Documentary Review: National Parks Adventure

Documentary: National Parks Adventure

Watched On: 06/17/18

Duration: 42 Minutes

Narrated By: Robert Redford

My Rating 4/5 Stars 

This was my first documentary watched for my Day Zero Challenge. I decided that in order to get the most of out each documentary, that I would take notes and post about each one.  National parks Adventure was a fantastic first pick and I'm really glad I watched it. 

This documentary was less about what they were saying and more about what they were showing - the immense beauty that is the National Parks in the United States.  They started in Yellowstone which happens to sit on top of the worlds largest super volcano (which was the subject of a book I read a few months ago!), and is home to over half of the geysers on earth.  Next up was a short visit to the Grand Canyon whose exposed rock layers date back up to 1.7 billion years ago!  The next stop had me freaking out a bit - not because of the monument itself but because of the fuzzy friends who live there!  Devils Tower in Wyoming is  home to one of my favorite animals - Prairie Dogs!  Prairie dogs are super cute and happen to have a very sophisticated vocabulary.  They have different sounds to alert about different types of predators, and it's the females who do the alerting.

Native Americans believe that the ridges of Devils Tower are the claw marks from the great bear.  They are, in fact, massive crystals of rock which formed the heart of a volcano which has long since eroded away.   From there, the climbers take you to Redwoods National Forest.  The Redwood trees are in danger of disappearing which is really sad as some of these massive trees are over 2,000 years old!  95% of the Redwoods were spelt for lumber back in the early days of this country.  It is in Yosemite that you learn about the formation of the National Parks system, and the camping trip that started it all (for that information, you'll have to watch for yourself).

One of the most interesting facts I learned watching this documentary is that it was actually a woman's club that fought to save the Everglades back in the early 1900's after discovering that millions of birds were being killed by hunters every year.

I learned a lot of interesting facts about the National Parks while enjoying the beauty of these parks.  The amazing scenery is what really made this documentary great.  If you have any interest in our National Parks here in the US, I'd definitely recommend watching National Parks Adventure on Netflix.

101 in 1001: Fitness/Health

Last 101 post, I promise! I have some PCS goals, too but I don't feel like those need any elaboration, so this is it.  These are my health and fitness goals.  I've gotten really out of shape this winter and really want to change that.  I also miss hiking and really want to get back to it so hopefully these help.

Learn to hold a handstand
 I could do a handstand when I was younger and I actually had some success in 2016 at the beach, but in general it is a skill that I totally lost.  This one kind of ties in with some yoga goals, but I really want to be able to do a hand stand and hold it for at least 10 seconds.

Complete a Walk to Mordor challenge
 This is another goal that I found on the Day Zero website and I thought it looked fun.  The goal is to walk 1779 miles "from the Shire to Mordor" in your own neighborhood or parks etc.   They calculate that if you walk 3 miles every other day that it can be done in 20 weeks (4.5 months), but I think I'm going to challenge myself to complete it in half that time.

Hike in the Adirondacks
 If I calculated correctly, we can be in the Adirondacks in about 1.5 hours.   Now, the part I really want to go to is a little bit farther than that, but still a doable day trip, especially if we take the dogs like I want to.   I'd like to do more than one hike, but I'll take whatever I can get. 

Hike with the dogs once per week
This is, of course, a summer goal and also weather permitting.  The pups LOVE to go for walks and love going in the buh-bye car because that usually means that we are going somewhere fun.  I'd like to get out and find some new trails and go back to some old ones this summer. 

Get a massage
 It just needs to happen.

Complete a 30 day yoga challenge
 I love Yoga and I was doing it all the time when there was a night class at the gym.  But the instructor PCS'd and now there is only AM classes.  I really want to find an app that has a 30 day program and just do it at home on my own time. 


Use my fit-bit to track my activity for 3 months
I've actually already started this one!  I'm currently doing Isagenix (and I don't plan to stop!) and the Isa App connects with my fit-bit app to give me a more accurate idea of my calories in vs calories out.  I really want to continue to track my activity and really work on getting my steps above 10,000 at least 4 to 5 days per week. 

{Find a workout schedule that works for me, Keep that schedule for 6 months} 
 With my work schedule, finding the time to work out is a bit difficult.  I really want to write up two schedules for each day - one for if I do work on that day and one for if I don't.  That way I always know when to work out and what I'll be doing each day as soon as my work schedules are published.

101 in 1001: Blog/Writing

I'm trying really hard to be better about blogging, so I had to throw some blogging goals onto my 101 in 1001 list.   Last time I was a bit too ambitious, so this time around I made the goals a bit more realistic for me.

Blog twice per week for 1 year
 I really do enjoy blogging but with working two jobs most days, I just don't feel like blogging when I get home.  I want to put more effort into blogging on my days off.  If I can just complete one post on each day off, I'll meet this goal.

 Keep a journal for one year - write 2X per week
 I've always wanted to keep a journal so why not start now.  I've been thinking about starting this on my thirtieth birthday (next year!  Yikes!) and documenting the first year of my thirties.

Make a list of 100 things I've already done
 When I first started blogging, another blogger had posted her Reverse Bucket List - a list of awesome things she's already done in her life.  I thought that was a great idea and did one of my own.  It really reminded me how lucky I am and how much I have actually done in my life.  At that time, I wasn't feeling too great about my life so it was a good reminder to be grateful.   I plan to do this on a much larger scale with a list of 100 things I've done. 

Make a list of 100 things I want to do before I die
For my 101 in 1001 list, I needed to be realistic about what I could accomplish in the next 2.75 years.   With this list I get to be a bit more lofty with my goals and think a little farther into the future.  Though I do plan to be a bit realistic, I mean I know I'm never going to have my own huge library on my property, as much as I would LOVE that.


Document one week of my life in photographs
 I've noticed that I'm starting to take less pictures (other than pictures of my dogs) of daily life.  I used to take photos all the time even if it was something that seemed trivial.  I've always been pretty good at being able to take a photo but still actually enjoy whatever it is that I'm looking at.  However, lately I've just not been motivated to take pictures.   Hopefully this goal will help me get back into taking pictures of daily life.

Do at least 1 Vlog
I have never liked seeing myself on video so I know this will be a hard one for me and probably one that I'll put off for a while.  However, I do what to give it a try.  Some of my favorite bloggers do the occasional Vlog and I always enjoy them!

101 in 1001: Random/School

I had a few goals that didn't really fit into any of the other categories and became their own "random" category.  I also have a few goals for when I return to school.

Finish German Rosetta Stone
I've had this damn Rosetta Stone for years.  I was doing so well with it, but then the audio went out on my laptop.  I haven't had the chance to get it fixed, but I was told I'd probably need a new laptop which I can't afford.  I've installed it on Josh's laptop and hope to get started fairly soon.
 
Complete 7 goals in 1 week
 I saw this one on someone elses list and thought it sounded fun, so I added it to mine.  No other reason behind this one.

Go horseback riding
I LOVE horses!  I rode when I was younger and have been wanting to get back into it, but it is an expensive hobby!  I'm hoping that it's one I can get into again once we're closer to being debt free. Even if I can only go once per month, I'm cool with that. 

Get comic and giraffe photos framed
We have three prints that we've needed to get framed for like 2 years!  We want to hang the comic ones in the spare room and the giraffe one in our room.  We don't want expensive frames, we just need to get them measured because they're all weird sizes.  So basically it hasn't gotten done because I'm just lazy. 

Make Christmas cards
By this I mean cute little cards with photos of us and the pups.  I always do the generic ones you can get in a box from Walmart because they are cheaper.  We'll have more money either this Christmas or next so I'd like to finally do a cute personalized Christmas card. 

Put together a Will
We both need one and I don't have one.  Josh has one through the Army which is fine for as long as he's in, but I need to do one for myself.  I'm not too worried about this until we actually have more money saved than we do debt. 

Get the pups fully trained
Y'all these dogs drive me nuts!  Both of them are terrible on a leash.  I've taken Bolt to three different trainers and he just doesn't care.  Belle is just bad because I haven't taken the time to train her separately.  We are having issues with her going potty in the house.  Accidents are getting fewer and fewer but it's still annoying and we can't figure out why she does it.  We potty trained her by letting her out every 30 minutes when we first adopted her, and praised her every time she went outside.   She knows better.  We're going to see a trainer soon to see if there is something we're missing.


{Begin school, Maintain a 3.5 GPA (at least), Maintain a 4.0 GPA in all Paralegal classes}
I plan to start attending school when we move.  I wanted to get most of our debt cleared before starting because I wont be working as much once I start.  I would start next semester but I want to start and finish at the same school.  I plan to study to be a Paralegal and do so very well!

6 Month 50 States Update

At the beginning of the year I put up all of my choices for my 50 States Reading Challenge.  I'm not nearly as far as I'd like to be, but I'm still holding on to this goal!   These are the books I've read so far along with the ones I still need to read.

READ:

Arizona: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (04/17/18)

Iowa: Ashfall by Mike Mullin (04/11/18)

Michigan: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (04/23/18)

Montana: After the Rain byRenee Carlino (04/30/18)

Pennsylvania: Only Ever You by Rebecca Drake (02/23/18)
 South Carolina: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia (06/11/18)

Tennessee: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally (02/04/18)

Wisconsin: Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (04/23/18)

TO READ:

Alabama: The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Alaska: Upstream by Melissa Lion

Arkansas: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

California: Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway

One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

Colorado: The Shining by Stephen King

Connecticut: All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Delaware: Are You Scared Yet by Hunter Morgan

Florida: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Georgia: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Hawaii: Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Idaho: Idaho by Emily Ruskovich

Illinois: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Indiana: The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter

Kansas: The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

Kentucky: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Louisiana: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Maine: Picture This by Jacqueline Sheehan

Maryland: Divine Fall by Kathryn Knight

Massachusetts: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Minnesota: Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Mississippi: The Chamber by John Grisham

Missouri: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Nebraska: Tease by Amanda Maciel

Nevada: Void Moon by Michael Connelly

New Hampshire: Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

New Jersey: Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

New Mexico: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

New York: The Night Garden by Lisa Van Allen

North Carolina: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

North Dakota: A Country Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Ohio: Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise

Oklahoma: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DeCarlo

Oregon: The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Rhode Island: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

South Dakota: Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong

Texas: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Utah: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Vermont: All the Best People by Sonja Yoerg

Virginia: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Washington: I was Here by Gayle Forman

West Virginia: The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows

Wyoming: Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

101 in 1001: Watch

As much as I love books and reading, I also love movies and documentaries.  I set a few goals in order to branch out in what I watch and also to watch a few old favorites.

Watch 15 documentaries (0/15)
I love documentaries if they're good.  I want to try to find more good ones - especially about veganism and minimalism.  I've got a list of about 80 potentials saved from netflix, so this one shouldn't be too hard.  I'm also not opposed to re-watching a few favorites.

See a drive-in movie
There is a drive in theater not 5 minutes from our house in Black River and one in Alex Bay.  I've never been to a drive in movie and I would really like to go.   We plan to go this summer at some point.  I've heard that Alex Bay is better, but Black River is really close to our house, so that one will probably win. 

 Watch 50 of IMDB's top 250 movies (0/50)

 I have my list of 50 that I am interested in saved to a word document.  Some of them I've seen, but I'm OK with that - most of the ones I've seen I haven't watched in quite some time.

Have a Harry Potter movie marathon
Anyone who knows me knows that this isn't going to be a hard one to achieve.  I'd like to spend a rainy day watching all of them, but if I have to watch one or two on separate days, I'm OK with that.   I'm hoping to re-read all of the HP books this year and then do the movie marathon afterwards. 

Have a Disney movie marathon

I LOVE Disney movies and I don't watch them often enough.  I want to have a day of just watching all of my old favorites - Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, the Lion King.


Spend a rainy day watching movies in my PJ's
Watching movies is my favorite thing to do on rainy days, I want to devote an entire day to watching all of my favorites that aren't Disney or HP.  Blue Crush 2, Letters to Juliet, Eat Pray Love, Pretty Woman ... and the list goes on. 

Listen to 5 TED talks  (0/5)
I always see TED talks pop up in random places but I never watch them.  I've heard that they're great so I want to watch a few on subjects that interest me.  I haven't picked any yet, but I have a feeling that there will be plenty that interest me.

Book Reviews: May

This was a sucky month of reading for me.  I read a whopping ONE book :(  I tried but I really just couldn't get in to anything this month.  However, the book I did read was finished in two days. 

This book was super cute and enjoyable.  Ireland is one of the top places on my list of places I need to visit, so I loved reading about different towns and sights in Ireland.  I loved all of the characters in this story (which is rare for me), especially Rowan.   I think one of my favorite parts of this book was reading little snippets from the book Addie was reading, called "Ireland for the Heartbroken".  Each passage had a little bit of advice and some crazy things to do at each site they visited.   Very entertaining and cute read - if you liked Love and Gelato, you will probably enjoy Love and Luck.
4/5

Book Challenge By Erin 9.0

I am so excited that it is almost time for another Book Challenge by Erin!  I was able to finish my list for the first time during her last challenge and I am hoping to do so again this round.  Maybe for 10.0 I'll try to do half of the bonus round, but for now I'm good with just finishing.  Here are the categories as well as my choices for each.  For more detail on the categories, check out the public Facebook Group. 

• 5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages:
TBD

• 10 points: Read a book that starts with the letter “N”:  
The Night Garden by Lisa Van Allen

• 10 points: Read a book that has a (mostly) orange cover:  
 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

• 15 points: Read a book with an unlikeable character:   
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

• 20 points: Read a book from the list of 100 books that PBS calls “The Great American Read”:  
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

• 20 points: Read a book with something related to water in the title; i.e. ocean, sea, lake, river, waves, etc. :
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

• 25 points: Read a book you’ve owned the longest but haven’t read yet (or that has been on your goodreads “to read” list the longest, or has been sitting in your kindle the longest):  
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley  (GoodReads)

• 30 points: Read a book with an emotion word in the title; i.e. joy, sadness, grief, love, anger, etc. (submitted by Megan):  
Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

• 30 points: Read a book (must be at least 2 words in the title) where each word in the title of the book begins with the same letter (submitted by Vinay):  
Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

• 35 points: Read a book featuring a character who shares your profession or similar one – basically the idea is the character does the same kind of thing as you do day to day – stay at home parent or student counts as a profession:
TBD (If anyone knows of good books where a character is a waitress or works in a restaurant, I’m open to suggestions).