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

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

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

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.

Another one bites the dust

I got my tattoo. For Erin. The last thing that I'll probably get done that was on my list this year.

This is a picture of it RIGHT after I got it done on Friday, December 26th. I had a friend come with me, and it was fine otherwise. I am falling in love with it more and more every time I look at it.

My aunt also gave all of us girls a home blown glass bead that has some of Erin's ashes in it, along with a necklace to put it on if we want to. They are beautiful and it was probably my BEST gift this year.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get more done on my list this year, but I have decided to roll it over to next year and continue with this blog to document the rest of the items on the list that I didn't get done.

I will write another post reflecting on this year in the next few days...

-A

Stand-up Paddling!

Before the class!

Yesterday I completed another item on my bucket list: Stand-up Paddling, or SUP. It was really fun, and was a perfect day for being outside!!

The only bad thing was that I STARTED with my sunglasses on and ended without them.

I brought my mom with me to take pictures of me in the water, and she got some really good ones. I really want to do it more next year, and possibly even buy a board and do it during the summer. However, today I am paying for it with very sore muscles!

Here are some more pictures of me on the board:

Listening to the instructor telling us about the boards and stuff

Just getting into the water. Notice the sunglasses!

I had just fallen in for the second time and laughing at myself

Focusing on trying not to fall in!

At the end, resting. Notice the lack of sunglasses!

-A

State Fair and crossing things off my list!

Me and my niece on the carousal

Last Saturday, August 23rd, I went to the fair and met up with my sister and my 7 year old niece. It was the most fun and exhausting experience that I had that weekend. I got the privilege of going on 3 rides with my niece since my sister didn't want to go on them.

I was going to try and get another bucket list item crossed off and go on the "Sling Shot" ride that is almost like bungee jumping, but even though I went to the fair TWICE, I didn't do it. I wished I had someone to go with me!!

Anyways, I'm pretty sure I finished my 25 new beers, since I know I've been trying any new beer that I could over the summer! I have found a few that I like and a lot that I don't really care for.

After my sister and niece left, I met up with a friend and her husband and walked around for a while longer. Right before I left, we saw the Clydesdale's waiting to go into the Colosseum, and they were SO BIG.

On the 24th, my niece came over for a sleepover, for the first time at our new place. It was really good once we got into bed. We watched The Little Mermaid and then started reading The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, the junior version. She fell asleep by the third chapter. She was so cute.

Now it's bedtime for me!

-A