Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

tags: blogosphere, meme, 100 unusual lifetime experiences meme

I discovered this meme at Guadalupe Storm-petrel, and thought it sounded interesting. This meme lists 100 unusual experiences that one might have had in his lifetime, and so I've emboldened those I've experienced, and placed a red asterix in front of those I'd like to experience someday.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars -- many many times
3. Played in a band -- I was in a handbell choir, I hope this counts
4. *Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world -- several times to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis -- this is one of my very favorite insects
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. *Visited Paris
13. *Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty -- hey, they don't let us do this anymore!
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. *Seen the Mona Lisa in France -- I've seen it, but not in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. *Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse -- several times, but never with my naked eye
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset -- several times, especially while birding
31. Hit a home run
32. *Been on a cruise
33. *Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors -- that's lovely Finlandia, for me
35. *Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language -- I'm actually working on this now
37. *Had enough money to be truly satisfied -- Hrm, I wonder what that's like?
38. *Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing -- only without ropes
40. *Seen Michelangelo's David -- I've only seen the reproduction in California
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. *Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. *Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. *Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. *Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. *Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. *Been in a movie
56. *Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business -- this is a great way to utterly destroy your credit rating as well as your social life
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. *Visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen -- often, in fact
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason -- I've purchased flowers for no reason, but I've never been given flowers by anyone, reason or not
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma -- I've worked at the blood bank but alas, they will not accept my blood because of a weird disease I had when I was a kid
65. Gone sky diving
66. *Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. *Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy -- do childhood books count? If so, then yes, hundreds
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt -- I've helped
73. Stood in Times Square -- nearly every day!
74. *Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job -- and I've been fired from my career, too
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London -- I want to return to see this again, too!
77. Broken a bone -- I've broken lots of bones, unfortunately
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person -- I'd love to return to see it properly, too
80. *Published a book -- sigh, someday, maybe
81. *Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car -- I will only own a car if I can live in it
83. *Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper -- I was protesting and was on the front page
85. Read the entire Bible -- quite a few times, which is the reason I think christianity is utter bullshit
86. Visited the White House -- I only got to stand outside, peering in through the iron fence .. do they offer tours? Probably not
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous -- considering what a nobody I am, it's truly amazing to think of all the famous people I've met and had dinner or drinks with
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit -- I have been sued so many times in the past two years that it is truly depressing
98. Owned a cell phone -- my ONLY phone is a cell and in fact, I've never owned a regular phone, and never will
99. Been stung by a bee
100. *Ridden an elephant

So what about you, my peeps? Tell me about your version of this meme!