101 Things

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liveuponatime.com

Surprise! At least it was for us

I guess it’s time to start planning our coast-to-coast road trip (Thing 53), even though it’s still a couple years away.  I’d hate to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity in a state in the middle of nowhere and have to buy a plane ticket to re-visit.  My husband and I have decided to explore the northern part of the U.S., since we were both raised in the south.  Growing up in Texas, I was able to make road-trips to the east and west coast of the southern states.  I also made several trips to Missouri for family reunions and one to Wisconsin for a Green Bay Packers game.  Now that we live in Florida, we’ve gotten to see much of the east coast – from the southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states (Key West) to New York.  I can’t wait to see how the north compares.  Get this – our family of four is planning to travel the entire way in a camper van (see Thing 97)! Our tentative plan is:

Maine:

- Start in West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine (the easternmost point in the 48 contiguous states)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Quoddy_Head

-  Drive down to Acadia National Park to explore more than 120 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads

http://www.acadiamagic.com/welcome.html

New York:

- Kayak or hot air balloon through a section of Adirondack Park

http://visitadirondacks.com/

Ohio:

- Chow down at Chrissie Hynde’s The Vegiterranean Restaurant, Bar, Coffeehouse, and Bakery

http://www.thevegiterranean.com/

Indiana:

- Ransack The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/

South Dakota:

- Dig for fossils in the Badlands National Park

http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/badlands.asp

- Stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore

http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/rushmore/index.asp

Wyoming:

- Catch a glimpse of bison, elk, bears, and wolves at Yellowstone National Park

http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Idaho:

- Pretend like I’m training to be an astronaut and walking on the moon at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

http://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm

Washington:

- Officially complete our coast-to-coast trip in Cape Alava, Washington, the westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states

http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=1513

I’m really excited that our journey starts at the easternmost point and ends at the westernmost point of the 48 contiguous states; although, I hate that we’ll probably have to miss the northernmost point, Northwest Angle in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.  Other than that, what other must-sees should we add to the agenda?

Do you know someone that is difficult to shop for? Meet my husband, Matt! After 6 1/2 years together, I still haven’t managed to find a gift that he didn’t return or claim he could find cheaper on eBay.  So this year, I really stressed about what to get him for our 5th Anniversary…until I heard a friend at work bragging that his wife got him a NASCAR driving package from XperienceDays.com. Perfect! My husband loves speeding.  We rarely complete a road trip without getting pulled over at least once. As a matter of fact, I just put a money order in the mail today for a ticket he got on our last vacation. I spoke to all my male co-workers and called my brother to get a “cool-factor” rating on my gift idea.  The consensus - any guy would be crazy not to love it. So, I browse the available NASCAR packages at XperienceDays.com and settle on a $365 package that includes classroom training, five laps with an instructor, and eight glorious laps in the driver’s seat at our choice of track - Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, North Carolina Speedway, or Darlington Racetrack.  I’ll admit, I also bought one for me since it’s my 5th Anniversary, too.

A few days after ordering online, the sleekest black box arrived in the mail.  In it was a gift card for the experience, a picture of a NASCAR with a description of our race day, and a personal note from me that read, “Matthew, I wanted to give you the best ride of your life - hope you like it!” His much anticipated reaction? “Cool…how much did you pay for this?”

Anyway, we’ll be checking off Thing #64 soon.  I’m pretty sure my husband will come to terms with his non-eBay gift when we’re driving 165 mph in a NASCAR stockcar around Atlanta Motor Speedway.

I’ve always wondered why people don’t keep their blogs updated…that is, until I fell into the black hole of life’s other responsibilities.

A friend suggested that I make my own to-do list rather than conforming to a list that was created by someone else.  I want to assure all of you that I’ve fully inspected Richard Horne’s list and wouldn’t want to exclude any of the Things from my list.  I get to add my own personal spin on Horne’s list, and, to me, that is the beauty of it.  BUT just to prove that I have my own unique goals in life, I want to share a couple of my recently accomplished Things.  I like to call them “102″ and “103″.

Thing 102 actually trumped Thing 74, so I had to put flying a plane on hold.  In December 2008, I finally completed my Master of Aeronautical Science in Space Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Now, I need to focus on Thing 104 - completing my Ph.D.

Thing 103 trumped Thing 9, so learning piano is put on hold for now.  My husband and I began talking about adoption in January 2007.  That same month, a little girl entered foster care and began her journey through many homes to find her forever family.  Matt and I could not begin the 10-week adoption classes because of his deployment schedule.  My mother and I tossed ideas around about what we would name a little girl, and we always agreed that “Katie” was perfect.  Finally, my husband and I were able to start the class in between two deployments in 2008.  We were even able to complete our home study and all of the paperwork before he left the country again.  Throughout his deployment, we passed the time by looking through profiles and contacting agencies.  When Matt got home in February and we still hadn’t heard from any agencies, we braced ourselves for what everyone said would be a long process.  Only a couple weeks later, we were in for a surprise.  A message on our answering machine said there was an adorable little girl that would be up for adoption soon, but needed a foster home within two weeks.  We called the caseworker back, and asked what the girl’s name was.  “Kaitlyn”, she said.  She moved in around March and became our “Katie” forever in August!

Besides Things that get pushed to the side for other Things, there are also Things we set out to do that end up as ultimate failures.  Case in point, the Endeavour Shuttle launch on June 13th, June 17th, July 11th, July 12th, July 13th, AND July 15th!!  How did we manage to attempt a shuttle launch that would get pushed back five times?  Obviously, we were not destined to see this launch.  The night before the first scheduled launch, we had to drive all night from Georgia to Florida.  Somewhere in BFE, Florida we turned into 2am zombies and had to stop at a hotel.  I was so relieved to hear we didn’t miss anything the next morning because the launch was scrubbed.  We continued to drive to Kennedy Space Center to tour the launch pads and find out when the next launch attempt was scheduled.  We toured Disney World while we waited for the June 17th launch to take place (not a bad Thing).  I watched the NASA Channel until 3:30am on June 17th, only to find out that the launch was scrubbed again due to a gas leak.  I considered going back for the July 11th, 12th, and 13th launch reschedules, but thought better after I heard the thunderstorm forecast.  By July 15th, I had accepted that this was not the launch I was supposed to see and gave up.  The shuttle launched successfully that night.

I can’t complain about the failed attempts to accomplish Things.  I feel more alive during the JOURNEY with my family than while checking off any to-do list.  See our journey here:

Thanks to those of you that have been voting like crazy…my first video sky-rocketed to the first page of the “Fans are watching” list! This is my second video, so maybe this will be on the Grammys with your voting power. Please vote for the video here:

http://www.cbs.com/specials/grammys/moment/video_player.php?vid=345

Don’t forget to vote for the first video, too! Hopefully, I’ll be able to post three more…we’ll see…

By the way, which video do you like most so far?

More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination. ~ Wilbur Wright

I joined the Aero Club on August 26th, started ground school on September 6th, and started flight training on September 27th.  I hope to have this Thing  completed by December this year.  Wish me luck!

Struggling with Russian Folk Song

I am finally moving up in the musical world! I’ve gone from a 5-key Guitar Hero to an 88-key Yamaha P85. Although I only know how to play a rockin’ Ode to Joy, I’m flying through my weekly lessons and hope to have Thing #9 checked off by this time next year - move over, piano legends.

My very first (real) piano lesson was on August 21, 2008.  I Googled piano lessons in my area and met my instructor less than a week later.  In 6th grade, my art teacher taught me how to play Home on the Range, and the following year I learned Für Elise from a Russian pianist.  Years of choir have enabled me to sight read…for the most part.  I prefer to play by ear.

I am so thankful that I get to chase one of my childhood dreams.  So far, it’s everything I thought it would be - relaxing, magical, and inspirational.  I already have two fans - my mother and my hubby.  Thanks for listening to my “music” and still referring to it as “music”!

Rejection is hard enough, but public rejection is the worst!  Regardless, I want you all to see the effort that goes in to planning and accomplishing these Things.  I finally got up the nerve to flat out ask the professionals (i.e. The Storm Chasers) if I could accompany them on a storm chase.  Hopefully, I can inspire someone else that some risks are worth it to truly live.  If they say no, Richard Horne says that I can accomplish this on my own with a “car, camcorder, camera, maps, mobile phone and a passenger”.  Que sera, baby!

 Here is my request:

I would love to go on a storm chase with you.  My first experience with a tornado was in 1986.  My dad dragged me away from our front door as a massive black swirl of howling winds and debris barreled down the street in front of us.  He was trying to round up the kids and get us to safety in the storm cellar, but I was so drawn to this amazing display and too young to understand the harm of being so close.  Strangely enough, my favorite memories as a child were being huddled with my family in our storm cellar, telling storm stories, and listening to crackling radio broadcasts for the “all clear”.  I still have dreams about opening the cellar door just as a supernatural tornado rolls by and finally getting to see the forbidden.

My interest in weather was rekindled as an adult during a Master’s degree project on controlling the weather.  Now I’m challenged to accomplish my childhood dream and go on a storm chase as part of my new project - “101 Things To Do Before You Die”.  I could accomplish this on my own, but why not do it big?  Will you help me accomplish this dream?  I don’t want fame or tv time; I just want to go on one storm chase.  Maybe I can contribute my computer science and aeronautical background to storm research, too.

You can read about my project here: http://liveuponatime.com/101things

Many thanks,

Gina

Follow my progress on #11 - Storm Chase a Tornado.