Tags
bo, helicopter, Japanese language, karate, Martial arts, Never have I ever, Okinawan Shuri-Ryu, Pigeon Forge, sting ray, Washington DC
Here is the remainder of the Never Have I Ever list I started yesterday.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – I haven’t been to Paris. Not sure if we’d go to the top of the Eiffel when we go, but it might be an idea.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – I’ve gone snorkeling, and I saw a sting ray when I did, which was a little intimidating because I remembered one killed Steve Irwin (the “Crocodile Hunter”)
Sting ray seen while snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain - I am sure I have.
53. Played in the mud - I used to as a kid. I vaguely remember filling a wheelbarrow with dirt and filling it with water to make mud.
Water+Dirt=Mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater – Yes. There is one called The Sundance Kid near where I used to live in Ohio. I went there several times.
55. Been in a movie – No, but I was in a short film for a literature class in college. Of the books we covered, somehow I ended up with all the parts that could have doubled as fetish roles with different story lines: geisha, French maid, and nurse.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China – No but I wouldn’t mind doing so.
57. Started a business – Nope.
58. Taken a martial arts class - I have a black belt in Okinawan Shuri-Ryu. I’m too lazy to track down, scan, and upload the picture of me with it because I got it about 14 years ago. Now that I think about it, the first Japanese words I learned were actually in those classes: sensei (teacher), dojo (a room or hall for practicing martial arts), kata (form), karateka (someone who practices karate) obi (belt), ashi o kaete/te o kaete (change legs/hands), and I learned to count to ten (ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, ku, ju). I’m sure I learned more words at the time, but I don’t remember them now. One last word for you though: karate literally means “empty hand” in Japanese. Despite that, I did learn to use some weapons including the nunchaku, escrima, and bo.
Despite its simplicity, or maybe because of it, my favorite was the bo. It’s interesting I found this picture because I used to practice with my bo barefoot in our front yard.
While looking for a picture to use, I came across the National Doju Kun (national dojo guidelines/rules) which I said back in those days more times than I can count:
NATIONAL DOJO KUN
I shall conduct myself in a manner which will reflect credit upon myself and society.
I shall be loyal to my school and to the art it teaches.
I shall be honest and exercise integrity with the purpose of developing cooperation and trust
with my fellow karateka and my teachers.
I shall exercise restraint in the use of my karate knowledge, employing it only in fair competition or in
defense of my life, my family, or my country.
-Grandmaster of Shuri Ryu Karate
Robert A. Trias
59. Visited Russia – Nope.
60. Served at a soup kitchen – I vaguely recall that I might have when I was in a service group in HS. But since I can’t be for sure I won’t cross it off.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- Yep for many years. My favorite are:
Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties)
62. Gone whale watching – Nope.
63. Got flowers for no reason – I don’t think so. I have gotten flowers when there wasn’t an occasion behind it, but things like “I love you,” “I thought you’d like these” etc are technically reasons.
The flowers my husband got me for Valentine’s day taken a couple weeks later.
Same flowers a few days ago with new blossoms. I think this is a record for me in keeping flowers alive.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - Nope. I used to not weigh enough. Then the year I finally would have weighed enough to, they told me I couldn’t donate because I’d had melanoma a few years prior. I think this year I could do so because enough time has passed, but I’ll have to ask if it comes up.
65. Gone sky diving -No but I’d consider it.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - I haven’t, but I may do so while we are here.
67. Bounced a check – Nope. I haven’t even written a check in years.
68. Flown in a helicopter – I vaguely remember going in one as a kid. I think it was one of those helicopter tours in Pigeon Forge TN. I don’t know if it was Scenic Helicopter Tours or not, but it looks really familiar. They have a video if you want to see some of the views.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Yep although I’m pretty sure they’re all at my parents’ house.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial- Yes I have.
Honest Abe at night at the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar – I haven’t, and I’m not really tempted to.
72. Pieced a quilt -Nope.
73. Stood in Times Square – I haven’t even been to NYC. Maybe some day.
74. Toured the Everglades – Kind of like Disneyworld, you’d think I would have gone in the three years I lived in FL, but no.
75. Been fired from a job – (Knock on wood) Nope.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London – I haven’t gotten to London yet.
77. Broken a bone – (Knock on wood again) No. Somehow I’ve managed to avoid that.
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - My dad had one for part of my childhood, but I feel like I would remember if he ever took me on it.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – No, but I wouldn’t mind doing so.
80. Published a book – No, but I have had work published in books (anthologies) and literary journals.
81. Visited the Vatican – Not yet, but we plan to while we’re over here.
82. Bought a brand new car – Yes, my Mazda 3
My Mazda 3 shining in the FL sun.
.83. Walked in Jerusalem – Not unless Jerusalem Township in Ohio counts.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper- I haven’t had my picture in the paper that I recall, but I did have a letter to the editor published.
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve – Nope.
86. Visited the White House – I think touring the White House was part of the trip I missed back in the day (see #16). I’ve stood outside it, if that counts. I have been to DC since, but if I had a picture of the White House it was on my camera that got dropped. Instead, here’s my favorite picture I’ve taken in DC:
The Jefferson Memorial across the Potomac.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Prepared an animal, yes. Killed one myself, no.
88. Had chickenpox- I never got it as a kid, and I never will as long as the vaccine I had works.
89. Saved someone’s life- Maybe indirectly in the way of having a positive impact that lead them in another direction, but never in the way my husband could say he has saved lives.
90. Sat on a jury – Nope. I have been called for jury duty before but never got as far as having to even talk to anyone before being dismissed.
91. Met someone famous - I’ve met people some might consider famous within certain circles (authors who are well known but not the “big names” everyone knows, people who have made headlines but aren’t always in them, etc.) but I don’t think I’ve met anyone widely recognized as “famous”. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter though. When my life is affected by people I’ve met, it is because of who they are as individuals, not who knows who they are.
92. Joined a book club - I haven’t, but I’ve thought about it. There’s a book discussion group on post, but so far I haven’t been interested in the books they’ve been reading enough to check it out. I never thought of doing one online or through blogging til I read Katrin’s answer on her list, but maybe I’ll look into that.
93. Got a tattoo – I have ideas for several of them, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get any of them. One I’m considering getting is Sally from the Nightmare before Christmas on my right calf because when I had the stitches there from melanoma they reminded me of her. If I got it, I would probably do it in May 2015 which would be the 10th anniversary of being clear of melanoma. I would also have to put her in some kind of scene as I don’t like the look of just the character alone as a tattoo. I won’t bore you with the reasons for the others, but some of the other ideas include cherry blossoms down my sides, the Pleides on my right foot, and a dragon and phoenix on my back.
I couldn’t find a picture of a Sally tattoo I could use, so here’s a picture of me dressed as Sally. This was Halloween at work when I worked in the hotel.
94. Had a baby – No and I never plan to.
95. Seen the Alamo in person – Nope, but maybe I will someday.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake – Never even been to Utah.
97. Been involved in a law suit - Nope.
98. Owned a cell phone - Silly question in this day and age. I’ve owned a few. I went from using a Droid X in the States to a crappy pre-paid Vodafone here. Quite the downgrade. The upside is that this one is *much* cheaper. I don’t think I’ve put more than 30 euro on it the whole time we’ve been here because I rarely need to use it. That’s probably why it took me until this morning to recall my number without having to look it up.
From Droid X to pre-paid Vodafone. Originally I was going to sell the Droid but decided to keep it because I can still use some of the apps and access the internet with Wi-Fi.
99. Been stung by a bee - Yes.I don’t think I’ve ever been stung by a live bee. But I have managed to step on bees a couple of times (usually by the pool) and gotten their stinger in my foot, which I think counts.
And there you have it. Of the 99 things, I’ve done 27. While there are a few like going to Paris, seeing the Sistine Chapel, seeing Niagara falls, riding on a gondola in Venice, and of course publishing a book that I would like to do and might update if I do, I wouldn’t use this as a “must complete” list. There are many things on it like breaking a bone, bouncing a check, and getting fired that I don’t think anyone should want and I hope to avoid. Then there are things like having a baby, running a marathon, and eating caviar that might be the height of some people’s experiences, but I don’t plan on achieving. Still it was interesting to go through and to share my answers with you. Hopefully it was as interesting to read. If you decide to answer the survey yourself, let me know so I can stop by and read yours.
So much fun to read your list! Thanks for doing it!
It is soooo cool that you have a black belt, I am so impressed!
Glad you enjoyed it. No problem. Thanks for posting it. It was fun to read yours and answer. Haha thanks. I got it when I was in Jr. High though. Plus, as a good friend once joked, “How much good is a black belt when most potential attackers could just pick you up and carry you away?” The few times I’ve had occasion to practice I do remember more than I generally give myself credit for, but I have forgotten much of what I knew back then. I’ve thought about getting back into martial arts, but in a different direction. I am really leaning toward Capoeira. This is a video from Capoeira Brazilian Pelourinho where I wanted to go when I lived in Orlando, but I ended up moving. http://youtu.be/NoLGsZHMPco I found out there are a couple groups around here, but neither have times that work with my schedule, so I’ll have to wait.
Capoira looks so cool! I would like to try that! I am sure I would like it. I did a little bit of Jiu Jitsu when I was a child but a black belt is really really impressive. I really like martial arts and I should give it another try someday!
It definitely does. It’s a martial art but also has aspects of dance and gymnastics (which I’ve always wanted to try and never did-of course it’s possible because of that I won’t be able to pull a lot of the moves off, but I can try). You should try it if you get a chance. If you do it before I do, let me know how you like it. That’s cool. I thought of doing Brazilian Jui Jitzu. It was while looking up to see what was in the area that I came across Capoeria and decided I have to do it some day. You definitely should get back into it if you want to. It’s good exercise, good to have some things you can use in your defense if necessary, and if you do decide to keep going to black belt it’s always cool to know it’s among your accomplishments. Whenever I get stuck playing that “Two truths and a lie” ice breaker game I throw it in there because no one expects it of me and assumes that must be the lie lol.
If you get into Capoeria, they have cords instead of belts and schools can differ as to how they rank them, although Capoeira Angola doesn’t use them within their system. This is supposed to be the most common progression: http://www.intermartialarts.com/grading/capoeira If you’re interested in learning more about Capoeira I recommend The Little Capoeira book by Nester Capoeira. He talks about the history, “the game”, the music, and learning Capoeira. I also like A Street Smart Song by the same author which focuses on the philosophical aspects of Capoeira. He also has one in betweeen those, Capoeira: Roots of the Dance-Fight-Game, but I have not read it yet.
Thank you for all the information, Amanda. That’s really helpful. I would really love to do it. I just think that I am completely out of shape at the moment and Capoira looks very exhausting.
So I am sure that my first lesson would be a little embarrassing. Maybe I should start to train. 
You’re welcome. Haha yeah I was the same way when I first considered it. That was part of why I started doing Insanity. Then I got married and moved. We knew within a month of me moving that we were going to Germany in a few months so I didn’t bother to get started.
I started with Yoga a while ago and really like it but I would really love to do something like Capoira or other martial arts.
I am not the “running” kind of person but I would like to do something for my fitness.
I like yoga occasionally, but it’s not my favorite thing in the world. I am not a running person either. I did Insanity and liked it. I have fought with myself to do P90X. I don’t know if I’ll finish it because I’m not enjoying it as much. I should probably find something around here that will get me out of the house more. I just need to be active somehow. I don’t feel as well when I get lazy.
yeah, I feel the same way!
Spooky Halloween Outfit!
I really enjoyed reading over your two lists. Number 50 is so so: Paris yes, Eiffel Tower not so sure. The waiting lines are pretty insane, you’ll see!
That is so cool that you did Japanese Martial Arts! Can you still do it?
Wow, that was one interesting list. If am not wrong you crossed off twenty six items from the list and to me that’s impressive. There are some pretty amazing ideas on the list and after reading I actually felt inspired to try a few of them. Really great stuff and thanks for doing this list.
Thanks. Yeah I think that’s about right. I hope you are successful and have fun with whichever ones you want to try. You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it