BOLD

Over the weekend, I did three things I've never done before. What an adventuresome weekend.

1. The Sisters Jones were staying at my house for Jennifer's bachelorette weekend. We laid out at the pool on Saturday afternoon, then had an uptown dinner at Cabana. After some confusion regarding underage policies at our bar of choice, we headed into Cadillac Ranch (by way of Wanna-B's) where we found a mechanical bull and one bored mechanical bull operator. Seeing a gaggle of skirt/dress-clad women eying his bull, he struck a deal with us: the bride could ride for free and the rest of us could go 2-for-1. I have never seen $20 come together so fast. Jennifer went first, and as she was nervous about riding a bull in her cute dress, the "bulltender" (what I named him) gave her a slow, 20-second ride until she delicately and gracefull slid off the back of the bull. Two more girls went before I shed my flip flops and approached the machine.

I didn't want to swing my leg over the beast, primarily because I am not a cowboy, and secondly because I was wearing a dress. Bulltender spied the opportunity to come over and assist me as well as blow his chance at a tip with an unwarranted slap of my ass on his way back to his station. I went around and around and around, until the bulltender made the bull spin with frenzy. I tried to hang on, but before I knew it, I was on my back. Good times.

The rest of the night was fun. All the girls rode the bull, a feat impressive by itself, and we all took turns completing the dares that were on "Girls Night Out" scratch off cards that one of the bridesmaids brought with her. Everyone dutifully completed her mission (some of us two or three missions) and it was a fun night.

2. The next day, Jen, Beth Ann and I waited in line at Pancake Pantry for a delicious breakfast, something else that was new for the weekend. I have only driven by the Pantry and seen the line; never have I waited in it. The coffee, pancakes and bacon were good; the service was not.

3. After they left my house, I engaged in my third and final new thing for the weekend: I went to see a movie alone. This was not the crisis situation people make it out to be. There is a new movie coming out every weekend in June and July that I want to see, so I knew if I didn't get started, I'd run out of time. And besides, it's not like there's a lot of socializing to be done during the movie anyway. I got to go see the film I wanted to see (Pirates 3) when I wanted to see it (matinee hours). It won't be the last time I do it (planning to go see something else this weekend).

Lastly, something else happened this weekend that is NOT new or fun or exciting. The "Check Engine" light came back on in my car again.