There are a lot of great ideas and things to do during my 44th year, as suggested by friends, family, students and colleagues. I will be compiling a master list of all the ideas, but for now, this is a list of 10 things I WILL DO this year.
*** Please note that due to health/medical issues and scheduling conflicts, I modified my original list.
1. Go to Central Park and see Strawberry Fields. COMPLETED on 12/7/15.
2. Go to the State of Liberty and look out of the crown. COMPLETED on 8/12/15.
3. Do 3 things I never did before. COMPLETED! 1: Meditation (March). 2: Yoga (June). 3: Hear an author lecture (February-Deepak Chopra).
4. Sit at the Inlet for a day and photograph all of the boats that come in and out. COMPLETED on July 10, 2015!
5. Get my passport stamped at least once, or have travel plans that will have it stamped in 2016. This one, so far, did not happen and I’m okay with it, since my husband and I went to Disney together in November, which was a surprise and time just for us. Our trip meant more to me than seeing someplace needing a passport. But wait…we DID have a passport for Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. SO I DID ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL! 🙂
6. Go to a Yankees game: COMPLETED on May 9, 2015!
7. Go to Grounds for Sculpture. This one will not happen, and I’m okay with it. I have seen so many other new places this year in place of Grounds for Sculpture that I’m happy. Perhaps I’ll make it there during my 45th year.
8. Watch the fireworks on July 4th. It’s been a long time since I have done this. COMPLETED on July 4, 2015!
9. Watch a sunrise during each of the 4 seasons: COMPLETED! Spring: Completed on April 6, 2015. Summer: Completed on August 2, 2015. Autumn: Completed on November 27, 2015. Winter: Completed on January 26, 2016.
10. See 3 new places a month. 95% COMPLETED! UPDATE: New places for March: Ron Jon’s in LBI, Surf City 5 and 10, St. Stephen’s Publik House in Spring Lake. New places for April: Flatiron District in NYC, Strand Bookstore in NYC, Heritage Park in Allentown, NJ. New Places for May: The Record store in Howell, NJ, Yankee Stadium, D-Train Subway in NYC. New Places for June: Due to medical appointments, surgery, and recovery, I was unable to attain this goal for June; however, I did go to Six Flags Great Adventure on a school trip, and Jenkinson’s Aquarium and the rides with my nephew (awesome places, just not new places). New Places for July: Turning Point, Shore Points BBQ, Lava Java, Cattus Island County Park, Atlantic City Aquarium, Absecon Lighthouse, Lucy the Elephant, Panda Express. New Places for August: Monmouth Battlefield, NJ Vietnam Memorial & Museum, Smithville, Topanemus Burying Ground, Middletown Church. New Places for September: Surf Taco (Manasquan), Winward Tavern, Crown & Anchor Tattoo. New Places for October: Seaside Park Beach at 4 Street, Frightfest, Chowderfest. New Places for November: Stroudsburg PA, Hot Dog Johnny’s, Chef Mickey’s. New Places for December: Asbury Festhaus and Biergarten, Tom’s Restaurant, Central Park, Book Culture. New Places for January: Marquee Cinemas, Monmouth University Polling Institute, RWJ Hospital, Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury (last 2 are due to husband’s surgery..lame, yes, but nonetheless are new places). February: Count Basie Theater, the Dublin House.
What else would you recommend me do, see, or try (keeping in mind that finances are limited and I have Lupus/Fibromyalgia)? Let me know!
Until then time, in the words of George Costanza, Upward and Onward!
Living 44 