#10: Self-Defense Classes -- Kick!

I've taken the first step to learning to kick ass, literally. Thank you Groupon for offering 5 Krav Maga classes for $39. I've signed up!

Maria Menounos did it, so that means I can do it, too right? I might wait a couple of weeks or so to take my first class because after taking a Pilates-fusion class today at NYSC, I got another reminder of just how out of shape I am. Seriously, why did no one snap me out of my injury-caused laziness and drag me to a gym sooner?

You Can Do It Put Your Back Into It

For anyone who's ever doubted their capabilities, The New York Times has a profile of 69-year-old Cha Sa-soon from Korea who just got her driver's license after 960 attempts. Congrats, lady! She grew up in poverty, entered formal schooling late and never finished because a little thing called life got in the way, but still studied at dawn and late at night to pass the exam. Proof that if you put your mind and effort to something, it's going to get done.

I thought about putting "Get my driver's license" on this list, but I got realistic. I have to put everything on my calendar -- from dinner with friends to renewing library books -- just so I'd actually have time to do them. This isn't going to happen in the next 3 months (crap!). Cha had more trouble passing the written exam because of her literacy level, but I passed that part with flying colors (I'm a nerd, what can I say). It's the not-hitting-anything-with-a-vehicle part that I have trouble with. But it's good to know that, like this other stubborn Asian lady, with enough practice and determination, I can do it.

Also, I really hope a non-shooting related post would get rid of those Google ads that make it seem like I'm an NRA  member.

#15: Shooting Range - DONE!

When I told people I wanted to go to a shooting range the responses were either along the lines of "Awesome!" or "Um, why?". I'm not a violent person (I swear), and I don't have any intention of becoming an NRA member, but I always wanted to shoot a gun and see how well I'd do. Those water shooting games just don't compare.

A couple of weeks ago I went with my friend Judy to Westside Pistol & Rifle Range in the Flatiron district. It's the only one in New York City and it's very easy to miss if you're not looking for it.

We went to the basement of a building where all the magic happens. First was an introductory class where a 60-something balding man covered in tattoos demonstrated what to do with a rifle (IE don't point it at someone, always have the safety on, etc). He also showed us how to put bullets in a magazine (I snickered in my head because this is such a completely different use of the term "magazine" from how I use it in my 9-5 day job).

Now, if you were to imagine a shooting range, you'd probably imagine the location dominated by men. The instructors and staff were mostly male, but the class we were in had 5 women and 2 men, boyfriends of 2 women in the class. Those two women made me look like a genius. Who wears heels to go to a shooting range? But any class where I'm not the most confused one is a great class by me.

It took some getting used to and my rifle-holding form was probably poor because holy crap those things are heavy, but it was FUN! I mean, how many opportunities do you have to fire a weapon without worrying about, you know, getting arrested for something?

Here's one of my targets:

Not bad for a beginner, eh?

After shooting a few rounds (I believe we got 50 bullets), we walked over to the Shake Shack for some burgers and milkshakes. If we had beer instead of milkshakes we might as well have grown testicles.

They gave us a card for 50% off our next visit, so who knows? Maybe I'll aim (ha! Sorry, it's been a while since I used a pun, right?) to get everything in the bulls eye next time. The expectations for this visit were really more like "Don't shoot yourself or someone accidentally." Mission accomplished!