Here we go, recently I’ve been kind of down, I still am to an extent but it has also made me examine things in my life so as the new Baron morphs into existence certain things have become clearer, things that I need to do. They aren’t in any particular order but I divided them into sections, mainly because I’m anal about things being in the right order!
Domestic Section
1. Learn another language
2. Take my kids to an Ireland Rugby match
3. Fall in love and stay sane at the same time.
4. Get a cat, (which will be called Chekhov, in line with my pet naming convention!)
5. Clearout all the shite that I don’t play with/wear/genuinely intend to fix
6. Write my book, properly.
Travel Section
7. Go to at least one other continent
8. Go to Russia
9. Go to Ireland
10. Go to Vietnam
11. Go to Central America
12. Spend a week on the Isles of Scilly
Silly Section
13. Have photo taken on Abbey Road crossing with 3 other long-haired suited people
14. Have a proper mass-food fight
15. Have an all week-end party
16. Go on a mad booze bender
17. Spend a weekend stoned listening to Rock and watching Easy Rider and shit
18. Sleep out on a beach with someone nice
19. Listen to every Led Zeppelin album in chronological order back to back
20. Go to the Glastonbury Festival
21. Drive either the Staples to Naples or the London to Mongolia Banger rally in a Trabant or a Zil.
22. Have a ride in a Bi-plane (Preferably a red one!)
Health Section
23. Lose 5 stone
24. Do a Scope international bike ride
25. Take up T’ai Chi again
26. Get fit in order to avoid dying at 55.
27. Run the London Marathon
28. Get down to waist 38″ again
29. Start swimming again
Other Stuff
30. Have quite a bit more sex
31. Make a life-long friend
32. Learn to control the lethargy
33. Get more sleep on average
34. Stop the desire to hoarde shit I’ll never really need/use
35. Spend a full 5 days watching a Test Match physically at The Oval….again!
36. Do an MA/MSc in something language/linguistic/political based
37. Learn to play accoustic guitar
38. Try to be a better Father to my kids
39. Keep off the fags (the cigs that is) been nearly 5 months now.
40. Try to talk less and listen more
I don’t see any of these being especially unrealistic, I don’t doubt I may not acheive them all but who knows, they are all achievable. Some of them are things that I wouldn’t want to do alone but would do with others so it may not ever come to pass because of that, I have a knack of failing to find like-minded people to play with. Any volunteers obviously make yourselves known! Other things are more solitary pursuits and they are perhaps the hardest to achieve because there will be no-one but me able to sort them out. And for that I need to get off my arse and do things.
Song Of The Day – Led Zeppelin ~ How Many More Times
Original Comments:
Rachel made this comment,
hey, it worked!!! thanks! 🙂
wow, that is VERY thorough. if you think that you can do all of that, then kudo’s to you! and i don’t think you should necessarily talk less. i’ve come to value your opinion. although listening more could also be helpful.i have confidence that if you aren’t already, you will be a great father. but, i think you are most likely one already.
🙂
Visit me @ http://palmysinfullbloom.blog-city.com
comment added :: 25th September 2004, 01:59 GMT+01
Rina made this comment,
I volunteer! Esp. for the Irish rugby match. And going to Ireland and Russia and learning another language. And every one of the “silly section.” You have put together a marvelous list.
Sadly, I’ve only done a few of these things myself. I play acoustic guitar and have a cat (not named Chekhov — it’s Tigger, and I didn’t name her!)I’ve to board the next flight out because we’re doing this all before I turn 17! (Just under a month. Unbelievy.)
Visit me @ http://sugarbowl.blog-city.com
comment added :: 25th September 2004, 02:02 GMT+01
Pimme made this comment,
Having that many goals shows that you really want a happy future. I know that you can reach down inside yourself and achieve it!
Never underestimate the power of getting a good night’s sleep. It’s like recharging the batteries.And yes, life is much more interesting with cats involved! ;^)
Visit me @ http://pimme.blog-city.com
comment added :: 25th September 2004, 04:30 GMT+01
Mary Blu made this comment,
Dog and I miss my cat. 😦
Very impressive and thoughtful list!
The power is within you to accomplish what you desire.
Mind power is where it’s at! hehee and T’ai Chi certainly does help!
I would like to recommend T’ai Chi, early just after sun rise with only nature as a companion. It’s wonderful! You must try it at least once. 🙂
Visit me @ http://mindtravels.blog-city.comcomment added :: 25th September 2004, 04:43 GMT+01
A visitor made this comment,
Great list, and all eminently achievable. I think I need to recheck my own and see how I’m doing. You may have spawned a reflective revolution, Baron.
Kristie [kristiesgu@gmail.com]comment added :: 25th September 2004, 04:58 GMT+01
Lynne made this comment,
The New Me volunteers to join you on several of these if you so desire! (Couldn’t possibly elaborate more in so public a place though!) 😉
(Pimme’s right about the sleep, I went to bed at 8pm, got up 12 hrs later and feel LOADS better – ok, so it probably won’t last but what the heck, strike while the iron’s hot!)Regarding #10, I can provide the beach, I can even put my *nice* head on, but could we please wait until the weather warms up a bit?
L, with excess of caffeine
Visit me @ http://raingoddess.blog-city.com
comment added :: 25th September 2004, 10:09 GMT+01
protagonist made this comment,
you can do it red baron! if paradox is running a marathon in two weeks, you can too. its good to make a list like this though and hang it up. i should do as much, really. the marathon is on my list, as well as the more sex and lifelong friends and all. hell, maybe i’ll just print out yours and hang it up, but i don’t know how much 5 stone actuallly weighs. i’m a dumb american after all! 🙂
duffstercomment added :: 25th September 2004, 18:40 GMT+01
Rina made this comment,
A stone is @ 14 lbs, right? I read that somewhere I think. But I’m awful with conversions, so don’t trust me.
Visit me @ http://sugarbowl.blog-city.comcomment added :: 26th September 2004, 05:08 GMT+01
haywood made this comment,
Capt. Bring Down says,
I cant read the yellow font.[Redbaron responds – You big berk, highlight the text or something. Wait a mo’ I’ll come and paste it.]
comment added :: 26th September 2004, 09:40 GMT+01
moog made this comment,
i once had a cactus called troffimov!!(cant remember how to spell it)
if you fall in love first, then you will have a life long friend, and someone to be at your side while you are being a great father, and going around the world!get out there and do it my friend, aint no one gonna fall from the sky!!!
i know you want to do all those things, and at least you know what you want to do! think of all those people who have no idea!
lets watch easy rider togeather, its one of my fave films ever!!!!
i gave up smoking over 2 years ago, once you have done about 7 months, its all cool! i had to learn to knit so i had something to do with my hands though!!!!
Visit me @ http://jealoustwin.blog-city.com/[Redbaron responds – I can’t think of a better name than Trofimov for a cactus. As for the love thing, you are quite right and if it happens that way I’ll be a happy Baron.]
comment added :: 26th September 2004, 20:00 GMT+01
A visitor made this comment,
people are crazy about making lists and all those stuff…i wonder why.
rayts[Redbaron responds – Because it procrastinates the time before we actually have to do something!]
comment added :: 27th September 2004, 13:40 GMT+01
A visitor made this comment,
number 31 is silly, since as your twin, i AM your lifelong friend. other than that, i loved your list…
love and hugs.sarah [sarah.a@gmail.com]
[Redbaron responds – Of course I know that you will be around as my Twin but it isn’t perhaps always fair to expect you to always be about, so to have someone else to come off the subs bench when required wouldn’t be a bad idea! Actually this phase in my life interests me because I suspect that in 2 years time at least 95% of the people I speak to now, except at work, will not be speaking to me. If even one person still is, apart from you Sarah hon but you’re family so you don’t have a choice, then I’ll be pleased. I’m not implying any nastiness it’s just people I know seem to drift away after short bursts. Sad really.]
comment added :: 27th September 2004, 16:26 GMT+01
moog made this comment,
will blogs exist in 2 years time though? will we have crazy new internet cyber thingys that float around….or whatever….
Visit me @ http://jealoustwin.blog-city.com/[Redbaron responds – Good point, I suspect they will but all the script kiddies will be writing “gr8 txt 8l095” from their mobile whatevers. There’ll still be some of us text-based people who will of course be regarded as reactionary dinosaurs. When was the last time anyone used a pen to write for more than 5 mins? Last time I tried I held the damn thing so hard I cut off the blood supply in my middle finger!]
comment added :: 27th September 2004, 18:18 GMT+01
A visitor made this comment,
I still like pen and paper, for letters, and I ALWAYS write my poetry longhand. Blogs I compose on the computer.
I would enjoy the irony in becoming a reactionary dinosaur.Oh, and many thanks for the blog topic. :o)
Kristie [kristiesgu@gmail.com]
comment added :: 27th September 2004, 21:44 GMT+01
A visitor made this comment,
You should manage it all by the time you reach my age. Good luck. 🙂
Johncomment added :: 28th September 2004, 16:46 GMT+01
Karen made this comment,
A very good list, I want to learn French and Spanish properly. I have 2 cats (like the convention comment)
If you do at least half of these you should be proud, I think you will do well *hugs*
Visit me @ http://karen.blog-city.comcomment added :: 29th September 2004, 22:47 GMT+01
donna made this comment,
Woo hoo i made no 31 come true i have fulfilled my purpose in life now does that mean i can retire. Im saving a seat for ya in the basketweaving room and if you dont behave i will poke you with me stick. And remember what you promised me when we were 75 im limbereing up already hehe. I know a good way to lose weight meet me after bingo i know a few exercises lol
comment added :: 14th December 2006, 01:23 GMT+01
RED BARON'S WORDS 
Well at almost the halfway point between me writing this post and actually reaching 40 I can see the following:
I have done – 3 (can’t state with certainty that I’m still sane though!) 15, 28, 29, 30 (ish!), 31, 39
I am in the process of – 6, 9, 33, 37, 38
Which isn’t a great return really now is it? Half the time gone and only a 1/4 either accomplished or in progress. I need to get my arse in gear. I think there are a few things I might have added to the list, or that would be on there were I to make one now, I don’t think there’s really anything n there that I would no longer put up nor anything that doesn’t remain possible.
I’ll update again in the coming years.
the 1/4 accomplishment ain’t bad. i think, every accomplishment is a progress. i thought about what you said that “Things staying the same doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of progress.” I guess my priorities and longings have always been consistent. and i won’t stop longing for it until i have it in my hand (figuratively that is).
a big congrats on your number 39. whoa! genuinely happy for you.
a big WOW on your number 6. i envy you. i am not even starting with my MA thesis, which is supposed to be a collection of creative works. i could never finished a novel. i am such a lazy person. i need more motivation.
if you’re in my neighborhood, i would have joined your numbers 1, 19 and 27.
😀