Dispatch 146

Impossible List

I got this idea from Joel Runyon. He runs a site called ā€˜The Blog of Impossible Thingsā€™ and Iā€™m intrigued by it. I agree with his thinking that all of things that were ā€œpossibleā€ were too easy and the rest seemed impossible. Why not start tackling those seemingly ā€œimpossibleā€ things? Ever since I did the GORUCK Challenge, I realized there is a huge resource of potential in me that Iā€™ve never tapped before. That was the catalyst. Time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.


Life Goals

  • Obtain my private pilots license 

Fitness Goals

  • Run a 5K (as an adult aka since high school) [September 11, 2010] 
  • Run a Half Marathon [September 19, 2010] 
  • Run a Marathon 
  • Run a Triathlon 
    • Sprint Distance 
    • Olympic Distance 
    • Half Ironman 
    • Ironman 
  • Run an Ultra Marathon 
  • Run a 50 mile Race 
  • Run a 100 mile Race 
  • Do 100 consecutive pushups 
  • Do 100 consecutive burpees 
  • Do 200 consecutive squats 
  • Do a Mountain Bike Race - 2nd Place Clydesdale Division [March 30, 2008] 
  • Hiking/Climbing/Mountaineering 
    • Hike a 14ā€²er [First one, September 1, 2011] 
    • Hike all Colorado 14ā€²ers [4 down, 49 to go]
    • Become an Adirondack 46ā€²er 
    • Hike to Everest Base Camp 
  • Complete the GORUCK Challenge [May 7, 2011] 
  • Do an Adventure Race
  • Walk the 1,779 miles from Hobbiton to Mount Doom
  • Thru hike the John Muir Trail with minimal gear

Travel Goals

  • Visit Every Continent 
    • North America [Kinda like the 'free' space in BINGO but I'm still exploring] 
    • South America 
    • Europe [Romania & London] 
    • Asia 
    • Australia 
    • Antarctica 
    • Africa 
  • Camp in Yosemite National Park [2013] 
  • Visit Stonehenge 
  • Go on a Safari in Africa 
  • Walk on the Great Wall of China 
  • Drive across America coast to coast on mostly backroads. 
  • See the Northern Lights 
  • Drive into the Arctic Circle 

Minimalism Goals

  • Write letters instead of emails and tweets for a week. 

Adrenaline Rushes

  • Fly a fighter jet 
  • Skydive Tandem [June 12, 2010] 
  • Skydive Static Line 
  • Skydive AFF 
  • Skydive from 30,000 feet 
  • Drive a tank 
  • Do a "Polar Bear Plunge" 

Random

  • Be an extra in a movie. 
  • Be part of a protest. 
  • Dig for real dinosaur bones. 
  • Break a world record. 
  • Grow a garden and eat from it. 
  • Spend a night on an aircraft carrier.
  • Make my own baseball bat.
  • Own a NASA mission patch that's been to space. Bonus points if it's an American flag from the sleeve of a spacesuit. 

Events to Attend

  • Attend the Winter Olympics 

Professional Goals

  • Write an ebook 
  • Build an iPhone app 






PS: This list will probably never be fully complete so check back to see what Iā€™ve added to it. Iā€™m also using it as a type of virtual trophy case. Trust me, itā€™s not to impress you (Iā€™m sure youā€™re better/faster/stronger than I am) but itā€™s for me. Knowing what Iā€™ve accomplished gives me strength to accomplish more.


PPS: Some of the headings and/or goals may be similar or even identical to what Joel has in his list but thatā€™s because Iā€™m trying to jumpstart my ideas and Iā€™m emulating some of his for that reason. As I get more time, Iā€™ll polish everything and make it more custom and unique to both myself and my goals. But hey, itā€™s his list that got me interested in starting my own and heā€™s a good ā€˜templateā€™ built!






page updated 2015-12-16

About

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." -Plato

Hey there, my name is Mike Petrucci but I guess if you're on this page, you probably already knew that. What do I do? Well, Iā€™m currently trying to figure that out. I consider myself part social media consultant, part gadget junkie, part idea starter*, and part professional Internet surfer.

To really understand me, we should hang out. I'm only about 2 hours from DC and 3 from NYC but if we can't meet in person, you can get a feel for my tastes through my Tumblr feed.

Connect


You can also email me at mikepetrucci@gmail.com







*I hate saying "idea starter" but it's true. My goal is to not only start ideas but to complete them.





page updated 2015-12-16

Items of Want 034

Best Made Co. Anvil Paperweight

Looking to man-up your desk a little bit? Add this anvil. I know it's probably not suitable for any kind of actual use but that wouldn't keep me from testing on occasion.

"The axe is our window to the wilderness ā€” the Anvil Paperweight is our window to the workshop. While time spent behind the desk is unavoidable, this cast-steel symbol of workmanship and resilience serves as an important reminder: spend too much time at the desk and you get soft. With a wayward glance at the polished horn you hear the rhythm of the farrierā€™s hammer, the striking team pounding a damascus billet in time. Thereā€™s nothing like an icon of the hardest workers in history to keep you honest to your trade. Though you wonā€™t be making more than an eyeglasses repair on this jewelerā€™s-sized anvil, we use it as a hefty paperweight to keep productivity in mind, and to always be on our way back to the workshop."

[Volume 1 Acquired] Adventure Journal Quarterly


It seems that everyone these days is making a "fancy" magazine and to be honest, I'm ok with that. The lineup of photographers and authors in this particular magazine sounds incredible and I think I'm going to order a subscription for Christmas.

"Yes, a magazine. It needs no batteries, no internet connection. It wonā€™t bug you to check your email or ask you to like it. Itā€™s going to be printed in Boulder, Colorado, on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper ā€” a rich, thick, wonderfully tactile, uncoated, non-glossy paper (130lb cover stock, 80lb body stock for you print enthusiasts).

 It feels delightful, smells amazing, and will look at home on your coffee table, in the reading room, or tossed in the back seat of your rig.

 And itā€™s going to be a terrific read ā€” smart, fun, honest, relevant. Some of the worldā€™s best outdoor and adventure writers and photographers are contributing. In the first year, we have Terry Tempest Williams, Doug Peacock, and Craig Childs on board, as well as E.B. White, one of Americaā€™s greatest essayists. Youā€™ll see new photos from Jimmy Chin, Chris Burkard, Jordan Manley, and many other well-known shooters, plus lots of talented photographers and artists you probably donā€™t yet know but will soon.

 Favorites like Brendan Leonard, Vernon Felton, and Brook Sutton will be major contributors, and weā€™re also very excited to welcome Christie Aschwanden, whoā€™s the lead science writer for 538 and has a wonderful way with words, surf legend Dave Parmenter, and Alaskan wilderness guide and author Michael Engelhard. We are blessed, truly, to be working with such smart, entertaining, and talented people."

[Acquired] Saddleback Leather Classic Valet Tray (color: tobacco)


No doubt this would be great on a desk or by the front door but I'd probably keep this bedside to secure my knickknacks from disappearing by the night elves.

Just a few "official" uses:
  • Catch all for keys, coins, wallets, pocket knife, cellphone, and other EDC items
  • A portable junk drawer for those who lose their marbles
  • Keep it by the front door to make your mornings run a little smoother
  • Throw it in the car to reclaim your cupholders and replace that stinky tree air freshener
Wooden Border Stencil


I've started getting back into writing letters and while my handwriting isn't great and I use my typewriter, this simple stencil looks to be a great way to class up the front of an envelope as wall as keep things straight and organized.

[Acquired] 1lb bag of Cereal Marshmallow Charms


Don't ask questions. Just buy this and add to all the cereal.

ā€” Check out past Items of Want ā€”

Items of Want 033

Ystudio - Brassing Sketching Pencil


Based on how you carry and use this pencil, the paint over the brass wears uniquely. I like to see things get worn from use but still hold up over time and this pencil would perfectly scratch that itch.

[Acquired] Doane Paper Moon Camera Idea Journal Large



Iā€™m a huge fan of old NASA Apollo mission photos not just because the subject itself is incredibly interesting but honestly for the look of the photos themselves. The cross-hair pattern left by the 70mm Hasselblad cameras to be specific has just always grabbed my attention and Doane Paper has created a notebook line with this cross-hair pattern.

Filson Scout Dual Time Watch


From the bezel to the strap, this watch seems to be custom made for my taste. Built by Shinola, this is a classic pilot style watch Iā€™d be sure to wear daily.

Photo by Uncrate

[Acquired] Huckberry Sam Larson Sticker Pack


While Iā€™m a bit of a sticker nerd and I have a growing collection of interesting stickers, I also have a touch of ā€œsticker anxietyā€ and donā€™t often know what to do with them. But as soon as this pack arrived from Huckberry, I proudly added that one in the upper right to my laptop lid. These have a fantastically classic design and you wonā€™t be disappointed if youā€™re looking for a little inspiration to get out and explore.

Sign up for Huckberry through my link and get $10 credit. I get $20 after your first purchase of $25 of more.

[Semi-Acquired] Uncrate Magazine (subscription)


Anyone that knew me in my teens knows that I love magazines. I hate how that rhymed by the way but itā€™s true. Magazines these days seem to be all the same i.e. mostly boring ads. But magazines still hold a soft spot in my heart and Iā€™m extremely excited to see a resurgence of curated magazines that are built more for coffee tables than bathrooms.

I labeled this as "semi-acquired" because I was able to get a great deal on the first two issues. So I'm all set for this year but looking forward to what they put out next.

ā€” Check out past Items of Want ā€”