A list of things before I die (a.k.a. my bucket list).

Bucket lists have always interested me. I’ve never really understood why they were called bucket lists, though.  I guess it’s because it’s things you wanna do before you kick the bucket??  Seems a little weird to me, but you know, English is pretty weird that way.  I’ve taken to calling them bucket lists now, though, because it’s what everyone else seems to know them as, and it’s just easier than explaining why you hate the name every time you use it.

Anyways, so I’ve had one made long before I knew what they were called, and even now, I continue to add to it.  I think I was nine years old when I first started writing down the list I’d been keeping in my head for as long as I could remember.  Some items have never changed (hug a panda, see the northern lights, learn to surf), while others have been added as soon as I discovered it was possible to do them or that they existed (swim with sharks, write a book, walk the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon).

Thankfully, I’ve crossed a few off my list: I’ve climbed a volcano, visited Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, camped at Bruce Peninsula National Park, climbed a pyramid (well, technically a ziggurat, but I’m not gonna be picky).

I figured I’d list a few here for you all, in case you need some inspiration.  Of course, there’s other, less photo-friendly items on my list, like write a novel, learn a new language, see a broadway play, spend the night in a haunted house, learn to drive standard, and visit all 50 states.  Plus, you know, ride a hot air balloon, swim with dolphins, go horseback riding, go paragliding, see the Sphinx…. you get the point, I’m sure.

I would love to see the Cristo Redentor and Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.	The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.  The animals aren't afraid of people!! Galapagos islands, Ecuador. I’d love to go and interact with the animals there. They’re not afraid of people!! Galapagos islands, Ecuador. I’d love to go and interact with the animals there. They’re not afraid of people!!
J.K. Rowling is my idol, and I'd love to meet her.	Machu Picchu has always been at the top of my list.
Hadrian's Wall, Northern England.	Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.
The Festival of Lanterns in Thailand.  It looks like it'd be so beautiful to watch!!	Kid Cudi.  His lyrics are incredible, and I'd love to tell him how much I admire him and his honesty.
African Safari.  I think it'd be amazing!!  Hopefully one day it'll happen for me.	Angkor Wat in Cambodia.  I'd love to watch the sunrise.
Party in Rio de Janeiro for the Carnival.	The Great Wall of China.
Own a pair of Louboutins.  They're just so pretty!!	See the Northern Lights (aka Aurora Borealis).
Hug a panda!!	Skydive

So there you go.  I’m sure I’ll come up with others as time goes by, and hopefully I’ll get to knock some off my list soon.  I’m hoping that within the next year I can go horseback riding and maybe ziplining or skydiving.  I wanted to get cliff jumping out the of the way, but instead I jumped off a high ledge inside a cave, which I’m not sure counts as a cliff.  And next year, a trip for sure.  Maybe Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail??  Maybe Comic Con in San Diego??  Or maybe I’ll just buy a pair of Louboutin leather boots (and/or sparkly stilettos).  I’d so love that!!
What’s on your bucket list??

Blogging Challenge: De-stressing

5. How do you de-stress?

This one is fairly similar to the last blog challenge question, but I'll answer it anyways.

Well, considering I spend most of my life stressed out and in a somewhat freaking out mode, de-stressing doesn't come all that easy.  There are a few things I can do, however, that help me to calm down and just take a breath.

1. The beach and swimming.  Sadly, seeing as I live in Toronto, there is no ocean beach or even really nice, clean, swimable area nearby, so my favourite place is Sauble Beach.  At about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away (depending on traffic and how you drive), it's a beautiful place to go.

Panorama of Sauble Beach.

2. Organizing and decorating and cleaning.  Yes, I know it seems weird, but when I'm really stressed, cleaning my space helps.  It's like I'm metaphorically cleaning my head as I throw out garbage and make space around me and place everything where it should go in a neat and orderly fashion.  Usually, this is followed by me re-decorating or moving stuff around and putting new stuff up.

3. Reading. Unfortunately, this has been loosing its calming factor lately.  I get agitated and distracted much easier than I used to.  Although I did just start a new book (well, new to me) called The Baghdad Blogger by Salam Pax, which is pretty freaking interesting.  I've also started to read World War Z by Max Brooks, and I've got a copy of The Cuckoo's Calling by Roberth Galbraith (a.k.a. JK Rowling) waiting for me.

4. Driving.  Preferably by myself and for a fair distance, with music blasting and singing as loud as I can possibly sing.  Even better if this ends at a beach.  I also like driving adventures with friends, where we just go, without thought to where.  It leads to some pretty interesting places!!

5. Tobermory.  I definitely de-stress there. It's my favourite place in the world, and I'd go there any time, for however long, with whoever wants to see it.  Just hike to a nice spot and sit down and stare out at the lake.  It's a good feeling, especially if you've worked hard to hike to that spot.  And the water, regardless of how cold it is, is amazing.  Clear blue, it looks like you could be in the Caribbean.  Here's a few pics I took on the latest trip there for your viewing pleasure:

The view at Pebble Beach.

The view on the way to Cave Point, the highest point in the park.

Tom and Kacper enjoying the rocks (and waves) and Half Dump Log.

Kacper walking into the water at Half Dump Log.

That's all I can really think of.  Nothing lately has really been helping me calm down, as money and work and life have become an incredible weight on my shoulders.  The week in Tobermory helped, but now it's back to applying for jobs and getting my life back on track. 

Blogging Challenge: Things that make me happy

4. What are five things that make you happy right now?

Huh.  Well....I don't know.  I guess this means five different things, so I can't just list five songs. 'Cause five songs would be easy.  Listening to me sing might not make most of you too happy, but that's what earplugs are for!!  I guess that means I can't just make a list of five people either??

I'm sure I can come up with something...hopefully.

1.  Music.  There are bunch of songs right now that make me super happy.  If I was looking to cheer up, or I was in a good mood and wanted to sing along, I'd turn on almost anything from Ke$ha's latest CD, Warrior, or Fun.'s "Some Nights".  Both make me happy.  And if I was looking for older songs that always make me happy, I'd go for some nostalgia: maybe some BSB, some Spice Girls, maybe some Big Shiny Tunes song.  Or maybe I'll put on some Rise Against and some Linkin Park and rock out.  That makes me happy too.

2. Planing an event.  I don't know why, but this makes me so freaking happy.  I love planning everything about an event: invites, music, food, decor.  I love coordinating everything and planning out all the logistical things most people consider a nightmare.  I just finished two awesome events (a Confused Christmas dinner and Burlesque New Year's Eve) and pretty soon I'll be planning something for my bday.  I have no idea as of yet what to do, but I'm sure I'll think of something epic!!  And if anyone has any events they want help planning, or maybe you just want to have a party but don't want to plan, then let me know!!  I'm totally up for planning anything!!

3. Driving.  I've always loved to drive.  Even before I had a car, I'd always be the one driving Kasia's car.  Since I've gotten my car, I get a lot more alone driving time.  Which I didn't like at first.  But now, I love it!!  I try to drive with the windows down, regardless of the temperature, and with the music as loud as I can get it.

4. Apple TV and Netflix. For Christmas, Matt was awesome and got me Apple TV, which we'd figured out (thanks to Robin) how to change so we'd be able to access American Netflix.  I was iffy Apple TV at first, but once I saw the difference between Canadian Netflix (which sucks) and American Netflix (which is freaking awesome!!), I was sold!!  I haven't been an avid TV watcher lately, since I only watch one show, but that's totally changing.  Currently, I'm watching Supernatural, which is totally a me show (hot guys, ghosts and other supernatural things, scary and cheesy scenes), and Doctor Who, which is awesome and full of accents!!  I've also been watching a lot of documentaries, mainly National Geographic ones, which are incredibly good.  You'd be surprised at the different topics they have!!  Right now I'm watching one all about zombies and where the idea comes form and if it really is possible to have a zombie apocalypse.  It's super interesting!!

5. Reading.  As always, reading is my main escape and makes me incredibly happy.  The last two book series (serieses??) I read were The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare, which I loved to death, and the Divergent & Insurgent books by Veronica Roth, which are also really freaking awesome!!  Both are being made into movies, although Mortal Instruments is coming out this year, while Divergent hasn't even been filmed yet.  I'm super excited about Mortal Instruments, though, you have no idea.  I plan to be there on opening night!!  Writing usually makes me happy too, but in the last few weeks I've hit a block. I have ideas, but I just can't find the words to get the out.  It's weird, but hopefully it'll get better soon.

And there you have it!!  It actually made me feel better to list things that make me happy.  I'm totally gonna watch more documentaries and try to write more.  And I guess I should attempt to write more blog posts, too, while I'm at it??

My secret love of fake orangey goodness!!

I'm not sure how many of you know, but secretly, I'm a Sunny D junkie. I love Sunny D.  I could drink it forever.  If I'm ever asked to get orange juice, that's what I'll get.  So as a warning, don't ask me to get orange juice unless you want Sunny D.  Or be specific about which one you want.  And I always make sure to bring one or two bottles camping. It's so not good for you and so yummy tasting.  It's so fake....and so good!! I love it.

So yesterday, while on a super quick Walmart run, I came across this aisle, and took a picture.  It was like someone at Walmart actually went out of their way to make me happy.  So I had to share it.

I'm not sure why someone decided that an entire aisle needed to be sunny D (it was half the regular yellow one, and half of the orange tangy one, which is why further down the colour changes), but they're freaking awesome!!

Of course I bought some.  I had to.  It called to me.  Also, it was only $2 for the big bottle!!!  If I'd taken more cash with me, I would so have bought more than one.  It's not like they go bad or anything.  Seriously, they're fake juice.  That shit must last forever!!  I should put some aside in case the zombies come or the Mayans are right.  Ooooh, I'll make an underground bunker and fill it with Sunny D.  Except...well...that would be a lot of work.  Maybe I'll just fill my closet and hope my building doesn't blow up due to zombies/apocalypse.

But yes, sooooo tasty.  I'm looking forward to breakfast, and the nice big glass of fake orange juice I'm gonna have with it.  I don't even know what I'm gonna have for breakfast, but I know it'll include Sunny D.

'Cause there's just no better way to start the day than with fake, way-too-yellow, orange juice.  Unless I was on a beach.  Oooh, at the beach, drinking some Sunny D.  With rum in it!!  That'd definitely be a better way to start the day :)