Whirled peas

49 things I want to do before I turn 50 on November 7th, 2011

  1. Go to France.
  2. Learn to change a flat tire.
  3. Bake a pie from scratch.
  4. Design and produce a stylish raincoat.
  5. Memorize and master all the basic yoga poses.
  6. Visit each Tacoma shopgirl and write reviews on Yelp!
  7. Have dinner at The Herb Farm.
  8. Locate and plant a Sonja rose.
  9. Plan a trip to Norway with my girl cousins.
10. Write a screenplay.
11. Take a CPR refresher course.
12. Take a swing dancing class.
13. Create more jewelry with a goal of selling it at my store.
14. Start a fashion blog.
15. Buy and customize a tiny vintage trailer and go on a tiny trailer trip with other t.t.enthusiasts.
16. Go river rafting.
17. Paint and decoupage all the furniture that has been "waiting" in my garage.
18. Create an on-line version of sonja - clothes to live in.
19. Find a place and make it home sweet home.
20. Work with Mo at Mad Hat Tea to create a sonja or shopgirl blend of tea for the shop.
21. Start writing my book on ideas.
22. Create a signature fragrance based on my favorite scents.
23. Take a pastry class.
24. Repaint a wall at the shop my favorite shade of pink.
25. Set up a tea area at the shop.
26. Arrange a shopgirl train trip to portland.
27. Go bicycling around Vancouver, B.C. (again)
28. Write a letter to my future grandchild(ren).
29. Pitch a tent at a Washington State park with wike friends.
30. Read Life of Pi.
31. Go to a Canyon Ranch type of place.
32. Volunteer at the Humane Society.
33. Teach my old dogs some new tricks.
34. Set healthier boundaries.
35. Go fishing.
36. Learn more about Chinese herbs and tea.
37. Roadtrip down the Coast to Southern Oregon.
38. Sew an apron with fabric and trims collected over the years.
39. Host a slumber party with my favorite women for my 50th birthday.
40. Sit down with my uncles Lloyd and Gene and document our family stories for the next generation.
41. Start a tiara collection.
42. Embrace technology; video camera, ipod, and whatever else Melody tells me I should be up on.
43. Update my will and do some estate planning. 
44. Hire a personal trainer.
45. Start a creativity circle.
46. Learn how to knit.
47. Create an art studio at home.
48. Grow 5 vegetables.
49. Make peace with the past.

Yoga. No-ga.

Maybe it's the Oprah factor.
That Live Your Best Life business.

Apparently that means I need to step away from the Ben & Jerry's and step up to...
Well, just step up.

So yesterday I took a step.  I joined Sparkpeople.com
It's a healthy lifestyle "tool"  It's free! 
My goal?
Eat less.  Move more.

I know what I should be doing.
It's just that the new Vogue comes.  And then the New Lucky.
And the dogs want to cuddle. And there are Trader Joe's Nutty Bits in the cupboard. 
And facebook.

This has not been a good year on the "move more" front.
Oh, for a while I was on a roll (hold the snide remarks).
I was going for daily walks with Cheryl.  4+ miles at a good pace.
Sunday w/ikes with the gang...
And then.
Nothing.

So tonight I put my big toe back in the water and did some yoga in my living room.
And had quinoa for dinner.  And drank green tea today.
And wrote in my blog.  One day at a time...

Crap!  I missed Dancing with the Stars.

Damn Oprah.

from journal to blog.

I love paper.
Given the choice of writing in a beautiful paper journal or sending my words out into cyberspace?
Give me a journal.
Maybe it's the idea of a brand spanking-new diary. 
Blank pages. A fresh start.  A new beginning.
Maybe it's a control issue.  A journal I can tuck into my underwear drawer.
Pushing the "publish" button?
Not so much.
And what if somebody reads it?
And comments?
And they are unkind?
I'm kind of sensitive.

I'm committed to paper.
Marta mocks me.
Tells me I could "sync all these up"
I also keep a little paper datebook.
And phone book.
My to do list.
All on paper. 

I also write thank you notes. And send cards for no occasion.
It must stem from that feeling I get when  nestled in between the bills and junk mail, there it is.
Familiar hand writing.  My best friend's.  My favorite aunt's.

But I said I'd embrace technology.
And commit to writing on a regular basis.
So here goes....