“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

My birthday snuck up on me this year. Yesterday I turned 27 and boy, do I feel old. With my next milestone being the big 3-0, I figured it’d be good to start up another list of things I’d love to do before then. While I didn’t come close to completing my 26 before 26 list, it was a fun process and finally motivated me to cross off items on my ever-growing backlog. I have three years to complete this one and I’m ready to get started.

1. Learn how to properly use my camera
2. Learn conversational French
3. Eliminate my private debt -- Done!
4. Paint the bathroom cabinets -- Done!
5. Paint a picture for myself
6. Learn how to change a tire
7. Take a city tour of Phoenix
8. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Done!
9. Watch an actor’s entire filmography -- Done!
10. Host a yard sale -- Done!
11. Memorize the U.S. Presidents in order
12. Read the Bible
13. Take Clay to Paris
14. Take a road trip -- Done!
15. Eat at a Top Chef’s restaurant -- Done!
16. Give only handmade gifts for Christmas
17. Start a real retirement plan -- Done!
18. Sell a piece of artwork
19. Learn to juggle
20. Learn to solve a Rubik’s cube -- Done!
21. Host a get-together at the house
22. Re-read the U.S. Constitution -- Done!
23. Face a major fear
24. Bake a cake from scratch
25. Organize my email inbox -- Done!
26. Run every day for a month -- Done!
27. Print something by hand
28. Meet a hero in person
29. Read an author’s entire catalog

A blast from the past. In 2008, Clay and I took a trip to San Francisco. Here’s us narrowly escaping the jaws of death at Fisherman’s Wharf.

I spent the last four days in San Francisco with a few of my coworkers from meltmedia. We attended the design conference TYPO and also had some fun around the city. We visited Fisherman’s Wharf, the Japanese Tea Garden, rode the trolley, and ate plenty of delicious food. I also managed to fit in a viewing of Beach Blanket Babylon, the hilarious musical comedy show. While I gained plenty of inspiration and perspective, both professionally and personally, I am glad to be home with Clay and the two pups.