Life List Item #116 Completed: Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument

I started guitar lessons last week. I've never touched a guitar in my life, nor can I read sheet music. Other than a brief fling on the bass drum in junior high, I have no musical experience other than a zest for accumulating mp3's.

I have an acoustic guitar that I play right-handed.

I like it. The guitar instructor is an affable, long-haired, rocker-type of dude who is my age. The class includes one bored-looking young teenage boy, and two other women close to my age. We (the girls) immediately bonded.

So far, we have learned how to read tab and chord charts. We can play the major chords and are learning chord shifts to the minor chords.

According to Rocker Dude music instructor, I'll be able to play some songs by the Beatles and Rolling Stones by Christmas. I'm looking forward to that.

Life List Item #118 Completed: Learn How to Fire a Gun

I enjoy learning the kind of stuff that spy's would need to know. I would say that scuba diving, card counting, and bar tending school all fall under the skill set that at least James Bond needs to have. However, firing a gun accurately is probably the most important skill for spy's both real and fake.

Being that it was my birthday this week, my husband knows that nothing delights his Leonine wife more than the slavish completion of any item written into a neatly organized list. So he signed me (never fired a weapon ever in my life) and himself (ex-military, intrepid deer hunter) up for gun and shooting lessons.

The lecture part of the class went over gun safety, handling, storage, and cleaning. Then came the practical part in the shooting range.

I don't know what it says about me, but I was a drop-dead natural markswoman. I'm talking bull's eyes every time at 15, 25, and 35 feet with a semi-automatic as well as single action and double action revolvers (all 22 caliber). My shooting was impressive enough that Rory and the instructor said I should really think about joining a shooting league. I definitely had fun; it would be something to consider if my fall school schedule allows me the time.

I think I was a good shot for these two reasons:

1. The instructor had just told us exactly what to do in the classroom portion, and the one thing I really excel at is being a professional student.
2. Not to knock the other women in the class, but they were all handling the guns like they were live rattlesnakes and flinching at every shot that went off. Now I'm not saying I'm some kind of tough-as-nails SOB, but the guns did not frighten me. At this point in my life, I've bungee jumped, walked away from a prestigious but soul-crushing career, and sold two houses at profit under horrible economic conditions. Many things in this life are more terrifying than the sound of a gunshot in the context of a gun range.

So who knows? Time permitting maybe I will work on becoming the next Annie Oakley.

For those in the Louisville metro area, I have to give props to Open Range gun range. The class we took was about 4 hours long, covered all things guns, and their facility was super clean, super modern, and super friendly (and they were NOT gun weirdos either). They also have a paintball arena. I highly recommend this range if you are just looking to do target shooting, and the class is terrific particularly for women or people looking for a refresher. You can visit their website here: http://www.openrangesports.com/

Life List Item #14 Completed: Visit San Francisco

San Francisco is now officially my favorite American city (and I've already been to the Big Apple, the Big Easy, the Windy City, the Motor City, and several others).

Here are some city highlights from our recent trip:

• Touring Alcatraz and it's surrounding gardens
• Strolling around Haight-Ashbury
• Getting a great work out just by walking up and down San Fran's monster hills
• Hanging out at Golden Gate Park
• Checking out the sea lions at Pier 39
• Eating fried shrimp at Fisherman's Wharf
• Window shopping around Union Square
• Navigating public transit
• Fantasizing about owning one of the cute and oh-so-San-Francisco homes (see bellow)

Life List Item #48 Completed: Eat at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California

Chez Panisse and it's co-founder, Alice Waters, are associated with the creation of California cuisine. This type of cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on presentation and the use of the freshest, organic, local food available. The restaurant is located in Berkeley, CA, which as a city has a reputation for liberalism and a sort of low-key hippie aesthetic.

I wouldn't recommend Chez Panisse for the service (and before you protest, I'm not saying the service is bad). It's just that the previously mentioned hippie aesthetic shines through at this restaurant. Although the restaurant is serving up a fine dining prix fixe menu, the casual attitude underlying the service was very obvious to me. Jackets are not required for men, and a few patrons were even wearing jeans. And I'm saying all this as a terrible food snob; if you choose to eat here, this little nuance will probably go totally unnoticed.

That all being said, the food itself was outstanding. The waitstaff was very knowledgeable about exactly when and where everything on the plate had come from. I can honestly say that I had the best tomatoes and the best duck breast I've ever eaten in my life here. For fine dining, the portions were generous, and the presentation immaculate. I also must mention that we probably had the best table in the house, which overlooks the main drag in Berkeley.

If you're looking for an even more casual (and cheaper) meal, Chez Panisse also features an upstairs cafe that just serves entrees.

One cute thing they do at the restaurant is to print up the days menu on nice paper, which you get to take as a souvenir when you leave. Here's mine:

Aperitif

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Heirloom tomato salad with sheep's milk ricotta and green olive toast

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Pan-seared sea scallops with corn and basil

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Spiced Sonoma Liberty duck breast with apricot chutney, haricot verts, and fresh flageolet beans

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Rose-scented meringue with raspberry ice cream and summer berries

Life List Item #49 Completed: Drink Wine in Napa

Napa Valley in California is widely considered one of the best wine producing regions in the United States. If you ever had Beringer or Robert Mondavi wine, then you were drinking Napa grapes.

Today more than 700 different wineries populate the valley, and many of them are open to the public for tours and tastings.

We spent the better part of the day at Domaine Carneros Tattinger, where they mainly produce sparkling wines and Pinot Noir. After a leisurely lunch of locally made cheese, pistachios, and fruit, we took the two hour tasting tour where you stroll around the grounds and facilities with a glass of Champagne in hand. The tour was interesting and fun, and the wine tastings were generous portions (we each got 2 full glass of champagne, along with tastings of 3 different red wines). We had an awesome tour guide, who clearly loved his job (I'd love a job where I got to drink and talk about wine all day).

Even if you're not a wine snob, I would recommend a visit to Napa Valley. What's more relaxing than sitting in the perfect California sunshine in front of a wine chateau?

And here's an interesting Wikipedia fun fact about Napa Valley: "Almost 4.7 million people visit Napa Valley each year, making it the second most popular tourist destination in California, second only to Disneyland." I'll take Napa over Disneyland any day; people in giant rat costumes creep me out.

Life List Item #15 Completed: Drive Down the Pacific Highway

Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Highway in California, is some of the most scenic driving one can do in the U.S. Switchback turns let you view the mighty Pacific Ocean on one side, and mountains and redwoods on the other.

In my experience, the natural beauty was awe-inspiring. We got on the highway at about 5:30 AM, which was just in time to watch the sun rising over the ocean. Deer were plentiful on the ocean side cliffs and mountains. Sea lions were basking on jutting rocks and beaches. We got on Highway 1 at Cambria and headed north towards Monterey. This was an enjoyable drive of several hours (although the highway is posted 55 mph throughout, many of the curves are 25 to 30 mph since they're so sharp).

If you decide to make this drive yourself, allow plenty of time and gas up before you get on the highway. Most of this section is through National Park areas. There are NO gas stations, rest areas, restaurants, or vending machines. It's just pure nature with a road running through it. I would recommend bringing a camera; there are plentiful "vista" turn-offs on the ocean side for gorgeous photo ops. Also bring your car charger and Ipod loaded up with great driving music; that's really all you need.

Life List Item #16 Completed: Surf in the Pacific Ocean

On our recent vacation to San Francisco, my husband and I went to surf school. Here's some thoughts:

Surfing looks a lot easier than it actually is. I would liken standing up on a surf board to the experience of learning to ride a bike. Most people fall off the board repeatedly for the first hour or so, but once you stand up and ride the first time it's a piece of cake.

Surfing is fantastic exercise. Paddling your board out against the tide to get into wave riding position will force you to work muscles you didn't know you had. The following morning my arm, shoulder, and upper back muscles were burning. I've always been more of a stairmaster/ treadmill workout kind of girl, so this was a pretty new feeling for me.

Surfing is highly addicting. While we were surfing, a curious sea lion swam over and poked it's head up to check on what we were doing. Groups of friends were surfing together; families were surfing together. One day at Linda Mar Beach and I'm hooked on the prospect of surfing in Hawaii and Australia.

Hang ten, dude!