ohl #35 : ride in a double decker bus

I told you that I rode in a double decker bus while in Hong Kong, and here's the photos to prove it ...

{the bus}

{view from the top level}

ohl : proving i can cook

As promised, here are the pictures of me and a couple friends making Indian food. I was the teacher, and we followed Reena's recipes successfully! Here's the proof ...

{special thanks to EJ for taking the pictures}

ohl #91 : learn to make indian food

Ever since I went to India last year, and fell in love with Indian food, I have wanted to learn how to make it so that I can re-create it anytime I'm craving it. Well, luckily for me Reena walked into my life, and being from India, was pretty much a genious on the subject. Not only that, but she was willing to take the time to teach me too {thank you Reena!}. I let her pick what we were going to make, with the only stipulation being that it was relatively easy, and not too spicy. So what did we make? Take a peek ...

Chole (Chickpea Curry)

Mushroom Matter (Mushrooms cooked with spices)

Raita (Yogurt side used for dipping)

Puri (Unleavened bread)

Basmati Rice

Overall it was alot easier than I thought it was going to be, and it was so refreshing to make everything from scratch. Reena walked us through the process (Jenna learned too!), and let us do alot of the work while she supervised. I think the hardest part of it all was just remembering what everything was called, and what spices we used since many of them I wasn't familiar with. I do think that I could do it again once I have the recipes, and we're planning another time when I will re-create it and see how it goes. I'll let you know the outcome. Until then, I'll leave you with a couple more pictures of the complete meal. I know you're mouth is probably watering ... it was definitely delicious!

100 list update : make a pie.

I made a pie! Check out all the details here.

ohl #49 : make a pie

This is the journey of three friends (as seen below) and their journey through the making of an apple pie.

Jenna was the only one of us that had made a pie before, and was therefore the instructor of Reena and I. She did a wonderful job walking us through the process, and it was actually much easier than I expected it to be thanks to her mom's super-duper easy to follow recipe! Well, that was until we mixed the dough. Let's just say there were some factors that were a little off (still trying to problem solve what those factors were), and we ended up with crust that was pretty crumbly. This made for an interesting crust, with holes that we filled in with patches of crust. But, although it looked a little funny, the good thing about food is that it tastes the same even if it doesn't look picture perfect, and it actually looked good once it came out of the oven. Oh, and let me tell you, that pie was delicious. I usually don't even really like pie but this was perfection. I think the best part was that we sliced the apples pretty thin, so they got really soft and cooked through. Yum yum yum. I am definitely ready to try a berry pie of some sort, but maybe I'll figure out this crust business before I go any further into my pie making career. Here's an overview of the day in pictures:

Oh, and of course, here's the recipe we used:

crust:

1 3/4 c flour

1/2 c oil

1 tsp. salt

3-4 Tbsp. ice water

mix flour and salt. cut oil into flour/salt with pastry cutter. add cold water as needed. Roll crust out between two sheets of wax paper. Place in pie dish. Fill with apple goodness mixture. Roll top crust out and place over filling and bottom crust. Press crust edges together, trim excess off with knife, and pinch crust edges. Cut slits in top pie crust. Brush top crust with milk or egg white/water mixture and sprinkle with large granule sugar. Bake at 1 hour until crust is golden and apple filling starts to slightly bubble out top of slits.

filling:

6-8 Golden Delicious apples

2 Tbsp. Minute Tapioca

3/4 c. Sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Core/Peel/Slice apples. mix all ingredients together. let mixture sit for 15 minutes (or basically while you make the crust). Fill bottom pie crust with mixture and seal with top crust.

Enjoy!

ohl #66 : learn to change a tire

I did it!

I wasn't planning on it.

But, Gina got a flat,

and wanted me to help.

So, I drove over.

She waited for me to get there.

Just waiting patiently on the curb.

She already had it jacked up.

We unscrewed the lug-nuts,

took off the tire,

put on the spare,

put the lug-nuts back on,

and lowered the car back down.

Easy as pie.

I could do it again.

But let's hope I don't have to.

At least for awhile.

You can just call me AAA.

Mission accomplished.

ohl #76 : camp in the san juans

A few years ago my mom and I went on a whale watch trip near the San Juans, with a stop in Friday Harbor for lunch. Ever since then I have wanted to go back and explore the islands. And I thought: what better way is there to get up close and personal with the outdoors than camping! We stayed at Lakedale Resort on San Juan Island, which is only about 4 miles from Friday Harbor. It was a great choice ... nice facilities, friendly staff, a general store, and a warm lodge that we escaped to a couple times. Here are some pictures of the resort & campsite:

The first day we were there it was raining non-stop. Even though it wasn't our ideal weather, we didn't let that stop us from seeing the sights. We drove around the entire island and went the English Camp, American Camp, and looked for whales at the whale-watching spot (no luck). Later that night we made a bonfire (more to come on that), ate hot dogs and s'mores, and played games.

Here's a picture of us on the first day. Picture perfect, right?

The second day was much better. Pretty much the exact opposite weather from the first day. Sunny, warm, dry. Much more enjoyable, and we spent the day looking for whales again (still, no luck), eating lunch at a little cafe in Friday Harbor, and wandering through the shops.

Just to show you the contrast, here's a picture of us the second day in the same spot. Funny, huh?

Overall the weekend was great. It was so nice to hang out with three of my favorite people after being in MN the whole summer, and we got to explore a whole new part of the Pacific Northwest which was awesome. I can't wait to go back and explore the other islands...

ohl : 3 more states checked off the list

so... in case you haven't realized from the last two posts, i recently went on a roadtrip to Vermont. on that trip i went to 3 new states. they were:

ohio - a great state. reminded me of minnesota with the endless farms and fields. it's hard to say much about a state when you've

only seen the sights from the freeway, but I-90 was great, and we hit up Toledo for dinner on both ways of the trip. Cracker Barrel on the way there, the Flying J on the way back (it was the only thing open at 10:30pm).

pennsylvania - a little more exciting than ohio, although we were only in the state for less than a couple hours since we just drove through the northwest top. i wish i could have seen more, but i have a feeling that i will be back to that state sometime in my life.

vermont - our final destination. a fabulous state. we stayed in middlebury, a quaint little town which we loved. what did we do? ben & jerry's tour, shopped, ate alot, went wine tasting, relaxed at the lake, went on a shoreline cruise of lake champlain, went to a brewery, swam in a swimming hole, went to the farmer's market, and shopped the community yardsale. it was the perfect trip, and we got to spend a lot of time with family which was great too. here's a few of my favorite pictures:

ohl #26 : go to niagara falls

Last week I went on a roadtrip to Vermont with my mom, brother, aunt, and grandpa. I will be posting more about this trip soon since i accomplished a few things off my list, but one of the things that I did on that trip was visiting Niagara Falls. When I found out that it was only 30 miles off the freeway, I knew we had to do it. So we did. Let me tell you that it was absolutely amazing. We went on the Maid of the Mist boat tour, which I highly recommend. Not only did you get an amazing blue rain poncho, but you got to get very close to the falls, and experience them in a way you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. The falls felt so big and mighty being that close to them. They just loom over you, and make you feel so small in comparison. It was an amazing experience, and something that I think everyone should see at some point in their lives.

And for additional reading pleasure, here are some fun facts about Niagara Falls:

They are the most powerful falls in North America

The Horeshoe Falls are 2,600 feet wide

The Maid of the Mist boat tour is named for an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest park in the U.S.

Oh, and of course I can't forget the pictures...

ohl : 2 more states checked off the list

Goal #1 on my list is to visit all 50 states. Well, on my recent roadtrip with Gina from Seattle to Minnesota I was able to check two more states off the list. Instead of going through North Dakota as usual, we decided to switch things up and head through South Dakota instead, which also meant we would need to go through Wyoming as well. This was a very good choice, and I was so excited to see some new things. In Wyoming, since we were on a mission to get to Mount Rushmore by sunset, we didn't really have time to stop anywhere. But it was a nice, although windy, drive through the state. Here are my two favorite pics from there:

And South Dakota? Well let me just tell you, that is one underrated gem of a state. It was fabulous! So many great things to see! We didn't have time to stop everywhere, but we did see three spectacular sights:

Mount Rushmore. Enough said.

Wall Drug. The best drugstore west of the Mississippi. I think I could live there. Seriously. They have free ice water, 5 cent coffee, western wear, large figurines in the backyard, delicious donuts, and all the South Dakota memorabilia you would ever want or need. The billboards didn't lie, that place was awesome.

The Corn Palace. Located in Mitchell, the corn palace is quite a treat to see. Basically it's a building covered in corn, making pictures and designs. Every year they tear it off and start over, so the design will never be the same again. Pretty cool place to see if you have time, but definitely not as exciting as the first two stops.

Well, that's that. I have 27 to go, and in less than a week I will be off on the next roadtrip and will be able to check Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont off the list. Whew - east coast here I come!

ohl #34 : shoot a gun

Last week, on separate occasions, Claire and I (Jennie) both got the chance to shoot guns. Here's our experiences...

Before Thoughts:

c: I have always wanted to learn how to accurately shoot a gun... well I guess that is obvious... since it is on my list. Not only did I think it would be cool and fun... but I thought that experiencing the power behind a firearm would give me even more respect for guns. Not that I didn't have respect for guns before... but I don't think you can even imagine what it would be like to be shot until you shoot a gun... there is just so much power.

j: I put this on my list because I thought being familiar with a gun was a good skill to have, even though I was (and still am) very intimidated by them. I didn't have much time to process what I was going to be doing until I got there, and that's when I got nervous. I think it was the unknown, and the fact that I was going to be in control of something with so much power.

The Company:

c: My friend Maile asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted her to teach me how to shoot. Of course I said YES... but then I asked how she knew I had a desire to learn. She told me that she was just reading the One Hundred List... more specifically my list... and saw that shooting a gun was something she could help me accomplish... and this got her excited. Now... you may be thinking... who is this Maile and what qualifications does she have to teach someone how to shoot? Well... without going into too much detail... Maile is one of the most hard core people and has had extensive firearm training (among other things). Thanks Maile :)

j: I went with a big group, consisting of some of Tristan's co-workers, and Tristan, Jyl, and I. Most of us were newbies, so his co-worker Visuki was nice enough to teach us the basics.

The Weapons:

c: I shot three guns... two 9 mms and a 45 glock (or something like that).

j: I shot four guns...a 22, a 9mm, a 45, and a revolver.

The First Shot:

c: Now... I was really excited about the who process... putting on my eyes and hears... getting to our stall/lane... learning how to hold the gun correctly... and how to load the bullets. But... then it came time to actually pull the trigger and I was nervous. I think I was most nervous about the "kick-back" even though Maile shot the gun first and told me it was pretty mellow. So... I pick up the gun... get the grip right... take a breath... bend my knees... take a breath... learn a little forward... get the front site in the center of the back sites (or however you say this)... put my finger on the trigger... take a breath in and slowly let it out while pressing the trigger. Then BANG!!! Then I immediately put the gun down and turned to look at Maile. I couldn't believe I not only shot the gun... but actually hit the center of the targets torso. Not bad for a first shot.

j: I think I was more nervous about loading the gun than I was about the first shot. that, and the fact that i didn't want to shoot the clip and lose $10! I aimed the gun as best i could, and pulled the trigger. I was just thankful that i hit the target. Right in the chest. After that it was like a weight was lifted off me, and i felt much more comfortable knowing what to expect.

Tips for novice shooters (because we're such experts now, right?):

c: The biggest thing is not to anticipate the shot. You should be surprised by the gun going off each time.  This will help ensure you hit your target... other wise you will pull the gun a little just before you think it is going to go off. I had a hard time with this... but what helps is to take a deep breath and slowly let it out as you pull the trigger... slow and steady does the trick.

j: I think the best thing I can say is to go with someone who knows what they're doing; someone that will take the time to stand with you and teach you what to do. It really helped having someone so knowledgeable that I could ask questions to, and tell me everything I needed to know before we even went inside. The other tip? Just relax. It's hard not to tense up when you're about to shoot, but it really helps when you just relax a little.

the proof:

Jennie's action shot.

here's Jennie's target. not too bad for a first-timer, right?

claire's target... well... all the shots except those in the head... those were Maile's.

an evening of dancing, learning, and new friends.

last night mykell and i went swing dancing with our friend nick and a couple of his friends. it was at the russian community center on capital hill. i realize that taking swing dancing lessons is on my list, but i didn't have an official lesson so i won't check it off yet, but i thought i would share about the evening regardless. it was open dance night, and there were probably 30-40 people there of all ages. i don't know what it was, but random men kept coming up and asking me to dance. what were they like? well let me tell you all about them. here goes...

the all-knowing one: the teacher. he was dressed in brown shoes, brown pants, and a brown shirt. a vision in brown. i had a bad first impression of him because he shushed mykell, nick, and i while we were laughing (he was finishing teaching the class before us). looking at him, you would never think that he was a swing dance teacher. he was like a giant computer nerd, and the way he described the moves was the way a giant computer nerd would describe the moves. he didn't even let his co-teacher say a word. he kept interrupting her. he taught me some good things though, so overall i decided he was okay.

the guy in the mustard shirt: he was the first dance of the night, so i remember him the best. he was a bit taller than me, had a buzz cut, was probably in his 50s, and wore a mustard colored shirt. he was pretty good, and a good teacher. i told him i had never done swing dancing before, so he taught me some basic things about the hold (don't hold on too tight), how you spin, and some key moves. a good person to start the night off with, and gave me a basic knowledge that i kept in my pocket the next few hours.

rob (a.k.a. - the one with his own moves): probably in his 30s, rob wore light jeans, and a royal blue 'dunder mifflin' t-shirt tucked in. rob had the most unique moves of anyone there. he definitely did a knee-knock at one point. i asked him if that was a real swing move, and he said that it was just for fun. i like that about him. when things get awkward or boring, he pops in a move like that and it's back to fun again.

the turtle man: an older man, probably also in his forties. he was bald and had glasses, and well, kind of looked like a turtle (hence his nickname). he was probably my favorite new friend of the night. he took the time to teach me the moves, and made sure i understood, and had a nice smile to boot. he wasn't loud or flashy or obnoxious, just a kind old man.

the elderly man: to be honest, i really don't remember this one at all, but mykell does so i guess that counts. she remembered because she said he looked like her grandpa, and she was jealous she didn't get to dance with him.

the guy in the black sweater vest: the worst dancer there in my opinion. mykell says the asian guy that she danced with was horrible too, but since i didn't get that fabulous opportunity, this one hails as the worst. he had no idea what he was doing, and was nowhere close to being on beat. on top of that, he said he would teach me some things, because of course he was such a pro. what was i thinking. all i can say is that i'm glad that song ended when it did.

the cool one: around our age, he was probably the most normal one there. i didn't officially dance with just him, but he taught nick and i some sweet dance that i can't remember the name of. he was good at it though.

yo-yo man (a.k.a. - the guy in the black striped shirt): close to our edge, he wore a black shirt with white stripes and black pants. very classy. he spun you around and around and then flung you out just like a yo-yo. he taught me a move where we walked side by side, gradually getting lower and lower to the ground (kind of like that trick where you look like you're walking down the stairs but the ground is really flat). he was good. confident. the only negative thing that i have to say about him was that he was a break dance hater. when i told him i took break dancing lessons, all he said was "i'll forgive you".

the one with the legit dance shoes: i don't really remember this guy either, but mykell said that we danced really good together. she said he had real legit dance shoes, and was really good. enough said.

the guy that looks off into the distance (a.k.a - the non-conversant one): the odd one. i danced with him twice, and both times were just as weird. he hardly spoke. all he said to me was his name, and 'sorry' when he accidentally stepped on my foot. that wouldn't have even been that weird, but the whole time he just looked off into the distance with a total straight face. no emotion whatsoever. even when i laughed at something he just kept a straight face, looking off to whatever he was looking at. mykell danced with him too, and agrees that he was the most awkward one in the room. i'm still not really sure what his deal was. decent dancer though.

overall it was one of the most memorable nights that i have had in awhile, and i can't wait to go back. next time i'll take a real lesson so i can officially check it off the list, but as you can see i did get many mini-lessons, and also a lesson in life. it confirmed the fact that when you step out of your box, and out of your comfort zone, you will always be surprised, and many times in a good way. i had no idea what to expect when i walked into that room last night, and i was unsure about the prospect of dancing with people that i didn't know, but once i got over my initial uncomfortableness it was awesome! not to lie, a little odd at times, but that's what makes life exciting. if i just came home after work and went to bed like i was tempted to do, i wouldn't of been able to write about any of this. so get out there. live life. you won't regret it. i promise.

ohl #45: learn the michael jackson thriller dance

so...everyone that knows me knows that i am a big fan of michael jackson. it dates all the way back to 1991 when his 'heal the world' song was on the radio. i loved it so much that i recorded it onto a tape and played it over and over on repeat, singing along to what i thought was one of the most beautiful songs ever written. especially the part with the children - who wouldn't love it? well...fast forward 19 years and not much has changed. i still love michael enough that i dedicated a whole item on my list to him. i was hesitant to put it on here since i knew that i would have to document it to the world, but i didn't let that stop me. besides...i have enough stupid videos of myself, what's one more?

before you see the final result, you should probably watch the original, and the 'never-to-be-matched-by-any-other-human-ever-to-come' version...

now for the public humiliation...our rendition. (special thanks to mykell and sondra who joined me on this...although sondra had it on her list too so she deserves it...)

well...there you have it. it wasn't nearly as difficult as i thought it would be, and i do realize that there is much work to be done before i could make michael proud. but it's a start, and i think it's a good enough performance to check this one off the list. agree?

oh, and if i inspired you enough to learn this dance yourself, you should learn from the guy in this video. he taught us, and i give him 2 thumbs up. he was very easy to follow, inspirational, and passionate. just what i want in a teacher. oh yeah, and his pants are pretty rad too. check it out...

ohl #12 : teach someone to sew

i did it! i taught not only one, but two people to sew last weekend. it was actually pretty funny because within the last few weeks i've had four friends who have told me they wanted me to teach them how to sew. only two could come last weekend, but it went really well. they had never sewn before, so we started with the basics: winding the bobbin, loading the bobbin, threading the machine, backstitching, turning corners, and using the guides to sew straight lines. we had a table of 3 machines set up, and it was really fun to watch both of them get excited about what they were doing, even if it was just sewing straight lines for the most part.

right before they left, i had them do a test. i drew a curved line on a piece of fabric, and told them to sew over the marker to see how well they could stay on track. although there were a few slip-ups, both looked really good overall. oh, and i also showed them how to do gathers, just for fun since they are so easy!

i can't wait to have more lessons, and i think we are going to definitely do it again and try out some patterns next time! i realized after the fact that i didn't take any pictures, but i found this cute picture online (no, it's not my house, although i wish it was) and thought it would give you the crafty feeling of the day. when they move to actually making something, i will post some pictures, so be on the look-out!

OHL #46 : Go to a Cirque du Soleil Show

So...knowing that i was going to be in vegas this weekend, i thought there was a tiny possibility that i could accomplish this task, but thought i probably wouldn't because the shows are usually so expensive. well, fate was on my side, and my mom found an amazing deal and snatched the tickets right up. she told me on the phone right when we landed, and i was elated.

well how was it you're wondering? it was absolutely fantastic. i can't really even explain it in a way that would do it justice. the whole time my mouth hung open in awe of everything they were doing. especially the guys that go on those 2 ended hamster-wheel type contraptions (do you have any idea what i'm talking about?). anyways, during that part i don't think i breathed for 5 minutes. whew. it was like the circus only a million times better. the lighting, the acts, the costumes, the story line...all amazing.

it was worth every minute of it, and i say if you haven't gone, go. it's totally worth the money. you won't regret it. highlight of the day (maybe year...we'll see.).

here's proof...

and here's claire and i with the ticket takers. cool outfits, huh?

one hundred list.

jyl, mykell, claire, and i have embarked on a challenge. check it out here:

http://ouronehundredlist.blogspot.com/

you won't regret it.