bucket list

I officially have Olympic fever.  Ever since I was a kid, I have LOVED watching the Olympics.  In the summer, I watched every swimming and gymnastic event.  For winter, ice skating, skiing, and bobsled were always top pick.  The London 2012 Summer Olympics are just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited.  For those 15 days, my TV will constantly be on, tuned into the Olympics.  This evening, I got a taste of Olympic excitement, as I found the time trials/qualifications for swimming on TV.  It made me remember how I wanted to be an Olympic swimmer as a kid.  I even made a pact with my best friend that if either of us ever made it to the Olympics, we would both shave our heads.  (It reduces drag you know.)  Obviously, I was never a fast enough swimmer to even make it close to qualifying for the Olympics.

However, the more I got thinking about it, I have some Olympic related things on my bucket list.  Up until this point, my bucket list has existed only in my head.  I figured it is time I write it down.  What a better place to track my progress and have you all hold me accountable, then to post it on my blog.  Here it is...a work in progress...with my Olympic aspirations listed at the top!

1. See both the summer and winter Olympics in person.

2. Ride in a bobsled. (You can do this in Salt Lake City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.  I was totally going to do this when I visited, but the track didn't open for the season until 1 week after I left.  Guess I'll have to go back.)

3. Learn to ride a motorcycle.

4. Learn to drive stick shift.

5. Visit all 50 states.  (You can find anything on the internet these days.  I found a site that lets you make a map of states you have visited.  Here's my map, with the states I've been to in color.)

6. Finish a triathlon.

7. Learn to play the steel drums.

8. Get my scuba diving certification.  The scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.

9. Travel the world.  (Hike Machu Picchu.  Visit the Taj Mahal.  See the temples at Angkor Wat. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.)

10. Step foot on all 7 continents.

11. Ride in or drive a race car.  (Preferably, I'd like to ride in a race car with Kasey Kahne.  Sadly, I do have to be somewhat realistic.)

12. Own a beach house.

13. See Coldplay in concert.  (And Aerosmith.  They're touring this summer and not stopping in Phoenix.  Bummer.)

14. Learn to pick a lock and hot wire a car.

15. Go to the hot air balloon festival in New Mexico.  (I'm currently trying to plan this one in October.)

16. Visit every Cactus League spring training baseball diamond before I graduate dental school.  (So far, I think I've visited 6 out of 10.)

Well that's it for tonight.  I'm sure I'll add more as time goes on.