#30 Benches on Parade

I had this whole plan in my head to have an old fashioned road trip....people piled in the car, maps, snacks and a whole lot of fun searching for the benches on parade. http://benchesonparade.com/

But one by one my friends bailed on the day with the exception of my faithful "Living Life Abundantly" sidekick Maggie. We did have a few people who joined up with us for part of the experience, but she is the only one who has stuck out for the whole 117 benches! (which as of this posting has not yet been completed....but don't worry--we will!)

We set out on Saturday morning with the thought that we could see all of them in one day. I had spent nearly 3 days mapping out on a map, printing off directions, putting it into an excel sheet with the most efficient manner to get around the city to see them all....we were all set (HA!)

Major snafu #1....drove around MCH for a good 20 minutes or more looking for the bench....never found it that day. Apparently it is inside the hospital near the gift shop, tucked deep in a little nook...obscure?!. Then it started to drizzle, and the rain pretty much stayed with us no matter where we drove for the REST OF THE DAY! So much for a forecast of isolated and scattered showers...how about being socked in all day long.

Second large snafu was at RIT. There was a graduation going on and the bench was near that area so they had all the parking blocked off. We had to park WAY away from it and we started running because we were so behind already in the day.

The most frustrating thing about the experience was the amount of benches that were locked inside buildings. We wasted a lot of time looking for one at Hilton High School until I finally looked in a window and THERE IT WAS! From them on, we realized if we really could not find it....well it was inside. Some we could see through windows, but some we could not--which was super frustrating.

We went all around St. John Fisher College, but could not find the bench, it is probably tucked in some little courtyard....will just have to go back another day because after wasting a half hour, you just give up!

We especially appreciated when the bench matched the location. For example, the one at Golisano children's Hospital is decorated with their theme...or the one at RIT was decorated with RIT things (including their hockey team)--that one was Maggie's Favorite.

Maggie's friend Andy joined us for a few in the Pittsford area and then Jen joined us in the Victor area (which gave us a little more variety in the photo department)....you can only take so many photos of the same 2 people. Poor Maggie, I made her pose in a few of them doing funny things.

We discovered that there is NO way you can do them all in one day....well you could, but we were not going to. So after 62 benches and 165 miles and almost 10 hours we said goodnight to the benches for one day and picked it up the next day.

Sunday we started out to the city part of the bench tour (we had done all the burbs on Saturday). Again we found 4 that we believe are locked inside buildings and Frontier Field. HELLO??? It is very frustrating that they want you to see them all, but then they don't make them accessible.

We ended up stopping and not doing Canandaigua ones this weekend, as poor Maggie has a life outside "my list" and we will hopefully do them next weekend. Sunday we spent 4 hours, drove 20 miles, but walked 11,005 Steps (we did the ones in the city, so we walked most of it).

So we had 8 in Canandaigua left to see......6 in Rochester that are either locked up and I cant see, or that I cant find....hmmm, might be a weekday project!

The following weekend, I met up with Maggie and her parents to finish up the ones in Canandaigua. The ones in town were relatively easy to locate then we had to Journey out to Bristol Harbour for the final location! Once they were all found we celebrated with a glass of wine at the NYS Wine and Culinary Center. We sat out on the deck and relaxed looking out over the lake........ahhhhh. On our drive back, we found the one at St. John Fisher that we had difficulty locating the weekend before. Leaving us 5 that we have not seen!

Overall, I think the concept is a great one. We saw ALL different parts of Rochester (some that Im NOT so sure that you really want to be advertising for Rochester though as we drove from one to the other). There were some things I never saw before. Some cute little parts of the city, restaurants, shops, venues, beautiful buildings (who knew MCH was so beautiful!)... I just wish that the people who created the website for benches had done a better job putting up the addresses and locations, and THEN have difficulty finding thing. I also don't think that they should be locked inside buildings, so that people can enjoy them on weekends when families might actually get out and go searching for them. A person should not have to spend 3 days mapping things out, going 2 different places to find the names of benches/sponsors/addresses etc...and links to maps...they should all interface. Also some of the benches have been moved and they have not updated their website.

The benches are beautiful, we want people to go out and see them. It is sad that when Maggie and I asked people where the bench was we often got a blank stare. At one of the malls a person said, oh I know where it is, go out of the store and turn left.....she directed us to a REGULAR mall bench. COME ON PEOPLE! Do Rochesterians really not look outside when they walk down the street? Do they not pay attention to the art around them....we are so blessed in this city. It is rich in art! ENJOY!

Update as of 9/9/10....All the benches have been found and seen...including those that were locked up and indoors! The task might have taken 2 months and multiple days, but I was able to go and see all 117 benches!

#29 Orienteering

I wondered what Orienteering was all about so my friend Courtney and I ventured out to Mendon Ponds Park on Father's Day (Both our dad's were not in Rochester) to try it out with the Rochester Orienteering Club http://roc.us.orienteering.org.

What is orienteering? Well essentially you use a map and maybe a compass to locate a series of flags/locations where you punch your card to prove that you found the location. It is a race against the clock (and therefore against others)

We decided to do "White" since it was easy and was recommended for beginners. We set out and had a doozie of a time finding the first marker. We were in the right area but looked and looked and looked and could not find it. It was hidden back in the brush and courtney was just about to go into the brush to find it when a group of guys came up behind us and found it (thus leading us to find it). The next one was easier to find and since we were so close to the group of young men, we decided to hang out for a few minutes to let them get way ahead of us so that we did not feel like we were just following them from marker to marker.

From then on the markers were very easy to find as they were essentially along the sides of trails or paths. Again, a father and son came up behind us and we allowed them to pass us and we sat down and took a breather in the shade and ate a snack for a few minutes (TOTALLY Killing our time).

We stayed on the pathes to find the markers and never cut through the woods (although we suppose you could have if you really wanted to). We felt that it was a little too easy, but it was a good way to see what Orienteering was about --plus I dont really know how to use my compass very well and I have a feeling the next one up uses the compass a bit more.

It was a great way to take a hike with a purpose. We hiked for about an hour and never was bored because you are looking for something the whole time which is nice.

Our time was terrible, http://roc.us.orienteering.org/results/results2010_0620.shtml . It was because we waited to let the other teams pass us to make it "harder" on ourselves. Plus, it was not a race for us, it was a just a day of fun. I was really impressed with the organization of the club and how they had water and treats for the participants at the end of the course.

My friends and I will definately have to do it again, its a great way to get exercise, be outdoors and have fun!

#28 Raku Pottery

Maggie's Pottery Studio http://www.studiosalespottery.com/ was having a special event doing Raku Pottery. I have done lots of types of pottery before, but never Raku pottery.

Raku pottery is a firing process that uses both fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. With raku pottery, the piece is first bisque fired. Then, it is glazed and undergoes a raku firing process. The raku firing process requires a special raku kiln that is fueled by propane and reaches temperatures of about 1800°F (about 982°C)and the firing only takes about 30-40 minutes. While the raku pottery piece is still hot and glowing, it is placed inside a metal can full of combustible materials. The heat emitted from the raku pottery causes these materials to catch on fire. After the materials inside the metal can catch on fire, a lid is placed over the can and the raku pottery is sealed inside for about 15 minutes or so. It then is placed into water to cool and freeze the coloring process.

Raku patterns and colors are unpredictable, so you never know what you are going to get when it comes out.

Maggie was working the event, so Leslie and I went down to do Raku. It was a great deal. For $20 I was able to do a vase.

I was aiming for mostly green with a hit of red or orange....but strangely some silverish appearance prevailed, thus I only like one side of the vase. It is still pretty, but a little disappointing.

We are like the vase.....we can put (paint) on all the "Right" colors but depending upon the heat and the conditions and who we are hanging out with....different colors can prevail, and we can have different sides. How do we think God feels about that?..........

#27 Roller Derby

I never saw that movie about the Roller Derby, but I Stumbled upon the fact that Rochester has a Roller Derby League http://www.rocderby.com and decided that my friends and I should check it out as one of my 40 things.

Maggie, Courtney and her friend Courtney and I went to the "Wonder in Maliceland" match which was Home Team A--Rottenchesters vs Home Team B-5-H8-5 At the Genessee Valley Sports Arena. The bout was to benefit Children Awaiting Parents. I like the fact that every one of their bouts is to benefit a charity. That is VERY cool!

We decided against the "Suicide" seats.....they are called suicide seats, need I say more?!

It was PACKED.....and HOT. We tried to figure out the game and the rules. We kinda got a handle on it jammers....blockers. But it really did not grab our attention.

It was interesting and maybe if we had someone with us who knew the game and could get us engaged in it, or if we knew the players and maybe if it was not so hot we would have stayed (it was REALLY hot in there--the kinda hot that makes you nauseous)....but we decided at half time that we came, we experienced, we were done.

Maybe IT IS more exciting in the suicide seats?

#25 Camp Cory Peace Weekend & #26 Zip Line/High Ropes Course

3/1/10: Today I registered for Camp Cory Peace weekend http://www.rochesterymca.org/campcory/body-peace.aspx. Last year I talked my friends into going with me, but then I was too sick after my gallbladder surgery and I was unable to go.....SO that is why it appeared on the list as Tara and Maggie said it was definitely a MUST DO!

6/4/10: The weekend is finally here! Maggie and I took the day off from work and decided to go down early to hike the Keuka outlet trail. We then checked in for our weekend adventure of feeling like a "Kid at Camp" again! (only grown up style).

We had our own cabin and it was Maggie, Tara & myself plus Maggie's friend Emily and Nathalie a friend that Tara and Maggie had made at Camp last year. We each got the bottom bunk (so no climbing in the middle of the night) and there was a bathroom with a shower right in the cabin!!! Talk about luxury!!

Each woman was given a welcome gift of a latte mug for there was cappuccino available every morning........yes, ladies this is NOT your typical camp because here was my schedule (everyone's was slightly different as there were so many choices of things to do)

Friday:
--Hors d'oeudvres & welcome
--Dinner (and LET me tell you---This was NOT camp food, but gourmet food!!!!)
--Wine Tasting (and make your own wine charm so you dont lose your wine glass)& Dessert
--Campfire (but it started to rain....so I bailed)

Saturday:
--Sunrise yoga
--Breakfast--with everything and anything you could THINK about wanting to eat
--I went and did the Zipline. I was going to climb the rock wall up to the zipline, but I had mud on my shoes from the rain and I kept slipping so I ended up going to the top via the ladder. It was not scary at all....again you just take a leap in faith! I'm definately getting over my fear of heights. (Tara went with me and did Archery while I waited in line) and she photographed me. I think Maggie & Emily played tennis and Nathalie went to TaiChi or Pilates
--Emily and I did the Great Cory Challenge which was like the Amazing race. We had tasks that we had to do and we had to RUN all over camp to do them. We RAN like crazy and I don't know how, but a lot of teams beat us despite the fact that they were not running (we think they cheated)...the rest of the ladies went hiking during that time as they did the challenge last year
--Lunch
--I did a beading project making a sun catcher
--I did the Entire High Ropes Course. Tara did part of it with me (especially after the blind woman came and got in line). Hardly anyone else showed up to do the course so they let me do the entire thing. It was fun! Poor Maggie was nervous just watching me up there. I think the only time I got nervous was once when the wire got stuck and I could not move forward or backward and I was on a static wire and I was thinking---HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET ME DOWN if this thing does not move forward?? But it eventually moved.
--Tara, Maggie, Nathalie and I went Sailing
--Finally a little R&R......a glass of wine (which was contraband) and my book on the porch of our cabin before dinner........ahhhhhhh
--Dinner: which was not a buffet, but we had to preselect and the camp staff served us.....Mine was NY Strip topped with arugula and Asiago, finished with Shallot-Chive compound Butter served with Summer Squash and Garlic-chedder Smashed Potatoes.That was after Soup and Salad of course......This was NOT a weekend to go on a diet
--Live music & Ice cream

Sunday:
--Zumba
--Morning Devotion
--Brunch

Then the weather shifted and the rain started and the temperature dropped......so we decided to say our goodbyes to a wonderful weekend of fun, friendship and tons of recreation and head home. But we will be back next year!