Bucket List

I like the idea of a bucket list. It isn't because I think I am close to the end of my life and have a bunch of things I want to do. Rather, it's because I like lists. And I like doing/experiencing stuff. Oh, and I like crossing stuff off my lists; it feels like an accomplishment. Plus, I think it's so easy to get caught up on the things in our life that are out of our control. But things on the bucket list, those are things I can control, things that I can make happen.

I hope to add to my bucket list as the years go on, as I hear about more things to do and see. I don't want to run out of things on my bucket list, so I'd like to keep it growing...you see, I never want to finish my bucket list. I never want to stop exploring. Really, it's a fun excuse for me to dream and come up with things I want to do...you know, so in case Ian decides to do a surprise vacation, he has ideas!

Here's what I've got so far:

Walk/bike across the Bay Bridge

Go kaiking

Walk on the High Line in NYC

Ride in a helicopter

Visit Treasure Island

Go to North Carolina

Take the kids to Sea World

Go to Australia

Take the kids snorkeling

Watch a sunrise

Own a Balenciaga purse

Stay on a boat in Amsterdam

Take the kids on the Durango-Silverton Railroad

Own a place in Scotland

Visit New England in the fall

So, tell me, do you enjoy dreaming and making lists of things you would like to see/do/visit/experience/own in your lifetime? It's fun to dream, isn't it?

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Broken Dreams

I went and looked at houses with a realtor on Wednesday. It was fun and exciting to think that Ian and I will soonish be in a place of our own again, complete with a front and back yard! I have to admit though, I always feel a little bit weird walking into every home with judgment in my eyes. I have to pick every place apart to make sure it is perfect for us. And I did see some good possibilities, but it will still be a bit before we buy.

Going into short sale homes and foreclosures just breaks my heart a little. These homes were/are peoples dreams. People's broken dreams. And unfortunately, Modesto currently is having a heyday with people's broken dreams. 1 in 5 homes here is vacant. We have the second highest foreclosure rate in the country. And it is sad to me. Sure, empty car lots, stores and homes looks tacky, but it also makes me sad. It makes me sad to think of the day that person opened their business or bought their home. They were filled with such hope and dreams. And now that ended. I noticed right after Christmas a business owned by a high school friend's family (and recently run by him) shut down. This saddened me. I know it had to be hard on them.

Dreams are a great thing to have. And I think it is important for us to follow our dreams (unless of course, they are just too freaky). But with the recent economy, so many dreams have been broken. And even though they aren't my broken dreams, it still saddens and pains me a little.

All this reminds me a bit of the feelings I felt about the empty, abandoned, broken church buildings scattered around Britain. It just saddens me a little.

Crazy Dreams

I have always been a dreamer. My whole life I have been one of those people that more often than not can remember my dreams. Well recently, my dreams have turned crazy. I don't mean nightmareish, but just crazy (and aparently this is a side effect of pregnancy...how or why, I don't know!).

Last night, I dreamed that we had given Riley to a friend when we moved away. While we were home visiting, Riley got sad when the new owner picked her up from visiting me. Because of Riley acting sad, the new owner decided to have her put to sleep. So, for the rest of my dream, I was running around, trying to find and save Riley! I had my mom calling all the vets telling them to not put her down, while I was racing all around town trying to find her and her new owner. It was quite the stressful dream! Honestly, I am glad its over...and I am glad to know that Riley is safe!

Besides the Riley dream, many of my dreams have been about the baby...me not having things ready for the baby, me going into labor at work and more. It seems like until this baby arrives, these dreams will just keep coming!

What I really want to know is the reason behind crazy dreams when you are pregnant. I mean, there has to be an explanation for it, right?!?

Dreams

Usually I relish having dreams. They seem a fun thing to happen while you are asleep and generally mean I got a good night's sleep. Lately, I have been having crazy dreams. Nothing nightmare-ish or anything like that. More just weird.

Last night, the bus drove past me two different times without picking me up. So, I decided since I was running late, I would drive to work...it can't be that hard anyway, right? I was walking to my car (which happened to be my old SAAB convertible) and just as I was unlocking it, Ian walks up behind me and tells me he thinks it would be a bad decision and I need to go wait for the bus again. It was totally random.

Another night, another dream. I decided Ian and I should go to a nice dinner and went to a restaurant to make dinner reservations. It was the middle of the week and I wanted reservations for Saturday. As the lady was writing in my reservation, I noticed the reservation above ours was some really good friends of my parents. Totally random! (In real life, my mom has talked about them on the phone with me lately, but still totally random for them to show up in my dream!) Then, as a thank you for making a reservation, the hostess gave me a fruit basket...I have no clue what the fruit basket is about!

Seriously, I can go on and on with these dreams. Two nights ago, it was me getting in trouble at work. I just think it is all too weird. Who has dreams every night? And WHO actually remembers them? And since when did they get so detailed? Maybe the nice (you know, low 60 degrees) weather over here has gone to my head!