What's It All About?

Many people ask that question about a great deal of things. For me, today, this question is two fold. What's this blog, BUCKET LIST, all about? And, what's life all about?

This blog is where I keep a running record of my bucket list, you know, the "kick the bucket list" of all the things that you want to do before you knock off for that one last time. At a few weeks shy of 26, I know I may be young to start one, those guys in the movie were much older and knew their time was limited. My list isn't about fitting everything in at the last minute. Rather it's about keeping a running record of the experiences that I want to take part in, small or large. Some of the items on this list can be done on a rainy day, others will take time, planning, and money to actually see through to the end.

I've never been any good at keeping journals but want there to be some record of my life of the things I did, what it was like, ect. So I started this list back in March, 2009 and keep an actual journal with me at all times so that when I think of something I want to do I add it to "the list". The plan is that when I complete something on the list I write about it. Because my handwriting is legible to few and because Blogger has a built in spell-check I'll write about my experiences here.

As for the "What's life all about?" question, at this point I have no clue, maybe creating and completing things will help me figure that out. I'll get back to you on that one.

The List

1. Create a LEGO font and use it to create something for myself or Kevin (Here's How) - 3.22.10
2. Participate in a craft show - 3.22.10
3. Take the Maine Beer Trail (Here's How) - 3.22.10
4. Take swing dancing lessons - 3.22.10
5. Do the Trek Across Maine (Here's How) - 3.22.10
6. Learn Irish Step Dancing - 3.22.10
7. Spend a day on a ropes course, including a zip line - 3.22.10
8. Write a letter to my future self (Here's How) - 3.22.10
9. Photograph the alphabet in found objects (no letters!) - 3.22.10
10. Another disposable camera project, this time make it so I can make a book out of the images - 3.22.10
11. Photograph a location determined by flipping a coin at intersections - 3.22.10
12. Drive the entirety of Rt. 1, from Fort Kent, ME to Key West, FL (or vice versa) - 3.22.10
13. Re/Learn how to play the piano - 3.23.10
14. Make collage animals using the insides of business envelopes - 3.23.10
15. Felted stuffed initial magnets - 4.10.10
16. Baby/kids door hangers, ex. Do not disturb, Enter Mess at own risk, Nap time - 4.10.10
17. Paisley cupboard doors - 4.10.10
18. Old door knob hangers - 4.10.10
19. Picture frame room dividers - 4.10.10
20. Paper canvas paintings - 4.10.10
21. 1,000 origami cranes from recycled paper - 4.23.10
  • Updated 5.22.10 - Make a before and after photo book of these cranes, picture of the recycled paper before, and picture of finished crane.
  • Updated 7.26.10 - Before/After pics uploaded. See Post
22. Backpack through Europe - 5.12.10
23. Positive News Source - 5.12.10
24. Photograph letters - make into alphabet poster - themed by color, location, 3-d, 2-d ect. - 5.12.10
25. Bike the Kangamangus - 5.22.10
26. White water rafting - 5.22.10
27. Skydiving - 5.22.10
28. Hot air balloon ride - 5.22.10
29. Trip to Machu Picchu - 6.8.10
30. Alaskan Cruise - 6.8.10
31. Make my own Beer - 6.27.10
32. In the 1st 4 years of the Dempsey Challange, ride each route, 10, 25, 50 & 100 - 6.27.10
33. Read/Re-read all of Kathy Reichs books in order - 7.15.10
34. Read/Re-read all of the Harry Potter books in order - 7.15.10
35. Read/Re-read all of the Redwall books in order - 7.15.10
• Updated 6.29.11 - See Post
36. Learn how to play the Harmonica - 7.29.10
37. Pay off my 7 years (18 year old me to 25 year old me) of debt and from then on stay as debt free as possible - 7.29.10
38. Geocaching - 8.15.10
39. Rent an RV & go cross country - 10.5.10
40. Go to Montana - 10.5.10
41. Make a picture frame from the old window I have from Mom & Dad, like these - 10.26.10
42. Make a bookshelf from old shutters, like these - 10.26.10
43. Make some unique onsies, like this one - 10.26.10
44. Bake through the 12 days of cookies! (dedicated to my dear friend, Jessie Magoon!) - 10.30.10
45. See the Northern Lights - 10.30.10
46. Learn How to Surf - 10.30.10
47. Try 50 Different Cocktails - 10.30.10
48. Eat at, and review, 50 different restaurants - 10.30.10
49. Try 50 different beers - 10.30.10
• Updated 6.29.11 - See Post
50. Go Snorkeling in a Shipwreck - 10.30.10
51. Make 50 different, new recipes - 10.30.10
52. Eat a Garbage Plate - 11.04.10
53. Eat a Krispy Kreme right from the Conveyor - 11.5.10
54. Learn how to Blow Glass - 11.5.10
55. Old Photo/New Photo Project - 6.29.11

37. Pay off my 7 years (18 year old me to 25 year old me) of debt and from then on stay as debt free as possible.

I have not added any debt to my pile since May 4th -- and hope that I don't have to for quite a while. I have stopped carrying my credit cards with me. It used to be that before I went shopping I would check to see how much available credit I had on each card and keep that in mind while shopping, using multiple different cards for one trip to the mall. Yikes -- just a bit out of control! Kinda makes me sick...

Here is my debt to date:
Credit Cards: $5,535.79
Car Loan: $3,900
Medical Bills: $437
Student Loans: $5,473

TOTAL DEBT: $15,345.79

Along with piles of debt I also have very little savings. I have some stocks, a retirement fund, and an education fund, but no real cash savings that I could access quickly if the need be. (Maybe this is one of the many reasons for the large amount of credit card debt).

Cash Savings: $26.35

I'll check back every three months or so to fill you all in on how I'm doing with tackling the money monster!

10/26/2010 Update:

Here is my debt to date:
Credit Cards: $5,228.89
Car Loan: $3,378.98
Medical Bills: $394.31 -- was so close to having this all paid off when I got another bill from a different office for the same stuff that happened 9 months ago! I was charged by three different entities for the same appointments/procedures, the hospital, the doctor's office, and the lab.
Student Loans: $5,367.34

TOTAL DEBT: $14,369.52

Cash Savings: $809.02 -- $800 is from wedding money for Kevin & I to use. We'd really like to save it for something special, honeymoon, reception, or something else.
Posted by KaitLavin

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