Everyone once in a while, I get a surprise in my Inbox, aside from the usual “hey its mom why don’t you call me or come over anymore” (all in the subject heading, of course), “so and so IS NOW FOLLOWING YOU ON TWITTER” or “Make her scream with Vi@gra pharmacy##!” (you know the ones).
Sometimes, someone reaches out about making their own Birthday List and it reminds me that I’m not so crazy, and that maybe, just maybe, my little project is, I dunno, helping others a bit? I’m humbled every time a reader sends me something like this:
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*From Lily. You can visit her blog here and here. They’re both wonderful reads.
On June 12th, 2010 I will be 25. I emailed Sandy after reading Cheryl’s post. I came up with the stuff finally. So here it is:
1. Read 50 books
2. Lose 50 lbs
3. Get an Ereader
4. Run a 5 minute mile
5. Limit myself to one soda a day
6. Move to a new house
7. Relearn sign language
8. Pay off all my book fines
9. Get my wisdom teeth out
10. Get a new laptop (or netbook)
11. Visit the doctor for a check up
12. Finish the story I am writing for my friend Maryse
13. Change all the songs on my iPod
14. Stop cursing so much
15. Volunteer at my son’s school
16. Go visit my mother
17. Potty train my daughter
18. Stop being an insomniac
19. Wake up on time to get kids ready and get to work
20. Watch Moulin Rouge
Why these things? Keep reading…
#1 Part of a challenge to read 100 books in 2010 – my birthday is the halfway mark of the year
#2 & 3 My husband told me if I lose weight he will give me $5 per pound, I plan to use that money to buy my Ereader .
#4 I could do it when I was in High School, right now I think I run a 15 minute mile
#5 I drink way too much soda every day. I drink diet so there are no calories, but I am sure all those chemicals are not good for me
#6 My family needs more living space
#7 I want a way to talk to someone in my office without the others knowing what I am saying, yes I know that is so middle school, but I used to be able to sign really well a long time ago. Time to brush up on that.
#8 Word of advice – don’t ever trust your husband to return library books for you; you will find them in the trunk of his car 3 months and $200 in fines later
#9 I have been putting off going to have them out, I just need to man up and get it done
#10 My poor broke down old Dell is on its last leg – I just need to buy one already
#11 I have been putting this off too; I don’t want to go for the checkup but I don’t just have me to think about.
#12 Maryse wants a story – she is my maker and I must obey – just an inside joke; me and my muse just need to hang out more to get this done for her
#13 I should not still have the stuff on my iPod from the day I got it. I just keep adding to the madness, there is no way a lecture about Greek mythology should come right after “Figured You Out” by Nickelback which is then followed by yoga tutorial. (EDIT FROM SANDYB: I motion to remove Nickelback from the iPod altogether. Please).
#14 I have a filthy mouth I curse all the time. I am trying to instill things like saying “cheese and crackers!” instead of GD or “Jimney Freaking Cricket” instead of “Jesus F-ing Christ” and “Fishsticks” instead of the real F word. I work in a HR office. Time for me to talk like it (EDIT FROM SANDYB: Don’t be friends with people who can’t appreciate a well-placed swear word every now and again. Nothing wrong with being expressive, damn it!)
#15 I really need to spend time there with the kids, instead of just dropping son at drop off and leaving and talking to teacher through the agenda
#16 Her husband died in December; she is crazy but she is my mother.
#17 She is 3 years old, the time has come!
#18 I need to rest. Going to bed at 3 or 4 am is not acceptable.
#19 Ties in with 18. I have to be up by 5:45am and there is no reason for me to snooze until 6:30, then have to drive like I’m on fire to get everyone where they have to go on time.
#20 People at work talk about it.
So, in writing this, I have noticed that I neglect myself often and put off all the stuff until it becomes something I can no longer ignore. Time for me to pony up.
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Want to join the conversation? Drop a comment below or send me your Birthday List to originalsandyb{at}gmail {dot} com and I’ll post it here (hey, if the Internet knows about it, it’s gotta come true, right?)
