30 by 30: The Completed List

You can find the original list here.

However, it did change quite a bit. And I am ok with that. Because of all the things I have learned in 30 years of life, one of thing that often bubbles to the top is change happens and you should probably just roll with it.

So here it is, the amended and completed list of 30 things done in my 29th year before turning 30:

1. Go to a play/live performance 

The first was The Living Gallery at a local university. It was quite impressive. I also went to a second play at a local theater that starred two dear friends in an adaptation of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Also quite impressive.

2. Become a coffee/tea drinker

I have become a warm beverage appreciator, but not addict. My favorite drink aside from everything I had in England is the Indian Chai Latte at the Forest Coffeehouse in TR.

3. Downsize my wardrobe

With losing weight it has been interesting shifting and going through clothes, but I believe that I have indeed downsized my wardrobe and likely will a little more in the coming weeks.

4. Drive to the beach and back in one day

We did this in June and I don't know why I haven't done it more. It was so fun!

5. Go to the Braves vs. Reds game at Turner Field

As well as go to all the MLB stadiums in the US, I would like to see the Reds play in as many as stadiums as possible. This make 4, with one more on the horizon.

6. Eat adventurously

I tried everything new that I was offered and ate at many new restaurants. And I must say that I really like food.

Haggis, blood pudding, and baked beans for breakfast,
if that's no adventurous eating, I don't know what is

7. Visit 3 states I have never been to

I actually made it to 8, touching ground in every state from New Jersey to Maine.

8. See 3 bands that I have never seen before live

Band 1 - the Avett Brothers, Band 2 - Ben Rector, Band 3 - The Lumineers, and just for good measure, Band 4 - Brett Dennon

The Avett  Brothers

The Lumineers

9. Ride in a cab

No, I had never ridden in a cab before. Yes, my first cab ride was in England, with a very chatty little mate.

10. Just keep running

I did my first 5k, mud run, and 2 half marathons. I think I can qualitatively say that I am a runner, even if I am running at a pace that some people can walk.

11. Stay debt free and reach personal savings account goal

So far so good on the debt free and having the number I would like to see in my savings.

12. Find a semi-regular volunteer opportunity

I have been able to volunteer at my church during the week helping with piddly office tasks that I enjoy and others do not.

13. Try out 30 new recipes

Some from Pinterest, some from Aunt Betty (you may know her better as Betty Crocker), all mostly successful.

My first scones.

 

Sweet potato pie.



Blueberry lemon cookies



These muffins were de-licious!

Baklava

14. Try as many interesting chocolates as I can

The add ins were: almond, cherry, ginger, coffee, toffee, peanut butter, pb&j, cocoa nibs, sweet potato, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, honeycomb, pop rocks, paprika, curry, bacon, orange, and maybe some others. The only one I honestly did not care for was the curry. My favorite was the pop rocks.

15. Plan an itinerary for international trip 

Success on all accounts here. It was a fantastic trip!

16. Get a new stamp in my passport

Manchester, England.

17. Rent a car

This was the first amendment, when I realized I had never done it before and had to do it last minute when some plans changed. I liked it. It is nice to drive a car that is new to you for a short time.

18. Visit 3 friends I have not seen in 3 years

BFF Leigh Ann and Alison were one trip. Jonathan and Rachel were another. And Rachael and Andy the last set. I also got to see my friend Chelsea that I also haven't seen in years. So that makes 7. Plus seeing my friend Amy and skyping with our other friend Amy whose face I hadn't seen live in 5 years.

19. Have an outfit for an interview if the opportunity arises

And the opportunity did arise and I was ill prepared, but now I have the interview outfit!

20. Climb a new mountain

Literally, not figuratively. I climbed 2. One in Maine I think called Pleasant Mountain and the other being Mount Le Conte in the Smokies.

Maine

Mt. Le Conte

21.  Travel by train

We did this in England/Scotland. Great way to travel. I wish it were a more convenient option here.

22. Join a small group at church

I am hesitant of this and was very cynical about it at first, but it has been wonderful!

23. Choose family

I rarely choose my family, it seems, living so far away. I had the opportunity to go to Mardi Gras this year and then a surprise party was planned for my dad's 60th birthday. I chose Dad and I am so thankful that I did. It was a wonderful weekend home and celebrating my dad's life and work.

24. Give up something I love for a short time

I gave up chocolate for 40 days. But I think I have eaten enough in the immediate days following to make up for the 40 days. 

25. Take the opportunity to see your favorite band more than once because you can

I saw Switchfoot 3 times this year. All of them were fantastic. And I would go again today if they were going to be nearby.

Fading West Film Screening, ATL

Music Farm, Charleston

Hangin with Jon in the balcony!

Charlotte, Amos' Southend

26. Meet a famous person

This had been suggested for the list, but I did not add it originally because there was no way that I could just make that happen. But then the stars aligned and last week I met Jon Foreman (and unknowingly John Mark McMillan) at a food court pre-show. I'm still feeling a little of the excitement from that.

Jon Foreman, my favorite since 8th grade.
He also let me know that 30s are better than 20s.
Hopefully he is correct!

John Mark McMillan, nice to make your acquaintance.

27. Go to the Biltmore Estate

I have lived in this area for over 5 years and never have I visited the Biltmore Estate. Now I have. It is quite impressive.

Richie Rich anyone?

28. Go on a hair-brained road trip

This happened in September and I would let it happen again tomorrow if the opportunity presented itself. SC to Maine in 2 days.

 

29. Read 30 books

The list will be a later blog post. Some of them ended up being children's books, but I read 30 books none the less.

30. Plan a trip to Fenway Park

The original list said to go, but the baseball season did not cooperate with my schedule. However, it has this year and I have a plane ticket to Boston and 2 tickets to Fenway Park to the Reds vs. Redsox game and free place to stay and a friendly face to visit in the month of May. Can't wait!

Now on to the next 30 years of things to do, places to see, and adventures to be had!

Just Keep Running #3

One of my goals for 30 by 30 is to just keep running. This includes a few things. One of them being complete a half marathon.

On Saturday, I did this (sort of). 

I did not sign up for a real race, partly because I didn't want to pay for it and partly because the timing of my starting the training program did not line up with any local races. 

I started running in March and getting through one mile without stopping was an accomplishment. And for some reason by April, I thought a half marathon sounded like a good idea. 

In April talk of doing a half marathon happened and I was given a training plan. The only problem was I needed to be able to run 6 miles before I could even start the plan. 

Step 1: build up to 6 miles.
Step 2: start the plan:

That happened toward the end of May. 

Conveniently, the plan was 10 weeks long and the summer camp season here is about 10 weeks long. 

Having some sort of distraction and goal during the summer outside of work is good for me and this summer it became running. 

And it all culminated Saturday with my own half marathon. 

I considered making a bigger deal out of it than I did, but I went with a rather small deal and just got up and started first thing in the morning and had my friend Steph chauffeur me back to my car.

I finished a bit slower than I anticipated and learned a few things about long runs and preparations that should be made along the way, but slow time or not, I did it.

(I think I like the calories burned the best)

 

More details to come in later posts, but I feel a little accomplished in that I (mostly) jogged 13.1 miles in one shot (there was some plodding and about a collective mile of walking) and didn't pass out or come out too worse for the wear so far. 

Bakla-awesome

Part of my 30 by 30 challenge is adventurous eating. The parameters of this are: go to a new restaurant each month, try one new recipe from a different country each month, and eat anything offered to me that is new and different.

I haven't had all that many new and different things offered but I did get to try a secret family recipe of one David J Broughton, known as the cinnamon tea ring. It was delicious.

My restaurant of choice was Greenfield's Bagel and Deli. I was running low on time to accomplish this task, so I needed something quick and easy. While out running errands I stopped in to grab a bagel, cranberry orange was my choice. As it turns out this place has a great selection of Mediterranean things and I hope to get back to try some other things on their menu in the near future.

 

My recipe of choice was baklava. I found one titled easy baklava on the Internet and thought it was appropriate for the first attempt. I researched the history of baklava a little and it is a toss up between Greece and Turkey for country of origin. Thus I am choosing to say the country this month is Turkey. Mostly because there are other Greek things I would like to try.

 

Baklava is a rather time consuming endeavor, but I would say worth it. I think it took about 2 hours start to finish.

 

While eating it, I said to Steph, 'Is this what baklava is supposed to taste like?' And she replied, 'if it's not, then I don't want baklava.' So whether it's good baklava or not, I'm not sure. But whatever it is, it is quite tasty. And maybe a little better the second day as it has had time to absorb it's own gooey goodness.

 

And with that I can check adventurous eating off the list for April. If you have any recipe or Greenville-ish restaurant suggestions for May, I would be glad to hear them!

My First Avett

About 5 years ago, my friend Kelly introduced me to a band.

The Avett Brothers.

At the time, they weren't quite so big a name as they are now, and since they have worked their way into my heart to be a close second to my all time favorite band Switchfoot. Maybe I have a thing for bands of brothers.

Last night I saw them live for the first time. And it was fantastic, brilliant, wonderful, lovely, super!

We were rather far from the stage, which has its perks, like the fact that I could actually see over the people in front of me and it was really enjoyable to watch the crowd. It was, however, lacking in energy that comes from being in amongst a group of fanatics. But overall it was a good seat.

They performed 3 of my old favorites (which was a delight as often my faves are not the ones that get played at a show) and so many other lovely tunes that were even better live.

I do wish I could have been close enough to see their faces and expressions as they sang the songs that came from somewhere deep inside them. What a thrill it would be to be in a room with thousands of strangers all singing your words back to you! Strangers that all know something about your life, but really know nothing of it.

I want to be their friend. I want to know what those words really mean to them. I want to invite them to my home because they just seemed so stinking fun!

I think it a little silly that it took me this long to see them live, but it was worth the wait. Hopefully I will see them again in the not so distant future.

Good show brothers Avett. Good show.

(And that's one of my 3 concerts for 30 by 30.)

30 Books: Book #1 [The Holy Wild]

Reading 30 books in a year is a mildly lofty goal for my usual reading speed. However, if I choose well, as I did with my first book, it should be a piece of cake.

My first book for my year of 30 by 30 was The Holy Wild be Mark Buchanan. This book was recommended to me by my friend Ashley, and I must thank her for the recommendation as it was a lovely, encouraging, challenging and just plain good book! I read it rather quickly so that I can hand it off to a few friends, but I look forward to reading it again in the future and letting it soak in a little more.

Sometimes I have thoughts that I cannot quite articulate or don't really know that I have until someone else says something just right. That is how I felt while reading most of this book. It was as if the author was peering into my soul and coming back with exactly what I needed to hear or articulate.

It may or may not have brought me to tears multiple times.

The book focuses on various aspects of God's character:
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Love
- Wrath
- Mercy
- Victory
- Holiness
- Creativity
- Wisdom
- Rest
- Glory

Each chapter uses his personal experiences in life and ministry and examples from the Bible to display God's character in a way that is so simple that I wondered why I had never understood or thought of many of the ideas before.

Here are just a few of the words that particularly hit deep down:

"What marks Jesus' disciples from His enemies is not theological acumen; His enemies often had the edge there. It's this: Disciples follow Him, bewildered as they often are, while enemies oppose Him, clear-minded though they be."
- This one spoke very much to me as the future holds many more question marks than periods as do many theological ideas, but question marks or periods, we follow, bewildered as we may be.

"God's wrath, in its worst and fullest form, is God turning us over. It's God letting us have our own way. It's God leaving us alone."
- I don't think much on God's wrath. That's too dark and scary. But this thought, God leaving us alone, is utterly terrifying. Choosing my own way, although I do it more often than not, is not worth spending eternity separated from the God of the universe.

"Books often talk about God as Creator - the maker of heaven and earth - but not as Artist - the maker of dragonflies and pussy willows. We extol His power in creation, but ignore His extravagant, exuberant creativity, His sheer inventiveness and playfulness."
- Deep down I long to be a starving artist and creator of things. Thus, the chapter based on the creativity of God was my favorite. I could write a whole post on this idea, and maybe I will, but for now just think about all the things God took the time to create that we will never see. What exactly is at the deep dark bottom of the ocean, or out in the universe floating around? Whatever it is, God created it. I like to think that sometimes, He is just showing off.

"It never comes from pushing. There are some things that only grow in stillness - or silliness - that only flourish in rest, or laughter."
- On speaking of Sabbath and resting in God. We try to push things, to make them happen on our time table, but sometimes all we need is to laugh, to be silly, to sit still, to rest. I like this.

"And faith is finally this: resting so utterly in the character of God - in the ultimate goodness of God - that you trust Him even when He seems untrustworthy."
- Bewildered, questioning, not knowing, but somehow believing that trust is better than not trusting. I hope my faith shows strongest even when He seems untrustworthy.

Those are a very minimal selection of the things in the book that stuck out and struck a cord deep down somewhere inside. I highly recommend reading this book if you need refreshed or are longing to think more on the character of God.

A List: 30 by 30

I am 51 weeks away from being 30. Here's hoping I can accomplish these mostly fun (but some challenging) goals!


Here goes nothing:

❏ Read 30 books: 10 memoir/biography, 10 novels/YA fiction, 5 challenging, 5 classics

❏ Write letters to 30 people who have significantly shaped part of my life

❏ Skydive with BFF before January

❏ Eat adventurously: try a new restaurant in Greenville each month, try a new recipe from a different country each month (and invite friends), if something new is offered, try it (within reason)

❏ Visit 3 states I have never been to

❏ Get a new stamp in my passport (repeats don't count)

❏ Go to a play/live performance

❏ Ride in a cab

❏ See 3 bands I have never before seen in concert

❏ Climb a new mountain

❏ Go to a game at Fenway park

❏ Study world geography/cultures, 2 months per continent (Australia and Antarctica combined)

❏ Complete a challenge each month (i.e. no chocolate, no eating out, etc.)

❏ Keep a gratitude notebook. Write at least one sentence a day.

❏ Take a pottery or woodworking class

❏ Just keep running – 3 days a week, Mud Run, Swamp Rabbit, Half Marathon in the fall

❏ 30 random acts of kindness

❏ 30 movies off the 100 greatest movies as suggested by AFI

❏ Visit the Cali cousins

❏ Rough draft a memoir of my 20s

❏ 5 days a week: floss, make my bed, no dishes in sink at night

❏ Successfully roll a kayak and go white water kayaking

❏ Attempt to learn djembe or another percussion instrument

❏ Reach and maintain lifetime goal weight

❏ Create a bucket list for the next 30 years to come

❏ Drink a cup of black coffee or tea once a week, at least, without becoming addicted

❏ Read the whole collection of one author (Roald Dahl or Lewis Carroll, perhaps)

❏ Cut my wardrobe in half (or more)

❏ Find the best froyo shop in town

 

❏ Drive to the beach and back in one day (with less than 3 days notice)
 
*The list is subject to change if any brilliant ideas come up throughout the year.

I would like to accomplish as many of these as possible with people, so if any sound interesting to you, let me know and we can conquer it together!