waiting

They say bad things come in threes, right?

1. Monday. 11 AM. Checked bank account online. Checking account includes:
5/24/2010 Austin Grill $27.10
5/24/2010 Weber's Cider Mill $31.03
5/24/2010 Gunpal.com $500.00
5/24/2010 Gunpal.com $500.00
5/24/2010 Parkville Library $12.00

Yes, I know that's a big overdue fine, but let's back up to gunpal.com. What?!
Investigated charges. 800 number provided by classy-sounding website bad. Left work early to get to credit union before it closed at 4. Got new debit card, submitted fraud claim.
Bank refunded $1000 by 11 PM that night. Gunpal.com refunded $1000 on Tuesday.
Hoping we get to keep both $1000s.

2. Wednesday. 7:45 AM. Driving to work through the ghett-o.
Bang.
New person to add to hitlist: Mohammad R. (along with Eric R. and Christopher C., others with whom I've had accidents)
Mohammad tried to go straight in a right-turn only lane and hit my rear passenger side. Minimal damage, no injuries. Got to stand in the sun and hang out with the homies from the neighborhood.
Have to leave work early tomorrow to bring my car to the Progressive service center in Glen Burnie.
Hell yeah. Watch this It's awesome and worth your time.

3. ??? I'm following my Papa's advice and watching my back!

30 before 30

My first year of forever 29 has begun. My birthday was great - it began with a bomf run accompanied by Tera & Brett, then included not working, shopping and exploring some lesser-known (to me) neighborhoods, eating an indulgent lunch, and ended at my step-brother and his wife-to-be's rehearsal dinner with my family. I wouldn't have changed much about it! Well, except maybe chocolate cake instead of red velvet.

So now I've been 29 for a week and have been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. The older I get, the more I've learned that I need specific goals to stay motivated. So, I've borrowed the idea of some other ladies and created a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I'll try to keep you updated on my progress (but keeping you updated will not be one of my 30 things). Here goes...

1. Really qualify for Boston
2. Organize and play in a benefit chamber music recital
3. Plant a vegetable garden, peonies and hydrangeas
4. Spend a weekend with my h.s. girls
5. Take more pictures and actually smile nicely in them
6. Consolidate our retirement savings plans
7. Complete a half ironman
8. Remember and recognize birthdays and anniversaries of family and close friends
9. Read the Bible (yup, the whole thing)
10. Go on at least one 3-night backpacking trip
11. Renew and use our passports (just got invited to a wedding in Ireland!)
12. Weatherize our patio furniture
13. Organize our cd collection - get rid of cases and storage binders
14. Consider saying certain things one more time before I open my big mouth
15. Keep two weeknights/week free whenever possible
16. Create our wedding album
17. Plan a surprise get-away for me and Kyle
18. Hang my old window frame picture display
19. Get back in touch with one friend each month
20. Forgive faster
21. Learn basic bike maintenance and take good care of my bike
22. Go to the beach
23. Give one surprise, non-birthday gift a month (May - done)
24. Question more
25. Eat vegetarian a couple times a week
26. Learn to change a diaper
27. Finish planning our Patagonia trip

28. Decide what my go-to cocktail should be

29. Eliminate one time-consuming activity from my life (I cut back on my back on my feet days to just Friday. I'd still like to eliminate one entire activity, but this is a big step for me and a good start)

30. Have the wingback chair and piano bench cushion recovered

Here's to my final year in the 20s! Yikes!