More Second City Firsts

I decided to revisit my list of things to do in Chicago that I created when I first started the blog. I was able to cross off a handful of items. This September I went to my first Chicago Bears game. BEAR DOWN! It was a preseason game, but it was still exciting and nice to see Soldier Field. I was also able to cross off visits to many of the museums in the city. During my job with Disney I chaperoned a few field trips with a student who needed assistance with walking. I also chaperoned the 8th grade overnight that took the students all over the city. This was a great way to get a taste of what Chicago has to offer for free! I would like to revisit some of the spots so I can spend a bit more time experiencing them.

I wish my 30 before 30 list was getting more attention. I just re-read it and I can't cross off a single thing! Even with a list, I have to be intentional and make a plan to achieve goals, whatever they might be.

Bears game. It was pretty hot that night!

Scared to Death!

I am adding white water rafting to the 30 Before 30 list. Thinking about it makes me really scared and creates anxiety, but on the other hand, it looks fun and adventurous. In my counseling classes we are learning that a certain level of anxiety and frustration are essential for growth. Anxiety about white water rafting is not going to bring about the same growth as anxiety in a therapeutic session, but it will lead to growth in a different aspect. I am adding it to the list because it is something I am somewhat fearful of, yet don't want to miss out on. Our friends in California, Brenna and Mikey, have a brother who runs a rafting company in Colorado. If I ever go, we're going to go through his company. I was just talking to Brenna about meeting there this summer for a fun trip.

As I grow older I am becoming more cautious and scared of things. For example, I am horrible with needles. My new job required a TB test and I also need a yearly physical. I had to deal with needles twice in one week! I used some self-talk and tried to regulate my breathing to keep from having a semi-fit like the one when I got my tetanus shot earlier this year. Thankfully, those techniques calmed me down, but I just keep thinking how foolish it is. Another example is how I hate to cross the street at busy intersections if the light is blinking or if I think it is about to go yellow. There are many times whoever I am with darts across the street and I am left on the corner waiting for the light to cycle through again. What's up with that?? Is this what 1/4 life is going to be like? Will it get worse?

In order to prevent myself from becoming a boring, unadventurous 30 something I am going to try and push myself in anxiety provoking situations. I am so blessed to only have slight anxiety about silly things. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to have intense anxiety about everyday things.

Just remember: breathe!

Home Grown Veggies!

Picture from last year 2009

One of my 30 before 30 is the plant and harvest a garden. I spent Saturday evening and Sunday at my parent's place on Spring Lake in Michigan and had a chance to get some garden inspiration. My dad loves his garden so much and you can tell by how much time he spends there. My garden will surely be much smaller than his. My parents are pretty much vegetarians and eat very healthfully so it is not surprising they have a garden. They also started composting and collect rain water from the roof of the garage (pictured) in a barrel convered with a screen.

The best part of our visit was bringing all these yummy veggies home. I won't have to shop this week! Onions, tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, eggplant, and potatoes. The broccoli, spinach, lettuce were almost done so none was available to take and the sweet potatoes and carrots weren't ready yet. My mom also went with my older sister and the kids to pick peaches so we grabbed a few of those too! What a great reason to want to live closer to home.

I can't wait to have my own garden someday and can, pickle, and jam all the goodies! For now, I will have to settle for making my own butter, mayo, peanut butter, and ranch dressing. These are this week's projects and they are not near as healthy as growing veggies!

To Do in Chicago

Right before the drive from  San Clemente, CA to Chicago!

We have been in Chicago just shy of one year and are committed to the city until 2013. I feel a bit claustrophobic thinking about being forced to stay in one place so I am already thinking of what city we should move to when he is done with law school. Boston? Boulder? The Pacific Northwest? SF? Ultimately, it will all depend on the job situation so it is useless to even try and make "plans". By then it will be time to grow up anyways, right? Ick.

Chicago has been great to us though. I have had the best year ever! We are close to home and family and have great friends in the city who are always doing something fun. There is so much to do and see in Chicago; we tried to not say "no" to anything this year, but only managed to do a little. In anticipation of one day leaving this wonderful city I have complied a list of firsts I want to experience in the Second City (most have been bookmarked in a folder since we moved here!).

1. Go to a Bears game
2. Shop at the Green City Market
3. See the sun rise over Lake Michigan and the city
4. Weird Chicago's Devil in the White City tour (Kim, Joey, and BF need to read the book so we can all go!)
5. Go to Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo
6. Shop at the Chirstkinlmarket at Christmas time
7. Go to the Magnificent Mile's Lights Festival and see the parade
8. Take a Sailboat ride on Lake Michigan
9. Dance at the Chicago Summer Dance downtown
10. See one of the Chicago Park District's movies in the park
11. Visit the Shedd Aquarium
12. Visit the Museum of Science and Industry
13. Visit Alder Planetarium
14. Visit the Field Museum of Natural History
15. Visit the Art Institute of Chicago (I will have to check out the free Kraft Great Kids Museum Passes from the library for all the museums,or I'll be broke.)
16. Carriage ride down Michigan Ave during winter
17. See the light show at Buckingham Fountain
18. Pack a picnic and see a free concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion
19. Take my parents to a Broadway show
20. Skydeck???  I may be too scared for this one.
21. Pride parade!

Some of these will fulfill items on the 30 before 30 list.

Anything else super cool to do in Chicago that's a must?

#6 Do 100 Push Ups

This weekend was yet another reminder that life is precious and helped put the "list" into perspective even more. Some items on the list take a fair level of commitment or more money that I have access to at this time. So I decided to start with #6 100 Push Ups, because it only takes 3 days a week for six weeks and it is free! Now, I don't think my arms are necessarily bad, but I wouldn't call them great. I have never considered myself strong and sometimes play the weak Korean card. I remember in elementary school, during P.E. with Mr. Zbikowski, doing the pull up test and just dangling there waiting for my turn to be done (same for the rope climb). Maybe once I can do 100 push ups I will feel empowered?! (Shout out to Justin for the question/exclamation punctuation combination. I am beginning to understand your affection for it.)

Here are the before pictures taken this evening:

Tonight I completed the initial test as instructed by hundredpushups.com. This test let's the participant know where to begin on their journey to buffer arms! I was shocked that I was able to do 7 real push ups. Granted, my form was horrible, but I was certain I would only be able to do one or two. I am going to try to do real push ups throughout the course of the challenge! We also measured my arm and it is a whopping 9 1/4 inches. I am not sure if I want bigger arms, but I would like them to be more defined!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure, I present you with the video of the initial test!!!

 

How many push ups can you do?

Cliché? Definitely. My 30 Before 30

Now I know I am only 26 1/2 years old but life has been cruising by so fast! I have been having the best time ever since...a really long time. I have heard of people making lists of 30 things they want to do before they turn 30 years old (kinda like a bucket list). I think this is such a neat idea to set goals and keep track and what better way to do this than on the blog!? Does this imply I should be be blogging for 3 1/2 more years? We'll see!

This is a list in progress. Here is what I came up with thus far:

1. Go to Mackinac Island and buy fudge
2. Camp in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
3. See the Northern Lights
4. Take a real vacation with him to somewhere relaxing, warm and all inclusive
5. Try snowboarding
6. Do 100 push ups
7. Make Macarons
8. Plant and harvest a garden
9. Learn the waltz
10. Give at least one speech at Toastmasters
11. Host a low country boil for all our friends
12. Catch a real sized fish, clean it, cook it and eat it
13. Read 10 classic books...so many to choose from!
14. Start contributing to my Roth again
15. Spend more quality time with my nieces and nephew
16. Take music lessons for a year, either violin or piano (neither of which I own)
17. Consistently volunteer for the same organization
18. Find a church that is congruent with my beliefs and become a part of their community
19. Get a job that I love and be my best at it
20. Do one of the city scavenger hunts like Urban Dare
21. Golf 18 holes without complaining with him, Kim and Joey
22. Stop paying rent and own my own place! 
23. Thank people more often. (A customer sent me the sweetest thank you at the store and I realize people don't do it enough!)
24. See a meteor shower
25. Become a stronger writer (professionally and grammatically)
26. House boat on Lake Powell, or somewhere else, with friends/family
27.  
28.   
29.   
30.   

Where to start? Maybe with the push ups.

What is #1 on your list?