Update: “To Do Before I’m 30″

I go through phases of thinking this list is the bane of my existence, sitting out there for everyone to see, mocking me and making me feel insignificant and unaccomplished. Until I decide to update it, of course, and end up crossing out several things, some of which I’d even forgotten were on there. Been a while since I last looked at it, so here’s what I’ve managed to cross off since January.

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022. Be interviewed on TV (preferably because of my work and not because I was present at a crime scene).
This hasn’t happened yet, but I got a call today asking me to be on a TV show talking about an article I’ve written. I haven’t said yes yet (terrified), but I’m thinking maybe I should. Should I just do it and get the first uncomfortable time over with? It is national TV, so I’m already having visions of becoming the joke of my entire social circle. I’ve decided to sleep on it.

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025. Get 300 published credits. – (275/300)
The last time I updated this list, I wrote below this entry, “If it’s a goal you no longer care about achieving, should you change it?” Well, I did change it. My career is going in a new direction and I’m hoping that I won’t have to do too many articles per month any more, which is why this goal is now meaningless to me. For that reason, I’ve downgraded a bit.

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032. Read 100 books a year. That’s 400 books. – (100/400)
Almost three years down and I’m nowhere near close to achieving this. I can’t read 300 books in a year and a half, no matter how hard I try, so I’m prepared to miss this one. I have read a respectable 30 books this year, though.

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033. Watch 100 movies/documentaries a year. That’s 400 movies. – (254/400)
No trouble here. In fact, I can almost guarantee that I’ll cross that 400. The name’s potato. Couch potato.

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071. Create a library of at least 1,000 books.
I’m at a miserable 250 or so, and this is so easy to achieve. But I swore that I’m going to read most of the 100+ unread books that I own before I buy any more, so… *sigh*… I’m forbidden from buying new for now.

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077. Write for The New York Times.
Done. I have to admit that it is a real high to see my byline in the Times, since this wasn’t just a before-30 goal but a life goal.

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113. Learn how to cook.
Who knew this day would come? Well, I’m happy to report that I can actually cook a decent meal, maybe even a few. I’m still stupendously uncomfortable cooking for more than two people, but it can be done. I’ve seen the light.

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115. Win an award.
Earlier this year, I found out that I’d won an award for a story that I cared deeply about and spent a lot of time on. Love it when that happens.

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134. Watch all the seasons of 24.
Hey, the last season had Anil Kapoor. How could I resist?