Simply Reaching Out

This a blog about trying new things. Reaching beyond my comfort zone, exploring and making the most of life. My goal is to try 52 new things. One per week for a year. My husband has a couple of guns and occasionally, once or twice a year, he goes to the shooting range with some friends and 'pops some caps'. He has even taken our son Leo who is a natural marksman. It would not surprise me in the least if Leo grows up to be some kind of weapons specialist. I had put "shooting a gun" on my list of new things to try and was fairly excited about giving it a go. Joel picked the Manteca Sportsmens club and we decided to get some ammo at Bass Pro Shops on the way. The range itself was waaaayyy out in the country. I didn't realize how far south Airport Way went. Once we got there, I just followed Joel's lead. We went into a gray concrete-block building and went into what reminded my of a kind-of recreation room. A big table with chairs, tv, and a counter with a regis...

This a blog about trying new things. Reaching beyond my comfort zone, exploring and making the most of life. My goal is to try 52 new things. One per week for a year. If you have been reading my blog, you know that my husband and I recently visited Seattle, WA. We had a great time! When we had made the decision to go there for our anniversary, I knew that Seattle would be where I would try my first cup of coffee. Now, I know you are thinking, that sounds impossible.  How does one go 40 years in this coffee crazed world and not try it at least once? Simply, I never had the desire. I am an anomaly. I have tried coffee flavored ice cream and candy but, never drank a cup of coffee. When you think Seattle, you definitely think coffee. It's the home of Starbucks, for goodness sake! Upon doing a little bit of research, I found out that the very first Starbucks was still in business located at the Pike Place Market, established in 1971. So, while visiting the Market, we went to the orig...

This a blog about trying new things. Reaching beyond my comfort zone, exploring and making the most of life. My goal is to try 52 new things. One per week for a year. After our wonderful day at the market and the museum we went back to our hotel to rest. Our last night in Seattle we headed to a suburb called Northgate. Joel had made arrangements to give a seminar at MKG www. mkgseattle .com where Bahala Na Escrima has a growing and loyal following. So...for those of you who don't know yet, my husband Joel is also known as Master Joel Juanitas.  He is a Master in the Bahala Na Filipino Martial Arts Association www.bahalana.org that teaches Giron Escrima Arnis. Escrima is a Filipino weapon-based fighting system utilizing the stick, knife or improvised weapon. It is his passion and he trains students every week. He has been a practitioner since he was in high school. Only two blocks away from where Joel grew up lived an Escrima Grand Master, Leo Giron (our so...