Ski the Rockies in Colorado - Completed 11/24-11/25/2006

My friend, Wendy Lemke, recently moved to Colorado Springs for work. She invited me to come join her for a ski/snowboard week at Breckenridge, CO over Thanksgiving. Instead of skiing, we decided to take snowboarding lessons.

Matt was our cool snowboard instructor.

For a day and a half we struggled with the snowboards...but were finally making some progress, especially because of Jared's (a friend of Wendy and Jeff) tutoring and patience. Then I fell! The short story is that at the lift line, someone cut in front of me, and I fell flat on my back. I managed to fracture my T12 vertebrae...so could not move my back. Luckily, my friends were there to document this new adventure via photo and video.

The ski patrol came to my rescue and took me down the mountain.

I'm only smiling because I know how cool the head-gear makes me look on the backboard and sled.

After some xrays and discussion with doctors there, I was sent to a hospital in Denver (2.5 hours away) by ambulance.

I was there for 2 days to get fitted with a back brace, to manage my pain, and to learn how to live my life without moving my spine.

Wendy, Jeff, and Jared came to visit and help me get back on my feet again in time for my return flight to Atlanta.

See at Least 5 Local Plays - Completed 11/3/06

With the help of a subscription to Horizon Theatre (thanks to my friends in TB) and in the company of friends and family, I got to see:

• Santaland Diaries (Jon Benenson, Aileen Monahan, Mom, Dad)
• Bad Dates (Stacey Hoffman)
• Far Away (Ben Eugrin, ReLiang Tsang, Ari Levine)
• The Perfect Prayer (Marian Bonner)
• Underpants (Steve and Marty Remis)
• The Thing About Men (Katrina Anthony)

Although not local productions, I also saw Wicked and Mama Mia at the Fox Theater.

Go to an Exhibit at the New High Museum of Art - Completed 11/2/06

My cool cousin, Katrina, came to visit me in Atlanta and we went to see the Louvre exhibit at the High Museum. The High recently added new buildings and acquired the first ever Louvre/US museum collaborative exhibit.

Go Hang Gliding - Completed 10/22/06

You don't know what it feels like to fly until you try hang gliding!

Stacey Hoffman joined me for this adventure on the top of Lookout Mountain in Tenessee. We drove up to the Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding School and signed up for an introductory tandem flight. For the introductory flight, you wear a harness that supports you and the pilot under the wings of the hang glider. The hang glider is hooked up to an ultra-light that tows you up above the mountain. then you unhook and glide back down.

The image below is of my landing approach.

Take a Tap Class - Completed 10/7/06

Althogh I took a tap class as a little kid, I had always been jealous of the cool high-heeled tap shoes that the grown-ups got to wear. So my goal was to tap in high heels. The heels did not last long, as I found them a bit difficult to dance in. However, as it turns out my class was producing a tap "show, " so my new challenge was to perform in the show. After 3 months of classes, I managed to pull off 2 dances with the other beginners. It was a lot of fun and I had a lot of support from my friends who came out to cheer at the show.

The first dance is called "Draggin' the Line." We dressed in our best hippie outfits.

The second dance is called "Well I lied" and we were supposed to look like hobos.

Finish Knitting a Scarf - Completed 8/25/06

With help from Michele Huitric and ReLiang Tsang I managed to learn how to knit. I completed my first knitting project and sent it to a friend as a gift for the cold English winter.

Try Tree-Climbing - Completed 6/7/06

Tree Climbers International is an organization of tree-climbers headquartered in Atlanta, not far from where I live. Nick DeLuca (former team leader in TB) and I had talked about trying it out for years...and we finally did.

They do a weekend beginner's climb, where you learn the basics and get to climb up into Nimrod or Diana, the giant trees on site. Ropes are slung up into the branches and you wear a harness to climb the ropes.

You do not actually touch the tree to climb it.

I made it up to the first branch to sit there and admire the view.

Visit the British Virgin Islands - Completed 4/15/06

My dad coordinated a family trip to BVI to sail on "Dream Boat," his 33' Beneteau which is used most of the year as a rental by the Moorings yacht chartering company.

The sailing crew (Dad, Jon, Aileen, & Mom), exploring the beach of Beef Island.

Mom and I explore the rock coves on Treasure Island.

Dad and Aileen...captain and 1st mate.

Sleep Out Under the Stars - Completed 4/13/06

I slept out under the stars on the deck of "Dream Boat" while sailing with my family in the British Virgin Islands. Besides, it was pretty close quarters inside the boat.

Unfortunately, the night I chose to sleep outside was the only night that we had a rain storm! I got 2 hours of sleep before getting soaked!

Volunteer at Cafe 458 - Completed 3/11/06

Cafe 458 is a weekend brunch place that runs completely on donations and the work of volunteers. The proceeds go to support the programs of the Samaritan House of Atlanta which help feed, clothe, and provide opportunities off the street for homeless men and women. The food is great...and after several visits as a customer, I got up the courage to volunteer, despite my lack of any previous wait-staff experience.

I got there early in the morning and was a given a 15 minute orientation. I helped set up the tables in preparation for our first customers of the day. We were assigned shifts doing dishes and on the floor taking orders and serving customers. My first shift was on dish duty. We loaded trays with dirty dishes and ran them through a high-powered dish washer...then towel-dried and restacked the clean dishes. It was hard work, but fun...and I only managed to break one mug. The hardest part was staying out of the way of the cooking team...as they were busily cooking, filling orders, and lining up plates of hot food at the serving station. There was a lot of chaos in the kitchen.

My next shift was to serve a row of 3 tables. I was so excited to finally get out and serve. I refilled drinks, cleared the tables quickly, and put on a big smile for each customer. There was a slow moment when I was asked to restock the syrup containers at the wait-station with newly filled containers coming out of the kitchen. That's when it happened...I grabbed 2 syrup jars and turned to take them to the station, when the glass bottle fell right out from the lid in my hand. It shattered on the floor spraying gooey, sticky syrup all over my new jeans, the floor, a table AND 2 customers (sitting at a large table with 4 other people)! They tried to dive out of the way, but it was too late. I was horrified. I ran to the back room to grab a mop and came out to clean up...but syrup does not clean up very easily. I tried to comfort one of the customers by suggesting that she would smell sweet all day, but I don't think it really helped. I think I am one of those people meant for dish duty.

I have not been back, but would definitely volunteer again. I was hoping my reputation as "syrup-girl" would be forgotten. Let me know if you'd like to volunteer with me. I promise not to spill syrup on you!