This is completely off topic, but I've been playing that ACNO ENERGIZER game off your phun linx for HOURS and my head is about to explode because I can't pass level 30. I have tons of actual work to do, but it doesn't look like it's going to be done anytime soon.

Life is short...my mother died in front of me at 12 and I was later raised by my grandmother who also died in front of me. I decided that I never wanted to get to the end of my life with regrets...so when I left college (day 3), I decided to do everything I wanted...

-On my own I became and animator and digital video expert for Paramount and others.
-I spent two years getting a pilots license in fixed wing and rotocraft.
-I started a successful company
-I started two failing companies
-Worked around the world
-Had an exciting adventure overseas as a whistleblower/investigator...for a $6 million lawsuit and won it.
-Was in Wired, a NY Times bestseller, Jim Lehrer Newshour, etc.
-Left tech career to become a writer
-Have 4 books due this year
-My wife and I are expecting in Aug
-And I'm just getting started...

Not trying to blow my own horn...but am trying to make the point that the only thing that keeps people from trying new things...exploring all of their interests...is this idea that you have to do the right thing...go to college, get a job, settle down, retire. If you have a dream...if you aren't happy...you are the only person who can do anything about it. I think it is cool that Bonnie is entering a new chapter...never stop doing, learning, exploring...and never have regrets. At least when my time is up, I can say I lived a full life.

Edited by author 03-05-2003 08:00 AM
I must apologies for my anti-list/learning posts. I am now guilty of making lists myself. Again, I am sorry!

www.davinian.co.uk

learn the constellation that corresponds to your birthdate, then your lovers, assuming it's different, then a friends and when hanging out on the grass on a summer night, you'll sound like Sagan

hehe, why make a list then? assuming there is enough time to learn everything...

But there's always more to learn. That's the best part!

What's the point? don't learn them, in-fact forget things... because when you've learned them all, that?s it - life over, nothing more to live for... unless you forgot something. An incomplete list would be the safest bet for everlasting life. Longevity through lack of knowledge... umm, interesting, I must learn about this...

Karan, you've reminded me that Bonnie has already given major lessons in two items on my list. Her brave career change stiffened my resolve to make my own change, and the great way she approached her big birthday last year was a major part of what made me feel positive about my own thirtieth, coming up the week after next. Thanks, Bonnie!

You made me experience a moment of superiority today because, yes, I can do many of the things on your list. However, the moment, as moments will be, was transitory as I realized that my own list includes, How to keep a garden alive, How to dress for a rave, How to decorate my apartment and How to make a major career change.

Good news, Bon! You can learn about all those things and more from the Learning Annex!

Edited by author 02-26-2003 11:24 AM
Well, some of those are pretty attainable. Driving stick actually isn't that hard. Just get yourself a friend with an old stick car they don't care too much about and futz around, you'll get it, I promise.

Constellations aren't too bad, just start simple - like Orion for instance - and go from there.

As for cooking, it's mostly just following directions until you know what you are doing. Just watch the food channel a couple nights a week and you'll pick it up (not that I'm a cook, mind).

The instruments you have listed are kind of a crap shoot. Drums aren't hard to learn, necessarily, but I don't think everyone was meant to be a drummer. It takes more coordination than a lot of people have. Sitar would be cool to learn, I think. I suppose it wouldn't be too bad if you have ever played any other stringed instrument.

Other listed items are a little more hairy. I think you have a better chance of learning to move objects with your mind than understanding your boyfriend or saying no to a Krispy Kreme. :-)

 Men are dumb, that's pretty well all you have to know (trust me, I am one ;-). If you keep that in mind when they do stupid things, and remember that guys don't think like women do, you should be OK. Guys (at least in my experience) think in a random stream of loosely related (and sometimes completely unrelated) thoughts. I've found that even when I'm "dwelling" on something bad, other things enter the stream and bring me somewhere else. Hope that helps explain some things ;-)

Perhaps this could be the basis of a new web site, where people meet to teach each other things. "I'll teach you Spanish if you teach me how to cook Indian food." I think that would be a really neat idea. Of course it'll be a crap shoot as to whether or not you get someone who is capable of teaching, but it's not like you're losing any money on the deal.

I used to maintain a list called "things to learn" on my Palm; it included several of the same wishlist items. I could help you learn a few of your desired topics (some constellations, drums, and stick-shifting) in exchange for the knowledge of how to be a responsible friend to houseplants.

add these things to my list:

* How to play the drums
* How to cook Indian food
* How to go to bed earlier
* How to say "No Way Jose" to freeloaders