Jan's Birthday Blog: New York City

The Year of Art and Things I've Never Done Before

Welcome to Jan's Birthday Blog. This blog exists to keep me planning and taking action, share this year with those who are interested, and also to invite you to do things you have always wanted to do but never have. What are you /I putting off till it is the "right time"? What is it, that if you and I look back at our lives years from now we will regret not having done?

Please share what you dream of doing or have taken action on and gotten done. Tell me what you are up to. Make suggestions that I can add to my list! Use some of my ideas. Join me or invite me to do something with you.

I invite you to consider that all any of us has is right now.... there is no "later". This blog is a reminder of that for me.

(I am not promoting anything that is reckless, illegal, or negative! I am out to create life-enhancing experiences. Please plan accordingly.)

Things I've Never Done

Take a train somewhere DONE! - To NYC for Lauren's Advanced Course. 2014 Thanks for the invite honey.
Create a blog - DONE!
Audition for pro musical theater - DONE! TWICE
Get a hot stone massage- DONE for the 1st time but NOT the last! See link for PCCHH
Raise money for a cause -DONE! Want to do more. Donated a quilt that auctioned for over $300 For Hair Peace Charities - see link. Vagina Monologues raised money for women & girls in Pittsburgh and around the world!
Go to a Chiropractor -DONE! Thanks Dr. Kukich UPDATE: began regular chiropractic treatment 2 days after I bought that house. Hmmm- any relationship to those two events?
Go to a spa with Lauren - DONE! We have the pretty feet to prove it.
Work for a floral design company - See link to Mocha Rose. I'M HIRED!
Take my daughters to New York - DONE! 3rd weekend in May.
Yoga -DONE with first session. One session does not a practice make but I am on my way. YOGA update November 2011 - started going to Yoga On Freemont. My first week I went 4 times. I love it. I feel more open and my body is smiling! 2011 update : Yoga on Fremont, 2 times a week average. Good stuff!
Go to an "Iron Chef" restaurant. DONE! Bar Americain in NYC - Chef Bobby Flay.
Buy or build my dream house - I bought a 1925 Tudor Revival. It needs work before I move in. That work is creating another list of things I have never done before.
Tear down a wall - DONE! See photos of bathroom demolition.
Operate a steam shovel or some such machine. SOoooo DONE! Thank you Mike Isbir, Mark Miller and crew. See photos below.
Hop in the car for a trip with no idea where I am going FINALLY DONE! ORB to 51 S to 88S, eventually to Maryland and back
Dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean _ SOOO DONE!! Thank You Wendy!
Throw a pot - (on a wheel, not at a wall) DONE! Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 4 week crash course with my pottin buddy, Lauren.
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Detonate something
See Lindsay Benner live
Be an 'agent' for an Improv Everywhere mission
Learn to make glass beads
Teach my dog to make friends and play well with others - see Animal Friends link
Learn to weld - turns out I know two people that can weld
Hire a talent agent
Drive a classic Thunderbird - preferably Starmist Blue
Paint a mural
Fly a plane
Learn to sail
Drive a race car - Have I told you about Women-Drivers.com?
Be on TV
Write a book
Go surfing
Sky diving
Travel to Spain, Greece, Morocco, South America, The Grand Canyon, Alaska, Hawaii, pretty much anywhere in the US...
Eat vegetarian for a week
Get a tattoo
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BLOG BONUS - Stuff I didn't know I wanted to do:
Work as a standardized patient educator. Had no idea that's what I wanted to do. DONE
Do home staging to get a house sold - twice yet. Thanks for asking, Justin and Tom
Ride a lap at the Vintage Grand Prix in Schenley Park - DONE!
Go to the James Taylor / Carol King concert at the last event at the Civic Arena DONE! It was the BEST! Thank you Diane
Buy a share in a Community Supported Agriculture farm. DONE! Kretchsmann's to be exact. Thanks Edie and Mad.
Visit St. Anthony's Chapel in Troy Hill. DONE! Thank you Paula!
Make a web site - DONE - will be unveiled soon
Gravity Hill - DONE!
Eat a raisinette dipped in hot sauce - Done! I was double dog dared. I had to.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

New York City

Took the girls to New York last weekend. We had a very New Yorkie time! That means lots of walking, a few cab rides, a few shows, really great food and some shopping. We were in Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square, Bryant Park, Central Park, Soho, Noho, the Flower District, East Side and West Side, Broadway, Park Ave, Madison Ave - Brooks Brothers. And we were just there for a weekend! Diane made the trip possible and there is no better friend to tour the city with. Her niece Sarah added to the festivities. We had brunch at Bar Americain - one of Iron Chef Bobby Flay's places. The food was superb, right down to the crimson chai tea. We saw the Blue Man Group. Very cool experience.

I have to admit, I would never want to live in New York. My ears and nose would complain bitterly. And I think they should stop building places for more people to move onto the island. But I found myself learning to navigate the city better than ever before and it was great to experience it with my daughters. Thank you, Thank you Diane! photo.php.jpg