29 things

So, I hit 30 two weeks ago today...and the deadline for finishing my 29 things list.

Unfortunately, I didn't do so hot. Oh well! Maybe I'll turn this into my "things to do before I leave NYC list". Here's the roundup:

1. Go to a performance at Carnegie Hall.
Nope. Didn't get to this one.

2. Visit the Tenement Museum.
Didn't get to this one, but I might this weekend with some visiting friends.

3. Try a cuisine I've never had before.
Yes! I ate game meat (venison).

4. Run the Brooklyn Half Marathon.
No, but at least I have some good excuses for this one: first, it hasn't happened yet--they moved it to May this year--and second, my leg/knee/hip issues have prevented me from running.

5. Go running at least three mornings a week, even during the winter!
Sort of. I haven't been able to run for several months (see above), but I have made it to the gym at least three times a week pretty much every week. I think that counts.

6. Improve my pace time.
Well, I've started running again, so....no, not yet, but I suppose either going from no running to some running could count. Or, they gym equivalent, I am lifting much heavier weights than I started with!

7. Take advantage of my balcony while the weather is nice.
I did do that, and I am really looking forward to continuing to do so now that the weather is getting nice again.

8. Frame all those great photos I have sitting around in boxes.
Nope, didn't get to this one. Of course, the lack of wallspace to hang things on may make this a moot point, anyway.

9. Head out to Sripraphai in Queens, the best Thai food in NYC.
Alas, no! Although I tried, I just never got out there. Soon. I have been waylaid by the delicious Thai food directly downstairs from my apartment.

10. Finally get that band started instead of just talking about it.
No, although I am still trying.

11. See the new Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum.
Yes, I did do this, and I have pictures to prove it.

12. Join New York Road Runners.
No, my inability to run prevented this.

13. Volunteer at least once a month.
I was doing really well at this for awhile, but life got crazy, and this has fallen off. I need to start again.

14. Visit the New York City Transit Museum.
Nope. However, I have spent many, many hours on the train.

15. Shave my head.
No, I decided not to do this for professional reasons and for tactful reasons.

16. Visit the Map Division at the New York Public Library.
I am not sure how I haven't gotten to this.

17. Go ice skating in one of the NYC Parks.
I seem to have totally missed the season for this too.

18. Visit the Statue of Liberty.
Nope.

19. Get a library card for the Brooklyn Public Library.
No, and my overloaded bookshelves are giving me dirty looks about it.

20. Post on my blog at least twice a week.
Well, sometimes I managed this and other times I didn't. Kind of a wash.

21. Go see the new Greek and Roman galleries at the Met.
Yes! I had a great time doing this.

22. Finish reading A People's History of the United States.
I have read a lot of books the past few months, but not this one.

23. Run the Liz Padilla Memorial 5k in Prospect Park next weekend.
Yes!

24. Go up to Western Mass at least once a season.
I went in the summer, the fall, and the winter. I think my spring visit will be a late spring visit (maybe May).

25. Perfect my bread baking skills.
Dave makes so much bread it's really better if I don't make any at all.

26. Get another tattoo.
This is something I am still thinking about--I have too many ideas swirling around in my head. In the meantime, you should check out this awesome gallery of science tattoos.

27. Keep my four plants alive.
Let's just say three of my plants are doing really well and leave it at that.

28. Make a budget and stick to it.
I've more or less done this.

29. Go to Thailand.
Professional circumstances (i.e. my inability to take off three weeks at a time right now) have kind of intervened, but Dave and I are still hoping to go this summer.

So....overall, I think I did so-so at this project. On the other hand, I did do some pretty cool stuff that I hadn't planned on. Hopefully I'll finish off everything on this list before I turn 31.

It's been awhile since I've checked in on my list (and awhile since I've posted), so here's an update on how I'm doing on my 29 things to do before I turn 30 list.

3. Try a cuisine I've never had before.
Last weekend, Dave and I took Steve out for a (belated) birthday dinner. We had the tasting menu at Palo Santo (one of my favorite restaurants), and one of the (amazing) courses was venison. I've never eaten game meats before, so I think this counts.

5. Go running at least three mornings a week, even during the winter!
I've been cleared by my sports doctor to start running again, so I'm back on the treadmill. Since he okayed it, I've been there three times a week. Yay! Running regularly is so great, both for my body and for my mind.

6. Improve my pace time.
As I increase my milage, I'm also increasing the pace I'm running at. I don't think I'm officially faster yet, but I am doing better than I was a few weeks ago.

13. Volunteer at least once a month.
I've got two volunteer projects going, one at Infinite Hope (playing with cats) and one with Mandi, so I'm doing well on this one.

24. Go up to Western Mass at least once a season.
I made my winter visit at Christmas.

27. Keep my four plants alive.
A couple of them are looking a little wimpy, but they're still green. And somewhat to my surprise, a set of Paperwhite bulbs I kept from last winter did manage to re-sprout! This one is a definite win, since I now have four green things in my apartment.

I only have two and a half months left, and I still have a lot to do. Here's what remains:
1. Go to a performance at Carnegie Hall.
2. Visit the Tenement Museum.
4. Run the Brooklyn Half Marathon.
8. Frame all those great photos I have sitting around in boxes.
9. Head out to Sripraphai in Queens, the best Thai food in NYC.
10. Finally get that band started instead of just talking about it.
12. Join New York Road Runners.
14. Visit the New York City Transit Museum.
15. Shave my head.
16. Visit the Map Division at the New York Public Library.
17. Go ice skating in one of the NYC Parks.
18. Visit the Statue of Liberty.
19. Get a library card for the Brooklyn Public Library.
20. Post on my blog at least twice a week.
21. Go see the new Greek and Roman galleries at the Met.
22. Finish reading A People's History of the United States.
25. Perfect my bread baking skills.
26. Get another tattoo.
28. Make a budget and stick to it.
29. Go to Thailand.

It looks like I have a lot of places to go. I better get cracking.