At the end of last year, I
resolved to do or try at least 12 new things over the course of the year. Well, the year has ended already. Did I make my goal? Damn right I did!
Here's the full list with
the details:
1.
Participated in a
weight loss challenge at work
Lost
not only weight but also the challenge!
This wasn't a major deal but I don't participate with many extra things
to do at/with work so this was out of my comfort zone.
2.
Enjoyed an
evening with psychic medium, Deanna Fitzpatrick
I've
always enjoyed watching psychic mediums do their work and while I realize there
are a number of fakes out there and a larger number of people that don't
believe in this work, I am one who does believe in souls and an afterlife. I went to this event with my Mom and we both
enjoyed it.
3.
Attended a Murder
Mystery Dinner Theater
3a.
Performed an audience role in said murder mystery dinner theater
This
was so much fun that my Mom and I ended up attending a second dinner later in
the year! Performing a part was very
stressful for me but since my goal was to try new things, I had to say yes and
I think I did a mighty fine job. No one
seemed to notice my nervous shaking.
4.
Went to Herr's
Factory Tour
We
made this trip as a family with one of little one's friends along for the
ride. This place smelled so good,
especially the first stop at the pretzel building. We also enjoyed fresh, warm potato
chips. Bonus: we bought tons of
souvenirs (chips) and it didn't cost us an arm and a leg + the tour was free!
5.
Went to the
Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival
Okay,
I have to admit that I was on a foodie frenzy when I signed up for this
festival and ordered the 20 piece selection.
20 pieces was WAY too much food to even try to consume and we weren't
supposed to bring anything home.
However, my Mom, always being the prepared one, brought sandwich bags
anyway. This seemed to be the norm as
several "seasoned" attendees were walking around with
Tupperware/Ziploc containers and the vendors were putting the items directly in
them. This is not a festival I would
attend again as there were a ton of people crowded into a small space
(something that gives me anxiety), the items really weren't all that great and
it was a hurried event.
6.
Vacationed in
Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day weekend
Whew!
I've been to D.C. before on a field trip but never stayed the night, let alone
a full weekend. This was a great trip
with some great friends! I wouldn't go
there again over a holiday weekend, such as this date or 4th of July due to the
large quantities of people that were there.
Because it is the nation's capital, there were a lot of people there
from all over the world, which is great but for the fact that, like driving, a
number of them walk in the opposite direction so not only was it congested but
there were people walking in a nonsensical order, which drove me bonkers and
limited my contact with the main area attractions on Sunday to the morning
hours only. Check out fun moments in
travel episodes 6 and 9 for more details about this adventurous weekend.
7.
Vacationed in
Deal Island, MD
We
hit Deal Island for an extended weekend at the end of the school year with my
parents. We had a whole house complete
with a dock on the Chesapeake Bay. It
was an absolutely beautiful weekend but mostly because of the good
company. We didn't do much because,
frankly, Deal Island is a place with nothing to do which was the point of going
there. Several hours were spent on the
dock fishing, watching the sun roll through the sky and playing cards in the
house, with the bay view in sight. It is
very likely that we will head over here again, possibly for an annual
excursion. Of course, there is also the
option of staying at other locations on the Bay to experience different
adventures.
8.
Saw a movie on
opening day (Independence Day: Resurgence)
Ben
and I saw this together and the movie followed the original film pretty
closely. Not a big deal but it was
something new. To be honest, we usually
head out to the movies after they have been on the screen for a while because
the theater tends to be way empty, just how we like it. This go round, the theater wasn't nearly as
packed as I thought it would have been so it was even more enjoyable for me.
9.
Took an archery
class with little one
The
kid is into archery and had wanted to take a class for a long time. I was finally able to connect with a teacher
and signed us up for some private lessons.
It turns out, I'm pretty good at archery for a beginner and the little
one is, too. We had fun doing this.
10. Threw a machete
This
may fall under the archery class but while we were practicing archery, a brief
machete lesson came about, too. When the
teacher offered for me to try throwing it, I would normally have said no so I
took a hold of it, giggled like a school girl and threw it. It hit the ground. Then I threw it again and hit the
target. It was really fun.
11. Attended a summer concert at Killens Pond State Park
The
state parks in Delaware have been offering free summer concerts for a few years
now. This past summer, I decided it was time
to go. The weather was nice and I needed
a few hours outdoors with some good music.
I invited Ben to meet us at the park on his way home from work and
packed him a sandwich (plus drinks and chairs for all of us). He ended up getting there before us and
helped pick out a spot to enjoy the concert.
As soon as the music started, Ben melted - he was relaxed and
comfortable and I was enjoying it just as much as he was. Little one spent her time reading a
book. This was not a life changing
moment by any means but a good time was had and that's all we needed that
night.
12. Took a stick work/self-defense class
This
class was taught by the same person that worked with us for archery. I learned a lot in this class about
self-defense that will stay with me forever.
The stick work portion was way more fun than I expected it to be. As we developed moves, a rhythm came about
that was soothing and encouraged me to continue.
13. Went on an outing for the sole purpose of taking
pictures
One
evening, I decided it was time to go out just for pictures. All three of us hopped in the car and headed
over to Abbott's Mill Nature Center. I
got some fantastic shots there and little one also took a ton of pictures. Fun!
14. Attended the International Food Festival in Milford
and ordered everything on the menu from one of the vendors
This
was the first International Food Festival and we got there right as it was
getting started. There wasn't much going
on at that point, food trucks/tents getting in order and music blaring at full
force over the speakers. It wasn't the
most pleasant experience I've ever had but the food we came home with for lunch
was quite good, even though we had to wait 1/2 hour for it.
15. Went tent camping with the little one's troop
So,
little known fact of life about me: I don't enjoy tent camping. There is something about having to pack
everything you need to survive for however long you plan on staying in the
wilderness then unpack it/carry it/set it up/clean it/repack it/carry it back
then unpack it and clean it again when you get back home. In addition to the packing situation, there's
the dirt, bugs, heat/cold, walking to the toilet and using public showers (that
you hope have warm water), too. I
decided to try tent camping with my little one this year. It turned out to be the first weekend that
got down to about freezing temperatures at night. I had on multiple layers, a cot with a pad, a
sleeping bag and a blanket and was still shivering and I don't mean that,
"Oh, it's a bit cold out here as I shovel snow" shiver, I mean the,
"Oh, dear Lord, I was not aware that my innards could shiver,
too." It was all I could do not to
get in my car and drive the hell home and send my husband back in my
place. That said, I made it through the
whole weekend (two nights, people) and I am proud of myself for sticking it
out. The other mommas were a delight to
hang out with and it was cool to see little one be independent. Will I do this again? I'm not one to say never but let's just say
it's not likely.
16. Participated in the first Dashing Through the Show
walk at Cape Henlopen State Park
I
roped Ben into doing this with me and it was a pretty good night. We enjoyed walking through the light
display. Afterwards, we shared a po' boy
that was divine! I hope the display
grows from year to year and I would absolutely consider doing this again (but I
will bring my own hot chocolate and cookies since we didn't get to partake of
this because of my refusal to stand in a line for 20 minutes).
17. Went to Belize
Seriously! My husband decided the perfect end to a year
of new things would be to take a trip out of the country (for the first time
ever)!
With all of these new
things, what did I learn?
1.
I learned that I
am still not comfortable doing new things.
I prefer to know what I am walking in to and how it's going to go down
(call it a personality defect) but I also learned that I'll never know if I
like something new if I don't even try it.
2.
Delaware is a
flat, flat state. Whenever we travel
outside of the state, this is made ever so obvious to me in doing activities in
which any incline is involved. Thanks,
Delaware.
3.
There are a ton
of fun things to do nearby (within a two to three hour radius).
4.
I have the best
time when I am with my family.
5.
I have a lot of
fun with my friends but I don't hang out with them nearly enough.
6.
Anxiety
sucks. I know it is completely
irrational and I hate it but I haven't found my personal cure for it.
7.
I really, really
like food.
8.
I almost enjoy
exercise (this is a major leap from years past).
9.
I've always known
this but this year really enforced it more - I have the most incredible, loving,
generous husband.
So, what's up for next
year? Be more. I'll leave that as vague as it is and we'll
see where that leads. Be more.
