July - What to put in the bucket list

July will be a tough month to achieve any really big bucket list events - the reason being is that I am working 12 hour days for nearly every day of the month, including weekends on a remote mine site. Also, when I have got weekends off, one of them will be spent running 96k as part of an ultra marathon event (Kokoda Challenge - next weekend) and my wife turns 40 the weekend after, so that will be a big night (I have not drunk much alcohol this year, as I have been training for these crazy events (see my other blog, if exercise and exhilaration is of interest). It will be all guns blazing when Julie turns 40 - look out, we will be painting the town all shades of colours, I would expect.

Anyway, onto July, and what can be done at night time, for example, and maybe in front of a computer. One thing I heard about recently was on line museums. Apparently, you can visit them,like you visit other museums. It is not a tough one, and should not take too long, but that will be the July challenge.

Actually, seeing it is so small, there needs to be another challenge for July. Got it! The one thing that I am getting into lately is Bear Grylls and Man vs Wild - how great is that show. Bring it on. I love Bear in some sort of very platonic man crush way, but there must be thousands of Bear Grylls out there that have that special forces background, and are just bad arses. I am going to find one, and interview them about their experiences. What an idea. I will post the interview here, or on my site (might even video record it). Can't wait. Yee Hah.

Stay tuned. It will be a great interview. Check out www.antonguinea.com.au for more motivational stuff.

Anyway, until next time, keep ticking things off your bucket list.

Anton

June Done

Well, the June challenge - to sell something on EBay, has been completed. Yee Hah. That is the first time that I have done that, and it is so easy to do. It is really quite painless, and something that I will do more of in the future. Again, what a great outcome of doing these 101 things each month, and of course, over the course of this year.

We got $16.50 for my wife's bike helmet, which she doesn't use anymore. Amazing, How many more of these things could we sell. Who knows.

I highly recommend it to everyone - look around your home for stuff that you can sell, it is all money sitting there ready to be auctioned. It really is only a 5 minute job, once you have an EBay log in, a PayPal account and the photos of the product. Go you good thing.

So, what will July be, I wonder. What should this month's challenge be? Not sure, as yet.

May Done

Well, it is mid June, and I have done the May challenge, which was quite inspiring, and I highly recommend it. It was what some people might call 'a weird one' - and I accept that, but it is quite amazing to really be thinking and planning your future. As a reminder, my monthly challenge for May was to go to an entertainment centre or theatre and write myself a cheque for $1M - what I want to earn each year from public speaking work (I don't currently, by the way - it is my dream to be an international speaker - and working towards it). Yep, a bit bizarre, but the story of Jim Carey always inspired me, as he did the same thing in Hollywood when he was out of work, and before his career sky rocketed.

Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more info on my motivational work, if you want it.

In all honesty, it was a powerful experience, to commit to working towards future goals, to put something into my future that will be a life changer. Anyway, it was empowering, and I recommend something similar to people. May ... done.

June's challenge is a simple one - sell something on EBay - which I have not done before. We have heaps of stuff that could be sold eventually, so it is a matter of getting started and just doing it. The photos are taken, there is still heaps of time left in the month and it should not be a problem. The item is my wife's old push bike helmet.

So, what will July be. Not sure yet.

With the yearly 101 things to do list, one of the things on the list is to learn something new. That was going to be to learn to surf. I think that might still be a good thing to do, but something else that I am going to learn this year, is how to be a personal trainer. Yep, Certificate IV in Personal Training. I have always wanted to do it. As well as that, I want to learn to teach the Les Mills classes in Gyms (like Body Balance, Pump, Body Attack etc). That is also on the hit list for this year, too, now.

This is great doing 101 things all the time. It is all about doing something new, regularly. Great fun.

May - Missed it

Heaps of news for this edition of the blog, some good, some not so great. Let's start with the not so great first.

See, the reason that I do this blog is to keep me honest, and keep me achieving things that I would not usually do. Great idea. To that end, I have three lists, one is the 101 things to do in life list (high level), I have a 10 things to do in 2010 list (mid level), then I have one thing to do each month (low level). Occasionally (more so this year, I have ticked off some of the 101 things - actually about half a dozen so far, so that is good. I have done about a third of this year's list - going well. But, in May, for the first time this year, I missed the monthly thing to do. Bummer. It was to visit an entertainment centre, or similar, and write myself a cheque for one million dollars (like Jim Carey did, when he was a struggling actor) for the motivational speaking work that I do. I got slack and did not do that in May. I will carry it over to June.

For June, I have come up with something simple, and that is to 'sell some stuff on eBay'. I have never done that, and it has always been on my to do list. It is time, I reckon, to do it. Nothing major, but something. It can't be that hard. And, I will make a little cash on the side. Not sure what to sell, as yet, but hey, it is something new and different.

The other thing that I have changed is - as well as learning to surf this year - which is one of the things on my yearly list, I am going to learn to be a Personal Trainer, and even learn how to be a fitness instructor of Les Mills fitness classes. Sounds like fun, hey. Will keep you informed.

So, in short, missed May, will make it up, will sell something on eay in June, and become a PT and fitness instructor in 2010. Very exciting.

Reply

Hey, I got a reply from Mitch Albom, the author that I emailed to tell him how good his books are - it was short and sharp, though, but a reply is a reply. Shows he is interested enough in the feedback to respond.

Here is his response:

Hi Anton,

Thanks for the kind words.

A reply is a reply, though.

Now I have added to my 101 things to do in life to meet him. That would be just outstanding. He is the man - if you have not read his books, don't wait another minute

Update

So, how am I going for the year, so far, now. Here is an update.

1. Travel overseas - Planned for August 13, 14 and 15 to Thailand (and December) - all good
2. Learn how to do something new (surf) - No plans as yet
3. Do an endurance sporting event - Done on May 15 and 16 - Yee Hah - What an effort

4. Do an extreme sport (parachute) - Nothing planned - very scared
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal (buy a General Lee Dukes of Hazard Car) - Nothing planned
6. Meet someone famous Done on May 20 - Gordon Tallis (Go the Maroons)
7. Put something on You Tube - Nothing planned as yet
8. Change someones life - Nothing planned as yet
9. Have sex every day for a week - Can't wait
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month - Done - twice, leading up to the Mooloolaba Triathlon and leading up to The North Face 100 - easy peasy

So, 3 down, 7 to go.

I might have to book in a parachute jump now, to make it happen, then some surfing lessons.

Will keep you posted.

Live the dream

Anton

Another one down

Well, that is another one done. And, thank god it is over. I have completed an endurance event - my first 100k ultra marathon.

In the end, it turned out to be a 30k run and a 70k walk, as I cramped up at the 30k mark. That was never going to stop me, and even if I had to crawl, I was going to get to the finish line in 24 hours. The North Face 100 has been conquered.

I highly recommend, at some stage in your life (or every year), that you do an ultra marathon. It is a rewarding experience, and it is one of those; ‘if I can do that, I can do anything’ things that you achieve along your journey of life.

The other thing that I can tick off my list for this year is the meeting someone famous. And, surprisingly enough, it did not happen at the North Face 100, which I thought it might (thought it might have been a famous ultra runner), but it happened on a plane trip from Sydney to Brisbane in the week following the event.

If you are Australian, you will know very well that Gordon Tallis is a hero for many Queensland rugby league fans. He is the epitome of being ‘as tough as teak’, he struck fear into opposition sides and we loved to watch him take the ball up, and through, opposition defensive lines. He was a state of origin hero (if you are reading this outside of Australia, state of origin is one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar in Queensland and New South Wales, as the two states play 3 games to win the title of state of origin champion for the year). Gordon Tallis was one of Queensland's best.

With the first state of origin match less than one week away, it was timely to meet Gordon, who was a wonderful bloke.

We chatted briefly, and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Gordon, would you mind signing something for my two boys, please?

GT: Mate, I would love to, you should have asked me on the plane, as I would have signed my boarding pass for them!

Me: Are you looking forward to next Wednesday night (Game 1, 2010)?

GT: Shit yeah!

Me: Do you get involved, and get the boys all stirred up before the games?

GT: Mate, they don;t need me, they can get themselves stirred up for games like these!

Me: Go the Maroons (Queensland)!

GT: Go the Maroons!

Gordon was quite a big unit. He was tall, not hugely built, though he appears to have kept in shape since he retired.

I haven't told the kids yet, that I got his signature for each of them, but they will be wrapped.

So, there you go, in 7 days, two things ticked off the list. Bring that on.

Oh, and also, in May, I am going to go to an Entertainment Centre and write out a huge cheque, like Jim Carey did. I will be putting it out there into my future.

As well as that, for May, I have contacted my favourite author, Mitch Albom.

Here was my message to Mitch:'

Hi Mitch,

I am an Aussie who picked up one of your books in a second hand shop in Perth (Tuesdays with Morrie). I read it in a day, as I have all of your other books, which I purchased as soon as I had read the first one. I have loved all your books, and I just wanted to say thank you for all of the stories, for the challenges, for the stimulation and for the tears.

You are an amazing author, and you have some great stories to tell. Keep up the great work, and I wish you all the best.

PS, I just finished reading Have a Little Faith, and like the others, it was a great read. It has prompted me to spend more time with my parish priest and to discuss the finer points of the teachings of my faith.
Thanks again. Love your work.

I hope to receive a reply, and will let you know if I get one.

For more information on either the ultra marathon or the book reading that I do, go to www.antonguinea.com.au

Update

So, how am I going for the year, so far. Here is an update.

1. Travel overseas - Planned for August 13, 14 and 15 to Thailand (and December) - all good
2. Learn how to do something new (surf) - No plans as yet
3. Do an endurance sporting event - The North Face 100 Run - Planned for May 15 - all good
4. Do an extreme sport (parachute) - Nothing planned - very scared
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal (buy a General Lee Dukes of Hazard Car) - Nothing planned
6. Meet someone famous (was Dean Karnazes - long distance runner - now Diane Van Deren, another famous ultra marathoner) - Planned for May 15
7. Put something on You Tube - Nothing planned as yet
8. Change someones life - Nothing planned as yet
9. Have sex every day for a week - Can't wait
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month - Done, and doing it again now

So, one down, 9 to go. Of those 9, 3 are planned - it is May already - gee, I have got some work to do.

I might have to book in a parachute jump now, to make it happen, then some surfing lessons.

Will keep you posted.

Live the dream

Anton

Looking to May

Well, as a recap, I have got a list of things to do this year, as part of a 101 things to do list, which I am blogging about.

As well as that, I am choosing something each month to do, as something different, generally that I haven't done before. The last few months have included a Jazz concert, an expensive bottle of red wine and romantic time with my wife, amongst others (I spent one month alcohol free, also, and am doing the same right now - another month alcohol free leading up to a 100km run). So, what is May going to be.

Well, here is an idea. Being an energetic, goal driven individual, I was inspired by Jim Carey's story of when we was a struggling comedian. He was living on the bones of his bum, and not getting anywhere, He had an idea - he went and sat under the Hollywood sign, and wrote himself out a cheque for $10M, and said, I am going to earn that money in this place doing what I love (the story might be marginally different, but just get the jist of what he did). So, with that in mind, could it be possible for me to do that same, and get the same results as Jim has. Heck yes, I say.

So, in May, and given that I am a motivational speaker and author, I am going to find a Convention Centre in a capital city (or more than one - a big stage anyway), and write myself a cheque for $1M dollars, trying to imprint on my subconscious what is achievable. Then, I will do the same at a major bookstore, to cover the authoring. I know this all sounds corny, but it is something that I have never tried, and who knows, it might just work. Bring it on, I say. So, in May , that will be the challenge. As well, as ticking other things off the list, of course.

Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more motivation stuff, or products.

Anyway, that is what this is about - keep setting goals, challenges and achieving things.

Bring that on.

Anton

Another one off the list

Well, it is only two weeks until I tick the next one for this year off the list.

It is an endurance event, where I am going to run 100ks in a day, actually, hopefully 20 hours. It is called the North Face 100.

Here is some information from the web site for the event:

The highly-anticipated 100km endurance running test-piece, staged in heart of the rugged and spectacular Blue Mountains National Park, is set to return. Lock it in the calendar, lace-up your running shoes, it’s time to start training!

For the third consecutive year, The North Face invites runners of all kinds to step up and take on one of the toughest running events of the year, The North Face 100. An event that is certainly not for the faint hearted, or only elite runners, but is open to all those brave and willing enough to submit their selves to the ultimate endurance running challenge.

A glance over the starting line of The North Face 100 reveals a mixed bag of runners from ultra-marathon aficionados in search of the ultimate test-piece, to seasoned road marathoners making the transition to off-road trails, and probably the biggest bunch of all - recreational runners with an adventurous spirit, a desire to explore their personal limits, and achieve something incredible.

It is a really exciting event, and one that I can't wait to get through. Pumped.

To save me blogging too much about it here, see below the information from another blog that I write about the endurance events that I am completing.

Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more blogs, or more motivational products.

Here it is:

Well, yesterday, it is only 14 days until we will be running 100 kms as part of the North Face 100 trail running event on May 15 and 16. So, the big question is, am I ready. I think the answer to this question is very philosophical. Are you ever ready to run 100 kms (and walk some, of course)?

I think the answer lies in - well, what are you trying to achieve? See, there is no way, that I would be ready to win the race - 5 weeks training probably is not enough time for that. The next goal that the organisers set is a 14 hour mark. So, if you win, you get a gold belt buckle, if you finish within 14 hours, you get a silver belt buckle. Then, the clincher, if you finish within 20 hours, you get a bronze belt buckle. Apparently, they are a sought after item, these things.

So, the question really is not whether you can finish or not, but what time you can finish in. It might take you 28 hours (the cut off time) - but you have still finished.

To be even more specific, my question is - am I ready to finish this thing in 20 hours and get a bronze belt buckle. I think yes. Actually, it is a big yes. I am quite confident that the work I have done will get me over the line. Also, Marc is going to run all the way with me, to make sure I don't die trying. That will be very handy, for sure.

This week, working at a remote mine site, restricts the training time. Last week involved a 35km run on Sunday, in 3.38 (not too bad), then 5 x 10 km runs from Wednesday to Sunday at average pace. I had one ride with Julie (wife) which was fun, but then, two mornings on the exercise bike was very uncomfortable, and tightened up my legs. I regret then, now, but hey, you can't look back.

Next week will be some 15 km runs, and 10 km runs, through to Sunday, where I will do 40 kms and test my nutrition plan for the North Face 100, to make sure it will work.

Overall, how is my body travelling:

1. Mentally, yep, all good, very positive, and ready for the challenge
2. Physically, average, not as good. Hammies are tight, but that can be fixed with stretching. Knee is playing up, under the knee cap - more stretching required. Slight blistering from my inserts last night. Nothing major. Overall, nothing physical to stop the run, that is for sure. NO EXCUSES.

By the way, Marc did a 110 km run overnight, as part of a Relay for Life event in Kiama, NSW. He is a machine (and 50 years old by the way). Go the boy. Very impressive.

So, what happens after the North Face 100 - well it is about 9 weeks then until a 96km walk, as part of the Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast. That will be a little bit of running, also, so the training will help there, too. Two weeks later, it is up for an 18 run as part of the Gladstone, QLD, Relay for Life. This year, I aim to run 100k as part of that race. Last year, I ran/walked 80 kms, so want to go 20 km better this year. Bring that on.

Then it is triathlon season, with a half ironman and ironman down for later in the year, with an Olympic Distance triathlon in between them. Pumped. Bring all that on. It is certainly panning out to be a big year of endurance.

Marc and I are actually looking at the Racing the Planet series over the next four year. Pumped about that too. That involved 5 x 50 km runs in 5 days at different places around the world. Very excited.

Anyway, until next time, keep ticking them off the list.

April taken care of

Well, after a week at home last week, I was able to place some focus on my lovely wife, and make her feel loved. The three things were a moonlight beach walk, a nice dinner for two and a love letter. Well, the moonlight walk was taken care of by an evening drive along the Gladstone foreshore (not quite a beach, but similar). Dinner for two was lovely, at the Library Square Brasserie in Gladstone. The love letter has just left my email, and it was very nice, and I await a reply tomorrow. I hope she likes it. In summary, April was love month at the Guinea's, and I really enjoyed being home and connecting emotionally with my wife Julie (and the boys, Toby and Zac). I really hope Julie enjoyed it as much as I did.

So, what will May be? Not sure as yet, stay tune. I am thinking that I might contact one of my heroes (or authors). I love reading, and have read some amazing books recently. For a blog about book reading, check out: http://reading52booksin52weeksin2010.blogspot.com/. Contacting my favourite author sounds like a great idea.

Anyway, what else is happening in May. Well, the 100k run in one day will be out of the way in mid May. Only 3 weeks away now. That will be tough. I am not sure if the 5 weeks training will be enough. Anyway, time will soon tell. Looking forward to getting it out of the way. For more information on how that event goes, check out: http://enduranceandexhilarationin2010.blogspot.com/.

Life is great, really.

If you need anymore lfe improvement ideas, check out: http://www.antonguinea.com.au/.

Keep ticking things off your list.

Anton

Easter

We really did have a great weekend. We spent Easter on a little Island off the Queensland coast (Curtis Island), where my parents have a Holiday home. It was great, we were joined by friends, and we fished, swam, walked, four wheel drove and generally lived the dream.

I must say though, that I missed the opportunity to do anything really romantic with my wife, and given that April is romance month for me - with the 101 things to do in life for 2010 - I probably should have made more of an effort. My excuse is that we only really had one day together, as we had friends for the other two days, and Monday was spent travelling home and cleaning up after the weekend. I will think about it this week, and make up for it next Saturday or Sunday night. Julie will love it. Maybe romantic dinner at a nice restaurant, or an evening walk up town or something similar. It will be great fun, what ever we do. The kids will be cranky, as we will probably leave them with Uncle Joe, or at home. They will be fine, as they are now 10 and 12, and big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves.

It was though, nice to share the nice bottle of wine that I bought after the Mooloolaba triathlon with my wife. She actually said that it was nice - she rarely drinks wine - so that was a nice moment last week. We have not finished the bottle, and we may not for a while, as I am thinking of doing another six week stint without drinking. I have another sporting event coming up, so might go alcohol free for six weeks. The sporting event is the North Face 100, which is another one of the 101 things to do (a 100k run). At that event, I should meet Dean Karnazes, too, who is a superstar in the field of long distance running, and that will be two things ticked off the list in one weekend. Yee hah.

In relation to other 101 things to do this year, we are looking at surf boards on ebay (given that we did not purchase one when we were away last weekend. I think surfing lessons are not far away. I am really pumped about that, as I have always wondered what the secret with surfing is. I have always loved Occy and other great surfers, and admired their skill levels. We will end up getting lessons at Agnes Waters, I am guessing, so that will be fun just going down there for the weekend.

I am not really sure how to know that I have 'learnt to surf' and to be able to tick it off the list for this year. I am guessing that lessons might be enough. Maybe being able to stand up is the real test - not sure, and I will let you know when I actually have a go. I will keep you posted.

The other thing I am starting to think about is parachuting. Now that sounds scary, and I am not sure why I signed up for that this year. I have never done it, and it scares the crap out of me, but other people seem to be able to do it, so it can't be that hard (my life motto, when it comes to crazy stuff to do). I will have to ask Professor Google where I can do it, and line it up for a weekend later in the year. Actually, if I plan it soon, I can lock it into the calendar now. Maybe Julie will like to do it, too. I will ask her - will be a good bonding experience. More to come.

Until next time, keep ticking the things to do off your list.

Anton

Another one off the list ...

Well,

After a month without alcohol, leading up to the Mooloolaba triathlon, which I completed on the weekend, I finished the race with a bottle of wine (which was my March challenge). I wanted to spend one or two hundred, but in Gladstone, the most expensive bottle my wife (the purchaser) could find was a $30 bottle from South Australia. It was very nice, and it is worth mentioning that it was the most expensive bottle of wine I have ever drank.

So, it was still a first. But the bar is still high, and one day, I will lash out and buy a very expensive bottle. For the record, I had three XXXX Summers, also. They tasted nice, too. I am glad I did a great detox for a month, I lost a heap of weight, but I don't know if I got under the 80 kilo mark, as I did not measure myself, due to not being home to do that between travel and going to Mooloolaba. By the way, that month of not drinking was the first one of the 101 things for 2010 to be ticked off the list. Yee Hah.

I thought it might be worth doing a quarterly update of where I am at the moment, with the year to do list. Here it is:

1. I think it might be to Asia again, probably after Christmas, though, definitely in 2010 - BOOKED
2. Learn how to surf (holy crap - that sounds hard) - NEARLY BOUGHT A SURF BOARD ON THE WEEKEND, AM THINKING MORE ABOUT THIS ONE CURRENTLY
3. Run 100 kilometres in a day (the North Face 100 - May 2010) - REGISTERED
4. Parachute (holy crap again) - SCARY
5. Buy a General Lee (Dukes of Hazard) '69 Dodge or Valiant Charger (yee hah) - NOTHING
6. Meet Dean Karnazes (long distance runner) - IN MAY
7. Put some of my presentations on You Tube - TO DO LIST
8. Change a life, though not sure who's life I will change, as yet, might be a little hard to plan that one - NOT YET
9. Have sex every day for a week - NOT YET
10. No alcohol for one month - DONE

So, in summary, one done, three booked in. Heading in the right direction.

It is only 7 weeks until the 100k run. That is not a lot of preparation time. Anyway, must keep working towards it.

The big question is, though, what to do for April. February and March were good - Jazz concert and an expensive bottle of wine, what will April do. I am going to ask professor google for some advice ...

I think April should have a focus of romance with my wife. I should maker her feel loved, I think. So, with that in mind, a moonlight beach walk, a love letter whilst away for work, and a dinner for two, without the kids is the focus for April. There you go, what a great way to strengthen our marriage. Mind you, we have been married for nearly 16 years, so we know each other well ... or we should.

Until next time. stay strong and do more of the 101 things.

Anton

Another one off the list

Really, I started this blog to help keep me honest for the year, and to hold me publicly accountable to the 10 (ish) things that I wanted to achieve. Well, that has been good, and is going well, but occasionally, I am managing to tick things off my full 101 things to do list. Now, I won't share that list with you, as it will too long, and growing regularly, but when I do something off that list, I will share it, with you.

Firstly, though, onto the alcohol restriction for this month. No problems, and it will only get easier from here on in, as I am away for the next two weeks, for work. So, that will be fine. That is a good thing to do, and I recommend it to everyone. It just takes a bit of will power. I have only really been tempted on one occasion, and was able to resist.

In two weeks though, it is into an expensive bottle of red. Now, the person that I was going to share that with is not drinking either at the moment, so that will mean that I might be into it on my own. Oh well, looking at the positives, it should be enjoyable.

Now, onto what I did on the weekend, from the 101 list. I went and saw the musical Les Miserables. It was great fun. I enjoyed it, but had trouble following it in places. If you haven't been, the whole show is sung, not spoken. so it is important to listen carefully to what is being sung, and by whom. It was a Gladstone (Queensland) performance, so it was not done by a major production company or the like, though the quality was exceptional. Very enjoyable. The story has several components, with one being a convict (it is sent in 1815) serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving niece. The other story line is of Cozzette, who was orphaned when her mother died. The convict ended up raising the girl, and saving the life of the man that she would eventually marry. Very nice. I was able to share the experience with my 10 year old son, who, thankfully did not really understand some of the sexual connotations throughout the show. The singing, the music and the acting were all of a high quality, really. Very impressive. I must admit that I found it a little long to sit through at times, but overall it was another great experience. It has been a year of great experiences already.

The only other thing to report is that the 100k run is only 9 weeks away. Sheese, that is getting close. I want to do it in a day - 24 hours, though if I can do it in 20 hours, I get a belt buckle. Doesn't really seem worth it, somehow, but the feel good factor, and the bragging rights should be worth it (hopefully). I am getting excited about it, though. I t will be a huge achievement, the sort of thing that most people cannot achieve. Bring it on.

I have to start thinking about something that I can do for April, soon, now that February and March are out of the way. Not sure what that will be yet, but something fun, I am sure.

Until next time, live with passion.

Anton

Another one off the list

Well, we are into March, and it is well into the four week period that I am spending alcohol free. It is going quite well, and there has only been one time really, when I was tempted, and would have enjoyed a quite beer with a mate. We had just ridden 92 k and were quite hot on sweaty on our return, over three hours later. Mark went straight for a XXXX Summer and I went for a protein shake. That was probably healthier anyway. It is only 23 more days, and I am working away for most of that. I will only be home for one weekend, so that will make it easier, as I usually don't drink when I am away for work.

Anyway, the challenge for March is to find a $200 bottle of wine from say the Margaret River region of WA. I am working alot in Perth for the first part of this year, so should support the area with my monthly challenge. I have never drank anything that expensive, so it will be a real novelty. Something different. I know just the person that I will drink it with, too.

One thing that I have not put on this blog, is that I also have a 101 to do list outside of what I am going to achieve this year. That involves all sorts of things like walking the Kokoda Trail, climbing Mount Everest, going to the Olympics etc, and one of the things on that list is to visit the Kimberleys, in Western Australia. It is rumoured to be an amazing part of the country. Well, would you believe it, but for the work that I am currently doing in WA, I am right this moment sitting on a diamond mine in the East Kimberleys. And yes, the scenery is amazing. Yee hah, another one crossed off the list. I am going running each night, and it is amazing to be running along roads that are skirted with amazing mountain ranges that show thousands of years of ground movement, amongst other things.

So, it is probably time for a recap of the 10 things I was going to do this year, as well as the monthly challenges.

Here are the 10 things, and a progress report:

1. Travel overseas (travel booked for December, though I suspect I will be going to Thailand earlier than that for work - As soon as June)
2. Learn how to do something new (something that takes more than a week to learn) - No progress
3. Do an endurance sporting event - Planned for May 15 and 16
4. Do an extreme sport - No progress
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal - No progress
6. Meet someone famous - Planned for May 16
7. Put something on You Tube - No progress
8. Change someone's life - No progress
9. Have sex every day for a week - No progress, but excited
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month - Under way, to be completed by March 28, without too much trouble

February was to attend a live event - which was a jazz concert - great fun, and another first.
March is to buy an expensive bottle of wine - sounds nice.

You know, it is great to have a list like this to achieve each year, and I can't believe that I didn't do it sooner. It is not only fun doing stuff I have never done before, but it is a great way to keep doing amazing things. I can't wait to learn to surf, though Summer is nearly coming to an end, so it is going to get cold soon. Bummer, might wait until next Summer. The cold weather is too tough for me.

Anyway, life rocks. Keep at the 101 things to do, and live the dream.

Anton

Next challenge

Well, as February draws to a close, and with the Mooloolaba triathlon only 4.5 weeks away, I thought it would be time to spend a month without alcohol. Yep, until March 28, there will be no drinking for Antonio.

That will tick off another thing from my list this year. This is all too easy. I need harder challenges, I think.

As we head into March, I am trying to think of what to do for that month, as a challenge. I am thinking about either celebrating the Mooloolaba tri with a $200 bottle of red wine (I have never spent that sort of money on wine (or alcohol before). The wine would have to be a special bottle, and Julie (wife) would have to love it, too. Or, go to the tallest building in a capital city, and savour the view, or organise a charity event (like a ride or a run for charity, maybe). Or, take the kids on a charter boat fishing for the day. That would be good. Anyway, I will keep you informed as March approaches.

On the yearly plan, there is not much to report, other than that I have started the month of no drinking. The overseas holiday is booked, as you know, and I am still looking forward to the week or sex every day (I keep forgetting to mention that to Julie).

Anyway, live the dream, stay strong, and make your life count.

Have fun.

Anton

February Challenge

Well, the February challenge is done and dusted. The challenge was to go to a live performance of some sort.

I thought I would pick something that was a little unusual (for me at least)

Last night, for the first time in my life, so it was quite an experience, I went to a Jazz concert.

It was just a great evening, and something that I want to do again soon. The band that was playing was the Tal Cohen Trio, with Jamie Oehlers. I have included the information from the Perth Jazz Club web site below, to provide more information. They played at the Charles Hotel at North Perth.

Look, for a country boy from Queensland, with not a great deal of culture, mind you, last night was just great fun. The music was lively, the performers pumping, and the audience engaged. It was not a huge audience, perhaps 70 people were there, enjoying the fun. The four guys played for an hour, had half and hour break, then got back into it.

The Bassist reminded me of the shaggy out of Scooby Doo, he was lanky and gee he could play that instrument. He rocked, as did the drummer and of course Tal and Jamie.

Get this, some of their songs were like 10 minutes long. They just kept going. In one song, they could go up, down, loud, soft, slow fast and anything in between. The four lads really enjoyed what they were doing. I loved the way that they moved when they were doing solos, they were just engrossed, and passionate - living the dream. Good on you boys.

I have played the alto sax for a short time, so I love that instrument. The bass and the piano and the drums were also smoking, too, and when you put it all together the music was quite groovy. Most of it appeared to be written by Tal, I am guessing, given his short announcements (gee, he needs to work on his speeches though, his stage presence behind the microphone was very ordinary - but that is not why he was there after all) prior to each song. He talked about Bach's Prelude there at one stage, which sounded a little like he was speaking Chinese, as I have no idea, but audience seemed to get a little excited.

The one thing that I thought about was, how much do these blokes get paid for their efforts. It really can't be much. See, there were about 70 people there, all having paid either $10 or $15 entry. Now, that can only equate to between $700 and $1,000 ish. And there were four of them, and the house needs to take a bit, I guess. So, really they would get paid next to nothing, I would presume. The next thing that went through my mind was, so what. Really, I reckon there was no other place those four blokes wanted to be on Monday night. They really were loving it.

The question is, is money everything. Maybe not, you know. Look, I like earning a good wage, as we all do, but is there a point where you just live the dream. See, if you are living your passion, the theory is that you will make heaps, and this is generally true. Maybe these guys make heaps outside these small shows (Tal and Jamie appear to work at a Music School, so they get a wage there, presumably). It is really none of my business, it was just a thought. Two things are for certain, though, they are at the top of their game, and they are loving what they are doing. Good on 'em! How many people can really, truly, say the same.

FYI, here is the information that I found on the Perth Jazz Society Web site:

TAL COHEN TRIO ...with special guest JAMIE OEHLERS

Mon 15 Feb 2010 @ 8:00pm

Admission Members $10 Student members $5 Non members $15

DON'T MISS this energized evening of hard bop, original ideas and virtuoso performance! Joining pianist Tal Cohen and special guest, the supreme tenor saxophonist, Jamie Oehlers, will be two of the most promising musicians that ‘stoke the fire and burn the fuel’ – bassist Karl Florrison and on drums, Sean Phillips.

TAL COHEN left Israel at the age of 16 where he studied classical piano and traditional Jewish folk culture. Upon arrival in Perth Tal received a music scholarship to Churchlands and in 2006 gained entrance into jazz at WAAPA. Tal is currently completing his Masters degree under the guidance of Jamie Oehlers - that makes for a stream of musical consciousness that will literally ‘blow your mind’.

Western Australian jazz saxophonist, Jamie Oehlers is one of those phenomena that comes along once in a generation. Already he has a string of awards to his name including Winner of the 2003 White Foundation World Saxophone Competition and Winner of 2007 Bell Award for Australian Jazz Musician of the Year. Jamie has not even reached his zenith so every performance is an exciting voyage of discovery for both audience and artist.

Well, onward and upwards

Nothing major to report, really, on the 101 things to do front.

The main work that I have been doing towards this list is the exercise towards to the ultra marathon event. That has been tough, and demanding.

I think I will need to add some things to the list, to give me a constant focus.

I have an idea. Each month, I need to come up with a new challenge (outside of the existing things to do this year), and complete that by the end of the month.

So, for February, the challenge will be to:

Attend a live performance, whether an opera, a concert a play or anything in between.

That sounds like fun. Will keep you informed.

Until next time, live with passion.

Anton

NEXT INSTALLMENT

Of all the blogs that I am doing right now, this would be my favourite.

Things are moving in the right direction, and planning is coming along. We are now booked to go to Singapore, Malaysia and Thialand and Hong Kong. We leave on December 27, 2010, and we are pumped already. You have to love frequent flyer points. Hey, for all the travel that I do, we might as well get some benefit from it. It will be another cheap holiday. Vietnam last year, these places this year. Pumped.

Now, get this, I found out today also that I am off to Bangkok in June. That wil be for a program that I am doing with Darren Stephens and Spike Humer in which we are co-authoring a book together. It is a best seller already, as it has sold 5,000 copies already. Yee Hah. So, I am off to learn what to do with it, and how to sell it, and make a heap from it, and from adding value to people's lives. Stay tuned.

So, with the planning for Number one out of the way, it is onto the rest of them. I will keep you updated. The planning for the endurance event is up and running, in ernest, with some big running efforts currently being put in. Tough stuff, but hey, it will all be worth it.

I haven't mentioned to my wife the sex for a week one yet, but I am sure she will be excited when I tell her (hey babe).

And, my 101 things to do before you die book turned up. I am going to start filling that out soon. It is disappointing that he put stuff in the book, like get arrested. Now, why would you do that, really. But, anyway, most of them are good.

Until next time doing all the exciting things in life, keep up the good work.

Anton G

How it all started

Well, inspired by the book "101 things to do before you did" by Richard Horne, which I am following and tracking (mind you, there are some hard things on that list to achieve), I decided that I needed a list of things to do every year, starting in 2010. Then I thought it would be good fun to blog about doing those things. Feel free to share your experiences.

By the way, I loved the movie, The Bucket List, too. It was along a similar theme - an unexpected ending, but a great movie and very inspirational.

So, here are a list of 10 categories that I think people should do every year.

1. Travel overseas
2. Learn how to do something new (something that takes more than a week to learn)
3. Do an endurance sporting event
4. Do an extreme sport
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal
6. Meet someone famous
7. Put something on You Tube
8. Change someone's life
9. Have sex every day for a week
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month

So, for me in 2010 it will be:

1. I think it might be to Asia again, probalby after Christmas, though, definitely in 2010
2. Learn how to surf (holy crap - that sounds hard)
3. Run 100 kilometres in a day (the North Face 100 - May 2010)
4. Parachute (holy crap again)
5. Buy a General Lee (Dukes of Hazard) '69 Dodge or Valiant Charger (yee hah)
6. Meet Dean Karnazes (long distance runner)
7. Put some of my presentations on You Tube
8. Not sure who's life I will change, as yet, might be a little hard to plan that one
9. Looking forward to this one
10. Let's go for June at this stage (not that I drink much, but this is a good excuse for a cleanse)

Stay tuned.

Until next time, live life.

Anton G