Bucket List

A bucket list is a number of experiences or achievements a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. It came from the term "kicked the bucket" referring to when someone has passed away. There are thousands of things that could be on one's bucket list and many times I do not realize when an experience is on mine until I am in the process of experiencing it or I plan to experience it. I have a pretty lengthy bucket list. I think my list is realistic and definitely achievable by the end of my lifetime (if I live for another 50 years give or take), I think that is a perk of being an occupational therapist. When writing goals for clients we make sure they are measurable and achievable. Why create a goal someone cannot reach? Instead create goals one can reach and then create new goals to push them further. I feel this way about my bucket list. As I accomplish tasks on my list, I add new ones. Below s my current list of things I wish to accomplish (in no particular order and I am sure as I get older or get to experience new things, I will realize it should have been added to this list a while ago) in the next 50 or so years.

• Visit all 50 states (over 1/2 way there)
• Travel Europe
• Go on a road trip with my best friend Courtney to Sheboygan, WI in a red convertible and a package of Depends
• Volunteer in a 3rd world country
• Adopt a child
• See the Northern Lights
• Visit Manitoba with dad and watch the polar bear migration
• Take my Grandma on a Caribbean cruise and see her swim with a dolphin
• Go on a Disney Cruise
• Throw a dart at a map and travel to wherever it lands or go on a road trip with no planned destination
• Put a lock on a love bridge
• Pay a stranger's tab at a restaurant
• Ride a gondola and eat gelato in Italy
• Go to the Olympics as a spectator
• Spend NYE in NYC
• Collect shot glasses from every continent (All I need is one more from Antarctica; if anyone knows anyone going!)
• Read every James Patterson book written (besides his Juvenile series)
• Attend the Kentucky Derby
• Go skydiving
• See a volcano 
• Go horseback riding
• Go to the World's Fair
• Stand in the 4 corners
• Go on a hot air balloon ride
• Go whale watching
• Visit an elephant sanctuary
• Visit with family in Luca, Italy
• Visit Ghiloni Cafe in Kirkintilloch Glasgow
• Attend Cherry Blossom Festival in DC
• Visit John Denver's Memorial in Aspen, CO
• See the Waterfire in Providence, RI
• Stay at Riverside Inn B&B in Warsaw, KY
• Visit Puget Sound in Washington
• Purchase every item on my Amazon wish list
• Attend a Seattle Seahawks game in Seattle
• Attend a New Orleans Saints game in NOLA
• Be debt free
• Watch the sunrise in one place and set in another
• Visit the Equator
• Stay at a resort in the Maldives
• Experience Christmas in NYC (done 2x!)
• Snorkel in the Caribbean ocean (found out it's one of my favorite things to do)
• Meet a dolphin
• Go on a cruise
• Be a Maid of Honor (2x completed)
• Graduate college
• Go to Disney World and visit all 4 kingdoms
• Go to NYC for World Autism Awareness Day and see the ESB lit blue
• Get a tattoo 

Ohio State Fair 2011

This was the first time I have ever and I mean ever been to the Ohio State Fair and I can say, it wasn't that bad. We decided to go after church and was going to wait until it was later in the day, but since we knew the temperature wasn't going to change much we headed out during the early afternoon. The weather was hot but nothing that was excruciating and there were plenty of places to stay cool. Since I had never been to the fair, I did not know what to expect and I can say after spending six hours there we still did not see everything the fair has to offer. Some of the cool parts I liked that my niece and my nephews did too was the obviously the animals as well as the Park section. This is where they had all the great things about Ohio's parks on display and during this summer I have really begun to enjoy some of what Ohio's State parks have to offer. We got to see beavers, owls, skunks, groundhogs, and a bobcat up close (closer than the zoo) and it was really cool to see kids react. We also rode a ton of rides, well the kids did at least, and it was cool because they did not need an adult to ride with them this year. I got to see some of the vendors there and see my first roller girl game/derby (don't know the official game). It is definitely worth going back to again that is for sure.

Thomas the Train

A few weekends ago, I went with my friend and her three children to Cincinnati, OH to see Thomas the Train. We made this a big weekend for them considering that they are toddlers and besides swimming in the hotel pool, staying in a hotel for the night, and the quick drive down, we also visited the aquarium. It was awesome to see the sharks and to actually be able to touch them. After an exciting Saturday it was time to see Thomas the Train. The tickets are a little pricey but if you have children under 2 they are free. This includes a ride on the train that is pulled by Thomas, free bounce house, play tents that include tattoos, meeting Sir Topham Hatt, story time, a maze, and playing with toy trains. The train ride is about a half hour and it is loads of fun, they play the theme music to Thomas and they make it really exciting for kids. I would definitely recommend trying this if you have kids that are into trains. The railroad that put this spectacle on also does other fun kids rides throughout the year and we are already considering doing another one.