So, I've been thinking about things that I want to do in my life, and I've created my list. Let me know what y'all think. As most of you know, I'm a huge sports fan! Four years ago, I toured Fenway Park with my brother, and I loved it! One of my goals is to see a Red Sox game live! Well, thanks to Bethany (love you so much!!), I'm going to see a live game on May 30!! I'm heading to Boston for Memorial Day weekend, and we are going to the Sunday afternoon game against Kansas City! Needless to say, I screamed today when I got the e-mail! I can't wait to experience sitting in the seats and wearing my Red Sox hat and colors! I'm a Braves fan first, then a Red Sox fan. I have enjoyed Turner Stadium in Atlanta (both new and old), and I'm thrilled that I get to knock off another item off my list! So, I decided to publish my list a day early!
My Bucket List
Watch a Red Sox game at FenwayPark. (I’m going on May 30, 2010!!)
Go to my first NFL game (hopefully a Packers game!).
Visit Lambeau field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Take a trip to Germany.
Visit Williamsburg, Virginia again (I haven’t been since 1988)
Go to BuschGardens in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Take a tour of Monticello.
Go skydiving.
Own my own non-profit.
Serve as the Media Relations Director for the Green Bay Packers (even if for a day!)
Interview Tom Brokaw
Meet and interview President Obama.
I would like to meet Barbara Walters and conduct an interview about her career.
I want to be an extra in a movie.
I would love to go to the Super Bowl game.
I would love to go to China and see the Great Wall.
Take a cruise!
Visit the Island of St. Thomas.
Take a trip to LA and go on the Price is Right!
Meet the cast of Young and the Restless (esp. Victor!).
I would love to see Elton John and Billy Joel in concert together.
Buy my first home!
Go to Hawaii!
Visit Portland and travel down 101 highway on the west coast.
Write a book about my excel spreadsheet!
Get a PR Job in a professional sports organization.
Visit the Grand Canyon.
Visit the Hoover Dam.
Visit Mount Rushmore.
Travel to Africa.
Visit Japan
Throw a football and kick a field goal on an NFL field.
Take a trip to Austria and go on the Sound of Music tour!
Visit Athens, Greece.
Go to a Final Four Basketball game.
Go to the National Championship college football game.
Visit Barcelona, Spain.
Take a tour of Brazil and Peru.
I would like to learn how to snow ski.
I would like to learn how to shag!
I want to take ballroom dancing lessons.
I want to learn Arabic.
I would love to visit Greenland.
I want to visit the South Pole!
I want to take flying lessons.
I want to go see a game during Wimbledon.
I would love to go to the U.S. Open.
I want to go to a round at the Master’s.
I would love to go to the British Open!
I want to go to see my first hockey game.
Visit all the major roller coaster theme parks across the country! (So far I’ve been to Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Busch Gardens (Williamsburg), and St. Louis)
There are things that I have already done on my bucket list including: Egypt, Taj Mahal, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Toronto, Scotland, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and getting a job in DC!
Tonight I went to a kick-off event for Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)! We welcomed members and non-members to learn more about PRSA and how members can become involved in the chapter. We had more than 150 people attend, and we had approximately 80 non-members sign-up for the event.
During the reception, this year's president Jeff Ghannam talked about all the upcoming activities, including the International Conference coming to DC for the first time since 1988. After Jeff spoke, last year's president Barbara Burfeind said a few words. Little did I know, that she was going to present an award. She talked about the Holiday party, and there was one award which she couldn't give out because the recipient wasn't there. At that point, I knew that she might be calling me up for the award because I was in Pakistan during the party.
Each year they give out an award for Young Public Relations Professional of the Year, and this year I won the award. I was very surprised! Barbara mentioned all the hard work that I did for young professionals last year! I was co-chair of the PRONet committee, and I had so much fun planning and hosting a number of events. I definitely had a great time tonight networking and meeting members and potential members.
On my way back to the Metro, I was walking and thinking about the evening and the weekend coming up. I was about to keep on walking past this small alley, and I heard a car coming around the corner. I was about to keep walking, but I noticed that the car wasn't trying to stop. I looked at the driver, and he was on his cell phone driving (which is illegal in DC), and his dog was in the passenger seat. He didn't try to stop nor did he see me coming. Needless to say, I could have been hit tonight.
It's a scary moment, and I'm glad that I was paying attention. There are times when I'm walking to work, and I see people jay walking in order to get to work 30 seconds faster. Seriously! Is it really necessary to jay walk to get to work or wherever you are going faster? It's not only in Alexandria, but I see it happen all the time in DC, too. On Monday night, I was on my way to watch the MU vs. KU game, and I saw a car approaching the intersection. The light turned red, and the car kept coming without slowing down. I just sat there in shock that he was doing this at night! He should have stopped, and he was about 150 feet from the intersection. If I wasn't paying attention, I could have been hit. After tonight and Monday night, I'm thankful that I pay close attention to drivers when I walk and drive.
My life has been crazy the last few months, and I'm trying to step back on a few things, so I can have more time for myself and relax. I joined Netflix, stepped down from a few activities, and starting to concentrate on working out and getting healthy. The next two weeks are going to be tough for several reasons. I have activities at work (President's Budget, CTE Month, NPS and other duties) and my social calendar, which is never slow!
The biggest thing on my mind over the next few weeks is February 1. It's been 20 years, but I still find myself missing my mom more than ever. There are a few years that I didn't remember the actual anniversary, but most of the time, I try to do things to distract me from thinking about it or spending time with my family and friends. I'm truly thankful for having a close, caring family and my best friends close by!
One of the things I love to do is get together with my all female relatives and have a LaLa lunch to tell lies and stories! I'm having the next one at my place on January 30! I'm going to cook Pakistani food, have some tea and dessert! It's always a great time to see my cousins, and the hardest thing is all of us trying to put a word in edge wise. The gift of gab is an Anderson trait, which is a good and bad thing!
As most of you know, I don't talk a lot, so that trait has somehow skipped me! (JK!) The only time I have been completely silent is when I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and I couldn't talk. My friends enjoyed those two days!
On Saturday night, I had a great time swapping stories with friends. Asma even told me that I have great stories, but she does too! At some point soon, I plan on writing a book about my excel spreadsheet, which I know will have lots of great stories! It will provide some humor for everyone that reads it!
I love this time of year! The playoffs are starting this weekend, and I'm getting geared up for it! Although I was traveling this past weekend, I was able to watch some great games while waiting for my flight back from St. Louis. The weekend of Christmas I went to a local sports bar to watch the Packers game, and I love what I'm seeing!
On Saturday, the first game is Jets vs. Bengals, which should be an intriguing match up! Brad Smith is coming into his own, and he ran for over 100 yards last week (yes, the backups are in, but he is still a major weapon). The Bengals are now having to not only prepare for the Jones, but Brad Smith. I am probably a little bias because Brad was the star quarterback when I was a student at Missouri, but he was an amazing quarterback! I won't be able to watch too much of this game because I'm going to take out my best friend for her early birthday present!
Saturday night is going to be the game to watch. All the experts are saying that Dallas will win this game because of how bad the Eagles looked last week. Yes, they got shutout last week and got beat before in the other match up, but I have a feeling that Reid will have his players ready!
I am not a huge fan of Dallas, and I'm really hoping that the Eagles pull out the victory here! They have Jackson, who is a game changing receiver and kick returner, and Maclin, the rookie wide receiver from Missouri! He made an amazing catch two weeks ago that helped the Eagles secure a victory! I was very proud of my boy! I believe McNabb will have a great game, and I hope that their defense comes through! Dallas is hot right now, and they are clicking on all levels of the game. Romo is definitely showing signs of being a great quarterback, but he has to win a playoff game first!
Sunday's games are going to great, too! I'm definitely looking forward to the Packers game! I'm going to wear my jersey and hat, and I'll be yelling and screaming at the tv! I'm watching the game with one of my friends, and he has already warned me that he may have to cheer for Warner. Bring it on! I'm very excited to see how Aaron does and Driver is by far my favorite player right now! He is amazing, and I can't wait to see what the defense has in store for Arizona!
Hopefully, I can watch all the games next weekend and still go out to celebrate my best friends birthday! She is wonderful in so many ways! She is going to join me on Saturday night to watch the Dallas game after we go out for her birthday dinner! We are having our personal time, and then she is sharing my love for football that night! How wonderful is that!
Predictions for the Super Bowl anyone? I'm calling Saints vs. Chargers in the Super Bowl! I'm secretly wishing that the Packers beat the Saints in the championship game, but I'm not sure if that will happen!
