What I want to do before I die

        Otherwise known as my bucket list! I was trying to to tell a friend what I had left to complete and I couldn't remember for the life of me! So here it is. All 100+ items including the ones I have crossed off. I put a short description of how/when they happened in parenthesis. Looking back on it, I'm very pleased with what I have accomplished so far. Anyone want to join me in one of the remainders?? With careful planning we can make it happen :)

1.           ride a horse (July 2011 with Kawiki at Horseshoe Creek Farms in Roanoke)

2.           get 1000 waves with Kristen, 780

3.           scuba dive (scuba lessons through VT Scuba Club, 2012)

4.           swim with dolphins (Jan 12, 2014 in Bahamas)

5.           sprint triathlon, become a triathlete (June 3, 2012 in Warsaw with Jim)

6.           crowd surfing

7.           crack an egg with one hand

8.           go cliff jumping (Summer 2011 with Emily, Jess, Jim, Dan, Alex)

9.           advanced white water rafting

10.       be an audience member on The Ellen Show

11.       pee in a public place (behind a bush on VT campus, Eileen did it first)

12.       go to Alaska to see northern lights

13.       buy ukulele (Jan 7, 2011 ebay > came from Hawaii)

14.       complete one hundred 1000 piece puzzles, 72 completed

15.       operate an excavator

16.       learn to play ukulele

17.       go to Hooters   (2009 Chickfila Atlanta Georgia band trip)

18.       go to a strip club (Thunder From Down Under in Vegas 2015)

19.       go sailing

20.       splash in the Friends fountain in NY

21.       movie hop  (Summer 2010 Charlie St. Cloud then Inception with Ayana and Curtis)

22.       go on a cruise (Jan 11-18, 2014 with Kristen, best experience EVER)

23.       crash a wedding (9/10/11 Anna Darby’s wedding with Diana and Emily)

24.       pay for something over $10 in all coins    (Walmart, twizzlers etc. $13)

25.       ride on a motorcycle (6/14/12 with Chris Jacobs)

26.       skinny dip in the moonlight on a beach (Aug 6, 2011 with Stefanie at Va Beach)

27.       get a life size check (May 16, 2012 scholarship from ASHE)

28.       go to a black church one Sunday (Nov 13, 2011 with Ayana)

29.       go zip lining

30.       buy a lottery ticket (Dec 2010)

31.       go to Las Vegas (March 2015 with Aussie girls)

32.       kick a football field goal (Winter break 2010 with Kenneth and Nick Sidor)

33.       go to Glacier National park (Going-to-the-Sun Road) or Yellowstone national park

34.       drive a boat (wakeboarding with Sean)

35.       donate $5,000 or higher to a college marching band or $1,000 to a bunch of high school bands

36.       if I’m rich buy a megatron for the south endzone of Lane Stadium so MVs can see it!

37.       play trumpet concerto in Eb by Haydn

38.       shoot a gun (February 12, 2011 with Emily, Dan, Alex, Jim, Ben, and Akash)

39.       ride a bull riding machine (Dec 2, 2011 with Stef in Charlotte, NC for ACC Championship)

40.       go dumpster diving (August 2011 with Ayana and Amber)

41.       ride in a limo

42.       sing karaoke (2010, Applebee’s at VT with Katherine Combs)

43.       ride in a taxi cab (New Zealand 7/17/12 at 2am to our trailer park stay)

44.       buy my own stick shift car

45.       get a tattoo (September 2011, Kristen, Emily, Kawiki, and Diana came)

46.       drive a car with the gas light on (driving to Blacksburg, see blog post The day Juan Carlos ran out of gas)

47.       go to Hawaii

48.       get married

49.       meet a famous person

50.       donate $5,000 to an animal shelter that’s in need of it

51.       donate $5,000 to an environmental coalition

52.       snowboard internationally (7/18/12 New Zealand Mt. Hutt)

53.       visit the Eiffel tower again (Jan 2015 with parents)

54.       see Backstreet Boys in concert  (summer 2010 in Vienna, VA with Kristen Krieger)

55.       sell something I made on eBay

56.       ride in a helicopter(and remember it)

57.       create blog

58.       catch a fish and eat it

59.       go hiking and then camp the night at the top of a mountain (2011, Dragon's Tooth with Jim and Alex)

60.       sneak into Lane Stadium at night (Diana, Kawiki, Sue; Summer 2011)

61.       slack line (2012 with Jessie in O'Shag quad, then April 2013)

62.       have a guy buy me a drink (Dec 31, 2011 in New Orleans, guy at table behind us bought our table a round of tequila shots)

63.       biker bar

64.       learn how to kiteboard

65.       see a solar eclipse

66.       see a lunar eclipse (Dec 21, 2010 3am thanks to Kyle Veres)

67.       see a meteor shower

68.       flash someone (Jan 1, 2012 on Bourbon Street with Stef to get beads)

69.       buy a brand new car

70.       use a fire extinguisher

71.       The Continental Divide

72.       kiss someone in the rain (August 2014 Cascades hike with Sam)

73.       milk a cow

74.       Amazon Rainforest (June 2014 in Manaus, Brazil. Caught alligators and went swimming with piranhas)

75.       Great Barrier Reef (July 2012 in Port Douglas)

76.       Tahiti

77.       2014 World Cup in Brazil (June 2014. Two matches in Manaus and then traveled to Rio de Janeiro)
  78.    visit Minnesota

79.       ride a flowrider (surf thing)

80.       shoot a bow and arrow (6/14/12 with Chris Jacobs)

81.       ride on a plane by myself (Europe Trip 2015. Jan 12)

82.       snowboard in Colorado

83.       go into a plane’s cockpit

84.       hold tarantula

85.       go to a circus

86.       visit all 7 continents

87.       go on a blind date

88.       shoot a cannon

89.       drink directly from a coconut (Jan 15, 2014 in St. Maarten)

90.       get a legit massage (3/30/13 with Michelle in DT Blacksburg)

91.       get a pedicure (12/10/11, Kawiki and Jessie’s birthday gift to me)

92.       stand at the North or South Pole

93.       ride an elephant

94.       go to a movie premiere

95.       El Camino de Santiago?

96.       Oktoberfest

    97. Norway
    98. Go caving (3/30/14 with Dave and the VT Cave Club)

99.       Grand Canyon, Mt. Zion (April 2015 with Dad)

100.    Learn to play banjo

101.   Nashville (March 2015 with Alex)
102.  Participate in speed dating (April 2014, very interesting experience. Met lots of great people and ended up dating a guy for a month)
103. Maine (Acadia), New Hampshire, Vermont during summertime
104. Niagara Falls
105. Salsa dance internationally (danced in Amsterdam twice and once in Paris. Jan 2015)
106. Become bilingual - fluent in Spanish
107. Become trilingual - fluent in French
108. Visit Thailand
109. Turkey and Greece
110. Travel to Spain, speak Spanish with locals, and watch Real Madrid match

The day Juan Carlos ran out of gas

Bucket List - Gas light: driving to Blacksburg May 2011 to begin my internship at WR&A

            I was driving along I-81 when I saw that the gas light came on. I realized that I only had about 15 miles to Sheetz which is where I planned on getting gas. I didn’t want to stop anywhere else along the way because I had a Sheetz gift card and I didn’t want to spend my own money unless I absolutely had to. I was willing to take the risk. After about 13 miles I realized I still had about 5 miles to go. I kept checking my iPhone to see how close I was. I was getting worried that I wouldn’t make it. I figured gas lights usually come on with 20miles left in the tank so I decided to keep pushing. I finally saw the exit sign for Sheetz and then got to the light, which was green. I prayed that it wouldn’t turn red before I arrived and it didn’t. However, I had to down-shift to make the left turn and the car almost stopped. I continued on and the next light was red. I yelled, “Come on light TURN GREEN TURN GREEN” but it didn’t help. I slowly came to a stop in the left turn lane and my car made a noise and shut off.
          I was freaking out. This light was the light right before the Sheetz entrance. All I had to do was turn left and then make another left and I was in. So as the people around me stared at me I tried to figure out what to do.  I put my hazard lights on and got out of the car. Thankfully, there were two left turn lanes so I only blocked one of them. Also thankfully, Sheetz was just down the hill on the left. So I walked across the lanes on the other side and down the hill to the gas station. I asked the first guy I came across what I should do and he suggested that I go inside and ask for a container. As I started to walk to the store, a guy with a cane in a pickup truck said he had a 1 gallon tank I could borrow. As he took the can out of the back of his truck I saw that he had a tattoo of a naked woman on his upper arm. A little alarming - he seemed very nice though. So I took his container and filled it up with my Sheetz gift card and then took it across the road to my car. I began to fill it hoping I was doing it correctly. I left a little remaining in the can because I didn’t feel like getting every last drop.
          THEN, a police car pulls up behind me and gets out of the car. I’m thinking to myself, oh crap, I’m gonna get a ticket or something. So I kindly say hello and I think he could tell I was really worried about the whole situation. I’m pretty sure my voice cracked when I was talking to him. However, there was no need to worry because he offered to fill my tank with the gas can. I told him I already put it in but he took the tank and said “well there’s still a little left” and put the rest in. I was so taken aback and couldn’t’ believe how lucky I was to get off that easy. I mean, I was parked in the middle of the left turn lane after all. Once he emptied the container I got in my car and he stayed there to make sure the car would start. After it started he said “All right looks like you’re good to go. Give it some gas.” Then I said, “Umm well the light is still red so I think I’m going to wait a little bit.” He looked a little embarrassed and said, “Ok well once it’s green, I’ll make sure you get out safely.” I continuously thanked him and I thought he was going to follow me into the gas station. I was prepared to give him a hug I was so thrilled, but he disappeared. As I was pulling in, the first guy I asked for help gave me a silly smile and a thumbs up. A little embarrassing. I pulled into a gas pump and gave the 1 gallon container back to the tattoo guy. I was so grateful for all the help I received which made this experience much less traumatic. To make this all even more comical was the fact that ALL the belongings I was taking to Blacksburg were stuffed in my car. Lamps included. I looked like a pack rat.

McAfee's Knob - Above the Clouds

                I had only been to McAfee’s Knob once before – during my sophomore year at Virginia Tech. I never really went back until just recently because even though the view was incredible, there were many more hikes to experience, Dragon’s Tooth being one of my favorites. I think I’ve hiked that one 4 or 5 times. I also went camping at the top during summer 2011. I wrote a blog entry about that here.

                The idea of camping atop McAfee’s was always something I wanted to put into action. So, this past Friday night it became a reality and I embarked upon the journey with my good friend Jim. Before we ascended into the heavens, we pigged out at this incredible restaurant called Homeplace. Never again will I go there BEFORE I hike. I don’t regret it (I would never regret eating bottomless homemade biscuits) but let’s just say it was a tremendous struggle to climb the mountain with gear AND a full belly that makes you want to go into a food coma for days (Mmm the memory of that cherry cobbler still lingers). Anyway, let’s begin the true adventure.

                 This is the first hike I’ve done without a hiking stick! For those of you who have accompanied me on a hike, you know how big of a deal this is. My stick gives me physical

support when climbing (a few times in the past it has helped me avoid injury) and makes me feel like I have joined forces with nature to conquer the trail. I generally scope the beginning of the trail for 10 minutes and find the perfect match. However, this trail provided no such luxury. It was sad. But also a new challenge! We began the trek through the wilderness around 5PM so we could make it to the top before darkness hit. I was greatly looking forward to the sunset at the top; Everyone knows I’m a sucker for sunsets (and roses). The hike to the top was like any other - full of great conversation and witty comments to distract us from the pain we were enduring during each stride. We even took multiple breaks which is not generally something we do (I blame it on the food). There was a fabulous water source about ¾ of the way up so we topped off our water bottles there. By the way this trail is 7.8 miles roundtrip. Not too bad, but when you’re hiking, look at the trail, and only see a 50 degree angle, it can get you a little discouraged. So we traversed on and bumped into many people descending the mountain. Hikers are always friendly – one of my favorite things about this hobby of mine. We reached the top in about 2 hours; Which means we were walking at approximately 2 mph. OH BABY. But seriously, we got there much quicker than we anticipated. We then came across the sign that makes every hiker squeal with relief/excitement (Jim is not excluded from this). The one that says “McAfee’s Knob 3197 feet.” We made it!

                 We then stepped out of the woods into the clearing and gazed upon the most wondrous sight. Mountains on mountains on mountains! Left, right, diagonal, upside down, rightside up. Ok, maybe not quite like that, but there were definitely a lot. We were dripping with sweat (aww yeah) and finally got to relax and take in the absolutely breathtaking view. Well deserved. We had about an hour before the sunset so naturally we took loads of pictures. And by we I mean me. I’m well known for documenting the crap out of things. Sue me :) We also scoped out the area to determine where we would set up camp. They have designated areas along the trail but we wanted to stay at the top of the mountain for scenic views and the sunrise. Plus there’s something about sleeping at the top of a mountain that makes my heart pump. It also introduces a sense of danger and conquest. As we were discussing where to pitch the tent and such, an Appalachian Trail (AT) hiker emerged from the trail and exploded with joy upon seeing the view. He was quite the character and his excitement was contagious. His buddy joined him shortly thereafter and then picture taking ensued. They don’t call this place “the most photographed spot on the AT” for nothing. We soon discovered that the first hiker’s trail name was Soul Flute and his buddy’s name was No Rush. Comical? Yes. Evidently, all well-traveled hikers get nicknames. Jim informed me that he had one (Cold Feet) and I was determined to have one too. I felt left out! To get a nickname, someone else has to name you. So I was crossing my fingers that this night someone would give me the honor. Soul Flute immediately started chatting with me and Jim and was a very enthusiastic guy. At that moment I knew this night would be great. We all decided to join forces and camp together. By this time, the sun was setting and the show was about to begin. I was jumping for joy as the color of the sky began changing from a deep blue to a combination of dark orange and red. The color around the sun was mostly bright orange with a darker ring of red around it. It was glowing like a big fireball. Again, my camera was put to work - each picture looking almost the same as the last. You know the song “Soak Up the Sun” by

Sheryl Crow? Well that’s how I approach sunsets. I just can’t get enough! Jim even got a photo of me “holding” the sun. It was quite hot! I should have brought oven mitts. Finally, the sun set completely and the moon took over.

                We pitched a tent in a square clearing next to a fire pit previous hikers had created. Jim strung up his hammock between two trees as did Soul Flute and Yeti (another hiker that joined us). Shortly after, we began the task of wood collection. I was quite proud of the amount I was able to locate and carry back. It was like a scavenger hunt except more extreme because we needed a fire to survive! Well ok, not that dramatic but we were cold so it helped. I assisted No Rush and Soul Flute in their camp set up and No Rush insisted I jump into Soul Flute’s hammock to see how comfortable it was. I wasn’t going to object. As soon as a buried my body into the hammock, No Rush goes “Hey you look like a baby kangaroo.” I told him I had actually traveled to Australia before and that it was the greatest place on Earth. And then something magical happened. I finally got a trail name!! No Rush dubbed me as Roo because Kangaroo was too long. I was so HAPPY!! I felt like I finally had authenticity as a hiker. I moseyed back to the fire pit where Jim and I whipped out our bottles of wine and enjoyed them by the flames of the fire. Soul Flute busted out his wooden flute (aha! Nickname origin) and began to play melodic tunes. In combination with the cackling fire, it made me feel like we were on a grand journey to Mordor. One ring to rule them all! He then let me take a whack at it. It was tougher to play than I thought! I handed it back to the pro shortly after and sipped my bottle of wine in appreciation. We then heard the stories of the other two guys and how they received their trail names. No Rush’s was created on a day at the beginning of his journey when he told one of his buddies “Hey what’s the rush, we’ll go when we go.” Ever since then he’s been taking his time and enjoying the trail at his own pace. Wabam! Yeti was named during a trek through a snowstorm with a buddy. He evidently took on the hike with ease and Shazam! Trail name. Jim’s was given to him by his brother when they went backpacking once and Jim’s feet were so cold that it was unbearable. True warriors.

                We walked out to the ledge and admired the moon and the city of Roanoke in the distance. I never knew Roanoke put out so much light or covered that much area. It felt like we were on top of the world. Which we kinda were. We then listened to each of our friends’ wild and crazy stories. Supposedly, there are big parties that are thrown for the hikers every now and then in certain cities/towns. They are labeled as Trail Days and they basically entail a great amount of alcohol and a bunch of shenanigans. Everything from food to shelter to drinks is covered by the inhabitants of that particular area. They mentioned one that was particularly crazy but I’ll spare the details because sometimes what’s said on the trail should stay on the trail ;) Besides the wild times, they also refer to a thing called Trail Magic. This is when out of nowhere all the worries they have about food or shelter or even an injury is somehow fixed by the magic of the AT. In other words, people like me who are just day travelers lend a hand in some way, shape, or form. I was dubbed a Trail Angel just for sharing some of my Chex Mix (why that didn’t become my trail name is beyond me). Trail Magic also includes hitching rides from kind locals to the local town for re-stock of supplies or receiving food or money from random strangers. It’s really neat that these hikers are so respected for what they do. I respect them that’s for sure. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to put your life on hold and live off the mountains. Speaking of courage, that reminds me of the danger that is involved in this endeavor. I was talking to No Rush and he said that there’s a report that goes out every so often stating how many people have died along the way. Yes that’s right. Died. That gave me shivers. Supposedly there was only one reported death but No Rush said “but we hikers know there were at least 7. I knew 3 of them. Not too personally, but I had conversations with them.” Two died from exposure of the elements and one from falling off a cliff while taking a photo. I can’t recall the rest but it’s crazy to imagine that this is no small feat.

                Before the hikers embark upon their grand adventure, they all are strongly encouraged to read several books about how to face the journey. Things such as what to bring, how to allot you time on the mountain versus going into town for supplies, how many miles you should hike each day to reach your destination within a certain time frame, etc. During the trip, there is a general blog that each hiker contributes to. It’s a way for them to communicate in case they want to combine groups at a specific location. It’s also used to tell tricks of the trade, such as the most gorgeous outlooks or the best camping spots. It also serves to tell each hiker on the mountain a little about the other’s character and inform them who else is out there, trail names only. For instance, there is a girl named Whiskey Girl who is known to, you guessed it, carry around whiskey. No Rush said that from the blog he was able to read her experiences and the perception of her from other people. She’s evidently the hottie of the mountain.

                After all these stories were told, we all headed to our respective “bedrooms.” I couldn’t sleep very well that night. It may have been due to the soreness I was already encountering plus the whole bottle of wine I consumed (best thing about the mountains is that the restroom is never far off). So I woke up periodically throughout the night. Actually, I don’t think I slept but maybe 2 hours that night. I would fall asleep for 10 min increments and look at my watch hoping it was 5:30AM so everyone else would be awake. 5:45AM is when the sun was scheduled to rise so around that time is when we all headed out to the cliff.

We looked out and saw the most amazing, the most beautiful, the most awe-inspiring....thick of fog. Bummer. We patiently waited around, hoping the fog would clear. Eventually, you could see a small fuzzy bright light and we knew something great was about to happen. As minutes ticked by, the sun became more clear and the clouds settled below our feet. Suddenly, the sun burst into the most gorgeous shade of orange and reflected off the clouds below. You could see nothing but cloud humps and the sun peaking above them. It was absolutely breathtaking. Imagine you are in an airplane and look out the window and see only cloud puffs. That’s exactly how this was except we were surrounded by clouds instead of a metal aircraft. I could feel the warmth of the sun’s beams after being cold for so long. It was perfect. And the pictures I took actually did it justice. We all sat in awe of

the wonder that was before us, unable to move. These are the moments I live for. These are the moments that truly give my life meaning. Nature, beyond belief. There are some things you just can’t describe in words and this moment was one of them. They give you the motivation you need to continue in life, because I’m sure we can all agree that life is difficult at times, very difficult. This is the cure to my ails. This, is living.

A New Direction

          I have decided to redefine the purpose of this blog. I have changed the title from "Let's be spontaneous" to "Adventure Awaits." I now want to specifically address my adventures - mostly dealing with travel and nature exploration. I recently realized how great some of my experiences truly are and how they help me appreciate life more. They have also shaped me into the person I am today which I'm truly grateful for. I would like to keep a record of them so I can re-visit my stories in the future and remind myself how tremendously great it is to be alive. I always thought it was crazy how every single person you meet, every task you involve yourself in, every path you take, all lead to how you perceive the world. Life is full of possibilities. It's hard to focus on how amazing we have it when the typical lifestyle is to multitask and rush through the weeks, constantly using the phrase "Where has the time gone?" I'm hoping that by recording all of these experiences, I can take some time to step back and appreciate the opportunities I'm given and embark on as many adventures as possible. Here we go :)

P.S. I really want to include something I have on a post-it note on my wall:

Five Simple Rules for Happiness:

                                               1. Free your heart from hatred

                                               2. Free you mind from worries

                                               3. Live simply

                                               4. Give more

                                               5. Expect less

          I realize this post seems very zen-esque. I love thinking about this stuff and really pondering it. It puts my brain into overdrive so to speak. Challenge your mind. It needs a good work out every now and then :) To add onto that, if anyone ever wants to sit down with a nice cup of coffee (or other preferred drink that makes you pensive) and discuss worldy ideas, PLEASE contact me! I love having deep conversations. The opinions and views of others intrigue me, especially when it's something I haven't thought about. This is why I love to travel so much and immerse myself in other cultures. It's eye-opening!