18 down ... thirty-four to go...

What: #10 Learn how to tie a man’s tie

When: April 3rd
Where: Seattle
Why: There are some skills that are very gender specific. Putting hair in a ponytail or braiding, for example, are done almost automatically by most female fingers. Yet, give a guy a hair tie and I'm pretty sure you're in for a short comedy routine. The same can be applied to women trying to tie a man's tie. We just don't know how to do it because it isn't in our repertoire of skills. Frankly, it always seemed like the most confusing knot or some sort of slight of hand magic trick. Still, it seemed like a basic skill that half the adult population can do, and I wanted to know the secret. Luckily, I know a very patient person willing to teach me step-by-step, with lots of repetition, and let me practice over and over until I pretty much got it to look right. It took a few tries to get the length right, and then a few more to get my trapezoidal knot to look more like a sleek triangle (not quite there yet), but overall, I think I could step in as an extra set of hands in the tie-tying department!

Thirty-five down...17 to go...

What: #18 Dance in the rain

When: Oct 17th
Where: Outside in the rain, obviously
Why: I have fond memories as a kid splashing around in puddles on the sidewalk, holding my umbrella covered in squiggly rainbow colored fabric. It seems that the propensity to be so carefree diminishes as one grows up, and being in the rain or doused in puddles loses its appeal. I do have a higher tolerance than most, having just sat through a full Michigan football game in the rain, and earlier this summer, I did take a very rainy hike in Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick, and while we didn't let the intense downpour drive us from the beautiful scenery, there was definitely no dancing about our predicament. So, this item had remained on the list until today. I recently won a bet that involved being taught how to polka, and as it was to be my opportunity to gain this skill on a very rainy evening, it seemed a match made in heaven that I would learn how to polka in the rain.

There was a sound system set up to provide us the soundtrack needed, and in our bare feet, we hopped around, back and forth, even tossing in a couple spin moves. The rain was cold, it was probably a bit silly, but for me, it's a new memory I'll always have to look back on and smile...

Thirty-two down...20 to go...

What: #2 Do that headstand pose from my yoga class

Where: My bedroom and living room
When: September 29
Why: Awhile ago, I was in a yoga class that was a bit more advanced than usual, and one of the poses was the headstand. There were many variations. Some did it slowly and controlled from the tripod pose, others did it as a full hand-stand, and others used the wall to keep their balance. I couldn't do it in any form. At the time, I blamed my wrist for being too weak (it had recently been injured and I was still hesitant to put too much pressure on it), but then I found a video tutorial on YouTube that let me use my forearms, so I tried it today and after letting my body adjust to the idea of being inverted, I was successful at it. Then, to confirm my success, I shared it with a friend via Skype.

The first one I demonstrated was the one on my forearms, but then I tried another one on my hands and head and it actually was easier. It probably looked cooler, too, but we didn't get a picture of that one.

Fourteen down...38 to go...

What: #30 Go to the Kentucky Oaks race

Where: Churchill Downs
When: May 4th

Why: For the past couple of years, I've been lucky enough to take part in the tradition of going to see the Kentucky Derby. As many may not know, the Derby race itself is one of about a dozen races that occur that day, and the second day of the real horse racing festivities. The event on Friday is called the Kentucky Oaks and is filled with the same energy and excitement, but with a lot more pink, a lot less insanity, and a much greater focus on the incredible horses that race here.

I got into the color theme with my dress and matching shoes, enjoyed just one traditional Lily drink, and had a front row view in the paddock area for most of the morning races. The afternoon brought some serious weather drama that proved a bit much for my fancy shoes and my meager poncho, but overall, it was a great way to start off another memorable Derby weekend, and I hope to permanently add this event to my annual trip to Louisville!