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Hang gliding

Thing to Do: Go Hang Gliding

April 21, 2013 by Jessica 3 Comments

Hang gliding has definitely been one of those things I’ve always wanted to try. Luckily for me, one of the best places to do a beginner’s lesson is right in my own state. Jockey’s Ridge State Park’s high dunes and great winds has attracted people interested in flight since…well…the beginning! (Heard of a couple of brothers named Orville and Wilbur?)

Booking a beginner’s hang gliding lesson with Kitty Hawk Kites (who, also, have pretty much been doing this since the beginning of hang gliding as a sport) meant I got 5 flights off the dunes after a short classroom session. Unlike lots of other things I’ve done, like tandem skydiving, I was actually mostly on my own. The instructor was there to correct for wind gusts but I was under my own power, controlling the glider myself.

The video looks kinda lame but you really do feel like you are flying! You run as hard as you can and after several steps you realize the ground is no longer under your feet. You feel like you are soaring really high, although in actuality I was no more than 10 feet or so off the ground (my instructor is 6’4″ so you get the idea) and I guess I probably only went 100 feet or so. In the video I did actually manage to land on my feet although I only did that 2 of the 5 tries. Even if you don’t land on your feet, you have sand to land on, so no worries about too many bumps and bruises.

You could also choose to be dropped from a plane a mile up and tandem glide down but I chose to opt out of that because 1) it’s crazy expensive, and 2) in my old age, I’ve managed to get quite a bit of motion sickness from these type activities. I really didn’t want to spend the money and just be miserable  As much as I really wanted to do this, I still think the excitement of flying under your own power was still better than just riding along tandem with an instructor…even from 6,000 feet up.

I really enjoyed this but I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to afford the lessons to get licensed. I’m discovering that all the super fun things to do are just way too expensive!

So who out there has done this? Who would be willing to do it off a cliff or a mountain side?

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101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, bucket list, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Nature, Sport and Activity, Travel
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Rock Climbing

Thing to Do #11 (40/40 list): Learn to Rock Climb

April 4, 2013 by Jessica 0 Comments

It was only a year ago that I took my first rock climbing class. I had never been terribly interested in doing the indoor rock climbing thing but after a friend shared photos of her rock climbing at Pilot Mountain, I knew I wanted to do that so I needed to learn the basics first.

Climbing the "hard" line

Climbing the “hard” line

Honestly, after my introductory class last March, I only went a handful of times. The rock climbing gym is always so crowded (even worse now since the only other rock climbing gym in the area closed), it’s not terribly convenient to get to, and if you don’t have the equipment, a simple visit to climb costs $25, which adds up quickly. I got a harness and climbing shoes for Christmas with the hope that I’d go more often but I literally cut the tags off my new equipment the night before heading to Pilot Mountain for my first honest-to-goodness rock climbing adventure.

Choosing to go with Raleigh Parks and Rec for a guided trip rather than the more expensive option of going on one of the monthly trips run by the local rock climbing gym, we set out early one Saturday morning for the 2.5 hour trip to Pilot Mountain. Pilot Mountain is one of those anomalies that jut out of hilly land, still a good 45 minutes away from the rest of the NC mountains. The mountain itself is quite distinctive with a stone “knob” on top (which you are NOT allowed to climb).

50 Feet of rock to climb (this is the "hard" line)

50 Feet of rock to climb (this is the “hard” line)

Although the trip was in late March, we were experiencing a bit of a cold snap and as we drove up the mountain, it began to sleet. As I had dressed in my usual hiking/climbing mountain gear of capri hiking pants, I was frozen through until the sun finally broke through around noon. Once the instructors had the lines up and running, we began taking turns climbing and belaying. I was the first one up the second line, which we called the “easy” line for much of the day. Although it had a tricky start, it was manageable and after the first 10 feet of rock got to lots of great hand holds and holes to work with.

I quickly realized the biggest difference between climbing real rock and an indoor rock wall was that with an indoor rock  wall, you can see the holds from 40 feet down.  Maneuvering to find holds in the real rock proved to be an exercise in problem solving. Often I would finally get a good hold only to push up further and scrabble scrabble scrabble for the next hold and have to give up and come back down. But I enjoyed it. Finally finding the next hold and moving up was a small moment of success!

I also fell for the first time. I had discovered that I wouldn’t take chances in the indoor rock wall because I was afraid of falling. I would find myself not going for the hold because I thought I may fail. With the actual rock, I was going for whatever I could and sometimes that meant I fell too. After falling the first time, I felt more comfortable in knowing that falling wasn’t the worst thing to happen.

With the sleet earlier, the rock itself felt like ice and after about 10 minutes I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. It took 30 minutes or more to have the feeling come back in my finger tips.

Climbing the "easy" line

Climbing the “easy” line

Later on I tried the “hard” line. I was the last to try and I had witnessed others in the group have difficulty with it so I just wanted to made it past the first 10 feet. After a good bit of work, I made it past the point that had given everyone trouble and considered myself a success.

The instructors set up a rappel line and we could climb the “easy” line up and out if we wanted to. I tried but was disappointed when I couldn’t get to the last little bit. I had used up all my energy getting to that point and couldn’t give it any more. I had to belay back down and then hike up to the top of the cliff to do my big of rappelling.

During our whole trip, I managed to only climb 3 times and help belay several times but I was beat and fell asleep around 9:30 that night. I was sore for days after.

So, I really liked it! I don’t think I’ll ever get into the tech of it; I just don’t have any interest in learning how to lead climb or putting in top rope anchors. I’d much rather just join a group and have the experts do it for me. Officially, like skiing and SCUBA, I will now have to go rock climbing at least yearly.

How about you? Do you enjoy rock climbing (inside or outside)? Are you super hard core and do the lead climbing, bouldering, and free climbing?

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Rock Climbing

2013 First Quarter Report

March 31, 2013 by Jessica 0 Comments

Ok, so based on the list of Goals for 2013, I’ve gotten a good bit of work done in the first 3 months of the year. Always room for improvement but not too shabby!

#2 Swim with Whales: Ok, well…this was a fail but it WAS an attempt so I’m counting it as done for this year. Something to try again next year.

#8 Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #28 on the 40/40 list): Nothing yet.

#46 Scuba Diving: Continue practicing my SCUBA skills by going at least once this summer. Gonna use my new GoPro to capture the excitement that is the murky depths of the rock quarry.

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written (#7 on the 40/40 list): Supposed to be working on at least 2 this year. Nada so far.

#65  Shout ‘Drinks Are on Me!’ in a Pub or Bar (#17 on the 40/40 list): Not yet.

#84 Learn to Ski (#32 on the 40/40 list): Went in January and had a blast.

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#1 Be Able to Do a Pull Up: Very much working on it. I can lift 100 pounds so far. About 35 pounds to go.

#11 Learn to Rock Climb: Went rock climbing on Pilot Mountain for “real” rock climbing a week ago. That’s where the photo above comes from. Post to come.

#12 Take a Cooking Class: Nothing yet.

#18 Watch the  Top 250 IMDB List/Watch All of the Oscar Best Picture Winners: Nothing yet.

#25 Drink All the Beers on the GQ List: Nothing yet.

#31  Learn to swim (#87 on the 101 list: Conquer Your Fear): COMPLETED!

#35 Visit all of the NC Breweries: The original goal was to visit 7 this year. I’ve visited Trophy Brewing and Raleigh Brewing thus far.

#36 Learn How to Ballroom Dance: Nada yet.

From the Sports List:

#18 Attend a rugby game (and learn the rules): Nope

#19 Attend a cricket game (and learn the rules): Nope

Things not on an official list but still want to try:

Think that’s enough? What’s on YOUR goals for 2013?

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whale watching

Thing to Do #2: Swim with Whales

March 3, 2013 by Jessica 4 Comments

Photo Credit from The Virginia Pilot

So in the book, Thing to Do #2 before you die is to swim with a multitude of oceanic creatures: dolphins, sharks, whales, and tropical fish. Although the title implies to literally swim with them, the entry form does allow for a simple sighting of said creature. I have successfully (and literally) swam with dolphins, sharks, and tropical fish. I was kinda hoping to check of this last one with a whale watching trip, which is actually something that I had on the original list I created back in high school. Being a typical girl, I was obsessed with whales when I was younger and for a brief time wanted to be a marine biologist to study whales. And, honestly, I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to finally schedule a whale watching trip. But better late than never. When I discovered that the Virginia Aquarium ran whale watching trips January-March each year, I set about making plans.

Amy, a friend at work, had been interested in coming along on one of my adventures and when I suggested whale watching, she was on board immediately. In anticipation of the trip, I searched online to see if it had been a “good year” thus far and found this article and this article that buoyed our hopes for seeing a whale. You see, whales sightings are not “guaranteed.” I really had gotten pretty excited about the possibility of fulfilling a childhood dream and besides, who wants to drive 7 hours round trip and take a 2 hour boat trip only to be disappointed?

We left Raleigh at 7am and made good time, arriving to pick up our tickets with plenty of time to grab breakfast before boarding the boat. Immediately upon leaving the dock area, we were greeted with a huge pod of dolphins, which followed us the entire trip. I’ve seen dolphins in the wild before, although seeing them is always a pleasant surprise. Besides, I had never seen this many at one time.

After watching the dolphins for a good long while, we went south where the morning boat had sighted a whale earlier. After traveling for an hour, we apparently had reached the point but after only 10 minutes or so, turned around to head back. I honestly was a little taken aback; we had never left the shoreline at all but instead had just run parallel to it for an hour. I had completely expected to go out to sea. Knowing that the trip was only supposed to last 2 hours, I knew we probably weren’t going to see a whale that day. Although the dolphins continued to play in our wake, when the boat turned, Amy and I were no longer in the sun. The wind and February chill became too much and we went inside to keep warm for the return trip.

I knew a sighting wasn’t guaranteed but knowing the morning boat had seen one and that there had been so much success all year long, I was pretty disappointed.

Oh well. There’s always next year to try again. Plus, my friend Jessica lives in New England and has been on many successful whale watching trips. I may just go up to visit her and take advantage of her whale watching mojo!

How about you? Have you ever been on a whale watching trip? Or just seen one in the wild on a completely separate boat trip?

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Bunny Slope

Thing to Do #84: Learn to Ski

February 10, 2013 by Jessica 4 Comments

Ok, so skiing was actually really fun this year! I think in looking back at last year I was so sick, I just didn’t have the energy it required to give it a fair shake. I was nervous going this year because I remembered not really having a great time last year. But once I was out on the bunny slope, it all came back really quickly and I was easily better than I ever was last year within the first hour.

Last year I had a lot of frustration from not picking it up quickly. I don’t mean to be immodest, but I’ve been pretty active all my life and most physical activities have come easily to me. With how quickly I got back to it this year and immediately exceeded where I was last year, further makes me think that I was just really weak from being sick last year; if I hadn’t been sick, I would have been able to pick it up much more quickly. (It didn’t hurt that this year there was actual snow as opposed to mostly ice last year).

After an hour getting reacquainted with skiing on the bunny slope, I headed out to the greens and skied those for the remainder of the day and the next. I took two ski lessons last year and I kept trying to apply what I remembered my instructor telling me to do. Like all things, it just takes time to “feel it” (you can tell me all day to stand up straight and lean forward but when I’m sliding down a mountain, what I WANT to do is squat down and lean back, AWAY from the big scary mountain in front of me).

I managed to only fall down once and that was on the first run of the second day. (Well, 3 times if you count the 2 times falling off the chair lift, which, honestly, is incredibly embarrassing). By the second half of the second day, I could finally even keep my skis together and parallel a good bit for most of the way down, with only minimal “snowplowing” at the steeper points. I’m not saying my stance was nice and tight or anything, but I kinda looked like I knew what I was doing.

Still didn’t get a picture again this year (Who wants to carry around a camera or phone while skiing?) but the photo above is of the bunny slope. I didn’t want to mess with my new GoPro that I got for Christmas as I thought I had enough to worry with in just re-learning how to ski but I saw a lot of people with them so I definitely will use it next year. That’ll be some fun video!

So officially now I can really say I can ski! And, even better, that I actually enjoy it. Can’t wait for next year!

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trapeze

Goals for 2013

January 23, 2013 by Jessica 3 Comments

Photo Credit

In looking at my list, so many things that are left involve travel. Well, I hope to get out and visit at least one new country this year but otherwise I’m going to have to find things a bit closer by to do.

#2 Swim with Whales: Technically I wouldn’t be swimming with whales but I do plan to go on a whale watching trip out of Virginia Beach in February. Hope to see a humpback on its migratory path!

#8 Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #28 on the 40/40 list)

#46 Scuba Diving: Continue practicing my SCUBA skills by going at least once. Gonna use my new GoPro to capture the excitement that is the murky depths of the rock quarry.

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written (#7 on the 40/40 list): I didn’t do ANY of these last year! I mostly have really long ones left so out of the 10 remaining, I’m going to tackle 2 this year. As ONE of these things to read is the ENTIRE works of Shakespeare, I also want to see 2 plays performed live.

#65  Shout ‘Drinks Are on Me!’ in a Pub or Bar (#17 on the 40/40 list): I’m waiting to go my bar on a Tuesday afternoon at 3pm. I can swing buying drinks for 5 people.

#84 Learn to Ski (#32 on the 40/40 list): I went last year but I take “learning” to mean something you do multiple times in an effort to improve. So I’m going again.

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#1 Be Able to Do a Pull Up: I started working seriously on this late 2012. I’m up to lifting about 90 pounds so I only have 50 more to go.

#11 Learn to Rock Climb: Continue with going to the indoor rock climbing wall but I’ve also scheduled a trip to go to Pilot Mountain for “real” rock climbing.

#12 Take a Cooking Class: I want to sign up for a Sushi making class.

#18 Watch the  Top 250 IMDB List/Watch All of the Oscar Best Picture Winners: Watch 25 this year

#25 Drink All the Beers on the GQ List: Drink 10

#31  Learn to swim: I’ve signed up for beginner lessons. No more doggie paddling for me!

#35 Visit all of the NC Breweries: I went to 13 last year but admittedly I’ve now visited all the ones near me. Travel is now required to visit the rest. Visit 7 this year

#36 Learn How to Ballroom Dance: I went for one lesson but I think I’m going to try to attend one of the dance studio’s “dance socials” to practice

From the Sports List:

#18 Attend a rugby game (and learn the rules): There are actually some local teams

#19 Attend a cricket game (and learn the rules): There’s actually a local league!

Things not on an official list but still want to try:

Think that’s enough? What’s on YOUR goals for 2013?

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Over the edge

2012 Fourth Quarter Report

January 18, 2013 by Jessica 0 Comments

Although I felt like I didn’t do that much in 2012, I really have made good progress on my original list. There’s never been a year where I accomplished every single goal I laid out for myself but that’s no bother because inevitably I also manage to do lots of things NOT on the list too!

My Goals for 2012:

#8 Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #28 on the 40/40 list): Dang. Another year where I didn’t do this. Shame on me.

#46 Scuba Diving: COMPLETED! Went to the Rock Quarry in July to keep up with my SCUBA skillz. Was relieved and proud to say that I actually remembered how to do it. As long as I keep going regularly, hopefully I won’t forget.

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written (#7 on the 40/40 list): I’m failing at reading on the list, but I’ve been tearing it up in regard to books I want to read. Which, after years of reading books I’m supposed to read, has been really nice. Total for the year includes: the newest Sookie book, Dexter is Delicious, The Hunger Games, The Help, The Children of Men, Fight Club, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, Wicked, Less Than Zero, and Living with Miss G.

#65  Shout ‘Drinks Are on Me!’ in a Pub or Bar (#17 on the 40/40 list): Moved to next year.

#68 Save Someone’s Life (#8 on the 40/40 list): I was on pace with 3 pints donated so far for the year. (I’ve donated 7 total pints for lifetime). But then I started reading articles about how donating blood builds up scar tissue and makes it difficult for you to potentially get IVs and things you may need later in life. I don’t know. I need to do some more research on this.

#84 Learn to Ski (#32 on the 40/40 list): COMPLETED!

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor: COMPLETED!

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#1 Be Able to Do a Pull Up: Starting in late October I started working out at the gym with the “assisted pull up” machine. So far my max lift is 90 pounds; only need 50 more. Didn’t accomplish this one but I’m working hard on it for 2013.

#11 Learn to Rock Climb: COMPLETED! I’ve been a few times but would like to go more. Definitely want to go “real” rock climbing next year.

#18 Watch the Top 1,001 Films: About halfway through the year I kinda changed my plans and I’m actually kinda working more on the IMDB Top 250. Of these, I’ve watched a total of 191 (although this list is always changing, which can be frustrating).

#25 Drink All the Beers on the GQ List: Drank 10 of 20 (20 was my goal this year)

#35 Visit all of the NC Breweries: COMPLETED! The original task was to visit 10; I visited 13. This year I have been to: Natty Greene’s, Big Boss, Aviator, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Lonerider, Roth, Mystery, White Street Brewing, Carolina Brewing Co., Red Oak, NoDa Brewing, Birdsong, and Foothills.

#36 Learn How to Ballroom Dance: COMPLETED-ish! I did take one private dance lesson. I’m supposed to go back for a group lesson and then a “dance social.” But the one private dance lesson showed me I have a long way to go!

#37 Start Using Coupons: I’m kinda halfheartedly doing this. Baby steps.

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: COMPLETED!

From the Sports List:

#18 Attend a rugby game (and learn the rules): FAIL! I missed the opportunities this year.

#19 Attend a cricket game (and learn the rules): FAIL! I missed the opportunities this year.

#24 Attend the Kentucky Derby: This didn’t happen this year. No worries!

One of my favorite things to do is to take advantage of opportunities as they come up, even if they aren’t on the list! After all, the true spirit of the list is to get you out of your comfort zone. So far this year I have also:

  • I attended two Roller Derby Matches 
  • I visited Natural Bridge
  • I went Indoor Skydiving
  • I went to a concert by myself (twice. I went to see Dave Matthews in December and it was truly wonderful. I’m definitely going to concerts by myself from now on).
  • I did most of the Warrior Dash
  • I went camping for the first time, climbed Grandfather Mountain, and managed to cross off Thing to Do #37: Make a Fire Without Matches (I went camping again at the beach in August and started a fire even more quickly and efficiently so I can actually say the first time wasn’t a fluke!)
  • I went Zorbing
  • I went to Bonnaroo
  • I made beer (three times; the first and third time was pretty great, the second time was a bit of fail but that’s what you get when you drink whilst making beer!)
  • I went to Niagara Falls and went into Canadia for the first time! (Adding to my work on #36: Visit Every Country)
  • I raised $1,000 and rappelled down the side of the building at the “Over the Edge” event.
  • I got colorful at The Color Run
  • You know when you look on a map and see that pointy part of NC that juts out into the ocean? I went to that exact point of Cape Hatteras and watched the waves crash together. Rather cool. Still haven’t been to the top of the lighthouse though.

In my personal life:

There have been so many successes that aren’t even on the list, and in many ways I feel this has been the most successful year of my life. Professionally I continue to be satisfied and challenged by my work; a promotion in July brought a bit more stress and work load but I’ve enjoyed the new challenges.

Personally, I’ve discovered a lot about myself this year. It’s been a great time for self-reflection and looking inward. I’m still trying to work on some things but overall I feel better about having figured some things out.

Also in the personal realm, I’ve continued to keep the weight off from last year. I no longer diet; I rather eat what I want. But I do continue to attend Zumba 3 times a week. Through Zumba I’m still the same weight (anywhere from 139-143), but I’ve actually lost another dress size. At my biggest in April 2011 I weighed 164 and was a size 10; although I’m still 10 pounds more than what I was in college, I’m the smallest size I’ve ever been at size 4 (in college I was a size 8). Next year’s goals will hopefully see me finally do a pull up.

Financially I guess we could always wish for a little more but through contract work and my day job, I’ve managed to continue to maintain the lifestyle I want while being single. I became a landlord this year and that’s actually going well so I’m pleased with that decision and I have little by little been able to rebuild my wardrobe through Goodwill purchases and consignment shops.

Overall I guess I would say 2012 was somewhat quiet and subdued; not quite the like the year I had in 2010! But if we gauge our success not in trips and adventures but in happiness and security, I’d easily say 2012 was by far my most successful year yet.

How was your 2012? What are you looking forward to for 2013?

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Corona Christmas Commercial

Thing to Do #80: Spend Christmas on the Beach

December 25, 2012 by Jessica 1 Comment

So this may end up being one of the things on the list that I’ll never do.  I like my family and its important to me that I be with them at Christmas.  If I went to some resort, I think I would just be sad that I wasn’t with the ones that I love and I know my family wouldn’t travel with me (my parents don’t fly).  I guess we could just go to the North Carolina beach, but I feel like that probably wasn’t the point.  However, I recognize that I may be in the minority in that an awful lot of people seem to not like their families.

Has anyone else spent Christmas on some warm beach?  Makes me think of that Corona commercial…

Life Management, Relationships, Travel
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nye

Thing to Do #97: Participate in…New Year’s Eve in NYC

December 11, 2012 by Jessica 0 Comments

 

This is an oldie but a goodie. If you are thinking about going to NYC for NYE, do your research. 

I’d love to tell you that this one ends well, but it doesn’t.  I wish I could “Tarantino” it and start from the end, but I don’t have the writing chops to do that effectively.  Instead I’ll start where all great adventures of young 20 somethings start: “My girlfriend and I started talking and had a great idea…”

On December 30, 2001, a close friend from High School, Amy, and I started talking about how cool it would be to go to Times Square for New Year’s Eve.  Talking led to looking online for airline tickets.  Looking online led to finding tickets, roundtrip from Raleigh-Durham to La Guardia for about $100.  More talking about the relative inexpensiveness of traveling to New York City for one night led to purchasing the tickets.

Thing #1 that we did wrong:   thinking that getting to NYC around 7pm on New Year’s Eve would give us plenty of time to get to Times Square

Thing #2 that we did wrong:  continuing to think that we had plenty of time and getting a couple of drinks in the hotel bar before heading out

Thing #3 that we did wrong:  choosing to try to do this the New Year’s Eve after September 11th.

I’ve never tried to do this since so I don’t know how security normally is, but when we began making our way to Times Square, we found ourselves hitting a security line pretty early on.  After standing in THAT line for about an hour, we passed through, only to hit ANOTHER security line, both complete with barriers.  Perhaps they do that ever year and maybe its what they do later in the evening for “crowd control” but I suspect strongly that it had to do with the fact that roughly four months earlier a horrific event had occurred in NYC and security was extra tight all over.

After we cleared the second security line, we met up with another set of barriers.  However, this was no line; this was “Do not pass go.”  The mob of people were slowly trickling into essentially a holding pen.  New York City cops lined the barriers, announcing on a bull horn that no more people would be allowed into Times Square.  Regardless of what was being announced, people continued to stream into the holding pen and more and more people were crushing against me and Amy.  Someone in the back began yelling “PUSH!  They can’t stop all of us!”  Like lemmings, the mob began pushing towards the barricade, me and Amy being pushed along with the rest of the crowd.  Amy and I quickly realized that things were getting out of control and we clasped hands so not to be seperated.  With one last push, the barricades came tumbling down and the mob came flowing through.  To escape being trampled (which I can only assume happened to the people in the very front) me and Amy began running, too.  Out of sheer nervousness and fear, all I can remember is me and Amy laughing hysterically, running down the middle of a New York City street with hundreds of other people running around us.  I looked up once to notice that we were running by the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Unfortunately, the mob didn’t consider the intelligence and organization of the New York City police.  We run up against another barricade, this time with police in mob gear.  Again, it was announced that we should all turn around and go back and again, the same idiots began yelling to push.  This set of barricades also gave through and again we were running with the crowd until BAM!, the police managed to put the barricades back up just as me and Amy got near the front.  This last push, Amy and I had gotten seperated, and I was directly up against a barricade-Amy was a few people behind me.  We could still see one another.

The mob began pushing again, and this time the barricades did not give.  The cops kept telling people to back up, that the only way out was the way they came, but they kept pushing.  Mob mentality is the scariest thing on Earth.

I felt like I was going to pass out, the crush of people was cutting off my air supply.  At this point, it was about 11:40pm.  The cop nearest to me could see I was in pain, so to get my mind off of the situation, he began talking to me, just small talk stuff but it did make me feel better.  As I was at a juncture in the barricade, he said, quietly, “You know, you could probably fit through this crack.”  I told him I was with a friend and I couldn’t leave her and he told me he’d look after her.  So I squeezed through the barricade and of course, people saw and began pushing and yelling.  Amy started freaking out that I was going to leave her (unfortunately, this was her first time to New York City and it was not going well), so I stood near the outside of the barricade to show her that I wasn’t going anywhere.  Unfortunately, my presence was continuing to rile those still on the other side and the policeman made me stand further away down the sidewalk.

At midnight we could hear the cheers from Times Square a couple of blocks away.  Twenty feet away from one another Amy and I waved at each other and yelled “Happy New Year!” but obviously without much cheer.  As soon as the New Year had arrived, the policeman vacated their barricade and those within immediately began dispersing.  Amy and I decided to go to Times Square anyway, at least to just see the aftermath, but we were turned away a block further down by a lone cop telling us that everyone was being made to leave the area.

We went back to the hotel room, discouraged and forlorn at the dissapointing outcome of the night.  We got up early the next morning to see a little bit of the city before heading back to NC.  I took Amy to Chinatown, SoHo, and some other favorite spots, and I think Amy began changing her opinion of the city.

So that’s my big story of the time I went to Times Square for New Year’s Eve.  Although I never officially made it, I think this is a better story!

Have you ever been caught up in a crowd or in a mob?  Ever had a crazy experience like this?

Excitement, Recklessness, Travel
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cropped

Thing to Do: Complete The Color Run

November 18, 2012 by Jessica 6 Comments

I only found out about The Color Run earlier this year. I’m not sure how long it’s being going on but it’s certainly popular now! I registered for The Color Run in Charlotte the day it opened and later that day all 3 waves had already sold out.

After my marathon, I swore that there would be no running unless it was a “fun run” and The Color Run is certainly that. There are no timing chips or competition to speak of at all, and walkers and children are welcomed and encouraged. Because of that (and it’s billing as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet”), it seems to attract primarily women. It was fun to be at a sporting event dominated by about 90% women and to have a focus on just having fun, rather than on the run.

The color is dyed corn starch, so it safe to eat and/or get on your skin. And I found that the color washed off pretty easily with a good scrubbing, although I’m still finding color in my ears.

I hadn’t ran in months and had actually planned on walking most of it, but with brisk winds in 40 degree temps, running seemed to be a better way to get warm. I jogged through the first color station, blue, not realizing that with the wind as it was, I would have to practically stop in front of the color throwers to get anything on me. I came out of the blue station completely clean.

I rectified this during the yellow, red, and orange stations, almost coming to a dead stop so that I could get a little color on me. As you can see from my photo, I managed to still be pretty clean by the end. I suspect that the fabric of my shirt, a synthetic “long underwear” top, didn’t want to grab the dye as easily as plain ol’ 100% cotton.

After I was finished, I watched a “color festival” from afar, watching the participants throw their color all at once. I had left my phone in the car for fear it would get damaged or dropped but seeing the color festival was actually the coolest part of the day. I joined in for the next festival, standing next to someone who held a green color packet, which accounts for why my face was completely green by the end of the day.

So I guess I was hoping to be a bit more colorful by the end of the day but choice in wardrobe and pretty serious winds kept me mostly clean. I saw some people just rolling in the color; I guess I could have always chosen that option. Either way, a fun way to spend a Saturday morning, especially if you have a group of girlfriends that are willing to get a little colorful.

So what about you? Done The Color Run or the Color Me Rad? Or another fun run?

101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Sport and Activity, Travel
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