Unplanning Life

I used to plan my life. I can't tell you how many times the Big Guy has tried to teach me to stop spending so much time planning and start living. Side note - there are only two types of references to "plan" in all of the Good Books: God's plan and the evil, secret, cunning plans of really bad people. So what do we learn from that? Leave it to God to plan - he's better at it anyway.

So I decided this was my year to stop being so anal. I wasn't going to let an opportunity to make some memories pass me by. I wasn't going to worry about if I had money or time or if I really should stay home and clean my room or put away Christmas decorations - I've decided to leave that for April's spring cleaning.

Living my life this way led me to experience so many things I had never done and has contributed to one of the best years I've ever had. Here is a list of 55 firsts I had in the past year:

1. Saw Broadway's The Lion King - thanks, Mom!
2. Learned to Zumba - loved watching the men stop their weightlifting routines to stare at all the women swinging their hips and shaking their bon-bons
3. Went to Moab
4. Hiked to Delicate Arch - one of the most breathtaking sites I've ever seen
   
5. Rafted down the Red River - took on a huge rock, the raft went up 90 degrees and flipped most of us off the raft
6. Played Things, Bananagrams, and Sedarahc - and have never laughed harder (see Things game with the fam below)
   
7. Had some wild kissing adventures on roller coasters - no further details available for the public
8. Went to a Kelly Clarkson concert - so fun to hear a whole crowd shouting my name
   
9. Got a promotion - became a director
10. Had my hope renewed and fell in love again - and again...
11. Lost 30 pounds I'll never see again unless there's a baby involved
12. Rode the Alpine Coaster, the Alpine Slide, and the Zipline in Park City
13. Went to a Jazz game and got put on the Jumbotron
14. Got internet on my phone - though I still wouldn't have it if I were paying for it
15. Spent the night in Flaming Gorge - and went on the biggest dam tour in Utah
16. Speed dated - and actually ended up with a good one!
    
17. Went to a horse race at the gorgeous Del Mar fairgrounds
18. Bet (and lost) on a horse race
19. Danced at a Zombie prom
20. Went to a Real game - almost convinced me to buy season tickets on the spot
21. Saw Broadways' Legally Blonde - trying to hold back from going blonde again
22. Rode a Harley
    
23. Burnt myself on a Harley
    
24. Played bocce ball on the beach at Coronado Island
25. Watched my aunts and uncles on The King Family Show on TV - PBS, baby!
26. Put on a Christmas fireside
27. Learned to play Roulette
28. Learned to play Craps and won $280 - secret is to press it and let it ride
29. Lost $600 playing Craps - lesson learned: do not do what your "expert" teachers do
30. Bought skis
31. Learned to snowboard - and though I was called a "natural" by my instructor, I have quite a few bumps and bruises that may prove otherwise
    
32. Said goodbye to Aunt Vonnie who taught me to live a colorful life and to be diligent in making important memories
33. Participated in a TV show rating audience - be grateful that the show we reviewed will not air based on our ratings
34. Sang karaoke at a bar
    
35. Threw an Oscar party
36. Visited Oregon
37. Visited Washington - decided I need to travel more this year
38. Went to a Bee's game
39. Rode in a Hummer limo and a diesel-powered GMC limo
40. Got glitter toes
41. Saw Cirque du Soleil's Ka
42. Went to Monster Jam - got put on the kiss cam
    
43. Saw Reel Big Fish in St. George
44. Went to Disney On Ice - well, the second half of it anyway
45. Signed up to play on a soccer team and played my first soccer game
46. Got an airbrush tan
47. Got eyelash extensions
48. Had some hair removed by laser - it's fine if you like feeling like rubber bands are snapping all over
49. Canoed on Utah Lake
50. Went to a piano bar and danced on a piano
51. Shopped for an engagement ring - twice!
52. Saw a film at the Sundance film festival
53. Ate shrimp, lobster, and sushi - hated it all
54. Got into hiphop - don't worry, I pay no attention to the lyrics
55. Saw Michael Buble - and fell in love
    

And 10 more things I'd like to do before 30:

1. Wakeboard - DONE! 6/14/10
2. Go on a cruise - Scheduled to the Caribbean 1/16/11
3. Go to Hawaii
4. Get scuba certified and go scuba diving (in process...)
5. See Wicked - DONE! 4/10/10
6. Run a 5k in an organized race - 1/2 marathon in September
7. Complete 90 days of P90x (done 12 days...)
8. Join a book club (start on Monday!!)
9. Go to Lake Powell - DONE! 5/30/10
10. Go to Italy - though I'd settle for Colorado or Seattle until I save enough $ - Did Colorado and Seattle 5/10, 8/10

What have you done this year?