Is it a bit stuffy in here today? My apologies – let me just open a window:

1. Started your own blog – Res ipsa loquitur.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band – I quit cello when I found out I had to perform.
4. Visited Hawaii – Don’t really want to, either.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity – Well, on a small scale.  Like giving all my lunch money on a given day.
7. Been to Disneyland/world – Once is enough.
8. Climbed a mountain – Well, some largish hills, anyway.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo – All rumors regarding me standing on a table in teh dining hall of Sweet Briar College and singing “Like A Virgin” are hereby categorically denied.
11. Bungee jumped – Never in a jillion years.  The six year old was asking me when she could the other day.
12. Visited Paris – Never been on the Continent. I briefly dated a French girl in London, though.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - I’ve been caught in a few squalls. It’s not fun.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I’m still working on my wooden ship model. She’s been in the stocks for a couple years now, but we’re slooooowly getting there.
15. Adopted a child – Every now and again Mrs. R and I wonder whether we ought to.
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables – We’re mostly fruit and flowers, but I do have a stand of asparagus in one corner.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France – See 12 above.
20. Slept on an overnight train – I’ve certainly slept on trains, but not overnighters.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – Well, I’ve also gone to work when feeling sick, so it all evens out.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb – Mmmm…..lamb……mmmmmm.
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice – See 12 above.
29. Seen a total eclipse – Of the moon, yes.  Of the sun, only partials.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise – I’d like to do one of those where you serve as a deck-hand on a square-rigger.  Mrs. R is not very enthusiastic about this and says she’d go to the Bahamas instead.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – I’ll get the Mr. Pretense Award for this, but I’m really not a very grasping sort.  Other things are more important.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person – See 12 above.  Mrs. R has been there, tho.
39. Gone rock climbing – Don’t like heights.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David – See 38 above.
41. Sung karaoke (badly) – See 10 above.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt – I went to Yellowstone several times, but only as a baby.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant – I’ve bought coffee and muffins and the like for people who look like they could use it.  A friend of mine has made almost a fetish out of buying Service Members lunch in airports.
44. Visited Africa – My sistah has.  I don’t have much interest in going.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - Amongst other things.
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing – Only in bays, never blue water.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person – See whichever one it was above. Okay! Okay! So I’m a provincial ‘murcan.  Leave me alone!
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris  – As opposed to the one in Sioux Falls?
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business – Go buy some Llama Gear.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen – No, but RFEC does Sandwich Sundays once a month.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – With all these daughters? Are you kidding me?
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving – Not. A. Chance.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt – Huh?
73. Stood in Times Square – BEFORE Rudy cleaned it up, too.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job – Technically, my practice area was eliminated.  And they didn’t throw me out until I had secured another position.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone – Just a toe.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle – Does a dirtbike count?
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House – Of course, with the upcoming change in Administrations, we’re losing all of our gunnegshuns, so no more of that for a while.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous – Mostly political types.  A few artistic names here and there.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby – Well, I helped make a few.
95. Seen the Alamo in person – It’s a legal requirement if you spend your childhood in San Antonio.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit – Well, it’s what I do, after all.
98. Owned a cell phone – One was recently wished on me by Mrs. R.  Only she and the ten year old know the number – even I don’t.
99. Been stung by a bee – Bees, hornets, scorpions.

A glass of wine with Sarah G.