penguin’ to get over my fear, so I’ve promised to take her to the tarantula house first, whilst someone else suggested I should add ‘touch a child’ to get over my fear of them until it was pointed out that that kind of thing is considered illegal…
@mysterg
Well, hello handsome! Ok, ok, “touch a penguin”? Now that I’d like to read about. As for “touch a kid”, well, I don’t think anyone gets over their fear of children, which is why we grow out of being them, I guess.
So glad, no, thrilled (!) to know that you’ve spread word of the List. It’s not just a practical thing, you know, it begins to hold value, sentiment even. I used to carry some of my early versions around with me, especially on days I felt low or uninspired. Always reminded me to ‘hang in there’ because I still had work to do, you know?
Huh!? Growing old is compulsory, growing up isn’t. :D
and THAT shall be my new mantra. xx