Things To Do Before You Die

I think everyone has some kind of list of things they feel they just need to get to before they hit they call it a life and retire the old jersey. I have a few that rattle around in my noggin and while many of them are not completely epic, I don't think things on these kinds of lists always need to be luge Mount Everest naked while singing the national anthem.

It is interesting to see what others pop onto their lists, as I found here. That looks to be a somewhat solid list, but as with any list that someone else makes, it is less-than-perfect for my own goals. First off, I ain't jumping off of anything with a damn elastic band attached to my fine self. Second (and I do not see one on this list that necessarily hits on this point), I am not doing anything that involves my #1 rule of vacations - no activities that could involve my being eaten. Shark diving? Seriously? I am not going to throw away the thousands of years of evolution that have firmly entrenched me and you are the top of the food chain so I can try to match Jacques Cousteau. Ain't gonna happen.

My hope is to get a list going and then incorporate some/all of it into my daily (or every other week) goal of doing something new and blogging about it here. I have actually done at least one of the things I really wanted to do and that is get my motorcycle license. Umm, I don't actually have a bike yet, but hey... got that license! Baby steps, baby steps. This one was a big one for me because it is something I've long been both fascinated by and a little scared of. Heck, even though I have the license I am still a little scared of it because in the Basic Riders Course I took, you top out at maybe 20 MPH or so on the bike. I am wondering what it will be like when I finally get a bike and hit 60 MPH on a highway surrounded by traffic... but deep down in my heart, I just have to do it.

Here are a few ideas of things I am looking to try soon:
- snowboarding
- run a 5K and possibly a marathon
- run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain
- play running back for the Dallas Cowboys.

Yeah, the last one is likely not going to happen, but I want to stay consistent with the one thing I've said I've always wanted to do. Plus, I have mongoose-like quickness and I think I would be a great change of pace back. See, I'm not even demanding the starting job since I'm such a team player.

For a slightly more amusing list, see here from Maxim. #76 is my favorite ("Teach a monkey martial arts and then kick its ass.") and I need to figure out some way, some how to make that happen. If there is anything life has taught me, it's that kung fu monkeys are high comedy. Hell, any monkeys. Period.

And my buddy TC Luoma over at T-Nation has his list of things you don't have to do before you die (and it's a funny list, although I disagree with the running of the bulls part).

But I am curious to hear what other people have on their list since it does tell you a lot about your own individuality by showing what are some of the most important things to you. If I get some good ideas, I hope to try them myself on here and let y'all know how it went (even the trainwrecks).