Wordless Wednesday: Spring Break Edition

State of Grace

I'm a lucky girl.  Yes, I know this statement may seem very weird coming from a girl who just returned from the hospital with the news that she has two blood clots in her leg.  But I'm lucky because I have amazing friends, family, coworkers, and even acquaintances who really just want me to get better.  This whole network of people who have reached out to myself, my parents, or even my brother to send well wishes and words of encouragement.  It's mind blowing.

I have always tried to be truthful in this blog and I'm going to try my best in this post.  When I went to the hospital the other day, I was so fed up with my stomach.  I cried to my dad that Monday night asking why does this particular stupid stomach problem have to happen to a girl who loves food.  And I mean LOVE food.  How many girls do you know who has a food bucket list?  Not many.  But I cried because my stomach hurt.  I cried because I have to put my parents through this. I cried because I keep having to answer the "are you okay" question that is necessary for those who are concerned but gets tiring for those who are the ones being asked.  And I cried for the fact that I will never be one hundred percent healthy again for the rest of my life.  This colitsis this affects so many people, and I just need to buck up and deal with it.

So going to the hospital to get this whole thing squared away......I was pumped.  Never in my life did I think that I would have to go through that whole winter fiasco again.  But here I am, with my leg up and the size of my thigh (okay, that may be a little understatement, but it is pretty swollen).  

This time though, the whole thing feels different.

I'm stronger then I was that December/January; I mean I'm still walking, even if it's a little painful, I'm still walking.  I would like to think I have a little swag in my step now.  If someone knows of a cane that we can pimp out, then you know where to find me.  Plus, I don't plan on just sitting around and letting the world go on around me.  I plan on living life no matter what, and not hide in a shell.  Unlike last time, I'm trying not to feel sorry for myself and just think "It happened again; now let's deal with it."

I'm not going to lie to you all.  I am not happy this has happened to me and this time around we are demanding answers.  I'm going to find out why I keep getting blood clots because two at the age of 25 is a little much don't you think?  And the pain in the leg sucks, along with having to get those stupid shots in my stomach.  Sorry Dad that you have to do those again by the by.  But I'm going to keep my head up high and the smile on my face bright because there is no way in HELL I'm letting this thing beat me again.

I did it once, and I will do it again.  With the biggest support system in MY corner, cheering me on every single step I take and every meal I'm able to eat without being in pain.

I Think About You in the Summertime

Two posts in one day.....aren't you all lucky. (This was in my drafts because I guess Starbucks didn't like me that day....

So summer is winding down and I have to actually accomplish some of my summer goals. Let's review what I have left to finish by the end of August.

First things first.  I need to jump off Signal Rock if it kills me.  This weekend was a fail on achieving that goal, but I gotta do it soon because I'm so pumped to actually jump, but I know when it comes down to it, I'm going to be terrified.  Totally fine though, cause I'm going to jump with the beach family advising me where best to actually jump.

I gotta still come up with the ultimate summer soundtrack.  Unfortunately, the Ipod I have will probably not allow me to play it in a Ipod dock. But I figure if I make it on my Itunes, whenever I have people over I can play it.  Plus I can share it on this wonderful blog in case anyone actually wants to hear it.  (Speaking of playlists, anyone hear the Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart break up one....)

BBQ's and family dinners have been lacking. Which means that sometime soon I gotta have everyone over so we can sit around all evening/night and just be our normal weird selves and take tons of pictures.  We have been taking a lot of pictures, but I just feel like I don't get to see everyone as much as I would like.  I know, totally my fault because for a few weeks, I was working myself down to nothing.  But that has stopped and I plan on playing with my friends more often.

Beach days have been coming about a lot more then I did last year and I HAVE to make sure I take off the ultimate beach day that is Jersey Shore.  Let's be serious, I would love an adventure like that so freaking much.  But I have more of a tan then I did last year and I'm so excited about that.  I love my time in the sun.  Plus, I just feel more fit then I did last year.  Maybe it's because I haven't been on the steroids as long or maybe because I'm actually trying to do some sit ups and push ups so I don't feel like such a waste of life.  I would like to thank the Olympics for making me want to get in shape like all those athletes who train their whole life to look that good.

And in Other News....

For the past two Thursdays, my friends and I have gone down to the bar at the local hotel to do trivia.  Not many people attend, or even participate, but it's still a fun time and we get to test our knowledge.  Yes, we are secret geeks and I'm okay with that.

Well, yesterday there were three teams playing which does in fact include our team.  We knew one of the other teams, but the third was a random customer at the bar.  No big deal right?  Wrong.  

The jerk on the team we didn't know was a HUGE tool.  Like screaming across the bar that we were cheating and using cell phones.  Oh, I'm sorry that we just are good guessers or know what we are doing.  Or that we have people who want to TEXT us when we are at trivia.  Our bad.

The first time he did it, we just laughed it off and ignored it.  The second time, it pissed me off because he went on a little longer with his rant.  So what did I do?  I started screaming back.  Yes, I, Jennifer, started to scream across the bar that he needed to calm down the the accusations of cheating because we DID NOT get the question he was bitching about right.  

I was proud of myself that I stood up for the dignity of my friends and I.  But also, I did something I never in a thousand years imagined I would.  I yelled at some random guy across the bar for being a HUGE tool bag.  Surprisingly, the possibility of a bar fight was thrilling and I wish he would have continued with me but he didn't.  He did end up trying to push my answers away, but turns out he dropped out of the contest anyway.  And we ended up second out of second. Gooooooo us!!!

What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

Normal enough question right?  Everyone has those goals in their life whether they share them with other people or keep that list to themselves, every single person has a list of things they want to do before they die.  Their bucket list.

I have three different lists.

Crazy some may say but if you know me, I'm not the most normal person you will ever meet.  Hell, if you read back on these posts, you will know I'm not a normal 25 year old.  But like I said, I have three different lists.  One is a typical bucket list, everything I want to do before I die.  Then I have a food bucket list.  The places I want to visit.  The dishes I have to try.  Then I have a book bucket list.  The majority of this list are the classics, but the Hunger Games had been on that and that deserves a check off it.

Anyway, I was discussing my bucket lists on Wednesday night and I got all sorts of excited about them.  Now I want to take action.  Don't ask me why all of a sudden this has become important but it has.  I'm thinking about doing a 5k in June with Emily and Katelyn.  I got the tattoo last week.  Signal Rock and I are going to become best friends.  And all the books I can read once I get this test over with?  It's going to be magical.  Plus, Paul has agreed to go to restaurants with me because he has never seen someone like me eat as much food as he has. 

And during this journey?  I want to document it.  I want pictures, I want detailed reports, I want to have fun.  Summer is fast approaching and I'm looking to make some memories.

Check That One Off

It's a new me ladies and gentlemen, and that starts with checking stuff off of my bucket list.

And the first thing to be taken off of my bucket list?  Getting a tattoo.

Yes, I finally took the plunge and got the tattoo last night.  Thanks to my wonderful friends who scheduled the appointment and held my hand, I was able to get through it.  Go figure it wasn't as awful as I expected.  Also go figure I wasn't as anxious as I thought I would be.  I held Shannon's hand when it first started because I wasn't sure what to expect.  Then I held her hand when he first started coloring the thing in.

But honestly?  It's really pretty and it's HUGE that I actually went through with it.  I mean, I have wanted this for a while, and when we were sitting around Otools (I think?) I didn't think it would actually happen.  It was just an agreement during drinks right? Nope, the new me champed it and can not wait to get another one (Sorry dad......).

Now onto jumping off Signal over the summer, and taking on a whole bunch of restaurants for the food aspect of my bucket list.

P.S. pictures to come......the ones I have aren't anything amazing, also known as the one that was taken right after getting it done.