Bucket list update/add-ons

It started out as my 101 in 1001 list.

Once I finished it, though, then what? I'm not sure I can come up with another 101 items. So I turned it into my bucket list.

Part of me felt I needed to complete the 101 items before I added anything to it. But I have things I want to add, so I'm making my own rules. :)

In order to keep things somewhat un-complex (yeah right!), I've decided to add items to the bucket list blog post. If you wish to see my add-ons, you may find them there. :)

RIP 101 in 1001

Well, it's over. This zany project I started in January 2007 has come to a close.

Erik asked me if I was glad I did this crazy little project ... and I am glad I have. I needed an excuse to do some things I wanted to get around to doing ... like getting back to recreational reading or writing letters to Jeanel again.

I was able to check 45 items off of the 101 in 1001 list (almost half of the list) .... not bad! I think that if I'd have been able to check every item off of my list, then my goals would have been set too low. At the same time, since I accomplished about half of them, I didn't set my goals too high either. Some of the items I *could* have done, but chose to spend my time in other ways.

Here's what didn't happen ..... and a reflection on it. In truth, this will likely turn into a "bucket list" of "things to do before I kick the bucket."

3. Learn how to speak rudimentary Italian
Well, it was well intended, but I didn't get very far. Rats.

4. Go on a vineyard tour in Italy
Oh how I want to do this! Perhaps once I get a bit better with Italian.

5. Learn to juggle
No real reason I wanted to learn this, other than it's just silly. And it'd be cool, right?

6. Earn as much from Heartland Photography in one year as I did from any previous job
Actually, this is CLOSE. In 2008, Heartland grossed more than I made at the HDN. BUT any biz owner will tell you grossing and netting things are two different stories. This is a strong year as well, so we'll just see.

7. Adopt a child internationally
Not yet, but someday....

8. Learn how to play (basic) piano
I'm a slacker. I have a great teacher, but just got busy with L-I-F-E!!!!!

10. Develop a long-term documentary project
I have an idea, I just need to get off my duff and do it!

11. Attend WPPI in Vegas
HOPEFULLY it will happen in 2010! We'll see.....I'd love to see it become a yearly event.

12. Put 10% of my income into a retirement plan
Um....let's not talk about my slacking on this front, ok?

13. Put another 10% of my income into investments
Ditto #12 here.

14. Play the stock market
I sorta do this ... I have investments so I guess I *technically* do, but I don't have a specific stock to watch/cheer for.

15. Buy a share of stock in Apple Inc.
Ditto #14.

16. Travel in Africa (again)
TOTALLY on my bucket list!!!!!

17. Become a member of a wine club
With the recent change of shipping laws in the state, I'm hoping I will be able to do this sooner rather than later.

20. Buy a gold coin
Ditto #14.

21. Eat veggies grown ONLY from my garden for one summer
We cheated and got some lettuce from the store, as well as one or two other things, but for the most part, we ate what we grew and grew what we knew we'd eat, which is a big accomplishment. Next year, I'd like to add eggplants and rhubarb to our garden offerings. We'll see ....

22. Practice yoga 2 times/week for six months
Yeah, I tried and was good for about 6 weeks, but then stunk it up. I have 2 gripes about yoga at the Y here in Salina. 1) The classes are SHORT. Like 30-45 minutes. Seriously, what's up with THAT?!?!?! 2) The times are all early morning. There's a noon class twice a week. Just not fit to my later schedule. Sigh.

24. Be interviewed on NPR
Not happened yet. But maybe someday....

25. Go to Mt. Rushmore
I think it sounds like fun, but Erik didn't want to head north this summer. Maybe next summer!

27. Join a fantasy team
I slacked!

29. Fly first class
Yeah, maybe when I go to Africa .... long flights are really when I need the extra leg room!

32. Book 20-24 weddings/year
Working on it! But 24 is our max! Mike has a growing family and eventually Erik and I will have a growing family. We're in business to run our business, not to have our business run US!

33. Take a SCUBA diving class
They offer these at the Y. I should really look into it.

34. Have something ELSE published in Better Homes & Gardens magazine
Working on this!!!!

35. Have a wedding featured in a magazine
Working on this, too!!!!!

37. Visit the center of the continental U.S.
No good excuse. We don't live too far and just haven't done it. :(

39. Finish one of my "in progress" quilts
Yeeeeeeeah. I'm a slacker.

40. Keep tax information current on a monthly basis (i.e. don't wait until the end of the year to get organized!)
Well, it wasn't monthly so far, but I started early in the year and got things organized, so it sorta counts, right?

41. Send birthday cards to everyone on my birthday calendar for one year
Um, no dice. Bad Karen!

44. Replace all possible lights in house with more eco-friendly light bulbs
There are a few more that we're waiting on to burn out!!!!!! I don't want to just toss out something that works. It would feel wasteful!

48. Take a dance class with ERB
Need to find the time and a way to bribe Erik into this....

49. Learn to belly dance
I actually signed up for the class here in town, then my schedule totally interfered. :( I should do this again. The rec offers them and they're not outrageously priced either.

50. Develop and implement a regular backup system for my computer
I back up manually when I have something to back up, know where I"m going to off-site back up, but am a SLACKER and haven't done it. I suck.

51. Volunteer as a classroom aid in a local school (to read to children)
On occasion, I'll substitute as a teacher in a classroom. That's enough chaotic children for me.

52. Document the birth of a child
Totally bummed this didn't pan out, but if anyone wants their child's birth documented, lemme know!

53. Read "How to Win Friends & Influence People"
Paul listened to this on MP3 on our way to San Diego ... I was asleep part of the time ... does that count?

54. Participate in the Bike Across Kansas
Slacker, slacker, slacker .....

56. See the northern lights
Sigh. Totally wanna do this.

57. Go to Nicodemas, Kansas; learn a little about its history
We just need to take a road trip .... it would knock out a few of these!

58. Photograph Castle Rock at sunrise
Ditto #57.

61. Read pages 1&3 of the newspaper EVERY DAY for a MONTH
So when I added this to my list, I was in Hays and there were stories on p. 3 of the newspaper. Salina has ugly ads on p.3. I probably read the paper more here in Salina than I did in Hays, but still not every day.

62. Take my vitamins every day for a month
Slap my wrist...

64. Have a photo published on Trash The Dress Web site
Working on it!!!!

67. Photograph a wedding in Hawaii
Anyone getting hitched on the islands? I wanna come!!!!

70. Go to groundhog day activities in PA!
Wouldn't this be fun? Fun, but cold!

73. Photograph a family for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Had a few "almosts" this year. I observed a session ... I feel ready for when a session comes my way.

74. Participate in a triathlon (as a team member, not solo!!!)
Maybe next year.....

75. Get my 3 a day for an entire month!
Um, yeah. Not even close. :(

76. Enter photos in a competition
I need to get on this ....

78. Get large canvas prints made
I had large metallic prints made, but not canvas prints. Sort of half done on this one. I actually know exactly which wedding photo I want as a large canvas print, just haven't had it made yet. Sigh. Slacker.

80. Go visit Bobby Ann & Vern in their winter nest, catch spring game while in Arizona.
Scheduled for this winter! Probably won't see some spring games, but will go to 'Zona. :)

81. Go to the Salt Mines in Hutch.
This would be a fun day trip! Anyone from Wichita wanna meet in Hutch?

84. Re-do the master suite in Erik's house (bedroom/closet/bath)
1 of 3 is a start, right? The closet is done .... and really the other 2 rooms only need to be painted.

87. Have an article I write published in an industry magazine (wedding/portrait photography industry)
Working on it!!!!!

91. Blog stalk a blog COMPLETELY unrelated to photography for ONE MONTH.
The thought behind this was to get me off all my obsessive photo blogs. I haven't stalked other blogs, but being my own boss now, I don't kill nearly so much time on blogs as I once did. So that's a positive thing, eh?

96. Get 2008 wedding album designs completed/to the printer/binder before 2009 weddings begin.
We totally FAILED on this one for many reasons. Let's just say my designer and I learned some valuable lessons and are on track to finish up all the 2008/2009 albums before our 2010 weddings start. :)

# 89 — Make a batch of lemonade FROM SCRATCH

..... CHEEEEECK! :)


Last night, I figured I better knock this one out before I run out of time!!!!

Here's how to make it .....

lemon syrup:
1 c. water
1 c. sugar
zest from 1 lemon

Combine over medium heat until boiling, then let sit/seep for 15 minutes.

Combine with 1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice AND 1.5 c. water; chill before serving.

Ummmmm.......yeeeeeeeeeeah. It is tasty stuff! It tastes like lemon candy. It's yuuuuummie! :)

EDITOR"S NOTE: The above recipe is the one I snagged from the newspaper ... if/when I make it again, I'll probably cut the sugar in half ...

# 47 — Floss my teeth every day for a month

.... CHEEEEECK!

I was blessed with REALLY good teeth. And when I was first taught how to floss, I actually lost a tooth in the process. So let's just say I was scarred. So now ... flossing just isn't a priority. But thanks to the trusty 101 list, it got taken care of.

Oh ... aaaaaaaand we got o the dentist in a few weeks. Last time,my picture was taken to be on the cavity-free wall. I'll be the oldest person with a photo on that wall, and if I show up and it isn't on the wall, I just might cry!

# 92 — Keep the dining room table clutter free (i.e. no Karen piles) for one month

.... CHEEEEEEEEECK another one off the 101 in 1001 list!

There were a few times I didn't think I'd make it, but overall, the dining room clutter has been reduced drastically! :)

I'm relieved I can go back to being a slob and piling mail on the dining room table. ;)

# 99 — Build a patio with the limestone; eat a dinner al fresco.

...... CHEEEEEEEEEECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is probably the item on my 101 in 1001 list I've been looking forward to the most .... well, aside from marrying Erik of course!

BEFORE:


AFTER:



Now, in case you are wondering why the heck I put some lattice up, it's to hide the stuff circled in red:


I plan to continue improvements, and eventually hang some gutter gardens there as well. I'll keep ya posted!

One of Erik's constant comments about the space was "the air conditioner is loud" .... which I do not deny .... but if it's spring or fall and we have the windows open ... it won't matter. I just wanted to high that unsightly group of stuuuuuuff.


And yes, the night we finishesd it, we ate dinner outside. :)

We have since added a new table and have been waiting for cooler weather to enjoy more dinners outside!

I'll also be moving the rain barrels onto the space ... and we'll just see how this evolves.

# 88 — Put the odometer on my bicycle

.... CHEEEEEEECK!


I actually installed it in June, but didn't have a photo to go with this post until today. What a slacker!

The benefit (to me) of having this on my bike is now I know how far I've biked. I love to just putz around and see what's going on around town. But now I know exactly how far I've ridden. :)

About 6 weeks left of this 101 in 1001 project!

Note: The dust on the previous post is from construction! Our house isn't normally that dusty/dirty.

It starts NOW!

Ok, so #92 of my 101 in 1001 list started Saturday: 92. Keep the dining room table clutter free (i.e. no Karen piles) for one month.

The dining room table is home to ... well ... my piles. I'm a piler. So is Erik. We organize things in piles. Around the house. On the bedroom floor. On the dining room table. It's just our nature. But I have to admit my dining room table piling can get out of control, so I decided to put it on the list.

After our kitchen project, you can see where my piles live:



So, if it started Saturday, then it's over Sept. 19. I think I can do it! And hopefully it will give me a new habit of not piling my junk on the table!

# 19 — Buy a new car

.... CHECK!!!!!!

Yesterday, Erik posted about our car buying experience.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


I have to admit, it was a scream to read Erik's rendition of our shopping experience.

Overall, it was ok. Not fabulous, but OK. We ran into a really inexperienced sales person here in Salina on our first trip shopping, which soured my opinion.

We sort of played "good cop-bad cop" with the sales people. Erik was jovial, friendly dude. I played tight-wad wife. I think I got pretty good at frowning, furrowing my brow and shaking my head.

Evidently the car we bought was supposed to be repaired and put on the lot for a higher listing price. So .... by taking the vehicle with hail damage, we got 45% off what their sticker price would have been. That makes the bargain shopper in me just smile. :)

So, why was this on the 101 list? Well ... I knew eventually my car would kick it. Going onto a car lot and haggling seems like a right of passage. One which I hadn't yet had. But let me say: I'm glad Erik was with me. More or less, the sales people latched onto Erik and talked his ear off, which left me to wander and check out a variety of vehicles.

# 90 — Visit Miss Susie in Independence

YAY! Glad to knock one off the 101 in 1001 list!!!!!

I have a LOT more to share about our trip to Independence .... but there are 180 photos to go through and prep for putting on this blog. :)

The reason I wanted to go visit Miss Susie is that I lived in Indy for more than 2 years .... and guess what, folks? It gets LONELY down in the southeast corner of the state. Heck, I even felt that way out in Hays. My friends + family are so far away ... so I like living where we are, because I'm close enough that I get visitors more frequently. :)

#46 — Keep my car clean (i.e. no junk rattling around in the back seat/on the floor) for 3 months}

.... CHEEEEEECK!!!!!!!!

Wow. This has been a long 3 months! Why did I ever make it for 3 months? Why not just for a month? Anyhow, throwing JUNK/TRASH over my shoulder was SUCH a habit ... my car looked like a landfill. But now I'm in a better habit of putting my trashin my purse-like-bag. So now IT'S a landfill! ;) Just kidding.

Glad to check this off of the 101 in 1001 list. Woo-hoo! 38 items checked off this list now! :)

I'm currently on "baby watch" waiting for a friend to go into labor ... so then I can check off #52.

# 71 — Tour the Boulevard factory in Kansas City

..... CHECK!


This was a MUCH more enjoyable tour experience than our Harley Tour. The biggest benefit was that tickets are booked in advance. Actually, they are reservations. The tour does not cost anything.

For booking information, please CLICK HERE. A quick side note ... the tours fill up! So be sure to reserve early! We booked about 2 months in advance .... just to give you a feel for how early we had to reserve our spots.




There was a fairly nice display inside.


Oh, and I must add that we were able to take photos and whatnot during the tour! What a treat after the Harley place ... they had 2010 motorcycles on the line, so we weren't even able to go into that part of the factory ... but we were able to see the rest, but NOT take photos. Secrets, secrets ....




Some of their beer is fermented in vats.


Of course, Erik had to give them some love ... ;)


It was full of bright, shiny stuff!





Next, to their newer building:







Check out how big these bad boys are .... oh, and on a side note ... they designed it to be as "green" and environmentally friendly as possible. :) So they made it with plenty of windows so lights don't need to be used during the day. Clever, eh?


Apparently they also planted grass on the roof of the building. Nice, eh? But they didn't show us that part ...


Check out this .... it's the floor. It's an awesome looking wood!


Their bar area ... you can have parties there. Cool stuff! If we'd have gotten married in KC, we would have MOST DEFINITELY had our wedding reception at this place!


Their place where they bottle ... interesting, eh?




Back to the pub area for a sampling before we headed out. :)




Overall, TOTALLY worth it. If you ever are in KC, or know you'll be there, TOTALLY go!!!!!! :)

Checking in on the 101 in 1001 list

Phew! I've blogged about 36 of my 101 in 1001 "to do" items. The end date is in October, so I'm trying to pound out a few more ... but I still have some completed items to blog about:

71. Tour the Boulevard factory in Kansas City
90. Visit Miss Susie in Independence

Here are the ones that are in progress:
46. Keep my car clean (i.e. no junk rattling around in the back seat/on the floor) for 3 months
52. Document the birth of a child (scheduled July 2009)
99. Build a patio with the limestone; eat a dinner al fresco.

Here are ones I think I could complete by October if I put my mind to it:
37. Visit the center of the continental U.S.
47. Floss every day for a month
75. Get my 3 a day for an entire month!
88. Put the odometer on my bicycle.
89. Make a batch of lemonade FROM SCRATCH (well, I don't have to grow the lemons!)
91. Blog stalk a blog COMPLETELY unrelated to photography for ONE MONTH.
92. Keep the dining room table clutter free (i.e. no Karen piles) for one month.

It would be a stretch to complete these:
11. Attend WPPI in Vegas
16. Travel in Africa (again)
39. Finish one of my "in progress" quilts
54. Participate in the Bike Across Kansas
70. Go to groundhog day activities in PA!
74. Participate in a triathlon (as a team member, not solo!!!)
80. Go visit Bobby Ann & Vern in their winter nest, catch spring game while in Arizona.
84. Re-do the master suite in Erik's house (bedroom/closet/bath)
96. Get 2008 wedding album designs completed/to the printer/binder before 2009 weddings begin.

If I finish my 'in progress' ones and the ones I think I can get done, it leaves me just shy of 50 tasks completed. I think right now, my goal is to get to 50!

# 72 — Tour the Harley Davidson factory in Kansas City

... CHECK!!!!!


We finally did it! I've been thinking about doing this for EIGHT YEARS and have finally done it. :)

But the down side was we had to wait for about 1.45 hours for our tour. :( They said show up 15 minutes before the tour, but they were all full .... the *trick* is go to early in the morning, but the place is not very near where Erik's parents live ... and due to Erik's later schedule and not being up early, we didn't get there until about mid-day.

If you're interested in information to tour the Harley Factory, CLICK HERE.

My advice is go EARLY so you don't have to wait. It totally stinks that they don't take reservations in advance. It would have been a MUCH better experience if they did.


Erik took over picture taking. It was hot and I was grouchy about having to wait .... so he took a bunch of detail shots. :)















I took this one:

To pass the time, Erik's dad, Vern, headed out to the car to learn how to program the radio. :)



Erik saw and took this shot ... I LOVE IT! Awfully moody + dramatic.