Hot Air Balloon Ride!

Something wonderful happened today!  I got to cross off a hot air balloon ride from my bucket list!  What a way to celebrate the last Balloon Classic!  My sister won a hot air balloon ride and I got to go with her since Jak didn't want to.  I have no idea why but I'm glad because I had a blast.  It was the most amazing thing!

We arrived early early early and waited around with coffee and donuts.  It wasn't clear at first if we were going to get to fly because of the winds but thank god it finally cleared up and we got to launch.  They pulled the balloon out and inflated it.  We were the first balloon to go so that everyone would follow us.  So everyone was crowded around as they stood the balloon up because we were the only ones.  It was a great feeling when they made everyone back up and Caitlin and I got to walk forward and climb into the basket.  It was like, oh yeah... we're awesome!

We clambered in, which is not easy.  The basket is not big.  There were extra fuel tanks and our pilot was not a small woman so it was a good thing Caitlin and I are pretty small ourselves.  Moving around in there was almost impossible.  Then we were off!  The fire roared, which kept us nice and warm, and we lifted off!  You would be surprised how smooth it was.  Hot air balloons are very smooth up and down but it is pretty intimidating that up and down is all the pilot can do.  You can't control at all where you go because the wind just takes you where it may.

We took off and smoothly sailed over the lake.  We even got to dip into the lake.  Our pilot accidentally went in pretty deep so our feet and pants got wet but I was so thrilled that we dipped in the lake that I didn't even care.  Everyone was cheering and it was a dream!

The winds kind of circled us around downtown Colorado Springs and that was really cool getting to look down on all the streets I knew.  It was a clear morning and the mountains looked so beautiful.  It was the best morning I've had in a long long time.

After about an hour of floating about, which is a really long ride I guess, we came in for a landing about a block from where we took off.  It is weird that you can just land anywhere you can fit the balloon.  It was just an empty lot that we came down in.  The landing was bumpy but I was just laughing.  So much fun.  As soon as we touched down, the chase crew pulled up and helped us lay the balloon down.  We got to help fold it up and pack it up which is not easy.  That is a heavy balloon!  I have not had that much fun in a long time though.  God I loved it.

If you ever get the chance, go up in a balloon.  There is NOTHING like it!

Video!

Glowing Balloons

I'm sad to say that this will be the last year that the Balloon Classic will be here in Colorado Springs.  I've been going to it since I was a kid and it makes me sad.  Hopefully they won't move it too far and we can still go to it.

Knowing this was going to be the last time, Jake and I got out to see the balloons glow tonight.  This was always my favorite part.  Seeing 30+ balloons light up at night with roaring flames is something everyone should see at least once.

We rode the bike out there, thank goodness because we got close parking and were able to zoom out pretty quickly.  The glow didn't last as long as it usually does because about half an hour in the winds picked up and all the balloons came down.  It was kind of funny actually.  Jake and I were walking through the balloons when they started to lean and "fall" down.  Some people really freaked out about that.  Mini freak out and running out of the way.  I found that kind of amusing.  I didn't freak out or run but there was a moment when there were several balloons coming down around us where I wasn't quite sure if we were going to get smooshed or not.  I was pretty sure that we'd live through it either way so no need to freak out.

For the time the balloons were up, it was beautiful!

I'm a News Celebrity!

I was the lucky board member of Lucky Dog Rescue who got to go on Fox 21 News this morning and talk about our big event on Sunday, the Lucky Dog Jog.  It's a big event, or we hope so anyway, that sustains the rescue throughout the year on funds and donations.  This is the fifth year we've done something like it.  I always end up being extremely busy and really unable to fully help with the planning and prep for this, which I feel bad about, so I think that doing the news spot for it is more than enough to make up for it.

The Fox 21 weather man takes his dog to LD so we reached out to him to try to get some coverage for the rescue.  Myself and an apprentice took a rescue dog down there this morning for a quick chat about the jog.  It was cool to see the news room and everything but it felt a bit like flying by the seat of my pants since I really had no idea what was expected of me.  They said come in.  We came in.  They said sit and wait.  We sat and wait.  They said come sit here and put the mic on.  We sat down and I put the mic on.  Then off we went.

I was petrified but I guess I hid it pretty well.  I've never enjoyed public speaking but I used to have much worse stage fright than I do now.  Now I can kind of just shove that down and fake it.  Training classes in front of people has really made me a better speaker I think.  As long as I don't have to read anything or use notecards I'm fine.  Once I have to start reading and looking at notecards my dyslexia rears its ugly head and we're in real trouble.

So I was very glad that Justin took the lead and just kind of let me wing it with him.  I'm much more comfortable that way.  People tell me you can't tell just how nervous I am so win for me.  Hopefully this brings people into the jog!

Video

RIP Robin

Robin Williams killed himself.  I never would have said that he or his work has had a profound influence on my life but I am really feeling his death.  It makes my heart hurt that a man that was so loved by so many for making them laugh and smile was hiding so much darkness in him that it destroyed him.  No one really knows what goes on below the surface of another person.  Here was my Facebook status today:

As everyone mourns Robin Williams, remember a smile can hide a so much private pain. I know the feeling of debilitating depression and I thank God that I never considered the act of suicide. Mostly because I was just too damn stubborn to let something beat me. But remember that people all around you struggle. Be a voice of strength and support now instead of when it is too late to reach someone. It can make a difference in someone's life.

It's true.  People all around us fight private battles and shoulder private demons everyday.  Mental illness is a real thing that real people face.  It isn't something "other" that you'll never run across.  Chances are someone and someone you know well is or has struggled with it.  I struggled with major depression for years.  Sometimes I didn't even realize just how unhappy I was and I only see it now that I am looking back from a place of relative mental health.

I struggled with depression and, at the time, I had a very hard time admitting it.  That, of course, only made it worse.  I felt like I had to hide this giant thing that was slowly sucking the life out of me from anyone and everyone.  I was so afraid that of people's judgements and that they would think I was weak.  Mental illness is not only debilitating but it is isolating.  Dealing with it is the one time you really need to draw strength from the people around you but it is also the one time you feel you really need to hide.

I struggled with that for a long time.  A silent struggle until I almost broke.  I never felt the need to commit suicide but I can see how someone would reach that point.  Somehow, I had a stubbornness inside of me that refused to give up and I managed to drag myself out of a very deep hole.  The few people I did tell, gave me so much support that I was able to recover.

I just wish that people would look around them and recognize that anyone that struggles with a mental illness is still a person and probably a very strong person.  It takes INCREDIBLE inner strength to be able to survive something like that and work your way through to a healthy place.  Help and understanding is so needed.  No one struggling should feel so judged that they hide it until it kills them.

If you are the one who needs support, speak out.  Know that the person who judges you is worthless but the person that steps up and offers you unconditional support is priceless.

Thank you to all the priceless people in my life.  Most especially my sister, who was a light when I was lost in darkness.

10 Years Ago

This weekend was my 10 year high school reunion.  Wow.  I can't believe that ten years ago I was roaming the halls of Air Academy High School, unaware of the great big world around me.  Everything is so important and dramatic in your world when you're in high school, even when you try to be down to earth, that you really aren't aware of just how wide the world is and how unimportant your problems are.

I have to admit, that I liked high school.  There were some bad times yes but college turned out to be such a bust for me that I look back fondly on my high school years.  Nothing was too bad after all and I made it through.  I have been looking forward to my reunion for years.  I am not sure exactly what I expected, not really what I got, but I have been thinking about it for a while.  I just wondered where all these people where that I shared my growing pain years with and what they are doing.

There were three events this weekend but I only chose to go to one.  I kind of wish I had gone to the mixer event but decided just to go to the dinner at Phantom Canyon.  Honestly, I think they should have had it at the high school and just had one big event for everyone to come. A mixer at the high school would have been more fun.  Ah well... the food was really good.  And it was good to see who was there.  Some people were there who never spoke a word to me in high school but actually went out of their way to chat.  That was pretty nice.  Then were were people there who didn't talk to me in high school and ignored me at the dinner.  Whatever, I've long since grown past the point where I am quiet and care what people think of me.  Sarah and I had a great time talking and laughing regardless of who else was around.

Speaking of Sarah, I am so glad we fell back in together.  We've known each other forever and there was no one more important to me throughout high school than her.  Once a best friend, always a best friend.  That's true for us.

Sarah and I at the reunion.

Sarah and I many moons ago!

Group shot!

Oh and also I looked damn good.  That's always a plus.  Eat your heart out high school guys!

Waterworld!

Caitlin, Kathleen and I went to Waterworld today.  I've been trying to get a group together to go for a while now but no one ever seemed to want to.  Caitlin and I both had today off and yesterday we both just decided we wanted to go to Waterworld.  Kathleen came along and it turned out to be a really good day.  It was just the right temp, a little cold but warm enough that we didn't freeze.  Also it is Monday so there weren't that many people swarming about.  I don't like it when it is overcrowded but mostly you can expect it.  I think it is late enough in the season that everyone is in school and so not as many people out on a weekday.

Anyway, we always do Journey to the Center of the Earth first because it is my favorite and if you hurry over there isn't much of a line first thing.  I was really impressed with it.  It has the claim to fame that it has the longest vertical drop of any ride at a water park.  You have to lug a tube up a huge hill and then come flying down through tunnels filled with dinosaurs.  Although it is always a good time, I was really impressed that this year they spruced it up, gave it a little bit of a face lift.  The T-Rex was the best part.  Made him move and come out again to roar at the passing boats.  Very nice.

All in all it was a great day.  I really enjoyed catching up with Kathleen.  I hope things perk up for her soon.  I really want to bring Jake and Samuel out.  I know Samuel would have a good time.

Zombies Crawl Again!

The Zombie Pub Crawl was last night.  I was pretty excited about it and got Shay, Amanda and Jake to go with me.  Although I had fun, it was not nearly as good as it was last year, which bummed me out.  I don't know why but it actually sucked a little bit.  I drank too much too.  Amanda and I need to realize that we're little and can't drink as much as everyone else.  At least I woke up this morning without a hangover!  I have a magic ability not to be hung over, even if I'm falling down drunk the night before.  Thank God!

Pictures!