Time and reflection go hand in hand

Wow, i haven't posted in over 2 months.

I have been busy with school and work and planning a birthday/graduation party. I will be officially done with school in 14 days. I'm really excited to finally be done.

While I sit here in my bed, with my cats snuggling by my feet, I am so happy to be done with school. I started right after High School, 9 years ago. I thought I wanted to be an interior designer, so I went to school for graphic design thinking it was the same thing. Turns out it is not.
After wasting a whole year on a degree I wanted to do, I changed to Administrative Assistant A.A.S, with a diploma in Medical Office Assistant. I really wanted to do what my mom did.
In my second year of school, I thought that a boy was more important than school, and got on academic probabtion, then suspension for the Spring semester. Only being allowed to return in the fall at part-time, I realized that school was more important than anything and worked to finally get my degree, all while working a full-time job.
I finished my associates degree 3 years later, and decided to take a year off to work and see if I wanted to go and get my bachelors. I decided to go back and finish what I started. Now, after working really hard, taking MORE than the max credits per semester, working full-time and trying to have a semi social life, I am proud to say that I am so close to being done that I can taste it.

I have been able to do a lot of different things, and learn so many different things.
I have experienced heartbreak, loss of loved ones, gain of loved ones, my first ever move, and many other firsts that have shaped my life to what it is today. I am ready for more firsts and for someone to share my life with.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey, and put up with me, I wouldn't be here without you all. Especially my family, immediate and extended, who have supported me no matter what I wanted to do.

Here is to hoping the next couple of weeks go by quickly!! <3

-A

Sorry guys

So, I haven't been doing much lately since I've been sick and not able to breath well. Here's why:

There are a couple of people that live in my building that smoke right outside of the door, under the covered entrance into the building. Such as this:

I have started to take pictures of the people who have been doing it, and I haven't been sneaky about it in any way. However, they continue to smoke where their second-hand smoke comes right into our windows and patio door. The smoke has been irritating my lungs and is impeding my ability to breath!

While I appreciate that they abide to the no smoking law and not smoke in their apartments, smoking right outside of the building impacts the tenants that live right by the front door immediately.

I have contacted my management twice so far, indicating that it is disruptive and it causes my asthma symptoms to act up. They have pretty much done nothing in regards to this and have only offered to send out an email to remind people to try and move away from the building when they smoke. 

So, I haven't been running or doing any exercises recently because I haven't been able to breath well. I kind of like breathing. So, my next step is to see what kind of organizations are in Minnesota that can help me and see what other steps I can take.

I promise I will do better, guys.

To lighten the mood, here's a picture of me from the NKOTB concert last week!

-A

In need of some motivation

I'm in need of some motivation and company.

I need to get some items to help finish some of the items on my bucket list, and I'm hoping that some people will point me in the right direction to get these items.

I need help with finding:

• Someone with a tree house who would be willing to hang out with me.
• A good place to rent a canoe for a day and people to go with me.
• Someone who has a slackline or how to go about learning to do that.
• A good place to find butterflies.
• Someone who has cows and would be willing to teach me how to hand-milk one.
• Someone who is willing to go and hang out in a graveyard with me.
• Somewhere where I can rent gear AND learn to SCUBA. The places that I've seen online in the Twin Cities, you have to buy some of the gear.
• Someone who would be willing to teach me how to snorkel.
• Someone wish knowledge of when the next meteor shower is.
• A place that would be good to learn to shoot a gun.
• Figuring out what a box kite is!
• A local place that does bungee jumping.
• A place that is good for dance classes, like the Salsa and Tango, and to go with me.
• A good company that would do dog sledding.
• Someone to go with me to the MIA.
• A group of friends to go tailgating with (no need to actually go to the game)
• Someone with a motorcycle.
• A group of friends who want to go paint balling.
• Someone who has a boat and water skis, so I can learn how to water ski.

I hope that this helps be clear what I need assistance with. Just recommendations would be great, so I at least KNOW where to start.

THANKS!

-A

She keeps on running....

I ran my first 5k with my sister on this past Sunday at the Susan G. Komen's Race for The Cure. I finished with the time of 41 minutes and a couple seconds. My sister finished much sooner than me, but she's been running for longer.

A few minutes after finishing

That is really not that bad considering I had barely trained the last month. Also, I had set my bar very low with the goal to finish within an hour, and I did. So I'm going to call that a win. I will be trying to beat that time from now on.

Charlie being cute during the walk

Afterwards, my sister and I walked around the area that you can get free stuff, and got a bunch of free food, water and COFFEE. It was amazing. We didn't have much time to soak it all in, because we were also doing the 5k walk with our other sister and niece. It was so packed for the walk, that we weren't able to walk very fast, but it was nice to stretch out after the run.

The crowd behind up

The crowd in front of us

After we finished the walk, it was actually one of my other nieces' birthday and we were having a party later that day at my sister's place. It was fun. I took a small nap on the couch while everyone else was talking. The nap was glorious. The beer that I had with our dinner was even more glorious. My niece got her own "smash cupcake" to eat. She loved it.

Clara eating her cupcake!

We didn't stay too late, and I went to bed super early to go back to reality.

-A

P.S. I was SO sore on Monday.

Update

So, I have been a little busy with the end of the semester and all, but I have been working on some of the items on my list. Such as:

I have bought a sky-diving Groupon to go sky-diving with my cousin.
I have registered for my last class, which I will be completing this Summer and then I will be done with my bachelors. (super excited)
I have my first 5k tomorrow (May 10th), that I will be trying to run the whole thing.
I put 5 inspirational messages inside books at my local Barnes and Nobles, in hopes that people will buy the books, find the pieces of paper and feel good.

I'm still looking for people to help me with some of the things on my list, even if it's recommendations on where I should start looking or where I should go to do the activity.

I'm looking forward to having some more of this "free time" everyone keeps talking about, and exploring some new "hobbies" (whatever those are).

Now, I'm going to bed before a big day tomorrow!

-A

Book signing

On February 15th, there was a special screening of The Princess Bride movie and a book signing by Cary Elwes (aka Wesley). It was my FIRST book signing, which was on my list. I went with some of my friends and my sister.

The showing of the movie was scheduled to start at noon, and the passing out of the wristbands that allowed you into the theater started at 11am. We got to the Mall of America (where it was showing) around 9am, and there was already almost 200 people in line. We sat down and got as comfortable as possible on a hard, marble floor. My sister and I went to get coffee and some food, which took way longer than expected. When we got back, our other friend, who was supposed to meet us there, still hadn't shown up and it was after 10am.

The wristband!

By around 11, everyone started to stand up and get ready to start moving and our friend still hadn't shown up. When we were almost to the front of the line, our friend FINALLY showed up. We got our wristbands and made our way to the theater and got seats.

Crappy picture of all of us

We watched the movie with a whole theater full of Princess Bride fans. It was pretty awesome. We thought that the book signing was going to be at another location, so we started to leave, when they told us to go back and sit down. Cary Elwes was going to answer questions.

He gave pretty much everyone a hug that asked a question, and I have a video of him whispering "as you wish" into a woman's ear (that I can post if you would like me to). I really wanted to ask him a question, JUST to get a hug from him, but I didn't really have a question to ask him.

After the questions, they let people file out to get their books signed. They weren't allowing pictures when we were waiting in line, but my sister actually got a good picture just by holding up her phone by her pocket. She was in front of my and got her book signed first. Then it was me.

That's when I LOST MY SHIT.

I was freaking out when he started to sign my book, so much so that he said "calm down, it's okay" and GAVE ME A HUG! I almost couldn't believe it and I couldn't even believe that any of this was happening! Afterwards, my sister shared that she was trying to get a nice close-up picture of him and got the whole interaction ON CAMERA.

When we got down to the exit, I was still freaking out, and I was crying. No idea where that came from. I had basically just met the first real-life Prince Charming that I had ever seen in a movie, so no reason to freak out at all!

Needless to say, that was probably the best day that I have had in a very long time, and it was a really good start to my week. Thank you for all that came out that day with me, and thank you to my sister who took those pictures and then sent them to me. I'm hoping that this will be an indication of how this year will be!

-A

THE HUG!

Right afterwards

He finished signing my book

Me freaking out

This Weekend

I have this weekend off(gasp!), and I'd like to go and do something.

So, I've decided that I'm going to go to either Eden Prairie Center or the Mall of America on 1 of the days and spend some time trying to get some of the items on my list done.

The biggest ones I would like to do are:
- High-five 5 complete strangers
- Leave 5 inspirational messages anonymously in public places (I mostly want to try and put them inside of some books)
- Get a book signed by the author
- Stalk a stranger
- Write a letter to myself and open it up in 5-10 years

If anyone would like to join me, or help me with any of these, please let me know and contact me to meet up. It would be so much more fun if I wasn't alone, wandering through a mall.

-A

Anyone?

Hey there, readers.

I'm looking for some help with some of the items on my bucket list. Mostly, for the bigger items. If you are able to assist in ANY way (money, services, time), please let me know.

Such as:

• If you know someone who owns cows that I can learn to milk a cow
• If you have an "in" on a skydiving instructor
• If you know someplace nearby to do bungee jumping
• If you know someplace that does trapeze
• If you want to donate money, or buy an event (such as skydiving, bungee jumping, dance lessons, dog sledding) for me to do, or that we could do it together.

I would be very grateful for any type of help. Even for people to send me Groupons or Living Social deals for items that are on my list. I need as much help as I can to be able to finish more items on here!!!

-A

Things I Want To Do In 2015 (The Official List)

Here is the OFFICIAL list* of the things I want to do in 2015:
(in no particular order,
in memory of Erin)

1. Celebrate Chinese New Year [1] [2] [3]
2. Try to trapeze
3. Kayak in the sea/large river
4. Ride a Catamaran 
5. Hang out in a tree house
6. Skinny dip (in the sea or lake)
7. Kiss upside-down like Spider-man
8. Make my own paper [1]
9. Canoe a river
10. Try to slackline [1]
11. Hike in a cloud
12. Catch a butterfly (then let it go)
13. Whiten my teeth
14. Yawn bomb [1]
15. Stalk a stranger
16. Send a message in a bottle
17. Hand milk a cow 
18. Hang out in a graveyard
19. Learn to scuba dive
20. Learn to snorkel
21. Dance naked in the rain
22. Try a paleo diet for a week [1]
23. Watch a meteor shower
24. Learn to shoot a gun
25. Fly a box kite
26. Camp on Lake Superior
27. Write a "Letter to the editor"
28. Make a secret hideaway book [1]
29. Bungee jump
30. Learn to dance the Tango
31. Learn to dance the Salsa
32. Send a package to a stranger
33. Go dog sledding
34. Vow a day of silence
35. Roll naked in the snow 
36. Get fortune told (Completed April)
37. Learn to yodel
38. Run a 5K (completed May 10)
39. Try actual sushi (or more fish)
40. Learn to golf
41. Spend a day at the MIA [1]
42. Watch Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
43. Watch Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
44. Watch Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
45. Watch LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
46. Watch LOTR: The Two Towers
47. Watch LOTR: The Return of The King
48. Go rock climbing
49. High-five 5 complete strangers
50. Go tailgating 
51. Learn to juggle
52. Ride on a hot air balloon
53. See the Northern Lights
54. Swim with Dolphins
55. Do a color run
56. Go skydiving
57. Spend 1 day at a spa
58. Ride a motorcycle
59. Get an adjustment from a chiropractor
60. Leave 5 inspirational messages anonymously in public spaces (completed April)
61. Take a kickboxing class
62. Send a postcard into Post Secret [1]
63. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage
64. Go paint balling
65. Watch all of Pierce Brosnan's "James Bond" movies
66. Get a cream pie thrown in my face
67. Throw a cream pie in someone's face
68. Donate blood
69. Take a self-defense class
70. Submit a photo to Jones Soda [1]
71. Watch all of Firefly
72. Go to a symphony blindfolded
73. Ride a mechanical bull
74. Go water skiing
75. Make 1000 Origami paper cranes [1] (in progress: 500+ done)
76. Make a gingerbread house
77. Get hypnotized
78. Get a book signed by the author (Completed February 15)
79. Take a pole-dancing class
80. Write a letter to myself to open up in 5-10 years
81. Go behind the Minnehaha Falls while they are frozen
82. Make a blessings jar and add to it all year [1] (in progress)
83. Start a blog and document the whole experience (in progress!)
84. Finish classes to graduate with my Bachelors degree (Final class: Summer 2015)
85. Cherish each moment I get to spend with my nieces (continuous)
86. Put myself out there more/Take more chances in my personal life (continuous)
87. Live life the way Erin would- with reckless abandonment (continuous)

So, I have deleted the items that I got done last year. I'm going to try and focus on the future and what I can try and get done this year.

If anyone wants to help, donate or join me in completing these, let me know!!!

-A

* Suggestions of items to add are always welcome!

This year in review... (with possible controversial content)

So, I have decided to kind of sum up 2014 on here. I'm going to warn you, 2014 kinda* sucked, and I'm going to just talk about EVERYTHING, even the drama. So, don't get offended, since no names are going to be listed.

My year started out with losing my cousin. She was 24 years old.

January and February continued with lots of drama, both personal and professional. I got bitched out over stupid stuff on social media by others who were grieving, and the issue was never resolved. My job got a new Pharmacy Manager, a new Team Lead, and multiple turn-overs in our department within the first few months.

In March, I thought I was getting better, by allowing myself to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (my cousin's birthday), and also allowing myself to open up and get a little comfortable with a guy that I was dating. Big mistake. The guy dumped me via Facebook Messenger early April.

Late April, early May brought an semi-impromptu trip to Mexico for a comedy festival. It was probably the best thing I decided to do. I feel like I was channeling my cousin when I booked the trip.

Late May, my oldest sister welcomed her third daughter. Also, my cousin got married, and it was a beautiful ceremony and beautiful event that was the first happy event for that side of my family since my cousin's death. The night ended with me puking my stomach out outside of the hotel, so I guess I would call it a good night!

June and July kind of blended together, with a reception for one of my good friends' wedding that they had when they went and eloped in Las Vegas on January 1st. Also, there was girls weekend.

August, I celebrated my birthday. It was a bit bittersweet with not being able to have my cousin with me, and not very many people came out to celebrate it with me. Other than that, I had a good night.

September through November kind of flew by, with school, work and trying to work on myself. There was some family drama that happened at Thanksgiving, but that's to be expected with almost all families.

December, was the second worst month this year. I lost 2 friends. One, to complications after falling off of a pyramid in Mexico**, and another to an accidental overdose which none of us knew about, not even his best friends. The Twin Cities comedy scene is a lot less funny now that they are gone.

I didn't get as much done as I would've wanted this year, but I am going to be rolling over my bucket list to 2015, and continue to do those items on the list.

****************************

If I had to put my year into the context of food, I would have to say that my year was kind of like baking cookies: It sucks when you have to mix all the ingredients together and wait for them to be ready, is wonderful when you get to eat them and enjoy the deliciousness of them, then sucks again when they are all gone.

I started the year with hopes that it would be amazing. Some parts were. Some parts weren't. I'm grateful for what I have, and I'm thankful that I have accumulated many great friends that have helped me through a rough year. Thank you.

-A


Links to the Obituaries of my friends/cousin that passed this year: #1 #2 #3

* Kinda = REALLY.
** Yes, you read that correctly.