#1 Bucket List Item: Learn to Play the Guitar - Part I

I have been wanting to play the guitar since I was in high school. My dad even gave me his old acoustic. My parents bought me a really nice guitar case for graduation. But there was one really big problem. I have tiny hands. So playing any chords on my dad's old acoustic was very difficult for me.

At the last SCBWI conference here in Austin I was talking to a local author who mentioned that she played the guitar. I said that I wanted to learn, but had small fingers. She suggested I look at Luna Guitars.

So I decided a couple of weeks ago to go to the local Guitar Center store and check out some Luna guitars. I went in there with the idea that I was going to check out some acoustic Luna Guitars. Turns out they had this gorgeous one that was on sale. And well, I enjoy a good impulse buy every now and then.

I wound up walking out of the store with a beautiful Luna Gypsy Spalt Grand Concert Acoustic Guitar. I love it! My daughter even went up into the attic to get my old guitar case down for me. Turns out, my new guitar is too big for the case. Looks like I'll be needing a new one.

Now that I have a guitar I can start working on learning it. So for the past two weeks I have been working on learning some chords My fingers hurt! Typing this is so painful at the moment, but I wouldn't change a thing. I'm getting there. Very slowly.

I still can't put a strikethrough on this item yet. I have only just begun this one. And it takes time to learn an instrument.

To date I can play several chords, A, E, D, C, G, A minor, & E minor. Mostly when I practice I've been working on switching between the chords. That's where I seem to have the most trouble. One more issue I seem to have: I need a new case. One that I can travel with. One that I can take on planes. But from what I hear they are a bit pricey. So here's to figuring that one out, and finding one that my guitar fits in.

I'll pop in every now and then and post updates as to my progress.

Krause Springs

So a couple of weeks ago my daughter and an old high school friend went to Krause Springs for the afternoon. We were slightly prepared, but also slightly unprepared. The place was packed since it was the 4th of July weekend. Everyone was there. And I mean everyone.

We did a little swimming and enjoyed the waterfalls. Getting to our spot was a little difficult since it's slow walking across a small concrete dam covered with slimy algae. I highly recommend bringing an ice chest that you can easily carry. We had one with a handle to carry over our shoulders.

There is an area to cliff jump. I declined that option as I've done that before and had no urge to do so again. I did think about jumping off the rope swing, but by the time we were done eating our lunches I was all dry and didn't feel like getting wet again just before we left. We did have fun and I will definitely go back.

Next time, however, I will be bringing some floats to relax on. Turns out it's very deep there and the best way to enjoy the water is to float on it if you are not jumping or swinging.

I will definitely be going back next year. I won't have time the rest of this summer.

Bucket List Item: Paddle Boarding

For the first item to cross off on my new bucket list I went paddle boarding with my daughter. I've been back in Austin for nearly three years now. Every time I cross the MoPac bridge over the river I see people out paddle boarding. I've been wanting to go since I first saw them. It's something that I've been wanting to do, but never gotten around to.

First off, I didn't think I had enough skill to stand up on the board and paddle at the same time. I also wasn't sure I would ever really do it. It's one of those things that looks fun, yet not necessarily something that falls into the realm of things I do.

I don't want to be that person. They say in the end you regret the things you don't do, more than the things you did. I don't want to get to the point where I find myself wishing I had done more, that I had the nerve to get on that board and paddle away.

The other weekend my daughter mentioned that she and her friends were going to go paddle boarding. I knew this was what I needed to get myself in gear and get on one of those boards. She went with her friends and then took me a couple days later when I had a day off.

I decided to leave my phone on shore, since I was worried about the balance issue. I was positive that I would drop my not-water-proof phone into the river or destroy it with water. So the pictures here are from my daughter, who actually has a water proof case on her phone and a lot less fear about dropping her phone into the water.

Turns out keeping my balance wasn't a much of a problem as I thought it was going to be. I even remembered how to paddle from canoeing as a little Girl Scout. Unfortunately there was a storm headed our way, so we didn't have as much time to be out on the water as we would have liked.

It was so peaceful out there. I could have stayed on that water for hours. I would have loved that. By the time we made it back to the dock and turned in our boards we had decided that we need to purchase our own boards in the future. This is definitely something we will do again.

If you're in the Austin area and are interested in paddle boarding we went to SUP ATX.

Welcome to the Adventure

Welcome to my new blog that has nothing to do with writing. This blog is devoted to my bucket list, more of a list of things I want to do/see, and my travels. I'm very lucky in that I get to travel for work.  As I travel and check items off my list, I'll post about them here. As I post I will add links to the locations for more information.

I probably should have started this blog a while ago. Like at the beginning of 2016 when I started traveling for work. Because seriously isn't seeing Haystack Rock from The Goonies on everyone's Bucket List?

For more adventures as they happen, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

So here is a recap of the list of places I have visited since January.

1. Portland, Oregon:
I was in Portland for work and found my new favorite place. This was the best work trip to date. Still early, though. I have three more for 2016. More are on the schedule for 2017 and 2018.

2. Haystack Rock:
Pictures do not do justice, by a long shot. So gorgeous!

3. Multnomah Falls:
Gorgeous waterfalls. I highly suggest the trails around the falls - the views!

4. Seattle, Washington:
I only had a short amount of time there visiting my uncle. But we made do. We went to Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and wandered around town. So much fun! I have to go back.

5. Spokane, Washington:
Another work trip that was interesting in that I didn't have the large group of coworkers with me this time. But still an interesting trip.

6. Leavenworth, Washington:
I took a short trip to Leavenworth, Washington and met up with my uncle while I was in Spokane. It was gorgeous. Definitely a place I would love to take my family in future.

7. Spokane Falls:
Another work trip that was interesting in that I didn't have the large group of coworkers with me this time. But still an interesting trip.

8. Coeur D'Alene, Idaho:
I took a couple days going through Coeur D'Alene and went over to the lake. Too bad it was winter and mostly rainy the whole time I was there, I would have loved to have taken time to get out on that lake.

9. Montana:
I took a fun drive one Saturday and found myself in Missoula, Montana. The views on the way were gorgeous. I understand why they say Montana is Big Sky Country.

10. Texas Stars Hockey Game:
I took the kids to see the local hockey team play their last home game of the regular season. Finally took my littlest to a hockey game. Now he wants to be a hockey player, just like his big sister did when she was a little younger than he is.

11.  Round Rock Express Game:
I took the kids to see the local baseball team play a game. The boys had so much fun. It was actually pretty fun, despite the heat.

12. Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum:
I've wanted to go to this museum since I was in college at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. It's rumored that there were tunnels beneath the city to the location. Pretty interesting that they still have yet to really figure out where the tunnels under San Angelo lead to and from.

13. Fort Concho Museum:
I've been to Fort Concho several times, but this was the first time I have gone along on one of their guided tours. So much fun interesting information.

It's been a busy year so far and it's not even July yet. There are still so many things to do and see this summer and on my three business trips to come yet in 2016.

Stay tuned for more adventures...