Top Ten Things About 2015

What a year I had! I got to do so much and had an excellent year. It was a great time by most of the people involved and somehow I kept myself all in one piece. So without further adieu, my top 10 things about 2015:
10) Bucket List Items: Whether it was shaking the president's hand or being next to the president, seeing a wonderfully pitched game, seeing a shootout, riding a mechanical bull, jumping off a rock, doing extreme floating, or doing a half marathon, 2015 was a great year for the "before I die" list- I got several more things marked off as well (including riding the light rail, seeing a Boise State soccer game, eating Ethiopian food, watching The Big Lebowski, using a personal trainer, and more). There was so much accomplished this year
9) My Friends: My friends are the best I've had in years and they keep on getting better. With them I have done many amazing things, some that are bad instances of hilarity (especially when alcohol or caffeine are involved) and other times when it's just plain fun that I have when it is done in a stellar way. My friends are so plentiful that I've had to cut down the time I spend with them and that is good and bad.
8) Trips: I went to Nevada, California, Oregon, and Idaho on one trip (the DD Council trip to Sparks). Hilarity ensued and some of it I'm pretty sure isn't totally printable. Other great trips included Seattle (which I also got to walk on a railroad and go to a few great restaurants as well as the other things I did there which were many), Moscow for the State Games, hiking, extreme floating, extreme rafting, rafting, hot springs, Pine Flats with my friend Jason, Sun Valley with S.O. College, Jump Creek to take pictures, and Ketchum for Family Camp. I have had a great time traveling for sure.
7) My Bromate: OK, so most of our shenanigans aren't totally printable and if we loved each other more I would be more gay and he would probably be bisexual, but all you need to know is that my roommate and I have the best non-couple bromantic relationship ever. It is almost like we were made for each other in the most heterosexual way. 3 1/2 years and still going so strong.
6) Volunteering: I volunteered for Boise Urban Garden School, Special Olympics, Boise Rescue Mission, Southminster Presbyterian Church/Grace Jordan, Idaho Food Bank, Children's Miracle Network, the Democratic Party, This Is Boise, as well as a few other organizations when I had time as well as Service Saturdays and photo ops for leadership and have donated money several places too. It feels great to be more involved in the community and it's been great to be in that place where I can help.
5) Not Getting Hurt (Mostly): Despite some dangerous activity (kickboxing, body combat, dancing, frisbee, volleyball, and said things above) and walking probably close to 2,000 miles and doing a 1/2 marathon, a 5K, and a 10K as well as a few thousand laps and many other exercise classes, power workouts, weights, and a 2-on-1 game, I haven't had my knees or ankles sprained once and I've only had one injury doing any of those things: a strained back. I did bang my head on a billboard but otherwise was injury-free and only had illness for 5 1/2 weeks this year. Pretty awesome!
4) Finding Ways To Cope: So integral to my success is finding ways to cope. Some of them include exercising, taking a short vacation, journaling, visualization, classical music, walking, and so many others. I am lucky to have aptly named Tender Thoughts in my life, a great Counselor, a great support system where many of them are only a phone call away, and being able to get good sleep when I do as well as see movies and craft and read. These are pivotal to keeping me well during breaks.
3) Spiritual Journey: I have gone on a parabola and have come back and gone away so many times but especially the last half of the year I have had a strong sense of spiritual self. I have enjoyed getting to understand my faith better and it's simply quality (great times in two churches) vs. quantity (several church organizations and not being fully fulfilled). It has taken 16 years as a Christian to find balance in that and I finally have.
2) Great Grades: Roll call for this year on grades: A-, B-, B, A, and P. So well for all the stuff I did those semesters and in the summer. I have to confess there were 3 times I didn't want to go to Yoga class but did anyway. There were few times when I struggled with pain in my classes this Fall but went anyway. There was one time when I had such a long day that I drank a Red Bull at 4:30 right before class but stayed in it anyway. There was one time when I went to class after working 4 hours. Sacrifices like that are the reason why I am at a 2.944 (and counting) in college with 4 or 5 terms to go. Just think- 2 to 2 1/2 years and it won't matter.
1. Brushes With Fame: From the time with Obama behind him and shaking his hand to being picked up by my place at work for the piece of my speech about Albertsons' and Special Olympics to a couple other times on TV and once or twice in the newspaper and a few times with Boise State related things in print and in photograph, I have had a great year catching the Bott-a-ratzi. It's been fun. Indicative of that year were the random videos that were done and the fruition of my BUS attempts getting to take later BUSes into action. Yep 2015 has been a great year!