January 31, #10 Good bye January--11 more months to go.

The end of the month has arrived and I am reevaluating my list. Am I going in the right direction or am I falling behind? Let me review my accomplishments so far. Two checked off--writing to six people born in 1951 and identifying birds in Costa Rica. Only 58 more to go. Because I have entered into the unknown, I have no idea if I should have five goals completed or if I am right where I should be at this point in time. Worrying and obsessing sixty times was not on the list so I will let that go for now.

I have continued working every day and have dutifully recorded every postcard purchased, every piano session practiced, and the other numerous achievements that are a daily part of my life. If I have learned nothing else from this experiment of mine, it is the obvious. When goals are set, recorded, and advertised (I have told everyone about my list) the motivation is there to continue the course.

Whenever I am feeling frustrated, I simply think about # 51--a 60 minute massage and quietly praise my foresight for adding a reward to counteract some of the other less desirable goals--such as the push ups and sit ups( 27 and counting thus far). Complaining also was not on the list so disregard the previous whining sentence. The push ups and sit ups will become my friends and I will hammer them out until December when I get to that magical number sixty.

January 25 #9 Blogblogblog

As I was swimming today, counting the laps to meet my mile mark, I thought to myself, "what did I get myself into with my sixty list." When I began writing it last year, I had easily obtainable and quite frankly, boring goals--vacuuming, dusting, walking the dogs--things that are part of my routine during the week. Last summer, my astute daughter-in-law suggested that I eliminate those mundane chores and challenge myself with projects that are out of my comfort zone.

Surprisingly enough, after I began reworking and analyzing the list, I realized that to make a difference in my sixtieth year, I had to make sure the goals were meaningful (how can I make someone else's life better) and demanding (how do I physically push myself to another level). Also, each one had to be doable because failure was not an option for me.

Now my list ranges from--a piece of cake--to--holy cow! What was I thinking? Although it is nearing the end of the first month, I am on track and have not thought about bailing out. Rob, on the other hand, has become weary of recording my every move on an excel spread sheet (bless his heart). I keep reassuring him that it will be a feat like none other when we are done, however, I am not sure he is convinced. I do know that when December 31st rolls around, he will be one happy, but exhausted computer nerd!

January 24 #8 Packers, Cookies, and Bill

Ahhh! Let me think how many ways the big Packer win over the Bears could fit into my sixty list. Yelling sixty times to "Go Pack" or sweating sixty minutes when the game was close. It did go on # 46--my thankful list for being able to celebrate a victory with good friends and thankful that Rob was a happy man and not a cranky old bear if they lost. It was a very good day.

I whipped up three dozen cookies for my first give away and they will be going to our financial planner. Won't he be pleased? It may seem like an odd choice for my first cookie give away (#23), but he is coming over today and it seemed like an appropriate time to bake cookies.

I received my first letter from # 32--share the list with six people born in 1951. Bill Bryson, noted author, sent me a personal letter congratulating me on my list and wished me a happy birthday. To say that I was thrilled would be an understatement. Did you hear the screaming coming from my house?

Piano playing, letter writing, and pushing and sitting up (up to 25) have kept my days jam-packed and my house a mess. No worries--who really needs or cares for a clean house? It is overrated, and besides, this is my sixtieth year and cleaning was not on my list. So there.

January 21 # 7 Mittens, swimming, and thanks

I could not believe that seven women would arrive at my house in almost record cold temperatures this morning for # 44 on my list-- make mittens to be donated to those in need. What a treat to see them arrive and immediately start cutting out the patterns that will eventually be made into mittens. Since sewing is not my forte, I relied on my helpers to organize and direct traffic--and they did it with such ease and control that we had 24 cut liners and 3 cut wool parts of the mittens after less than two hours. Even though it went well, the labor intensity of this projects scares me and I may rethink making the sixty mittens this way. On the other hand-- good grief! What an amazing beginning!

Yesterday I swam the first of 60 miles. Only 59 more to go. Lap by lap by lap. My list should have included 60 wrinkles that I will acquire from all the time in the water.

Something I would definitely recommend is writing a "thankful" list. # 46 on the list states "write sixty things I am thankful for." Every day I write something on that list and it simply makes me smile. For example, I wrote "a nice hot shower". I know it is an every day occurrence, but when I thought about taking a cold shower, I was thankful it was hot. Simple, I know, but sometimes simplicity is the best.

January 20, #6 Postcard Problems

I just realized a slight dilemma on my 60 list and I need a little help from my friends on what to do. # 15--buy 60 postcards. The reason it is on the list is when I was a child, I loved buying, collecting, and reading postcards which were all lovingly stored in a shoebox. Unfortunately, I have no idea where this beloved box is hiding--most likely in some landfill.

The love of postcards resulted in adding it to my sixty list and a perfect excuse to start collecting them again. I have two. Do I really need 58 more cards in my house? In my sixtieth year, I have decided too much stuff is too much stuff. "Get rid of it" is my mantra, however, there is a problem with the postcards. Do I send them to people? Do I give them away? What will happen to these colorful reminders of where I have been this year? Who the heck cares about postcards anymore? Maybe a little google action is necessary to see if this is a dying form of communication . Why send postcards when you can "Facebook" everyone with your entire vacation photos? Hmmmm. Something to ponder when I'm not working on my list.

#5 January 18 Piano playing wizard--not yet

It amazes me, and it shouldn't, about repetition. I do know when practicing a skill over and over, you will improve. No rocket scientist logic there. However, I am actually seeing it in progress and it is thrilling. Today, as I sat at the piano for the third day in a row, Rob walked past me and commented that I was starting to sound better. Well, yes it does, and the pieces are actually becoming easier to play. If nothing else with my "60" list, I will become a better piano player.

Another benefit was receiving a letter from Chris M. stationed in Afghanistan. Since I am writing six letters to him before he returns to the U.S. ( # 26), I have sent him a couple already and his response touched my heart. Sometimes it's the little things that count.

Slowly I progress on my list, keeping track of everything I do and making sure my day is full of "60" activities. I keep reminding myself that it is only January and I have twelve months to complete this quest.

I have just begun reading my second book published in 1951--# 31 on the list--Graham Greene's The End of the Affair. My first book was The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers. I don't think this would have been on my top ten books to read, but it was a fairly entertaining book.

In this morning's paper was an article about the Packers and how expensive it is for a ticket to the Bear/Packer game this weekend. A man from Madison is going and his comment was that he is turning 60 so why not indulge in one of the biggest games of the year. I wrote to him congratulating him on a fine choice to make for your sixtieth birthday. Not one I would pursue, but good for him. By the way, that was #59--writing a letter-- so will "tick" that off my list for today.

#4 January 16th

Sixteen days into the new year. Two missions accomplished. Only 58 more to go.

I just returned from a ten day trip to Costa Rica and was worried that the list would be set aside and forgotten--perhaps a mini vacation from turning sixty this year? No, number 34--Identify 60 birds in Costa Rica or Peru needed to be checked so I began in earnest pursuit of birds as soon as we arrived. Naively I assumed this would be one of my easier goals. Alas, there are birds flying everywhere, however, to actually correctly identify them, I had to have a good bird book, binoculars, and a helper. My fellow birder, Roger, helped with pointing out the birds flying overhead or pouring over the books at night to make sure we had the correct identification.

When I identified ten, I thought it would be a never ending task. How do those birders do it? Birds simply do not sit still so I can see if they have white under the neck or certain color eyes. Slowly the numbers crept up as I searched the sky, trees, and even the sink for birds. Okay, the sink happened when a bird flew into our house. Did the bird god think I needed more help for identifying by letting this poor bird swoop down, misjudge, and crash stunned in our kitchen? I had plenty of time to scrutinize this specimen which turned out to be a clay colored robin--very common in CR.

With my own identification combined with a hike and a kayak ride with guides to add to my list, I flew over my sixty mark. Hurrah!

A few more milestones:

1. New words--exculpate, descry, caliginous, divagate

2. Restaurants--Mitchell's, Isla, Carolina's, Delfino, Pearl of Osa, Eeya

3. Read The ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers published in 1951

4. New foods and drinks--Imperial beer, Carrot/orange juice/ coconut rice/ Teriaki sauce Mahi Mahi, Grilled Pineapple, Cortez rum, square bananas, sweet lemon, red pepper salad, paella milk cake

5. Donated 5 school supplies to Costa Rica

6. Donated one food item to food pantry

7. Hiked 5 times

8. Bought two postcards

9. Took 4 pictures of windows and doors

10. Flew 5643 miles--almost there!

11. Read 541 pages--Cutting for Stone

My "60" list

If you haven't read my 60 list, I will post it here. It has gone under several revisions until I perfected it by Dec. 31st--hopefully there will be no amendments and certainly no additions!

My 60 list—not in any particular order:

1. Read 6000 pages

2. Climb 60,000 feet

3. Swim 60 miles

4. Learn 60 new words

5. Bike 60 miles at one time

6. Volunteer 60 hours

7. Write 60 things I wish I had done when I was younger

8. Donate 60 items to the food pantry

9. Practice spanish for 60 days

10. Send 60 invites for a party

11. Raise 600+ dollars for charity

12. Fly 6000 miles

13. Run 60 miles—outside

14. Do 60 pushups at one time with 60 second breaks every 10 pushup

15. Buy 60 postcards

16. Tap dance for 60' in 6 classes

17. Ride in a hot air balloon for 60’

18. Sample 60 different wines

19. Serve 60 people lunch/dinner at the Salvation Army or homeless shelter

20. Plant 60 bulbs

21. Buy 60 items at farmer’s markets

22. Bet $60 at Arlington racetrack

23. Make 60 dozen cookies to give away

*24. Turn 6 objects on a potter’s wheel

25. Ride a horse for 60'

26. Write 6 letters to Chris McGrath in Afghanistan

27. Skype my children 60 times

28. Make 6 aprons

29. Write 60 blog entries about this experience

30. Write 60 memories for my children

31. Read 6 books published in 1951

32. Share 60 list with 6 people born in 1951

33. Recycle 60 things from the basement

34. Identify 60 birds in Costa Rica or Peru

35. Make a list of 60 things to do by 2020

36. Take 60 pictures of unusual doors or windows

37. Brush the dogs 6 times

38. Try 60 different kinds of food or drinks

39. Learn how to say "hello, good bye, and thank you" in 6 languages

40. Spend 60 hours with my sisters

41. Practice the piano for 60 days

42. Gather 60 of my new and old poems and other original writings

43. Do 60 sit ups

44. Recruit 9 friends to each make 6 mittens to donate (60 total)

45. Donate 60 books to charity

46. Write 60 things I am thankful for

47. Knit a 60 inch scarf

48. Make a quilt with 60 squares

49. Take 60 pictures of me doing the 60 things

50. Send 60 birthday cards

51 Enjoy 6--60 minute massages

52. Try 60 new recipes

53. Lift weights for 60 days

54 Attend 6 different musicals/plays

55. Eat at 60 different restaurants

56. Visit relatives in 6 states

57 Donate 60 school supplies

58. Hike 60 hikes

59. Write to 60 people

60. Research 60 ways people celebrate birthdays around the world

January 3, 2011--#3 Singing in the Car

As I was driving into Madison a very catchy song was on the radio—no clue to the name of it, but it was one of those that makes you want to join in and sing along. That is how I feel after just three days into my 60^th year. I wanted to jump up, dance, and sing my heart out. The list is there, but I feel a drive to keep working on it every moment—there will be no down time. Unfortunately, when I got home I realize that the house could use a good vacuuming and I have neglected some other mundane projects. I have to remind myself that I have 365 days to complete this list so ease off a bit, lady.

Today’s victories:

A massage—ahhh—first one out of six. Thank you, Lisa

Practiced the piano—little rusty but in 59 days, it will improve

Writing in this blog—I seem to enjoy this part so far

More adventures tomorrow…

January 2-- #2 Letters and Stressing

Okay, it is only the second day and I am starting to stress about getting everything done. Sometimes I think it will be a fairly easy task and other times I feel overwhelmed. One “tick” at a time and it will get done. Actually, I will be able to check off my first goal—number 32 says that I will share my 60 list with 6 people born in 1951. I worked on the list, sealed the letters, took the picture, and have accomplished one on the list. I am feeling better just writing about it. The people I wrote to are the following:

1. Sally Ride—first woman astronaut in space

2. President Mary McAleese of Ireland

3. Bill Bryson--author

4. Harry Smith—news reporter

5. Tubby Smith—basketball coach of Minnesota

6. Robin Williams—comedian and actor

7. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield—founders of Ben & Jerry Ice cream

I wrote to seven and had to only write to 6—already I am surpassing my goals!

Aaron skyped today (# 27)

Practiced Spanish (#9)

Wrote to Chris McGrath (26)

Lifted weights (#53)

Wrote in this blog (29)

It has been a good day!

January 1, 2011--#1
My first blog, my first drink of wine for the year, and my first letter. I have begun this much anticipated journey of my “60” list. Last year when I started the list, I never thought I would be at this point of actually recording what I will be doing for the entire year. The whole process seemed daunting at first, but actually, it has been a source of entertainment—not only for me, but for others-- a discovery of who I am and where I am going, and the joy of receiving support from family and friends. Many who are near and dear to me have contributed to my list and I will not disappoint. Onward to checking goals off the list one “tick” at a time. With Rob (husband) as my logistical watchman and friends and family cheering me on the sidelines, my year will be one momentous achievement after another.
Let the good times roll!

Today
1. Drank a glass of wine with Zuhlke’s at 12:00 AM
2. Sent a birthday card to niece Erin
3. 10 push ups
4. 10 sit ups
5. New words—anachronistic—adj. Chronologically misplaced; capricious—adj. Characterized by impulsive, unpredictable.
6. Wrote letter to sister Kathy and Lynne Ballestra
7. Writing this blog for 1 of 60