#18

So maybe at the beginning of quarantine, Eric finally taught me how to play chess using the set we got from Andrew for our wedding. Afterwards, I downloaded a chess app and have been pretty diligent about doing their daily puzzle where you do a few moves to win. Only a couple of times did I get it right without hints, but the point is that I did learn how to play chess and not forget.

#22

So I got this yarn and knit book probably when I first started this blog. Maybe made this little thing around the same time, but then just...lost interest.  We have been decluttering the house lately, and well...it's time for this lost hobby to go. I think it's enough to post - maybe, maybe not.  Will see what the future holds when I'm old and the only hobby I'm able to do is knit.

#24 without the asterisk

I went to Aparna and Manas's wedding in San Jose, California.  During Sangeet, I got my first henna tattoo!

 Thank you Aparna!

Amazing and beautiful experience!

#4

My husband took me to Blackhawk Shooting Range so we could get our CHL/LTC!
We were the only noobs there.  I had never even held a gun before.
The written exam was a breeze, but I barely passed the shooting part.
I managed to keep up without totally embarrassing myself, so I call that a win.
Eric was a natural, and the guy was surprised he did so well.
I don't have any pictures because I didn't want to be weird.  I think I was waiting until we got our licenses in the mail to post this.  Unfortunately, we never submitted the paperwork to get them.  We are so lazy.

#31

For my birthday, my best friends took me on a horseback riding trail!  Had lots of fun pretending to be "Riders of the Riddermark" (I wore my LOTR shirt for the occasion).  Also, I think I galloped for a second.

Giddy-up!

We are ready to go! Photo courtesy of B.H.

Sniffing butts.  Photo courtesy of B.H.

#37

I went to my best friend's mom's funeral today.  She was also my middle school teacher and like a second mom to me.  It had been many years since I had come back to the church where I spent my youth.  I wish it had been under different circumstances, but she will always be in my heart.

A beautiful and wonderful woman. I miss her.

#48

Today, Eric and I went to Fredericksburg, TX for Oktoberfest!

The weather was perfect to meet up with our old friend Felix, and was able to meet his mom and new gf.  The food and beer were amazing (I opted for the Hefeweizens, of course).  I even tried the "Jr Striker" to see if I could hit the bell with the mallet, but only managed up to "big boy."  The next time I come, I'll have to wear some lederhosen and bring the rest of the family!

16 years and counting! 

The "German taco" = sausage and sauerkraut in a big bun = YUMMY

Eric showing off his agility

This turkey leg was AMAZING

PROST!

#13

I finished my last swimming lesson today.  8 total one-hour lessons in a swim class specifically for "Adults."  There were 3 of us in the class, and our teachers were a couple of awesome teenagers. I bought a pair of goggles, a swim cap, and a one-piece bathing suit, so I look like a pro already (Eric's dad has already made fun of me in my get-up, so I'll have to remember to take a selfie next time to post).  Definitely need a LOT more practice, but I learned the basics of freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke.  But most importantly, I am more comfortable in the water.  :)

#46

Last month, I had my hair professionally dyed with red highlights by the awesome Anna Gonzalez at Treusdell, holla!  

Hair never looks as good as the day you get it done

#28

I wore my rubber boots today! Thunderstorms have been rolling in and out, and I decided to do errands in the pouring rain - HEB, Walgreens, the post office.  It took me so long to wear them because they are too tight, so now I'm handing them down...but it's fun to take big steps into puddles.

Bruce doesn't like thunderstorms

One of the errands I did was another crazy thing that has taken forever for me to do...get film developed from pictures I took in 2002! - had no idea what pictures were on them, but they were pictures of my dad and grandpa before he passed away, my friends (the fab 5) from my first and only rave, and my dorm room complete with my Deftones and System of a Down posters.

 RAVE! Complete with "under 21" hand stamps

 Fab 5 circa 2002 BFF

#24*

As you can see, this post is marked with an * because I technically did not get a Henna tattoo.  Instead, I got a REAL tattoo!

A phoenix

There are multiple meanings.  I won't go into too much detail or mushy stuff, but it is mostly related to my fiancee, best friend, and love of my life, Eric. 

Other slightly less substantial reasons:
-Our high school mascot is the phoenix....ten year reunion anyone?
-Phoenix tears have healing powers, which somewhat relates to being a doctor
-Profound meaning of the cycle of death and rebirth from the ashes - the circle of life kind of thing is beautiful

Meanwhile, I will still try to get a Henna tattoo.   I have a few really good Indian friends who I am counting on to invite me to their wedding.  Maybe at that point, it will be appropriate to get a Henna tattoo.

#39

Well, I haven't posted anything since I started "doctoring." That just goes to show you how much time I've had....not much. Anyways, FINALLY, I can cross another item off my list!

Due to my upcoming nuptials and my loans in forbearance, I'm getting Invisalign!!! which also means I got all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed last Friday! I actually had a 5th gimp tooth that they took out. Despite all of the horror stories (thanks, friends), I had hardly any swelling, only took 3 vicodin, and had great support from Eric and my parents (they make the best mashed potatoes). But now I have to work 14 days straight to compensate for taking 2 days off in a row, so who knows when the next post will be..... :(

the gimpy one is cute

Outta time

Well, it's my second day as a doctor...I put on my long white coat...I called myself "Dr. Sharron"...I returned my pages...I wrote prescriptions....I am freaking dead tired.

As of now, I've done 29/51 of my list. To be honest, I'm pretty happy with over 50%. Although most of the time was spent dicking around, I like to think there was a solid effort towards accomplishing my goals. However, I wouldn't have been able to do hardly anything without the help of my friends, family, and especially Eric. A BIG shout out to them!

I plan to finish the list someday...although nothing is going to happen for a long time....a LONG time....WAHHHH

#8

Today, Eric and I had dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, a restaurant I've wanted to visit ever since I first heard years ago a radio commercial for that juicy, mouth-watering steak. Thanks Pam and Mark for the Benjamin gift card! ;) I am carnivore, hear me roar!

Calamari and fancy lemon

Best steak ever!! Rib-eye served on oven-hot plate with sizzling butter (look at those bubbles!)

Eric's New York strip

Mashed potatoes and broccoli

Barely had room for dessert - Warm Apple Crumb Tart

#34

So, my bellydancing classes consisted of a dvd. Pretty fun, a good workout for your legs, although the main thing I couldn't "master" was the body roll, which Eric described as a "turd coming out."

Snake arms

#20

Today, Eric and I took the kids to the zoo! Highlights include: Africa exhibit with the hippo, baby monkey, bald eagle, crocodiles, anteater, sloth, petting zoo, king cobra, actually pretty much anything in the reptile house.

Forced pose #1 on the komodo dragon

Venturing out into the sun for some grass

"How did he get down there?!"

Feeling patriotic

Brushing zoo

EATER OF ANTS

I've got my eye on you

Forced pose #2....Buy us stuff!

#26

Today was my last day of Tai Chi before starting work. My awesome teacher, Sifu Bridgette, taught me "Chen Zheng Lei's 18 Posture Form," as well as other stretches and techniques. Her last tip to me: RELAX!!! Chen Zheng Lei's 18 Posture Form (from Bridge's handout) 1. Opening 2. Buddha's Attendant Pounds Mortar 3. Lazily Tying Coat 4. Six Sealings Four Closings 5. Single Whip 6. White Crane Spreads Wings 7. Brush knee 8. Three Steps Forward 9. Hidden Hand Punch 10. High Pat on Horse 11. Kick With Left Heel 12. Jade Lady Works Shuttles 13. Cloud Hands 14. Turn to Face Opponents Cannons 15. Lotus Kick 16. Double Cannons 17. Buddha's Attendant Pounds Mortar 18. Closing (Return to Taiji) My attempts to look like Bridgette and this video are very amateurish in comparison, but although there are no belts in Tai Chi, Bridge informs that she would have granted me a yellow belt if there were.

#43

My short-term memory has successfully stored African, Middle-Eastern, and Eastern European geography....added bonus - South Asian geography. I probably need to brush up on Central and South American, but I figure that it's somewhere in my brain from Spanish 1.

Finally got to use my colored pencils

On a side note, I read up on some African political history. I'm talking out of my league here, but sifting through the hundreds of coup d'etats and oppressive dictators, I feel that Africa needs more women in power. Based on the assumption that they are most likely NOT to suppress freedoms, kill people, etc. Liberia is a relatively stable political country with a woman president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Rwanda's "success" story, which now has a majority of women serving their legislature.

Just saying...


EDIT: It's actually kind of awesome when reading or hearing about a country, and you actually freaking know where it is....especially with the world cup ;) .....nerd-alert!

#15

My "dent" in my reading list consists of 2 books: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

Both amazing. Hosseini gave incredible insight into the Afghan culture, especially its women, a topic that I was completely ignorant in (although slightly less so now). And I can't really put into words how I feel after reading Siddhartha, but the way that Hesse puts his version of "enlightenment" into words does create a feeling....a good feeling.

Sorry, but I am no book reviewer or writer. My last English class was 8 years ago, and since that time, my main reading fodder has been Harry Potter. So I have to say that this was a small accomplishment of a goal that hopefully will never end.

#1

I finished my college scrapbook today, which took a lot more time than I thought it would. My favorite pictures that I put inside are our awesome posed roomie pics. Here's to my wonderful college roomies!

Xmas 2004

Halloween 2005

Graduation 2006

Not the most creative cover, and I couldn't find the burnt orange scrapbooks either, but it's what's on the inside that counts, right?