Third Annual Bucket List Year In Review

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss, but that it is too low and we reach it." ~ Michelangelo

This year, I'm happy to announce that I managed to accumulate 9 bucket list checkmarks. That means 9 butterflies have been put into the box....a bucket list record for this girl! Amazing what having a job and money to do things can do for a bucket list. :) If you're new (or just forgetful!) you can check out the review from 2009 and 2010.

And now...on with it. Here are this year's checkmarks!

White Water Rafting. (Original post here). This baby has been on my list for quite some time. After canoeing with BFF a few years ago, and based on my love for water sports, I knew that this would be a lot of fun. So when my law firm planned a retreat and mentioned white water rafting as an option, you better believe I spoke up and pushed for that (despite my total lack of power!) choice! The best part of the trip was getting to bring a date. Since Mr. Right's still hidden somewhere, I took my Dad. He told me once if he had a bucket list, white water rafting would be part of it. We had a great time and, as I would have expected, my Dad was a total hit with everyone.

Run the First Half of the San Francisco Marathon. (Original posts here and here). I really took up running in San Francisco. I dabbled some in college, but was much more of a elliptical kind of girl. But when I was living in San Francisco, I'd put on my shoes and take off to see the city. It was there in 2008 that I ran my first race--the Progressive Marathon portion of the SF Marathon. Ever since that day, I knew I wanted to do the half marathon there. Not only was it the city that inspired me to run, but the marathon course is unbelievably great and is the only race that actually lets you run on the surface of the roadway across the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're a runner---or if you think you want to be---put this race on your list!

Watch an away OSU football game. (Original post here). You may remember this checkmark from my trip with Cousin Kevin and two of his kiddos and BFF and his girlfriend to the OSU v. Texas A&M game in College Station. I have to tell you, I'm so glad this was the venue for my first away game--Kyle Field is just insane. I'm not sure I've ever been somewhere that was THAT loud! And, of course, the fact that we came back and one by 1....well that made it all the more awesome for me!

Go to Mass at the Washington National Cathedral. (Original post here.) I love the Washington National Cathedral. Love, love, love. The whole idea there is that it is a house of worship for all people. At the Mass I attended, there were people of every denomination, worshiping together. Methodists and Baptists and Catholics and Unitarians all knelt to pray and took communion together. If you ask me, this place understands something that a lot of others do not. It is overwhelmingly large and beautiful and reverent when you visit there anytime, but actually going to Mass is a whole different experience. Again, if you get the opportunity to, go!

Go on a Wine Tasting Weekend in Napa. (Original post here). I had been to Napa once before in 2008 when I was a summer associate in San Francisco. Ever since, I really wanted to go back with a group of friends. And I've got to tell you, as excited as I was and as much fun as I knew we'd have, I never could have imagined what a blast that day in July would turn out to be!
Own Something from Tiffany's. I'm not a person who finds happiness in things. Not that there's anything wrong with that--some people can buy nice things and be happy. If I buy something expensive, I just feel guilty and unhappy. But this year on my birthday, I decided it was time for me to own my own little blue box, and I ordered myself a necklace to celebrate my 28th birthday. And you know, it made me happy. :)

Go to Bedlam. (Original post here). I know, I know. Some of you think to yourselves, "Tiffany is a crazy OSU fan, how has she never been to Bedlam??" Easy--it was always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is my mom's family reunion. In order not to get kicked out of the family, I was always there. But this year, the game was moved to the next weekend and you best believe I was there to watch my Cowboys totally dominate OU and win the game 44-10. Which led to the next checkmark.....

Rush the Field. I've got to be honest, this was a checkmark I was worried I might never get checked off. I mean, this is a college kid sort of activity and I didn't ever do it in college. But you best believe that when I got my chance, I was taking it. When the Loud Oklahoma Girl and I were making our plan to get to the field, the guys behind us said, "You girls go for it! We're too old--we're 28 now, but you kids have fun." Thank goodness I look young and feel even younger, because this 28 year old headed to the turf and loved every minute!

Attend a Steeplechase/Southern tailgate. (Original posts here.) Okay, this one may be mildly cheating. I have a rule on my bucket list that I don't add something after I've done it. Since I had never heard of a Steeplechase until Mr. and Mrs. Top Gun invited me to attend, it was not on the list. However, attending a southern tailgate was on the list, and becuase tailgating was the biggest part of the Steeplechase, I decided this counted. It was such a fun experience---the dresses, the horses, and of course the tailgate. If you ever get a chance to go, take it!

I've got to say, this is a pretty darn good list. Will I be able to top it in 2012? It'll be tough, but I'm planning on getting my first checkmark on January 2, so I'm starting off on the right foot! Stay tuned....