Bucket lists

Heather and I all geared up and ready to learn!

I have a bucket list.  I'm probably not the only one out there.  But there are some things that I would love to cross off that list!  A few years ago, I was lucky enough to cross off a 1/2 marathon.  That was pretty sweet, but HARD!  Not gonna lie.  This past Saturday I am excited to say that I crossed off another one...kayaking!  Might seem like a strange bucket list item, but for me this is a big deal.  A) I don't like being in water that I can't see the bottom of and B) it was just something new for me that took me out of my comfort zone.

We signed up through Shank's Mare Outfitters for a 5-hour comprehensive kayak course.  At first I thought "wow, that's a LONG time".  But it went really fast and we learned a lot.

The first 1/2 was done on land. They went over the anatomy of a kayak.  What everything was and what it's purpose is.  Then we went over the paddle.  Different paddle strokes, different ways to position your paddles (feathered or straight) and how to use a paddle to get yourself INTO the kayak itself  (this was a great trick, would have never thought of it).  We practiced getting ourselves in and out of the kayak.  And also practiced putting the skirt around the cockpit (to keep water from splashing into the cockpit) by ourselves.

We took a lunch break, then it was time for the water part of the course.  (YIKES!)  They were very upfront with what the water part would consist of.  The very first thing we had to do was do a "wet exit".  In Amber terms, that meant "TIP YOURSELF OVER IN TO THE WATER AND GET YOURSELF ABOVE WATER".  OK, the Amber term sounds scary, but to me it was anxious anxiety till it was my turn to do this. The reason they have you do this first was so that it was out of the way.  Everyone would realize that as soon as you tip over, your legs automatically pop out of the cockpit and your life jacket brings you up to the surface.  I admit, I did not like this, but I did it anyway.  LOL  I survived.  (side note:  there was a qualified instructor standing right beside your kayak while you did this and we were only in shoulder-deep water.)

Once everyone went through the wet exit we paddled out pretty far for the next part.  "Rescues"  GULP! There were three kinds of rescues  we learned.  Self rescue, T-rescue and the group rescue.  They demonstrated each one with a volunteer (no, I did not volunteer).  It was a very good learning experience.  I liked knowing how to use all the emergency equipment.

After that we took a group tour up the beautiful Susquehanna River (not too far).

here's a view of our beautiful Susquehanna River (taken by me)

I'm happy to report that I escaped with no bruising (I bruise easily!); however I did receive a cut on my leg. I walked in to the back of someones kayak and the rudder cut my leg.  DUH!

My only battle scar (this is a miracle for me!)

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.  The weather was perfect, not a lot of wind and it was not as humid as it has been.  We had a blast and I think I am ready to do a little kayaking on my own thanks to our two awesome instructors!

Do you have a bucket list?  What's on your list?

Things that made me smile last week

source

Yep, for some reason last week was a craptastic work week.  Between the office politics and the co worker who feels the need to talk during every second of the work day, I was definitely spent.

This was my dinner, Thanks Mr. Beam

But the week ended on a good note.  Friday, my BFF came to visit from New Jersey.  She moved there to be with her Fiance last October.  I miss her terribly!  If you read my marathon post, she's the one that suffered, err I mean, trained and ran with me.  We've been through a lot together!

We all met at our other friend's house, Melissa for a Mexican dinner feast.  It was so yummy!!

Nom, Nom, Nom

We ate and talked and ate some more.  The weather was fantastic, so Melissa built a fire.

We had so much fun we realized it was 4:30 AM and that we should probably to to bed.  LOL!  I cherish these times with good friends.  I love them!

Here's to a better week!

So that is what made me smile last week - how about you?

Finish This! 3rd edition

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I'm so glad that Spring is finally here!  I can see the trees starting to bud and it makes me very happy!  

It's time for another Finish This!  A link up I participate in by fellow bloggers:

1)  My favorite makeup item is...

AVON tinted moisture - I LOVE this stuff!  It has sunscreen in it, which is very important.  It's very light for summer-time.  I even wear it in the winter I love it so much!  I was so bummed when I heard they do not make this anymore.  I'll have to hunt down a new brand to love when I'm finished with this tube.  booooo!

2)  The best book I've ever read was ______ because....

I can't choose just one.  My favorite author was Sylvia Browne (RIP).  I loved reading all her books.  They just spoke to me.  She passed away a few months ago.  :(

3)  My favorite TV show is....

I know I can't be alone when I say SOA!  (Son's of Anarchy)  OH MAN I love this show!  When I had my gall bladder out in March I totally binged watched Season 1 through 6 while I was off work.  LOL!  Can't wait till it starts back up again in September.

4)  The most spontaneous thing I've ever done is.....

Well, I'm a Capricorn, so spontaneous doesn't really describe us too well!  But if I had to name something, it was signing up to train and run a 1/2 marathon with my best friend.  (Don't have to do THAT again!!)

5)  I prefer dogs/cats because.....

There is no doubt that I am a dog person.  Nothing against cats...guess I'm just not a cat person!  I grew up having dogs and I've had them my whole adult life.  <3

6)  I met my significant other.....

AT WORK!  yuck!  haha!  I was good friends with his cousin and she introduced us.  He moved on to another job, but I am still there 20 some years later.  (what is wrong with me?!?!?)

So, now it's YOUR turn!  How would you answer these questions?

Join me next week when we explore these questions:

My last growing pain was...
I grow and nurture...
The guilt-free snack I enjoy most....
The best reason to stay up all night....
If I were stranded on a desert island, I'd...

Must.Pick.Up.The.Pace!

This was one of my views this morning while walking on a local rail trail.  When the weather get nice I prefer to exercise outside instead of the gym.  This time of year is perfect!  Temperature is just right, not too cold, not too hot.  

So I'm all ready...little wrist weights on, my iHeart radio tuned to my favorite station and I'm doing my warm-up pace.  After that I start to pick up the pace a little.  Finally I'm cruising along at what I thought was a pretty brisk pace. I can feel people approaching me from the side.  I suddenly was passed by two (clearly older than me) people who were also walking.  What the WHAT?!  They just effortlessly zoomed right on past me.  Guess my "brisk pace" wasn't as brisk as I thought!!

Ok, I thought to myself, time to pick it up.  So I push a little faster.  Again, I can feel someone approaching me from the side.  This time I was passed by a (clearly older than me) woman who was RUNNING!  Oh man, I'm feeling a little bad about myself now.  So I decide to wog (a word I like to describe how I RUN - a cross between a "walk" and a "jog").  While doing intervals, my mind starts to drift back to a few years ago when I was training with my BFF for a 1/2 marathon.

We trained many times on this very trail.  It was quite an experience.  I have to say that the training schedule was far worse than the actual 1/2 marathon itself.  It was grueling! While I was able to cross that off my bucket list at 40 years old, I really have no desire to run a 1/2 again.  LOL  I don't mind wogging since it is as good workout; just not for training purposes.  

I am reminded of this quote that I see on Facebook every once and awhile:  

• "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run."          --John Bingham

So if you run, then just run!  Or in my case...WOG!  :-)