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Home > Do You Have a Bucket List?

Do You Have a Bucket List?

October 11th, 2008 at 09:22 pm

You probably know what a "bucket list" is, even if you didn't see the movie by that name. I didn't see it, but after a friend started talking about it, I began musing about what would be on my list.

I thought it would be fun to come up with a Bucket List made up of learning experiences.

1. Travel to every national park in the country. I love visiting national parks. Aside from unique and fantastic scenery, our national parks are an incredibly affordable vacation destination. And with park ranger-led talks and walks, it's a learning experience as well.

I get my Parks Passport book stamped each time I visit a national park. It's a nice memento of your travels. It would be fun to plan a week's vacation around a string of parks in close proximity to each other that you could hit all in one trip.

2. Read a biography of every American president, starting with George Washington and ending with President Obama. (Just making sure you're reading this.) I'm more interested in recent history that i've lived through, but I'm sure there are interesting things to learn about our earliest presidents. I'm getting more and more interested in history, and this would be a good way to go about it.

If I were really ambitious, I might add this goal: Read three books of my choice from the New York Times best-seller list each year.

In other news...
I filled up my oil tank last June, which is usually a time when prices are depressed. But when I scheduled my furnace cleaning, I asked what the going rate was now, and they told me $3.09 a gallon. That's cheap(!) compared to the $4.24 i paid in June x 192 gallons = an overpayment of $220 with just that one fill-up, but who knew?

However, the Energy Information Administration has forecast an average per gallon oil price of $3.90 this winter, so my advice to you would be, if you haven't filled up, do so now! Especially since OPEC is concerned that the dip in oil prices to around $87 per barrel is getting a little too low; they like to maintain oil prices at between $80 and $100. So they're meeting in November and will likely cut production.

Today's high was about 69 or 70 here, so I threw open all the windows at about 1:30 pm when I saw it had reached 68 outside and my indoor temp was still 60! Despite doing that, and then closing all those windows around 3:45 pm, I managed to increase the indoor temp to only 61.

This house seems to retain the cooler temps, a nice thing in summer but not so nice now. Still, with mild temps forecast through at least Wednesday of next week, I'm thrilled to continue deferring use of my heating oil. Each day I avoid turning it on now means an extra day's worth of heat I'll get in the dead of winter, when I really can't avoid using it.

9 Responses to “Do You Have a Bucket List?”

  1. scfr Says:
    1223762122

    ending with President Obama. Ha ha. Just making sure you're reading this LOL!

    I would like to visit Cuba. The other things on my list are more selfless, but the trip to Cuba would be all for me.

  2. Koppur Says:
    1223765215

    I have my MS list - things I want to do before (if) my MS makes it impossible for me o do this. Travel everywhere, swim with sharks, and visit Machu Pichu are on the top.

  3. baselle Says:
    1223783663

    From the auto-biography standpoint, check out Grant's. By far the best one. Can get it at Project Gutenberg.

  4. fern Says:
    1223815431

    Baselle, i'm guessing there could me multiple bios written on a given president by different authors. Which is the one you recommend for Grant?

  5. fern Says:
    1223815467

    Koppur, please see my private note i sent you...

  6. gamecock43 Says:
    1223827187

    I read a biography on (I wish she were)MRS president Clinton. I have a great deal of respect for her now. I am all for Obama too. I cant believe we might end up with a female president and it's not Hilary. Such a disapointment.

  7. sillyoleme Says:
    1223834295

    Well, in all fairness, I think the best presidential autobiography will definitely be President McCain's, what with his being imprisoned in a war and all. Smile
    I have to admit, I have never been a fan of Hillary Clinton (primarily because of her husband). But after the Democratic primary, I would be up for reading a little about her. I definitely liked her best of the Democrats (that's alot coming from me, lol).

    As for my bucket list, it would include starting a no-kill animal shelter, and working with veterinarians to fund low-cost or no-cost procedures for needy pet owners who would otherwise contribute to the growing pet population, or have to give their pets up. It goes back to when I wanted to be a veterinarian myself, but it's one dream I think I'll hold onto.

  8. whitestripe Says:
    1223838122

    so far on mine:
    -give a $50 note to a (talented) street-busker. imagine how that would make their day?!
    -attend the glastonbury festival
    -visit venice, before it sinks

    that's all i have right now Smile

  9. baselle Says:
    1223861696

    General Grant wrote his own
    Text is memoirs and Link is http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/g#a527
    memoirs, considered widely to be one of the best written ones ever. He managed to get it written, and died a week later. Mark Twain helped promote it - the proceeds and royalties went to Grant's wife and children.

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