#27 Visit Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory

I'm going to look at the positive side of the only possible disappointment on the list which was visiting Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory.  They really could make a killing off a theme park or something like Chocolate World In Pennsylvania but instead the movie was definitely not a fragment of truth. It was over an hour from Chicago in horrible traffic but I was glad to get another one off my list. Are you ready for it???? It's literally a boring brick warehouse without any wonka-isms other than a sign. Womp Womp. No gift shop, no tour, no chocolate river and no snozberrys. I felt like throwing a Veruca Salt style tantrum but I stopped myself and just decided to be happy to check it off the list ☺️

 

#35 - Drive on route 66

It's been way too long since I've blogged but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy checking things off the list.  The first of my catch up blogs will be "Drive on Route 66". After the famous song, I got my kicks on Route 66. Joliet, IL is a small town with little else to do. Sometimes it's hard to see places like this that have had their glory years back but this little town dwells in the glory days. They have a museum of the history associated with the town and Route 66 and it was a GREAT museum. Artifacts from the time they were busy and a great video on what they are now.

Truly enjoyed this one! #35 off the list!

 

#30 - Watch a movie outdoors or at a drive in

Justin and I went on a cruise a few weeks ago and one of our favorite things to do at night was to sit on the ship deck and watch movies. The only difference, we ordered an extra comforter and brought it with all the pillows on our bed. We miss it for sure! This night we watched "The Wizard of Oz".  Such a fun way to do this one!

#30 - Off the list!

I HATEEEEE FROGS!

This is one serious fear and I'm really not sure why. I was definitely not ready to tackle this one yet but I went to visit my husband in Pennsylvania in March and shortly after I arrived he had me on a trail of surprises.  The last one started as we pulled into Petland. I was totally confused as to what we were doing. I'm not a huge animal person and he doesn't have any either so why were we here?

We walk in and he had called and asked if they had frogs and if I could hold one! I was panicking immediately. I can't say my fear is completely gone but I did feel like a step was taken in that direction.  Here is how it all went down...

They started with this huge bullfrog but that was honestly not happening. We went and found a tiny little fat one...the minute he jumped I dropped one but hey I did it right?

#152 - Conquer my fear of frogs by holding one!   - DONE

#120 - Run a 5k with my son Bryson

Its been a while since I blogged but I have definitely been working on my bucket list. Working for SUN 'n FUN has been a mind blowing experience and I made it through my first fly-in and it was fantastic!

"Run a 5k with my son Bryson" turned out to be way more than just running a 5k...it was for a very special person that affected my families life. Her name was Rayma Louise Jenkins and anyone who knew her was lucky! She was only 29 years old when she lost her battle with cancer. It was heartbreaking to see her go but her spirit touched so many people and she will truly live on in our family. You see, my sister was trying to have a baby. The month she conceived her little one, due August 31st, was the month Rayma left this life and I really felt like Zoe would have a baby girl as a little way of Rayma saying "I got you" and we found out that Baby Gallina is in fact a little girl. She was hilarious, positive, talented, just a wonderful and beautiful person inside and out.

Today...was in memory of Ms Rayma. Over 31 walkers joined "Team Rayma Dog" in the Miles for Moffitt 5k race at USF. My sister set out with a goal of 10 walkers and $5,000 raised toward cancer research at Moffitt where Rayma spent much of her time getting treatments.  Ironically, my brother in law is in charge of their PR as well!  In the end $5355 went to Moffitt in Rayma's name.  Bryson smoked us with a time of 22:46 and came in 2nd in his age bracket!!  Although this started just for Rayma, through the process I learned my friend Christine's mother is undergoing treatment at Moffitt currently which made it all more amazing.

Off the bucket list this goes and in a way better fashion than I expected. In memory of Rayma Jenkins, my grandfather William Prosser and in support of Christine's mom...

#120 on my list is complete!!!

#159 - Do something to positively affect your community!

This one I decided to record my response on. Picture will follow...

#159 - Done!

#122 - Happened again!

What is interesting about this bucket list is that a lot of the things I've been doing I am really enjoying to a point where I either want to do them again or take them to the next level. I sat and talked with the guys from our onsite flight school today for a while and they almost have me convinced to go for my pilots license.

I am really enjoying flying in the airplanes and they made a good point that its much easier for me to talk about what we actually stand for here at SUN 'n FUN when I know all about flying and airplanes.  So with that we may have another item on the list...

Today was a blast! Got to go up with one of my fellow coworkers, Dave Fuller, who flew me in his personal plane. I think im in love with aviation!