Casi Maggio's 30B430

This blog shows my completed 30B430 list. (Hooray!) It taught me a lot about myself and a great deal about adventures in life and happiness. The act of writing things down and taking the time to accomplish my goals was liberating. The amount of success and joy I felt with each item checked off my list was the greatest gift of self-care. My list created a community. I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support as friends and family became cheerleaders and co-conspirators as I went on my 30B430 journey. After my 30th birthday (and an engagement!) I wanted more 30B430 action. Follow me as I continue my journey with my 40Before40 list! http://casi40before40.tumblr.com/ Be inspired. Create your own list! Let’s adventure together! The list: 1. Create a blog (Done 3/17/13) 2. Write and send a message in a bottle (Done 10/13/13) 3. Go to every professional Chicago sporting event this year (DONE 8/11/13) 4. Get rid of 30 things (DONE 10/13/13) 5. Try a new food from every continent (DONE 9/24/13) 6. Polar Plunge (Done 3/15/13) 7. Try a new sport (Done 4/30/2013) 8. Go to 5 new cities outside IL (Done 10/19/13) 9. Perform in a Cabaret (Done 5/23/13) 10. Take a Tango Class (done 7/24/13) 11. Eat at a Michelin rated restaurant (Done 5/4/13) 12. Bake a rainbow cake (DONE 9/7/13) 13. Do a flash mob (Done 4/29/13) 14. Do a whiskey tasting (DONE 6/28/13) 15. Volunteer for an event (DONE 6/4/13) 16. Learn an aria (DONE 9/11/13) 17. Watch all 3 Godfather films in one day (DONE 9/14/13) 18. Sleep under the stars (DONE 9/21/13) 19. Read 30 new plays (DONE 10/22/13) 20. Leave 30 random notes of inspiration all over the city of Chicago (DONE 9/2/13) 21. Kayak on the Chicago River (done 7/28) 22. Do a 5K (Done 6/1/13) 23. Drink an award winning cocktail at a fancy spot (Done 4/23/13) 24. Boudoir photo shoot (Done 10/21/13) 25. Take a CPR class (DONE 10/22/13) 26. Read “The Princess Bride” (Done 3/29/13) 27. Take myself on a solo dinner date (Done 8/17/13) 28. Learn how to change a flat tire (Done 10/12/13) 29. Go apple picking and then make a pie (DONE 10/6/13) 30. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day (Done 10/21/13)

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#39 Create and send a Post Secret Postcard. DONE October 21st, 2018

My brother gifted me the book, ‘PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives,’ by Frank Warren several years ago and I was so moved by the notion of this act of mailing a postcard (an expression of art and creation) can bring healing and give release. Of course, this act means something different for each person and each postcard, but the story is so beautiful. Chris gifted me other books in the series and with each postcard I was mystified and felt like I was connecting with someone, somewhere and hopefully helping them on their path. I have always wanted to hear Frank Warren speak and have secretly wanted even more to send my own postcard. I love to craft. For me crafting is therapeutic and helps to calm my anxiety and I often think about what I would need/want to send on my postcard and how I would craft it. Lucky for me mine and CK’s 4th anniversary trip to San Diego provided me the perfect opportunity to finally sit down and craft my card. While wandering around downtown San Diego I happened to see a banner ad for the Museum of Man and their current Post Secret Exhibit. It was kismet because we had planned to explore Balboa Park on Sunday and the museum was located IN THE PARK! We also happened to choose a Pokemon Game Day so the park was flooded with people on their phones looking for Pokemon. We navigated the sea of people on their phones proud of ourselves for focusing on each other. We loved Balboa Park and the museum is lovely. Seeing the hundreds of thousand of postcards stacked together as an exhibit was shocking. We spent time together and alone reading postcards and I was happy to see a table at the end of the exhibit with all the craft supplies needed to craft the perfect card. I created the one of many I have had floating in my head that spoke to me loudest that afternoon and felt the whoosh of relief I had always anticipated as I dropped my card in the mailbox. I instantly had more secrets to share and knew that when the time was right I had the option to craft my secret and pop it in the mail.  

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My brother Nate asked me if I had already written my final post. Of course not, it has to be organic when I complete my list. The truth is, I have written this blog over and over in my mind and find it rather daunting to put into words. Tomorrow I turn 30. I walked in the door this evening after completing my last 30B430 task, and Chris was standing in the kitchen with a glass of red wine. "Happy last night of your twenties," he said with an adorable 8 year old boy smile. All I could do was laugh. Why have I made turning 30 such a big deal? Is it a big deal? I love making birthdays important. Not just mine, but my family's, boyfriend's and friend's birthdays. It is the one day a year when you can celebrate your birth. Your existence on this earth. You are a year older and a year wiser. On the other hand, why not celebrate every day we are alive, by not sweating the small stuff (thanks Dad) and enjoying every moment. Take the time to find mini celebrations, salvations and meditations. I feel like turning 30 is the end of an era and the beginning of something great. I learned so much in my twenties. How to deal with heart break. How to not mix liquor on New Year's Eve. How to fill out paperwork and that having health insurance is a key component when searching for a job. That I am finally at the age where I say to younger girl friends, "When I was your age," or "You are too young to remember that," and remember when that was said to me. That it will always be ok to call Mom and ask for help and that having a few great friends is different then having many rainy day friends. I discovered Casi and a me I like to be even though some days I don't feel quite right in my own skin - and that is ok. I found out what depression was and how to battle it while going through the deep loss of a parent. I moved to a new state into a new theatre community and found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I made many mistakes and learned how to learn from those mistakes. I have so many memories of grand adventures and hours of laughter. I do believe everything happens for a reason and have enjoyed finding my own path. I think I was afraid to turn 30 because of the stigma behind getting old. I would no longer be desirable. Bull. I would stop having fun. Bull. I am a loser because I have not accomplished the same things that other people my age have accomplished. DUH. I am on a different path and I am proud of everything I have accomplished. Each year brings me a confidence I have never had before and this 30B430 list is a celebration of self care. It made turning 30 fun.

Of course I have already started on my 40Before40 list and it will be posted soon. Dont' worry. One of the treasures of this blog is how I have inspired others. The community that formed around me. I have had many friends create their own list and random people who hear about it that are excited. I see a spark ignite and hope that it brings them some joy as they accomplish mini goals while practicing self care. People like to celebrate triumphs and my list became their triumphs as well. Friends and strangers (CPR guy who discounted my class for example), got to be a part of the magic in crossing something off my list. It helped me make new friends, (like when I met my best friend's boyfriend and he wowed me with helping me accomplish the whiskey tasting). I got to catch up with old friends, (like when Amanda who I hadn't seen in years and I got to adventure to find Antarctica soda). AND of course I got to experience yet another fun adventure with a bff Brandon as we polar plunged into the winter lake as my first accomplishment on my list.

A favorite quote I had as a high school student was, "Every great accomplishment was once considered impossible." Everything on your bucket list is undone until you go out and do it. Have an adventure. Make a memory. I am looking forward to the adventures my 30's will bring and can't wait to check each thing off of my 40Before40 list. Goodbye 20's. You have been good to me. 30's I am ready for you.

"All I need is a sparkler and a light." - Casi Maggio

The list: 1. Create a blog (Done 3/17/13) 2. Write and send a message in a bottle (Done 10/13/13) 3. Go to every professional Chicago sporting event this year (DONE 8/11/13) 4. Get rid of 30 things (DONE 10/13/13) 5. Try a new food from every continent (DONE 9/24/13) 6. Polar Plunge (Done 3/15/13) 7. Try a new sport (Done 4/30/2013) 8. Go to 5 new cities outside IL (Done 10/19/13) 9. Perform in a Cabaret (Done 5/23/13) 10. Take a Tango Class (done 7/24/13) 11. Eat at a Michelin rated restaurant (Done 5/4/13) 12. Bake a rainbow cake (DONE 9/7/13) 13. Do a flash mob (Done 4/29/13) 14. Do a whiskey tasting (DONE 6/28/13) 15. Volunteer for an event (DONE 6/4/13) 16. Learn an aria (DONE 9/11/13) 17. Watch all 3 Godfather films in one day (DONE 9/14/13) 18. Sleep under the stars (DONE 9/21/13) 19. Read 30 new plays (DONE 10/22/13) 20. Leave 30 random notes of inspiration all over the city of Chicago (DONE 9/2/13) 21. Kayak on the Chicago River (done 7/28) 22. Do a 5K (Done 6/1/13) 23. Drink an award winning cocktail at a fancy spot (Done 4/23/13) 24. Boudoir photo shoot (Done 10/21/13) 25. Take a CPR class (DONE 10/22/13) 26. Read “The Princess Bride” (Done 3/29/13) 27. Take myself on a solo dinner date (Done 8/17/13) 28. Learn how to change a flat tire (Done 10/12/13) 29. Go apple picking and then make a pie (DONE 10/6/13) 30. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day (Done 10/21/13)

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#25 TAKE A CPR CLASS - Done 10/22/13 - 1 Day Left

I made it! 30 things before I turned 30 and this was the final task - a CPR class. This is one of those things I felt I needed to know and am ashamed that it took me this long to take a class. AND I almost didn't make it! I found a company online that had two locations. i called the first location and asked them what time the class was and how long it was. They said 5pm and 2.5 hours. Great - because I had to be at a meeting downtown by 8:30. I get to the location 15 minutes early and the woman tells me, "oh no the other location starts at 5, we start at 6pm. You probably wont make it with traffic." I call the other location and ask how late I can be and he says 10 minutes. I tell him about my 30B430 over the phone and drive like a bat out of hell to make it 15 minutes late. I walk in frantic and apologetic and he says, "No problem Casi let's get you in there." He asks for my card and hands me the receipt and says, "Happy Birthday." Not only was he bending the rules, but he gave me the class for 50% off! What a lovely birthday surprise. Of course I hugged him and thanked him. I hope Early knows how happy he made me in that moment.

I sneak in the room and the class is watching a video. I begin taking notes and realize that I am the only non nurse in the room. The teacher quickly became my friend since I was laughing and joking with her and I was special enough to be the volunteer to use the AED machine. I had no idea that would be a test in order to get our certification, but I was a great student and passed. Got my card in my wallet and am ready to save a life.

Takeaways:

With an adult check for pulse, responsiveness and breathing. Move to CPR. Begin with compressions 30 at 2"deep and then 2 breaths for 5 seconds. Do this cycle 5 times.

With children use 2 fingers and do the compression 1.5" deep.

There are many more details and scenarios (1 person vs. 2), but these were the most common. I had no idea CPR was so difficult! BUT, now I am certified!

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19. READ 30 NEW PLAYS - Done 10/22/2013 - 1 day left

THE TAMING - By Lauren Gunderson Inspired by Shakespeare’s Shrew, two political opposites end up in a strange hotel room with a beauty queen running the show. How will they go to defend themselves and their country? Southern Fried Politics, y’all. 3w.

I am so glad that this was my last play for my 30 "read 30 new plays." Written by a friend and staring one of my best friends reading this play made me feel closer to home. I have been hearing about this play since Kat played the role in a reading and watching vicariously through facebook since I can't fly home to see it performed. Which just breaks my heart y'all! I know the 3 actresses in the play and have seen their work before. I loved reading the play and picturing them each in their perfect roles. They have been receiving such great reviews because they are talented and because Lauren is a brilliant playwright. I have used 2 of her monologues for auditions, seen a few of her productions and read whatever I could get my hands on. She is skyrocketing as a playwright and I can't wait to see her work winning Tony's. Hopefully I will get to be in a Lauren Gunderson show in the not too distant future.

The pictures above are from The Crowded Fire's production.

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"A great figure or physique is nice, but it's self-confidence that makes someone really sexy." ~ Vivica Fox

24. BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT - DONE 10/21/2013 - 2 Days left

Confidence is sexy. 26 was my confident age. When trying to muster up some confidence for an audition or when meeting new important/intimidating people I remember 26 year old Casi. I was single and I felt hot. I was in Threepenny Opera which, thanks to Susannah Martin, took me out of my comfort zone. It allowed me to explore a side of myself that I never explored before. I was surrounded by a cast of open, supportive, sexy, free, beautiful people. It was an empowering show. I enjoyed dating and meeting as many people as possible. We dressed up for parties, hit the bars and laughed all night long. I enjoyed living with my best friend, hosting game nights and drinking wine. So much laughter. This is also the year that I met Chris. He said that I had a light like he had never seen and that he could see my light in him. I light his fire and he calms my storm. (Someone crochet that on a throw pillow for us please.)

Why this back story? Over the past few months I have been re-cultivating my sexy. My Saturn returns threw me through a loop and I am learning to be me again. In therapy I said to my therapist, "I am just trying to find 26 year old Casi again." She helped me discover that I can never be 26 year old Casi again, because I am 29 almost 30 year old Casi. I can however learn how to practice self care (hello 30B430 list!) and cultivate confidence. (Boudoir Photo Shoot) I added this to my list as a way to celebrate me and my body. My girl friend Eliza saw this on my list while the list was still being birthed and she said she would love to do the shoot. How exciting that I have a friend who does this type of photography. With the cabaret and our busy bee lives we never got to meet for the shoot. SO, I am looking forward to the shoot the way I originally imagined it when I added it to the list sometime in our futures. For now, I needed to check this off the list.

I had my cathartic sunrise/sunset day under my belt and was home before Chris. The time was now. I had reconnected with a friend who reminded me what it meant to be sexy. Our conversation helped me to realize that I am a sexy woman. I was inspired. I got out my Russian Red lipstick (Meghan Ihle's color that she shared with me!) I would love to post photos from this session...but this was a private shoot. Just for me. I had a friend once tell me that while they are vacationing they spend a whole day without their camera. That day of adventuring is just for their memory. My 30B430 photo shoot remains in my memory and those photos inspire me to be the me I enjoy to be. The sexy Casi. The confident Casi. Thank you for the confidence friend. Thank you friend for telling me about the "lose your camera day." I have the memories of being 26 year old Casi and new memories of 29 year old Casi doing a boudoir photo shoot. Checked another thing of my list and helped my light shine a little brighter.

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick ass red lipstick." ~ Gwyneth Paltrow

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"Youth is a wonderful thing.  What a crime to waste it on children."  ~George Bernard Shaw

30. WATCH THE SUNRISE AND SUNSET IN THE SAME DAY - Done 10/21/13 - 2 Days Left

I had to work at 6am after a weekend wedding getaway. Luckily, Chris and I had some time to relax before getting back to the work week/the start of my birthday week.I walk into work to a delightful surprise. I love my coworkers. I had done my research and knew that the sunrise today was at 7:10. Thank goodness I am not on a call. I throw on my jacket and run up to floor 10 to sneak on the roof. I am reminded of stealing roofs with Nate when we saw the stained glass water tower in Dumbo. Only this time the door was locked and I knew the alarm would sound. OH NO! The roof doesn't open until 8am and I had no idea. No problem. I am able to watch the glow of the sunrise from the window. Just me and the 10th floor. Silence and serenity as I start my last Monday in my twenties. Fast forward to 8am and I have an upset stomach. Shartia sent me home (thank goodness because I had to vomit...and I did a few times). Chris says that I have made myself sick from all the anxiety and stress. He is probably right. He usually is. I worked the rest of a 10 hour day from home and had to go to a quick education meeting downtown. I was getting anxious on the train because how would I watch the sunset at my meeting? Then I thought of the sunrise glow and let it wash over me. I snuck out at the appropriate time to "use the restroom" and watched the glow of the sunset. The sunset was the opposite of the sunrise. Hustle and bustle around me. People brush past on their cellphones and buses whiz by to take riders to their next adventure. I let the cacophony of noise wash over me with the glow of the sunset and went back into my meeting with my secret inside me. I may not have been on a beach in the romantic embrace of Chris watching the sunrise and sunset as I had imagined, but I still had my own romantic experience. The quiet glow of the morning and the hustle and bustle of life around me in the evening. Bring it on 30. I am ready for you. Wash over me.

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8. GO TO 5 NEW CITIES OUTSIDE IL 5/5 Done 10/19/13 - 4 Days Left

What an excellent way to check off the last city outside IL from my 30B430. The wedding of Jason and Dri. The wedding was in beautiful Ann Arbor, MI where they first met. The drive was about 4 hours from Chicago with an additional hour for the time difference. We were lucky to have a friend Pamela connect us with a place to stay and we gave her a ride to the wedding. We drove up Friday night to Pamela's friends' house in Ypselani, MI. She has a guest bedroom for us that was very comfortable. It was great to sleep in and enjoy a waffle breakfast that Val made. It was raining which of course is a good luck sign for Jason and Dri. Val drove us all to downtown Ann Arbor so we could walk around and get a glimpse of the city. It was bustling because of the homecoming Michigan football game. We checked out the cute stores, got a pumpkin latte at a local coffee shop and walked through the farmer's market. i heard from 2 different people that you can't go to Ann Arbor without stopping at Zingerman's deli. We waited the 45 minutes to get sandwiches, but the time flew by because we got to enjoy many samples while in line. Then we jetted home to primp for the wedding.

I was nervous about driving back downtown because of all the football game madness, but somehow we found princess parking right out front of the venue. The wedding was being held at the Art Museum on the Michigan campus. The ceremony was so beautiful and full of genuine love. The man who married the two of them gave the funniest ceremony I have every witnessed. The wedding party sang Ingrid Michaelson's "You and I," down the aisle and there was violin, guitar and piano from the party. The rest of the wedding whizzed by with laughter and great company. I felt honored that Jason and Dri gave me the opportunity to speak during dinner and Chelsea and I planned a short and sweet speech about being Jason's "show wives." We danced the night away and closed the museum. Everyone stumbled down the street to BTB for a little after party dancing. We were definately the old people in the college bar, but we didn't mind. Chris was a gentleman and fetched the car so the ladies didn't have to kill their feet on the way back to the car.

The next morning we went to brunch at Dri's parents and I had the pleasure of chatting with both Jason and Dri's parents. It was so lovely that they knew me by name and that I felt like I bonded with each set. Dri's Mom said that they did their research on facebook and sent us home with one of the flower decorations from the wedding. Now we are still enjoying the wedding at our house. It was nice to get home with some time to have a lazy Sunday evening with Chris. We went to bed early and laid in bed discussing our someday wedding. That might have been my favorite part of the whole weekend.

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#19 READ 30 NEW PLAYS - Read 29/30 - 5 days left

I have had many friends share many wonderful plays with me to accomplish this task and I am sorry to say that I will not be able to read them all before my 30th. BUT, I am happy to say that I have them in my possession and will get to them for my 40before40 list. I read a collection of plays by Neil Labute.

Have I mentioned Ilove Neil LaBute? I have so many fond memories connected to his plays. Sitting in a preview of This is How it Goes next to director George C. Wolfe. Playing Jeanie in Fat Pig and conquering some huge issues of my own. and that moment when I read an audition posting and almost cried because under audition requirements it said, "No LaBute." What is it about his plays that I love? They make me so angry,  they call me on my shit and then I mad that I am laughing and what is in front of me. They make me look at humanity in the face, feel like a hypocrite for laughing and question 4th wall...does it exist? Is this real? I know each of his characters personally and something inside of me connects to every character he writes. I see me in his plays. It is also fun to read what actor originally played the role and to picture them and their mannerisms inhabiting the role. It is especially exciting when I read that it is Paul Rudd, because he must be a muse for LaBute and I am totally fine with that.

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WRECKS and other plays by Neil LaBute

Wrecks Ed Harris at a funeral for his wife. Trying to "kick the habit" of the cigarettes is a nice metaphor for standing over your loved one knowing the rest of your life will be breaking the habit of a life with them in it.

Liars ClubFour actors on stage at a "benefit" where one of them is telling you a lie and the others are telling true stories. Trouble is...each story is awful, you almost don't want to know which is the truth and which is the lie. This is a great example of a play where LaBute toys with the 4th wall. Tha actors are constantly talking to the audience and asking them to believe they are telling the truth...when in fact the whole thing is all an act. Or is it?

Union Square  Some good ol' fashion LaBute racism by in a mirror at the audience's face. A man is visiting NY to find his wife and is speaking with what I assumed was the homeless person. BUT, it is the audience he is talking to, so we become the person he is subtly insulting with his racism. Then I ask myself questions about how I view others. My inner dialogue is on fire.

Love at Twenty Ah, the poor 20something that fell in love iwth an older married man. As the story unfolds she is crazier and crazier and yet...we have all been there and believed he would call. They get better, unless you are just always crazy.

Land of the Dead Paul Rudd as a sleaze and Kristin Davis as Charlotte. THis was a tough one to read as the LaBute secret twist unfolded. I knew it was coming, but hoped it would take another turn...then it did. Not in the way I wanted. This would be a hard one to work on, but if Paul Rudd was my scene partner, I would drop everything and go to the sad place.

Stand-Up Mos Def originally did this piece as an actor stand up comedian - not really kinda guy. I'll bet he was phenominal in this piece. Exactly the kind of performer this piece calls for. SInce I am studying at Second City, I am very intune to comedy and stand-up right now. It is all research. This piece was a mind trip with 4th wall confusion and stand-up theatricality.

CoaxUltimate 4th wall experiment. I don't want to ruin it so just read it. Don't know how I feel about it....yet.

Falling in Like Another poor girl waiting for the man to come. "He'll be here, he is just usually late." The concept of this piece, "falling in like" is interesting. I have fallen in like with so many people and it is hard when they are in love and you are just in like. Why can't you find the love that they find? That is why when you finally fall in love...you gotta hold on tight and hope that he isn't someone who is perpetually late like this poor girl who obviously is in love while he is in like.

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#16 LEARN AN ARIA - DONE 9/11/13 - 41 DAYS LEFT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFdZRXNX27g

I cannot believe I forgot to blog this event. My fellow "Let's Misbehave" understudy buddy Brennan was looking over my list to see what he could help me knock off, and offered to help me with my aria. He is currently working on a Masters in Voice and has access to the music building rehearsal rooms. I thought that this would be good practice for him to have a student, so really we were helping each other. He selected this piece for me because it is a standard and will sound lovely in my voice. He gave me a quick Italian lesson and explained how to sing the vowels. We discussed the translation and how it effects the phrasing of the notes. It was great. I included a link to Joyce DiDonato performing the piece because she sounds great and her dress is fabulous. I have a recording of Brennan playing the song for me so I can whip it out and dust it off should I ever need an aria for an audition...or for when I am ready to be an opera star.

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#4 GET RID OF 30 THINGS - Done 10/13/13 - 9 Days Left

30 is the magic number. I added this to my list as a way of finding catharsis before my 30B430. This one seems so easy, but I am a sentimental person and have a hard time getting rid of things. Chris is the same way so we have tubs of "stuff" we need to sort through. Last night was the night. I have been under a lot of stress and have been feeling overwhelmed. When I was younger and stressed, my Mom would always help me clean my room. Having a clean space helps to free the mind. I had wanted to switch over to my fall/winter clothes for a while and last night because of a canceled rehearsal, I had the gift of time. I pulled ALL the clothes I own onto the bed. I knew it was time to get rid of the clothes I was keeping for sentimental reasons only. I told Chris I could only keep 10 sentimental t-shirts, and he suggested I put those aside for a t-shirt quilt. Let the clearing games begin. I have heard of the rule, "if you haven't worn it for a year, get rid of it." I can't live by that rule because I love costumes and dressing up so much I would hate if I got rid of something that would have been PERFECT for a costume. I told myself I would get rid of things that were worn out, had seen better days or didn't fit right. I hadn't been able to wear the shirt that I was wearing when I found out my Dad passed away so I tossed it in the pile. Why was I keeping that? I didn't need the shirt as a memory of my father, because I have millions of great memories without needing a sad memory shirt. In the pile. My favorite black shirt I wear all the time, but am embarrassed to wear because the holes in the armpits are no longer mendable. In the pile. That white tank top that is so sweet for summer, but can only be worn under a sweater because of the stain. In the pile. The dress that was a hand-me-down that is so cute, but never looked quite right on me. In the pile. I had a goal of 30 things. I didn't meet my goal. I exceeded it! I have 1 pile/2 bags of 40 items ready to donate! Hopefully those treasures can turn out to be someone else's treasure as well. Now that I got the ball rolling by cleaning out my closet, I want to go through the rest of the house!

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#28. LEARN HOW TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE - Done 8/12/13 - 10 DAYS LEFT

Another accidental 30B430 experience. Friday afternoon, I got a call from my stage manager that I needed to come up for a put in rehearsal because the actress I was understudying was ill. I rode up to St. Charles with the stage manager Saturday afternoon and rehearsed with her before the show. Luckily, Khaki's medication was kicking in and she felt well enough to perform. I stayed for the show and they were able to put me up at the resort for the night, so I would be available Sunday in case she didn't feel like performing. I was excited to stay because I knew I would get a chance to go out with the cast post show and relax a little Sunday morning instead of rehearsing. (Chris got to join me for a cute pumpkin festival and lunch.) After the show, I joined two of the actors, Khaki and Blake, to grab a bite to eat before we joined the rest of the cast/crew at the bar. I made the decision for the car for Taco Bell over McDonald's. This was a difficult decision for 3 indecisive people, but I am proud that I was able to make it! We were driving the short distance back when Blake's tire began acting up, luckily we were right by a gas station so we could get air. Khaki and I had some nice girl talk while Blake filled up the tire and then we were back on the road. Not 2 minutes later the tire was flat again. Blake had been having trouble with his tire already but knew that he had to change it in the parking lot of the resort. "Duh! My 30B430!" I exclaimed to the car. After explaining my list to the two of them, Blake was excited that he could help me on my 30B430 journey. We grabbed a drink with the cast then came out to finish the task. It was close to midnight now and I had to pull out my $1 spot target flashlight from my purse so we could get to work. Khaki photographed the process and somehow managed to capture multiple obscene shots as well as Blake as a tire changing demon. Blake did a lot of the hard work, but let me jump in so I could learn. He explained each step like a gentleman and kept us laughing so the whole thing was fun instead of the pain in the butt that it actually was. We had 3 people stop by and offer to help and one gentleman, (who loved his cologne) brought out a tire iron to help us get the last two lug nuts that turned out to be stripped. Blake was happy that this man justified his manhood by not being able to remove the last two nuts. SO, we didn't get to finish the full change of the flat tire, but I now know how to do it should I need for future. Many people said, "Don't you have AAA?" Yes I do, but I now have the knowledge for that unfortunate time when AAA is not an option, because it is pouring rain and there is no cell service and I am all alone. I am ready for that moment. Hopefully I will have an umbrella too.

How to Change a tire:

1. Find your spare and the jack in the trunk. The jack is separated into 2 pieces and might be in different compartments.

2. Find a piece of metal under the car for the jack. Do not jack up the car under the plastic part because it will cause damage.

3. Get to work jacking.

4. Use a piece of the jack to get the lug nuts off. If they are stripped and there isn't a kind gentleman with too much cologne around to tell you they are stripped, then you are S.O.L.

The following steps I did not get to try myself, but Blake explained them to me for the time I do need to change my tire:

5. Take off the original tire and put the new tire on (in the correct direction).

6. Place the lug nuts back with the jack lever. It is important to put them on opposite of the circle and not in a clockwise formation to keep the weight distributed correctly. Make sure they are tight.

7. Release the jack.

8. Drive to a tire shop.

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#2 WRITE AND SEND A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - DONE 10/13/13 - 9 DAYS LEFT

Chris opened my eyes to the world of NPR. One rainy Saturday morning, I had a long drive to an audition and was listening to an interview on the radio. I wish I could remember the name of the segment or the person speaking, but I have a distinct memory of their story. This man worked in marine biology studying the patterns of migration in the ocean. He lived on ships for months at a time in the middle of the ocean. The thing that really sparked my interest, was that this man sent out hundreds of messages in a bottle as a hobby. He kept track of the coordinates where he dropped them off and asked the finder to respond to him so he could keep track of where they landed. He had a map for his messages  and would chart their journeys. How fascinating! He also talked about how some would respond back years after being found. I can imagine the excitement of getting a letter from a message that was sent 5 years ago. Each message impacting the recipient in a different way. Maybe he started a pen pal. Maybe someone found the message and threw it away. Maybe that message inspired the finder in a way they never dreamed possible.The idea of the unknown and the journey was what excited me. I made a mental note while listening to this story and knew that I would give it a shot someday.

Fast forward to my 30B430. I didn't have an appropriate bottle, so I would do my message in a mason jar. I also don't live by an ocean right now, BUT my best friend lives on the beach in California. My message in a bottle first took a journey through the post to get to its official starting point. Brandon calls me after getting the bottle, "You know Casi, I can't just throw it in the ocean from the beach because the tide wont wash it out." Brandon got creative and took my message to the docks. I got a text message from Brandon with a photo of Gary holding my bottle. Brandon found a kind man, who had a boat and was going out for the day into the ocean. He agreed to take my bottle with him for it to begin its journey. I love Gary's smile. He seems happy to be helping me on my quest. Maybe he is just thinking, "Awwh this silly girl," but that is part of the fun...the unknown. Maybe it will just wash back to the Manhattan Beach shore, but maybe it will be carried with a pack of dolphins to a far of land. Who knows? The journey of my silly message in a bottle is much like the journeys we are on in life. Maybe we end up in a far off land, or right back where we started, but the fun of it is all in the journey, I love the fact that my best friend found a new friend Gary to help us and can't wait to see where my bottle ends. Maybe it will be opened and I will get a response from someone who I inspired or maybe I will never know where my bottle has ended, and I am ok with that.

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29. GO APPLE PICKING AND MAKE A PIE - Done October 6, 2013 - 15 Days Left

Nothing says American like warm apple pie. I cant believe I am turning 30 and have never baked an apple pie. How un-American of me. Now I can wear my American flag tank with pride because I have baked my own apple pie. It was a Spiced Bourbon Apple Pie (http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/09/spiced-bourbon-apple-pie.html)

Chris wasn't going to be home and he was very concerned that I was doing it alone. "Are you sure someone can't come over to do it with you?" Me: "No way Jose, I got this." It would have been more fun to have had a friend to bake with, but I did experience a nice level of catharsis as I laid out my ingredients and began peeling and slicing the apples that I picked. I had the new HAIM album playing on spotify and I was zooming around the kitchen. I used a pre-made crust that Chris had in the freezer for his mini pie cravings. The recipe only called for 2 tablespoons of bourbon, but I might have "accidentally" added a little more. The recipe also called for an "egg wash" to brush over the top of the pie. I had to look that up being a beginner baker, but now I know for the next time. Truth is...apple pies are so easy to make. I think the hard part of the apple pie is probably making the crust. I have had many experienced baking friends who say that it isn't worth the trouble. I learned that I probably could have added one more apple, (even though I followed the recipe) and that next time, I will make my slits on top bigger. Chris wasn't going to be home until 11, but I wanted to try it while it was hot. I am on a diet right now, but knew that it wasn't cheating if it was research for my blog. Delicious. I was very proud of the pie and am excited to know that this is something I can do easily in the future. I sent Chris' Mom a text with a photo of my pie and she said that she had baked an apple pie that evening too! Connected across the country through apple pie. Ah America.

This was year one of a fall tradition of picking apples and baking an apple pie with my pickings. Each year I will try a new recipe. Maybe next year I will venture into the world of making my own crust as well. AND maybe...just maybe...we will invest in a mandoline for those perfect apple slices.

"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe." ~ Carl Sagan

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29. GO APPLE PICKING AND THEN MAKE A PIE (Done 1/2) - October 1, 2013 - 21 Days Left

Step 1 is done! What a perfect day. I want to make it a tradition for the rest of my life to go apple picking on the first of October and I need to make sure that Eliza always comes along. I recently joined a deal website called "How About We," and each month you get a free couple's date. The first free date I saw was to All Seasons Orchard. The date included 2 admissions, 1/2 peck bag for each person AND a 1/2 dozen apple cider doughnuts. Since all my weekends are booked leading up to my birthday I knew I had to go on a day I was out of work early. Luckily, Eliza was able to join me. It was a beautiful Tuesday. Eliza met me at work at noon and we hopped in the car. We hit a little bit of traffic, but we were able to do some nice road trip bonding along the way. We arrived at the Orchard and proceeded to have the perfect day. The sky was blue. There was a lovely midwest breeze. An adorable wagon drove us to the apple orchard. It wasn't crowded so we could take our time and enjoy the orchard. The apples were sweet and tart and plentiful. Eliza and I made sure to try each kind of apple as research to find the right apple for baking. We ended up with our bags full of liberty apples since Eliza said those were perfect for my pie. She even gave me a recipe she found for Spicy Bourbon Apple Pie, which I will be baking soon. The orchard had a table with an apple picking tool, so we grabbed one and this made life a lot easier. We could grab that perfect apple that was normally just out of reach. After we picked our 1/2 pecks, we rode the wagon back to the orchard and played in the pumpkins. On our way out we went through their store to pick up our doughnuts and pay for our mini pumpkins. We each enjoyed a doughnut (and a half) on the way home. Big thank you to Eliza for bringing her fancy camera and capturing our day through beautiful photos. Lovely date with a lovely friend in my favorite month. Can't wait to bake my pie!

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5. TRY A NEW FOOD FROM EVERY CONTINENT - Antarctica (7/7 DONE 9/24/13) - 28 Days Left

3rd times a charm. Amanda has come to Chicago 2 other times for work and with my crazy schedule it took until the 3rd time for us to finally get together! AND we had a blast! We rediscovered how eerily alike we are and this morning I was sad that we don't live in the same zip code. Although I don't want her to have to travel for her sake, I selfishly can't wait for her to come back to Chicago. I know that texting will keep our friendship alive. Now on with our adventure. Amanda wanted to help me knock something off the ol' 30B430 so I found a way to try something from Antartica. Most people thought I couldn't accomplish something from Antarctica. The naysayers all said, "Oh...Antarctica, what are you going to do, eat a penguin?" Sigh. I can't imagine where I would find a penguin to eat. So, I started with a google search of "Antartica food in Chicago." I came across this little Brazilian Cafe/Store in Bucktown (http://www.yelp.com/biz/brasil-legal-cafe-chicago). I read several reviews on how this is the only store in Chicago to sell Guarana Antarctica soda. WE HAD TO GO! I picked up Amanda from the Four Seasons (she can tell you that story later) and we sat in major traffic to get to the soda. It was lovely to catch up while in traffic. We get to the cafe, we get a soda and I see on the can: Made in Brazil. WHAT!? I had the thought again, "Oh no this is cheating," and then I reminded myself, "Things may not turn out to be what you expected, but you can always count on the adventure." The can says Antarctica and I am not killing any penguins today, so this counts! Although I don't care for soda, this was lovely. It had a hint of cherry mixed with some Brazilian magic. We enjoyed the Guarana Antarctica and then continued our girl's night at Little Goat Diner (solo dinner date told me about this spot!)

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18. SLEEP UNDER THE STARS - Done 9/21/13 - 31 days left

When I added #18 to my list I had imagined a camping trip. With schedules filling up at the end of summer/early fall a camping trip was not in the cards for us. Sean offered up his backyard for some city camping. We were set to enjoy the Andersonville Ready Made Craft beer festival and then crash in his backyard for some city camping. Then plans shifted again because the stage manager wanted us to run the whole show on Sunday morning before the Let's Misbehave matinee. I was nervous about having a sleepover since I had to be fresh for the run through. I called Sean to chat about the plan and we came up with the idea of sleeping under the stars all over Andersonville. At first I was afraid that I was cheating myself and my 30B430. Then I thought, "No way Jose. This is for you. Your 30B430 is about having fun with your friends and enjoying the end of your 20's. Go out with a bang!" AND what better way to have a ball then sneaking onto a pedi cab in the middle of a craft beer festival? I love how Sean and Matt are always on board to cross off a 30B430. Sean even let us bring his Teddy Ruxpin along to snuggle for sweet Andersonville sleeping under the stars dreams. Sean provided hoodies for everyone since it was a chilly autumn evening. The stars were out and I used my star ap to see what stars were above us as we slept. We slept on pedi cabs, flower beds, storefront doorways, kegs of craft beer, benches, festival tables, port o potties and on fire hydrants. A photo bomber loved our sleeping so much that she wanted to join us. Checking off "sleeping under the stars" may not have been what I originally intended, but we laughed and new memories were made. There is a moral in here somewhere. Things may not turn out to be what you expected, but you can always count on the adventure.

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#19 READ 30 NEW PLAYS - 21/30 Completed 9/20/13 - 32 Days left

LOOT by Joe Orton:

I love a good farce. I saw Joe Orton's, "What the Butler Saw" in LA with the actor who played Peter Pan in the 360 production. He was perfect for the show with his adorable British accent. Because of Cieran, I read Loot with his accent in my head for all the characters, and I was able to picture Chris and his friend Scott in the roles since he told me they did the show at Fort Peck. Farces make me miss my Tenor cast so I occasionally pictured each of us in the roles as well. Sometimes Kat was Fay and sometimes I took on the role, Hal bounced back and forth between Miles and Steve, but Mr. McLeavy was always Jesse. Orton adds an excellent morbid dark humor flare to the “normal” farce by having a wrapped up dead body disappear and reappear throughout the show. Nothing says farce better then a glass eye rolling across the stage. If it isn’t Michael Frayn’s sardines…it is Joe Orton’s glass eye and wrapped up dead mother body.

THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE / VARIATIONS ON THE DEATH OF TROSKY / WORDS, WORDS, WORDS by David Ives:

Thank goodness for the book, “All in the Timing” a collection of 14 “plays” bye David Ives. I think every college/high school theatre department thanks David Ives for writing these plays, but I am thanking this compilation for helping me reach this goal. I felt like I was cheating because these plays really seem like one acts, but David Ives called them plays, so I will count them. I read 3 in a row on the train. I was first introducted to David Ives in high school when I was a sophomore and 2 cool seniors in advanced drama worked on, SURE THING for a drama competition. At the time I thought they were the most talented actors I knew. Now as an adult and theatre nerd I realize that David Ives made them funny. They were good, but Ives is great. I then had the pleasure of seeing my extremely talented brother and college buddy Brian in THE PHILADELPHIA and no matter how many times I see that piece I only think of Nate and Brian and Nate’s excellent Hawaiian shirt. My final David Ives memorable moment was when my Uncle Paul took me to see VENUS IN FUR. I am at intermission talking about how brilliant he is and how David Ives just knows how to command language and Uncle Paul secretly points to DAVID IVES who overheard me. I don’t know if he thinks I knew he would hear me or not, but I was still happy to have that moment and his smile in my memory. Now after that epic Ives back story onto the 3 plays I read. A one sentence review THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE made me anxious for every actor who had to memorize this piece, but done with talent can seem brilliant. VARIATIONS reminded me of SURE THING and made me look up Leon Trotsky’s wiki page to see if he was a real person. WORDS, WORDS, WORDS is a play I have always heard about but never seen, people as monkeys as people what a genius.