Last year, after my birthday, I started keeping a list of some of the cool things I did while being a 50-year-old. It’s now my birthday again, so here’s that list, in no particular order:

• I achieved debt freedom a second time.
• I joined a gym, and I liked it.
• I found a zumba class that I actually liked.
• I tried boxing and liked it.
• Did not like the weights class.
• I bought a punching bag.
• I attended two professional soccer games. And then I bought season tickets for the next season.
• I ate some rambutans for the first time.
• I cooked and ate artichokes for the first time. Not sure how much I liked them.
• I tried marmite and didn’t like it.
• I tried vegan faux-beef jerky. It was pretty good.
• I tried a pomelo. It was okay.
• I had tapas and loved it.
• I introduced my Utahn colleagues to chow-chow. They loved it.
• I went to Thailand. Ate so many new and wonderful foods.
• I ate mangosteen, longan, salak. Did not like the salak.
• I attended a Thai wedding and saw my little baby married.
• I was made welcome by a whole new family.
• I hung out with elephants and fed a few.
• I visited a floating market.
• I rode commuter boats. By accident!
• I rode a motor scooter in a foreign country.
• I traveled through China. It was a little scary.
• I celebrated Dia de Muertos in Mexico City, and again ate a ton of great food.
• I took an international trip just for a weekend.
• I failed an exam and still felt good.
• I became VMware Certified Professional.
• I became a Dell Certified Associate.
• I moved out of Support and into Application Managed Services.
• I bought firearms.
• I registered as a Democrat. Was not happy about it, but needs must.
• I ran a voter registration drive.
• I got seriously involved with Moms Demand Action.
• I learned how to lobby at the State Capitol. And I met some Senators and Representatives.
• I took painting classes.
• I found a utility shell for my truck and outfitted it for camping as well as tools.
• I went to Drag Queen Bingo and loved it.
• I bought special computer glasses and they’re great!
• I got a fortune from Zoltar. He said I’m gonna find love – either romance or a great friendship.
• I ended a 10-year commitment to cover my head.
• I got my first spiral perm.
• I finally started getting tattoos again. I got a lot! And I got a lot of my old ones fixed.
• I got henna for the first time.
• I commissioned art!
• I introduced my cat to video games.

The coming year:

• A summer scooter trip from Durango, Colorado.
• A Labor Day Weekend scooter trip in Yellowstone.
• At least one trip to shop for cheap desert land.
• A trip to NM to hang out with an old friend and a new friend.