Michelle Hugli's Blog
I went skydiving this morning and it was one of the most exciting things I've ever done. I absolutely loved it! What a rush! Wow. I can't wait to do it again! I was totally pumped and excited to go, but a little nervous and scared too. But the nerves didn't last too long.
Getting geared up was great - that's when the anticipation started to build. That is, until we were told we couldn't go because it was too windy. But, this is Saskatchewan, and the wind comes and goes, and it wasn't long before we were able to get ready again to head on up.
Once I was outfitted in a black jumpsuit and a pink helmet, I got on the plane with two of my running buddies and up we went. I jumped last because I was the smallest one in the plane. Getting out onto the strut was the toughest part, because it's damn scary climbing out of a plane at 3800 feet to dangle from the wing. But once you're out there, there's only one thing left to do: just let go.
Except I didn't at first.
My instructor told me to go and I just grinned at him. After climbing out and arguing with him about whether I was doing it right or not (I was convinced I wasn't but he assured me I was), I needed a moment to just dangle there to collect myself - you know, just take a quiet "me" moment before dropping into the air. He yelled for me to go again, and then I did.
It happened so fast I didn't even have time to be scared or feel panicked. I dropped and then I just made sure my canopy opened properly and that I could control it. Once I did that, I just enjoyed the view with a great big perma-grin plastered onto my face. I went into a spiral (on purpose) and just had some fun in the air and then I just steered my way toward my landing place.
And then I had a perfect landing.
I just came down gently and took step or two forward before turning around to gather my chute. It was a fantastic experience and now I'm hooked. I'll definitely be going back for more!!! Absolutely amazing.
First thing tomorrow morning I am jumping out of a perfectly good plane. Skydiving is something I always said I would do, but just never got around to doing. When one of my running buddies suggested getting a group out for a jump, I immediately agreed - and then I got scared. For two weeks, I tried not to think about it too much. Each time I did, my palms got all sweaty and I started to feel really nervous and scared. But now, I'm just excited. I'm really excited and totally pumped about the jump tomorrow morning.
It's not tandem, so I'll miss out on the freefall, but I have a feeling I'll do a freefall of my own at some point. But we'll see. I'll let you know how it goes. If you don't hear from me, you'll know it didn't go well...
And on THAT note, Happy Friday folks!
Guns in the classroom. "It's just common sense," says the school district's superintendent. Yep. Guns at school makes perfect sense to me! Why not?!?
The Harrold Independent School District in rural Texas unanimously agreed to let teachers bring guns to school - as long as they're certified to carry a concealed handgun, have crisis training and permission from officials.
Not only that, but some people have actually suggested that both students and teachers should be allowed to carry legally concealed weapons to class because of recent school shootings in the States. Again, this just oozes with common sense! "How are we going to prevent school shootings? I know! Teachers and students can bring their OWN weapons to class!"
Great idea.
The parents in the Harrold district must think so - none of them have objected to this decision.
That's what I was taught to say as a kid if some creep offered me drugs. It was a slogan heard on TV, printed on posters and repeated at assemblies with motivational speakers. "If someone offers you drugs, kids, just say NO!" It was as simple as that.
Now, as an adult, I've come to realize it's a slogan worth repeating: "Just Say No." But the problem isn't drugs. It's demands on my time.
"Hey! We're looking for more volunteers for the youth program on Thursday nights."
"You'd be the perfect person to head up this project. I'll sign you up!"
"We need someone with writing and editing experience. Can you help us out?"
Sometimes, I really should just say no. But I don't. I feel guilty if do. Or I feel uncomfortable telling someone that I can't do something. Part of it is that I actually enjoy doing extra work for people in my community. Several groups and organizations need extra help. It's good experience, communities benefit and it makes me feel good. But sometimes it can be too much. Then I just get stressed out and cranky and no one likes a grump.
So, I've decided it's time to dust off that ol' piece of childhood advice and start applying it to my grown-up life. It's time to let my selfish side flourish. It's time to cherish MY time. It's time to start using that small, but powerful word. At least once in a while.
I had a great holiday. I took two full weeks off work to hang out at home, attend a wedding, visit family, go shopping and just read and relax. It was awesome and it went by way too quickly. Some of the highlights:
I now have a fence for my backyard. Now I can actually sit out on my deck and enjoy myself and not feel like I'm on display. It's nice and there's still enough summer left to enjoy it. Plus I can take advantage of all the end-of-season sales to plan next year's back yard transformation. Yay!
A wonderful friend of mine got married and the ceremony was lovely. Very simple, straightforward and short. The party after was even better. It was a great time - a real celebration. And it WASN'T on a long weekend! I love my friend - she's the best and she totally gets it. It was at the lake and everyone was in summer mode. I even went canoeing on the morning of the wedding - it was hot, sunny and perfect. Saw - and heard - a lot of loons. Such a nice change from the geese.
I watched one of the Riders games on my sister's plasma widescreen in HD. NICE. I still have my first TV from when I moved out at 18. I even had rabbit ears just over 18 months ago (that only lasted 3-4 months, though). Great game, great picture - good times. I'd like to upgrade, but TV just isn't a priority for me.
Shopping! I spent a few hundred dollars on clothes. Lots of clothes and accessories. I found some great deals and just splurged on myself. Clearly, clothes are a priority for me.
So is reading. I read Micheal Pollan's In Defense of Food. Excellent book. I've since cleaned my cupboards out and have become an even bigger freak about the food I eat. I didn't think it was possible, but I love surprises. Do you realize how many food products contain modified something or other? Modified corn starch. Modified milk ingredients. Modified palm kernel oil. Blech. By the way, I've REALLY enjoyed my meals lately. Mmmm. Real food. (I've now moved on to The Mommy Myth - I just started it, so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm still on chapter 1. So far so good, though. It's about the image of motherhood portrayed by the media.)
I'm not a gamer, but I played Indiana Jones LEGO a lot on PS2. I loved LEGO as a kid (still do, actually) and the characters in the game look like LEGO. I played Star Wars LEGO last year and this latest game was tons of fun. Yeah, there's my inner geek creeping out. Pass the Doritos.
And - I didn't check my email at all. Personal or professional. And I didn't watch or listen to any newscasts or read a paper. I just tuned out the world and gave my brain a break - I can't take it in without thinking about work. I've tried. So now it's time to catch up.
It's good to be back and chatting with you on air!
...but I'll be better about posting regularly once I'm back from holidays.
I'm really looking forward to having two full weeks off. I'm going to catch up on some chores and repairs around the house and I have a crew coming to build a fence around my backyard. Then it's off to the lake to see one of my dearest friends get married and then I'll spend the rest of the time visiting family and friends around Saskatchewan. I plan to do a lot of reading, relaxing and just hanging out.
Thanks to all the callers who suggested books to read while I'm gone - I'm looking forward to checking some of them out. Have a great two weeks and we'll talk when I get back!
Okay, Brad and Angelina. You've finally added twins to your brood - a boy named Knox Leon and a girl named Vivienne Marcheline. Congratulations! The names are pretty normal (even bland) by Hollywood standards. Considering Maddox, Pax, Zahara and Shiloh, I wasn't sure what to expect. But you've done good. I'm not a fan of "Knox" but it could've been a lot worse. So good on ya.
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, however, you guys went to the dark side. Or the side of stupidity. Or cruelty, depending on how one wants to look at it. Sunday Rose Urban Kidman - seriously??? You named your kid SUNDAY??? When you say it, you don't know if it's a day of the week or dessert! And the decisions your daughter will have to make if she wants to get married someday. Last names to nix: Driver, Stroll, Best, Morning - I'm sure we can find more.
But even that could be worse. We haven't forgotten you, Gwyneth and Chris. You named your daughter Apple!!! WHY??!!? You've got something against bananas? Or grapes? I know Peaches Geldof wasn't amused. But no one's listening to her. She's telling them all to stop this nonsense - and we all know why. These are STUPID NAMES!!! But no one in Hollywood wants to give their kid a NORMAL name. That's too boring. Too unoriginal. Too "regular" - it's what the rest of us do. Most of us anyway.
But if Apple, Peaches and Sunday don't concern you, what about Pilot Inspektor??? You'd think the star of My Name is Earl would name his son Melvin or something. Not Pilot Inspektor. That's not a name - it's a profession. Kind of like Talk Show Host. But Jason must be friends with Shannyn Sossamon. That actress named her kid Audio Science. Audio Science. Why not Plant Biology?? Or Cherry Pudding for that matter?
Why doesn't somebody just name their kid Salad? Or Scissors? Microphone, anyone? Lamp?
My parents had two names picked out before I was born: Michael or Michelle. Thank you SO much. Now if we could just discuss that last name....
I went for a quick run this morning and passed by the new skateboard park behind the Science Centre in Regina. The sprinklers were on, but the skaters were still out - and I was really happy to see it. I'm not a skater, I've never stepped foot on a skateboard (okay, once when I was nine and it immediately slipped out from under me and I've steered clear ever since), but I think the skatepark is a great addition to the city and it's in a perfect location.
Skaters need a place to skate. I've never had a problem with skaters, but I didn't like having to avoid them when walking downtown. Once, a skater missed a jump and his board shot out from under him and right in front of me, nearly tripping me over. It was an accident and he apologized, but still. I wasn't mad or annoyed, I just thought it wasn't a good place to skate. And I'm not talking about simple transportation - that's fine with me - I'm talking about doing jumps and grinds and that kind of thing.
I know not every skater will use the parks, but it sure was nice to see those skaters out this morning. One, because the park is new and cost a lot of money so it's nice to see it being used, and two, it's nice to see people active. And I'm glad the park is finished despite an attempt by some local residents to prevent it from going ahead. It's needed and good for the community.