Month 12 represented an entire year of challenges. So, I wanted this one to be unique - I don't remember how the idea came up but I thought about focusing the month of July on going outside of my comfort zone - doing things I might not normally do. From physical activities, to ordering something different at a favorite restaurant. It made me focus on thinking differently and trying new things. Like June, I kept a running tab of all of the things I did. It was the perfect month to do it too with a few family vacations planned and platforms for experimentation.
July "firsts"
- first SaberCats game - LOVED it. Would go to a game every year. And, as you can see from the photo above, I definitely enjoyed myself.
- first time doing an on-field contest during a sabercats game - as Jen pointed out, I have done contests before but never during a SaberCats or football game. Definitely fun.
- first house cleansing - this was actually using my knowledge and skills of Reiki to cleanse a house of bad energy for our friend Courtney. It was very cool and I plan to do it again, as long as someone wants me to.
- first time ordering an iced caramel latte at peet's - it was good... but I wouldn't order it again. My friend the mocha was too jealous.
- first time leading a board retreat - great experience/learning opportunity. Nice to have one under my belt.
- first time eating a ????? (in the salad from el patio) - as you can tell, I ate something I've never eaten before and had no idea what it was. I can tell you that it was disgusting and I would never eat it again... on purpose at least.
- first time drinking Rockstar - Yowza... not sure my body is down for too many of these. Helps with staying up for a night on the town though
- Skouras Greek red wine - by the time I drank this, it really didn't matter where it came from. Tasted good from what my hazy memory could conjure up.
- Uzzo shots - I was peer pressured into this black licorice flavored shot. Would not have it again unless I was peer pressured again.
- First time at UC Santa Barbara campus - incredible campus. If I had visited there, would have been among my top choices. Or maybe number 2 after Arizona
- First "Family Vacation Center" vacation - Family vacation at the UCSB campus was really fun. 4 nights was a perfect blend of adult activities and family fun. Great time.
- Surfing for the first time - I summed up my first ever surfing experience in five words, "America's Funniest Home Videos Montage". Total disaster but I'm determined to get up next time.
- Kayaking - Jen and I went ocean kayaking for the first time. Great sport. Good exercise. Beautiful. I even toyed with buying a kayak until Jen reminded me how infrequently I would use it. I'm still not quite convinced.
- First time capsizing on a kayak - When coming back in, waves crashing all around us, they gave us the option of trying to ride the waves to shore or going the safe route and pulling back. We almost had it until the very end but I would ride the waves 10 times out of 10. Super fun.
- Eating kelp - This tasted EXACTLY how I thought it would taste. Would I eat it again... maybe for a dare or $$.
- Getting pantsed during a freshman orientation - I know I have been pantsed before but never by my 3-year old, never in the middle of the dining hall and never during freshman orientation. At least only the full back was viewable.
- First time ordering 3 side salads as my main meal (at Willow Street) - Our waitress told us that she has never seen anybody order 3 side salads for their dinner in her 6 years working as a waitress. Sweet!
- First time developing and facilitating a grants panel - This was a professional first for me and a great experience. I love the panel process and it was really fun to make up the rules. I think we ended up with a really good outcome as well.
- First time ordering a turkey/pastrami sandwich at freshly baked - I usually get turkey or cheese but given the challenge, I went with a sandwich I had never had before. Here's what I learned... you cannot go wrong. Every sandwich is off the hook. Would definitely order this one again though.
- Bulgogi from Fuji sushi (marinated beef) - Went with my gut... super good. I have ordered it again since but it did not live up to the first time. Still, now it is part of my rotation.
- Seviche - Never had seviche before. Would eat it every day if I could. Incredible!
- Weaverville/ Trinity - Went to a part of California I had never been to before - Weaverville and Trinity. 75 miles east (I think) of Redding. Beautiful part of the world. Amazing that it's in California. Had a great time, would rather go to Tahoe.
- Bed and breakfast/ plantation - At the wedding in Weaverville, we stayed at a bed and breakfast that used to be a plantation. It was my first ever bed and breakfast. I loved it. Very comfortable. Great way to stay - much cozier than a hotel.
- Cake pop - Apparently this is a new trend. I tried one, it was so sweet I almost couldn't finish it.
- Goat meat - Never had goat meat before. It was better than I thought but I'm ok not to have it again. Craziest part was that our friend Mikey roasted a whole goat so there was a big pile of meat and a roasted goat head in front of it.
- Crab cake sandwich - Have had crab cakes but never a crab cake sandwich. Definitely my first and last crab cake sandwich.
- Blood orange iced tea at new place Santori Tea Garden - Walked into a new store in Downtown San Jose and chose a flavor of tea I had never had before from over 400 options. Funny thing is that the blood orange was the first one I smelled. It was pretty awesome!
- Alligator tail - Alligator tail at La Fondue = great idea, poor execution
- Elk rib eye - Eld Rib Eye at La Fondue = good idea, good execution
- Chocolate fondue milk choc w/ toffee - As you can tell, we tried some new things at La Fondue - one of our favorite restaurants. The chocolate fondue was incredible. New family favorite for sure.
- first SaberCats game - LOVED it. Would go to a game every year. And, as you can see from the photo above, I definitely enjoyed myself.
- first time doing an on-field contest during a sabercats game - as Jen pointed out, I have done contests before but never during a SaberCats or football game. Definitely fun.
- first house cleansing - this was actually using my knowledge and skills of Reiki to cleanse a house of bad energy for our friend Courtney. It was very cool and I plan to do it again, as long as someone wants me to.
- first time ordering an iced caramel latte at peet's - it was good... but I wouldn't order it again. My friend the mocha was too jealous.
- first time leading a board retreat - great experience/learning opportunity. Nice to have one under my belt.
- first time eating a ????? (in the salad from el patio) - as you can tell, I ate something I've never eaten before and had no idea what it was. I can tell you that it was disgusting and I would never eat it again... on purpose at least.
- first time drinking Rockstar - Yowza... not sure my body is down for too many of these. Helps with staying up for a night on the town though
- Skouras Greek red wine - by the time I drank this, it really didn't matter where it came from. Tasted good from what my hazy memory could conjure up.
- Uzzo shots - I was peer pressured into this black licorice flavored shot. Would not have it again unless I was peer pressured again.
- First time at UC Santa Barbara campus - incredible campus. If I had visited there, would have been among my top choices. Or maybe number 2 after Arizona
- First "Family Vacation Center" vacation - Family vacation at the UCSB campus was really fun. 4 nights was a perfect blend of adult activities and family fun. Great time.
- Surfing for the first time - I summed up my first ever surfing experience in five words, "America's Funniest Home Videos Montage". Total disaster but I'm determined to get up next time.
- Kayaking - Jen and I went ocean kayaking for the first time. Great sport. Good exercise. Beautiful. I even toyed with buying a kayak until Jen reminded me how infrequently I would use it. I'm still not quite convinced.
- First time capsizing on a kayak - When coming back in, waves crashing all around us, they gave us the option of trying to ride the waves to shore or going the safe route and pulling back. We almost had it until the very end but I would ride the waves 10 times out of 10. Super fun.
- Eating kelp - This tasted EXACTLY how I thought it would taste. Would I eat it again... maybe for a dare or $$.
- Getting pantsed during a freshman orientation - I know I have been pantsed before but never by my 3-year old, never in the middle of the dining hall and never during freshman orientation. At least only the full back was viewable.
- First time ordering 3 side salads as my main meal (at Willow Street) - Our waitress told us that she has never seen anybody order 3 side salads for their dinner in her 6 years working as a waitress. Sweet!
- First time developing and facilitating a grants panel - This was a professional first for me and a great experience. I love the panel process and it was really fun to make up the rules. I think we ended up with a really good outcome as well.
- First time ordering a turkey/pastrami sandwich at freshly baked - I usually get turkey or cheese but given the challenge, I went with a sandwich I had never had before. Here's what I learned... you cannot go wrong. Every sandwich is off the hook. Would definitely order this one again though.
- Bulgogi from Fuji sushi (marinated beef) - Went with my gut... super good. I have ordered it again since but it did not live up to the first time. Still, now it is part of my rotation.
- Seviche - Never had seviche before. Would eat it every day if I could. Incredible!
- Weaverville/ Trinity - Went to a part of California I had never been to before - Weaverville and Trinity. 75 miles east (I think) of Redding. Beautiful part of the world. Amazing that it's in California. Had a great time, would rather go to Tahoe.
- Bed and breakfast/ plantation - At the wedding in Weaverville, we stayed at a bed and breakfast that used to be a plantation. It was my first ever bed and breakfast. I loved it. Very comfortable. Great way to stay - much cozier than a hotel.
- Cake pop - Apparently this is a new trend. I tried one, it was so sweet I almost couldn't finish it.
- Goat meat - Never had goat meat before. It was better than I thought but I'm ok not to have it again. Craziest part was that our friend Mikey roasted a whole goat so there was a big pile of meat and a roasted goat head in front of it.
- Crab cake sandwich - Have had crab cakes but never a crab cake sandwich. Definitely my first and last crab cake sandwich.
- Blood orange iced tea at new place Santori Tea Garden - Walked into a new store in Downtown San Jose and chose a flavor of tea I had never had before from over 400 options. Funny thing is that the blood orange was the first one I smelled. It was pretty awesome!
- Alligator tail - Alligator tail at La Fondue = great idea, poor execution
- Elk rib eye - Eld Rib Eye at La Fondue = good idea, good execution
- Chocolate fondue milk choc w/ toffee - As you can tell, we tried some new things at La Fondue - one of our favorite restaurants. The chocolate fondue was incredible. New family favorite for sure.
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