I’ve been thinking about this post for a little while. I’ve come up with a mix of things I want to know better and things new to me. What stalled me is that I had a revelation: I have been fortunate to be able to pursue many of the things that interest me.

Here’s the thing though, I learn many of the things I use, enough to get the job done. Really though, that’s not enough for me. I’d prefer to get more detailed about the things I use already. You know, nothing like knowing a little theory to be able to work my way out of a corner.

Anyway, following is what my list looks like today.

10 things i’d like to learn and know better

1. PHP: I use it for includes on my static websites. However, I want to harness more of the language’s power to get the most out of it
2. MySQL: Same as with PHP. Database software is really powerful and a very versatile tool to catalog data such as articles, images, audio and so very much more. I would like to learn enough to be able to troubleshoot background glitches when database stuff goes wrong
3. Forms validation: The code geek in me just wants to know the mechanics of effective forms validation skills
4. Video editing: I have edited a few things with my Sony Vegas software. There’s a lot more power that I haven’t used yet.
5. Simple animation: Cartoons are really cool and making my own would be a lot of fun. I think it would be really cool to animate some of my creative writing stories.
6. Play the guitar: I’ve iffed at it a few times. I didn’t get far either time, but I think I’d do better now because…just because.
7. Paint and draw: I can scrawl just as good as the next 10-year-old. I just want to do more. It’s more a matter of practicing so that I can make things come out of my hand that walk through my imagination.
8. Sew my own clothes: When I was a very young, maybe in grade school, my paternal grandmother showed me how to cut a pattern for a shirt and a denim jumper, to line the cuffs and cover buttons with material like the shirt. Mostly what I remember about that was the great feelings I had. The times we spent laying out, cutting and pinning patterns is part of the blurs of childhood memories that remind me of the warm carefree times.
9. Make paper: I read an article on making paper at home and it was really interesting. One day, I would like to try it out. Since I’m always writing on stuff, I think it would be pretty cool to make my own
10. Glass blowing: I’ve only seen it on television and it’s amazing to watch. When I watched it, I thought about the molecules, fluid, hot, that can be pushed, blown, stretched, and shaped. Then cooled into a solid that can’t bend only break. There’s something really moving about that.

Not quite a bucket list, but these subjects are things that keep me busy learning. The first 5 are to help me in the work I do. The last 5 are on my list to entertain me. In life there must be a balance, so this actually worked out better than I’d planned.

Confession: My balance is skewed towards pleasure. All the things on my list are things I really enjoy. I can (and often do) get lost in working at my computer.

What’s on your list of things to learn or know better?

Up next: 10 things that inspire me.