#25: Get a tattoo with my sister

Katy and I had talked about getting tattoos for a while. We joked about it. Joking turned to serious talks as I talked about moving away from home. She made me pinky-swear and then solemnly swear to get matching tattoos before I bid au revoir to Marquette.

I never fully intended on going through with the promise. I hate pain! Like I'd subject myself to it voluntarily.

The idea was tempting, though. My sister and I having matching three-star tattoos on our shoulders. A symbol of the solidarity of our family bond. The idea of the two of us sharing something that nobody else in the world had was appealing. Plus I liked the idea of having a tale to tell. Of being able to say "yeah, I got a tattoo. I dealt with the pain because I wanted it so bad."

I had contemplated inking myself since I was seventeen. At twenty-three, on the verge of a new chapter in my life, the contemplating was done. I'd made a promise to my sister and myself.

#3: See RENT onstage...again

The first time I saw RENT onstage was in New York City. The first moment that the actors stepped on the stage and the first lines were uttered, I fell in love. Love turned into obsession as I listened to the soundtrack day after day and tracked the progress of the movie. It amazes me to this day that something can so clearly and eloquently express how I feel about life, love and friendship. This musical that Jonathan Larson has penned is a beautiful work of art that inspires me to live life to the fullest each and every day.

I was afraid that I wouldn't adore the play as much a second time. The first time a person sees it live, it just reaches out and twists the emotions and leaves one going out of the theater with the jaw agape. It stays with people. It's certainly stayed with me. I feared that seeing it again wouldn't be as amazing. But my love/obsession with it was deeper than my fear. The touring cast was doing a two-week stint in Chicago; I was determined to be there.

Any fears I had were laid to rest when I stepped foot in the Cadillac Palace Theater and saw the stage setup: the balcony where MiMi croons "Out Tonight," the twisted lights that make for Angel's Christmas tree, the tables that serve as sets and seats and props. Once the lights went down, I was bohemian, I was alive, I was there in New York City with Mark and Roger in the mid-90s.

The production gripped me. The cast was phenomenal. The actress playing Joann needs to be doing bigger and better things--her voice should be winning her Grammys. She was THAT good. As always I wanted to marry Mark; the guy playing him was adorable and slightly neurotic and dorky and lovable. Roger was good, but he got great during "Good-bye Love" where the audience saw him go from grief to aggitated to full-on pissed off in ten seconds flat. His microphone went out during the confrontation with Mark, but it wasn't necessary because he was screaming by that point. It. Was. Awesome.

My only complaint from the entire play was MiMi. She was just...ick. Her voice was shaky. A voice cannot be shaky for this character! (And I realize that I've reached my maximum dork potential in this moment. Shut up.) Grr. Blech. She wasn't good.

Even MiMi's bleating voice couldn't get my spirits down though. Overall, the play was incredible. I got misty-eyed during the first act, which turned into full-out sobbing by "Seasons of Love" after the intermission. I walked out the theater feeling as people must feel after a great church service. I felt invigorated and ready to take on the world with a new (or refound) lease on life. No day but today never rang truer. And that is why I needed this goal on my list.

#88: travel by train

"I thought that it'd be romantic. That there'd be a piano and candlelight."
~ Carrie Bradshaw, on traveling by train

I agree with Carrie. When I think of traveling by train, I imagine late-night rendevous, meeting strangers and adventure. And I picture all of the adventures and rendevous happening in a grainy sepia-colored tone, too. Hmm.

Joe and I embarked on an adventure to Chicago one cold weekend late in January. I didn't want to drive through hellacious Chicago traffic, so we decided to travel by train. I was excited--riding in a sleek, fast cable car would be fabulous, dahling!

Or...not. Like Carrie, when she soon discovered how un-romantic modern-day trains are, I soon found myself in my own episode of "Life with Krissy" where trains were late, I was freezing, people were obnoxiously loud while yapping on cell phones and Joe nic-fitted so bad that he nearly morphed into a bitch. Luckily we arrived unscathed and Joe happily reunited with his pack of cigarettes.

The ride back was much more comfortable. We made a friend and I got schooled on how to play Texas Hold-em while we gambled with Skittles. Not quite candlelight and piano, but a good modern-day equivalent. And a good way to check off a goal.

#88: travel by train

"I thought that it'd be romantic. That there'd be a piano and candlelight."
~ Carrie Bradshaw, on traveling by train

I agree with Carrie. When I think of traveling by train, I imagine late-night rendevous, meeting strangers and adventure. And I picture all of the adventures and rendevous happening in a grainy sepia-colored tone, too. Hmm.

Joe and I embarked on an adventure to Chicago one cold weekend late in January. I didn't want to drive through hellacious Chicago traffic, so we decided to travel by train. I was excited--riding in a sleek, fast cable car would be fabulous, dahling!

Or...not. Like Carrie, when she soon discovered how un-romantic modern-day trains are, I soon found myself in my own episode of "Life with Krissy" where trains were late, I was freezing, people were obnoxiously loud while yapping on cell phones and Joe nic-fitted so bad that he nearly morphed into a bitch. Luckily we arrived unscathed and Joe happily reunited with his pack of cigarettes.

The ride back was much more comfortable. We made a friend and I got schooled on how to play Texas Hold-em while we gambled with Skittles. Not quite candlelight and piano, but a good modern-day equivalent. And a good way to check off a goal.