Forty by Forty is Done!

It's done! Well, writing the list that is.

Now I get to start doing these things. Making this list was a great experience. I have had many conversations with people about what I should put on my list, and what they would put on thier list. There were some really fun, crazy and completly off the wall things people suggested.
Thanks to everybody that sent me suggestions, you may see some of what you suggested, or my variation of them. This list is about the things that I have once thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I did ____" or "Wow, I would love the chance to do ___". So, Instead of looking back in 10 years and thinking that it would have been nice to do these things, I am going to do them. All of them I hope... I have 9 years 1 month to get them done!! Plenty of time for a procrastinator like me!

No, really, some of the things on my list are easy and can be done soon, some are going to take some time and preparation. I look forward to this challenge, something fun, something scary for me, and a wide wide opportunity for growth!
I will post everytime I get something checked off my list! I cant wait to get started. I am going to start looking for an opportunity to do at least a few of the items this summer!
So, here is the list... Let me know what you think!

Forty By Forty List
1. Buy a house!
2. Go Parasailing
3. Lose 50 pounds (or more) and keep it off
4. Go to Italy and tour Tuscany.
5. Take a class about wines, and learn the difference between them all.
6. Learn about investments, and then make a good one.
7. Accomplish changing a tire- by myself.
8. RUN a 10K the whole way.
9. See Rockefeller Center at Christmas Time
10. Buy a pair of Red High-heels, and wear them out somewhere.
11. Set up, plan and pull off a community food event for a holiday.
12. Grow a garden!
13. Learn sign Language.
14. Have a will drawn up.
15. Visit Paris, and go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
16. Do something very uncharacteristic of myself- this one could take on a life of it’s own…
17. Pay off at least one student loan!
18. Go to my high school reunion (20 years)!!
19. Read a classic book that I am ashamed to say I have not read yet… (Title to come)
20. Get Published!!!
21. Start a family, married or not, whether it be having kids or adopting a child…
22. Buy a car, something I really, really want
23. Become PCS certified.
24. Teach in the field of physical therapy, somewhere.
25. Visit at least 3 church denominations that are different from my own.
26. Learn how to crochet, or knit, (don’t know which one I want to do…)
27. Visit 5 National Parks, or Historic sites in the USA.
28. Go One Month without eating out at a restaurant.
29. Cook my way through a cookbook!
30. Have a picnic in a park, with a real picnic basket (always wanted a full elaborate picnic basket, and reason to use it).
31. Go white water rafting.
32. Learn how to sew clothing, and make a great outfit.
33. Take tennis lessons.
34. Write the children’s book that I have always wanted to write.
35. Read a book from cover to cover in one day.
36. During a presidential election-watch all the debates, and know enough to speak intelligently about the issues.
37. Go to Time Square for New Years Eve, among all the other crazy people!
38. Take a cruise!
39. Volunteer time to a children’s charity or event.

40. Be OK with turning 40, and say it proudly. Celebrate this birthday with an amazing celebration with family and friends!

Well, There it is! Let the fun begin...

I'm Not Homeless Anymore!

I found a house for the next 5 weeks, well house is a loose term...

I have known for about 2 weeks that I was going to have to leave my apartment on Saturday, but what I did not know was where I was going to be going... That was stressfull (you know me, plan plan plan...)

I am going to be staying at the Hyatt extended stay suites, so that could be kind of fun! The fun part is that breakfast is served every morning in the main lobby, so I guess cooking breakfast is not needed anymore! Including coffee!!! It is in Las Colinas/Irving area and will definately do for 5 weeks.

I am looking forward to not having to vacuum or really "clean" the room myself. I may have to stay there longer than 5 weeks. Thank you Sara and Austin for offering your guest room, but I think I will go somewhere that is going to cook breakfast for me!! Griffin is going to want to come stay with you some, so I hope that is ok?!

Keep you informed about the next leg of my journey, oh, and Sabrina- I will have pictures up of the OCH Grapevine gang up by the end of the week!

Forty by Forty List!

BY

I have been reading some friends blogs and getting some great ideas. I have one friend in particular that has been ticking away at her 30 by 30 list, and I think it sounds like a fun, and yet scary thing to do. So, seeing how 30 has passed me by already, I think I will do a 40 by 40 list.

I am going to start work on creating it this weekend! I want the list to be "realistic" but out-there. Some things that are relatively simple, and some that are going to take some effort to achieve. I have 9 years to complete this, so maybe it should really be a 35 by 35 list.... that just does not sound as good...

I want the list to include things that I have never done before, some things that have been in my mind for years, that I have always wanted to do, but been too chicken to do or just havent made time to do...

So, I want suggestions. You all know me, what do you think should be on my list?! Just suggestions, just because you send them does not mean it will make the list, but I could use some help in creating this...

Cant wait to get started on it, of course, I will keep it all posted here. Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

... ... ...

Wow, so I just stopped writing and searched for google pictures of the number 40, and looked at them, then realized that I am thinking about writing a list of goals to do before I turn... %$@! 40! That has to be #40 on the list, being able to say "I am ___" you know, that number that means jumping over that perverbial hill... I have alot of work to do before then!

Second Leg of the Journey

After leaving Virgina, I was off to Las Vegas for a physical therapy meeting. This was my first trip to Las Vegas and I was really excited. I stayed at the Luxor hotel, and the conference was at the Mandalay Bay. The best part of the conference was the fact that I got to present my research in a poster presentation to the entire group. This was a highlight in my career so far!

While on the trip, I took an interesting bus trip down to the other end of the strip and then attempted to walk back, by myself. That was a long, long walk but it was great to see a city that everyone in the world knows. My favorite hotel was of course, the Paris, and Bellagio. I stayed and watched the water garden show at the Bellagio twice.

As a novice gambler, well, if there is a word for less than novice- that would be me... I was worried about attempting to lose money at the tables, but had some great beginners luck! My original 25 dollars turned into 250 in a matter of 20 minutes! I called it quit after that, I did not want to push my luck. I met up with some friends from PT school and caught up at the Alumni dinner! This was a great trip.

After Vegas, I was off to Grapevine Texas. I started in my second traveling assignment, working in an outpatient pediatric facility, and I love it. I now know that pediatrics is where I belong. I love being back in Texas!! I am close to some of my oldest friends, my sister and brother in law and the part of town that I grew up with.

I have been here 12 weeks so far, in a great apartment. I applied for the full time job at the facility that I am placed at, but sadly it just did not work out, at this time. It was really a heartbreaking decision, but I had to make the best choice for me at this time in my life. So, Instead of leaving next week (as originally planned), I am extending my contract here for 5 additonal weeks. The bad news here is that my apartment was rented already, and I have to move over the course of the weekend! So, this weekend I am packing and next week moving, but to where you ask? I want to know too....

My company is still looking for a place for me, they had me go out to see an extended stay "hotel" seriously at the airport (outside the window were the Fedex planes!). It was less than great, in fact it was awful and I told them no. They are looking for something else, hopefully soon......

Me and Griffin (my dog) are just waiting for more information and having fun in the meantime.

First Leg of the Journey

So, I finally leaped into the 21st century and started a blog! This is all thanks to the ladies at work, thank you ladies! So, my purpose in doing this blog is keep everybody up to date on what I am doing, and where I am going. As a traveling physical therapist, there is no telling where I will end up on an assignment!

My first Journey started when I made the huge decision to start my career as a traveling PT and went to work for Reflectx staffing. I started the journey in a very tiny town of Luray, Virginia. I lived right on the Hawksbill creek, it was a beautiful and I had a great 4 mile stretch of paved walking trail to walk on every day. I worked in home health in this small, mountainous, incredibly rural county. There was very little to do except for walk, read and sit and watch people all day. So, all that know me are probably starting to put that together- Me, Rural area, Mountains, home health = driving (in the mountains- during the winter), did I mention RURAL... ... yea, that worked well...

Anyway, I learned alot while I was there, survived the "wilderness" and hightailed it back to civilization- next location- Dallas - Fort Worth Texas!

1st "leg" of the journey: September 2008- February 2009