The Bucket List: June 2011

What is this list?

Friends have decided to create a list of forty things to do before I turn forty in September. I've decided to play along and try to complete the list before my birthday. I'm lucky that Jennie will also play along and help me complete this list.

I've decided not to post the list on the blog. Why not? Revealing the list would be similar to reading the book before going to see the movie. In most cases disappointing. Also, the likely followers of this blog already know the content of the list.
(Update: A few people said that the list should be online so that they could volunteer/sign up for some of these activities)

For the purpose of this blog, I've decided to call them "task". Most of them can be completed locally and without advance planning. I also plan to drag in the creators of the list into accomplishing some of the tasks with me.

The list:

1. Try all 31 Baskin Robbins flavours
2. Get up on stage
3. Learn to knit/crochet/cross-stitch
4. Take a pic a day until 40th birthday
5. Night out in drag
6. Bungee jump/sky dive/zip lines
7. Food challenge (ex. Works burger challenge)
8. Take dinner train to Wakefield
9. Get a picture with Spartacat
10. Write poem/song/letter to Jenn
11. Start a blog
12. Help an old lady cross the street
13. Ride the bull at the Crazy Horse
14. Make a time capsule
15. Find a four-leaf clover
16. Steal something
17. Gamble on 13 (roulette)
18. Swim in Mooney's Bay
19. Write a letter to the editor
20. Paddle boat on the canal
21. Blond Highlights
22. Write an email to the Commissioner of Patents
23. Take a tour on the Ladydive
24. Get picture with MP
25. Homebrew some beer/wine
26. Get a tattoo/piercing
27. See a movie at the Diefenbunker
28. Afternoon tea at the Chateau Laurier
29. Get a manicure or pedicure
30. Milk a cow
31. Win the lottery
32. Throw a themed party
33. Participate in a protest on Parliament Hill
34. Climb the Peace Tower/tour Parliament
35. Sit in on a Federal Court preceding
36. Go to the Ex (fair)
37. Solve a Rubik's cube
38. Watch every movie that has won an Oscar for best picture
39. Learn to say hello in 25 languages
40. Lose 10 pounds/get a fabulous six-pack (abs)

Sunday 5 June 2011

27. See a movie at the Diefenbunker

I'm telling you... we are here.

As part of Doors Open Ottawa, I went to visit the bunker in Carp. I find it interesting to see the engineering that went into building such a large under ground complex. It's too bad that the tour (I suggest the guide tour) did not include a visit of some of the machinery room and filtering system. The Bank of Canada had a gold depot associated with the bunker. The access door to the vault is made of 6000 lb of stainless steel.

All visitor must take a shower. With your clothes on, then without. I did not peek, I swear.


I made a friend. Not a big talker

Some key fact are found here:Wikipedia

Let me out! This is one of two emergency exit.

Someone recently told me that the school kids visit the bunker as part of their curriculum. If you have not had a chance to see it yet, I suggest you take the 35 minute drive.

Some fun facts:
Dead bodies were to be kept in the meat freezer.
A bit more room than the underground cities near Cappadocia in Turkey.
Designed to withstand a blast from 2 km away. I guess the Russians did not have a great aim.
Located west of Ottawa because the main winds are from west to east
If you lived downtown, you have 5% chance of surviving a nuclear bomb directed to parliament hill.


This is some sort of classroom. And I'm the teacher. The strap is back in service.


Mr. President! Yes I did press the big red button. What's the problem?

I did not see actually see the movie. Only on four times in the summer. Task completed!