Describe 5 things you want to see or do before it’s too late.

Hmm. Five things? Okay that should be easy enough. Behold…! My things in no particular order:

Visit Egypt
I’m sure this has come up before, but I really want to visit Egypt and see the pyramids. I want to see the golden sand and the pieces of history that have spawned so many films and books (The Mummy). I want to see the obelisks and sphinx and what’s left of the incredible treasures of a people who were so advanced that they were able to build things that we can only dream of.
More than that, I want to get a feel of the place because so much of Silk Over Razor Blades is set there. I want to pick up enough of the country (through the touristy gunk) to add a splash of authenticity to my writing. I know the scenes that take place there are in ancient Egypt, but one can tell a lot about the past by looking at the present.

 
Learn To Play Guitar
I was supposed to be doing this already. But my obsession with long nails and my choosing to prioritise other things have prevented me from doing much about it. A pity, because I love music. The idea that I might be able to play (or write) my own music is one that is incredibly attractive to me. And… I dunno… more than ever, the idea that I might be able to play guitar feels like it would bring me even closer to Dave. Whether or not that’s the case is irrelevant, but I can’t deny that I’ve had a dream or two in which we’ve played together. Aww….

 
See The Giant’s Causeway
Yeah, the Geologist in me is still there. Quietly lurking. I want to see the Giant’s Causeway and walk across those hexagonal basalt slabs. I haven’t done much research into it (terrible, terrible, lazy!), but the idea that something so ordered can exist in a geological world where lots of it is anything but, is just incredible. In fact, that’s something I should look into when I have time. What geological processes made the Giant’s Causeway. Then I can see about visiting it.

 
Perform on Stage
I used to do a lot of performing. I was in the musical production each year at school and then at university I joined the theatre group. I love acting (even if I’m not all that great at it) and performing for an audience is one of the biggest thrills one can ever experience. I remember at my drama school when I performed in one of their shows (Millennium Child) in my first speaking role. It was fantastic watching the crowds and playing up to their reactions. Then at university when I acted in The Memorandum, I got to experience that thrill all over again. Its been a long time though; long enough that standing up at Alt Fiction to read my flash fiction piece was a little nerve wracking. With the twins I have no idea when I’ll ever get to perform before a big crowd again, but I really would love a chance to try.

 
Publish a Novel
Yeah, I know, I know. You might think its a cop out, but I think its mad to expect me to write a list like this and now see this as an option. After all, that’s what this blog is about. I. Want. To. Get. Published.
Not that there is a time limit on this exactly, but I feel that if I want to enjoy publication as much as I feel I should, then I don’t want to spend too long faffing around. After all, I’ve been trying to do this since sixteen years old. Meh… I’m twenty eight now; I still have time!

 

My 80 Post Challenge is brought to you with help from Tom Slatin’s 80 Journal Writing Prompts.