Today marks the start of my 40 days til 40 countdown. In the past, I’ve gone on trips or stayed and ate pizza (Oct is national pizza month). This year, I am looking to change things up and do something a little different
In addition to my normal posting of “bucket list” adventures and checking off things from my various lists, I think I would like to document the journey of counting down until my birthday and this milestone number.
Besides the number count for Scrabble, I get to move up in age groups for any races (running, swimming, triathlons) yipee?
First I had to look up the definition because I couldn’t quite remember what it is.
It is is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of symbols or elements, whose meaning may be interpreted the same way in either forward or reverse direction.
Oh, well in that case, it will be easy to learn and list.
Noon
Murder for a jar of red rum
16461
(and one more for good measure) Mom
Apparently the original one is located in New York, and that’s the main one people said I had to go to. When I was looking around for “things to do” in Las Vegas, I came across a Serendipity there near Caesar’s. I had hoped to be able to go and enjoy a frozen hot chocolate. On the last day, a friend and I went walking around and got there for brunch. We walked up and gave our names to reservations. She took down my friend’s phone number and that became our pager when a table was ready for us. That was pretty neat. It allowed us to be able to walk through the stores at Caesars.
When we were seated, my friend decided to get one of their sandwiches. I went with a Banana Cream waffle. Both were quite large in size but very yummy.
Then we got the main treat. a Frozen Hot Chocolate. I assumed there was only one type, but they had a few different ones. Both of us decided on the Mint one. It tasted like liquid Andes chocolates. VERY YUMMY!!
Interesting enough they spell it as Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. And you can order to make and have some at home. Might just have to do that.
Have you been and had the frozen hot chocolate? Which Serendipity?
Ingredients:
fresh corn, husked
extra virgin olive oil / sherry vinegar/ cilantro / salt / black pepper
shallots
red bell pepper
zucchini
garlic
avocado
orzo pasta
(I had added shrimp)
Wine recommendations:
New World Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay like Canyon Road, St. Francis, Cambria Julia’s Vineyard (California wines), or Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre (Chile)
I had it with Sterling Chardonnay My Review:
I really liked this one. Charring the corn on a grill adds a different flavor than if you just cooked it. And she has you cook the avocado in oil for a sauce. It’s a keeper and can change it up by adding protein like chicken, shrimp, or meat.
When I started paying attention to all the different kind of running events out there, one of the ones that sounded fun to try was a mud run. This is a 5k (3.1 miles) through mud and different kind of obstacles.
This last Saturday (April 6, 2013) I got to go to my 1st mud run with 3 other friends. We had signed up a few months ago and didn’t think about it until 2 weeks before the event. No training and preparing for it; we weren’t sure what to expect. A friend drove us and looked after our stuff so we didn’t have to put them in gear check. Added bonus was that he took photos and we didn’t have to worry about getting our cameras dirty.
The day of, the weather was overcast, but not too cold. So, it was in fact perfect for a run in the middle of the day. The race had different wave times throughout the day. I saw a post they had over 10,000 participants. that would have been super crazy to have them go all at one time.
I hadn’t paid attention to the website recommending not to wear shorts but capris or long pants. Learned the reason soon enough for that statement. my legs and knees got all scraped and bruised.
I had such a blast, it’s definitely not for time, and you would benefit having friends doing it with you. Good for helping each other get over obstacles. There is one major one where the front side was just wood panel set at a 70 degree angle and you have to somehow get yourself up and over. People ended up having to make chains to pull their friends over. I got on the side where I could step up halfway on a beam, and then a bit of the wood paneling was a bit caved in, so there was a lip there, then I could get to the top and over. I have a HUGE bruise on my arm that I think I got from this obstacle.
borrowed from the Facebook page
Any of the other obstacles I was able to pull myself a little, of get help pushing/pulling me up. Except one, the rope climb. I was able to pull myself up most of the way, but then I could tell if I tried to moved my hand up to grab higher, it would probably slip and I’d fall. That or I got too scared to try, so went back down and then around. Definitely will work on my upper arms strength for next time.
I was the only only that got mostly covered in mud because I slipped and fell in one of the mud pits. I did try to push one of my friends down when crawling under wire, but she was strong enough to stay up.
We crossed the finish line and got a finisher’s medal. Then over to get a celebratory beer. Almost forgot, we of course gave our friend watching all our stuff a muddy hug. Lastly was time to get under the shower of water they had to wash off and changed out of a bit of the muddy clothes and shoes and then headed home.
thanks Mike!
I would recommend trying a mud run, totally fun. Especially trying a 5k one before attempting a Tough Mudder, if you are thinking of doing that one. This was a very tame obstacle course from overheard comments.
Yesterday was my very first time donating blood and I am very proud of having done it. You might be asking why this is such a big deal, the answer is because it scares me alot. When I’ve heard of people donating blood in the past, I thought, oh good for them, no way would I do that.
As I came across more and more chances, I pondered and debated and became more and more tempted. When I got this most recent opportunity and I knew I couldn’t pass it up and at least go for the experience. As well as helping to save a life.
Got signed up for any appointment and as it got closer to the time I needed to be there, I was very close to backing out. But I decided to suck it up and go. I was very much hoping that they would end up telling me thanks for trying but we can’t use your blood. (because it would be anemic, i’d be to dehydrated for them to get to the veins, my veins would just not pop up, or the fact that I traveled out of the country the last 3 years would cause my blood to not be okay for use right then) They gave me the all clear after the initial questions and tests.
DARN IT. I would have to really do this. I know I was having a little panic attack. I didn’t want to have a needle be stuck in me and I REALLY didn’t want to see any blood. I have no idea why I should be panicking about it. You lay down, hold out your arm and they do all the work really. You just are there to give up a pint of blood in a pretty comfortable way.
It’s a good thing those nurses are funny and easy to talk to. I might have sat down and then jumped up and said, nope can’t do this. I felt that pinch and stayed still. When it was done, I went to the front of the bus and enjoyed some goldfish as I crossed my fingers I wouldn’t faint. There was a couple of times I was younger and went with my mom and sis, my mom went to get blood drawn. My sis watched, I didn’t. But I still got light headed and very white as we walked out. Enough so that I had to quickly sit down for a few minutes. And that was what I was worried would happen here. But I sat and listened to the them joke to the 2 guys getting their blood drawn out.
I asked for a photo and they offered to have me hold a bag of blood. I declined on that part. I know it’s much needed but I don’t know if I could do this again. I would have to pump myself up and keep repeating, it’s okay, there’s nothing to it. It is only about 20 minutes of your time, so if you can do it, i’d suggest you do and help those that need it.
I cannot understand WHY this is a “thing to do before you die” item. But since it’s in the book’s list I plan to accomplish the task. At the beginning of the year (2013) there was a Facebook post going around that sounded like fun to do.
A fun way to start of the new year: 2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward The first five people to comment on this status will receive from me, sometime in the next calendar year, a gift – perhaps a book, a doo-dad, homemade treats, or maybe music? – a surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen whenever the mood strikes me. The catch? Those five people must make the same offer on their FB status
There were a couple of people that did this on my post. But I completely forgot about it during the year. Luckily I caught it when I was going back through my posts and decided to use this opportunity to cross off this item by sending a person some swedish fish. What a surprise it will be for them?! They probably have forgotten about the post too, and it will be different then traditional holiday treats that one might expect in the mail. Can’t wait to hear a response from this person.
Have you surprised someone with swedish fish? Did you see that Facebook post going around and participate?
