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I have had lots of fun planning and accomplishing the things on my list. I have learned a lot and I love being able to check things off.

The mid-year (which was June 12th) count is 12 done, 7 planned/started, and 8 to go. Here is what the list looks like as of today:

1. GRADUATE from Library School

2. Read “To Kill a Mockingbird”

3. Visit the Newseum

4. Take a trip somewhere I’ve never been before (Greece/Turkey)

5. Take a creative class (pottery)

6. Train for a half marathon

7. Read (or listen to) Anna Karenina

8. Visit the Capitol Visitor’s Center

9. Hike Old Rag

10. Whale Watch

11. See the Supreme Court in session

12. Pansy Skydiving (Vertical Wind Tunnel)

13. Go to the National Arboretum

14. See a show on Broadway

15. Take the water taxi to Georgetown

16. Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

17. Sample a new ethnic food

18. Hike 3 miles on the Appalachian Trail

19. See an Opera

20. Visit the National Geographic Society

21. Go to Washington’s Grist Mill

22. Tour the DAR

23. Attend a professional soccer game

24. Play laser tag

25. Write a short story

26. Ride a donkey up a mountain

27. Is a secret

For the 7 planned/started: number 5 starts next Thursday; in correlation with number 6, I joined the gym at work; numbers 12 and 18 will happen over 4th of July weekend (yay for Tennessee!); 16 happens at Thanksgiving; number 23 is planned for August 22 (anyone want to come?); and I have started on number 25 (but I very often get stuck).

I think the other 8 will wait until late summer and fall.

Number 19 and an Addendum to 26

Thing number 19 was to see an Opera. I went with Jenny, Pam, Amy, and Nicole to the Kennedy Center to see Turandot last month. The third act starts with Nessun Dorma, which was the reason we chose to see this opera. I enjoyed it very much.

Thing number 26 was originally to take part in the polar bear plunge. Due to some scheduling issues with school I wasn't able to make it out to the event. So I decided to change it to "ride a donkey up a mountain." This was something we decided to do while planning our shore excursions on our cruise in Greece. I really wanted to do it but I was a little nervous since I have a small fear of falling or vertigo or something (I don't mind being up high, just being close to the edge). Honestly is was an amazing experience, definitely a highlight of the trip. The donkeys zig-zag up a wide stone path, often getting close to the edge. This is all done without a guide, the donkeys just know where to go. About a quarter of the way up, I was no longer bothered by the fear and even thought I might try skydiving next. Ha. I don't know if I actually will (why jump out of a perfectly good airplane), but riding that donkey has been quite liberating. Thanks donkey!

Kat, me, Amy, and Jenny at the top after our ride.

Thing #4!

For this thing, I went to Greece with a few friends! We spent 8 glorious days traveling the country, visiting ruins, and sailing the Aegean Sea. We spent time in Athens, Delphi, Cape Sounion, and then the cruise took us to Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Crete, and Santorini. Santorini was hands-down my favorite part (when we got back, I even looked up how much it costs to get to Santorini - $2200 in case you're wondering by airplane). The whole trip was fantastic! I enjoyed all the places we went - Ancient Ephesus is a must, Mykonos is quaint. I now have a travel bug and am trying to decide where to go next. For more pictures, go here.

Kathleen, me, Jenny, and Amy in front of the Parthenon

the beautiful Aegean sea

me in Patmos

Jenny in Santorini

Several Things

So it's been a little while since I update, but I've been busy accomplishing things on my list.

Thing #17 - Sample a new ethnic food

Jenny, Amy and I went to Passport DC on May 2. Several of the embassies on Embassy Row in DC open their doors to anyone. Many of the embassies have food and music and display items from their countries. It's an amazing chance to see some beautiful places and things.

We went to several embassies including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan. We bought a plate of food at the Pakistani embassy, which was delicious. As for trying new food, we had a small plate of food at the Bangladeshi embassy. It was very good, similar in taste to Indian. Then at the Malaysian embassy we tried Air Batu Campur (ABC). They were selling it for a dollar. It means shaved ice. It contained shaved ice, red beans, corn, jelly, and cherry flavored syrup. I wish I could say I enjoyed it...

Thing #1 - Graduate from Library School!!!

I graduated from Catholic University's School of Library and Information Science on May 16. It was a great day (even with the 15 mins of rain during the ceremony) with friends and family. It hits me every once and a while that I'm finished.

Matt, Nicole, Ash, Jenny, Amy, Pam, Me, and Sara

Thing #2 - Read "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Somehow I missed this classic during my public education. I absolutely love this book. It is definitely in my top 5 favorites. I adore Atticus, and loved Scout and Jem and Dill. It was so easy to get lost in the story and the language.

There's a couple more...I'll write about them soon.