Bucket List Update

Since it has been almost three months since I made my "Bucket List" for 2011, I thought I'd write an update on my progress.  I am quite proud of myself, actually.  I feel like I've accomplished quite a bit in just a few months.

Number 1:  Learning to play the guitar 

The first thing on my list was learning to play the guitar.  Let me start by saying- not as easy as it looks!  I didn't realize the bazillions of chords one has to learn.  My book has me learning notes first, then chords. So far I know eight notes.  I'm thinking this may take a while...   But- I am trying!

Number 2: Becoming a better cook

Let me begin by saying that being a Kindergarten teacher, tutoring after school, working out (or attempting to with some regularity), and being involved with church and ministries does not leave a lot of spare time or energy.  However, I have been trying to expand my culinary skills.  I have been experimenting a lot with chicken, and have come up with some really yummy and easy dishes. I have also been watching the Food network a lot on TV, and very much enjoying it.  Man vs. Food and Rachel Ray are my favorites.  Still, I must admit, every once in a while, frozen pizza still calls my name.  Does it count as cooking if I doctor one up with spices and extra cheese?  Ha!

Number 3: Trying sushi

One of my friends, Taylor, saw on Facebook that I had a bucket list.  We had quite a discussion about sushi, since he is an apparent sushi aficionado.  When he was in town a few weeks ago, he and his friend David took my roomate and I out for sushi.  It was quite an experience.  First, let me say that I was very thankful that I knew how to use chopsticks, or else I would have made an even bigger fool of myself that I already did.  The, um, interesting part about sushi is that you pick the "roll" up with your chopsticks and cram the entire thing into your mouth.  Believe it or not, I have quite a small mouth.  My dentist has even commented on it.  As for taste, I will admit that I was so busy trying to get the whole thing into my mouth and close my mouth over all of that food (while still breathing) that I didn't pay too much attention to taste.  Also, I was trying NOT to think about what was in it.  However, later I was brave and looked up exactly what is in a California Roll.  It consists of : cucumber, crab and avocado with a coating of rice.  Not too bad at all.  I was feeling proud of myself  (for eating six of these gems) when the guys informed me that it wasn't "real" sushi at all.  Kind of like Kindergarten level sushi.  Pretty fitting, huh?   I don't know if I would order it again, but I am very glad I had the opportunity to try it.

Number 4: Road trip

Can anybody say ROAD TRIP???  Anyone who has taken a "real" road trip with a group of friends knows it's one of the most fun things you can do together! Our sophomore year in college, a few friends and I took a road trip down to Georgia to visit one of the girls' grandparents who lived right on a lake.  Memories of that trip will live forever in my mind, from crazy stuff we did on the road (making signs and putting them in the car window for other drivers to read), to tubing down a river (that we later found was full of snakes....  eeeeeeekkkkkkk!!!!), to climbing a small mountain, to having old-timey pictures taken, to other shenanigans (skinny dipping in the lake at night).  Road trips are a time to just let your hair down and thoroughly enjoy yourself.  I'm hoping this summer I can get someone to go with me! (I promise, I'm more mature that I was at 19).

Number 5: Run/Walk a marathon

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am not a super athletic girl... at ALL!  That's the other Liz I grew up with. Ha!  Sure, I participated in basketball, volleyball, track and field and cross country, but I didn't really have a choice in the matter.  However, recently I've gotten in better shape, and actually enjoy doing athletic things now, in moderation.  For weeks, I've been dying to take a nice long hike in the woods (with someone, of course, because if you know me, you also know that I have absolutely NO sense of direction.  I hate going to the restroom in restaurants because I have seriously gotten lost on my way back...  sigh...)

But back to the marathon.  I think it would be great motivation to get in better shape to have a goal to work toward.  As the weather gets better, I want to begin looking into something along this line to participate in.  Nothing huge, mind you.  Maybe five miles or so.  Just enough to challenge me, not to kill me!

Number 6: Learn to shoot a gun

Oh, I'm so super excited about this one!  I have always always always wanted to learn to shoot. This Saturday, on Post, I am taking a class that will teach me how to load, shoot and clean different types of guns.  Pretty exciting for a girl who's only ever shot a gun one time in her life!  I'm sure a post about that class is in the not too distant future.

Number 7: Write on my blog more

I'll leave this one up to you-  how am I doing?  :)  And by the way, I am thoroughly enjoying being all "bloggy", and am becoming a bit of an addict.

Number 8:  Jet ski

Growing up about a few miles from Lake Michigan, I have seen my share of jet skis. Never ridden on one though.  One of my friends mentioned recently that when I go to visit her this summer we are going up to a lake and renting them.  So, I'm crossing my fingers (and my toes) on that one!  Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully it happens!

Number 9: Start my jewelry business

Please excuse the picture on this one... I downloaded the wrong picture.  After posting my "bucket list" on Facebook, a man in the church read it and gave my jewelry business a jump start.  He runs a gift shop on Post for the Military Police, and asked me to make jewelry for the shop.  Their colors are green and yellow, the two hardest colors to find decent beads in, but I am pretty happy with the finished products. He placed his first order the other week, which I am in the process of filling.  I ordered business cards as well, so I think I'm official.

When I go home for Spring Break in a little over a week, my friend Nicole and I will be hosting a jewelry party!  (I think I mentioned that before, but can you tell how excited I am?)  I can't wait to see all her stuff, and see how the ladies like our jewelry! I hope to have a party of my own down here in not too long.  All the ladies in my church always comment on how much they like my jewelry.

Number 10: Ski again

Sigh, I'm not sure if this will get checked off my list this year.  Seeing that it is 70 degrees out today, I feel that I have kind of missed my window of opportunity with the snow.  I really don't know where they have a ski resort around here, nor do I have anyone to go skiing with.  Maybe next winter?

Number 11: Make a new life-long friend

No one can ever replace the wonderful friends that I grew up with, or the memories we've shared together.  Still, friends come and go, drift closer and drift apart.  It's just a fact of life.  This past year I have made quite a few new friends that I know I am going to be friends with forever. 

One is my friend Melissa.  Let me start by saying, that I'm a really nice person.  I get along with everyone, it's just my nature.  That is... everyone but her.  We met in college, which was small enough that we knew everyone.  Right off the bat, I didn't like her, for some strange reason, and she didn't like me.  Who knows what made us act like that... because I don't believe we ever even spoke.  She was dating one of my good friends, and when they broke up and he started hanging around me (just as friends), that clinched it.  She hated my guts and thought I'd stolen her boyfriend. She graduated a year before me with a secretarial degree and went back to New Hampshire (I think... I didn't really care and lost track of her).  She'd visit every so often, but we never talked.  Then, the strangest thing happened.  It was the summer after I graduated from college, before I moved down here to Missouri. Late one night I was on Facebook, chatting with a few friends, and her name popped up.  I didn't even realize I was friends with her.  Probably one of us requested the other just to get more friends.  I can't remember which one of us started the conversation, but we talked for hours... well into the night.  We cleared everything up between us and had a great time getting to know each other.  We talked a few more times, then lost touch again.  Somehow, about a year later, Melissa found my cellphone number and texted me.  We started texting and currently text every day.  I found out that she had moved to Virginia, was teaching school there, and was engaged to a guy whose family attended the church there.  Melissa is getting married this summer, and guess who's in her wedding???? ME!  I went from being the hated snotty boyfriend stealer to one of her best friends.  I guess I learned my lesson from that one- always give people a chance because they may turn out to be someone who ends up being one of your closest friends.

I have also made other really close friends in very random ways.  One friend I have become very close with is the cousin of a guy I was interested in who set us up.  Came to find out that I actually went to kindergarten with this guy, and we have pictures together.  Another friend is someone I knew from long ago, who accidentally started chatting with me on Facebook.  We talk every day now, and he is really great friend.  You just never know!  I hope to make many more friendships like this throughout my life.