The List of Thirty-Eight

Happy Birthday to Me,
Happy Birthday to Me,
My Mom says I'm thirty--eight,
But my eggs think they're fifty-three.

Yes, today is my birthday. My thirty-eighth birthday. I remember in college when I thought thirty-eight was O.L.D. Speaking of college, I had a sorority sister who would receive roses every year on her birthday from her father. When she was eighteen, she received eighteen roses; on her nineteenth birthday, nineteen roses; and so on. He had done this for her from her very first birthday. I love the significance and tradition on that.

So, on this, my thirty-eighth birthday, I am starting my own personal tradition. Every year I will have a list of things I will accomplish before my next birthday. Because I am thirty-eight this year, I will have the List of Thirty-Eight. Next year will be the List of Thirty-Nine, etc. There really are no *rules* for the list except that I have to be able to personally accomplish the items.... I cannot rely on someone else to accomplish an item for me. The items have to be under my control. Also, they have to be able to be accomplished before the next birth date. As I accomplish each task, I will come back to this post and cross a line through that item. Some items may seem trivial, but they were important enough to me to put on my list. You have a criticism? Keep it to yourself and go make your own list!

So, with much fanfare, here it is (and in no particular order):

List of Thirty-Eight
1. Drink at least 48 ounces of water every day.
2. Lose 40 pounds. (Lost 12 so far...)
3. Go to my 20 year high school reunion.
4. Write 38 handwritten (i.e. snail-mail) letters to friends/family.
5. Get rid of 5 oldest cases on my pending-motions docket. (Cases remaining: 4 )
6. Go horseback riding.
7. Go roller-skating.
8. Move into house with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.
9. Pay off car.
10. Complete three 5ks (running, not walking). (5ks completed: 0 )
11. Clean out file cabinet at home.
12. Read at least 26 books.*
13. Make bed every day.
14. Pay off Amex.
15. Fix hole in bedroom wall.
16. Resign from board.
17. Write at least 10 more chapters in my book.
18. Get a mammogram.
19. Get rid of at least 10 handbags.
20. Do a tryptic painting.
21. Clean out trunk of car.
22. Donate $$ to undergraduate school.
23. Donate $$ to law school.
24. Write in blog at least once per week.
25. Sand spot on living room wall.
26. Try mushrooms (again).
27. Return file to old firm.
28. Find church to regularly attend.
29. Visit grandmother.
30. Frame paintings in storage.
31. *(Private item for GatorMan) ;)
32. Convert Julius Jones jersey to current Cowboy player.
33. Walk Matty-Dog every day.
34. Be less catty.
35. Clean out file cabinet at work.
36. Do a vision board.
37. Make "The List of Thirty-Nine."
38. Become a mom.

There it is. If I do not complete an item, it will be added to next year's list. Number 38 is obviously the most important to me.... that's the one I'm really working on....

* Books read:
(1) Twi.light by Steph.enie Me.yer (11/26/2008)
(2) New Mo.on by Steph.enie Me.yer (11/27/2008)
(3) Eclipse by Steph.enie Me.yer (11/29/2008)
(4) Break.ing Dawn by Steph.enie Me.yer (11/30/2008)
Mid.night Sun (draft) by Steph.enie Me.yer (12/2/2008)
(5) The Attach.ment Parent.ing Book by Wil.liam Sea.rs, MD (12/11/2008)
(6) Dear Birth.mother by Sil.ber & Speed.lin (12/14/2008)