18 done ... 34 to go...

What: #95 Learn how to log roll

When: July 18th
Where: Fuller Pool

Practicing my graceful exit...

Why: This summer, I got into watching a new show on TV because my friend recently competed on American Ninja Warrior, and the crazy obstacles they have to do really seem like a lot of fun. I'm not at the level I can do any of that (I thought I was, but was quickly humbled by the climbing rope at my gym), so I thought log-rolling was a pretty good substitute. Luckily, I live in a community that offers a lot of really great activities, so I signed up for my first class with my friend Karissa.

We met up in the shallow end of the pool to get acquainted with the "log"; it's really a 12-foot long tube made of the same material as a kayak and fitted with trainers that keep down the speed of the rotation. The first task was getting on the log, which wasn't the smoothest process. You have two choices: either standing up on it with one leg and pushing yourself up, or straddling it and then jumping up into a squat. As unlikely as it seems, I was better at and preferred the second method.

After almost an hour, I was able to stand up on the log and maintain my balance for about 5 seconds (which feels about six times longer than it is!). Our instructor was really great at giving pointers to adjust our technique and encouraging us to keep trying. We were having so much fun that we showed up again the next weekend and brought friends with us! I improved to staying on the log for about 15 seconds, while our ANW friend stayed on for over a minute! If we get to 2 minutes, we get our names on a poster! Summer goal!

17 done ... 35 to go...

What: #94 Participate in a Color Run

When: June 27th
Where: Ypsilanti

Our "before" picture at the start

Why: For years, I've seen friends post pictures on Facebook about the Color Run, and more recently, it seems I've been in places where a Color Run has just happened and I see the participants wandering around the streets or into sporting events just as covered in colorful dust as can be! This intrigued me because they really seemed to be enjoying it, and usually after a run, my first instinct is to go home and shower as soon as possible.

This year, my friend Shannon invited me to join her at this run, and I was eager to sign-up to do my first Color Run! She and I had done another run earlier in the year and I was glad to find a running partner; it makes it much more enjoyable if you can chat and giggle along the route!

The day before, as most runners will know, was packet pick-up. I headed out into the warm summer sunshine on a beautiful day to get my t-shirt, headband, tattoos, and bib number. I was getting so excited! I went home and figured out what I was going to wear the next day, choosing shoes that I knew would be covered in colors by the end of it, and then waited patiently for the morning.

The morning, as it turns out, was barely in the 50s and pouring rain. POURING. I thought for sure Shannon would back out. In fact, I even considered it, but I have a very weird thing (stubbornness) about not skipping something if I've paid for it, so I decided I'd suffer for the 30-40 minutes it would take me to run, and then I'd come home to warm up and dry off. As I was pulling into my parking spot near the event, Shannon called to say she was just getting into town and that she was ready to suffer through it with me! I was so happy!! Luckily, the Color Run has wave after wave of starts, and it is not timed, so the fact that I ran with an umbrella and long leggings that kept falling down didn't deter me from having a blast!

The "after" picture at the finish line

16 done ... 36 to go...

What: #64 Drink a glass of whiskey

When: June 6th
Where: Journeyman Distillery
Why: I blame country music for this one. So many of my favorite songs have lyrics pertaining to shootin' whiskey, pourin' whiskey, sippin' on whiskey...and I started to feel left out of that part of my redneck side. I did once attend a bourbon tasting, but that was really just a tasting...I could barely swallow it. I figured I needed to toughen up and get ready to really enjoy the right kind of whiskey. Luckily, my friend in Chicago knew of a place halfway between us that seemed the perfect place to learn about good whiskey, so we - two of my college roomies, two kiddos (including my videographer), and one awesome husband - met up at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks.

To begin, we ordered a flight...five quarter-ounce glasses of whiskey to sample what they offered. The first one was rough; the initial burn caught me off guard.

The second one sounded great - it had hints of fruit and berries - but it tasted the worst. My favorite had a hint of vanilla and felt smoother going down. I'll admit, I used to think people that talked about drinks as "smooth" were rather pretentious, but after drinking whiskey, that adjective makes sense!

I paired my whiskey with a nice grilled cheese to clean my palate between each sip. I think that's the best way to go!

15 done ... 37 to go...

What: #93 Attend Yoga at the Max

When: May 24th
Where: Detroit, MI
Why: For a few years, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has hosted yoga in its rehearsal space at the Max M. Fisher Music Center on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, combining two of my favorite ways to spend time in one of my favorite places to spend time. The Sunday morning that I attended, I was hurrying to the location and blew out my flip-flop, arriving with one barefoot, and in great need of relaxing and decompressing. Luckily, I was meeting my friend (who just happened to have a spare pair of shoes...thank you!!), and we settled into the space for the next hour of relaxation. The lighting set a very cool mood, and when the musicians entered the room - a string quartet - and began to play, I could not stop smiling with sheer joy at how it all made me feel. My mind was loving the music, my body was loving the yoga, and my soul was loving the presence of one of my dear friends. The yoga instructor was good, which really made the experience that much better. Despite some amazing places I've done yoga - like on a paddleboard in San Diego and in the mountains of Puerto Rico - this was one of my favorite experiences.

14 done ... 38 to go...

What: #53 Go Fowling

When: May 9th
Where: Hamtramck
Why: Late last December, as I was looking for new things to add to this year's list, a fortuitous article was published, catching the eye of a few of my friends that know I'm always on the lookout for local adventures. This adventure was dubbed "Fowling"...a combination of football and bowling, pronounced "foe-ling" and taking up residence in a warehouse in Hamtramck, a 15-minute drive from my place in Detroit. Honestly, I wasn't sure this was going to be my scene, but I was willing to give it a try; at most I'd be out $10 and a half-gallon of gas.

The open courts for $10 unlimited play!

Wow, I underestimated how contagiously fun this game can be!! At first, I think everyone entering the gates is a little apprehensive, but an hour or so passed and I was hooked. I was working up a sweat, aiming my heart out, perfecting my form, and even mentoring new players as they arrived on the scene. The games got so intense, I'm actually still a little sore!

The five of us rotated in and out of the game, getting challenged by onlookers, one of whom even got a BONK on his first ever throw. Trust me, that was a HUGE deal.

If you are out in the Detroit area at all this summer, you should check this place out. In fact, you might even make it into the documentary they are filming about it!