Week 3 - Last Week in Oct... Soooo Many Firsts

 The thing about trips to unexplored areas, is that they offer so many potential 'Firsts'.
From flying into a new airport and staying in a new hotel to exploring sites and meeting new people. So much to do, so little time!

We spent a good part of the morning at the Tar Pits in LA.  What an unusual natural phenomenon!  Literally tar puddles pop up in the grass throughout this area located directly next to the LA Museum of Art (affectionately known as LACMA... not a catchy name but a very cool place!)

The cone in the right photo placed next to a new tar pit forming.  Project 23 going on outside as you watch!  There are so many bones in these that it makes you wonder how all these creatures lived in the same location! I suppose it must have happened over the course of time... Sabertooth Tigers, wolves, lions, sloths etc

We competed with some school children for space, but given that its free and really interesting I am surprised it wasnt more crowded! We even had metered parking on the streets of LA!
All in all a fun morning! #pagemuseum #tarpits #LAX

Week 2 - Universal Soul Circus Another First

http://www.universoulcircus.com/

Well... Thanks to Groupon and my fabulous friends, I spent my birthday evening at the circus.
Notttt just any circus mind you... but the Soul Circus.  I was initially nervous at how we would be received being among the only white folks there but we had a blast!  The music was amazing, the acts similar to Cirque du Soleil and not too many politically incorrect animal tricks!  #circus #universoulcircus

Birthday Week - Its Official

Well its official... I am old!

Good week though.  Here is one of my "firsts"

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 21 I went to a lecture, "In the Arena: The Middle East in Flames," featuring  Dr. John Nagl and  renowned columnist/tv commentator  Al Hunt Jr.   It was a fascinating duo talking about the US involvement in Iraq, and Afghanistan as well as the changing face of how wars are fought today. It was presented in such an interesting way by people who covered and fought in these places.  I think the 2 things I found most disturbing were 1. The way we treated the Iraq people when we first went over. "Sweep and Dust" missions were carried out. There weren't any enemy uniforms and we couldn't tell insurgents from civilians, so we rounded up all men 15-50 yrs old and imprisoned them.  We went in with about 1/6 th of the soldiers we needed to keep ammo sites secure etc so we let insurgents have weapons as well. It took 4 years until we changed our war tactics (thanks in large part to General Davis Patraeus and John Nagl rewriting the military field manuals for this new style warfare) and 2. The number of Westerners with passports training with Isis now, numbers hundreds or thousands. That will definitely come back to bite us in the butt... now and years from now. Thanks to my friend Jenny for taking me along with her to the lecture.  #warinmiddleeast  #WesternerswithIsis 

Week 3 Firsts - Coffee, Beer and Sleepovers

Thursday I had coffee with a neighborhood friend.  While that doesn't sound so unusual, it was actually 2 firsts wrapped into one! 

New coffee house in my town called HubBub.  I had no idea it was such a big deal but its actually ranked in the 10 hottest coffee shops in Philly this year.  http://www.zagat.com/b/philadelphia/10-hottest-coffee-shops-in-philadelphia#5

If I am honest, I ordered a 1/2 caff and it wasn't great.   I will go back and give high test a try though because I liked the vibe of the place.  Ok, so I digressed... I met a woman I have casually known for years.  At a party recently, I mentioned having coffee sometime and she followed up.  We spent 2+ hours chatting. =]  Turns out we have a lot in common.  She is an author and blogger as well.  #hubbub #growingfriendships

Skip forward to Saturday Night (I now have that song S A T U R D A Y NIGHT by the Bay City Rollers in my head ugggg)  We were virgins joining the 5th Annual Nonantum Mills & Friends Main Street Bar Crawl.  Turns out it was Univ of Delaware's Homecoming as well!  I dont believe I have been back for a homecoming in over 20 yrs so even that counts as a first! =] Interesting how times have changed yet remained the same... 

Fanny packs are now called 'hip satchels' (and still not cool but cool-er), 'cheeky shorts or skimpy sundresses and boots the attire for girls and beanie hats on guys (which I must add was kinda hot!).  I got hit on by a very nice girl and lost my sunglasses. Eventful evening haha. We spent the night with some old college friends and had such fun recapping in the morning. I need to dry out now and get ready for, as my friend Dwayne calls it, my big 39th birthday Thurs!  #barcrawl 

Week 2 First: Mahjong and New Watering Holes

Ok so I have to update my side item list of Lessons Learned to include
"#shit happens"!  Class was supposed to begin this week but was postponed, so my planned 'first' for the week was kiboshed!   Good lesson though, I better have back up items for when this happens in the future!  

I came up with 2 new ideas today.  Both of which while came to me while I was playing Paddle Tennis.  lol  1. Learn a new skill and 2. Learn a new game.  To that avail I am going to learn Mahjong!  I have been talking to a friend about playing and well today I am making it happen! 

I ordered this game from Amazon (because I cant seem to find my mothers set from 900 years and 12+relocations ago). Thanks to Wiki and Online games I will soon know what building a wall, breaking a wall and melded plugs are all about! haha  Live game set up with my friend Stephanie and others for 10/28! 

I started with Pogo.com. I learned how to play bridge there a few years back.  They only had American fluffy versions of the Mahjong game though.( 'Garden Mahjong', 'Solitare Mahjong' etc).  Not what I was looking for, so I went onto Youtube to see what I could find.  I ended up at http://mahjongtime.com/  and I think I have the hang of it! I wouldnt say I conquered it but I won against the computers a couple of times so I am on my way! I will play more this weekend too! 

Another first happening Sat too but I was nervous about it being this far in the week without doing something! Post note: Saturday my wonderful friends and oldest son planned an evening out. Their sons were designated drivers so it was like we had limousines.  We went to a few charming old inns for drinks (http://www.dulingkurtz.com/  and http://www.shipinn.net/)then back to one of their homes for dinner and some beer pong (played with water, ping pong balls and solo cups)  and dancing. lol #learnMahjong #newplace

  

Week 2 and my First Snafu!

So tonights class (my first planned for this week) was postponed until next week! Eek... its Thurs and I have to figure out a first to fit in!

Think I Could Make This??

Well technically it would be a 'first'...

I am fixated on this shade.  Love love love it, but its (are you sitting...) $2400! Eek.  So I am wondering if there is a way to DYI this shade... Might put that on my list... I havent made a ceiling pendent before !  Any suggestions? #dyi #creative

Traditional Dining Room

Week 1/Day 2 Schuylkill Boardwalk Trail

The Schuylkill River Trail extension runs over the Schuylkill River between Locust and South streets and officially opens on Thursday, Oct. 2.   Someone posted a link about it on Facebook and my day is flexible so why not!

My first stop was to pick up my daughter at Drexel University. We lunch met my girlfriend and ate at one of Steven Starr's restaurants called "Dandelion". Fabulous and so charming! 

 Annie and I went to explore the new boardwalk (which is actually concrete). 

The entrance off Locust St is bordered by the river on one side and a community garden, dog park and train line on the other, its urban living at its best.  

I love that at some point the entire east coast will be connected by trails! There is something to put on a Bucket List!

2 Firsts in one day! 

I had thought my day would revolve around contractors schedules but instead I had an adventure!   #firstsinphilly

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/things_to_do/Schuylkill-Banks-Boardwalk-welcomes-community-for-opening-week.html

https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'01.0%22N+75%C2%B010'52.5%22W/@39.9502773,-75.18125,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Week 1/Day 1 Runescape Quest

Well I couldnt have the event open up without a first of some sort, so in between appointments, I did a new quest on Runescape called In the Light.  

It was frustrating and longer than it needed to be because I havent been playing much in the last year so I have forgotten where things are and items that are needed. 

 I just love games, online or in real life... I started playing Runescape a million years ago and though the appeal ebbs and flows, I always find myself going back to it.