Do 52 new things before the end of 2023

1# (October 2022) Went to new farm with corn mazes with a friend. Wasn't my first-time doing corn mazes. Spent a few hours there. Went on a few hayrides. Did good asking employee's questions at various times during the visit. Was exposed to some people around my age or younger, which tend to make me nervous, but I survived.

2# (November 2022) Went with the same friend for the first time to Olive Garden. Was a first for both of us. We went for all you can eat pasta. Since pasta fills you so fast it seemed kind of pointless. Wasn't impressed by the pasta but one of the soups was pretty good.

3# (November 2022) Walked a new area of nature trails with my dad. Were more people on the trails than I expected. The trails were well maintained, but it was kind of confusing because there were so many different trails regularly intersecting for such a small area.

Hoping to do more new things alone next year. Still causes me anxiety going in new situations with other people, but it reduces the difficulty some.

RSxo said:

Love this idea, I've been thinking of something like this. Excited to hear about all the new experiences you've have!

Click to expand...

Thanks! You should give it a try!

#4 (November 2022) Went to a convivence store I hadn't been to before with a friend. She wanted me to take her there to buy scratch off lottery tickets. There wasn't much to see. I bought some pumpkin seeds of a brand I don't often see, but that is about it.

#5 (December 2022) While walking at a mall I hadn't been to in for a while I noticed a new rock and crystal store. The place seemed kind of expensive, but they had a $5 bag you could fill with small stones, so I decided to get a bag. They weren't labeled. I asked a woman working there about the identities of some of the stones. I felt stupid that I asked her if the Amythest was fluorite. Fluorite can be purple, but I should've made the obvious guess of amethyst. Was able to fit a decent amount of tiger's eye, amethyst, sodalite, and desert rose in the bag. Could have got more variety but I wasn't sure I could identify the other stones and I didn't want to bother the woman a bunch over a $5 gem bag.

Before I left, I asked if they had any amber. Foolishly I failed to mention I meant amber that had insects inside. She let me see a piece with an insect, but I couldn't see the insect well. Was nice of her to let me look considering I told her I didn't have much money on me at the moment. Actually, had some more money but I can't afford to be spending all my money on minerals, etc.

While at the mall I saw they had an axe throwing place. Might go there for one of my new things if it is still in the mall next year. A lot of places go out of business there.

This was all in the touristy city of Frankenmuth. Has a lot of festivals, world's largest Christmas store, and a lot of buildings with Bavarian-style architecture. Was there with my dad to get some replacement Christmas bubble lights. Could've got online but he likes to go on car rides(to my advantage with these new things goals).

#6 (December 2022) Stopped to eat at a park I hadn't been to before. Was cold and snowy out so not many people. Went for a short walk over a small bridge and to the bigger river. This one hardly felt worth counting.

#7 (December 2022) After passing it for many years decided to go into a sausage shop. Was less touristy/fancy than most places in that area. There wasn't really anything unique that stood out to me, and the prices were slightly on the high side. Ended up getting a half a pound of salted smoked herring. Probably should've got half as much. While I like salty foods was a little much for me in those quantities.

cybernaut said:

Good luck. I'm sure this goal of pursuing new experiences will be worth it due to the 2+ years of limitations from the COVID pandemic as well. I hope to start going (traveling) to new places again in 2023. I haven't done so in nearly six years.

Click to expand...

Thanks, good luck with traveling this year

Mandarine123 said:

I checked on google Frankenmuth, thats so nice!! its a bit of Germany or East France. Looks like santa claus' village.

And for the too salty herrings, that's the taste of recovery 😆

Click to expand...

It's a bit touristy and overpriced, but an interesting place to visit

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#8 (January 2023) There is a breakfast buffet(at a Ponderosa) I've been wanting to try in another city. It was ok, but not really worth the drive.

#9 (January 2023) My birthday is this month. After the buffet I decided to stop at the city's casino for the first time. I'm not into gambling(also my first time gambling at a casino), but I found out they give you $10 of free play for your birth month. Turns out I got an additional $10 for my first time going there. I only used slot machines. I managed to win and leave with a total of $37.20 without spending any of my own money.

#10 (January 2023) For my birthday went out with my dad to a new restaurant(at least for me) that served all you can eat perch. Yellow perch is popular locally. When we got our fish I realized immediately they were actually serving zander, a much cheaper fish that restaurants often substitute for yellow perch hoping customers won't notice. It caused me a lot of anxiety, but I finally asked the waitress if the fish were zander. She claimed to not know and called over a manager or cook. When I asked him, he admitted they were zander but didn't apologize or offer any discount. My dad didn't want to cause more trouble, but I felt bad that I chose this restaurant and he paid for it. I'll be buying him a birthday dinner next month.

The all you can eat yellow perch may have been wishful thinking, but their regular perch dinner was the same price as other restaurants charge for genuine yellow perch. I ended up calling a health inspector the next day and he agreed restaurants aren't allowed to do this. He said they'd try to get them to change their labeling, but it was only a 1 point violation out of 100 on a health inspection. He also mentioned that this restaurant and others had been warned before. I don't plan to go back and am doubtful things will change.

#11 (January 2023) Went back to Frankenmuth. Stopped at another sausage store I hadn't been to before. Unlike #7, this place had a large selection and many of the prices seemed reasonable. Got a few small pieces of cheese and some sausage (Landjäger and a type of Ukranian sausage).

Wasn't going to mention the next two because they were brief, but I guess they count. Both were in Frankenmuth

#12 (January 2023) Went into a touristy bakery. They had a bunch of cookie cutters that you could buy of all sorts of shapes at a reasonable price. Strangely half or more of the bakery items seemed to be for dogs. At first it made me think I entered a dog bakery, but there seemed to be people food too. Their cupcakes were a little expensive for my tastes so I left.

#13 (January 2023) Checked out an ice cream shop next to the bakery. They also seemed to make fudge. Was only wanting ice cream if they had bubblegum flavor. They didn't have any so I left. Could've got another flavor, but am not big on ice cream, and since the prices weren't listed, I figured they were pricy like most places in Frankenmuth.

#14 (January 2023) Once again took my friend to convivence/liquor store I hadn't been to before to buy scratch off lottery tickets. I don't participate in the lottery, but while there I bought some 99 proof sample/airplane bottles of flavored liquor to try.

#15 (January 2023) Tonight tried a Japanese restaurant at the mall. Got Shrimp Tempura with noodles. Was ok, but the shrimp didn't match the picture and I suspect it could be the frozen tempura shrimp you can buy at places like Sam's Club or Costco. Next time I know to get something like the chicken fried rice that they were preparing on the griddle right in front of people. At least the prices weren't high. This was my first time eating food from a Japanese restaurant. Maybe I'll go to a better quality place later this year.

I'm already 23% done with this goal. If I finish with the 64 significantly early, I'll just keep going and see how close I can get to 100.

---------------------------------------------------------

Also today I went to a Dollar General I hadn't been to before. The building looked to be an old Family Video. I was going to count this, but feel counting going to different locations of big national chain stores would be too easy.

I've continued to do new things, despite being behind on updating. The descriptions will be brief because it has been awhile and I'm trying to get caught up. Most of February's happened during a visit to Detroit. I went with my dad.

#16 (February 2023) Walked the Detroit river walk. Was a nice walk. By where we started there was a carousel with things like catfish, walleye, and sturgeon instead of horses. Huge old river steamboat style boat(Detroit Princess) at the end of our walk.

#17 (February 2023) Went to two burger places my dad wanted to try for his birthday meal. First one was pretty good. Burgers really tasted smokey/grilled and had grilled onions. Ate at a park, but not counting that towards new since we didn't get out of the car.

#18 (February 2023) The second burger place wasn't as good. The patties were small like sliders but used regular sized buns. The chili also didn't taste very good. Also ate in a new park, but since we didn't do much there not going to count.

#19 (February 2023) Went to a nature center I haven't been to before on Belle Isle. Had a decent sized turtle pond inside. A lot of exhibits for a free place. Were some bee hives in the outdoor area.

#20 (February 2023)Went to a Trader Joe's for the first time. Was alright, bought a few things.

#21 (February 2023) Went to Bass Pro shops for the first time. Very similar to Cabela's. They even carried some Cabela's products, which I later found out is because they now are owned by the same company. There was a big aquarium and also an indoor trout river. Had an awkward time, because I was just checking the place out and an employee asked me if I needed any help. I mentioned a type of hook I was only a little interested in finding(mostly was just there to check out the place). Then spent a lot of time as he led me around trying to find it at various spot. Kept telling him it was ok, but he wouldn't give up. Never found it. To his credit he was just trying to be very helpful.

#22 (February 2023)Discovered Bass Pro Shops connected to The Great lakes crossing mall. A really huge mall. Maybe the largest mall I've been to aside from the Mall of America. We just walked around to get some more walking in.

#23 (February 2023) Walked around a huge arcade while in the mall. Largest arcade I've even seen. Didn't have time to play any games. Not sure if this should be counted, but I plan to go over my goal number of new things anyway

#24 (February 2023) Visited some apartment buildings with a friend while she was looking for a place. Were all bigger buildings I hadn't been to before, but don't feel like counting all three separate since they were so close together.

#25 (March 2023) The gym I'm a member of opened a new location in the city of Pinconning. Visited the new location with a friend. As I suspected they just moved all their old equipment to the new location instead of equipping it with new equipment. Explains where the equipment went when they bought new equipment for their main location. Location was smaller so seemed like it'd be better for socializing if it wasn't farther for me to drive. Didn't stay long because my friend wasn't doing well because it was too hot for her in there. I was sweating a lot quicker than usual too.

#26 (March 2023) While in Pinconning we checked out a cheese place we hadn't been to before. Pinconning is known for Pinconning cheese and I think they claim to be the cheese capital of Michigan. Got some smoked salmon and Leek and morel cheese. Didn't really like the cheese. Should've took the shopworker up on trying a piece first. Luckily didn't get much.

#27 (March 2023) Went to a 2nd cheese place we hadn't been to before. Bought a type of smoked herring I hadn't tried before from there. Can't remember what they were called.

#28 (March 2023) Went to a pharmacy I hadn't been to before with my friend. They ended up not having what she needed in stock.

#29 (April 2023) Went to Qdoba. Seemed very similar to Chipotle. Got a chicken burrito. Forgot I was eating inside and needed a soda. Asked the cashier to add one and she was nice and just let me have one for free.

#30 (April 2023) Fished a pier in Tawas Michigan I don't think I've fished before. Didn't get any bites. Can't recall much aside from I fished someplace else(not a new place) that day and caught two good sized white suckers(over 20 inches each). Reminds me one was over 21 inches and I think Michigan gives you an award for ones submitted of that size. That'd be new for me if remember to submit the photos before this year's deadline. Have caught other worthy fish in past but always forgot or didn't get good photos

#31 (April 2023) Saw some new feature in a local park. Decided to investigate. I think it was called a rock art garden. There were painted rocks with different words on them and you could arrange them to form phrases. Was low on time so didn't arrange any.

#32 (April 2023) Went to a festival. Decided to check out the pond they stock with trout for kids during the event. Checking out people fishing the stocked pond was the new part, not the festival. I understood it was supposed to be for kids only but there definitely seemed to be adults taking advantage. For example, there was a group of four adults with one kid and they seemed to be catching and keeping the trout too. Was disappointed I couldn't fish, despite some other adults seeming to have a loophole. Either way I made up for it the next month when I caught a bunch of trout in the wild. It was actually a new place I need to add for next month.

Wanted to try some new food stands while at the festival but they were all overpriced and nothing looked appealing for me. Was hoping for an elephant ear pastry, but saw no place selling them