It’s all happening…

It’s the pseudo-calm before the storm, people. That Big Day is almost upon us, and for the next couple of weeks, my internet time will be sporadic, at best. I’ve got plans, Big Plans, and so I take this opportunity to reflect on 2003 and look forward to 2004.

Kelly Sue introduced many of us in Delphi-land to the Uberlist, or Uber To-Do List, sort of a spin on more traditional New Years Resolutions. She explains it better than I ever could here.

So here, below, is my list of 104 Things to Do in 2004.

1. Move to New York City.
2. Get rid of the car.
3. Travel back to Detroit to visit grandma.
4. Make it a priority to call her more often.
5. Visit mom and dad at least once in 2004.
6. Email or call your brother more often.
7. Get passport renewed.
8. Do the romantic getaway thing. Even if you can?t go where you?d like to go, a weekend out of the city somewhere would be lovely.
9. Travel to someplace new.
10. Take better care of finances. It?s going to be more important now than ever.
11. That means make up a budget.
12. And stick to it.
13. Get 401K money transferred from the old company to the new one.
14. Spend more wisely, meaning spend a little more on quality items you?ll use longer, rather than buying cheaper stuff that doesn?t last.
15. Swim somewhere. Regularly.
16. [Censored]
17. Schedule eye exam.
18. Get new glasses.
19. Wear ?em.
20. Look into the eye surgery thing.
21. Get all of the cats? veterinary stuff taken care of.
22. Schedule dental exam.
23. Look into whitening options.
24. Tattoo, part deux.
25. Write more letters.
26. Write more, period.
27. Get a new computer.
28. Go through all the crap that you?ve moved from Detroit to Boston to your new place, and throw stuff away. Be merciless.
29. Get out of the office at lunchtime.
30. Turn in earlier.
31. Wake up earlier.
32. Get a massage. It?s been far too long, and it helps with the pain, so just set aside the money for it and do it. You deserve it.
33. Try acupuncture.
34. Pay closer attention to the research studies.
35. Multivitamin. Every day.
36. Look into other supplements that might be beneficial.
37. Get your bike tuned up and start riding it.
38. Cook at home more often.
39. Your daily veggie intake is good ? keep it up.
40. Eat one piece or serving of fruit each day.
41. Buy a new grill pan.
42. Eat more seafood.
43. Look into those evening and weekend cooking classes.
44. Really learn how to pair wine with food.
45. Use the wine journal you bought in Napa.
46. Throw a dinner party.
47. Make him that yummy seafood paella.
48. Have a fondue party.
49. Save up for one really swanky dinner someplace where you have to dress up.
50. Then go dancing.
51. Come to think of it, you should probably take some sort of dancing lessons beforehand.
52. Get out of the apartment more often. Yes, you?re usually exhausted by the time you get home from work, but on those evenings when you do feel good, do something fun.
53. You?ve been wearing basically the same makeup since you were 12. Go to MAC and let them play with your face. You could pick up something new.
54. Pedicure. At the salon.
55. Do something crafty. Maybe soapmaking again, or maybe knitting.
56. Get the photos out of the huge box and into proper photo albums.
57. Get a better camera.
58. And maybe one of those camera phones.
59. Get one really good photo of you and the boy. Frame it.
60. Get grandma and grandpa?s wedding photo framed.
61. Go through all the framed photos you have that have been packed up since the move.
62. Rearrange and re-frame as needed.
63. Display them.
64. Get all those rolls of film that have been sitting on your desk for months developed
65. Upload the pictures to your website.
66. Organize.
67. Streamline.
68. Read more.
69. Read things that challenge you.
70. Be more informed.
71. Donate.
72. Volunteer.
73. Widen your circle of friends.
74. Meet more forum folks.
75. Delve deeper into the genealogy thing that your aunt has started doing for mom?s side of the family
76. Start working on dad?s side too
77. [Censored]
78. [Censored]
79. [Censored]
80. Watch more movies.
81. Go see more live music.
82. That bass guitar you bought yourself last year has been sitting in its case for months. Get out those lesson books and start practicing again.
83. And while you?re at it, look into taking some proper lessons.
84. And buy a practice amp.
85. And a new strap.
86. And a hard-sided case.
87. Buy a turntable.
88. Get new rods for the bedroom curtains
89. And a new chair for the computer desk
90. Say ?no? more often.
91. Say ?yes? more often.
92. Learn to accept help from others.
93. Go to the ballet to see something other than The Nutcracker.
94. But go see that again, too.
95. Get back to the MFA Boston
96. And to the Met in NYC
97. Eat lobster in Maine
98. Eat clam chowder on the Cape
99. Have a drink at the Rainbow Room
100. Go to the top of the Empire State Building
101. Start 2004 holiday shopping early
102. Now that you?ve finally found your old address book, use it to update a new one
103. Do not fear change.
104. Remember to breathe.