#4 -- The Grapes of Wrath

Tomorrow, I begin a crazy stretch of travel for work so I am happy to report that I have a travelling companion -- a 455 page book by John Steinbeck. Don't get me wrong -- In Style is packed as well -- but I look forward to embarking on #4 during my trips to Seattle, Las Vegas, back to Seattle, Arizona, Utah and finally Colorado!

I am just going to wish everyone a Happy Halloween now just in case!

If I am lucky, I may accomplish #5 of 40 on the road if I can make it to the Mariners/A's game in Seattle on Thursday September 30th -- I'll keep you posted.

More to come from the road....

40by40 is becoming 50+by40or50

So 3 in the first week was awesome and this week will find me starting the 4th once I pick up my copy of The Grapes of Wrath from the library.

The list it seems is still growing though -- far beyond the original 40. I love all of the additional ideas that people have given me and I have started what I am calling the "P.S." list.

So far it includes singing karoake, going to the Ellen Show, and ballroom dancing lessons, just to name a few.

Do you have any ideas for me to add? Keep them coming....

#3: Boot Camp kicked my boot-y :)

Boot camp was Sunday, it's Tuesday and yes, I am still sore. Trainer Ed and his boot camp devotees (plus us visitors) gather at 8am on Sundays, this time in Balboa Park at the corner of 6th and Laurel. Driving over there, I was like -- "wow, no one is on the freeway except me. Am I crazy? I could so still be in bed right now!"
Once I got there and my sleepiness cleared a little, I was actually pretty excited for it to get started, to see how hard I could push myself.

Imagine my disappointment at the end of Boot Camp, sweaty, tired and energized when Trainer Ed said "next time, I won't take it easy on all of you!". I thought he was joking. What part of running, jumping jacks, lunges, inch worms, jump roping, pushing sleds around, ab work (including planks-a-plenty),sprints ( A LOT of them!) and a ton of bicep curls is EASY? I am still feeling it days later!!

I loved it though -- being outside, being competitive, and being with friends. The Starbucks after did not hurt at all either :)....I am actually thinking about going again this week. I must be crazy because that Boot Camp may be at the Convention Center....can you say stairs? I will be sure to take pictures of my sore and sweaty self!!

#2a -- 40by40 spawns many more ideas

Ever since I made and posted the 40by40 list, I have come up with even more ideas of things to do, eat, try, read etc...my friends have even started secondary lists for me (Thanks Tony!) to push me even more out of my comfort zone.

Unless it's too expensive, too risky, or way too embarrassing -- my answer to any challenge is going to be "Yes!". I keep thinking of that Jim Carey movie "Yes Man" and laughing...especially about the scene after he drinks all the Red Bull. LMAO.

Let's use today as an example:

This morning was glorious. I slept in and my body felt so well rested. The sun was shining when I got out of bed...love that! August was a whirlwind and it feels like I am just catching up. After waking up too late to make it to Saturday morning Jazzercise, I did what I do every morning without fail --checked my e-mail and went on Facebook.

Checking the clock on my computer, it hit me -- I've always wanted to try to the free workout classes at Lululemon downtown and I think they have yoga at 9:30am on Saturdays. After a quick check of their FB page, it was confirmed. I threw on my workout clothes and hoppped in the car.

I made it downtown just in time for class and bonus: Vince met me for coffee after. Being downtown on a Saturday morning is something I need to do way more often-- whether it's for yoga, coffee, a Padre Game (fans were flooding into Starbucks as we left), brunch at my favorite place (Cafe Chloe), rooting on a college team at East Village Tavern and Bowl (the San Diego Florida Gator club was out in full force) or just about anything else -- it was great to get out of bed and get out of my neighborhood. No traffic, no stress, and you can watch the city wake up and get going. Loved it!

What are you doing next Saturday?

#2 -- Zumba -- like Jazzercise with mirrors

Thursday night I went to Zumba with some great ladies and had so much fun! Since I am a die-hard Jazzerciser, it was not too hard to get used to the moves. The class had a fun, upbeat, party vibe and boy, did I sweat!!! I loved the music but there was one thing I had trouble getting used to -- the mirrors. Jazzercise is a no mirror zone and at first, I stood behind someone else in class so I did not see myself.

As the class went on, I got a little braver and by the end, it was kind of fun to "check out my moves". The funny thing is -- you look much better in the mirror if you smile and if you smile, you have more fun!

Here's what I learned: mirrors or not, Zumba or Jazzercise, alone or with friends -- life is more fun if you smile and let loose!! At the end of the class, I thought "Hey, this kind of feels like you are at a nightclub in your workout wear." It made me want to go out and dance more because sweating is fun and makes you smile and any time you have fun with friends, life seems better!

Here's to having fun, smiling, and letting loose -- however you manage to do it!

PS: two of my fellow Zumba-ers are making lists too -- 30by30 and 50by50 and maybe even a 70by70.

Are you on board? What's on your list?

#1: Cowles Mountain (the un-naked version) or It Takes All Kinds

What a great 38th birthday!! Wow -- where to begin? It is awesome to have #1 crossed off my list. The Cowles Mountain Hike was prime people watching, my friends. I got lapped by a Buddhist Monk and almost run over by crazy trail runners, but lived to blog about it.

There were little kids, little dogs, big dogs, big kids, people with walking sticks, people with Starbucks and everything in between.

There were girls in bikini tops and dudes with fanny packs. Young, old, whatever...we all had one goal in mind: Get to the top. Stop. Get back down.

It was tough, it was exhilirating, it was a slice of life and then some. I did not really know what to expect but it blew my mind. All kinds of people with the same task ahead of them. Some taking it fast, some taking it slow, all united in the effort and together on the journey.

What did I learn? Take it one step at a time. Watch your step. The top is not going to move, you are. Once you get there, breathe, look around and enjoy. Laugh, especially when a man tells you that next time you hike Cowles Mountain on your birthday, do it naked.

Ask for help when you need it. Water tastes good and is good for you. There is no such thing as going too fast or too slow -- go at your own pace. Breakfast burritos are awesome. Measure your life -- in miles, in milestones, whatever works for you. Don't do tough things alone. Once you do something tough, do it again. When you are tired, take a nap.

And when it's your birthday, celebrate!

The List Is Done!

40by40 list -- deadline: 9/6/2012
by Margaret Goebel Linville on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 6:52am.


1. climb Cowles Mountain

2. take a Zumba class

3. eat at the Grinder (local deli in El Cajon)

4. go to a drive-in movie

5. eat at Hodad's

6. go to opening day at the races

7. take a tap dance class

8. go to a concert at Humphrey's

9. shopping trip to LA

10. do a 5K, mud run or MCRD Boot Camp Challenge

11. watch "Gone With the Wind"

12. take a cooking class

13. go to Kauai

14. Disney trip with the Cambou's

15. spend a day at Santana Row

16. go to a baseball game in another city

17. re-decorate the guest bedroom

18. attend PRIDE!

19. bake a pie

20. read the Twilight Series

21. take a pilates class

22. go to a Boot Camp class

23. have a picnic in Balboa Park

24. see the Nutcracker

25. San Diego "Asian Experience" - thanks Sam!

26. attend a film festival

27. see Park City, UT

28. make jewelry

29. go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market

30. read The Grapes of Wrath

31. take the ferry to Coronado

32. go to a weekday Padre game and then spend "tourist time" downtown

33. watch the sunset

34. take the trolley to the Little Italy Farmer's Market

35. learn to knit

36. do a day of community service

37. attend a political event

38. tour the State Capitol

39. walk across the Golden Gate bridge

40. midnight tour of Winchester Mystery House

Prelude of Gratitude or What Do I Want to Do That I Have Never Done?

So my 38th birthday is tomorrow and I am determined to have my 40by40 list done by the end of the day. I want to thank Karin Dolph for the idea to do a 40by40 list and I am excited what these next two years will bring!

After posting the idea on my Facebook page, I have about 27 things on the list but I am struggling to get to 40. I keep asking myself (and others)....what do I want to do that I have never done?

I have some great things on my list and I am excited for what the next two years will bring, but to be honest -- I am stuck on the last 13 things to add.

There are some things I will not consider (sky diving -- I'd like to live to do the other rest of the things on my list, thank you!) and some things I am doing right away, like climbing Cowles Mountain tomorrow! Why can't I get to 40?
I am really that boring? unadventurous? busy? lacking creativity?

The idea of the list is to for it to be fun, motivating, inexpensive yet challenging. I want to document the 40 things as I do them and use them as milestones on my way to the big 4-0. For me, age has always been just a number and I might even start telling people I am 40 as of tomorrow so I can get used to it :).

No matter what 40 things end up on the final list (deadline 9/6/2010 at 11pm -- way past my bed time but I might have to stay up to finish it!), here's where I am right now.

It hit me this morning at Jazzercise -- I already have everything I need in my life, what else could I ask for? I was filled with gratitude at that moment -- for my family, my amazing husband, my friends, my satisfying career, my health, and the fact that I have the chance to even write a 40by40 list and accomplish each task.

It was a "lightbulb moment" as I call them -- no matter what ends up on the list, be grateful that you can do it. Be grateful that you are healthy enough to climb Cowles Mountain (first task to be completed), be grateful that your job allows you to travel (goal: see Park City,UT), be grateful that you have friends and family to join you on the journey (goal: shopping day in LA), be grateful that in 2012 you will be married for ten years to the most amazing and sweet man (goal: Kauai for 10 year anniversary).

No matter what ends up on the final 40by40 list, I am grateful. What Do I Want to Do that I Have Never Done? It's a great question -- but I am grateful for all the things that have brought me to this point and all the things I have already done.

Here's to 4o things by 40, 9/6/2012! Stay tuned.....