WA State Fair in Puyallup

The WA State Fair was not on my bucket list, but it was something that I had not experienced. Once again this was something that people told me was a great time, good food, rides and so much to do. I thought, it just a fair what can be so exciting about it to drive all the way there for. Well....I was kind of wrong.

We, my friend Christine and I, started by getting some yummy BBQ pulled pork sandwich and ice cold lemonade. It was very messy but delish! After that we walked around the whole fair to see what was around and see what rides we could go on that wouldn't hurt my back. It came down to only three rides that I could go one, the sling shot (which Christine said hell no too, haha), another ride that spun around, but you were secure and the Scream (which is a 200 feet shot up in the air and drop, again she said hell no, haha). We  decided to play some games and check out the 5D movies. And of course we got a photo button! You can't go to the fair and not get one of those!

 The Scream Ride

We decided to go to the ride that we didn't know the name of and turned out the lone was super long. We decided we didn't have time to wait since we needed to drive to Silverdale and wanted to leave at a decent time. So, I sweet talked Christine into doing the Scream ride! She would scream every time the ride shot up and dropped the people. She then would count so she would know when the take off was for each time. She is not a fan of heights and she was hating me at this moment. I told her she will love it and still love me at the end, :). Well, I at least hoped so! To me this made it the ride more entertaining, I'm sorry Christine but you made me laugh and smile! There was another couple waiting in line with us that we laughed with since the guy was not thrilled about going on the ride at all either. When it came to our turn, I realized why the name is called Scream. I usually don't scream on rides but I couldn't help but just let it out! When you are being shot up through the air your breath is taken away and everything around you is a blur! It feels like your stomach ended up in your chest! Then, it happens all over again but your stomach feels like it being pushed the other way. We both screamed and laughed. I would scream to the point that no sound was coming out. When we were at the top of the tower it was night out and it was beautiful. You could see the whole fair lit up and the Lumansia(will explain soon) with the full moon shining above it. I tried to get her to look at the beautiful sight, but she had her eyes shut so tight and was counting to how long until the drop. Oh I love her! I told her that she started counting to soon so when she got done we didn't drop! She started over...one, two, three, four, SCREAM!!!! HA! The ride was a thrill!! And she still loves me and she survived! Go Christine!!!

 

After the ride!

After the ride, we took a walk through the Lumansia to calm our nerves after the ride. This is where structures were made of colored silk, wire and lights. At night the structure would be lit up and you could enjoy all the colors as you walked through. There was the under the sea, Space Needle, Seattle ferry boat, flowers, a pond with lily pads, frogs, dragonflies, fish and boats, a large dragon boat, bridge, apple trees, a Chinese building and more. It was amazing! It was worth the 12 dollars to get in. At the beginning you get you photo taken and they put different backgrounds of the structures. The dragon reminded me of when I was apart of the dragon paddle boat team and made me miss it. Hopefully someday once my back is better I can join a team again. I could have just sat there for a long time just soaking in all the colors around me.  Very impressive and glad I could enjoy it before I lost more vision!

Even though the WA State fair reminded me of the Boise State fair the Lumansia was the best and amazing part of the fair. If they have it next year I highly recommend! I had to post most of the pictures from the Lumansia since I couldn't decided on my favorites, they all are!

Cabela's

On September 17th my friend, Christine, and I decided to make my trip to Silverdale for my back injections a longer trip...driving to Lacey, WA to Cabela's! My friend, Rachel, who happens to be Christine's sister gave me a gift card for my birthday and we were going to all go together. but she had to move to NC due to her husband being in the Marines and we didn't have time. Rachel, you were in our thoughts when we were there!

I had no idea what to expect at this store other than it was two levels and animals everywhere. Everyone would say how great this store was because of all the stuff they carry and the animals. The night before I was not able to sleep so I did some pre shopping to figure out what I would want to buy with my gift card...well that was not hard to decide! It was an easy choice, a new sweatshirt that was cameo with Cabela's in pink! Keep in mind that my mom has been trying to get me to not wear them since she thinks they are not flattering and she hates when I wear them. And I just threw my last one away. Well this just made me want it more! HA!

Christine and I were following the directions that we got from MapQuest, lets just say that it tells you to go the wrong way. I had seen the store from the high way and when we got off the exit, MapQuest was taking us farther from it and we couldn't locate the street that it told us to turn on. We finally gave up and pulled up GPS on her iPhone. Turns our that we were suppose to turn left off the exit not right. Stupid MapQuest! It take 15 minutes of precious time I could have used at the store! :)

My first reaction when I saw the store as we came over the hill was, "Wow, this store is huge and are we going to get through the whole thing in an hour!" People around us probably thought we were crazy when we yelled we made it when we got out of the car, but we didn't care. We posed infornt of the store taking picture to document another check mark of the list!  As we walked in, we were greeted and asked if we had ever been there and my friend answered because I was too busy starring at everything around me and making sure I wasn't running into anything! (Yes, I was using my cane and I have proof!)











The first stop was the sweatshirt section to see if I could find the one I found online. They didn't have the zip up one I wanted nor the pull over. I was sad but knew I could find another. I decided to wait and see the store before deciding. We went to the middle of the store were there was a waterfall with different animals all around. I couldn't believe how big some of them were. I instantly said, "Christine, picture!!!" We then walked around the first floor and found the shooting area. I got really excited when we saw the shooting game area. I kicked Christine's butt! Yes, this blind girl won and funny thing is that I didn't realize I was suppose to be aiming at the red lights until after I was done. I was just trying to aim at the target sign which was hard enough! I could have spent my whole hour there, but didn't. We did Elongated coin machine that put the Cabela's logo for a souvenir of our adventure. We started the second level, took more pictures and realized that it had been an hour! We didn't finish the second floor but I was satisfied.

I went back to the sweatshirt section and found one that I liked. We then found a shot glass for Christine, she collects them. As we were getting in the car and getting ready to leave, I looked at the picture I had of the sweatshirt I wanted on my phone and realized, "Wow, I'm dumb, the one I got was the one I wanted!" In the picture I couldn't see the establish year under the Cabela's so I was looking for one without it. I got the one I wanted!!

When I got home I had the sweatshirt on, first thing my mom said was, "I just got you to throw away your last one and you bought another one! But it is cute." Haha, I win!!

Thank you Christine for driving me there and sharing the adventure! Thank you Rachel for the gift card so I was able to get my sweet sweatshirt!

Finalized List and Planning

So, I went through my bucket list and I think I have all the main things I want to do on there. Right now, I am planning my RV trip that I would like to take to visit National Parks and Monuments. I don't know when it will happen but it is fun to plan and map out what I would like to do. Now, I just need to figure out who was to travel with me and how much money it will be!

In My Shoes

They saying, you never know what someone's life is like until you have walked in their shoe's-it is true. You don't know what someone is experiencing or feeling and sometimes they can't explain it well enough for you to understand. I know that I can't, I never can find the right words to describe how I feel.

With my syndrome every day is a battle and some people don't understand. Sometimes I get the feeling that they think I use it as an excuse to get out of something. But it is not the true. Every day I have pressure in my eyes that sometimes develops into a migraine, but the pressure is always there. Some days it is worse that I just have to close my eyes to make it go away. When the pressure is there, it makes my eyes more sensitive to light which causes head aches as well. Through out the day I will have little balls of white light or dark weird shapes, that most people call floaters, that block my line of vision. The floaters happen more than the light. When this happens it is not painful, but frustrating because it blocks the only vision I have left. The floaters or light doesn't go away quickly and tends to linger. Sometimes I will make a grunt of frustration and a deep sigh, because I can't see what I'm doing and know there nothing I can do but work with what vision there is and wait.

 Some people ask why I don't use my cane everyday. Well one reason is because I am embarrassed and it makes it too real for me. I guess you can say it is denial. The second reason is because it depends on the weather and if I know the area. At night and I don't have anyone to guide me, I will use it. I am completely night blind and I can't even see when a hand is being waved in front of my face. Every day I wake up wondering what today will be like for my eyes and how much of a struggle it will be. On cloudy, overcast days my vision is a slight issue because it is "shadowy" and I feel that everything is blurry. On bright sunny days, well you think I would love those days, but I don't. I get instant headache because my eyes are way too sensitive and sun glasses only help to a point. I usually can't see what I'm doing so I have to use my cane. If I am in a new environment, I use my cane unless I have someone guiding me.

I avoid going to new places because my anxiety gets the best of me. When I go to places that I don't know the surroundings or it is too crowded I don't relax. I am constantly scanning the area to learn what is around me and how to get around in case the people I'm with wonder off, which does happen . I never had anxiety until I learned of my vision loss, and now it is an obstacle that I have to work with. It causes me to say no to going out with friends or going to certain restaurants because I am not comfortable and if my anxiety gets too bad it makes me sick. It doesn't make a fun night and a good person to be around.

I may be a hermit, but I am okay with that because by the end of the day my eyes are too tired from all the straining and pain that I just need my space so I can let my guard down and relax. People may not understand, but I'm still learning on how to manage it and deal with it so I can someday overcome that anxiety and not be afraid to go into a dark bar or restaurant. It is baby steps for me and when I don't have someone else in the same shoes with me helping me along, it is going to take sometime. I may be calm on the outside about it all but in the inside I just wanted to scream and throw stuff because I'm angry this is happening to me and I'm frustrated that I can't do the things I loved or have that independence of driving. I am far from perfect.

Truck Driving

Originally number 23 said that I wanted to drive a truck and said that I would like to drive a Toyota, but since Justin let me drive his really nice Dodge I was satisfied with that being the checkmark for that item. I have always loved Toyota trucks, especially white lifted ones. I always told myself and friends that if I were to get married that my husband will have to buy my truck to drive me around in, haha. Silly I know but I can't help it, owning one was a dream for a long time.
My friend Kevin drives one that I just love! We went camping in Forks and he told me that I could drive it! Again, my friends shocked me by letting me drive their very nice trucks that cost a lot of money. I just love my friends, :). I drove his truck along a dirt road, with many pot holes which made it even more interesting for me...oh plus a small boat trailer! I did well and didn't forget how to drive a stick shift. I was proud! I made sure I was going a good speed that was comfortable for me, but Kevin...well let us just say he likes to go fast. He told me to gun it, well if he said I could might as well. Pot holes, speed and a boat and trailer that is jumping over the pot holes equals.....a thrill! I jumped out of his truck like a little kid getting an ice cream cone.
I'm thankful for my friends and the support they give me. Kevin, thank you so much for letting me drive your truck and satisfying my dream to drive a nice Toyota truck. You don't even know how happy I was and how I felt inside.

Focusing on the dirt road!

Yep, I drove this tuck :)