A Blog of Accomplishment... You Know, In the Future

I am going to make a list.

"A list of what?" you ask.

A list of things I want to do.

"Things you want to do when?" you query.

At some point in my life. Now, a year from now, in a half hour, in another dimension.

"Ok!" you respond, with gusto.

Things I'd Like to Accomplish Someday: A List
by Jillian Sexton


  1. Live in England for an extended period of time - four months, a year, 10 years. Doesn't really matter. But I want to live there long enough that I get to watch a full series of some British show from beginning to end.
  2. Meet David Mitchell - this is piggybacking off of the previous goal, but let's face it: if I'm going to live in England, I'm going to hunt down my favourite comedians. David's first on the list.
  3. Memorize ten famous poems and recite them frequently, to simultaneously impress and annoy people - on the list right now are "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," (T.S. Eliot), "i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)" (e.e. cummings), "Ode to Autumn" (Keats), and "The Highwayman" (Alfred Noyes).
  4. Knit a sweater that I will actually wear - with like, sleeves and a neck hole and stuff.
  5. Learn how to make gravy as good as my grandmother's - Mom's is great, but Nan's is just divine.
  6. Meet Don Miller, and have him sign my copy of Blue Like Jazz - he is my favourite author, and that is my favourite book, and it would be a defining moment in my life.
  7. Also get Don to sign my copy of Prayer and the Art of Volkswagon Maintenance - it's the first book he ever wrote, which is no longer in print, and this would also be a very special moment for me.
  8. Also, while this book signing is happening, figure out how to get Don Miller to marry me - hey, it could happen! I am quite persuasive sometimes.
  9. Read every book listed in Daniel S. Burt's The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - so far I'm at 4. I've got a ways to go.
  10. Collect a lot of books so that my home library will be the envy of all - and so, you know, I can read whatever book I want whenever I want to.
  11. Handwrite all my favourite passages from books onto index cards and catalogue them - because I am a massive dork.
  12. Learn Russian - fluently.
  13. Run the Tely 10 in St. John's - gotta get rid of those shin splints first.
  14. Read the Bible from cover to cover - it's been a long process, what can I say?
  15. Get another degree - in the process!
  16. Name all subsequent pets, cars, and children after characters from Harry Potter and/or Russian politicians or intelligentsia - again, I am a massive dork. I really didn't need to remind you. Also, Harry Potter names are genius - click here to see what I mean.
  17. Learn how to sew well - a little darning is no problem, but hey, it'd be nice to sew my own wedding dress.
  18. Travel to every European country and try their local bread - this might take me a lifetime to accomplish, OR one very hectic summer.
  19. Publish a book - or something in a book, or an article or two. Essentially, just get published in something more mainstream than The Muse.
  20. Hike the East Coast Trail - in totality, or in parts. I'm not particular about this.
  21. Meet Bill Bryson; get him to sign one of his books - this might also be accomplished while living in England.
  22. Get a tattoo - not a particularly lofty goal, but one I have not yet accomplished.
  23. Visit China - hike along the Great Wall; eat good Chinese food (but not bugs and other questionable fare).
  24. Learn what it really means to forgive and forget.
  25. Go to Disney World - my father promised me a trip to DW before I was 12; I'm 23 and I've yet to be there. Someday I will fulfill my childhood dream of meeting Mulan, dancing with Goofy, and, more recently, visiting Harry Potter's wizarding world, right there in Florida!
I'll probably add more to this list, or take some away, or never accomplish any of it. Or all three!

Jillz

Comments

Tammy Williams said…
I remember when you were younger, you always said you were going to name your future child D'artagnan. Oh and guess what, I knit a sweater for myself last year - without a pattern - and it turned out great, aside from the fact that it was a little too short for me. As far as Disney World goes, just come visit us someday and you can drive with us down to DisneyLAND. You can watch the kids while we play ... haha.
Marion said…
I'm impressed that there's a Wikipedia entry for Harry Potter characters. Also, we should hike the East Coast Trail this summer!
Beth Hynes said…
Russian is shockingly easy to learn. Don't let the Cyrillic fool you!

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