To do, or not to do?

Three-and-a-half weeks ago it was my 29th birthday. Not being one to make a huge deal of the occasion, it passed without too much fuss, just as if it could have been any other Sunday. Well, any other Sunday in which most of the day was spent at the pub. Or three pubs, to be precise.

As the beers (and soon enough, vodka) flowed, my friend Will suggested that I should have a list of things that I want to do before I reach the age of 30. Twelve things, in fact - presumably one for each month of the forthcoming year.

I have to admit, I quite like the idea. Being the procrastinating sort (I think I've mentioned that, right?) it takes a lot to get me really motivated, and as a result I'm generally only successful with projects that appear to have a defined finish line. Even then I'm definitely the tortoise rather than the hare.

But perhaps, if I have some targets that can be measured, per se, I may actually get out of the rut of wishing to achieve things and start to have something to show for my free-time, other than another personal record for how long I can play Football Manager on my computer.

Funnily enough, even before Will's suggestion, the idea of giving myself some targets (for want of a better, less work-oriented, word) had been quite the topic of conversation between myself and Jenn since, well, New Year, I suppose. Her list of resolutions for 2008 is, to say the least, very impressive - and given that the turn of the year is traditionally when the throngs of the general public seek out ways and means of improving their bodies, minds and bank balances, who am I to not join in?

(I've since bought myself a cookbook and two pairs of full-length pyjama pants, both of which are firsts for me and a signifier that I'm trying to grow up. The cookbook, sadly, currently resides on my bedroom floor, but the pyjama pants are so amazingly comfortable that they are perhaps the best thing I've ever bought. Ever. Wearing shorts to bed now seems just so... juvenile.)

I have, on occasion, wondered if I'm on Jenn's list of resolutions, given the number of times we've talked about where and how I can improve and reach my goals, and she has herself admitted that she's trying to give me a makeover (only without the make-up and clothes). She's joking, of course. I think.

The conclusion of these conversations has been that I definitely need a list. Something measurable that will tell me, in the end, whether I'm a great big success or a big fat (well, thin) loser. I toyed with the idea of the 101 in 1,001 project (101 being the number of tasks, 1,001 being the number of days to complete said tasks) as another friend has recently started her own list in her blog. There's also a Facebook application Jenn found entitled 100 Things (to do before you die), that I've briefly looked over, although unlike some people on Facebook, I tend to limit the number of (lame) applications I add to my profile. I mean, do I really want my friends to know which serial killer I'm most like? Do I hell.

As it turns out, list-making clearly isn't my strong point. I can't even come close to thinking of 100 things I'd like to do before I die, let alone 101 things that need completing in just under three years. I can't even think of 12 things I really want to do before I'm 30. Or ten. Or even two, to be perfectly honest. So far my list, shamefully, is just:

1. Make Write a short film.

Now, I appreciate this is potentially a big project - I've wanted to make a short film for a long, long time. I've wanted to make longer films for a long, long time, too - but I'm not kidding myself that I shouldn't be starting small with something like this. As such, I'm not going to kid myself that I can have a short film made within the year, either, hence why I'm just going to settle for merely (?!) writing one. However, given that it's taken me the best part of the last week to sit down and write this blog entry, I fear even that might be somewhat fanciful.

Nevertheless, there it is, atop (and, I suppose, abottom) of my list. I'm actually quite excited about the prospect of pulling my finger out and working on a writing project for the first time in what feels like forever. Of course, before that I need to have an idea or two. And, even before that, I need to think of another 11 things I want to do before I'm 30...

Suggestions, anyone?