My boyfriend and I have some pretty cool pets. I like to talk about them. Sometimes I talk about other things. Sometimes I don't talk at all.

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I started this list when I was 15. Over time I’ve added a lot, removed a few immature ones I no longer care about, and crossed out fewer than I’d like. Here it is at it stands now.

(If you’re interested, see details for completed items at the bottom of the page.)

  • Add a purebred dog to our menagerie.
  • Attend Austin City Limits.
  • Attend Bonnaroo.
  • Attend Carnival in Brazil.
  • Attend Jazz Fest in New Orleans.
  • Attend Nuit Blanche in Toronto.
  • Attend SXSW.
  • Attend the Pie Festival in Pie Town, New Mexico.
  • Bake a heart-shaped cake for somebody I love.
  • Be a licensed scuba diver.
  • Be a mom.
  • Be fluent in Spanish.
  • Be in love in Paris.
  • Be published.
  • Build a piece of furniture.
  • Celebrate Holi in northern India.
  • Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
  • Climb a mountain.
  • Cuss somebody out.
  • Do the Canyon Swing in Queenstown, New Zealand.
  • Drive a Hummer.
  • Drive a race car.
  • Drive on the Autobahn.
  • Dye my hair an unnatural color.
  • Explore Madagascar.
  • Fill up my passport.
  • Get a gym membership.
  • Get a pilot’s license.
  • Get a tattoo in New Orleans.
  • Get drunk.
  • Get married.
  • Get my concealed handgun license.
  • Give blood.
  • Give out mini bottles of bubbles in a crowded public place.
  • Give someone a black eye.
  • Go for a hike in the Kyrgyzstan mountains.
  • Go hang gliding.
  • Go kayaking through the tidal inlets at Beachwalker Park, SC.
  • Go on a road trip.
  • Go on safari in Africa.
  • Go on vacation by myself.
  • Go rock climbing.
  • Go shopping in NYC.
  • Go skydiving.
  • Go zip-trekking in the Amazon.
  • Graduate from college.
  • Have a really exotic pet.
  • Have a spiral staircase in my home.
  • Have an entire room converted into a closet.
  • Have at least one chandelier in my home.
  • Have good posture.
  • Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
  • Keep a well-stocked kitchen.
  • Learn basic Indonesian.
  • Learn how to hotwire a car.
  • Learn how to pick a lock.
  • Learn how to shoot a bow and arrow.
  • Learn karate.
  • Learn to belly dance.
  • Learn to snowboard.
  • Live in a foreign country.
  • Live in a new state.
  • Own a home.
  • Own a pistol.
  • Own a sleek sports car.
  • Own a wig.
  • Participate in Burning Man.
  • Party in Las Vegas.
  • Party in Sweden.
  • Party on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
  • Plant a weeping willow in my yard.
  • Put a garden gnome in a stranger’s yard.
  • Release 99 red balloons into the sky in the middle of a large city.
  • Ride a big rollercoaster.
  • Ride a donkey in the Grand Canyon.
  • Ride an elephant.
  • See a movie on opening day.
  • See Angel Falls in Venezuela.
  • See the Northern Lights.
  • See the sun rise and set from the Maya ruins.
  • Set foot on all 7 continents.
  • Shop at Mercat la Boqueria.
  • Shower in a waterfall.
  • Swim with dolphins.
  • Take a Caribbean cruise.
  • Take a ride in a hot air balloon.
  • Take an Alaskan cruise.
  • Take an award-winning picture.
  • Take a trip on the Trans Siberian railroad without a set plan.
  • Take up yoga.
  • Travel through India via train.
  • Try alligator.
  • Try frog legs.
  • Try tofu.
  • Visit all 50 states.
  • Visit all 100 Wonders of the World.
  • Visit Holland during tulip season.
  • Visit Socotra Island.
  • Visit Stonehenge.
  • Visit the Athenian Agora.
  • Visit Thirlestane Castle.
  • Volunteer at a major music festival.
  • Volunteer at the Tiger Temple in Thailand.
  • Volunteer somewhere I can make a difference.*
  • Walk the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise.
  • Watch the sun rise over the Great Pyramids in Cairo.
  • Watch the sunset in Oia, Santorini.
  • Work on an organic farm in Australia.

And here are the things I’ve crossed off, in order.

  • Cuss somebody out. Age 16. Meh. (Edited age 20 to add that I’ve done this many times since. Still meh. Not sure why 15 year old me thought it was bucket list worthy.)
  • *Volunteer somewhere I can make a difference. Age 16. First at a rabbit rescue facility, then at some kind of medical office. I lasted two weeks at the rabbit place (they were impossible to get in touch with and very flaky), and a day at the medical place (boring). I put this back on the list because I don’t think I made much of a difference in two whole weeks.
  • Get drunk. Age 16. Christmas party, spiked punch, whee. And yes I was a late bloomer.
  • Get a gym membership. Age 17. Went twice. Hate the gym.
  • See a movie on opening day. Age 18. Pirates of the Caribbean 2. The projecter messed up in the middle of the Tortuga fight scene and flashed a bunch of previews over the movie. I was pissed.
  • Try tofu. Age 18. At the time I said: “Decent; didn’t spit it out so yay.” Now (at 22) I actually enjoy tofu when it’s prepared correctly.
  • Bake a heart-shaped cake for somebody I love. Age 18. Baked for Kirby for Valentine’s Day. Red velvet with cream cheese frosting. Yummy.
  • Own a wig. Age 19. Bought for Halloween Cleopatra costume. It’s cheap, but it counts. Again, not sure why this was on the list in the first place.
  • Be published. Age 20. Got my Message to Obama picture published in the official book. (http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/446172 , http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristine0089/3011519228/)
  • Take up yoga. Age 20. Did it for about a month and hated it. Too boring and made me too sore.
  • Learn to belly dance. Age 20. I really only learned a few routines. Turns out - unsurprisingly - I’m not very good at belly dancing.
  • Ride an elephant. Age 20. Rode an elephant in a circle at Scarborough Faire for $4. It wasn’t that exciting, but it was fun enough. And, um, an elephant. Someday I’d like to actually ride one as a mean of transportation through India or Africa so maybe I’ll put it back on the list…
  • Go on a road trip. Age 21. Drove to and from New Orleans with Lacy October 21-23, 2009. And I drove all of the combined 16 hours. Whew!
  • Party on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Age 21. See above. It was amazing and I can’t wait to return.
  • Get a tattoo in New Orleans. Age 21. October 22, 2009. Got tattoo #2, a peacock feather behind my right ear, done by Lad at NOLA Tattoo and Piercing. :)
  • Try alligator. Age 21. Also in New Orleans, while exploring Bourbon Street on our first night. Super yummy.
  • Ride a big roller coaster. Age 22. Rode Batman and Mr. Freeze (and all the small ones) at Six Flags. Love love love. Now I just gotta conquer the Titan.
  • Own a pistol. Age 22. Walthier M22 and it is fun to shoot. Thanks Dad!

So far I am not satisfied with what I’ve crossed off so far. Somebody help me cross a few more off!