The List: Year 7 Progress
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| A work trip to my dream destination of Egypt |
It's my 37th birthday! So far, I've completed 35 of the original 40 items plus an additional 17 bonus items. I'm 70% through the timeline, and I've already accomplished 91.2%! This year's three achieved items - as well as relevant progress updates - are highlighted in green for easy finding.
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| Finally visited Etretat on Emily's bachelorette trip in Brittany/Normandy, France |
Looking back on both the amazing and challenging moments of the past year, there is so much to be grateful for: Bananasfest in Denver, Nashville to visit my high school besties and meet my niece Nora for the first time, Egypt with my dad including a Nile Cruise, Thailand from the mountain temples to under the sea, Nora's baptism, Breckenridge winter fun with Maggie, celebrating Lauren's 40th in Mexico City, celebrating Emily's bachelorette in Brittany and Normandy in France, joining my family for Florida theme park fun, and a last minute jaguar safari and Iguazu Falls trip to Brazil and Argentina.
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| Friends and coworkers enjoy DC cherry blossoms |
On the other hand, I had to deal with a change in Presidential administration that dismantled all the work I'd done in the past three (or actually 12) years in only a matter of months. Nearly everyone I know, myself included, was fired illegally. But in the midst of all this chaos, I tried to focus on spending time with people, supporting folks to find new jobs, celebrating the good going on in our lives, and ultimately, planning a move to Europe for better job opportunities.
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| Visiting Maggie and Lena in Breckenridge |
The 5 original items left to complete - not many more to go! - are highlighted in blue to help me plan next year's adventures. I've also plugged in a few more bonus ideas...
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| Visiting Mont Saint Michel with Emily and Amy |
Books
1. Read 5 books in French: Completed 8/29/22
2. Read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: Completed 12/24/19
Bonus Books Ideas:
- Read The Count of Monte Cristo in French
- Write a novel
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| At the October 2024 White House Garden Tour |
DC Area
3. Union Market: Completed 9/14/19
4. Smithsonian Postal Museum: Completed 9/8/18
5. Washington National Cathedral: Completed 6/22/19
6. Drag Brunch: Completed 12/22/19
7. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture: Completed 6/15/19
8. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens: Completed 7/5/19
9. Rock Creek Capitol Stones: Completed 7/11/20
10. Smokey Bear on the National Mall: Completed 8/9/19
11. National Park Service Obscure Memorials Tour: Completed 9/15/18
12. Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument House and Museum: Completed 2/8/20
13. Lincoln's Cottage: Completed 7/11/21
14. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: Completed 3/9/19
BONUS 46. Washington Monument: Completed 9/15/19
BONUS 49. ARTECHOUSE: Completed 11/11/20
BONUS 52. Heurich House Museum: Completed 7/15/22
BONUS 53. Glenstone Museum: Completed 10/15/22
BONUS 54. Kayaking among WWI shipwrecks in Mallows Bay, MD: Completed 6/19/23
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| The iconic Thai beach as seen on a diving trip |
Travel
In total, I've been to 59 countries as of August 2025. New countries this year were Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Thailand, and Argentina. Repeat countries were Mexico, France, and Brazil.
17. NYC with Pierre-Antoine: Completed July 13-16, 2019
18. Quebec: Completed June 17-20, 2022
19. Galapagos
20. Marrakech: Completed November 9-19, 2018
21. Alaska: Scheduled cruise departs in a week!
22. Japan: Completed November 6-19, 2019
23. Scotland/Ireland: Completed 8/17-21/23
24.Thailand: Ever since seeing the King and I musical VHS as a child, I've wanted to visit Thailand - the temples, the food, the scenery! Completed December 5-17, 2024 - read all about it!
BONUS 51. Bonaire: Completed September 4-11, 2021
Bonus Travel Ideas:
- New Zealand for lupine flowers and glow worms
- Arizona/New Mexico for desert landscapes and spas
- Seychelles
- Azores
Spotting jaguars and tons more wildlife in the Pantanal, Brazil
Animals
25. Swim with a whale shark: Completed 7/9/23
26. Gorilla trek: Completed 1/21/23
27. See wild lemurs: Completed 7/23/2024
28. Meet a sloth: Completed 4/7/22
BONUS #57. Hang with capybaras (and jaguars!): Capybaras took over social media years ago with their chill vibes. We planned a jaguar safari in Brazil and got to see capys in the wild! Completed August 16, 2025 - read all about it!
Bonus Animal Ideas:
- Kayak or swim with manatees
- Dive with megafauna - manta rays, sharks, etc.
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| At the amazing Abu Simbel in Egypt |
Experiences
29. See the Northern Lights: Completed 10/31/21
30. Safari with PA: Completed January 14-23, 2023
31. Stay in an overwater bungalow
32. Meet Irish and/or Swiss relatives
33. Plant a tree: Completed 10/20/18
34. Tasting menu at a fancy (Michelin starred?) restaurant: Completed 1/13/19 and 2/8/19
35. See the redwoods
36. See a glacier: Completed 11/2/21
37. Make galettes from scratch: Completed 2/2/19
38. Make bread: Completed 3/29/20
39. Straighten my teeth (again): Completed on 5/15/20
40. Write a letter to my 40 year old self, then respond to it when I'm 40: Completed first stage 10/15/18.
BONUS 41. Perform a solo at a hafla: Completed 10/20/18
BONUS 42. Change jobs: Completed 11/26/18
BONUS 43. Adopt climate-smart behaviors: On-going process
BONUS 44. Do goat yoga: Completed 8/7/19
BONUS 45. Earn Project Management Professional (PMP) certification: Completed 9/4/19
BONUS 47. Get scuba certified: Completed 1/19/20
BONUS 48. Join a non-profit board: Completed 1/18/20
BONUS 50. Cook/bake "hard things" - Beef Wellington, Sausage Rolls, Pork Pies, Profiteroles, Eclairs, and Danishes: Completed 12/28/20
BONUS 55. Eat at a 2 Star Michelin Restaurant: Completed 1/13/24
BONUS 56. Eat at Belcanto, 25th best restaurant in the world: Completed 4/10/24
Bonus Experiences Ideas:
- Visit the geode of Pulpí in Spain
- Ride on a superyacht
- Visit a salt mine
- Live abroad again - planned for this fall :)
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