1st time fruit picking
I was really looking to the Ward Retreat this month because it was so fun last year (see "Weekend with the Ward in the Woods"). I was only able to go to half of it this year due to a huge homework load but it didn't disappoint! It's just such a great opportunity to leisurely get to know the people in my ward better - deepening current relationships and making new ones. Plus it's a nice literal retreat from the noise, dirtiness, profanity, and technological distractions of our city lives into the beautiful Maryland woods. For the afternoon activity, I chose to cross another item off my bucket list by going berry picking with a group. It was a fruitful trip ;)
1st circus show
I have missed a couple of opportunities to go the circus and Cirque de Soleil so when this concert opportunity came up, I grabbed my bestie (not literally) and went! We watched some jaw-dropping, fearless, unbelievably talented, world-class performers (aerial dancers, contortionists, jugglers, and more) show their craft to the expert tunes of the National Symphony Orchestra. I got all sorts of chills and clammy hands (I'm afraid of heights). I was blown away by what human bodies can do, and what some people are willing to do!
1st Youtube video
Remember my little drama on National Dance Day (see "A Dancer's Dilemma")? Every year the founders of the holiday put out a hip hop master class routine for people around the country to learn, record, and share with the world via Youtube. I was consumed with school and other dance adventures (see "My Journey to Wizard Girls Auditions" and "Broadway Jazz Dance Camp") this summer so I didn't get to learn the routine and record it by July 27. I'd practiced it probably over 150 times since mid-July before I finally recorded it on Sep 23 with Britt's patient assistance. It took 5 tries to get it right. I thought alot about where to record it - living room? local park? a metro stop? a national monument?! I chose the Lincoln Memorial - go big or go home!
This gave me a great idea for a dance project - stay tuned ;)
1st visit to the National Building Museum
September 30 was Museum Day, sponsored by the Smithsonian. I'm SO GLAD I got to go right before the national government shutdown happened 3 days later! They gave away free tickets to museums that normally charge admission, so I chose one I hadn't been to yet - the National Building Museum, since I've always been interested in architecture. The building itself was big and grand and...kind of ugly if you look closer at the paint colors. It's often used as a venue for balls and receptions. Most of the exhibits were for little kids but it was still fun and fascinating to learn about various building styles, lifestyles, and creative toys and useless gadgets in the gift shop :)
