Things to do before I die

2009-01-07T15:03:00.000-08:00

Things To Do Before I Die is now Doing Your List!

I invite you all to check out my new site where we're going to create a life list together and complete it together!

http://www.doingyourlist.com

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

A Little Bit About Me.

2009-01-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

A little over eight years ago I had my last day smoking crack. That's right, your humble blog writer was a big ol' crackhead and not to proud of it. I still remember the last day I smoked. April 18, 2000.

On that day I was walking down Peachtree street in downtown Atlanta headed towards the crackhouse with five dollars in my pocket and no other way to get any money. I had just lost my job as a waiter at an upscale restaurant and was looking for somebody to sell me a five dollar hit.

I wish I could tell you that I suddenly had a "spiritual awakening." I wish it was as dramatic as all that.

Instead, I got a glimpse of myself in one of the mirrored windows in one of the skyscrapers. Here's another wish. I wish I could tell you that I saw myself in the window and felt such shame that I immediately decided then and there that I would never use drugs again.

Nope, didn't happen that way at all.

Instead I took a step in the direction of the crackhouse. Then I stopped. Then I took another one. Then I stopped. I waited a few seconds and took another step. Then I stopped.

I began to notice how tired I was. And I thought about me walking the twelve blocks to the crackhouse in the sweltering, humid afternoon. I thought about going the rest of the day and all of the night without anymore money to buy crack with. I thought about the withdrawal pains. I thought about missing the check in time at the shelter. But most of all I thought about how freakin' hot it was.

I thought about how weary I was. And that's when the thought hit me. I call it the thought and not my thought because it was a thought that was so alien to my experience at that time. To this day I still have a nagging feeling that the thought was actually thought for me.

The thought was this: "F*** this, I'm going to rehab."

To me it feels like the thought was given to me if you will, by some entity who realized that I never would have come up with that thought on my own. That I needed help. Someone who was me but a higher part of me.

Hmm... maybe that was my spiritual awakening after all. But I digress.

It was strange but after the thought popped into my head I wasn't tired anymore. I made it to the shelter on time, I got up at four o'clock the next morning and walked directly to the rehab, determined to sit there until a bed opened up. If there was no bed that day I'd come the next day.

Fortunately a bed opened up that day and I was accepted. How do I know it took? I used part of that five dollars I had intended to buy crack with to buy something out of the vending machine in the lobby. I stretched that money out for weeks.

I don't know what made me tell that story. Something to get off my chest, I suppose but why?

By the way, this blog is about to go through some changes. I've gotten a new domain name, DoingYourList.com. It's not ready yet but soon.

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

STAR TREK

2008-12-27T16:59:00.001-08:00

Where The Hell Have I Been?

2008-12-17T01:09:00.001-08:00

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

It's All Black And White Video is Live!

2008-12-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

Yikes! Where the hell have I been? Okay, allow me to apologize for the delay in posting. I've got a feeling that I've lost one of my followers because of it. I'm sorry whoever you are and I miss ya. Come back!

Anyhoo, the show has got a new webpage and there's a new video production company out there... are you ready? Here it comes...

It's All Black And White Video

Really, you should come check it out.

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

People Pleaser

2008-11-29T16:18:00.000-08:00

Jeez Louise, it's gettin' harder and harder to post on this blog.

Not because I don't have anything to post about on the list, 'cause I got plenty. It's just that I'm finally having fun doing something on the list and I'm spending so much time on it.

Said item on the list is the show. How cool is it to do something you love and not care if it's popular or not? It's been said "Do what you love, the money will follow" but I guess that love means complete and total acceptance of a thing. And I really love the webshow... as lame and as cheesy as it is.

Speaking of the show do you wanna see it? The link leads to the new website but there's a link that leads directly to the videos

http://www.itsallblackandwhitevideo.com

But I think that I can really make something of it. This may actually be my breakout.

I've always wanted to perform but I have what they have this... this shyness problem. If you were to come to the Starbucks I work at you'd never know it because I'm so freakin' happy all the time. For the most part the happiness is genuine and if you knew what I went through in my life you'd know that my escape from my past is why I'm so happy.

But there's a form of desperation in my happiness. A way of people pleasing that I never grew out of. A form of "please don't hurt me and I'll be your friend" kinda thing, y'know? Performing in front of a camera with my best friend seems like a positive way to deal with the people pleasing aspect of my personality.

I honestly can see myself in the future writing scripts and being on talk shows and mingling with famous people and being a famous person. I am really grateful for this list. It's opened up a whole new world for me even if less than 1% is completed.

Jeez, I do ramble don't I. More later.

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

I Bought The Company

2008-11-25T17:41:00.001-08:00

Oh my God I love this thing so much that I bought the company!

Okay, maybe that’s not so true but I want one so bad I became a affiliate so I can buy one. I WANT ONE!

The gizmo, not the girl. Well, okay the girl too if she comes with the gizmo.

600 things to do before I die

2008-11-21T15:22:00.000-08:00

This young lady puts me to shame. Not only does she have more stuff to do on her list but she posts on a regular basis. Oh the humanity!

Anyhoo, the reason I've been a little slack on my blogging is because I'm working so hard on the show. Who'da thunk that it would take so much time in the week? So I've decided to focus my blogging here on the show until I get it to where I want to be, if that makes any sense. In other words, I'm going to let you guys see how I'm making it as a gen-you-wine type media personality.

Oh yeah, I got plans, you betcha. I am thinking plenty big about it and I promise you that you will be amazed and awed by the plans I got. In posts to come I'll be revealing my plans to make it.

I'm gonna be a wheel someday, to quote the song.

Stay tuned viewers. Here's what I have so far.

A new domain name. I'm not telling you what it is yet because it's not done.
A mailing list - in fact I'll be offering you a chance to sign up for updates to this blog but wait till you see what I have to offer the viewers of the show.
I'll be offering tutorials on how to make your web videos more watchable. You learn as I learn.

Oh my you have absolutely no idea how excited about this. I'll let you know soon what's going down.

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

Three Goal Setting Tips That Will Change Your Life

2008-11-13T23:06:00.001-08:00

Three Goal Setting Tips That Will Change Your Life

Posted using ShareThis

As I was cruising the net looking for life list related information I came across this article. If you want to start a list of your top 100 life goals (or more, or less), a good way to get started is to know how to set a good goal in the first place.

Roughly, the three goal setting tips go a little like this:

1. Where are you going?

Basically the act of writing out your top 100 life goals. It may take you a few minutes, it may take you a week but it's important to get it done. The good thing about writing a life list is that you don't ever have to "finish" it. You can keep writing and adding items up to the very last day you walk on this earth. I don't write that to seem maudlin... I mean use that list of 100 life goals to live, not simply to read.

2. Let's get specific.

Gotta admit, I haven't been exactly on the money with this one. Essentially, it means taking the easier ones and making plans for them, if not going out and doing them anyway. Be as anal retentive as you can without being to big an a-hole to yourself about it. Don't plan yourself into not reaching that goal.

Then, as your list gets smaller, do the same thing with the more difficult items. One thing I have to add here... put a date on that sucker! Pick a date and a time that you'll have it done! Okay, I'm done yelling.

3. It's in the want to, you'll find the how to

To me this means that you must find some reasons to do the things you want to do. I'm convinced that's the reason many people aren't really happy when they get the things they think they want. They don't have good reasons.

I once read somewhere, I don't remember which blog or website it was that if you can find twenty reasons to achieve a goal you have made a great start. If you can find fifty or a hundred? There's no stopping you. So find those reasons if you want your top 100 life goals to become a list of your already finished life goals.

New Video

2008-11-13T13:16:00.001-08:00

Hi guys,

There's a new video at http://itsallblackandwhite.blogspot.com. Any comments or criticisms would be really appreciated.

Also, do you think I should begin looking into getting a domain name for this site?

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it.

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-11-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday! A very happy day indeed. Today marked the 44th anniversary of my birth or the 16th anniversary of my 27th birthday (ha!)

The only regret I have is that I waited so long to decide to do the things I want to do before I die.

By the way, there will be some great changes here. You'll be able to help make this site a great one. Look for a new newsletter sign up form and video documentation of the things I want to do. Stay tuned!

Don't you wanna donate to the cause?

The Case Of The Escaped Slave

2008-11-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well dagnabit...

I started another item on the list, since it would take some time for me to complete the eliminating debt one. I was walking around Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa the other day and I thought "Screw it, I might as well pick up something from the Barnes & Noble Classics rack." So I picked up "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe and started reading it and got really interested in it... got to the part where Eliza escapes across the frozen Ohio river...

...and I lost the book.

I try not to swear a lot, 'coz I'm learning to communicate without having to resort to profanity but the F-bombs fell like rain that day. I remember that I left it at Starbucks and figured that someone would put it in the back or in the Lost and Found or something and nobody did. Dang, dang dang... Flock, flock flock...

It's okay people. I'll get another copy but I was really getting into it.

By the way, I'm sorry that I haven't been posting as much. The show has really been taking up a lot of my time and this surprises me because I don't consider it such a huge box 'o talent anyways. But I want to continue because I feel that there are small improvements being made with each episode.

I'll keep you posted and I'll post more. Promise.

President Barack Obama

2008-11-04T21:19:00.000-08:00

We should all be proud. In a nation that has used a holy book to condone slavery, we have elected the first African American President of the United States of America. Yes there are people who are not happy that their candidate lost but as Americans, we should all celebrate.

Even if your party lost, congratulate yourselves people. We have matured as a nation.

Make Your Voice Heard!

2008-11-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is a historic day for this country. For the first time in history, we Americans will have either an African American or a woman in either the first or second highest offices of the USA. I have my opinion on who should be our representative, you have yours. I don't care who you vote for, just vote!

BTW, Despite all the time I'm spending on the show, I'll be starting on a new item on the list. I'll keep you posted.

How To Read A Book Without Turning A Page

2008-10-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Oh man, do I love cool electronics stuff. I'm cruising on Amazon.com for books to read to help me complete my life list (yeah, I'm still doin' it even though that damn video web series is taking up most of my free time.) and I come across the Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device.

I know that ebook readers never really picked up steam in the nineties but I think it's an idea whose time has come. Best news? I'll be able to write books and articles and upload them to Kindle using Amazon's Whispernet.

Anyway, you can expect to hear a lot more from Amazon's device. Heck, when I get to writing my masterpieces I'll even let you download 'em.

It's All Black And White: Episode 4: The Addams Family vs The Munsters

2008-10-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

It's All Black And White: Episode 4: The Addams Family vs The Munsters

The new video is up. This weeks episode is all about which 60's creepy television sitcom you like best, the Addams Family or the Munsters. Watch the video and make your vote.

Happy Halloween! Have a safe and happy one!

It's All Black And White: Episode 3: Marvel vs. DC

2008-10-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

It's All Black And White: Episode 3: Marvel vs. DC

Putting On A Show

2008-10-23T14:34:00.001-07:00

I have to admit, I don't think that I realized how much time putting on a show would take.

One of the items on my list was to put on a webcast. I wasn't specific but I wanted to put on a weekly video show to do it and I'm doing that now. I'm glad that I'm doing it but boy, it's difficult to get to the other things I want to do.

I'll say this, though. I'm loving every minute of it. The videos are crap and the production values look like they were done by a five year old but I'm getting better at it all the time.

Here's this weeks video:

And here's the website where you can watch all of the videos:

http://itsallblackandwhite.blogspot.com

Any comments will be appreciated. Even if you don't like it tell me. If you're going to be insulting, at least be original.

Thank You!

2008-10-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

I just got back from work and I think I'll be okay. The other baristas I worked with were awesome and easy to work with. Now if only I can get some more hours...

I just found out that a few days one of you made a donation to help me finish the items on my list. I don't want to mention his name but he'll never know what it meant to me. Thank you so much.

If you'd like me to appreciate you as well, you're more than welcome to donate too (hint hint.) Just click the PayPal button on the right and I'll be more grateful than you can ever know!

This weeks recap

2008-10-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

So it's Monday (actually Tuesday early morning) and this is what's going on this week:

The video show Dave and I are producing is going well but I'm having trouble editing the latest episode (Damn Sony Vegas), so the newest video may not be up until next Tuesday instead of tomorrow (or today).
I haven't started up with Debt Consolidation yet but will be choosing a company to use this week.
I've started work on crossing off another item, the "Read every book in the Barnes and Noble Classics Collection" item.
Tomorrow (today) I start work at my new Starbucks location. With only 20 hours. Damn. I really don't want to work two jobs but it looks like I might have to.

That's it for now. I am so tired.

So...

2008-10-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

So...

This is the part where I get bored with blogging. Bored isn't exactly the right term - indecisive would be a better one. Now is the time where I get frustrated because I'm not getting the right amount of traffic or nobody is clicking the donate button or nobody is clicking on my affiliate links.

Now is also the time to keep going. So...

Now I kick it up a notch. Now is the time where I tell you that there is a donate button and I ask you to donate. It is the time for me to be a little more fearless and allow myself to be ridiculed and turned out and refused and I'll still tell you that I need money and I'd like you to give me some.

It's also the time for me to ask you to take a look at my affiliate sites like Simpleology and Conversational Hypnosis. And to ask you to buy them or at least take the free trials.

Also I must give you details of what I'm doing to cross items off my list. And to write articles and ask you to read them. And to research what else I can do to get people to read the blog and what I can do to monetize it.

So...

That's what I'm doing. Expect more from me. I'll stick with it.

Another Item Crossed Off

2008-10-15T03:12:00.000-07:00

You know what it's like to put so much time and energy into something and find that even though the end result isn't perfect, it's not really all that bad? That is an awesome, exhilarating feeling. Today I cross another item off my list.

I've put out a webcast, a video diversion to convince me that I have talent. It's practice really. But below is a sample of what's to come. Believe me, I have no intention of getting anything but better at this.

I'd love some comments about this. Also on the YouTube site if you please.

And vote, please!

Starbucks #551 - R. I. P.

2008-10-11T01:13:00.000-07:00

Breaking away from the Eliminating Debt topic for the moment, I'd like to express a little sadness for the loss of Starbucks Store number 551. That's right folks, the store I work at is one of the 600 closing. In memoriam I'd like to share some of the quotes collected over the past few months.

These quotes were recorded in a little beige book the store sold. After the first quote was spoken we decided to write them in.

At first glance they don't seem to make any sense. But just imagine the kind of conversation that led to them.

"I hate the feeling of wet when I'm dry."
"But, I thought that the brothers... like... meat.
"I'm not too fond of foreign exchange students."
"I hope I just didn't cut the inside of my nose. I was trying to dig something out with a paper towel."
"What's this warm liquid going down my leg?"
"Wanna fork?" "No. Wanna spoon?"
"You have really big wrists!"
"You're like that green, smashy person."
"Are you all right?" "No, I think a bug was crawling up my nose."
"One time I sprained both of my wrists at the same time. It hurt a lot... That's why I'll never work at a chicken processing plant again. I was poppin' thighs."
"What a Mexican... he spent all his money on booze and makeup."
"Ashlee dropped a banaaaaaaaaanaaaaaaaa."
"Loy, are you gonna pop thighs?" "I'll pop your thighs."
"Ow!" "You okay?" "This is going to sound really embarrassing but I pinched my belly fat when I was leaning against the counter."

So that's it. Very lame yes but when I remember the conversations they were attached to, I giggle uncontrollably. I'm gonna miss that store with my old friends.

No worries though. I'll make new friends. And I get to keep the old ones thanks to the power of the text. Thank God for affordable cell phones.

Getting It Done In Reverse: The Backwards Planning System

2008-10-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that in order for me to actually achieve the things on my list, I should actually have some kind of plan. I have to admit that I've been just sorta picking and choosing what to do... going hither and yon just assuming that everything will fall into place.

It doesn't always (if ever) work that way folks.

I'm a firm believer... no a firm knower that the law of attraction works in peoples lives. But I also know that when using it to get the things that you want, if you don't start it, you ain't gonna git it.

In other words... you have to have a plan... in order for the universe to bring you what you want you have to walk towards what you want. Sitting on yer butt ain't gonna do any help.

Sorry. That seems a little metaphysical I know so I'll lay off of that for now.

But the plan thing still sticks. You must know where you're going in order to get there. Dang, I'm just full of cliches today.

One of the tools I use for planning is Mark Joyner's Simpleology. It's this free online system I use to make plans towards my goals or targets. One of my favorite parts of it is the backwards planning system. It goes a lil something like this:

First I write down the target...

Target: I want to be debt free

Then I ask myself "What did I do to get to this place?" or something similar.

What I did to get here: Made my final payment to creditors

And so on. You get the point.

Here's a look at my backward planning list for the Eliminating Debt target:

I am debt free
Made final payment to creditors
Continue making payments to creditors
Begin making payments to creditors (repitition anyone?)
Make arrangements with credit consolidation firm
Research credit consolidation firms

Looking at it this way, it's a lot simpler than I've made it out to be.

I like Simpleology because I'm a step by step kinda guy. Sometimes I need someone to tell me how to do things and that kind of system seems to fit the bill. Some of the steps might need some steps to achieve themselves and if that's the case I simply plug it into the backward planning system. Easy as toast.

So that's it. That's what I do in order to keep my focused and laser targeted on working my list. If you have any other ideas I sure would like to hear them. Leave a comment wont'cha?

We're All Americans.

2008-10-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

This doesn't have much of anything to do with the list but I feel that it needs to be said. Not by you or for you but by me and for me. I'm getting really disgruntled with the two party system.

Make no mistake. I am a liberal. I'm not as liberal as that Michael Moore dude but I'm definitely more liberal than, say, any Republican. However, I am getting way too tired of all the name calling on both sides of the fence.

We share the same biology,

regardless of ideology

Believe me when I say to you

I think the Republicans (and Democrats) love their children too.

Sorry for the paraphrasing, Sting.

I realize how difficult it is to stay calm, especially in this most historic of years but can we please, please, please just try to get along? Everybody in this country does things that somebody else doesn't like. Everyone does something wrong. Everybody. And they either don't realize that it's wrong or they rationalize it away. I do it, you do it, McCain does it and yes even my hero Obama does it.

I've got a confession to make. I think either candidate will do a passable job of running the country. There, I said it. I'll say this also. I am tired of both parties working under the false belief that theirs is the only "right" party.

As a Democrat I believe that we need the Republicans. And the Republicans need us. Both parties need to stop calling the other Nazis. If one party abolished the other then where would the country be? This country needs at least two parties to temper the other. We need each other. Why is that so difficult to understand?

I'd like to have a little peace now, if you don't mind. I'd like to ask Fox Attacks to stop sending me links to videos. I'll no longer watch them. If it wasn't for Republicans there might be too much of my taxes being used to take care of people who don't deserve it. No I don't mind giving. What I do mind is giving to those who feel they are entitled to it. People who make excuses why they don't have what they want.

I'd like to ask Republicans to lay off the ACLU for just a little while. You don't even have to stop, just ease off a little. If it wasn't for the ACLU I'd have been eating rotten bologna for breakfast, lunch and dinner when I was locked up. If it wasn't for the ACLU it might still be illegal for me to marry a white girl. Not that I'd want to.

This is just a plea for peace in our country before we go trying to impose peace on somebody elses. That's all.

Now back to the list.

Never Give Up

2008-10-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

Ah God, why do I do these things to myself?

My buddy Dave and I spent two days shooting what was if not a good version of the Extracting DNA video, then at least a passing one. It had humor, it had education, it had great editing.

What happens? I get ready to make a few changes to the video and upload it when my media player makes a horrible noise and freezes. I forced it to shut down by holding the power button down for five seconds and when it comes back up I get the message that my computer wasn't closed correctly and I get the list of startup options.

I pick start windows normally and it sends me to the same page. Every option sends me to the same page. I decide to non destructively format my laptop and well, I'm not given the option. I had to reformat the entire hard drive.

Crap. I've lost everything. Videos, other files, the whole shebangabang.

But like Winston Churchill said... "Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up."

I'm gonna put that damn video on the air if it kills me.

How To Not Be Liked On YouTube.

2008-10-03T23:07:00.000-07:00

You know, I thought that I would be all cool and cross off another item off the list. I thought that I'd be able to just put up a new video and it would be all hunky dory. Not.

I gave up trying to edit the damn thing when the sound became un-sync'd. Also, I tried to ad lib it. Yeah, I suck. Below is prolly the crappiest video you ever saw. If you decide to leave a comment, be kind. At least be original...

Yeeeeaaaah....

So my friend Dave will be coming over tomorrow to help me script a better version of this. Stay tuned.

Please Don't Vote!

2008-10-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

How To Extract Your Own DNA

2008-10-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

I'm crossing off another item off my list. It's #36: Collect and store my own DNA. And when I finally put it up on the Things Tadoo site I'll be able to cross off #29: Put on a web cast. The video will be up soon.

Naysayers Suck...

2008-09-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

Alright, the results of the Broadway Play poll are in! And it looks like I am the winner! That's right, I get to cross that particular item off my list.

However...

It seems that the naysayers have planted a lil bug in my brain about the experience and how I won't really enjoy it unless I go to Broadway and see it for myself.

You suck, naysayers.

So now I really wanna go to Broadway and really see a Broadway Play. In person. In the front row.

So I'll make a compromise with you. I'll cross off the item but add a new one that says that I wanna really see a Broadway Play in person.

Will that make you happy?

But you know, I'm a freakin' barista at a freakin' Starbucks. So you know I'm not making any money no matter how great the benefits are. So maybe if you wanna donate to the cause I won't be so mad at'cha for making me change my mind.

But do not worry. I am no panhandler. Even if you don't donate, I'm still gonna save up for a trip to New York. But any donations will be gratefully accepted.

But naysayers...

You still suck.

How We Can Fix The Economy

2008-09-30T12:00:00.001-07:00

In keeping with the Eliminating Debt issue there's a very good post at the Worldly Economic Thoughts blog that I, as well as everybody these days should keep in mind. Also, thanks to Grace for the information she left in the comments here. It's already helping, Grace, so thanks.

What's On YOUR List? Four Life Lists Designed To Help You Discover What You REALLY Want Out Of Life

2008-09-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

In my travels across the digital landscape we've come to know, love and be addicted to known as the internet I've come across a few people who have also realized the cleansing properties of the so-called "life list." What people don't seem to know about, however is the existence of other forms of life lists that are just as good at self discovery. In addition to the life list where you write down things you simply want to do before you die there is the following, to name only three...

The Amends List
The "What's Wrong With My Life" List
The "Who I've Harmed" List

Let's take a look at each of them.

The Amends List

Have you ever seen the show "My Name Is Earl?" If you haven't it's about a man who was not living the best life. After winning $100,000.00 from a lottery scratch off ticket he is hit by a car. After some reflection he realizes that "karma" is telling him that if he does good things for people good things will happen to him. He decides to make a list of all the people he has harmed and make amends to them.

The idea of an amends list is not a new one. It has been a necessity of 12 step groups since the 1930's and before that it was a staple of the "Oxford Groups."

By writing down a list of all the things you've done wrong to others (and to yourself,) and taking steps to make it up to those you've offended, you begin to learn that you are not evil. You are not bad. You've done bad and evil things, sure but by making amends, you learn to not identify with your misdeeds and furthermore, you learn not to make those same mistakes again.

The "Who I've Harmed" List

Of course, unless you know who you've harmed, you can't make amends to them. By writing down a list of people you've harmed (once again, yourself included), you can then write a list of what you've done to them.

The "What's Wrong With My Life" List

Doing this list feels like a soul cleansing. The idea comes from Bill Fergusons Mastery Of Life website. What you do is write down everything you have wrong in your life right now and take steps to fix them. It doesn't matter how big or how small. Got a nail in your wall that's driving you crazy? Write that down on the list. Been in a hit and run accident that was your fault? Write that down too. Then get to work fixing the things in your list.

Imagine how you'll feel if you complete twenty five percent of your list. How about 50%? 75%? The more you complete the better you'll feel.

And of course the "Stuff You Wanna Do Before You Die" List.

You already know how to do that one. I won't go into this one since you're watching me complete my list.

By doing any one of these lists, you will see a change in your life without even realizing it. Sure some of it's hard. If you have trouble, start with the small stuff first. That'll make it easier to get done with. And when you complete an item, celebrate! You deserve it!

Finally, My Crappy Math Skills Pay Off!

2008-09-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

It seems that I miscounted my debts when I began the process of Eliminating Debt. I thought that I had about $1300 worth of debt when in fact it's a little more than $800. Who knew that more than one Credit Reporting Company had the same debts on their reports? So I'm a very happy camper right about now.

Maybe I was wrong...

2008-09-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Only four more days to vote on the Broadway Play issue. As it stands right now the naysayers are in the lead. After reading the comments I'm seriously considering not crossing it off the list and actually planning to go to Broadway to watch a play in person. Wicked actually sounds good. Maybe I'll start saving for it as soon as I'm done with the Eliminating Debt item.

My Greatest Weakness And My Greatest Strength

2008-09-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

Remember item #35? About reflecting on my greatest weakness and realizing that it is my greatest strength? Leo over at ZenHabits has written an article that is right on. I was wondering how to do that. Since I don't believe in coincidences I think maybe a little divine intervention is at work here? What do you think?

How To Get Started Eliminating My Debt

2008-09-25T22:39:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take a little time away from the Broadway Play issue to revisit the Eliminating My Debt issue. I've been wondering what I could do to eliminate my debt as quickly as possible since I only have around $1500 in debt. Heck, many people have $30,000 or more. I'm dang near rich as far as I can tell. Okay maybe not.

Anyway, this is what I have so far as far as some kind of checklist.

Get my credit report
Create a budget (#41 in the list)
Make arrangements with the creditors in my credit reports for repayment.
Begin paying the most expensive first.

That's about all I have now. I'm wondering if there's anything else I can try. You guys have any ideas? To me it feels like with the right kind of strategy I can get this small amount of debt taken care of in as little as 30-60 days. It's less than two grand for cryin' out loud.

Nothing Has Changed. I've Seen a Broadway Play!

2008-09-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

So I've returned from the much disputed Broadway Play. Rather I should say that I've returned from viewing the broadcast of the Broadway Play and now I have what I consider to be a valid reason for sticking to my guns about crossing it off my list.

I've been to live plays before. I've just never seen one on Broadway. True, when I wrote it down on the list I fully intended to see it on Broadway but was open to other interpretations. Now let me tell you why seeing the play broadcast live from Broadway is just as valid as going to New York and seeing it there.

Having been to a live play I can say that often it's difficult to see whats going on. You don't get all the angles and close-ups you see in a movie. You have one angle of vision and that gets worse if you are sitting in the nosebleed seats. What I saw today was all of the emotion and joy and pain that I just wouldn't be able to see unless I was in the first five rows of an auditorium on Broadway.

Therefore, to those of you who left comments on my MySpace page saying that I wouldn't get the same experience as going to see it live, I say that not only was the experience as good as live it could have been interpreted as better. There, I said it.

But, like I promised, if the poll I've posted says that I don't get to cross it off, then I don't get to cross it off. It looks like all you naysayers might lose this one though, according to the results as of this writing. Heh heh heh.

P.S. By the way, Rent will never be shown on Broadway again since this was the last performance. If you get a chance to see it or if there's ever a DVD of the performance that I saw, I encourage you to check it out. It was much better than the Hollywood-ization of the play, even though I liked that too.

Audio blog post, transcription...

2008-09-24T20:29:00.001-07:00

Audio blog post, transcription unavailable listen

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The poll updates are...

2008-09-24T00:20:00.001-07:00

The poll updates are as follows, 50% yes, 50% no. listen

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Broadway Plays. In New York or In Mira Mesa It Still Counts!

2008-09-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's the deal. Number 83 of the list of things to do before I die states and I quote: "See a Broadway play." Not see a Broadway play on Broadway.

So tomorrow I'm going to go see a live broadcast of the Broadway play "Rent" at the local movie theatre here in Mira Mesa. It's being broadcast on screen from Broadway.

So it was my plan to cross off number 83 when I got back home since in my eyes I've seen a Broadway play broadcast from New York. I say it counts.

Kristina S., one of the more attractive baristas at the Starbucks I work at says that that doesn't count. She says I have to actually go to New York and see a Broadway play.

Even though I know I'm right I'm willing to hold off crossing off this item until my readers make the decision. If you look to the right of this post, you'll see that I've put up a poll. If you guys think that dumb ol' Kristina S. is right, well you can pick the wrong option which is no.

If you think that cool, groovy, extremely handsome me is right then pick the right answer, "yes."

I'll have the results of the poll on the 30th of September.

Okay. I got a new app...

2008-09-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

Okay. I got a new app to help with blogging and keeping myself organized. It's called Jott and you can check it out for yourself at www.Jott.com. listen

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Revisiting Number 45

2008-09-21T10:49:00.001-07:00

Today is a good day.

It's a good day because I got up before the alarm went off a second time. It's a good day because I got laundry done. And it's especially a good day because I was able to cross another item off of the list of things to do before I die.

Moving away from the eliminating debt item that I'm in the process of completing right now I was able to retry item #45: the perfect omelet.

According to Esquire.com, cooking the perfect omelet is one of the things that every man should know how to do. I'm inclined to agree since I've grown accustomed to one pot meals like spaghetti and chicken and rice. I say accustomed to but the right word is stuck. Three meals a day of spaghetti or chicken and rice is... well it just ain't right.

So having a big ol' stuffed omelet was a personal triumph for me. Not just the omelet itself but also the actions involved in creating the omelet. The searching of the ingredients in my refridgerator. The beating of the eggs to perfect yellow-ness. The waiting for the right time to add the turkey and ham and tomato and avocado (yes, avocado).

The moment of completion when I'm able to slide the gigantic egg burrito out of my non stick electric skillet onto my plate and sit down with a cup of coffee reading my email. If you haven't done this or something similar, you should. Do it. That's an order.

Before we begin with our culinary masterpiece, let me tell you the basics:

Beat two eggs
In a separate pan, saute the ingredients you want in a pan. Don't wait to do this when the eggs are in a pan because it'll be too late.
When the eggs have set add your ingredients and fold it over. Turn it only once and serve.

A word about perfection:

Perfection is not what you think. There is no such thing except subjectivly. Perfection is in the process, the journey. For example, when I began this morning I realized that I had no idea what sauteeing was. I thought it was heating up stuff in a pan. It isn't.

Also, my omelet was just the right color for me but it might not have been for you. Take a look:

This is how it looked in the skillet:

Actually this isn't a very good picture as I'm still learning how to use my camera phone but it's very yellow and it's really overstuffed, which is waht I wanted.

Some people however like a little more brown and not so filled up. In fact my next attempt will be with less fillings and I won't forget to add the cheese this time. :-)

Cheese or no cheese, it was an example of the perfect omelet. It was incredibly delicious and the process of making it and serving it and sitting at my laptop gave me a feeling of accomplishment. It gave me a feeling of what it's like to be a grown up.

Not to mention that now I can cross it off.

Eliminating Debt in Spurts

2008-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Since we're on the subject of eliminating debt, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits has written a great article about paying off the debt owed in big spurts instead of gradually. You can check it out here.

Fixing my Credit

2008-09-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

I've begun in ernest the item numbered 102 in the list of things to do before I die. I didn't really have any sort of plan so I figured it'd be good to at least get a copy of my credit report. FreeCreditReport.com isn't really free and I didn't want to wait for a credit report to come through snail mail... okay, I'm lying. I'm lazy and didn't want to spend time working on myself.

But I'm doing that now so I went to AnnualCreditReport.com and wasn't forced to buy anything before I was able to see my reports. Oh sure they offered but took no for an answer when I said that I didn't want an embossed leather folder for my report.

So the good news is that I only owe about $1400. That is very easy to do. I don't have it but with persistence I can get it.

What Does Regret Have To Do With Personal Development?

2008-09-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

One thing about personal development that I have realized is that regret of past actions is what is helpful in developing a new life.

Seamus Anthony over at PickTheBrain.com has written an excellent blog post about just that. Check it out. You'll love it and you'll learn why your regrets are necessary to personal development. We all need to learn how to leverage our regrets to make us better people.

When Personal Development Gets Personal

2008-09-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

The difference between this blog and other personal development blogs is this: This personal development blog is about my personal development. Not yours or anybody elses.

Seems a little selfish and egotistical does it? That's because I subscribe to my grandfather's way of looking at the world which was: Don't complain about your neighbors porch until you clean out your own house.

Okay, Grandpa never said that to me but I tried to adopt that into my life anyway. It's not that I don't care about anybody elses personal development but how can I teach unless I learn? As selfish as it sounds, in my life, my personal development comes first.

Having said that, I certainly don't mean that I won't post either in text or video form what I've done and what I've learned. If somebody else gets a lesson from the lessons I've learned then bravo! I am not against anybody taking care of their own personal development. That's would just be dumb on my part and would actually prove that I haven't learned a thing.

The reason I created my list of things to do before I die is because personal development is just that. Personal. However to consider myself some sort of island would make me very lonely indeed. That is why I cruise other Personal Development blogs like Steve Pavlina's and Tim Ferriss' who know stuff and can teach me stuff. Eventually I'd like to teach people stuff too but now I'm still learning.

By keeping my personal development personal, maybe I can show you, rather than tell you, how to live your life.

New Item

2008-09-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

I've added a new item to the list of things to do before I die. #102: Be 100% debt free. I can't imagine why I haven't put that at the top of the list to begin with. Seeing how I'm in so much debt anyway. Actually I'm pretty sure that I've got less than two grand debt to take care of but when you don't have any money, anything you owe is too much.

So I'll be working on this one quickly because I'm too tired of bill collectors calling me. It stops now.

Timeline - 101 Goals in 1001 days

2008-09-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Keeping with the theme of not having an original thought for myself I've decided to give myself a timeline to complete the list of things to do before I die. The reason for this is because according to The Simple Dollar who in turn found this idea at Get Rich Slowly (who in turn found it at Triplux), setting a list of goals in a longer period of time gives a more realistic end than say, creating a list of resolutions to be completed in a year.

I gotta tell you, I don't expect to complete all of these items but imagine what it'll feel like to get most of them done. How about even some? If I get 25% of this stuff done I'll feel awesome if only for the fact that I rarely finish what I start.

Besides, success isn't about finishing, it's about participating. By creating a list of stuff to do before I die I'm participating in life instead of moaning about what life's doing to me. I figure after over forty years of letting life do stuff to me, it's only fair that I spend my remaining years doing stuff to life.

Update: Unless my math is incorrect and it may be, the deadline for this list to be completed is July 17, 2011.

Giving credit where credit is due.

2008-09-18T11:38:00.002-07:00

It should be noted that many of the things I've written on the list of things to do before I die are not my original ideas. Many of them were found on this webpage and a few more were found on Esquire.com. That's right, I'm a copier. A few things I did think of on my own of course. I both do and don't want to Bungee Jump. In other words I want the experience but my innate sense of survival definitely does not want to wind up a stain on the ground below.

Same with the skydiving deal. Fortunately my weight keeps me from that so far. Aw dang, I have getting in shape as a list item.

Anyhoo, I wanted to give those websites the credit for me creating my own list. You should check them out. Really.

#10. Audience member.

2008-09-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I've already been a member of the audience in a tv show. Once I got free tickets to a show in Atlanta filmed at CNN center. I can't remember the name of the show but it was a talk show and it was pretty fun. I even got a free 10 minute phone card for being there.

I did some research and the name of the show was "TalkBack Live" and I even remember what I wore that day. A muscle shirt and some jeans with weird patches on them. Looking back I realize how gay I looked. Thank God I have no pictures of me in that outfit.

Further research has revealed that TalkBack Live is off the air. Too bad. But whatever, I get to cross off another item on my list of things to do before I die.

The perfect omelet

2008-09-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd be clever and try to make the perfect omelet. It came out terrible. I wish I'd taken a picture of it with my camera phone before I ate it. Oh yeah. I still ate it.

It sure tasted good though. I added turkey and ham from some sandwiches that I got from work. Some pepper jack made it awesome. If I only cared about the taste then I would consider this the perfect omelet. Unfortunately, looks matter. So no cross off.

Next time I'll take a picture.

Me and my Crappy Memory

2008-09-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was told that numbers 22 and 24 were the same item... Grow a Garden. Not to worry, it's been fixed and I have added to the list.

Working on the List.

2008-09-14T01:46:00.000-07:00

I figure that since I've posted the list on this blog, I had better get started on it. One of the items on the list is to create a webcast (#30) so I'm starting on that.

The site is going to be hosted on another blog called Things Tadoo. Think of it as arts and crafts for adults. It's definitely not for kids so keep the little larva in their bedrooms until they turn eighteen.

I'll keep you posted.

My Life List

2008-09-11T23:56:00.000-07:00

I know it's damn near cliche these days but this is a list of things I want to do before I die.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE I DIE

~~Make a list of 100 things to do before I die.~~
Attend at least one major sporting event: the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the U.S. Open whatever.
Throw a huge party and invite every one of my friends
Skydive
Have my portrait painted
Learn to speak a foreign language and make sure I use it.
Be an extra in a film.
Tell someone the story of my life sparing no details.
Give my mother a dozen red roses and tell her that I love her.
~~Be a member of the audience in a TV show.~~
Write the novel I know I have inside me.
Learn to play a musical instrument with some degree of skill.
Teach someone illiterate to read.
Write down my personal mission statement, follow it and revise it from time to time.
Experience weightlessness.
Forgive my parents.
Learn to juggle with three balls.
Find a job that I love.
Overcome my fear of failure.
Buy my own house and then spend time making it into exactly what I want.
Go to a hookah bar
Own a profitable business.
Grow a garden
Spend three months getting my body into optimum shape.
Drive a convertible with the top down and the music blaring.
Accept myself for who I am.
Learn to use a microphone and give a speech in public.
Go up in a hot air balloon.
~~Put a web cast on the internet.~~
Give to a charity anonymously.
Create my own website.
Learn to think for myself.
Make myself spend a half-day at a concentration camp and swear never to forget.
Run to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
Reflect on my greatest weakness and realize how it is my greatest strength.
~~Collect and store my own DNA~~
Have an article published in a major magazine.
Keep my home clean for a month.
Have a romantic relationship with a woman out of my league.
Go skinny dipping.
Create and stick to a budget.
Learn to play
Fast for three days, drinking only water.
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible.
~~Make a perfect omelet.~~
Master the art of Conversational Hypnosis.
Drive by myself from coast to coast.
Leave myself a letter in a library book. Look for it twenty years later.
Scuba dive.
Learn three to four chords on the guitar until I can play one song.
Play the guitar flawlessly at an open mike.
Live in a hotel room suite for a week.
Milk a cow.
Live outside the United States for at least six months.
Learn to overcome at least one fear.
Get very good at a sport that isn’t a sport.
Eat a six course meal that I prepared.
Make a movie.
Give a panhandler all of my money.
Learn to roast coffee in a popcorn popper.
Read “Lolita” to see what the big deal is all about.
Walk twenty miles.
Learn to defend myself physically and emotionally.
Get a deep tissue massage.
Put a hundred dollars on a long shot to win.
Go to Paris and stay for two weeks without telling anyone.
Raise a dog.
Bungee jump.
Go on a game show.
Stand up to a bully.
Unplug the TV for a month.
Assemble a rock band. Be the lead singer. Pleasure the groupies.
Audition for something.
Give a panhandler a hundred dollars.
Learn how to take a punch
Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
Pick the music for my funeral.
Travel Route 66.
Get a group of people together in Spaceball uniforms to annoy the 501st Stormtrooper brigade at ComiCon.
See the Northern Lights.
Go to Mardi Gras.
Obtain a passport.
~~See a Broadway Play.~~
Go to Space Camp.
Pick up girls in Tokyo
Help the homeless without giving money to panhandlers.
Take a stand up comedy class
Take a Learning Annex class
Write and sell a movie script.
Read ALL of the Barnes & Noble Classics.
Become a Voice actor.
Be on the Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman.
Learn Javascript.
Learn how to master the Instant Software Builder.
Go Indoor skydiving.
Run a marathon.
Be a millionaire.
Gamble in Vegas
Kiss a girl at midnight on New Years Eve.
Design and sell a T-shirt.
Own a really comfortable bed.
Eliminate all of my debt.
Join a writers community.
See a Broadway Play in person on Broadway in New York City.