A to Z Challenge Wrap Up

Is anyone shocked that I'm two days late writing this?  You shouldn't be!  The great organizers of the challenge asked us to post our A to Z wrap up on Monday.  This is really the first time I've had time to sit down and write since writing my "Z" post.  So, without further ado, my reflections.

First, in case you missed my intro to the challenge, my mom made me do it!  I'm just kidding, I'm an adult, I make my own choices.  I jumped on board when she brought it up.  I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea!  We made the decision back at the beginning of the year.  I figured that was plenty of time to plan ahead and pre-write some things.  As per usual, I forgot about my talent for procrastinating, so none of that planning or pre-writing ever happened.  Before I knew it, it was March 31st, and I was scrambling to figure out what I was going to do about this challenge.

I think the best thing I did was to have a theme for my challenge.  I used the challenge to create my bucket list.  Some of the things on my list were already part of my bucket list.  Others were things I thought of when I got stuck on a letter.  I think without having a theme I would have had an even harder time than I ended up having.

The timing was the worst part for me.  April is my busiest month at work.  I came home most nights with a headache and zero desire to be on a computer any longer, let alone try to be creative and write a blog post.  Then there's post-season hockey.  I have tickets to all post-season home games for the Coyotes, so I've been attending those.  Then when they aren't home we're watching the games on TV, plus being the hockey loving family that we are, we're following all of the other teams that are still in the running and watching a lot of those games on TV.  Needless to say, April was a bit hectic.

Through the first part of the month I was able to write on Sundays and get most of the next week written. It was the end of the alphabet that got tricky.  I mean really, do we really need any of the letters after "T"??!!  I couldn't think of anything good enough to pre-write it, so I was writing everything last minute.  Sometimes it worked out okay, and then there's the letter "X", which I skipped, and I still don't feel bad about it!

Overall, I think the Challenge is a great thing, and I mostly enjoyed participating.  Will I do it again?  Probably.  Mostly to prove to myself that I can manage my time well and not be stressed about it!

Last, but not least, I just want to say thank you to the A to Z team for putting this all together.  Also, thank you to all of my new followers and everyone who left great comments throughout the challenge.  I didn't get around to visiting everyone as much as I would have liked to, but with work slowing down now, I'm hoping to finally make the rounds and visit all of you now.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Z is for Zip Lining

So, I really haven't done well with the end of the challenge! I blame the Coyotes. Post-season hockey has consumed my life, and has left me little time for writing. In the last two weeks I think I was free after work a grand total of 3 nights. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally okay with all of my extra curricular activities, but the challenge has suffered because of it. Okay, moving on to the final letter of the alphabet... One of my girlfriends went zip lining on her honeymoon in Costa Rica. She had such an amazing time and said it was so much fun. I'm not generally much of a thrill seeker. You'll never get me to skydive, base jump or bungee jump, but there are certain things that seem fun (i.e. hang gliding, SCUBA diving and zip lining). So we'll ad zip lining to my list of things I'll be doing when I get the chance to travel.

Y is for Yoga

To start, I know I skipped "X." I don't feel bad about is though. X is an awful letter, and I was too exhausted to try and figure out what to do for it. So that's that...moving on! Yoga is something I'vee done before. The bucket list aspect of it is that I'd like to get better at it. I've only done it a handful of times, and while I enjoyed it, I always feel kind of awkward moving through the poses. I think that's mostly because I'm very self conscience and I don't feel comfortable in my own skin most of the time. I'm working on getting past that,but like most things in life that takes time. Back to yoga. I want to be better at it. I want to get to the point that I'm comfortable enough doing it that I can try Bikram yoga. For those that don't know, Bikram yoga is a yoga class conducted in a very hot room. I've heard it's a very intense, but also very rewarding, experience. I suppose step one would be figuring out my gym does their yoga classes. So once our hockey season is over and I can actually commit to going more than sporadically, I'll be getting started on this one.

W is for Whoops!

So, things at work have been a little hectic and stressful lately, and I completely spaced on writing my "w" post for the day!  So I apologize that it's now Friday on the east coast and my blog is super late.

Now....what are some things that could be bucket list items for "w?"  Maybe waterskiing or wake boarding.  I really want to learn how to become a witch....but people claim Hogwarts doesn't actually exist, and if it did I'm way past the starting age of 11 anyway!

That's about all I can think of in my current state of exhaustion.  Please feel free to leave any "w" related suggestions!

Have a fabulous Friday Everyone!  :)

V is for Volcano

Part of my future travel plans include a visit to Hawaii.  I'm lucky enough to work for a great hotel company, and we're opening a new property there next year.  I think that makes it a perfect time to go for the first time!

Much to my mom's dismay, most of plans for Hawaii include laying around on the beach and just relaxing in the gorgeous surroundings for a while.  Don't get me wrong...I love being a tourist and running around and doing things.  I did live in DC for 3 years and played tour guide fairly often!  However, I would like to go on a vacation soon where I don't need to be running around being touristy.  I want to just go and relax.  Lay on the beach....visit the spa....have a few cocktails.

However, there are a few things in Hawaii that I'm not willing to pass up.  I'll need to go to Pearl Harbor while I'm there, and I also want to do outdoorsy things like diving and hiking and biking.  I've done a little research via the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and their list of things to do sounds amazing to me.  Mostly the hiking and the lava viewing.  I can't think of a better way to spend the day if I'm not going to spend it laying in the sun on the beach!

U is for Unyielding Faith

Ok, so this won't be a bucket list post. It also won't be a post about religion like the title might lend you to believe. For 15 years my family has followed and supported the Phoenix Coyotes, and like all Arizona sports its been rather difficult to do at times (I like to refer to the Gretzky years as "the dark ages"). This year though, I knew we had something special. We have a great coach in Dave Tippett. We acquired a Vezina caliber goalie in Mike Smith. We have one of the classiest, hardest working captains in Dhane Doan, and a whole crew of hard working players to back all of them up. We dont have an owner. The NHL owns the team, and so far we've proven that you don't need an owner to win games. In all of franchise history, (even going back to the Winnepeg days) the team has never won their division. Until this year when they became the Pacific Division Champions. In all of franchise history, the team has never made it past the first round of the playoffs. Until last night. The Coyotes were matched up against the Chicago Blackhawks for round one. I was confident that we could beat them since our record against them was really good in the regular season. However, every hockey fan knows that once the race for the cup starts, all of that flies out the window. It wasn't easy to take down the Blackhawks. They're a very talented team, and The United Center is famous for being one of the toughest arenas to play in because of how intense their fans are. For whatever reason, the United Center didn't phase the Coyotes. After winning last night they were 5-0 in Chicago this season. The series went six games. The teams set a record when their first 5 games went to over time. It was a physical series. During game 2, Chicago's Andrew Shaw was suspended for 3 games after putting an illegal hit on Phoenix goalie Mike Smith. Luckily for the Coyotes their superstar goalie was not badly injured and was able to finish the game. Then in game 3 the Coyotes lost Raffi Torres after he put an illegal hit on Marion Hossa. It was pretty scary as Hossa wasn't as lucky as Smith. He had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher and was sent to the hospital at Northwestern almost immediately. He left the hospital that night, but is now out indefinitely with a head injury. Torres got a 25 game suspension, so he'll miss the rest of the post-season and part of next season. The Coyotes had a 3 games to 1 lead going into game 5. It was a home game, and my brother and I were really hoping they'd be able to put the series to bed at home where we could be there to see it happen live. It wasn't in the cards though. After going into overtime yet again, the Blackhwks were able to pull out the win. That brings us to last nights game 6. I actually missed watching the majority of the game due to a prior engagement, but from what I hear, it was a doosie! I did get home just in time to see time run out and the celebration that ensued. I got chills, and I also got a little teary-eyed. The team flies home tomorrow to prepare for round two against the Nashville Predators. They will likely arrive to a huge crowd of fans, and I wish I didn't have to work so that I could be there to help welcome them home. Regardless of what happens next, I will never forget all of the milestones that were achieved so far this year. However, I have faith that this tem has what it takes to go all the way. We'll just keep believing and playing "hockey the hard way" and it will all pay off in the end. Stay tuned, because you know I'll keep you updated and what happens next!

S is for SCUBA Dive

SCUBA diving is another activity that I actually set out to do, and couldn't afford.  I mentioned in my hang gliding post that I went on a cruise where I wanted to hang glide.  Well, for the same cruise I was planning on learning how to SCUBA dive so I could go on dives with my best friend and her brothers when we stopped places.  She got certified and was able to dive on our trip, but I couldn't afford the classes, so I did other things instead.  It was still a stellar trip, as one of my alternate activities involved snorkeling with sting rays (not as scary as it sounds!), but I still want to learn how to SCUBA dive.  That way, the next time the two of us go on a cruise, we can finally dive together!

R is for Run a Marathon

Running a marathon is something I never thought I would want to do.  When I was a kid I hated running.  I was always one of the last kids to finish running the mile in PE.  When I got to high school I became a little more athletic.  I started running at the gym when I would go with my friends, and I really started to enjoy it.  It became a good way to get out some stress.  Even then though, I don't know that I really had much of a desire to do much more than run on the treadmill at the gym.

Now it's become more of a need to prove to myself that I can do it.  I'm not in the best shape currently, but I'm working on it.  I'm fighting with my weight because of a lovely little medical condition called PCOS, and that makes the getting back into shape thing that much harder.  Now that I've finally found a doctor that's competent enough to help me out, I'm on a road to getting better that's actually going to lead somewhere!  Once I get some of the weight off and can build my stamina up again, I'll start training.  Hopefully I'll enjoy it, and I won't stop after one race, but we'll see how it goes!

Q is for Quilt

When I was a kid, Tammy taught me how to quilt.  Well, she actually taught me how to do a lot of crafty things, but for the purpose of getting though the letter "Q" we'll just talk about quilting.  :)

I loved taking her quilting class, but after finishing it, I never did much quilting after that.  I'd love to try my hand at it again, and see how it goes.  For whatever reason, I feel like I have much more patience for quilting than I do for crocheting...something my mom has tried to teach me a few times.  Maybe I could actually finish a project that I start for once!

P is for Pit Orchestra

I want to be in a professional pit orchestra.  I was in one for the spring musical my senior year of high school and loved it.  I guess it would help to let you know that I'm a violinist, or at least I used to be.  It's been entirely too long since I've played, and I've really been aching to get back into it.

Traveling broadway productions often don't bring a full pit orchestra with them.  They bring one or two people, and fill the rest of the pit in with local musicians.  I want to be one of these musicians.  I love theater music so much, and I just think it would be an amazing experience to play for a professional production.

O is for Own a Home

Owning a home is definitely more of a long term goal for me.  I am in no way financially or emotionally ready for that kind of commitment, but eventually I would love to own my own home.  Since leaving for college, I've moved a lot.  At least once a year.  It's really mentally exhausting to always be thinking about where you're going to live next.  Believe me, I would have loved to stay in one place longer than a year, but for one reason or another it just hasn't worked out that way.

One day though, I'll have a house that's all mine.  That I can decorate however I want, and not have to worry about losing any sort of security deposit!  A place with a yard so I can have multiple large dogs.  A home...to go with those kids I plan on having.....someday.

N is for NOH8 Photo Shoot

I think the NOH8 Campaign is a wonderful thing.  Ever since finding out about them, I've wanted to participate in one of their photo shoots.  In a society where we jump at the chance to hold rallies and be really loud about what we believe in (there's nothing wrong with that, and I'm grateful to live in a country that allows us to be loud about our beliefs), I think there's something so powerful about their silent form of protest, and I couldn't agree more with their message.

I've been stalking their website for photo shoot dates, so as soon as there's one close to me, I plan to get some of my friends together and go to it.

M is the Masquerade Ball

I want to go to a masquerade ball.  A real one.  With fancy dresses, and over the top masks.  I could also go for some old fashioned dancing.  Like a waltz!  I mean really, how fun would that be?!  If we're being completely honest, I'm generally game for anything that requires one to get all done up.  I love pretty dresses...and pretty shoes....and pretty jewelry....and make-up.....and getting my hair done!  Then you add in the extra mystery of everyone wearing masks (which kind of ties into my love of Halloween), and that just sounds like the best time to me.  Maybe masquerade ball will be the theme of my future wedding (I'm only partially kidding....)!!  Anyone else have something from the past that they wish would make a comeback?

L is for Lasik

I've been wearing either glasses or contacts since the age of 8.  I absolutely hate it.  I hate picking out glasses...as previously mentioned, I'm way to indecisive and it takes me forever.  Contacts aren't too bad most of the time, but it sucks if you lose one, or tear one, or get something on one.  Also, it's expensive!  I spend at least $300 a year on my eyes.  It's out of control.

I want Lasik.  I want to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and not have to fumble around for glasses or contact solution in order to be able to see my clock on my nightstand.  I don't want to have to think about how sunny it's going to be outside as a deciding factor of whether or not I wear my glasses that day because prescription sunglasses are too expensive, so I don't have any.

This is definitely more of a short term bucket list item as I plan to have this done sometime in 2013 given that I'm a good candidate for it.  Fingers crossed that I am and can be glasses and contacts free!

K is for Kids

Having kids is the one thing I've always known I've wanted to do.  I considered changing my major about ten times in college.  I've changed my mind about my career choice since leaving college about six times, and believe me, you don't want to shop with me....ever.  Kids, on the other hand, is one of a hand full of things that I've never wavered on.  I would love to do it the traditional way.  Fall in love, get married, have the kids, live happily ever after.  However, I have 2 aunts that have proven to me that you don't have to do it that way and life can still be amazing, so if I have to take an alternate route, so be it.

At this exact point in life, kids aren't practical, but hopefully it won't be too far off in the future.

J is for Juggle

Okay, so if I'm being completely honest, I was having the hardest time thinking of something for the letter "J."  I literally thought of juggling as I was opening my internet browser.  I don't particularly have a strong desire to juggle, but why not learn?  It could be a fun party trick!

Honestly though, it was the only thing I could think of outside of jousting and jungle cruise.  I have no desire to joust...a little too dangerous for me, and the armor you have to wear is super heavy!  As for a jungle cruise...if that's something you can actually do, sign me up!  If it's just a ride at Disneyland...been there, done that, not my favorite ride.

Anyone else have any good bucket list ideas for the letter "J?"

I is for Ice Skate

So this is something I have actually attempted once before.  I went with my friends my freshman year of high school and was awful at it!  Mostly because I think I was so scared, that I was never going to be able to do it.

Now that I'm not so afraid of a few bruises or breaking something, I think it's time to give it another go!  Plus, if I want to marry a hockey player, I feel like I should be able to skate.  It's only right.

I will gladly take tips from anyone who didn't grow up in a desert like I did and actually knows how to skate!

Blog Update 4/10/12, 11:11 AM: I should probably note that I'm not actually engaged to said hockey player.  That's mostly just wishful thinking...and I would hate for him to hate me before we even meet!  ;)

H is for Hang Gliding and Horse Back Riding

I couldn't chose between these two activities for my "H" post, so we'll talk about both!

Hang gliding wasn't something I'd ever really thought about until I went on a cruise a few years ago.  Hang gliding was one of the activities offered at one of our ports.  It looked like so much fun, but I couldn't afford to do it then.  Ever since, it's been on my list of things to do, and hopefully the next time I take a vacation to a place that offers it, I'll be able to do it.

Horse back riding is something I've wanted to learn since I was a kid.  For no reason other than it looks like fun, and horses a pretty.  There are a lot of places around here that offer trail rides along the hiking trails in our mountains, so that will be something I'll be looking into after summer passes and the weather is nice again.

Now - unrelated note.  I apologize for being a blogging slacker.  I've been a little under the weather the last few days and haven't been on the computer for long enough to come visit everyone.  Thank you to everyone who has left me comments.  I am reading them all.  I promise this week I'll make my way around to visit.

G is for Garden

I've always wanted to have a garden.  I love flowers.  I love fresh herbs and veggies.  Unfortunately, while I don't think I necessarily have a black thumb, it's definitely not the right shade of green!  I have, in the past, successfully killed a bamboo plant.  Supposedly, you aren't supposed to be able to kill bamboo plants.  They're supposed to be really low maintenance.  I killed one.

So I'd really like to have a little garden at some point where I can grow lovely flowers and herbs and veggies, and not kill them!

F is for Fifty States

This one is pretty self explanatory I think.  I want to visit all 50 states.  I have a couple of rules I've given myself on this one as far as what qualifies as "visiting" a state.  Mainly, I actually have to do something while I'm there.  Just sleeping there, just eating a meal there, just sitting in the airport there or just driving through doesn't count.  At least not for me.  For instance, I've never stayed overnight in Pennsylvania, but I have gone to Philly with friends for a baseball game, so I count it.  On the flip side, I've both slept and eaten meals in New Mexico, but I don't count it as that's literally all I did there.  I didn't experience anything out out of the ordinary while I was there.  It was simply a pit stop.  Those are my rules for myself.

I've made an okay start to this bucket list item.  I've been able to cross the following states off of my list:

1. Arizona
2. California
3. Nevada
4. Alaska
5. Oklahoma
6. Tennessee
7. Virginia
8. West Virginia
9. Georgia
10. New York
11. Connecticut
12. Delaware
13. Pennsylvania
14. Texas
15. Maryland

So....15 down and 35 to go!