First thing: Dewey the Library Cat made my day. I was reading the part in the book when the library staff and patrons threw a first year birthday party for the long-haired orange tabby on November 18, 1988. Nov 18–that’s my birthday too! I’m completely indulged in reading this book about the cat that has won the hearts of people in Spencer, Iowa, with his enthusiasm, warmth, and goodwill. I’ve been resisting this comfort read for the holiday, hoping I can sop up Dewey Readmore Books’ adventures in a cozy setting, free of chores.
I went to see the film adaptation of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, which is very disturbing (at least the ending is). I need some time to ruminate how the words on the pages have transcribed into this harrowing visual experience that revolves around a nine-year-old boy’s friendship with a Jewish boy at the concentration camp for which his father is the commander, but unbeknownst to him. To say the least of how powerful it was, I heard people sob and sniffle afterwards.
I snagged this interesting random meme from Eva, which allows me to stretch my egoism a bit. It’s a really random list; not really aspirational, or well-rounded, perfect for Friday–appropriate addition to About Matt. The things I have done are in bold.
1. Started my own blog [Well, obviously…]
2. Slept under the stars [Camping]
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii [Kauai in 2007]
5. Watched a meteor shower [I’ve got my list of wishes ready…]
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world [Los Angeles in 1990]
8. Climbed a mountain [Yosemite Fall, Half Dome…]
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo [If karaoke counts…]
11. Bungee jumped [No way, not even if you pay me]
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea [Puerto Vallarta in 2007]
14. Taught myself an art from scratch [Sewing and cooking]
15. Adopted a child [That’s good karma]
16. Had food poisoning [Cambodia in 2005; they tend to serve food lukewarm there]
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty [Had vertigo, in 1999]
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train [Amtrak across the country; Train from Bangkok to Chiangmai, Thailand]
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked [Seen enough movies to dissuade me]
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill [Can’t help it when I cannot put down a good book!]
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon [Bay to Breaker in San Francisco, about 7 miles]
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice [Gosh, this is a dream vacation!]
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise [Down the Yangtze to see the Three Gorges]
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors [The Yau Village in Canton, China]
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language [Like trying to bargain and read comic books in Japanese?]
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person [Only in my dreams so far]
39. Gone rock climbing [Joshua Tree National Park in LA]
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David [Another dream vacation]
41. Sung karaoke [This is supposed to be an Olympics event!]
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant [Unless a blind date counts]
44. Visited Africa [Another dream vacation]
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight [Something that I both cherish and want to forget]
46. Been transported in an ambulance [Actually I was escorting my comatose mother]]
47. Had my portrait painted [Don’t think I’m very photogenic]
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person [Read about it]
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris [Gosh this person must really like Europe?]
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling [In Phuket, Thailand]
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie [You mean being casted?]
56. Visited the Great Wall of China [Beijing in 2008]
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class [Tae kwon do in college, I know I don’t look like it!]
59. Visited Russia [Moscow and St. Petersberg]
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies [I eat a lot of those…]
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving [Not for me…]
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check [Oh yes…fined 25 bucks]
68. Flown in a helicopter [Never again]
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy [Lego and transformer]
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square [and freezing…winter 1999]
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London [Was it the Buckingham Palace?]
77. Broken a bone [Broke my knee…]
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book [This is my goal]
81. Visited the Vatican [Italy again?]
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper [I was in a neighborhoody circulation in which I was a guest-barista to do latte art]
85. Read the entire Bible [Now I really feel surreal about it]
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury [A most petty case of theft]
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club [I can’t find one here in San Francisco]
93. Lost a loved one [My mother]
94. Had a baby [Had a puppy…]
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit [If you count the collective suit against airlines for overcharging…]
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant [In Thailand, wobbling up the hill of Chiangmai]
Total: 49
Filed under: Babble, Books, Meme, Personal, Reading | Tagged: Book Blogging, Books, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, Meme, Personal, Reading, The Boys in the Striped Pajamas |
A Guy's Moleskine Notebook 
You’ve done more things on that list than I have. Since I’ve only been to Germany, Austria, and Canada, I lost out on the out of country things. I have adopted a child and had a child (assuming that means physically), so I could bold those… Oh, I did visit Dachau while in Germany, so I could cross that one off, I’ve broken my right arm (ouch!) and I’m right handed (double ouch), I’ve bought a brand new car, visited the White House, started a business, blah, blah, blah. 🙂 I hope you have a great weekend and I want you to know how much your blog means to me (I know I haven’t been commenting much recently).
I am in need of a Dewey read. It has been on my list, and being a cat lover of the highest degree, I know I will read it eventually.
I love that meme. It is almost like “things to do before you die” kinda list. By the way, I think you SHOULD write a book. You are an awesome writer.
Interesting meme…I see I have much to catch up on. Where shall I start…perhaps “visited Paris?” shortly to be followed by “climbed to the top of the Eiffel tower.” Mais oui!
Matt, I haven’t thought of the Dewey Decimal system in, I don’t know, ages, despite spending so much time in libraries. Is it because of how books are so easily searchable on the web?
Oh, I think I’ve got a film recommendation for you: I’ve Loved You for So Long. French film starring Kristin Scott Thomas. Happy weekend.
I loved Wesley the Owl, and he was born on my birthday! I had fun going over this list with hubby. I’m in!
Very neat! My landlady in CA was reading the Dewey book and she really enjoyed it. 🙂
Oooh, glad you liked Dewey! I can really see Meryl Streep as Vicki. I wonder if they’ll be able to find a suitable Dewey fill-in?
You’ve got a lot of bold in that list! I might have to do that one myself.
What a fun list! You’re such a world traveler! I didn’t know they’re making a movie out of Dewey???? By the way, I can’t wait to see Marley and Me! 🙂
I should try this one, but must wait until after Xmas….
Jennifer:
It would be wonderful to go visit the White House. Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂
Sandy:
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am hoping that I’ll at least finish a draft of a perspective novel. I’ve only had the ending down! 🙂
Becca:
The person who created this meme must love traveling to Europe…some of the items are so tempting, like riding the gondola in Venice. I’ve only been on the one in Vegas! 🙂
mari:
I’ve put the film on my Netflix queue. 🙂 At first I thought the cat was named after Dewey Decimal System…then I realized the librarian named him after Dewey Melville, and named him Dewey Readmore Books, since he liked to mingle with patrons. 🙂
Maggie:
Right, Wesley the Owl….it’s sooo cute, and I have put it on my list as well. 🙂
Eva:
The book has been a phenomenon after Guernsey as I have seen in bookstores. 🙂
Lesley:
With cats being so independent, and that they are on their own agendas, I wish them luck in finding many stand-ins for the film. But it piques my interest, especially Meryl is in it! 🙂
John:
I have purchased ticket in advance for the 12/25 show of Marley and Me. 🙂
Greg:
This is a quick read…you can read it all in one sitting. 🙂
I liked this meme, too! And the creator was definitely obessed with Europe, but it worked for me — I’m obsessed with Europe, too! 🙂 I went to Italy and England in 2007, and I’ve been a total Anglophile ever since.
Megan:
My travel in England has limited to London and its outskirt, but I was fascinated. I bought this walking guide that took me to historic London, away from the touristy places. I love the famous landmarks and touristy places, but I enjoyed even more the hidden jewels and local London. 🙂
I’ve only done 23. Isn’t that sad. That’s with altering a few. I sold Girl GUIDE cookies since I’m Canadian and about the quilt, it was never finished but we made a few squares and sewed them together. As for watching Lightening by sea, how about by lake? I’ve done that.