artwork by patriciasoliani

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

LIFE (Fill in the blank) at 40


Last year, I wrote about the 40 things I want to do before I turn 40....yes, that was one year already...and today is the day...of reckoning!..

So what have I done/accomplished in that one year, let's see...

1.Take the car for dent repairs and a full-body repainting job..and soon!

FAILED..That was my top priority and I failed on this one..I failed big time...like its the most difficult thing to do..how could that be? to make things worst, a few days before the year ends, my car engine broke down, a major one...maybe this is what I get for taking my car maintenance for granted...

2. Finish paying for my car..

DONE! as of July 2011..

3.Go up Kuwait’s Liberation Tower.

FAILED...but wait, I am not even sure if anyone's ever been there anyway!

4. Cross a sea, or even just a river, by boat or ship..

FAILED...

5.Drive a car in the Philippines……with Manual Transmission.
FAILED!

6.Renew my Philippine driving license...
FAILED! That was the least of my concern when I went on vacation...tsk tsk.

7.Visit a country other than the usual stop-overs to and from Kuwait.
FAILED...We'll have our chance, Mommy.

8.Visit at least one tourist destination in the Philippines…outside Luzon
FAILED...Maybe this year..or the next..(cue in: Choose Philippines campaign jingle)

9.Go home to my birthplace, my hometown- Infanta, Quezon…
DONE...it was both a sad and a happy homecoming last Nov.2,2011...sad because I went there primarily to attend the funeral of my mother's aunt..happy because even if it was a short visit, I still got the chance to stay in our old house, and to see my friends and relatives I haven't seen in a long time.

10.Try at least one water activity…Jet Ski perhaps!
FAILED...Thanks for the offer though, Kyle..too bad I never got the chance.

11.Try one extreme outdoor activity—Rock or wall climbing? Bungee jumping? Whatever..
FAILED...I almost got to try the zipline during our Subic trip but it was mid-day already and my children and companions were tired and hungry..so I had to skip the chance.

12.Try one extreme ride at the amusement park—Tornado? Cyclone?..let’s do it.
FAILED...

13.Eat an exotic food..something so exotic that I can’t even think of one right now.
FAILED...or did I ate something I wasn't aware of? :))

14.Get a tattoo…even a small one.
DID NOT...Though I really wanted to..I almost did, I just had reservations because I learned one (unverified) info that anyone with tats can't be a blood donor?

15.Hold a kitten for 5 minutes!
FAILED..Maybe not in this lifetime.

16.Dye my hair..
DID NOT..WAIT, I still have time...Mommmyyy!!!

17.Finish building our dream house.
Maybe I did..i wrote here "finish building"..and the building (construction) is actually finished :)..But finishing wise, it is still a work In progress..

18.Finish repairs on my parents’ house.
Repairs were done..I think.

19.Have a house blessing.
DID NOT...

20.Paid off all of my debts…or at least more than half of it :D
More than half, yes.

21.Donate for a charity of my choice..
If donating for the Fund raising campaign project of our alumni association to repair/restore our church bells can be considered...then I did..also, just this December, I gave a small donation to  the Philippine Red Cross for the victims of typhoon Sendong.

22.Meet someone famous.
DONE...Rocky Gathercole, Chocoleit?

23.Have a General Medical check-up.
FAILED.

24.Hit the gym…or at least do some physical activities..jogging, brisk-walking..go go!..
SLIGHTLY DONE?...I tried jogging and brisk-walking last summer for a few weeks...I had to stop when the weather became hotter..instead, we bought a stationary bike so we can do some physical activity at home........it remained stationary up to this day.

25. Be 10 kgs. lighter than my current weight...
I was 87 kgs. when I wrote this...I am 84 as of this writing..tsk tsk..FAILED!

26.Buy something expensive for my wife….ssshh!
Hmmm...I got her a Washer/Dryer on her birthday..was it that expensive?

27. Pay for my children’s education for one year.
I paid last December so I guess I am done for the year..this year is another story.

28.Hire someone to finally do that extra wardrobe/storage we badly need in our bedroom.
Consider it done last July 2011..We have a spare room we used as storage space instead, now our bedroom is more organized...

29.Upgrade my home computer..
Consider it done..I got myself a new HP Laptop.instead.

30. Buy a Wii….or PS3 with all accessories? …Which one’s better, I am still debating..
Done!

31.Learn to play at least one musical instrument.
FAILED..

32. Read a book..and actually finish it.
FAILED..I can't even finish a chapter without falling asleep!

33.Spend one weekend for a Harry Potter movie marathon.
FAILED..

34.Attempt another year-long photography project, maybe a 52 (a photo a week) and complete it.
I DID IT..I ACTUALLY FINISHED MY 52 WEEK PROJECT.

35.Have my first real photo shoot.
Done!

36.Attend a photography workshop.
Done! I attended the Strobist Workshop at the FPPF Intramuros last Nov. 18-19,2011. It was a rewarding experience.

37.Take some Advance Computer Lessons- PC Assembly, Troubleshooting, Networking…for future business plans.
FAILED.

38.Spend my 40th birthday in the Philippines..in a nice beach resort…with the family…for 3 days and 2 nights..
Its my 40th Birthday and I am in Kuwait right now..so I guess I FAILED..but its okay..I still have a lifetime to do this.

39.Learn to accept the fact that I am 40 years old already.
CHECK!...Reality check..I am 40 years old. I accept it. But it will take another 40 years for me to live a full life :)

40. STILL OPEN.

So there they are, my 40 things to do..to accomplish..to achieve..How did I fare?

I failed to do things 22 out of 40..(in red)
I was able to half-accomplish 4 others. (in yellow)
I was able to do 13, with one slot still open for anything...still not bad huh?

40...22..hmmm....