Thirty Before Thirty

Part of the reason I’ve been m.i.a. from this blog for so long is because I didn’t actually know how long it’d been. You see, as we grow up, nobody really prepares us for the fact that time as an adult moves at a completely different pace than time as a child. Like whoa! One minute it’s August and a couple turkeys later it’s the middle of February and I’m freezing. It just won’t slow down. And as a result, I’m “getting older”. You know, the kind of older where it’s finally time to begin coloring my virgin locks because no matter the age of my heart, the colonies of grey hairs that have claimed a New World on my scalp are certainly rubbing reality in.

It’s not alllll bad of course. I mean, I’m getting married and welcoming the next chapters of my life. And I’m excited about it. Plus let’s be honest, my youth was a wild fun one. No major regrets or injuries. That I can remember. (Kidding, Mom)

So to commemorate my twenties I’ve come up with a list of things that I’d like to accomplish before I turn thirty. Which is in approximately 20 months, so you know, these are DO-ABLE things. And since do-able doesn’t always mean they’ll get done, I’d like to reserve my right to a “roll-over plan”. So like, if 30 comes more quickly than expected (which it probably will, ohemgee), I reserve the right to roll any incomplete tasks over to my ‘35 Before 35’ list. Because what is life without a bunch o’ lists, right?!

1. Learn calligraphy
2. Hike The Narrows
3. Get scuba diving certified
4. Coachella
5. Go on a vacation alone
6. Be debt-free!
7. NYC
8. Hike to Kolob Arch
9. Read 30 books
10. New Zealand
11. Get a piano
12. Make homemade pasta
13. Drive-Inn Movie (Sean has NEVER been to a drive-inn. Should MY feelings be hurt?)
14. Get a new tattoo
15. Audition for a production
16. Chop my hair
17. Write a song
18. Perfect the homemade churro
19. Paint a picture
20. Quit my job for something better
21. Take a dance class
22. Visit my out-of-town friends
23. Go on a cruise
24. Buy a better camera
25. Minimize More!
26. Go on a backpacking trip
27. Hawai’i with Sean
28. A vacation with my family
29. Get healthy. Really healthy.
30. Save $1,000 to spend on myself on my 30th birthday  

in which I confess my love on Valentine’s Day

By now you should know that I'm completely unreliable. I also initially began this post with "I'm starting this year by..." until I realized that, oh my hell we're halfway through February!… and how embarrassing.

Anyway, let's just skip over the excuses for my absence because six months of writer's block is hardly believable and I mean, did anyone actually notice? Anyone = anyone but you, Mom :) Actually, my dear friend Christina DID notice and, let's be honest, she's the real reason I'm turning the key and revving up this engine. It was something she said…  something about how I’m the only person hurting myself by not documenting my memories and yadayadayada and  something else about how she never regrets the things she posts but always regrets the things she doesn't post, and I was like, "Stop right there. You. Are. Absolutely. Right. What is wrong with me?! No wonder my mind is so cluttered! And where is my computer?!" So, here I am. And could there be any better day than VALENTINE’S DAY to give  my Internet Home some long overdue love? I think not.

Oh, Internet Home, I love you and I’ve missed you. You and me, we’re good together, right? Yeah. I think so too.  **hugs**

There’s so much I want to tell you. So much we have to catch up on! My brain is such a mess and it will take time, but we’ll get there. We’ll work together to clean this place up. I’m just glad to be back again. You + Me & Frank and … oh, and Sean, because oh yea… he put a crystal on it…

I know!! Just the sort of thing worth documenting.

And since I can’t make my return on VALENTINE’S DAY much cheesier, I’d just like to say on record that I absolutely can’t wait to marry him. A handful of years ago I set my sights on this guy because he was fun and he was a friend and I enjoyed him and, you know, why not? And I am so very glad that a moment of “just for fun” turned into many moments of “I don’t want to be without you” because I certainly don’t want to be without him… and thank my lucky stars I don’t have to be.

Ahhhh… It feels good to be home!

xoxo