#25: See all of the films that, since I was born, have won the Academy Award for Best Picture (Argo)

Out of all of the remaining items on my list, I have a feeling that #25 is one I am very unlikely to complete.  I have found that when I am faced with multiple options of things to do, watching a movie is rarely the choice I make!  That being said, when my mom texted me last weekend asking if I wanted to hit up our local independent movie theatre, Midtown Cinema, to see "Argo," I decided to accept the invitation.

I thought the movie was very well done.  As you could probably guess, I have not seen any of the other movies that were also in the running for the Best Picture title, so I don't have a point of comparison - but I can definitely see why this film won the big prize.  I'll also be completely honest that I did not know anything about the premise of the movie prior to seeing it.  Yes, I did know about the hostage crisis, but had never learned the true story of how we got the Americans out of Tehran.  I would definitely recommend seeing it - it had moments of tension, excitement, disbelief, and even humor.

#76: Build a gingerbread house

Through the years we all will be together

If the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now. 

#7: Visit a brewery (Troegs)

A few weekends ago, my parents, Tom, Shannon and I ventured out to Hershey, the new home of a local brewery, Troegs.  My family members and I had been to Troegs' previous location in Harrisburg, but this was our first time visiting the new place since it moved over a year ago.  Before even stepping foot into brewery, it was evident that Troegs' popularity is continuing to rise - as we had to sign up for the official tour two months in advance!

Here are my overall impressions:

• The tasting tour is $5 and includes a souvenir glass and probably two beers worth of samples - totally worth it in my mind.
• When we toured the old Harrisburg location back in spring 2009, we were educated by one of the Trogner brothers.  This is not the case anymore.  Although our tour guide was knowledgeable, it definitely felt a bit more scripted and corporate than it did 3+ years ago.  
• One of our samples on the tour was Nugget Nectar - straight from the barrel.  DELISH.

• After our tour, we went to the dining area and ordered an array of food from the snack bar.  We also got a sampler of beers to share.  Food-wise, we ordered:
• Oktoberfest giant pretzel with barley and sea salt - and a cheese sauce for dipping, which, honestly, it kind of reminded us with the cheese in Kraft macaroni & cheese.  Still DELICIOUS though!
• Crispy pork belly with brown sugar cider glaze - my favorite of the things I tasted
• Hand cut fries with hop oil and spicy ketchup - french fries are one of my most favorite foods and these did not disappoint!
• Tom ordered the ahi tuna tacos with kimchi and wasabi
• My dad ordered the spicy black bean tacos with pumpkin guacamole
• My mom ordered the bratwurst with red potato salad
• Shannon ordered the special - lamb kofka - it was just okay.  We both agreed it could have been a bit more flavorful. 
• I ordered the pork confit tacos with braised cabbage and apple butter - the tacos were pretty good, although I do think the pork itself could have been seasoned better - more salt for sure!

We had a really fun time at Troegs.  I think it'd be a great place to meet up with some friends to share some tasty craft beer and some yummy bar treats.  I'll definitely be back soon!

#39: Learn to tie a tie (Halloween 2012)

Well, I finally learned how to tie a tie!  Or, should I say, at least ONE way to tie a tie!  Specifically, using the aptly name tie-a-tie.net, I can confidently say that I have mastered the Four In Hand Knot, thanks to the magic of the following video:

As part of our Halloween costumes, both Shannon and I donned ties - so not only do I feel comfortable putting a tie on myself, but I also feel like I help her out with hers as well.  Woo hoo!

I don't know about you, but I feel like the ties really helped to make the outfit!  On a related note, Shannon and I both agree that this will be our Halloween costume for the foreseeable future based on 1) how long it took me to make and 2) the fact that we look seriously awesome.  

#37: Volunteer/participate in some form of community service 5 times (Wildwood Park Volunteer Day)

On a beautiful Saturday morning a few weeks ago, Shannon and I participated in Wildwood Lake's monthly Volunteer Day - something I have be meaning to assist with for YEARS!  For me, I tend to get the most out of volunteering when I am truly passionate about the task and/or when I can see a tangible outcome of my work.  Luckily, this opportunity hit on BOTH of these points!  

My family and I have been utilizing the beautiful Wildwood Lake for a LONG time.  I have enjoyed running the challenging 5K loop for over 10 years so it seemed only fitting that I would spend a day working to clean up a place that I love so much.  

Shannon and I were assigned to trim back the trees and plants along the Fox Run Trail.  We also took it upon ourselves to remove the weeds that were growing on the pieces of wood that made up the bog bridges that lined the beautiful trail.  We spent hours with our hedge trimmers, talking about anything and everything, and admiring the wonderful scenery.  In fact, had it not been for the Wildwood volunteer coordinator coming to pick us up in his golf cart to take us back to the nature center, we probably would have continued to walk, talk, and trim for even longer!

We had a great time and I expect to be back to assist with a Volunteer Day again in the future.  Next time, I'm bringing the rest of my family along!

#37: Volunteer/participate in some form of community service 5 times (United Way Day of Caring)

A few weeks ago I participated in the United Way's Day of Caring as part of their partnership with Dickinson College.  I'll be honest, I thought this day was the same event that I participated in last year, but I later found out that this event was not sponsored by Dickinson like it was in the past.

I must be honest that I did not get a whole lot out of this experience, mainly because the place I was assigned did not have enough work for all of us who were there to volunteer.  I spent a few hours dusting off picture frames and clearing off tables.

I may not have participated in this event had I known that it was sponsored by the United Way.  The United Way of Carlisle has continued to provide support to the Boy Scouts of America, even after the Boy Scouts reaffirmed their policy of excluding openly gay scouts and leaders from their organization.  Dickinson did issue a statement later that day in an effort to explain a bit more about the United Way/Boy Scouts situation.  Evidently the local United Way has not yet reviewed its position on funding for various organizations but will do so (in accordance with their nondiscrimination policy) at an upcoming meeting.  I'm hoping they make the right decision.

#28: Compete in the Warrior Dash or some other "mud" race (Run for Your Lives, 10/27/2012)

For those of you who may not already be aware, Halloween is my favorite holiday.  The combination of the fact that it happens in October, during the crisp, colorful fall season, with the spooky and fantasy-like atmosphere it creates fills me with excitement and anticipation.  Therefore, it should be no surprise that for the #28 item on my list, I chose to participate in a mud run that fit right in with this particular holiday:  Run For Your Lives.  This run is described as "the world's first interactive zombie-infested obstacle race experience."

Like many of the mud races that are out there, this race takes place in multiple locations across the country.  The run that we participated in was in Darlington, Maryland - which was about 1.5 hours from Harrisburg.  This past Saturday, the weekend before Halloween, Shannon, my dad, and I headed down to Maryland hoping to come back alive and in one piece!  

We were placed in the 11:30am wave and at the urging of the pre-race email we received, we left the Harrisburg area with enough time to arrive in Maryland 2 hours before our race.  Buses efficiently shuttled us from the parking lot to Camp Ramblewood, where the race was taking place.  Once we got to the camp, it didn't take us too long to go through the registration process and check our bags at gear check.  Although, in retrospect, the gear check system was slightly undesirable - especially when you consider that we had to write our own names/bib numbers on pieces of paper that we had to haphazardly affix to our bags.  

After checking our bags, we made our way over to the start.  It was already clear by this point that it didn't really matter what time our wave was - it wasn't written anywhere on our bib or anything - so even though it was around 11am, we decided to start the run!  The starting line began by funneling runners through one of three different options:  appetizer, entree, and dessert.  A fellow runner told us that you were supposed to go through the starting gate that matched with our projected running speed, with appetizer being the fastest.  Once again, there wasn't a whole of organization and it didn't appear that it really mattered all that much.  We ended up going through the "appetizer" line, since it was the shortest.  

this photo is not from our race, but it's basically what it looked like

Once we headed through the gates, we were immediately confronted by our first group of zombies!  In addition to running the 5K distance and overcoming obstacles along the way, we also had to be aware of zombies that were trying to steal flags from belt that was around our waists.  As I dodged the zombies, I was able to escaped unscathed.  Shannon didn't lose any flags, but a zombie did trip her, causing her slide across the mud only to then have a poor defenseless runner coming from behind her flip over top of her!  We very quickly realized that this DEFINITELY was not going to be a traditional 5K run in any sense of the word.  It basically turned into a walk/sprint past zombies/overcome obstacles.  The race was SO MUCH FUN.  I love tapping into my "indoor soccer fitness" to negotiate the zombies - although it made me realize how OUT OF SHAPE I really am!  I am proud to report that my dad and I both "survived" the race (meaning we finished with at least one flag).  Shannon was turned into a zombie (aka lost all of her flags), but she definitely helped my dad and I make it to the end alive!  At one point, she set a pick and was body checked by a zombie who was trying as hard as she could to steal a flag from my dad!

the final obstacle!

This is where things go seriously downhill.  After crossing the finish line, we went to claim our free beer.  Unfortunately we were told we couldn't have a beer without first getting our IDs checked.  Our IDs were, OF COURSE, in our gear bags!  We were a little bit confused about why the system was set up this way, especially since we had to show our IDs when we registered earlier in the day.  Not to be deterred so easily, we headed towards the bag check area so that we could secure our belongings and get our free beer!  This was definitely easier said than done - as we ended up staying in the line to pick up our bags for over ONE HOUR!  The only thing that saved me during the wait were the periods of sunlight that warmed me up and people watching.  One of the more interesting participants in the race was a person dressed in a full panda costume!  It was hilarious!

go, panda, go!

After waiting for so long in the logistical nightmare that was the bag pickup line, we weren't really in the mood for our free beer anymore.  Not only that, but it was also close to 2pm and my dad had a dinner obligation back in Harrisburg later that night.  We made our way to our car, changed out of our soaking wet clothes, and then proceeded to wait for an hour in the parking lot.  At one point, I hopped into the driver's seat (the car was off, mind you, since it was apparent we weren't going anywhere fast) so my dad could run up to the parking lot exit to inform the security guards that the parking lot was completely gridlocked.  It may not have been entirely my dad's doing, but shortly after he returned to the car, they began to redirect the lanes of traffic out the way we came in - which allowed us to FINALLY get out of the parking lot.

So, as a recap, here's my own personal scoreboard for the race:

• Registration:  3/5 - they should have the ID check at the same time as registration - or at least advertise better that you'll need a separate wristband in order to get alcohol
• Race Itself:  5/5 - I honestly thought it was SO FUN!  Loved it!  
• Bag Check:  0/5 - SOOOOOO disorganized and chaotic!  The event planner in me wanted to DIE!  They NEED to work on this for future!
• Parking:  1/5 - again, they REALLY need to figure out a better system!
• Shuttle:  5/5 - we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes for the bus - perhaps at the expense of having the wait at other places!

I have to say, because of the bag check and parking, I don't think I'll be signing up for this race again - unless they make some MAJOR changes.  It's unfortunate that the race itself was outshadowed by the logistical nightmare!  I want to also give a big shout out to my wonderful girl, Shannon, who successfully completed her FIRST EVER 5K!!!  I think I have her convinced that she's totally ready to try another one in the near future - maybe one without zombies, obstacles, and mud!  

I'll end this post with a video from "Run For Your Lives" Facebook page (click the link to get to the video).  We didn't actually see this group, but I sure wish we would have!

Monty Python does Run For Your Lives

#35: Visit 5 restaurants I've never been to in my hometown/surrounding area (MoMo's BBQ & Grill)

I am turning into such a terrible blogger!  Not that I was ever a "great blogger" at any point - but I have definitely been slacking recently on posts.  I ate at MoMo's BBQ & Grill sometime over the summer.  Honestly, for the life of me I could not tell you exactly when...but trust me...it happened.  

Shannon and I ordered "The Boss Hawg," which consists of ribs, pulled chicken, pulled pork, and brisket.  I know we ordered coleslaw as a side - only because it's in the ONE (blurry) photo I took of the meal - but evidently it came with another side as well.  And cornbread.  This is yet another reason why I need to blog immediately after I accomplish something on my list!!!

I will say this, the meal was just okay.  We found all the of the meats to be a little dry and lacking flavor.  I might not be so hard on the place considering that we're not exactly the BBQ capital of world, except that our trip to ShakeDown was so delicious!!!  MoMo's was a good effort, but it was just adequate and not particularly memorable.

One thing I WILL say about MoMo's is that it has a FANTASTIC beer selection.  It was definitely one of the best (if not the best) list of options I have seen in the area.  

#77: Run along Boathouse Row in Philadelphia

On the last weekend in September, Shannon and I found ourselves in Philadelphia, allowing us the opportunity to spend time with Brett and Jake.  And since we have been talking about it for-EV-er, Brett and I decided to venture out to the Schuylkill River and run along Boathouse Row.

We did not have the view so beautifully captured in the photo above, as we ran the path behind all of the boathouses, but it was lovely nonetheless.  As we ran our four miles, we chatted about everything from the friends we miss seeing (shout out to Jack Sawyer) to funerals.  The mileage we clocked was nothing compared to what Brett had to accomplish the next day, as he trains for his FIRST ever marathon in November!  Woo hoo!

#68: Have a legit picnic (complete with a basket)

I think I can officially say that I have been seriously neglecting my blog AND my list!  In looking at what seems like an insurmountable amount of items still left, I have promised myself that even if I end up going past 1001 days, I WILL finish NO MATTER WHAT.

With that, here is a long overdue post about the lovely picnic Shannon and I had back in June.  After receiving a beautiful picnic basket from my mom for Christmas, I knew it would be the perfect vehicle for a delicious spread of food for me and my lady!

Since Shannon is off in the summer, she worked her little butt off to create the food for our feast!  We had an awesome chicken salad with almond slivers and dried cranberries, cherries, sliced peppers and mushrooms, manchego cheese, olives, crackers, and sparkling water.  Immediately following the taking of the following photos, Shannon somehow managed to spill one of the cans of sparkling water all over the tablecloth... :)

Yum!

We enjoyed the picnic on a table overlooking the mighty Susquehanna River.  One woman even stopped and asked if we wanted our picture taken, although both of us had just finished working out and were sweaty and gross so we politely declined.  In retrospect, I'm kicking myself for not allowing her to capture such a fun and spontaneous evening.

I caught the Pride of the Susquehanna in the background!

I have a feeling this picnic basket is going to get a LOT of use in the future!  I can't wait!

#87: Become a member of WITF

I'm embarrassed to admit that it was not until today that I became a member of WITF, my local public broadcasting television and radio stations (89.5).  I say so mainly because I am not a Johnny-come-lately to the WITF scene.  In fact, a lot of childhood memory bank is filled with snippets and memories of television shows, the calming vocal delivery of prominent reporters, and catchy radio segments.

I ate my cereal with eyes glued to Sesame Street, sat in the audience of a live taping of "Whad'Ya Know?", fixated on the accents of Click and Clack on "Car Talk" during long drives to soccer tournaments, and was comforted by the familiarity of the voice of Robert Siegel discussing the day's headlines.

With a few exceptions, things haven't changed a whole lot.  Although Sesame Street is not a frequent recording in my TiVo queue, I still think it's one of the most quality shows for kids and I will relish the day I can introduce the characters I love so much to my children (in regulated increments, of course).  I haven't been to another live taping, but "Whad'ya Know?" still has me responding "Not much, you?" every single time!  "Car Talk" remains my favorite show and I listen to Robert Siegel and friends on the drive to and from work everyday!

Whatever your local public broadcast station is, I urge you to make a donation - no matter how small.  Whether by radio (via NPR) or television (via PBS), the programming, news, shows, and entertainment that is delivered is of the highest quality and standard.  Unfortunately neither one of these non-profits can exist without the generous support from listeners and viewers like you and I.  So, stop reading this blog and make a donation, friends!  Let's do our part to make sure NPR and PBS (and my local WITF) are around for years to come!

#30: Try 5 new foods (ackee)

A few weeks ago, Shannon and I ventured to one of our favorite weekend spots:  the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg.  We like to go and walk around the various vendors, usually only stopping to buy vegetables from the produce section.  Only this particular day, however, as we perused the Stone Market Building, we just couldn't resist the friendly man at the stand for Porter's House - a place that only recently opened, featuring authentic food from the Caribbean.  With a huge smile on his face, the man asked if we had any questions about the food.  Since we were given an inch, we decided to take a mile, asking him to tell us about basically everything that the stand had to offer.  Not only did it all sound delicious, after the man had been so warm and inviting, we figured there was no way we could resist at least trying something!

We ordered sweet plantains, dumplings, and the not-so-familiar ackee and saltfish.  Ackee and saltfish is a traditional Jamaican dish.  Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica and portions of it are actually toxic to humans.

I, once again, forgot to take any pictures of the food as I was eating but its appearance was reminiscent of scrambled eggs.  It actually tastes somewhat like scrambled eggs - but maybe my brain was just telling me that since the texture was so similar.  I think the flavor component that was most pronounced was actually from the saltfish and not from the ackee.

I will definitely be back to this stand in the market - they gained a fan through their kind-hearted nature and tasty food.  

#99: See the Philadelphia Union

When I received an email from Franklin & Marshall's alumni association about a tailgate at the Philly Union game, I KNEW I had to attend!  I immediately forwarded the email along to my parents asking "Who's in?????"  Not only was I going to have the opportunity to finally see the Union play on their home turf in Chester, PA, but I was also going to be supporting a really phenomenal organization  - the CTC 10 Foundation. 

  

 The CTC 10 Foundation was founded in 2007 in honor of Chris Campbell, a fellow F&M Diplomat, who passed away suddenly at the age of 21.  Chris was an avid soccer player who had a love for travel and for children.  As such, the CTC 10 Foundation has been a fitting tribute to Chris with the following goals in mind:

• Generate the necessary funds to continue the legacy of the Chris Campbell Memorial Field (in South Africa) through fundraisers, individual contributions and grants.
• Oversee the ongoing maintenance of the Chris Campbell Memorial Field and Clubhouse including turf, lighting, fencing, goal repairs and replacements
• Support the ongoing development of programs at the Chris Campbell Memorial Field through the CTC Ten Intern Program.

It was a wonderful event!  I had such a fun time tailgating with my parents, Brett, and other fellow alumni.

The game itself was also a great time - I loved cheering on the Union to a 1-0 victory!  It was awesome to see the stadium FILLED with excited and devoted fans.  As a lover of soccer in a country that prefers baseball or football, it makes me excited to see such an positive outpouring.

Also - shout out to whoever in the Sons of Ben section was rockin' the amazing rainbow flag!  It definitely did not go unnoticed! 

#70: Visit 5 museums (Wolf Sanctuary)

So, this may not be a museum in the technical sense, I felt like it was close enough that I should count it.  Shannon had the phenomenal idea to head out to the heart of PA Dutch Country to visit the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.  I had absolutely no idea what to expect as we had headed out on an unseasonably warm day back in March, but I knew we were in for something interesting once the tour began, as I noted our guide, armed with a bucket of frozen meat!

 

On the 22 acres of natural woodland live over forty wolves.  It was fascinating to hear stories about each of the wolves (all of them have names) and their own distinct personalities.  One thing I didn't realize about wolves is that, contrary to what is seen in pop culture depictions, they are actually quite afraid of humans.  The wolves were only steps away from us on the tour due only to the gate that was separating us from them.  If the gate hadn't been there, they would done everything in their power to avoid us completely. 

The Wolf Sanctuary of PA currently provides food, shelter, and veterinary care to the wolves without government or corporate assistance.  I would encourage anyone who is able to visit Lititz to visit the sanctuary.  For only $12/adult, you'll have a once-in-a-lifetime experience and support a very deserving institution. 

#3: Go to a state that I have never been to before (Kentucky)

Every year since my final year of graduate school at the University of Delaware, I have traveled to various cities across the country to attend the annual ACPA convention.  ACPA is the American College Personnel Association, which is one of the most prominent student affairs and higher education associations.  I was attending not only for my own professional development, but also because I was helping to organize a running/walking group meet up on Monday morning of the convention.   This year's convention was in Louisville, Kentucky - a state I have never been to before!  Woo hoo!  

I will admit that I was fairly engaged with aspects of the convention to really do justice to the state of Kentucky or the city of Louisville - so perhaps I'll be back again another day.  For now, I'll let these pictures tell the story. 

View of the Ohio River from Kentucky (that's Indiana on the other side)

The crew for Monday morning running and walking!

Me and my buddy, Donald - running!

ACPA Commission for Wellness Table at Showcase

Chatting about the Commission

Posing with the Troll outside of a restaurant

Me, Erica 2.0 and Peter at Caberet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pronunciation troubles?

#38: Prepare a four course meal for friends and/or family (Thanksgiving in March 2012)

I don't know about you, but nothing says "March" to me better than a good, old fashioned turkey dinner!  Am I right or am I right???  Okay, that may not be entirely accurate, but given the fact that Shannon and I had a turkey that had been sitting in my freezer since November, a Saturday in March seemed like just a time as any to make a delicious meal.  

We extended an invitation my mom, dad, brother, and sister-in-law to join us in our yummy feast.  We also invited Brett and Jake, but they were unfortunately unable to attend.  For our part, Shannon and I assembled the following delicious items:

• Turkey (We roasted it for approximately 5 hours in an electric roaster provided by my mom - seasoned salt, pepper, and butter inside and outside, and under the skin.  We also added thyme and rosemary to the mix.)
• Gravy (I used a basic gravy using the leftover juices/fat from the turkey, butter, and cornstarch.)
• Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing - Tyler Florence/Food Network
• Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberry - The Pioneer Woman
• Parmesan Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Alton Brown/Food Network
• Cranberry Sauce (We opened a can using a can opener and dumped it in a bowl.  Serious skills, I'm telling ya!)
• Caramel Apple Crumb Pie - Frieda Loves Bread

Tom and Kate and my parents provided the following additions:

• Edamame Salad
• Sweet Potatoes
• Broccoli Salad
• Key Lime Pie
• Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Oh, what a feast it was!  Honestly, everything was absolutely delicious.  My main concern was that the turkey was going to be either overcooked or undercooked - luckily it was just right!  I think cooking it in the roaster did not allow the skin to get extra crispy and brown, but otherwise, it tasted really yummy. 

YUM!

I definitely felt the pressure of trying to time everything out perfectly so that we could eat once everyone arrived.  I think I would have struggled a bit with this task if my mom hadn't allowed me to use the electric roaster.  With the exception of waiting a bit too long to mash the potatoes (we recruited my dad for that task), all of the components were timed really well.  I was quite proud of myself and Shannon!  :)

Some of everything - of course!

Now, even if you aren't the biggest dessert fan, I urge all of you to make the caramel apple crumb pie like we did.  This pie - was - to - DIE - for!!!!  Mmmmm....the combination of crumb topping and homemade caramel sauce was unbelievable.  As I type this, I am thinking about this pie and wishing I had a big slice in front of me!  Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed!  In the spirit of full disclosure, I did NOT make my own crust.  Shannon and I had planned to give it a go, but after looking at the recipe we ended up hopping in the car and making an extra trip to the grocery store for a premade crust.  More power to you if you decide to make your own!

Caramel Apple Crumb Pie

This meal was a great success - and it was wonderful to share it with my amazing family.  We ended our evening testing out our skills (or lack thereof) at Rockband on the Wii - talk about hilarious!  Now that I feel confident in doing so, I plan to prepare lots of meals like this in the future - as long as I have great people to share them with!

#98: Participate in a protest

On Tuesday, March 13 I made the decision to walk the couple of blocks from my apartment over to the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg to add another body to the room where the PA House Committee meeting was taking place.  The reason I chose to be there was because of a bill that was introduced by the Chairman of the PA House Committee, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.  House Bill 1434 would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman and outlaw any other legal union that is treated as a marriage or the substantial equivalent (i.e. civil unions and domestic partnerships).  

Just a few points to consider:

• HB 1434 would not create a single job
• It would cost taxpayers an estimated $600,000-$1,000,000 to advertise this amendment to voters should it pass the General Assembly
• Same sex marriage is already illegal in Pennsylvania:  a constitutional amendment does nothing more to that status and is unnecessary and mean-spirited.
• Passage of this legislation will forcefully terminate benefits currently provided to thousands of employees in municipalities or state owned schools or facilities that offer domestic partnership benefits
• Support for this type of hurtful legislation is waning nationwide and in Pennsylvania.  The last time a constitutional amendment was introduced in the House of the General Assembly in 2006, there were 87 co-sponsors.  HB 1434 was introduced with only 35 cosponsors.
• Pennsylvanians AREN’T calling for this amendment.  Not one legitimate poll exists showing Pennsylvanians in favor of this amendment.

Once I arrived at the Capitol Rotunda, we were addressed briefly by Ted Martin, Executive Director of Equality Pennsylvania and Andy Hoover, lobbyist for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.  They informed us that it was possible that HB 1434 might not come up for a vote at the meeting we were about to attend, but that it was still important that we all be there to silently show our disapproval of the bill. 

The meeting began at 9am.  What happened next is being messaged to many as a "victory" for marriage equality.  I would say that, yes, it was a "victory" in the sense that HB 1434 did not pass - but that's only because it wasn't brought to a vote.  Instead, after 20 minutes of discussion, Rep. Metcalfe deemed that there was not enough time to talk about HB 1434 and that it would be tabled until a later date.  I found this article by John L. Micek - I am going to post it here for all of you to read because I honestly could not have said it better myself:  

http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2012/03/things-government-does-house-committee-puts-off-gay-marriage-amendment-but-does-other-stuff-instead.html

#16: Ask five people for their favorite books and read each one (Brett)

I'll be honest, I'm sure that Brett would not necessarily categorize this as his favorite book, but I'm counting it since it did come HIGHLY recommended by him.  Plus he read it in warp speed - which is saying a lot for someone who is a self-admitted slower and intentional reader.  With my best's recommendation, I decided to figure out what the fuss was about with "The Hunger Games."  And, of course, as with any series - I couldn't stop after the first book and read all three. 

Since I don't want to spoil the books for anyone, I won't go into detail about the content.  I will say that the first book blew the other two out of the water in my opinion - which was frustrating, since I really wanted all of them to live up to the first one.  Also, generally speaking, the writing quality was not exactly stellar.  I suppose people might argue that it is a series written for young people, so I shouldn't be too critical.  But in my mind, that is exactly why I SHOULD be critical.  Argh.  I will give Suzanne Collins, the author, some credit though - since I read all three of the books in record speed, determined to find out the story of Katniss Everdeen and friends. 

Also, I can't lie about the fact that I will definitely be in line to see the movies when they come out as well! 

#19: Cook 5 new-to-me dinner recipes (recipe 5)

So, I am going to fully admit that I am cheating a bit with this recipe - but since it was new and absolutely delicious, I have rationalized it "counting."  This can't technically be considered a FULL "dinner recipe", but one of the components was new to me....so there! 

On Sunday night, Shannon and I decided to prepare one of our "go to" recipes - spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs and marinara sauce.  We like to cook up an entire squash and a bunch of meatballs, so that we are guaranteed dinner for both of us for at least two nights during the work week.  When we have done this before, we have paired the squash and meatballs with a jarred tomato sauce.  Prior to our grocery store trip this past weekend, however, we decided to tackle making our own basic marinara sauce. 

I found a recipe online and after realizing how easy it was going to be to prepare a homemade sauce, I knew we absolutely had to give it a try.  The recipe called for olive oil, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, sugar, salt and pepper!  Shannon and I improvised a bit and also sauteed a little chopped onion and mushrooms with the onion and garlic cloves.  The two items were a wonderful addition.  I think the recipe lends itself to addition of whatever you might be in the mood for - whether it be ground beef, zucchini, cheese, peppers, whatever! 

I ate my first serving of the homemade sauce with the spaghetti squash and the turkey meatballs and it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.  There is no doubt in my mind that I will make this sauce again and again due to its ease of preparation, the low cost of the ingredients, and the fact that it's free of artificial flavors and additives. 

DELISH!

#35: Visit 5 restaurants I've never been to in my hometown/surrounding area (breads 'n spreads)

Although I have been living in downtown Harrisburg since 2008, there are still a number of restaurants I have yet to visit - especially many of the ones that have been popping up in the midtown area.  This past Friday I had a meeting at the relatively new location of our local community college (HACC) with members of a campus activities consortium I am part of in the Central PA area.  We broke for lunch and headed over to a restaurant that I have been wanting to try for a while called breads 'n spreads. 

The woman who greeted our large party when we came in (I believe she is the owner) could not have been nicer!  She was ready and willing to answer any of our questions and was quick to run down the list of yummy sounding specials, including a Greek style tzatziki turkey wrap.  It sounded so tempting and I promptly ordered it for my lunch.    The sandwich did not disappoint and neither did the unexpected pasta salad that came on the side. 

After my positive experience on Friday, I took Shannon back on Sunday for brunch.  We both had egg sandwiches, which were quite tasty - although not overwhelmingly special.  They were served with roasted potatoes with feta cheese.  The potatoes were good, but a little oily for our taste - although, that didn't stop us both from finishing all of it! 

I'll definitely be back at breads 'n spreads - even if it's just for the nice walk from my apartment and a cup of coffee.