Wickedly Awesome Long Weekend

In an effort to continue ticking things off my birthday list (wow do I have a long way to go still!) we started off the long weekend seeing Wicked here in Portland Thursday 8/20/15.  This was the 4th time I'd seen it (San Diego, LA and previously in Portland).  It is such an amazing show.  My mom was in town to see it, my Aunt Tami came down from Seattle, my sister-in-law Sarah and my other brother's girlfriend Holly were all set to see it.  The festivities technically started earlier in the day when we all got pedicures and then went to dinner near the theatre.

The next morning (early) I boarded a flight to Las Vegas to meet my lovely friends Melissa and Kristi (Utah and Tennessee respectively) for a very brief girls' weekend.  It was HOT!  I've become quite sissified to heat up here in the NW.  We had a great time as always and caught up on life.  It's amazing how you can just pick up like you just saw each other still.  I love that there's not a lot of reminiscing, but now just chatter about current stuff like we actually live near each other and hang out all the time.  Our yearly visits are quite fun and I cannot wait for the next one.  Just not Vegas.  We saw the Cirque d' Soleil show - Michael Jackson "One".  It was weird!  It was incredible the odd talent some of these people have but I wasn't expecting the show that was put on. Then we wandered the strip, hung out by the pool and then it was time to leave already.  Good friends are the best!

I miss paper

Remember back in the day in college when you were handed a syllabus and you followed along as they read it to you on your first day of class?  Where did those days go?

Day 1 of back to school.  Bio 112 (Cell Biology for Health Occupations) we were given a PDF of a syllabus that we have to log into a website to get.  We have to go to a different website to submit home work assignments through the manufacturer of our book.  I'm taking Ethics 205 class also and I have to log into yet another website for that because it is entirely an online class.  I just miss paper.

So far I'm really enjoying the discussion online in my Ethics class about a video that we had to watch and introduce ourselves and give our thoughts on the video.  Biology, the teacher is funny.  So far the only thing I can remember is that he talked about Charles Darwin taking a poop on the boat that he journeyed on to the Gallapagos.  That was kind of "riffing" i'm sure - and completely random.  2 hours of lecture is pretty rough two nights in a row followed by a 3rd night in a row of a 3 hour lab.  I don't think I went to this much class in the whole of my time in Utah.  Hoping for a great semester!

Roo's last swimming class

Roo's classes were supposed to start the weekend of my birthday, but as usual I was running late and then hit the typical Portland traffic.  One of the bridges was shut down.  Since I never watch the news - I have no idea what's going on in my neighborhood.  Unfortunately, we missed class 1.  So - today was our last class from the Groupon.  He did so well!  He was much more comfortable, much more quickly.  Worked on turning in the water and he swam most of the class without any assistance.  Even when he had to shake water from his face and realize he still had to keep swimming while he did it.  GOOD JOB ROO!

Roo takes swimming lessons (First class)

Those of you that know me, know that I am addicted to Groupon.  If there is something on there that seems like it would be interesting, or hilarious, I'm going to buy it.  I just am.  So when the Groupon for $60 for three swimming classes for my dog came up - it was a no-brainer.  Yes I'm aware that dogs are natural swimmers, but if you saw his face every time I kick him out to potty in the rain in the backyard, or he has to get in the bath, you would know that this little guy may need a little coaxing.  He may never love the water, but at least now - I can take him to the river in the summers and he'll know what to do.

This is the video of his first swim.  His instructor, Jennifer (@Dog Gone Swimming) says that the splashing is totally normal because they're trying to figure out how not to sink.

 After only a few short tries - he was swimming!!!  Smooth and semi-calm!  It was a very proud moment.  Next week should be even better!

38 things to do while 38....

My good friend Samantha had a tradition that I loved.  Each year, for the number of years old she was, she would compile a list of that many things she wanted to do in the upcoming year.  Some were big...some were not so big.  All in fun, and a way to celebrate LIFE.  On the eve of my 38th year...here is my list (in no particular order):
1.  Learn to play the fiddle
2.  Go back to school (Finished 03/30/15)
3.  Take a passport kind of trip
4.  Participate in a 5K
5.  See AT LEAST 5 concerts
     a.  Michael Jackson - ONE
     b.
     c.
     d.
     e.
6.  Take Trent snowboarding
7.  Visit friends (US Travel) (Finished 08/23/15 - VEGAS! w/ MLH & KG)
8.  Besides Mortgage, be debt free (Finished 02/28/15)
9.  Read 8 books
     a. Divergent  (Finished 02/01/15)
     b.Insurgent (Finished 02/07/15)
     c. Allegiant (Finished 02/14/15)
     d. Darkfever (Finished 02/15/15)
     e. The Rosie Project (Finished 08/02/15)
     f. Go Set A Watchman (Finished 08/09/15)
     g. Eenie Meenie (Finished 08/23/15)
     h.
10.  Sing karaoke in public
11.  Go blonde for summer (or highlights)
12.  Go snowshoeing
13.  Ride my bike to work
14.  Have a garage sale
15.  Climb Multnomah Falls
16.  Bridge Pedal Participant
17.  See a Timbers Game Completed 05/02/15
18.  See a Baseball Game (Mariners?  I guess if I have to.  Or minor local league)
19.  Take Roo to the beach
20.  Learn to cook a new difficult dish
21.  Take a glass blowing class
22.  Take a cooking class
23.  Try writing a children's book
24.  Build a piece of furniture
25.  Turn the hall closet into a pantry.
26.  Make art for the house
27.  Hang said art in the house.
28.  Ride a roller coaster
29.  Visit a National Park
30.  See a Broadway show (could be off-Broadway) (Wicked! Finished 08/20/15)
31.  Revive my blog  Completed 01/14/15
32.  Go to Victoria, BC for the weekend
33.  Road trip with the Harker ladies to Hobby Lobby in WA (Finished 07/18/15)
34.  Attend the "becoming a foster parent" class.
35.  Sleep in a teepee
36.  Make a jewelry holder/organizer
37.  Join a softball league
38.  Learn to make bath bombs for gifts.

I will update this post as I complete things.
-Jamie xoxox