#5 - Bike 300 Miles

Last year, I had a goal of biking 150 miles and hit that goal in early June. Since I hit it less than half way through the year and because I kept biking through November, I decided to double that for this year. 

Welp. I hit my goal of 300 miles on May 8 this year , a full month earlier than half that distance last year. The trick was that I didn't stop biking in the winter. Whenever I had 30 minutes or less to bike, the temperature was over 30 degrees, and there was no snow/ice/rain/storms, I biked. Over 42 rides, I did 303 miles (average of 7.21 miles per ride).

Now that the weather is nice, I'll bike up to 45 minutes without even considering another mode of transportation. Biking is such a pleasant way to commute/get around the city, especially because I live right by the Lake Shore path, meaning I can bike trails, not have to deal with traffic, and get a gorgeous view (e.g., the photo on this post). 

Because I hit this goal before summer starts and because my biking stamina and preference for getting around the city this way have increased, I think I'm going to double my goal to 600 miles next year!

1 - 1/3/23: 8.0 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park

2 - 1/4/23: 7.2 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (15.2 total)

The first day I had really gorgeous weather on my bike
commute this year (April).

3 - 1/9/23: 11.2 miles Uptown to/from Wicker Park (26.4 total)

4 - 1/10/23: 7.2 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (33.6 total)

5 - 1/11/23: 8.2 miles Uptown to Wrigleyville to Lincoln Park to Uptown (41.8 total)

6 - 1/16/23: 5.8 miles Uptown to/from North Center (47.6 total)

7 - 1/23/23: 5.8 miles Uptown to/from North Center (53.4 total)

8 - 1/24/23: 5.0 miles Uptown to/from Albany Park (58.4 total)

9 - 1/25/23: 7.2 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (65.6 total)

10 - 2/6/23: 5.8 miles Uptown to/from North Center (71.4 total)

11 - 2/8/23: 15.8 miles Uptown to Lincoln Park to Lincoln Square to North Center to Uptown (87.2 total)

12 - 2/13/23: 5.9 miles Uptown to Edgewater to Uptown to North Center to Uptown (93.1 total)

13 - 2/14/23: 7 miles Uptown to Lincoln Park to Uptown (100.1 total)

14 - 2/19/23: 2.2 miles Uptown to Lakeview (102.3 total)

15 - 2/20/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (107.5 total)

16 - 2/21/23: 9.5 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (117 total)

17 - 2/27/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (122.2 total)

18 - 2/28/23: 10.3 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (132.5 total)

19 - 3/6/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (137.7 total)

20 - 3/7/23: 9.5 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (147.2 total)

21 - 3/11/23: 2.2 miles Uptown to Lakeview (149.4 total)

22 - 3/13/23: 4.6 miles Uptown to/from Boystown (154.0 total)

23 - 3/13/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (159.2 total)

24 - 3/15/23: 5.5 miles Uptown to/from Roscoe Village (164.7 total)

25 - 3/20/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (169.9 total)

26 - 3/21/23: 5.0 miles Uptown to/from North Center (174.9 total)

27 - 3/22/23: 5.4 miles Uptown to/from North Center (180.3 total)

28 - 3/27/23: 6.4 miles Uptown to/from Lakeview (186.7 total)

29 - 3/28/23: 10.6 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (197.3 total) 

30 - 4/6/23: 9.3 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (206.6 total)

31 - 4/10/23: 5.8 miles Uptown to/from North Center (212.4 total)

32 - 4/11/23: 10.7 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (223.1 total)

33 - 4/12/23: 4.4 miles Uptown to/from Wrigleyville (227.5 total)

34 - 4/13/23: 12.2 miles Uptown to/from Logan Square (239.7 total)

35 - 4/17/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (244.9 total)

36 - 4/18/23: 10.7 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (252.6 total)

37 - 4/23/23: 5.0 miles Uptown to/from Wrigleyville (257.6 total)

38 - 4/24/23: 5.6 miles Uptown to/from North Center (263.2 total)

39 - 4/25/23: 10.3 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (273.5 total)

40 - 5/2/23: 12.7 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (286.2 total)

41 - 5/4/23: 11.6 miles Uptown to/from Lincoln Park (297.8 total)

42 - 5/8/23: 5.2 miles Uptown to/from North Center (303.0 total)

#41 - See Book of Mormon

Seeing Book of Mormon has been on my list of goals since 2012. I just couldn't ever manage to be in a city where it was playing when it was playing. I even considered heading to LA to see it (at K Rob's suggestion) when in San Diego but couldn't swing it at the time.

So with over 10 years of trying to make it happen, how it actually happened was that Steph texted me last week saying they'd bought $25 tickets for a matinee and asked if I wanted to join. Then, I forgot to buy my ticket, and the Universe was like, girl, you've been wanting to see this for over 10 years. It then had Danielle buy a ticket when she forgot she already had tickets for the next week, which meant I got her ticket and got to go!

Y'all.

It was so so so fun.

Like, wildly offensive in that South Park way, but even better than I expected. The story is funny. The songs are hilarious. The cast was great. 

It was just a super joyful afternoon with former coworkers, and I even got to see Danielle afterwards at happy hour. 

I highly recommend the show... unless you aren't into obscenities and cursing and general dark humor or sacrelige. Then... maybe pass on this one.

#28 - Do a Polar Plunge

I haven't really had a strong desire but always a curiosity about polar plunges. I definitely haven't ever sought one out--including this one. Instead, I was hanging with Dan Burns and friends after the Superbowl, was invited, and played tough like, sure, yeah, no big deal, obviously I'll do it.

Before

I got more nervous the closer the date got, but also, I became more committed as so many of my lovely friends donated to our team, or really, to the Chicago Special Olympics, an organization I've become more connected to now that I teach a course in adapted PE at DePaul.

We really lucked out on the weather. By that, I mean it was 41 degree and sunny. After months of Chicago winter, 40 feels almost like spring (not quite, but almost). I was amazed at the level of costuming and felt very under-festive. Our little team hung around and had some drinks for courage and then it was our turn to sprint into the water. 

We all agreed that we'd fully submerge, but then Danny told us that the submerging happens in like 1-2 feet of water, so you really have to flop down into it. I became less certain I'd do that.

During

After

But then we were in the water, cold and wet and looking for enough flopping room, and we all did a full submerge. I definitely wasn't glad I did that in the following 30 seconds, but once we got our towels and were walking back inside, everyone felt fine. 

I will totally do it again and fully will regret it because it'll likely be a much more miserable day in terms of weather. But we had fun, so maybe it would be fun again?

#7 - Read 35 Books

I didn't make it, but I read some great ones! * means I recommend them. ** means I HIGHLY recommend them.

1. Cable: Fanning the Flames (37)
2/9/22

**2. What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

2/X/22, audiobook

*3. Dune by Frank Herbert 
3/9/22

**4. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

3/18/22

5. Unfuck Your Brain by Faith G. Harper, PhD

3/X/22, audiobook

6. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

5/15/22, for Bingo Book Club

7. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

6/7/22, audiobook

**8. Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever

7/9/22, gifted to me by Kathleen Krone

9. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

7/10/22, Bingo Book Club selection

10. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

7/26/22, Bingo Book Club selection

11. A Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

8/22/22, recommended by Lexi Chaput

12. The Will to Change by bell hooks

8/30/22, recommended by Jessica Dickson

13. The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

8/22, Camp Michigania Book Club

14. Chicago: A Biography by Dominic A. Pacyga 

10/10/22

15. The Shining by Stephen King

10/31/22, for Bingo Book Club, chosen by Zack Sephon

**16. Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin

12/16/22, recommended by Jessica Dickson

**17. Woman, Girl, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

12/22/22

#50 - See a New Animal in the Wild

I kinda forgot that we're always going to see new animals in Costa Rica. Last year, we saw all these. Three years ago, we so more. On this trip, so far, I've seen these:

Coatimundis: Kind of like a Costa Rican raccoon. Except they also have raccoons.

Way back in there is a Central American gouti. It crossed our path too quickly to get a picture. We've since seen another one, but there was a baby howler monkey on her mama's back crossing a closeline, so... I didn't take a picture of the gouti, which is really just a big rodent.

Fisher spider: This thing is dope. It uses its web like a slingshot to catch prey.

Tiger spider. Very big. Very creepy. Very cool.

I couldn't quite snap a picture of the tarantula. I think she was a tiger rump, as she was black with reddish-orange markings. She was gorgeous and very not into our nonsense.

This toad that I saved from the pool. My Seek app says it's some kind of Beaked Toad, but it wouldn't narrow down the species.

It's also possible we saw a kinkajou and porcupine, as our guide says we did, but it was so dark that I don't feel like I can claim it.

#46 - Pay Something Off

I paid off my Care Credit card, which I'd been using for emergency pet costs. No more interest running on this one!

#32 - See One of My Favorite Bands Live

I cannot explain why, but I really love Panic! at the Disco. I know the band has gone through some controversial changes, but I still enjoy their music. <shrug>

I'm super thankful that Laura and Missy grabbed some last-minute, cheap tickets with me to see them at the United Center and put on some Halloween-ish outfits for the show. 

They played all the hits and only a few from their new album.

It was fun.