Fourteen done ... 38 to go...

What: #56 See a U of M lacrosse game

Where: Michigan Stadium

When: April 26^th

Why: Living so close to the University of Michigan, I’ve been privileged to experience a wide variety of sporting events on campus, and as more varsity sports were added, I realized that there were still many that I had not attended. Just this year, lacrosse was added, and lacrosse is a totally foreign sport to me. Many youth lacrosse leagues exist in the area, but to my recollection, this sport did not have any popularity when I was growing up, so I stuck to the traditional soccer and track and field.

Having made the decision to see a lacrosse game, and with the intention of seeing the Michigan women’s “Team One” play a game, an unexpected turn of events transpired. A couple of months ago, I was asked to work with a volunteer new to my place of work. It was immediately apparent this volunteer was an athlete for the Wolverines; his entire wardrobe consisted of nothing but maize and blue attire, adorned with block Ms, almost as if a required uniform. After a few weeks, we started talking about his sport, and he explained that he plays lacrosse! It ended up that JD was able to get tickets for me and friends to see him play his last home game at The Big House.

Arriving at the stadium on game day, it is quite a contrast to the typical football game day experience, but it was still a larger crowd than I had expected. There were many youth teams there to see the game, and I don’t think I quite understood the extent of the popularity. We came in during the first period and our first impression was how frequently they score; I had assumed it was much like hockey or soccer, with goals being a bit rare. Instead, the first half of the game saw nearly 20 points scored! Also, I had no vague idea of the rules, but there were video excerpts played on the video boards between periods (some starring JD!) explaining what was happening. This helped immensely!

The fast pace of the game, the speed of the players, the occasional outbursts of pummeling and checking with the lacrosse sticks, it made for a rather exciting afternoon! I preferred the second half when JD got his playing time as a defender and we could cheer for him; having a personal connection made it more fun. We all enjoyed it, and I’d love to go see a women’s game in the next season to see them play, too!

Fourteen done ... 38 to go...

What: #56 See a U of M lacrosse game

Where: Michigan Stadium

When: April 26^th

Why: Living so close to the University of Michigan, I’ve been privileged to experience a wide variety of sporting events on campus, and as more varsity sports were added, I realized that there were still many that I had not attended. Just this year, lacrosse was added, and lacrosse is a totally foreign sport to me. Many youth lacrosse leagues exist in the area, but to my recollection, this sport did not have any popularity when I was growing up, so I stuck to the traditional soccer and track and field.

Having made the decision to see a lacrosse game, and with the intention of seeing the Michigan women’s “Team One” play a game, an unexpected turn of events transpired. A couple of months ago, I was asked to work with a volunteer new to my place of work. It was immediately apparent this volunteer was an athlete for the Wolverines; his entire wardrobe consisted of nothing but maize and blue attire, adorned with block Ms, almost as if a required uniform. After a few weeks, we started talking about his sport, and he explained that he plays lacrosse! It ended up that JD was able to get tickets for me and friends to see him play his last home game at The Big House.

Arriving at the stadium on game day, it is quite a contrast to the typical football game day experience, but it was still a larger crowd than I had expected. There were many youth teams there to see the game, and I don’t think I quite understood the extent of the popularity. We came in during the first period and our first impression was how frequently they score; I had assumed it was much like hockey or soccer, with goals being a bit rare. Instead, the first half of the game saw nearly 20 points scored! Also, I had no vague idea of the rules, but there were video excerpts played on the video boards between periods (some starring JD!) explaining what was happening. This helped immensely!

The fast pace of the game, the speed of the players, the occasional outbursts of pummeling and checking with the lacrosse sticks, it made for a rather exciting afternoon! I preferred the second half when JD got his playing time as a defender and we could cheer for him; having a personal connection made it more fun. We all enjoyed it, and I’d love to go see a women’s game in the next season to see them play, too!

Thirteen done ... 39 to go...

What: #33 Eat at Fleetwood Diner in A2

When: April 13th
Where: Ashley Street
Why: This is one of those college experiences that I missed out on for an unknown reason. Actually, I recall people in high school heading out here, too, probably because it was one of the only places open all night (other than Meijer Thrifty Acres...) and that instantly made it cool. In recent years, as I started to over-think it, I had an irrational fear of going here because it seemed so greasy that I was legitimately afraid that I'd walk in, slip on the floor, and fall down into leftover diner crumbs and whatnot. This did not seem appealing, and thus I passed by the Fleetwood Diner on many occasions, heading for higher ground and cleaner floors. Still, it seemed such a part of local culture to eat here that I have felt that I was truly missing out on something that I could only understand if I partook of a meal here. And so this morning, hungry for a hearty breakfast, I headed to the Fleetwood. I procured a fine table outside under the awning, ordered quickly, and enjoyed the people watching. For food, I sampled the Hippie Hash, and dove into my french toast (which was actually VERY good). The vibe from the waitstaff was a bit brash, which is not what I expected, especially on a warm spring morning that should have put everyone in this city in a good mood. Dour waitresses aside, as I sat surrounded by college students and their dogs, loud-talkers, and someone on their laptop (there is no way I'd take my laptop here!), I definitely enjoyed my first experience at Fleetwood and would happily return for another morning brunch.

Twelve done ... 40 to go...

What: #31 See the Cherry Blossoms in DC

When: April 9th
Where: Washington, D.C.
Why: A lot can change in a year. A LOT. One year ago, I saw a small grove of cherry trees in the state of Washington, hidden in a small city park outside of Seattle. I went to this park alone, altho I was on this particular trip with a person that is no longer in my life, something I could hardly fathom at the time and which still sends me reeling if I think about it too much. And yet, just as the days move through the seasons, life keeps happening, reminding us that there is always something to come after a relentlessly wicked winter. So, armed with the reminder of those beautiful cherry trees and the enchantment of their falling petals, I headed to Washington DC (a place I hadn't been in about twenty years) to surrounded myself with cherry tree blossoms. The trick was to plan a visit around nature's schedule, which was a bit off this year due to the aforementioned wicked winter. Luckily, the National Park Service maintains a handy chart to help, so I managed to plan the trip to coincide nearly perfect with this year's peak bloom. The weather was lovely, the grass was green, flowers of all varieties were blooming...basically, it was a great chance to get an early jump on spring; at home, those tell-tale signs won't be around for another couple of weeks.

The history behind the cherry blossoms was really interesting. I learned that First Lady Taft had a lot to do with it, and that the current trees we see are actually the second batch "gifted" to us from Japan. The park ranger we had a tour with one afternoon explained even more history, including the three people behind the whole process. Another surprising aspect of the cherry blossoms to me was that they are actually found all over the city, not just around the tidal basin. This makes for lovely photo opportunities at every iconic structure...the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the White House!

Eleven done ... 41 to go...

What: #39 Visit with a Facebook friend I haven't seen in real life in over 3 years

When: April 8th
Where: Washington, D.C.
Why: The first year I put together this project of doing new things, I included this one as an item because I try to use Facebook for good, not evil. By this I mean that I try to use it to keep in touch with important people in my life, to spread joy instead of cynicism, to post interesting and smile-inducing articles or updates, to celebrate the successes of those with whom I'm connected (instead of stalking those with whom I am no longer connected). All of this hopefully helps me to keep up with people that otherwise would be a part of a past moment of time. I'm not saying I always succeed at this goal, but I do try to use Facebook as a vehicle for meeting up with friends who are truly friends, but from whom I've been separated by either time or distance and sometimes by both. Initially, I had intended to visit my friend Star at the cute country inn where she and her husband worked in middle Virginia, but circumstances aligned and allowed for us to have a day together during my visit to DC. We met up at a great tapas restaurant for lunch, together with her two daughters, reminiscing on past times and sharing news of our lives now. We discussed plans for our futures, business ideas and travel destinations, and shared news of friends we'd lost touch with over the years. The day was warm and sunny (and a bit breezy), so we strolled around the tidal basin to see the monuments and people watch along the way. We were joined by her husband, Neal, who recommended a great place for dinner near where I was staying in Alexandria, so we all went out to eat together, talk more about our dreams for the future, and cap off a really great day with delicious food, wonderful conversation, and a renewed friendship. Thanks, Facebook! 

Ten done ... 42 to go...

What: #32 Read a novel I haven’t read from Modern Library’s list of 100 Best

When: April 3rd
Where: Various furniture in my living room

Why: A few years ago, I was in a short-lived book club, but I really liked the idea of having someone to engage with during the experience of reading the story. Also, I love to read new stories, but often am not sure of good books that will capture my attention, so having a list telling me some of the best books made my choices a bit easier. Last year, the book I chose was recommended by Steph, and she and I created our own virtual book club to share thoughts and questions while we read. This year, we did the same thing for E.M. Forster's book A Room With A View. I selected the book this time, reading a synopsis about it and feeling that the combination of travel and romance was right up my alley. Sadly, the book is written by a man who has no idea how to write about things that a woman wants to read about when she is lured into a book by travel and romance. This brief clip of the movie version pretty much gives a picture of how absurd the telling of the story is; and how confusing and disjointed it is in the telling of it. Still, the general storyline was pretty interesting once you are removed the nauseous way he wrote it. And the commentary on the times is fascinating, especially all the societal rules everyone had to follow. However, if you are looking for a good story about good relationships in ye olde times, I'd recommend anything by Jane Austen!