#58

#58 Go for a walk on the Mississippi River Walk

Kayla

I'm Baaaaaaack!

Hello all! After a very long hiatus from the blogosphere I am finally back and ready to update you all on what's been going on in my life! I know this is 18 days after I said I would be back, and for that I apologize. But, life's been a little hectic lately, and you will soon see why!

I got back from Austria around April 26th (at least I think it was then). And I was SO relieved to be able to spend some time at home in Dubuque! I got to hang out with my two favorite men, Dad and Eric, and do some of my favorite things! While I was at home, I knocked out several of the things on my 101 in 1001 list including:

57. Go to one of my brother's baseball games.

I'm sure this is about to be a home run :)

61. Play softball catch. (I did this with Eric)

62. Pitch a softball. (And it actually turned out to be somewhat under control!)

63. Go to a driving range.

Perfect form....kinda :)

After having a conversation with USA Volleyball head coach, Hugh McCutcheon, it was determined that I would be an "on call" player this summer. So, that gave me the okay to head back to Lincoln to finish up my degree. I took two classes during the three week May session. Yep, two classes in three weeks. It was definitely stressful. I was in class everyday for six hours with a short break for lunch. After a full day of class, I quite literally had to go straight home and get on the computer to get all my homework done. And that was my schedule for three weeks. BUT, it was SO worth it because...

17. Graduate college!

And since I was at home for two weeks and in class for the next three weeks I didn't play ANY volleyball. The longest I've gone in awhile without training or competing. And that means...

30. Take a month off of volleyball to relax.

This is such a HUGE relief! I'm glad to finally be done! After my last day of class, I headed to Iowa City. For those of you who don't know, my mom has been in the hospital for awhile. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about three years ago. When she first was diagnosed, the doctors gave her steroids and meds and got it under control. Well, she had a flare up and went back to the hospital during a trip back to Dubuque. The steroids and meds weren't working as well as they did three years ago, and she ended up having to have surgery to have her colon removed. Bad news bears. So I went and spent three days with her at the University of Iowa hospital. Good news though, she has been released from the hospital and is slowly but surely traveling the road to recovery. She will have to have a follow up surgery in 4-6 months but soon after that things should be back to normal for her. So please send up some prayers for her speeding recovery.

Next up was Nebraska Volleyball Camps! A week and a half of coaching young girls and hanging out with some of the coolest camp coaches ever! Let's just say I am super pumped for camps to start every summer and by the end of camps, I am just dying for it to end! But, it's a great paycheck and I get to spend a ton of time with my favorite people!

So after an awesome time at Husker camps, I got the call to come back out to California and start training with USA Volleyball again. So, I am currently sitting at my mom's apartment blogging to you. I'll be here until July 21st at the latest, and I'll do my best to keep you updated on what I'll be doing. My agenda for the month is pretty much gonna be train in the morning, sit by the pool all afternoon, watch TV and movies all night, and then sleep. That's the plan thus far. But, I will be getting out some more and I'll be trying to get some more of my 101 in 1001 things done. Here's to a month of adventure! 

Sending all my love from California!

Kayla 

P.S. I know you have all been desperately longing for more "The Office" clips. So, here ya go! Enjoy!

101 in 1001

As most of you know, I've been working on my 101 in 1001 list. For those of you who don't know, 101 in 1001 is quite simply a list that I made myself of 101 things that I wanted to do or accomplish in 1001 days. Well, I started the list about 8 months ago, and it's crazy how much your priorities can change in just 8 months. So, I decided that I was gonna make some changes on my list. I don't know if that's allowed, but screw it. I did it. So here is my new list. The things I have already done are crossed off. The new things are highlighted for you. 

101 in 1001!
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 - Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

                   

1.                 Buy a good photography camera.

2.                 Get away with my best friends.

3.                 Go surfing.

4.                 Learn how to drive a motorcycle.

5.                 Audition for American Idol.

6.                 Go to see a Broadway musical in New York City.

7.                 Say “I love you” to the man of my dreams.

8.                 Buy a guitar.

9.                 Learn to play guitar.

10.               Make a t-shirt quilt.

11.               Learn another language.

12.               Visit one of my friends for once (instead of them visiting me).

13.               Watch every episode of "The Office”.

14.               Bike to work for an entire week.

15.               Travel to one of the pictures on my “Places I Want to Go” Pinterest page.                 

16.               Buy one of the outfits on my “My Style” Pinterest page.

17.               Graduate college.

18.               Give up pop for a month.

19.               Be a model in a photo shoot.

20.               Weigh less than 150 lbs.

21.               Do one of the crafts on my “For When I’m Feeling Creative” Pinterest page.

22.               Go ice skating.

23.               Do the Color Run.

24.               Go for a morning run on the beach.

25.               Sit on the porch in a blanket and watch the sunrise.

26.               Take a spontaneous trip.

27.               Make a wish at 11:11 on November 11^th, 2011.

28.               Sit on the beach under the stars.

29.               Party with Ryan Walthall.

30.               Take a month off of volleyball to relax.

31.               Give up candy for a month.

32.               Try making twenty new recipes.

33.               Go to a hypnotherapy session.

34.               Go to a psychic/palm reader.

35.               Take a meditation class.

36.               Take pop vocal lessons.

37.               Write and compose a song.

38.               Make a playlist of my 26 favorite songs (one for each letter of the alphabet)

39.               “Before I Die” chalkboard.

40.               Keep a dream journal for a month.

41.               Play in a beach volleyball tournament.

42.               Make a purse out of one of my t-shirts.

43.               Hold an exotic animal cub.

44.               Go to Harry Potter World with my best friends.

45.               Be a bridesmaid.

46.               Go to Carpinteria State Beach.

47.               Swim with dolphins.

48.               Go whale watching.

49.               Go to Sea World.

50.               Learn how to bartend.

51.               Written Paper Rings.

52.               Have Lasik eye surgery.

53.               Use Invisiline.

54.               Go hiking.

55.               Complete the 60 Insanity Workout Challenge.

56.               Go to see American Idol.

57.               Go to one of my brother’s baseball games.

58.               Go for a walk on the Mississippi River walk.

59.               Go to the River History Museum.

60.               Gamble.

61.               Play softball catch.

62.               Pitch a softball.

63.               Go to a driving range.

64.               Go to a Husker volleyball game wearing my 2010 Big 12 Championship Ring.

65.               Sing in public.

66.               Reread the Hunger Games series.

67.               Reread the Twilight series.

68.               “Take What You Need” sign.

69.               Tour Europe (Athens, Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, Madrid, Prague, etc.)

70.               Send a secret to Post Secret.

71.               Live in my own apartment.

72.               Go to the zoo.

73.               Do the 90 day Herbal Life program.

74.               Send a message in a bottle.

75.               Go to Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

76.               Go to a water park.

77.               Go to Gotcha Glacier.

78.               Go to Universal Studios.

79.               Go to San Diego Wild Animal Park.

80.               Go to the Wax Museum.

81.               Go to Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

82.               Go to Venice Beach.

83.               Go celebrity watching.

84.               Go to Olive Garden.

85.               See one of my favorite comedians’ shows in person.

86.               Get my eyebrows threaded.

87.               Get highlights in my hair.

88.               Visit the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.

89.               Learn how to juggle with four balls.

90.               Make a meal as good as Outback Steakhouse.

91.               Get a professional massage.

92.               Have a cookie dough movie day/night with my mom.

93.               Make a photo album of my pictures.

94.               Complete Laura’s summer workout.

95.               Run 1.5 miles every day for a month.

96.               Tough Mudder with Jess Yanz.

97.               Spend a weekend with Alicia Sieverding.

98.               Go on a photography walk through Austria.

99.               Visit at least one other country for a weekend while I'm living in Austria.

100.             Design myself a new pair of running shoes (and buy them).

101.             Make a scrapbook documenting #1-100.

Some of you may be thinking "Gee Kayla what are some of the new things that you put on the list?" Well, here are some links where you can check it out:

Pinterest

Color Run.

Before I Die Chalkboard

Herbal Life

I also have some bad news to share. You know how I said we should be able to sweep the Austria finals in four matches and that our last match would be April 15th? Well, I must've jinxed us because we lost the 2nd match of the series (it's best 4 out of 7 matches). So, that automatically tacks on another match on April 18th, adding another three days that I'm for sure gonna be here for. Yeah, I'm not happy about it. But, it gives me a new motivation to win these next three matches! I WANNA COME HOME and I promise I will do everything in my power to get home as soon as I can. I love you all and can't wait to see you :)

Sending all my love from Vienna! 

Kayla 

P.S. Since this loss was one of the most depressing I have ever experienced, here is a clip from another favorite comedian of mine (potentially #85?), Dane Cook. Yes, I did some of this after last night's match. Enjoy!

Hunger Games!

Don't you just love how I'm blogging more often? I know I sure do! Anyways, the subject of today's blog is my latest obsession: The Hunger Games. For those of you who don't know what The Hunger Games is about, here is a brief summary (don't worry I won't give anything away).

The Hunger Games takes place in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and 12 surrounding, poorer districts. At one point in the country's history, a rebellion rose up within the districts and the citizens of Panem attempted to overthrow the Capitol. The uprising failed, and the Capitol regained control over their districts, destroying a 13th district in the process. Every year since then, as a reminder of the horror and destruction that a rebellion can cause, and to keep the districts under control, the Capitol forces each district to offer up (as tributes) one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18. These tributes would be trained in hand to hand combat and survival skills. After they are trained they are placed in an outdoor arena (controlled by the Capitol) to participate in "The Hunger Games", a fight to the death on national television.

This is Katniss.

This is Peeta.

Katniss and Peeta are the tributes that were selected from District 12. The book centers around their journey as they fight for survival in the 74th annual Hunger Games. 

24 Tributes...1 Victor

Sounds intense, huh? 


The Hunger Games is only the first book in the series of three. I originally read the series about a year ago. I fell in love immediately. But, I'm the kind of person who likes to reread books right before their movie comes out (some people don't like to do that which I completely understand). So, I started rereading the first book of the series about a month before the movie was scheduled to come out. Well, I completely forgot how addicting this book is, and I underestimated how fast I can finish a book that I'm really hooked on. I couldn't put it down. I finished it in about three days, and the plan to reread it right before I saw the movie kind of failed. And I couldn't wait to read the second book until after I saw the movie either. Once you start the series, the pages practically turn themselves! Well, I finished the entire series about a week before the movie came out. Oh well! The good news is...

66. Reread The Hunger Games series.

The movie came out in theaters here in Vienna on March 22nd (not sure when it came out exactly in the States). And THANK GOD we have an English cinema here in the city. I went and saw it with Jenna. I was so excited because I had heard nothing but good things about it. It definitely did not disappoint. The stuck to the plot line really well (I hate when movie adaptations completely stray from what actually happened in the book), and overall, all the actors did really well with their characters. 


After seeing the movie, Haymitch officially became my favorite character. Haymitch is from District 12, and is a past winner of the Hunger Games. He now serves as a mentor for Peeta and Katniss doing whatever he can to prepare them for the arena and to help them survive the games. Haymitch is portrayed in the film by the amazing Woody Harrelson.

He did an awesome job giving Haymitch more depth as a character and bringing to life his relationship with the lead characters, Katniss and Peeta.


If you haven't read the books, I would HIGHLY recommend them. You will be instantly hooked. And, if you're not a reader, the movie is definitely worth seeing! An amazing, gripping, intense, and inspired story! 


"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" -Suzanne Collins (author)


Kayla


P.S. Because this post is all about The Hunger Games, here is a trailer from the movie for you! Enjoy!

Vienna Zoo!

Hey all! So recently, I was able to cross something else off of my 101 in 1001 list! I went to the Vienna Zoo with my teammates! I think the last time I went to the zoo was when the team traveled to Hawaii for spring break my sophomore year of college. Needless to say, I was super pumped to go! And so was Jenna...

We got to see so many cool animals! And we were there during the tigers and jaguars feeding time! Yeah, we watch them chew a rabbit's head off. 

We were also there during the sea lions' feeding time! This was SO COOL! I took a video for you :)

We saw Timon!

And we hung out with some Pandas!

Ahh, nothing quite like going to the zoo! Everyone gets to be a kid here! It was definitely a great day for me :)

And that means... 72. Go to the zoo. Yay!

Sending all my love from Vienna! 17 days til' our last match!

Kayla 

P.S. The other night I watched "Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again" and I laughed so hard! So the next few posts are gonna have clips from that because I just think it is so funny! And since I went to the zoo, here is your animal related clip courtesy of Bill Engvall :) Enjoy!

Paris Day 3!

Alright folks! Here is the third and final installment in my Paris blog trilogy! I dedicated the entire third day to the Chateau Versailles!

Once again, I was up and at 'em early on Day 3. I woke up at 7:00 AM again and was out the door by 8:00 AM. I checked out of my room, but left my luggage there again so I wouldn't have to carry it around with me again.

It was an absolutely perfect day in Paris! Thank God the sun decided to come out at least one of the days I was there!

The first place I went this morning was Starbucks. I was dragging a little and needed a pick-me-up. So, I bought myself a caramel machiatto and did some people watching. Thank God Starbucks is international.

Around 8:45 AM I hopped on the train that would take me to Versailles. It was about a 25 minute train ride; not too bad. Plus, I got to see other parts of the city. It was a short walk from the train station to the chateau. I arrived at the front gates around 9:15. I'm still taking pictures on my digital camera right now so I'm afraid I can't post any pictures from the beginning of my day yet. However, this is what the front looks like. Absolutely amazing!

I picked up the audio guide to help me tour the castle. It was amazing! And you're in luck! About halfway through my tour, my digital camera said that I didn't have any space left on my memory card. So, I was forced to switch back over to my camera phone! Here is the royal dining room!

Apparently, whenever the royal family was dining, the public were allowed to come and stand on the other side of the room and watch. Strange. Anyways, the chateau was completely filled with amazing artwork. Here is one of my favorites: a painting of Marie Antoinette being crowned by Napoleon.

It took me about an hour and a half to get through the inside. Then I moved outside to the gardens!

The gardens were absolutely HUGE! I walked through the first part of the gardens with my map in my hand (yeah you needed a map to get through this place). There were so many beautiful fountains, statues, and groves that you could explore. Then right in the middle was the Grand Canal. Here is the picture of the map so you can get a sense of how big this place was.

I spent about an hour walking through the gardens and groves closest to the chateau. This was the King's Grove.

A few more pictures from the gardens.

Around noon, I headed to the Trianon Palaces (which were the royal families privates residences) and Marie Antoinette's private estate. I toured through a few of the private residences for about an hour.

Marie Antoinette's private bedroom.

This wasn't an actual kitchen. This was just a "warming room". The kitchen that prepared the food for the royal family was in a different building entirely.

The King's billiard room. 

After I toured the private residences, I decided to walk back to the palace along the Grand Canal. 

It was gorgeous outside! I loved it!

So there is a small dock on part of the canal. This is a popular place for visitors that need to sit down and rest for a bit. While resting, we have some amazing company :)

There were about ten near the dock. They swam right up to you! Of course, they were expecting bread, which I didn't have any. But still, I could've literally reached out and touched them! Incredible!

There were a few sandwich shops along the Grand Canal. So, I decided to have lunch there around 1:30 PM. 

I can't get over how beautiful it is!

I sit by the Grand Canal until about 2:15 PM. After this I make my way back up to the chateau. This place is absolutely breathtaking! I could get used to living like this :)

By this point in the day, I am absolutely EXHAUSTED. I spent almost three days going crazy in Paris, walking at least 5 miles a day, and getting little sleep. My back, my knees, my shoulders, my feet, and my right ankle (the one I had surgery on...weird, I know) were KILLING me. I didn't have anything else that I wanted to see during this trip. So, I decided to head back to the hotel, grab my luggage and head to the airport early. I got on the train back to the city at 2:20, was on the train to the airport at 3:30 and after checking in and finding my gate, I settled down in the airport around 5:00 PM. It feels so good to sit down, because at this point, I am in so much pain. I guess 23 is the age when everything starts hurting :)

My flight left at 8:15 PM.

I landed at 10:15 PM.

I took the train to Vienna at 11:05 PM.

I hopped on the subway back to my street at 11:30 PM.

I arrived back at my apartment at 11:54 PM. 

Talk about a jam packed three days of pure adventure!

It took only three days for me to fall absolutely head over heels in love with Paris. I want very much to be able to go back someday (but maybe next time with company). I don't really have any highlight points of my trip because everything was so AMAZING! I can't pick a favorite so don't make me :)

I spent an amazing three days in Paris, and you know what that means....

99. Visit at least one other country for a weekend while I'm living in Austria.

NOW GO HAVE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE! 

As always, sending all my love to you! Four weeks til I'm home! :)

Kayla

P.S. As usual, have a good laugh. Enjoy!