Recently I found myself reading a friend's blog and discovered her
thirty before 30 and not only was it enjoyable to read, it inspired me to write my own list. Since the train journey of my life has already visited and left the station of 30, it makes sense to make a list of forty things to do before the train arrives at 40 in 2017. Jess, this is all your fault :)
1. Drive around the United States of America. Granted this one is already in the works but I have been trying to get there since the late 90s but have always had something get in the way and stop me from going so I think it's fair to count it.
2. Make a feature film. I don't mind if I write it, produce it or do anything else of note (ie assistant to the assistant grip doesn't count). Something I can be proud of...
3. Learn a foreign language. Sure, I know a lot of words in various languages (such as Italian, Japanese, German, French and Klingon) and I am proficient in science languages (such as mathematics, basic and HTML), at present I do not know any language to a point where I can have a conversation in it.
4. Learn how to use a DSLR properly and be able to join in on conversations that my pro-photographer wife,
Clare Day, has with her pro-photographer friends. I mean who knows the difference between a rotary focal-plane shutter and a revolving drum focal-plane shutter?? What the hell is a focal-plane shutter any way?!
5. Sort out my superannuation. I know it's not fun. I know it's about as far away from fun as you could probably get but I need to do it and I have been putting it off for years. I hope my list gets better as I write it...
6. Work with a "wow" celebrity. I know I have worked with
Scott Fisher and my friend
Scott Congdon nearly wet himself when 'The Fish' said an on-air hello to him, but that doesn't count. I am talking a big name celebrity that is internationally known.
7. Make a sketch comedy series. I have been trying to get this one done for close to 10 years now in one form or another, and if all goes well this time, it will happen. But it hasn't happened yet...
8. Buy a 1981/82 deLorean DMC-12. Fit it out like the one in Back To The Future. Drive around saying things like "Where we're going we don't need roads" and "Marty, you've got to come back with me to the future. People keep putting dice on your head and shouting 'Boggle'!"
9. Spend a day outside in some shade reading a good book. Maybe something by
Mitch Albom or
Robert Harris.
10. Drive across the nullabor and visit the town of Forrest
11. Read Sun Tzu's "The Art Of War"
12. Meet Nicholas Meyer. I almost got the chance in February 2011 but couldn't raise the money to travel to the other side of the country for a weekend seminar... and I would have missed my wife's birthday. If I could have a career like anyone, it would be him. Sadly I might be the next Ed Wood...
13. Win an award for something. Sorry Clare, best husband doesn't count.
14. Stay at the Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata, Tunisia. Because I am a geek.
15. Watch a foreign language film with my wife. She doesn't like foreign films or horror films so
Ringu is probably out... maybe
Battle Royale...
16. Fire a rifle/pistol/bazooka/anti-tank mortar... test range or go crazy at work, either will do.
17. Ride on the orient Express... and maybe pretend I am from Belgium while I am there
18. Ride in a helicopter
19. Work/volunteer abroad in a place devastated by war, terrorism or natural disaster, helping the local people get basic services like food, water, clothing, etc. Several years back volunteers were needed to help out in Costa Rica after an earthquake. Staying with locals in their homes, the volunteers helped build houses, rebuild infrastructure and assisted getting the locals lives back in order. I would have gone, if only I could speak Spanish (see #3 above). To make a long story short (too late) I always regretted not going and would love to contribute to those in need. If only my Japanese was better...
20. Visit Antarctica
21. Go Zorbing!
22. Ride a camel
23. See Victoria Falls
24. Visit the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp in France. Because no one should ever forget what happened in the hope that it never happens again.
25. Walk on the Great Wall of China for Scott's 40th
26. See Ularu (aka Ayers rock). I am Australian and I kind of feel that I have let the country down because I haven't visited this national treasure
27. Visit big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. just so I can say "Look Kids! Big Ben! The Houses of Parliament"
28. Get the complete series of "Frontline" on DVD. The show is brilliant and spot on accurate.
29. Help Jess finish her
thirty before 3030. Participate in la Tomatina. Or in a worse case scenario, recreate it at home (outside preferably)
31. Organize/participate in a flash mob
32. Go to Bikini Atoll and witness the destructive power of nuclear weapons
33. Accentuate the positive
34. Carry around a paper bag of jelly babies and randomly say to people in a bad Tom Baker accent "Have a jelly baby"
35. Hold/organise a Guiness World Record breaking attempt event. Whether it be like the Strike A Chord for Cancer children's charity attempt at breaking the bikini world record, or attempting to beat the longest distance being pulled by a horse (currently just under 500m)... something special would be nice
36. Throw a paper plane off the observation deck of a tall building - to hell with the consequences!
37. Donate blood. It is something we should all do and every time I see a blood donation centre I think to myself "I must do that one day"
38. Attend the Galway International Oyster Festival
39. Give someone a pineapple for a present. Or even better, be known as the guy who only gives pineapples for presents
40. Keep a blog up to date - namely this one!
So that's the list. Is it a realistic obtainable list? I think so... for the most part. I at least certainly hope so. Only time will tell...
STATUS: 0/40 = 0%
