Hiking and Skydiving in the Smokies

Ok so I didn't actually jump out of a plane (I'm still considering it though), but over the 4th of July weekend Jenny, Amy and I took a trip to Pigeon Forge, TN (home of Dollywood) for a midnight parade, indoor skydiving, and one of the most beautiful national parks. It's so much fun to go south, almost like visiting a new country.

Thing number 12 was to go indoor skydiving. This is where you get suited up like you are going to skydive - jumpsuit, helmet, goggles - but instead you get into a vertical wind tunnel and an instructor guides you as the wind picks you up into the air. It was tons of fun. We have a video that we're working on uploading, so this picture outside the building will have to do until then.

me and Jenny

Thing number 18 was to hike 3 miles on the Appalachian Trail. The day we made it to the trail was cloudy and a little rainy, but there was enough tree coverage that we didn't get wet. The trail was a little creepy at times - narrow and almost overgrown and not very many people. At times we were hiking in the clouds we were so high up.

me with the Appalachian Trail sign

(don't look at my lack of coordination - i didn't pack very well)

44%

I have had lots of fun planning and accomplishing the things on my list. I have learned a lot and I love being able to check things off.

The mid-year (which was June 12th) count is 12 done, 7 planned/started, and 8 to go. Here is what the list looks like as of today:

1. GRADUATE from Library School

2. Read “To Kill a Mockingbird”

3. Visit the Newseum

4. Take a trip somewhere I’ve never been before (Greece/Turkey)

5. Take a creative class (pottery)

6. Train for a half marathon

7. Read (or listen to) Anna Karenina

8. Visit the Capitol Visitor’s Center

9. Hike Old Rag

10. Whale Watch

11. See the Supreme Court in session

12. Pansy Skydiving (Vertical Wind Tunnel)

13. Go to the National Arboretum

14. See a show on Broadway

15. Take the water taxi to Georgetown

16. Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

17. Sample a new ethnic food

18. Hike 3 miles on the Appalachian Trail

19. See an Opera

20. Visit the National Geographic Society

21. Go to Washington’s Grist Mill

22. Tour the DAR

23. Attend a professional soccer game

24. Play laser tag

25. Write a short story

26. Ride a donkey up a mountain

27. Is a secret

For the 7 planned/started: number 5 starts next Thursday; in correlation with number 6, I joined the gym at work; numbers 12 and 18 will happen over 4th of July weekend (yay for Tennessee!); 16 happens at Thanksgiving; number 23 is planned for August 22 (anyone want to come?); and I have started on number 25 (but I very often get stuck).

I think the other 8 will wait until late summer and fall.

Number 19 and an Addendum to 26

Thing number 19 was to see an Opera. I went with Jenny, Pam, Amy, and Nicole to the Kennedy Center to see Turandot last month. The third act starts with Nessun Dorma, which was the reason we chose to see this opera. I enjoyed it very much.

Thing number 26 was originally to take part in the polar bear plunge. Due to some scheduling issues with school I wasn't able to make it out to the event. So I decided to change it to "ride a donkey up a mountain." This was something we decided to do while planning our shore excursions on our cruise in Greece. I really wanted to do it but I was a little nervous since I have a small fear of falling or vertigo or something (I don't mind being up high, just being close to the edge). Honestly is was an amazing experience, definitely a highlight of the trip. The donkeys zig-zag up a wide stone path, often getting close to the edge. This is all done without a guide, the donkeys just know where to go. About a quarter of the way up, I was no longer bothered by the fear and even thought I might try skydiving next. Ha. I don't know if I actually will (why jump out of a perfectly good airplane), but riding that donkey has been quite liberating. Thanks donkey!

Kat, me, Amy, and Jenny at the top after our ride.

Thing #4!

For this thing, I went to Greece with a few friends! We spent 8 glorious days traveling the country, visiting ruins, and sailing the Aegean Sea. We spent time in Athens, Delphi, Cape Sounion, and then the cruise took us to Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos, Crete, and Santorini. Santorini was hands-down my favorite part (when we got back, I even looked up how much it costs to get to Santorini - $2200 in case you're wondering by airplane). The whole trip was fantastic! I enjoyed all the places we went - Ancient Ephesus is a must, Mykonos is quaint. I now have a travel bug and am trying to decide where to go next. For more pictures, go here.

Kathleen, me, Jenny, and Amy in front of the Parthenon

the beautiful Aegean sea

me in Patmos

Jenny in Santorini

Several Things

So it's been a little while since I update, but I've been busy accomplishing things on my list.

Thing #17 - Sample a new ethnic food

Jenny, Amy and I went to Passport DC on May 2. Several of the embassies on Embassy Row in DC open their doors to anyone. Many of the embassies have food and music and display items from their countries. It's an amazing chance to see some beautiful places and things.

We went to several embassies including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan. We bought a plate of food at the Pakistani embassy, which was delicious. As for trying new food, we had a small plate of food at the Bangladeshi embassy. It was very good, similar in taste to Indian. Then at the Malaysian embassy we tried Air Batu Campur (ABC). They were selling it for a dollar. It means shaved ice. It contained shaved ice, red beans, corn, jelly, and cherry flavored syrup. I wish I could say I enjoyed it...

Thing #1 - Graduate from Library School!!!

I graduated from Catholic University's School of Library and Information Science on May 16. It was a great day (even with the 15 mins of rain during the ceremony) with friends and family. It hits me every once and a while that I'm finished.

Matt, Nicole, Ash, Jenny, Amy, Pam, Me, and Sara

Thing #2 - Read "To Kill a Mockingbird"

Somehow I missed this classic during my public education. I absolutely love this book. It is definitely in my top 5 favorites. I adore Atticus, and loved Scout and Jem and Dill. It was so easy to get lost in the story and the language.

There's a couple more...I'll write about them soon.

Thing Number 13...

Number 13 was to visit the National Arboretum. The arboretum makes you forget that you're in the middle of DC (and that the Anacostia is a dirty, dirty river). It was a fabulous day; sunny and warm. We visited the azaleas, the dogwoods, and the pillars from the original capitol building that burnt in 1814. There was so much that we didn't see, the park is huge. I love spring in DC!

PS. Thing number 1 is less than 3 weeks away!!! I passed my comprehensive exams and am just 1 final exam away fom completing my course work.

Thing #24

Last week I went with some friends to play laser tag. It was exactly what I expected it to be. There were so many people in the game, I'm not sure I actually shot anyone. But there we go...one more thing done. Sadly, we didn't take any pictures, but these kids pretty much sum it up:

The next 6 weeks or so should be much more exciting in accomplishing things on the list. I think there are at least 4 things that will get done in that time and some of them are BIG!

A mid semester update

So I've been slacking on my 27 things, but with good reason. I have comprehensive exams in less than two weeks, plus keeping up with the two classes I'm enrolled in. It has been a roller coaster of a semester. I'm pretty sure I'll make it through in one piece.

Although I have super motivation now - I just booked my trip to Greece! (#4 on the list.) I'll be going in May with my sister and a friend. The trip will allow us to spend a day on the Turkish coast as well!

I did go to a Vietnamese restaurant in February with a couple of friends (# 17 on the list). We decided this only half counted since I had previously had pho. I also need to revise the list since I missed the polar plunge. Any suggestions?

Thing Number 14

Number 14 on my list of 27 things was to see a show on Broadway. We decided to see Wicked. If you ever get the chance to see it, go. It was fabulous, wonderful, spectacular.

Amy, Pam, Jenny and I headed up for a weekend in NYC. It was freezing, but we had a great weekend seeing the Empire State Building, visiting the Met, and eating A LOT in Chinatown, Lindy's (the cafe in Guys and Dolls was modeled after it), and Serendipity.

outside the theater!

More pictures from the weekend can be seen here (along with a few others).

A Few of My 27 Things

It's off to a great start. I have to accomplish at least 2 a month if everything is to get done this year.

In December, my Dad got tickets to tour the U.S. Capitol. They just opened a new Visitor's Center. This is #8 on my list. I didn't get very many picture inside. It's a huge open space with lots of natural light and lots of great exhibits. It's worth the trip.

me and my parents

It also happened to be the day my family was celebrating my birthday, so after we went to a fabulous little Mexican place behind the Library of Congress. I took the family on a tour of the tunnels under the Capitol and the Library of Congress.

dad and me in the tunnels

In January, I started with #22 - Tour the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). They have a small museum collection and a bunch of rooms done up in different time periods. AND they have a library. It's in an old theater, so it's pretty unique.

outside the DAR building

the DAR library

Amy and Kathleen in the library

one of the rooms in the DAR building