100 More Bits

My friend Gary posted this list of things that he has done. I’ll bold my truths and add some italics here and there, just to be different…

1. Started my own blog Ya think?!?
2. Slept under the stars Yep. However, I worry about strange critters coming by and sniffing me, so I’ve rarely done it. I like camping, but I prefer it in a tent with mosquito netting over the top!

3. Played in a band–I’m going to assume we can’t count high school concert band, middle school, etc.

4. Visited Hawaii I’ve been to all 50 States
5. Watched a meteor shower I did this several times when we lived in El Paso. We recently had some November meteor showers, and I did see one meteor a few weeks ago.
6. Given more than I can afford to charity –This one seemed a bit strange to me. Isn’t giving more than you can afford, or spending more than you can afford, called debt??

Now I sort of feel funny that the next item is this….

7. Been to Disneyland/world–3 times as a kid, twice as an adult (last time was with all my boys) . The visits have all been to Disneyland; I’ve been a West Coast girl most of my life.

8. Climbed a mountain–I’m putting this in italics, because I only made it to the 9,500 ft. level of Mt. Adams in Washington State.

The Mt. Adams summit is approximately 12,000 feet and I was suffering from altitude sickness.
Thanks to dh for taking me (I’m glad I tried) but if we ever do this again? Let’s do it in 2 days instead of one!

9. Held a praying mantis — I’ve only taken their pictures
10. Sung a solo—I’ve sung a couple of accapella duets in church, and I’ve sung Karaoke (which was possibly a mistake!)
11. Bungee jumped–NO WAY!! (Can I emphasize this enough? I think not.)

12. Visited Paris We lived in Germany for 3 years and spent 4 nights & days in Paris, just dh & me (kids stayed with a friend… I love you, Kimberly!!). That’s a much younger version of us from 11-1/2 years ago, standing in the Hall of Mirrors.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty–I’ve only walked up the stairs to the level of her feet. It was too hot and muggy and crowded to even think of going further! I do not regret this.
18. Grown my own vegetables–Once. I’m a terrible gardner, to the dismay of my husband!
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France such a tiny portrait! It’s actually a bit disappointing after all the hubbub surrounding it.
20. Slept on an overnight train– I can’t sleep sitting up, so there is no way this would work …unless it is one of those old-fashioned sleeper cars. Now that would be a trip!
21. Had a pillow fight–hasn’t everyone??
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill–I prefer to call it a mental health day…
24. Built a snow fort–As a child, yes; as an adult…not yet!! C’mon, Winter!! Let’s have a big load of SNOW!! 🙂
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping–gimme a break, I was in college and with other female friends, no guys around
27. Run a Marathon–5Ks, 10ks, and 12ks only
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice– sadly, we didn’t go to Venice when we were in Europe
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset Both, of course! Who hasn’t done this?! I regularly see sunrises these days.
31. Hit a home run — my ball skillz are not admirable
32. Been on a cruise — Nope. However, I have taken a ferry from Seattle, WA to Skagway, AK (a cruise it was not!)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person–it was nearly 30 years ago, but yes, I have been there. Now I need to bring my family along and see this amazing sight again. Maybe sometime in 2009? We’ll visit Gary when we make this trip. I’m hoping he lets us all try our hand at his pottery wheel! (Please, Gary?!?)
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors—Not exactly… I did go to the Black Forest region of Germany, which is where my maternal grandmother’s family came from. I’ve also visited the places in Vermont and upstate NY where my maternal grandfather’s family had roots.
35. Seen an Amish community–same trip as Niagara Falls (We spent several weeks touring the Midwest, East Coast, and Northeastern part of the United States.)
36. Taught myself a new language–I took German in high school, but I didn’t teach myself!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied–I like being content with what we have.
That’s not to say I don’t dream of living in the Wenatchee National Forest…

Otter Chalet at Fish Lake (my pic, but not my cabin)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

And took that Cheesy Tourist picture where it looks like I’m holding it up with my hand.

39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David–Same trip as the Pisa visit
41. Sung karaoke (see number 10)

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt –in summer and in winter!
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance Don’t wear flip flops on wet cement steps with old worn paint. And, people tease you when you have to sit on an inflatable donut.
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person I got a cramp in my neck. They should provide pillows and mats on the floor.

Taken from the Eiffel Tower, looking towards the Arc de Triomphe

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris–We only paid to go to the first level. It cost too much to go all the way up, and we were happy with the view we got. Time was better spent in the museums!!

Standing on top of the Arc de Triomphe

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling–Hanauama Bay on Oahu
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater–I think these are overrated
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China –I’d like to go….
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class — I’m pretty sure I can’t count fitness kickboxing!
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen — I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t…
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies I spent one year in Brownies. Now I just buy them from every Girl Scout who asks!
62. Gone whale watching–I’ve seen Orcas while at the Pacific Ocean and in the San Juan Islands, does that count? And I’ve seen humpback whales from the ferry in Alaska (see #32)
63. Got flowers for no reason–well, the reason is that my husband loves me!!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma–I lived in Europe for 3 years right before Mad Cow Disease became an issue. They no longer want my A+ blood.
65. Gone sky diving– No. Way.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp — I know, we lived in Germany. And I kind of wanted to… but the kids were small and wouldn’t have known to be quiet and not run around, which would have been inappropriate behavior. So I didn’t go. But then again, it’s not a place you WANT to visit. I guess I should say I sort of felt the need to go, but didn’t. I watch documentaries instead.
67. Bounced a check–I’m pretty sure I’ve avoided this one. I have been the victim of a bounced check.
68. Flown in a helicopter–Nope! But I’ve sat in one. On the ground.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy–Several!! My dolly is now in a box, but she remains very special. She’s a bit like the Velveteen Rabbit: not much to look at, but real to me.

thanks, google images!

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial multiple times!
71. Eaten Caviar–just to be able to say I’d done it.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square Again, nearly 30 years ago. Time to take the family on a trip, methinks!
74. Toured the Everglades Informally, that is. We stopped at sights and took nature walks and such. Someday, I want to ride on one of those funky jetted boats. I’ve wanted to do that ever since watching Flipper as a kid! They’re expen$ive, and the kids were too young the last time we were there.
75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone–I’ve fractured my wrist, but it was only 2/3 of the way through the bone. Hurt like heck.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle–I wasn’t the driver, and while speed is a thrill, I was scared, ESPECIALLY on the highway!

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person Camped under the stars right on the Northern Rim
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican Again with the Italy trip. I actually breastfed while on tour in the Vatican. Was that tacky?? Oh, well. It kept the baby quiet, and after all, the fact that he was breastfeeding is why he was along on the trip in the first place!!
82. Bought a brand new car The past 2 minivans have been brand-spanking new. All other (8) vehicles were “experienced” before we met them 😉
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper–my wedding picture, that is — and I was interviewed in my high school newspaper during my senior year, so there’s that.
85. Read the entire Bible I’m pretty confident this is true. Some of those chapters are hard to stay awake while reading!
86. Visited the White House–not by invitation or anything. Just a tour.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating–I prefer to let others do this for me, ThankYouVeryMuch.
88. Had chickenpox when I was 2 years old. I’ve also mothered 2 preschoolers and a 3-1/2 month old with chicken pox. SM is the only one who has been vaccinated; he was born after they started giving out the vaccine to everyone.

Poor baby! H-J got the worst of it. EB & MM hardly had any spots at all.
Yes, he was exclusively breastfed and still got chicken pox before the age of 4 months. Photos and scars to prove it (but at least he was too young to be capable of scratching)!

89. Saved someone’s life — Nope, just given birth.
90. Sat on a jury–so far, I’ve been able to avoid this. Is that a bad way to word it? I’m not opposed to serving, just not when my kids are young and need me to care for them. I have been called up, but due to dh’s job, we’ve been out-of-state each time.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby 4 of ’em. I feel very blessed.

95. Seen the Alamo in person Thank you, US Army, my passport to the world!
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit–after my botched surgery that resulted in a hysterectomy, we started the claims process, but ended up dropping it. Sort of an alls-well-that-ends-well thing, since I’m didn’t end up as a colostomy patient. (They were worried about that happening. It was a bad scene.)
98. Owned a cell phone–It’s old, definitely not fancy, and the plan is ancient cheap, but it is my electronic tether to the family
99. Been stung by a bee

And…

100. Ridden an elephant—I recall being at some zoo (maybe the San Diego Zoo??) as a kid and waiting in a long line to do this with a small group of other people. It was a wobbly experience.