Tuesday, December 23, 2008

99 Things

I found this little game on Lori Anderson's blog. Since I'm putting off wrapping Christmas gifts, I thought I'd play along.

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars. Many times. In our younger days, we couldn't afford hotel bills, but still wanted to see wonderful places, so we camped. But, my, oh, my, that trip to the bath house several times a night!

3. Played in a band - or musical. I played clarinet and oboe in elementary and high school, was in several plays, and sang with the Chattanooga Opera until I lost my singing voice due to a serious car accident.

4. Visited Hawaii. We have been to Hawaii several times. We can't get enough of its beauty. An incredible place that no one should miss.

5. Watched a meteor shower. Several times at home, occasionally at sea which was far more spectacular.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland. We've been to Disney World several times and love it!

8. Climbed a mountain. Climbed Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Did you know that they have snow on Mauna Kea? Amazing!

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.

11. Bungee jumped.

12. Visited Paris. We've been to France several times, but there never seems to be time for Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. Spectacular! We've also been at sea during a couple of hurricanes. Loved it!

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (nearly every art/craft I've learned from scratch)

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. We've seen it several times, but never had time to climb.

18. Grown your own vegetables.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train. A wonderful, calming experience.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitchhiked.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort. Where can you find enough snow?

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a Marathon. No, and don't want to.

28. Ridden a Gondola in Venice. No, but we did take a water taxi several times to Murano and Burano. There's just never enough time in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.

31. Hit a home run. Why in the world would a lady want to do a man's job?

32. Been on a cruise. Many, many times. We try to do at least 2 a year. Sometimes we manage to fit in 4.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. A beautiful sight. Then take the road that runs in front of the falls to the left and visit Niagara By The Sea. A charming town!

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language. I know how to ask 'how much does it cost' in several languages. Ray knows how to say 'no' in the same number.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. We have plenty enough to enjoy life to the fullest, but I want to own houses all over the world and acquire tons of diamonds.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo's David.

41. Sung karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa. Loved it! We spent most of our time in Morocco and Kenya. When in a balloon, we almost drifted into Tanzania. There were men with big guns to discourage our progress.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance. Also by Life Force and a hearse. (Our little town only had one ambulance in those days and it was out fetching someone else.)

47. Had your portrait painted. I dream of having a huge portrait to hang over the fireplace in the ball room.

48. Gone deep sea fishing. What fun! I hate fish so we give our catch away, but I'd love to catch a trophy sail fish.

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person. But we didn't get to go in. The tour books didn't mention that the chapel closes at 2:00 in the afternoon. We took time for lunch and missed the chapel on our last day in Rome. Next time!

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. Have also gone swimming with those huge sting rays in the Caymans.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China. Rode a camel. It was the end of May and the trees were in full bloom, but we had lots of snow. The camel didn't like me......

57. Started a business. http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com http://www.beadkits.etsy.com
Bead Kits is just getting started. I hope to be in full swing by February 2009. Ray and I did craft shows for about 30 years, but had to give it up because of my health. Hope to get back to it this year.

58. Taken a martial arts class. The one that was the most fun was a Tai Chi class that took place in front of our hotel every morning in Beijing. They kept saying 'You show us Jane Fonda'. I didn't speak much Chinese and they spoke less English, but what fun we had!

59. Visited Russia. Russia and Greece are 2 of my dream trips!

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. No Girl Scouts around here.

62. Gone whale watching. We went on commercial cruises several times in Hawaii. Sometimes we thought the whales would turn us over - they saw the boats as little toys to play with. Next month, we are going to an island off the coast of the Dominican Republic for birthing season. I can't wait! The most fun whale adventure we had was in Northern Ireland. This old seaman (just like the old salts in the pictures) took us out in his little fishing boat. It had a tiny cabin and a big ship's wheel (again, just like the ones in the pictures). It was just the 2 of us and the captain. It was June and we almost froze, but what a wonderful experience!

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. We were at the ausfart for Nuremberg, but we decided we didn't want to spoil our trip with something so depressing.

67. Bounced a check. But, thank goodness, all of the bankers are our neighbors, so it was caught before it went back.

68. Flown in a helicopter. Also in a small plane over Haleakala while it was erupting.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar. Attended a dinner once that was catered for the Moscow Ballet Company. They had dozens of kinds of caviar and a different vodka with each one. After the third or fourth vodka, the caviar wasn't half bad. I do love escargot, though.

72. Pieced a quilt. I can also quilt 22 stitches per inch. I would never consider machine quilting. Sacrilege!

73. Stood in Times Square. Picadilly Circus is much more fun!

74. Toured the Everglades. Very slowly. The gears went out on our car and we could only travel in first gear. I thought every alligator was eyeballing me for his dinner!

75. Been fired from a job. Have never had to work. Thank goodness!

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone. Many!

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. No, and I hope I never am!

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book. Two, actually.

81. Visited the Vatican. Twice and saw the pope preach once. (Do they call it preaching when it's a pope?)

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. We killed a fresh turkey one year for Thanksgiving. I read the directions in one of the Fox Fire books and Ray tried to kill the bird. Finally after a bunch of old farmers showed up, they managed to kill the bird, but we couldn't bring ourselves to eat him. Give me a Butterball!

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous. Patricia Routledge - the thrill of a lifetime. The guys from ShaNa Na. Al Gore - both junior and senior. Senior was friends with my daddy. Al just came along for the ride. He was about 15 and so cute! David Copperfield and Webster, the duck. (Webster has much more personality than his owner!)

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one. Too many to count.

94. Had a baby. No! I really don't like children. But that is usually the fault of the parents, not the child. I have a great niece who was named after me. I love her dearly, but I prefer to visit with her at her mom's house. I can't imagine having dirty diapers in my home!

95. Seen the Alamo in person. It would look a whole lot better if there wasn't a Dillard's store slammed up next to it. I picture the Alamo as being out in the country, not smack in the middle of town. A great disappointment!

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone. I have one, but almost never turn it on. Why pay to make calls when you can do it for free?

99. Been stung by a bee.


So if you have a blog and want to do this list, leave a comment so I can take a look!

1 comment:

s said...

Ruth Ann, you have done some interesting things.
Hugs,
Sunni