I.e. it’s a habit; built into our weekly routine.

Every week we have a family meeting and decide on a family activity or outing. Many times this involves going someplace new. I keep a running list of ideas and each week we check the local events listing in our AAA magazine.

Last week we checked out a new swimming pool. This week we’re going to the zoo for a special after-hours “bat walk”. Next week: ??? 9 months ago

We went to the Fairy Tale Festival the weekend with my parents and the kids. We had a good time – even though it was HOT! I want to go back and tour the house. Edsel Ford was the son of Henry Ford of the Ford Motor Company and inventor of the assembly line. The house is on Lake Huron (one of the great lakes) in Grosse Pointe (next to Detroit). The festival had lots of hands-on-activities for the kids and filled the entire grounds (huge). Andrew loved the Big, Bad, Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. I liked the mermaid in the pool (she had the best job – in the water in the 90+ temps). 10 months ago

There are some old Native Amaician grounds close by
Some of which date back 1500 years or more.

My dh and I thought we would go check those out next week 11 months ago

We found some beautiful lake just on the other side of the river.
I think we must have hiked 3 miles before we decided to turn around and head back. I wish we had brought a lunch so we could have had a little pic nick. I know there were lacks out there but I never took the time before to explore that end of town. what a fun way to spend Father’s Day!

I took some beautiful pictures. I wish I could post them.
unfortunately, I dropped my phone in the parking lot as I was getting in the car. I’m 99% sure that’s were it fell out of my pocket.
so I have no phone now.. and no pictures :(~ 12 months ago

This probably the easiest to do of all my goals so I am going to make a date with my husband and together we will do this. How hard can it be? We know where everything is!!! 13 months ago

I had an observation essay in my writing class and took it as an opportunity to just be out for the day noticing everything that makes Portland Portland. I live in such a fantastic city. 16 months ago

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” 18 months ago

and could not have been more pleasantly surprised/thrilled to find it much, much more than a bunch of overpriced veggies. :D

And this really sweet guy gave me some free leeks and kale, in the most beatific manner imaginable. First time I’ve ever been rewarded for being late. ;D 21 months ago

Thus it will remain unofficially open, but the personal challenge aspect is complete! : )) 22 months ago

It was so romantic and silly. We practically expected to hear the theme from The Love Boat surging up the gangway. I managed not to trip or fall down in my long flowing dress and stupidly high heels though the obliging gentleman got knocked in the shin on his way up the stairs behind me (he was very polite about it). We happened to venture out on the windy deck just as the sound of Taps was floating from the parked aircraft carrier we were passing by, and a fellow cruiser claimed it’s the very same aircraft carrier that carried the Navy Seals who finally got their man. Really! Well now. And a harbor seal sat on a buoy observing the cruise boat as we drifted by.

Obliging gentleman also spent a good amount of the cruise explaining to me how we might all be a hologram. I objected that’s not possible because where would R2D2 be standing? In other words us as usual. But more touristy.

_{against my better judgement and the advice of the gentleman, I’ll briefly post a pic here…. ; )}22 months ago

as being simply not worth the trouble…but there are several more in the works :D they’re like dragon’s teeth, these tourist-in-my-own-town secret sub-goals are!! : )

A friend’s recent relocation gives us a couple of new adventure buddies : )) ...and serendipity handed us another opportunity for the near future, dependent on good weather – yay! 1 year ago

: )

A day remarkable mainly for its discussion of time travel, a discussion whose goofiness approached infinity in direct proportion to the rate at which we retreated from the speed of light (hey, the roads were all curvy and stuff). Sighted: either two deer or the same deer twice; a red-headed woodpecker; a blue damselfly; assorted squirrels; one male hummingbird; lots of large black beetles on the ground and clouds of midges in the air; lots of titmice chirping in the foliage; four horses with riders (none of them particularly pale and all looking far too cheerful and summery to be apocalyptic); one menacing-looking hiker carrying two extremely large sticks; and three monster trucks (not on the trail, fortunately). 2 years ago

i’ll consider this goal fulfilled when i discover at least five new and exciting places that i hadn’t previously known about. this includes: restaurants, shops, parks, swimming spots, hiking trails, places with a breathtaking view, etc. etc.

i already have a place in mind where i’m going to hunt for good eateries! 2 years ago

I love these trees : ))) 2 years ago

inspired by [in addition to the many others I’ve seen post the goal over the years] Joyjoei’s avowed likely inability to visit anywhere in the Americas anytime soon due to, well, the baht going so much farther in Asia combined with the devilishly long & expensive (as I well know) plane ride required to get here.

Also, Joyjoei just inspired me to take a few more photos of stuff I normally consider just ordinary stuff. If she or anyone else happens to enjoy the results, even better!

Also, it’s hard to get out of tourist mode, and this just seemed like a fun way to document while learning a few things (such as, what are those flame-flower trees called, anyway? I hope it’s “Flame Trees.” ;D

Hopefully I will continue with this goal, and find out. 2 years ago