In the beginning there was a birthday and a list...

Today I turn 29... holy. shit.

Feels a little like this...

Now before you start that "Ohmygosh you're still so young!"... "Wait till you hit 50!"... "Girl you've got a whole lot of life before you!" pep talk, let me just say... I am fully aware that being less than a year away from 30 is in no way, shape, or form a tragedy nor does it make me eligible for assisted living or adult diapers. Quite the opposite. And I have, in fact, very much relished in the celebration of the anniversary of my birth or as I oddly refer to it sometimes, Uterine Emancipation Day. I look around at all the freakin' fabulous people in my life and think GODDAMN I'M LUCKY! Seriously.

In the spirit of keeping things interesting. I have concocted a list of 30 tasks adventures that I endeavor to have between now and my next birthday. Remarkably... start a blog is not on the list... but it appears that it will be a side effect of the list nonetheless.

Without further ado... Joanna's 30 before 30 list: 

1. Shoot a gun
2. Finish a quilt 
3. Have a dinner party and use my wedding china
4. Get glasses
5. Sew something I can wear, that is not a costume, start to finish
6. Finish Rosetta Stone Spanish
7. Take ballroom dance classes with Jason
8. Paint/Revamp a piece of furniture
9. Read at least two books off of the Time "10 Greatest Books of All Time" list
10. Watch 12 movies from Roger Ebert's list of Greatest Movies: The First 100
11. Learn how to use power tools
12. Volunteer for 30 hours
13. Learn to play one song on my guitar
14. Add 30 new albums to my vinyl collection
15. Ride a horse
16. Frame and hang 10 new photos
17. Go see a musical
18. Decide on a new go-to cocktail and master the making of it
19. Take the train to Hanford and get ice cream at Superior Dairy
20. Change my last name on EVERYTHING (drivers license, passport, social security card, pay check, bank accounts, etc. etc. etc.
21. Try one new recipe a month
22. Feed a giraffe
23. Donate blood
24. Mail a secret to Post Secret
25. Take a self-defense course
26. Get my wedding dress cleaned and properly stored
27. Sleep under the stars (no tent) for one night
28. Learn to BBQ
29. Buy an original piece of art and hang it in the house
30. Become a REAL baseball fan, completely understand the game and know the history.

So yes... that is my first blog post... you all have one... I read it... now you can read mine... or not... feel free to mock me endlessly in the comments... and I assure you there will be photos of me making a total ass out of myself to follow.

Cheers,
Joanna