My father says, when you gonna live your life right?: Things to do before I die.: seanan

My father says, when you gonna live your life right?: Things to do before I die.

I was bored, I remembered

catvalente's list of things to do before she died, and so I decided to write my own list of things to do before I died. Because that's just the way we roll around here. Also, a bored blonde is a dangerous blonde.

25 Things I Want Deeply Enough to Put Them On a List of Things to Do Before I Die, Assuming My Life Doesn't End With Cackling, a Flaming Biosphere, and Joyous Shouts of "I Showed You, You Fools! I Showed You All!":

1. Tour a Level-4 biohazard safety area

Look, I never claimed that I was going to be reasonable, safe, or sane in the things I wanted to accomplish before shuffling off this mortal coil, and at the end of the day, if said shuffling occurs because I was exposed to smallpox while touring a CDC lab, I can't say anyone's going to be overly surprised. I want to actually experience the moon-suit and the tugging from negative-pressure airflow. It's something that part of me really feels I need to do.

Necessary objects not currently owned: access to a Level-4 biohazard lab, understanding lab technicians who don't mind civilians in their workspace, possibly some sort of government clearance.

2. Have a display area suitable for my dolls and Ponies

This is one of those wishes that's sort of wrapped up in a bunch of other wishes, since having a display area suitable for my toy collection basically means having a larger house. The place I live right now doesn't have any room left for a series of proper glass-fronted cabinets, and that's what it would take to really set my My Little Pony collection up properly, to say nothing of my Monster High dolls and assorted other toys. Am I a massive nerd? Yes. Yes, I am. I embrace my nerdhood, and dream of proper shelving.

Necessary objects not currently owned: several nice glass-fronted display cabinets, a room where they would fit without my needing to sleep on an inflatable mattress or something.

3. Visit Maine

Maine is something akin to Fairyland in my heart: this strange, impossible place where mysterious things happen, like ice falling from the sky, or killer clowns dragging your little brother down into the sewer to eat his heart. I've been dreaming of Maine since I was seven years old. There's no possible way for the state to live up to everything that I hope it's going to be, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to go there and see it for myself.

Necessary objects not currently owned: a block of vacation time without any other commitments. Ha. Ha. Ha.

4. Become functionally fluent in American Sign Language

I've been learning ASL out of books and off of webpages and from friends for the last few years, and I've reached the point where I can sign along with Journey songs without really dropping words. My finger-spelling is still terrible, but it's getting better. I think it's just shy of magic that we can have a language that doesn't require spoken words, but exists somewhere between the realm of the written and the spoken. Besides which...I go through life expecting that since I live in a country where the dominant language is English, everyone will understand me. I'd like to be able to assist in making that true for other people. And the sign for "science" is just plain fun.

Necessary objects not currently owned: a good ASL class. I'm going to be looking into one during the upcoming semester.

5. Take a ludicrously long walk to nowhere of any specific use to anyone else

I love taking long walks. Like, really, really, REALLY long walks. We are talking "bring a tent"-length long walks. And I love stories about people who walked to Mordor, or Oregon, or just about anyplace that is, like, crazy far away and means sleeping on the ground or at weird slightly creepy motels with broken neon signs out front. I want to take an epic walk. I want to take a "bring a tent" walk. I'd really like to take it either alone or with a large dog, which probably means having someone who follows me in a car about ten miles back, just in case I run into issues with being female and alone by the side of the road. But this is something I really, really want to do.

Necessary objects not currently owned: a destination, time to get there, a large dog, an escort.

Sounds like a good abitious list.

urban_terrorist

January 30 2011, 19:50:00 UTC 6 years ago

New comment

BTW, you might find this bit of Canadian Political satire of interest:

RT @dnmr1: @pmoharper ignatieff zombie enabler? the tory attack ad that goes too far http://bit.ly/dYbhSI

Wayne

Re: Sounds like a good abitious list.

seanan_mcguire

January 31 2011, 04:54:07 UTC 6 years ago

Neat.

yellowblackhaze

January 30 2011, 21:50:17 UTC 6 years ago

It's great to have ambitions and personally I think you're going to hit every single one of those.

January 31 2011, 04:54:15 UTC 6 years ago

I surely hope so!

groblek

January 31 2011, 01:31:35 UTC 6 years ago

#1 Makes sense to me, though I'm personally happy having a BSL-3P (Plant pathogen) facility being the highest one I've worked in. I am bummed that the locals here in Davis made such a fuss that we lost our bid for a BSL-4 facility the last time one was on the drawing board.

#2 Also makes sense - I recently built glass doors for a hutch we were given just so we'd have a display cabinet for assorted items.

#20 I actually might be able to assist with this one, though it sounds like you've got a few other offers. I grew up in Gualala, in Mendocino County, and several of the families up there have ranches. In Kindergarten, we toured Mrs. Stornetta's dairy (the first grade teacher, and yes, of Clover-Stornetta farms). I suspect that I could ask around and find someone willing to allow an interested assistant.

For somewhere slightly closer, but a more formal setting, UC Davis has a meat lab, and they do teach students how to butcher animals, it's possible that something could be worked out with them - I don't think I have any contacts there, but thought I'd point out the place. http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/facilities/meat.htm

January 31 2011, 04:54:43 UTC 6 years ago

All these things are awesome. Thank you!

kittikins

January 31 2011, 04:24:09 UTC 6 years ago

One of my friends worked in a Level 4 at Fort Detrick I believe, on vaccines for the Marburg and Ebola viruses. He had kept scrub pants that he used to wear in the lab. Since I am rather well-known for being a bit OCD about germs (especially pandemic-oriented ones), it used to be a great game to run in the back, find the scrubs, and throw them on me while shouting "Ebola pants!"

January 31 2011, 04:55:16 UTC 6 years ago

DUDE.

lysystratae

January 31 2011, 04:34:45 UTC 6 years ago

Maine (specifically Bar Harbor and surrounds) is on my list of favorite vacation spots; I've managed it twice so far, and plan on doing it again.

I've been planning to donate myself to the Body Farm ever since I heard about it years ago. Wonderful place.

January 31 2011, 04:55:27 UTC 6 years ago

Absolutely.

Deleted comment

January 31 2011, 15:23:43 UTC 6 years ago

That may be necessary, but I'd rather not.

denelian

February 2 2011, 02:41:00 UTC 6 years ago

just a note on the Body Farm - there's another way to get there:

take a Forensic Anthropology class.

no, really - i'm positive that you'll love the class for itself; if you have any sort of decent instructor, you'll have an entire WEEK devoted to the Body Farm, and if you get my instructor [which would require taking it here in Columbus, OH] he's a HUGE fan of Sci-Fi, Horror and Urban Fantasy. and one of the finals [at least Spring and Summer] is doing an actual Scene. with a real fake body and everything! and he has worked at the Body Farm, and could get you in... many many MANY forensic professors have. HIGHLY recommend [if you can find time]

February 4 2011, 19:05:35 UTC 6 years ago

That's...a really good idea. When I have time.

February 5 2011, 01:46:30 UTC 6 years ago

good luck! i know that finding time is going to be the issue - but if you can, you'll love it.

and i'm doing my part, buying EVERY book as it is released! :) i love your books!

Dear Seanan...

traveller_blues

February 2 2011, 18:33:13 UTC 6 years ago

...I'm so glad I stumbled across you again. You just made my day, and finding out that you've written a zombie book makes you just that much more awesome in my eyes.

You had me at 'Don't take that one... it looks angry.' so long ago, and I still occasionally pronounce "microwave" with way too many 'i's thanks to you.

"Miiiiiiiiicrowave! Fish fish fish."

-Traveller

Re: Dear Seanan...

nekoasuka

February 2 2011, 19:02:46 UTC 6 years ago

Apparently, I need to steal your books from Trav. >.> He just now told me about you, and I am frightfully curious now.

February 4 2011, 19:06:12 UTC 6 years ago

Awesome!

February 4 2011, 19:06:03 UTC 6 years ago

This makes me happy. :) It's great to see you again!

nolly

February 4 2011, 00:07:50 UTC 6 years ago

Would it be a useful thing to post your Pony wishlist so that people could aid in the hunt, or is the hunt itself joy, with assistance likely to result in an more ponies than currently storable, or other non-optimal results?

February 4 2011, 19:06:29 UTC 6 years ago

I may well post it, when I finish indexing the current collection. Things are a bit jumbled.

danjite

February 6 2011, 18:26:41 UTC 6 years ago

Oooh! Let's talk tattoos next time! *Makes mental note*

As we help raise our meat and get it from the butcher directly, we could, potentially, introduce you to the butcher and let you work your social magic next time you are in the neighbourhood.