The Background and Beyonce.

I've never blogged before...mainly because I'm not sure what a single 20-something insurance sales lady would blog about. My latest sale? House Bill 818? The fun random thing I did on Tuesday? No...in order for me to set up one of these blogs...I felt I needed some sort of gimmick.

Officially 6 months from today I will turn 30. That is not my gimmick...I will get to that...but first...some background:

It all started a few months ago when I drove past a random house in the country with a hot pink florescuent shih-tzu sign in the window. I was on my way to a meeting and thought I would stop in on my way back to the office. So, after the meeting I went into the stinky cluttered house and saw not one...but probably 28 (I'll round up to 30 because this blog is about me turning 30 and it only makes sense...) shih-tzu puppies (no wonder the house was so stinky). To make a long story short, I didn't get a puppy...but over the next week I found myself thinking..."hmmm, it might be fun to have a little dog. Something that doesn't shed...doesn't need to have a yard...can be left alone for hours. I even went online take a "what kind of dog is right for you" quiz. In the process...I think I discovered the most pathetic looking dog EVER... http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/crestedtzu.htm. In the past I've resisted the idea of a dog for numerous reasons...I don't like the idea of walking a dog in the freezing cold and/or rain, early in the morning, late at night, finding a dog sitter when I go out of town, feeling guilty as I leave it at home alone every day, etc. etc. etc.

Bottom line: I'm probably not a good candidate for dog adoption.

HOWEVER...what finally sold me on seriously considering the purchase was the fact that despite all the reasonst NOT to get a dog...my trump card was I wanted to name it Beyonce.

That may not be funny to you, but for those who know me well know I have a rather dry sense of humor...and I enjoy finding humor in the simple and random things of life. Quirky and random is sometimes all the motivation I need...and a small fluffy dog named Beyonce ("B" for short) is funny to me and is apparently enough motivation for me to seriously consider a dog.

Reason #2 that led me to this blog was the fact that in the relatively near future I'll need to get a new car. I've always had 4 door Nissan's...but I thought, "I'm getting old and crochety, so I should get something 'cute and sporty'." Because of my uncle owns a Nissan dealership, I'll probably always drive a Nissan...but "maybe my next car should be a Nissan Z?"

I put these two purchases on "hold" by saying..."Well, maybe for my 30th bday".

That phrase became the catalyst for me thinking, "I should make 30 the year of making (somewhat) irrational/outside the norm decisions...and any negative consequences will be dealt with by saying, "eh...I was turning 30".

Being a practical gal...I also knew that was a bad decision. But, there was still part of me that liked the idea of doing things outside the norm. So I decided to be intentional. I'd come up with a list of 30 things to do between 30 and 31. However, when I started to come up with my list I quickly remembered:
a. Unfortunately, I do not have a trust fund...nor do I have unlimited assets.
b. There are only 52 weeks in the year...so all my 30 things can't involve travel.

...I quickly cut my list to 15 categories. Which brings me to today...

The plan:

• I have 15 categories (I'll post them in blog #2).
• I will come up with 1 thing in each category...and over the next 6 months...get ideas from friends, family, clients, randoms etc. for the other thing in that category.
• I'll pick my favorite "suggestion" in each category with the ultimate goal of trying 30 new things between 30 and 31

The "Rules"

• Once July 14, 2009 comes, and I have my 30 things...I can't change them (unless there are some weird unforeseen circumstances).
• I have to do them all between 30 and 31. (Not 29 and 359 days or 31 and 4 days).
• Though it probably goes without saying, none of the 30 items can be illegal, nor can any of them be dishonoring to God's name.

The one thing I am debating is whether or not to have the person who made the suggestion...do (or somehow be a part of) the "thing" with me. For example: One category is a Concert/Sporting event and some friends said I should go to a Cardinal's/Cubs game at Wrigley...so they would go to the game with me....that's just a thought though.

The Gimmick:

If you haven't figured it out yet, the purpose of this blog is to get ideas for my list of 30...as well as have a record of (and a way to share) the new things I will experience between 30 and 31.

So that's my first blog...officially posted on my 1/2 birthday.