#125 - Skinny Dipping

DONE! - Enough Said...

Break a record in the Guinness Book of World Records - #106

I honestly did not think this one would happen when I added this to my list. Not trying to be negative but my brother actually came up with #106 on my list "Break a record in the Guinness Book of World Records". This one I can thank twitter for helping me with because I actually saw a tweet one night online when I couldn't sleep. Legoland Florida posted about their new water park and asking passholders to join them as they open the park and try and break a world record.  I knew this was a rare opportunity so I emailed and reserved a space, which really saved us from missing out!

Landen's birthday is on May 27th, so I wanted to do something really special with him this year. Thankfully someone convinced me to take him with me regardless of it being the last week of school. Of course Landen freaked out when I picked him up. He was really excited and we had a great time.  I explained to him how this would be a story he would tell for a long time and very few people break one of these records in their lives.  The record was "Most beach balls thrown in the air simultaneously" and the previous record was 400. We broke the record at 1,355! They cut off people going into the park and we had passes AND the email. 

Here is the video of the record being broken:

The official record judge was there and photographers were up on a platform to take the picture along with a slew of media.  It was amazing to be part of this moment.  Huge thanks to Legoland Florida for organizing the whole thing which apparently started 7 months ago. (http://florida.legoland.com)

Skydiving - DONE!

Let me start by saying that skydiving is the biggest fear of my life. It terrified me more than anything to think about the reality of doing this.  I honestly kept finding reasons NOT to do it just out of fear and a little on the timing side.  After realizing it was the perfect time for me to really take the leap and do this, some amazing friends entered my life.  Eric and Cory have rejuvinated me in so many ways, I can't describe how wonderful the past few weeks or so have really been. I'm lucky to have them around! 

A random conversation ended up with a commitment on a date and time and here we were. May 7, 2012 is a day that will forever be in my mind. We all have gotten on the bucket list band wagon and now is the perfect time to be on a mission to push hard for change in life. 

When we got there, I started to feel the panic a little bit but that was really minimal because of the two with me. We joked a lot and it helped me through the process. They suited us up and we started documenting the process. Jeff (my tandem jumper) really helped me. He talked to me the whole flight so it really kept my mind off things. I decided if we were doing this it was "go big or go home" so we backflipped out of the airplane. I went first and I think that helped me too!




A really weird calm feeling came over me in the airplane and I definitely didn't expect that. It all happened so fast and before I knew it I was flipping out of the plane and free falling.  I can't describe it other than you don't lose your stomach or feel like you are falling because its 2 1/2 miles up and you fall at 120 mph.

When the parachute opens, its just a peaceful floating experience.  Theres a major post jump adreneline for sure. 

What an incredible experience it was!

We have quite a few fun videos so heres a little bit of the day. Eric is going to put my jump dvd on his computer and do something with it so I can post that but for now...that's about it!

This post ended up being a little deeper than just about a simple skydiving trip.  See one of my favorite songs by Lady Antebellum pretty much sums up a little bit of WHY I was ready to do this.  Don't take these lyrics the wrong way, what I mean is that I've been scared to move on with life. I've been scared to really push myself hard to change and figure out exactly what was behind some of my feelings and behaviors. Skydiving symbolized me being ready. I have realized it is time to take control. To stop thinking but to act on it and I feel like this was exactly what I did.

"Seems like I was walking in the wrong direction
I barely recognize my own reflection, no
Scared of love but scared of life alone
Seems I've been playing on the safe side baby
Building walls around my heart to save me, oh
But it's time for me to let it go
Yeah, I'm ready to feel now
No longer am I afraid of the fall down
It must be time to move on now
Without the fear of how it might end"
(Lady Antebellum)

Take a Pole Dancing Class - #46

#46 - Take a pole dancing class

By far this particular item on my bucket list has pushed me the farthest out of my comfort zone from a physical perspective. I can definitely say this will be something I'll do again. It was a great workout but also a ton of fun. The teacher was amazing and made me feel so comfortable, not to mention PHENOMENAL on the pole. He made it look like an art form.        

From the moment I made the phone call, it was just a great experience. The lady who made my reservation was so friendly and I told her it was on my bucket list. During the class, she was like "Its on your bucket list so just let go and enjoy it". It really helped that the staff were so wonderful.

When we started, I could barely even hold myself on the pole. I have a whole new respect for people who do this for a living. We made a few videos to capture the moment. The first one is just learning the spinning on the pole then the beginner class one full run through the routine. 

Part of the point of the bucket list is to push me as a person. So here we go...

And that's a wrap...another one off the list!