So this one time...

I jumped out of a fucking plane. Oh yes I did. Look:

This was a graduation present to myself. As soon as November of 2010 hit, I turned to my family and said, "I want to go skydiving for graduation." Every one's reaction was a little different, but mostly the consensus was, "have fun with that." However, my one aunt was all for it! I have become a bit of an adrenaline chunky, and after the previous summer of parasailing over Tahoe, seen here:

and rafting down the Truckee River, seen here:

it was for sure time to do something, the number one thing off my bucket list which was to skydive. My partner in crime:

So, we went skydiving. We left at a ridiculous hour in the morning to drive down to a little town called Eloy, where it was ridiculously out, ridiculously flat, and ridiculously ugly. We checked in, signed over our life, watched a video and then suited up. The whole experience from getting there to landing took maybe an hour and a half. Once we were suited up and secured, we got on our plane. We were the only to tandem jumpers, while the rest of the plane was filled with people who just jump out on their own. The flight lasted maybe 25 minutes, and was by far the longest part of the experience (besides waiting around). Once you're at 13,000 feet, you JUUUUUMP!

There really are no words to describe this feeling... You think it is going to be scarier than shit... I mean, helllooooo, you're jumping out of a god damn plane with a parachute. But, as soon as you jump, you don't feel like you're falling at all. In fact, you feel like someone is holding you up, or you're laying on a table... The ground doesn't come at you at all... I looked like a tard for the first few seconds:

It was such an amazing experience, and I was in a "holy crap I just jumped out of a fucking plane" mind set, that my mouth was open. Because honestly, it was the most freeing experience I have ever had. I don't know where I went, but I was feeling it and seeing it, but it was an out of body experience. The memory is still in my head, with great detail, but lordy, do I want to do it again.

You free fall for a minute, and then you just float on down:

At this point, while we are making our decent, I keep telling Kim, my skydiving instructor, "Holy shit, that was amazing. hoooolllyyyyyy fffuuuucccckkk." It's about a 6-10 minute coast down to the ground, and it isn't scary seeing the ground come to you because let's be honest, your parachute opened, and THAT is your saving grace right there.

Then you land:

It really is one of the best experiences in my life. After the jump, we headed to Tucson to see Ms. Brandi Carlile at the Rialto Theatre. Now, she is by far, hands down, my most favourite artist in the world. Her lyrics speak to my soul and can make me weep. I see her at every show I can... and luckily, I get to see her, once again, in the lovely Tahoe, with my partner in crime. I took her to see Brandi in March of... 2010 for her birthday. She was playing in Reno, and I was like, "Hey! I know people who live near Reno, and it's spring break! let's go to a concert!" SO we went, and before it even started, I told my aunt that this show was going to change her life. And sure shit, they opened up with a complete a capella "Oh, Dear" and her jaw hit the floor. And now she is just as addicted as I am. Because, hot damn, she puts on a wicked awesome show.

After the concert in Tucson, which we were joined by my dearest ice ice baby, we stood outside to meet her. Now, I had dreams about meeting her, and being all sly and telling her how much her music meant to me. And as soon as I met her, I stared at her for a second and then blurted out, "I went skydiving today." Totally uncool and not what I wanted to say, but seriously, my idol, my crush, the woman who can make me weep by her voice and lyrics was right in front of me. And god damn, was she beautiful and sweet.

May 12th was for sure the best day ever.

1 month.

The weekend went far too quickly, as usual. Even though I have a three day weekend, it always goes by way too quick. Although, I am thankful that it did go quickly. This weekend was hard emotionally.

Friday: I had a reiki appointment. I am a firm believer in reiki and I can feel it when it is happening. It leaves me so relaxed. Since I was already downtown, I walked over to the local Crystal Magic where I bought some crystals to put next to my bed (also a firm believer in the power of crystals). Once I was done there, I went to the mail office to figure out where my freakin' package was. They said the carrier dropped it off on my porch last week sometime, even though it was no where to be found! It kind of ruined my zen from reiki, because WTF, there was NO PACKAGE ON MY PORCH AND IT WAS FROM MY AUNT AND I LOVE BOXES FROM HER. I go grocery shopping and head back home. After unpacking my groceries, I go on a scavenger hunt around my house to find this package. Alas, no package. Two hours later, neighbor comes up and brings me my package. Thank you baby jesus! It was filled with lots of delicious goodies... I love packages.

Later that night, CT takes me to the delicious Josephines where we celebrate me winning a bet, and a last meal together before he leaves. We indulge in delicious white bean humus, delicious wine, and delicious entrees. I took my family there when they came up for graduation. It really is great food and atmosphere. Luckily, it has been super beautiful in Flagstaff, so we sat outside and enjoyed each other's company and conversation. Oh, and me winning a bet. I never win, so I get pretty stoked when I am right and he's wrong. Not even gonna lie. :) After dinner, we run an errand for his giant trip, go back to his house to grab his TINY backpack for his month long vacation, and head back to my house where we finish the wine and hang out.

I couldn't sleep the entire night. Not only was I anxious, I could feel his anxious energy as well.

Saturday: Woke up at 5:00 am. Made coffee, an english muffin, and CT jumps in the shower. He had to be at his friends house at 5:45 to head down the hill. I drop him off, say our, "see you laters" and I drive away. I was totally fine when I was driving home. As soon as I got home and saw some of his clothes on the floor and realized I won't be seeing him again for a month I cried. Only 5 minutes, to let myself feel sad and let it be done with. I was able to sleep for an hour, but then had to pick up my bountiful basket of produce. After that, went to the chiropractor, and for the first time in two weeks, my headache went away. Taking 6 Advil wasn't making my headache go away, I was grinding my teeth, and it was just miserable. Luckily, my new chiropractor is super rad and fixed me all up. Adjustments are still holding, and I have another appointment on Friday... Thank goodness. This no headache thing is awesome. After that, I went over to my person's house and hung out with her and the family for the entire day. They just bought a new house and were doing work on it, so we watched them demolish stuff. Her boyfriend will be building a fence at the new house for the next couple of weeks, so that means she will be up here every weekend. Which will also help this next month go by quickly. I hope.

Sunday: Went to a movie with my person and family then went home, read, cleaned, baked muffins, and watched Downton Abbey, my British guilty pleasure. I highly recommend the show. It's awfully delicious.

Now it is Monday. My boss is gone for the week, and it seems to be quiet. Granted, it is only 8:40, but I came in with only 10 emails... Usually it's about 100. I am hoping for a slow, quiet week. Although, when it's quiet, I always want to walk down the hallway and see CT (yes, we work together... but in totally different fields).

July 15th. I pick him up. I hope it goes by quickly. Especially since that's when HP is coming out and he is going with me! Probably just to see my true nerdiness come out. :)

life with no school.

So, I have been done with school for awhile now... and there are still times during the weekend where I have these, "oh shit, I have to work on my thesis or do my homework" moments... It's happened the past two Sunday's, when I have spent all day in my pajamas reading by my coy pond or playing video games. It has been so nice to not have school; I am catching up on reading for fun, enjoying life, and SLEEP. There were so many nights, so many weeks, so many months of me hardly sleeping, and now I sleep so peacefully and soundly.

All I do now is work, which is great because I only work 32 hours a week, get a three day weekend, and never spend time outside of work on the computer. I have been working too hard and too much lately, making it impossible for me to stay on top of things like talking to family, talking to friends, etc. The people I talk to the most are the people are work with cause I have to talk to them.

I have also been spending a lot of time with someone near and dear to my heart, as they are leaving Saturday morning for a month. It's gonna be sad, but I am sure they will have a blast. Going to Barcelona, Portugal, and then England... doesn't sound too shabby. But, alas, after spending almost every weekend together, and a day or two during the week together, it will be hard to -not- have that anymore. It's been an awesome five months, and even though there will be a month of hardly talking and not seeing each other, July 15th might be my most favourite day. And something to look forward to. While they are gone, I plan on filling my life with hikes, adventures, and hanging out with other friends. It will all be ok. And I want the to have a blast, but it doesn't mean I can't be a little sad.

There really is nothing to report; my life is pretty boring. Ever since I have moved, I spend all my free time reading outside or just sitting outside. It's so nice -not- to do anything as soon as I leave work. This is my life from now on... no more school. At least not for a few years.

I have an itching to open a B&B in England. Ugh. I miss that place.