#118 - Smoke a cigar DONE!

I am not a smoker, but I wanted to try it at least once.  Since cigars are for celebrations I thought it would be fun to have one, plus cigarettes are nasty.  And who better to have a cigar with than my dad!  On his visit to Waco he took me cigar shopping.  Smoking it actually wasn't that bad, but the 24-hour aftertaste was disgusting!  I may have one again for a special occasion but I am definitely not a regular smoker.

#55 - Work with Tigers DONE!

This is a picture of a training session,
I like the silhouetted appearance.

Having the opportunity to work with tigers admittedly was the driving force behind becoming a zookeeper for me. But the more animals I worked with, the more I realized I just really love animals! But, nonetheless it is still an amazing feeling to achieve such a major life goal. I love working with big cats, they are absolutely fascinating to me. Even as a little kid I could just sit and watch them all day at the zoo. Parents, this is an obvious sign that your child should be a zookeeper! Consider yourself forewarned!

#93 – learn how to trim an animal hoof DONE!

It was a learning experience to say the least, and I’m sooo glad that I learned on Donkeys instead of anything larger.  Thank you to my boss Manda for letting me help… well I think help is a mis-leading term.  Unless you consider comic relief helping!  It was interesting to try out, but I don’t think I’m gonna quit my day job to become a farrier anytime soon.

#75 – Get a tattoo DONE!

A zookeeper getting an animal print tattoo, a bit cliché, right? Well I did it anyways and I love it! Having a reindeer hoofprint on your leg is definitely a conversation starter! Plus it holds a lot of meaning for me. Zookeeping can be a difficult, thankless, and even a "crappy" job sometimes but this tattoo reminds me why I became a zookeeper in the first place. Whenever I have a tough day at work I just look at this tattoo and I have an innerpeace. Oh, and Chris of Artcore Studios did an absolutely amazing job. It looks way better that I could've imagined, and the shading is flawless, thank you!

#47 - Attend a jousting match DONE!

This one was a team effort! I found a nice online coupon for the Medieval Times in Dallas, TX and invited a group of my co-workers. We carpooled straight from work and arrived just in time to be seated for the show. The show itself was quite cheesy, but I was expecting that. I did have to giggle each time a knight "fell" before they were even struck with a weapon. It was really cool to watch the jousting, they actually lowered a huge net around the arena so we weren't hit by stray splinters! Some of the weapons even sparked when they clashed during the hand-to-hand combat. The horses in the show were pretty cool too, they did a lot of impressive "tricks" if you will. Overall it was a fun experience, I recommend everybody go at least once.

A Brand New Look

So I decided to test my blogging ability and try to find a more appealing visual page for my blog. It took a LOT longer than expected but I found a great template, hope you enjoy it!

Life List updates!

So I haven't completed any new tasks yet, but I am working on some. I have had a couple of helpful offers such as #43 - Learn to drive a manual car and some suggestions like #154a - Meet my adopted soldier in person. Right now I am working on #47, #49, #90 & possibly #99 as long as we don't hit 90+ degree days soon. I will keep updating this as time goes on and I should have fixed the problem with making comments to the blog so feel free to comment here now!

We are up and running!

Okay, I want to get this blog going so here we go! You can see MY LIST by clicking here or clicking the link next to the "HOME" tab above this post. For every item crossed off of my list I have posted a description and a picture which can be found on the blog or by simply clicking on the task from MY LIST. Not all of them have pictures yet, I still have to find some, but they will be added as soon as possible. This list is always growing and evolving so feel free to make suggestions. Here we go!

#8 - Go snorkling DONE!

[just imagine a super cool pic right here...]



This was actually a very difficult task for me. I have a serious phobia, not fear, of sharks that I had to overcome to go snorkling in the ocean. It is bad enough that I get dizzy and nauseous just when seeing sharks in an aquarium. But on my trip to Hawaii it was one of the activities that we selected. I almost didn't go but am so glad that I went, the fish were gorgeous and the sea turtles were so majestic. I did have a bit of a panic attack when our guide found a 6 foot shark in a cave but I got over it and hope to go snorkling again. I guess the next step in conquering this fear is to go snorkling or diving with sharks. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that quite yet though...

#31 - Move to a different state (my home state is Washington) DONE!

Moving away from home was a difficult task for me, but a great experience. I moved for a job in (brace yourself)... Waco, TX... Not the most exciting city I know, but a great place to get started. I will be the first to admit that there was a BIG culture shock between Washington and Texas but I adapted pretty quickly. I like some of the differences, for example having gentlement open the doors for you is pretty nice. But I'm still not used to being called "ma'am" by everybody...

#154 - Adopt a soldier (penpal) DONE!

[just imagine a super cool pic right here...]



My aunt told me about this great program where you can provide written support and comforts from home to our soldiers over seas called AdoptaPlatoon.org. I thought about it for a while before I decided to give it a go and signed up. It has been an amazing experience. I started by hand writing letters which took anywhere from 2-6 weeks to arrive. Fortunately my soldier penpal has e-mail access and we are able to communicate 1-2 times a week through the internet. I was quite surprised at how much of a difference simple letters (and e-mails) from home can make. We send questions back and forth all the time about our favorite movies, books, what the weather is like, and even what is going on at work (he thinks it is soooo cool that I am a zoo keeper). This has been an extremely rewarding experience and I plan to adopt another soldier once my current penpal returns to the states. If anybody would like more information about this program click this link to see the homepage of AdoptaPlatoon.org, just click the "APPLICATION" tab to get started!

#156 - Train an exotic animal DONE!

[just imagine a super cool pic right here...]



An important aspect of being a zoo keeper is training. My first training project was to work with a male reticulated giraffe to get him to stand calmly in the chute (where we do foot work and medical procedures) to receive his annual vaccination. The entire process took about 4 months to complete mainly due to weather conditions, it was the coldest winter Waco has seen in decades! But after many hours, and many buckets of treats Jeffrey received a hand injection in his neck safely and successfully! Next we will start working on target training and I hope to eventually condition him to accept a grooming routine as well.

#144 - Complete an internship DONE!

I completed an internship at a small zoo in Issaquah, WA while in college to see if I really wanted to be a zoo keeper. I started my internship in the bird department and absolutely I fell in love with the job. I spent nearly 3 years at Cougar Mountain Zoo before moving on to another facility.

It was an amazing experience and I encourage anybody who has a passion for animals or education to consider volunteer or interning at your local zoo. It is a rewarding experience you won't soon forget!

#86 - Find a fulfilling job DONE!

[just imagine a super cool pic right here...]



I am very fortunate to have found such a fulfilling job so early in my career, but it was not without a lot of hard work. I completed an internship while in college to make sure that I did in fact, want to be a zoo keeper. Since then I have fallen in love with the career more and more every day. Zoo keeping is not a financially rewarding career, but it is rewarding in so many other ways. I get to work outside in the nice (and sometimes not so nice) weather and have amazing animal encounters every day. But I think my favorite part is the education aspect of zoo keeping. Not only do I get to learn and understand new things about animals every day, but I also get to share my knowledge and love of animals with other people. Someone took the time to answer all of my questions about animals when I was little, and now it is my job to be that person for somebody else...

#72 - Drive Cross Country - DONE!

My friend Dawn and I, and my dog Kylie too, drove from Washington state to Waco, TX to get me settled before starting my new job at the Cameron Park Zoo. We covered over 2,300 miles in 4 days before finally arriving in Waco, TX. We drove through some small towns on the way including "Italy", "Dublin", and "Muleshoe". It was a long trip through a lot of open fields. What I still don't get is why there was so much construction? At least 1/4 of our trip was through construction zones with no workers or equipment. I just don't get it I guess...

#54 - Work at a zoo DONE!

It was my childhood dream to work with animals and it was my ambition that made me go for it. Today I am a zookeeper at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX and I absolutely LOVE my job. For those that keep count of what animals I have worked with here is the "favorites" list. We're really not supposed to have favorites but here are some of the amazing animals that I've had the opportunity to work with to date:

• African Grey parrots & Hyacinth Macaws
• Siberian Reindeer
• Lowland Gorillas (as a volunteer)
• Kori Bustards
• Reticulated Giraffe

#28 - Create a blog DONE!

[just imagine a super cool pic right here...]



So I kind of got this idea from watching "Julia & Julia" starring one of my favorite actresses, Amy Adams. But I couldn't think of anything to "blog" about. So I left it alone for a while, until it hit me. A life list! Who knew movies could actually be inspiring enough to make you try something new?

#148 - Eat french fries in France DONE!

I know I am a bit of a dork but come on you can't go to France and not eat french fries, right? I like how the world it rushing by around me as I savor the delicious delecacy that is the french fry. Mmm...

#145 - See Notre Dame in person DONE!

While in Europe everybody got to pick a place they really wanted to visit, I chose Notre Dame in Paris. I was amazed at the beauty and detail of the glass and the building itself. The architecture of the building was amazing, gargoyles were everywhere on the exterior of the building. It is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture. The stained glass inside was breathtaking, none of my pictures do it justice. I am so glad that we were able to stop here, it was my favorite place to visit of the entire trip!

P.S. Just wanted to give a shout out to my mom, who helped pay for most of my trip. Thanks for such an amazing trip mom!

#76 - Go zip-lining DONE!

This was my choice in Maui, zip-lining! My sister was not so keen about it but we found a company called Piiholo Ranch Zipline that had side by side lines so we could go together. After the first line, about 480 feet long, she loved it and decided to race me each time. I think she won every single race! The views were amazing as we "flew" over fields, rivers, and thriving jungles. My favorite one was the grand finale, over 2,800 feet long, which had views of the ocean. The guides were really fun too, they gave us lots of suggestions of other activities to do on the island. And the best part? It's an eco-friendly tourist attraction. I will definitely go zip-lining again!

#37 - See a show in Las Vegas DONE!

For my 21st birthday I went to Las Vegas! One of my best presents were tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show "The Beatles LOVE" at The Mirage hotel. The show was absolutely spectacular! I had seen other Cirque shows on TV but to experience one in person was truly breathtaking. I can't wait to see another one of their shows!

P.S. The handsome guy in this pic is my dad, he paid for the trip. Thanks dad!

#36 - Adopt a dog that needs rehabilitation DONE!

While working at the Humane Society I had to fight the urge to adopt a dog. So I made a short list of things I was looking for in a dog not expecting to ever find one that met my goals. Well... I did. Kylie, also known as "Ms. Naughty Pants", came into the shelter as a stray in the summer of 2008 and I knew she was the one. She was severely underweight and had some behavioral issues. I took on the challenge with the help of the Humane Society staff, my family and my friends. Kylie turned out to be the perfect dog for me! Stay tuned in my blog to see more updated pics of Kylie, we are working on some new tricks right now to complete #38!

#35 - Learn to ride a motorcycle DONE!

I decided, in my lifelong quest to be cool, to get a motorcycle in high school. But before I could get one I had to learn to ride it, so I did! My dad and I completed a motorcycle safety course together, I took the test and I got my bike! I realized later that I don't have any pictures of me with my own motorcycle, but I do have pics of me taking the safety course. For those interested I had a 1983 Yamaha Seca 550, it needed too much TLC but I am thinking about getting myself a newer motorcycle sometime in the future.

#18 - Visit the Louvre in Paris and see the real Mona Lisa

While in Paris we visited the Louvre and I was soooo excited to see the real Mona Lisa. But to my surprise we couldn't even get close! It took almost 10 minutes for me to make my way through the crowd to even try and get a good look. They did allow children to view the painting from up close. I tried, but couldn't pass as young enough to get the special viewing privileges... There's always next time, right?

#6 - Visit Europe DONE!

I had the amazing opportunity to visit Europe with my mother and her friend Anne in March of 2009. It was an absolutely amazing trip! We saw so much while we were there. We visited London and Paris for 10 days and were literally running around for the entire trip! I hope to go back again (that's why I put it on my list, #21) and spend more time in London. People in Paris don't really like Americans, and they don't hide it very well either...

#2 - Get a college degree DONE!

I graduated from the University of Washington in June of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science (yes, I graduated with a "BS") in General Biology and a minor in Environmental Science and Resource Management. It was a long 4 years but I am glad I stuck with it and have my degree! My entire family was there to celebrate!

I've got a profile pic

What is that hideous rabbit-like thing that is your profile picture? It is a jackalope, why a jackalope you ask? Because it has been my nickname since childhood, being that my name is Jackie it's not much of a stretch. But why it was given to me I don't really know. Especially because a jackalope is a fabled jack-rabbit with antlers that can mimic the sound of a human voice to elude pursuers... I don't get it either, but nonetheless my nickname is Jackalope and I'm stickin' to it, enjoy the pic!

Getting Started

Everyone has dreams and goals, some are big while others are small. As life goes on every day, week and month can become routine and sometimes these goals are ignored or even forgotten. Because of this I have decided to challenge myself to achieve my goals and come up with fresh ones. I have created my own "Life List" and have decided to share it with you in a blog (which coincidentally is #26 on my list!). Hopefully this will encourage you to get out there and go for your own dreams no matter how big or small. Stay tuned, I plan to update this list as often as possible. And feel free to make suggestions of things I should add to my list!