New Experience

A Natural Hot Spring

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We went camping with friends at Childs Power Plant up by the Verde Hot Springs and Fossil Creek. There were all kinds of incredible things in this small area. Fossil Creek will have to have its own post.

From where we were camping we had a short hike to get to the hot springs. We had to walk across the Verde River which was 100% not Verde (green for those that don’t speak spanish)

It was more a cloudy brown. Knowing I had to walk through very opaque water and not knowing the depth, whats in the water and so on I get those wonderful thoughts of ‘What is … read more...

Stand Under a Waterfall

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This probably comes from watching several movies where people hide behind or dive through a waterfall. Regardless, this was pretty awesome for me.  I’m not sure what I had expected, but I can tell you I was terrified and excited at the same time!

I’ve recently accepted that I have a fear of the unknown in water. But, before accepting this, I’d freak myself out while swimming. In order to get to the waterfall I had to jump into the water, swim from the very very shallow area across the deep part (where you could not see the bottom) over to the waterfall, where you can’t see in the water … read more...

Escape Room

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The Red rum Cottage at the Escape Room in Tucson was great. However, we would not have made it. The person in the room with us apparently gave away the last item in order to let us win at the very end. When I learned of this, I was a bit disappointed, however, the experience itself was still a good amount of fun.  Don and I try to do new experiences for birthdays – This was his gift to me.  

(GREAT JOB HONEY! I LOVED IT!)

I look forward to doing another one of these where the answers aren’t given away!

 – 6/2017 – Tucson, AZ

Indoor Shooting Range

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 C’mon! You can’t tell me this wasn’t on your list somewhere. After watching so many movies or T.V. Shows. Reading books about some indoor shooting range and either being a stellar shot or being so bad they should put the gun down and walk away. 

I used to imagine how poorly I’d do, or day dream at being a dead shot.  Of Course, I’m not either. A little education and some slow motion videos, I found out how to shoot better.

Guns aren’t a new thing for me. Growing up we would shoot rifles as kids with parent supervision. Going up to the hunting shack and tacking targets on trees. … read more...

Learn to Ride a Motorcycle

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Growing up, I don’t know that I had much interest in learning to ride. I’m not sure that I even considered the notion of actually learning. My uncles and grandfather rode. In my early 20’s, my dad ended up getting a motorcycle as well. I still hadn’t considered it.

I remember getting rides on the back of my dads bike. It felt good. The wind, the connection to your surroundings vs being in a metal bubble that takes away some of that feel of being in the moment.

Even on the back of my dad’s bike, I had a nagging fear of gravel and the tires slipping. The nagging fear … read more...

Buy a House

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 I’ve often walked around slightly butt hurt about everyone around me doing so well with their life. I think the big part of my life being butt hurt was when I was living out of my car for a bit. Using the gas station bathrooms to clean up or sneaking into my parents house to sleep. (Not sure they even know about that. Maybe they do – either way, it was years ago!)

Many of the thoughts that crossed my mind was “How on earth can a single person just out of high school afford to even get an apartment?!!?!?! – Who the heck makes enough money to pay 1st … read more...

Ice Fishing

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I’ve seen ice fishing on TV. Heard friends and family members go ice fishing. But I never had. I might have had the opportunity, but I’m pretty sure the smart side of me said “What the hell could possibly be good about standing in the middle of a lake on ice, freezing your ass off?”.

I should have listened to myself. Because I still do not have the answer to that question other than figuring out how important body heat is.

You can see Don piling snow on the edges of our ‘tent’ to try and keep the breeze out. Just thinking back to this (Over 13 years ago) I … read more...

Travel in an Airplane

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 I never thought I would ever get to experience riding on a plane. I was never able to experience it as a kid like most of my other siblings. As an adult I was always far to broke. How anyone can afford to have a life when they are single is beyond me. 

For  my birthday my boyfriend and my mother got together and planned a trip to see my uncle in Florida. I was beyond excited. 

The first plane was a little puddle jumper from Wisconsin to Chicago. Don and I weren’t able to sit next to each other, and the guy next to me thought I was going … read more...

See the Ocean

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 I have always been fascinated by water. How the light reflects off of it, catching the sun, or our reflections. The ripples, waves, splashes and spurts of water. 

I can remember moments as a kid at the public swimming pool and lowering my head so I’m more level with the water. I’d sit and watch the sun glint off the water and how the water reflected itself against the walls of the pool building. I even remember just listening to the sounds underwater and how they would change. 

I think my interest in water ultimately lead to my fear of it as well. I’ve seen so many strange things come … read more...

Hug A Palm Tree

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Growing up in Wisconsin, I had never seen a palm tree. At 28 I hadn’t been further south than Oklahoma and I’ve never seen the East or West coast. The chances of me having seen a palm tree were very slim. 

I am used to trees like Oak, Maple, Poplar. Pine trees. Palm trees were very exotic to me. They were in places like Hollywood and Miami. Places I never wanted to go, but likely would never have the opportunity to go as well. 

On my birthday I was surprised with a trip to visit my uncle, which luck would have, lived in Florida. 

I am not sure what I … read more...