Year of Courage: Skydiving

We finally made it to the month of August. Folks what happened to this month? I blinked and it was gone. This is the first month so far this year that it's has felt like it has flown by. Honestly, I don't even feel like the rest of the year flew by... just this month. I think that this month flew by because this month my courage challenge skydiving.

Like every other month before I have had a movie that go along with my challenges. This time around I choose Kingsman: The Secret Service.

The reason I selected this film was because I love the skydiving scene. It's thrilling, it's funny, it shows how brave you have to be when "one of you doesn't have a parachute". Now, I know that that is the worse thing that can happen, but I knew it was really going to happen to me. Plus, who doesn't want to watch a movie this this man on the screen? 

This was the very first thing that went onto my courage list. It was the one adrenaline rush activity that I claimed that I would never do. The reason is the same that everyone else in the world says that they don't want to do it. They say "why would I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane". I was the one leading the choir on that song! It's true though! Why would I want to jump out of an airplane? Why would I want to do that crazy thing? Well, since that is something I have always said that I would never do I knew it was something that I would have to do for this challenge this year. 

Well, since I am typing this you know that I made it out alive. Let me tell you about my journey.

Ok, so I did my research months in advance in picking the place that I was going to go to do my dive. I picked Chattanooga Skydiving Company. It is located in Jasper, Tennessee just outside of Chattanooga. They had great reviews online, they website gives you a wonderful rundown of what you expect. You are fully aware of what is going to happen and what they are going to do to get you ready. I felt so much better about doing this just by looking at their website alone!

So, I go from Knoxville to Jasper, about a two hour drive, and I am scary calm. I am not freaking out, my heart is not racing, I am perfectly fine. I get there a little bit late but they are totally nice about everything! They get me in the harness and they tell me what they want me to do real quick and tell me that I will be going with group two. So, I am watching the first group go up in the plane and I am freaking out more of the fact that I am not freaking out. I am even calm enough to talk to a nice couple that was visiting Chattanooga from Illinois. We watch the first group come out of the plane and the parachutes open up. We watch them land, we hear everyone say how great it was, and then the instructors are back getting their equipment to go up again.

Now, let me give you the rundown of what they told me. Ryan, my instructor who was totally great and fun, Told me we are going to get in the plane and we will scoot to the door, because he is connected to me. He tells me that my feet will be out and under the plane once we get to the door. I will cross my arms, smile, we will fall out of the plane, once in the air he will tap you on your arm five time and you can open your arms, freefall, and then we will open the chute.

Very easy, right. I thought so too....

Then I got up in the plate. Ryan and I were the first people in this really, really, REALLY tiny plane. It wasn't until I was stuffed in like a sardine that I realized that first one in was also the last one out! I had to sit and watch literally every single person go before me. He told me we were the last ones out at about 7,000ft into our 14,000ft flight. So, for 7,000ft all I could think about was The Wizard of Oz. Yeah, I know shocking right? I could only think about the line that the Wicked Witch says before she sets the Scarecrow on fine, "The last to die will see the first three go before her".

So, everyone is going and that is when it hits me that this is real. I am in a perfectly good plane about to jump out of it! I am next. I sitting on the edge of the open door with my feet dangling out of the side of the plane. Now, for you rational people out there, how would be handling this moment? I am guessing some would pray, some would hold the side of the door for dear life, some would refuse to jump out of the plane, others would be very excited and ready to go. I did none of those things. The only thing that I could think of was "I'm going to loose my shoes".

Yes, I am 14,000ft in the air, my legs outside of a plane about to jump and all I can think about is the fact that I didn't have enough smarts to tighten my shoelaces. So, I am going to loose one or both of my shoes, and they are going to fall off and be lost forever or they are going to kill someone falling from that height! They tell me to cross my arms and smile. Next thought is "Oh Dear Lord! There's the ground! It's so far awa….. WHY AM I LOOKING AT THE AIRPLANE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GROU.... oh there it is.... did we just turn in the air".

We did turn in the air. They don't tell you that! They don't tell you that right after we jump out of the plane that we have to do an acrobatic stunt immediately after! As soon as I know where the ground is at I can finally start processing what is going on. it's windy, I'm falling, I am screaming louder that I even had before.

It was one of the best things I have ever done in my whole life! It has to be up there with one of the coolest things I will ever do! I want to do it all over again! That is not what I thought I was going to say after. I thought that It was going to be good but I would never do it again. I was wrong. I want to go again right now. I want to totally jump out of a plane again! So, the parachute opens and now we are floating. Ryan gives me the controls of the chute so he can fix my stapes ands stuff so I am not as uncomfortable floating down. So, now I am flying a parachute, which is something I never thought I would ever do in my life!

This is one of those things on my list that was shocking how much I love it. It's one of those things where I can say to myself "I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane I can totally handle anything else that comes my way".

Chattanooga Skydiving Company is totally great, if anyone is near the area an wants to go skydiving go there! They were wonderful group of people who totally want your jump to be memorable and enjoyable and very, very safe! They also give you a free video when you jump and it was up online before I got done with my two hour drive back home.  

I am going again as soon as I can because it was so much fun! If you are afraid of skydiving please go and do it once in your life I promise you it will be well worth it!

The Tom Hanks Hustle: The Da Vinci Code

Any actor worth their salt seems to always have a movie that is controversial in the career. Mr. Hanks is no exception. 

The Da Vinci Code is that very movie. The film is about Robert Langdon who gets caught in an adventure of... um... not so biblical proportions. The movie is about the "Holy Grail" conspiracy that the Catholic Church is cover up of the fact that Jesus actually married Mary Magdalene and she had his child. 

Ok, I really like the idea of Mr. Hanks running around everywhere solving a mystery. However, I can't say I even appreciated the basis of this story being a believer myself. I wish the plot was about something else. I wish it really was because the premise that Jesus was married is crap, I'm sorry but it is. If it were about solving almost any other mystery it would have been really good. The lighting, the writing, the cast, everything else about it was great. Yet, I can't with the plot. 

I know that is very "movie critic" of me but I can't. I won't apologize for it either. 

 

 

Tom Hanks Hustle: The Polar Express

It's a little early to be watching Christmas movies but that's what happens when you watch all of Tom Hanks films in order. You end up having to watch and unseasonable movie. That Christmas movie is The Polar Express.

Ok, if you haven't already seen this movie then you must live under a rock. This movie is about a boy who is questioning the existence of Santa Clause. When he tries to do to sleep he finds a massive train outside his window. A train that claims to be taking them to the North Pole. 

I will say that this was not one of my favorite Christmas films. However, this is the first time that I paid attention to it when watching it. As I was watching I was convinced that Tom Hanks did more than one voice. I looked it up and he does six. 

So, knowing this fact that is what I realized. That every personality that Tom Hanks has he gets to play in this film. I mean the are all there and it's hilarious to watch. 

When making this list I will say that I was shocked that I didn't see him in more animated films. However, this one makes up for that. Playing six different people is more than enough for any. 

 

Year of Courage: Eat Something Crazy

July.....

Oh my word what a month. I have been exhausted since the first of the month. I was worried I wasn't going to be able to this challenge in time.

Here is a run down of what has been going on..

My co-leader, Tim, took a well deserved 2 week vacation but that meant that I had to work 14 10 hour shifts in a row. The money well worth it... the exhaustion not so much!

This during that time of being totally exhausted my dad and I went to go see The Book of Mormon at the Tennessee Theatre!

Please forgive the crazy that is my hair... it looked good at the start of the day and got way out of control by the end... The play was fantastic! To quote The Producers "it was shocking, outrageous, insulting... and I loved every minute of it". This is one of the plays that my mom and I both agreed if it ever came back to the theatre that we would make my dad go! I am glad that I did. He had a good time!!! Now we have more inside jokes! 

Then with little time to rest and get my live figured back out, I was off to Nashville with Alaina to go and see the one, the one Shania Twain!! 

Alaina and I were up way too late, way too tired, but way worth it! However, right after that I got sick... yeah totally the thing that you want to do after you have been going all cylinders for the last few weeks. I had to go into work super sick, and the week that everything was changing at work, and it's just been one crazy month that I can't believe that I survived!!!

Again I was worried that I wasn't going to find the time to find someone to make me something crazy, or go somewhere that is going to have something that I would never really ate before. In preparation for the crazy month ahead the first chance I got to watch the movie that I picked to go with this challenge I watched it. This month's movie is Eat, Pray, Love. 

Yes, I did pick this movie because it had eat in the title. I have never seen this movie before so I wasn't sure what I was going to expect. I am glad that I picked it thought. I am glad because the "eat" part of this movie was all in Rome, the long lost dream that I hope to get to someday, and it really showed how food brings people together. It shows how food is such a intricate part of our lives. I mean how many memories do you have with your loved ones that involve food of some kind? You can be eating it, making it, throwing it in each other's faces. There are a lot to do with food. That is why I am glad that my challenge for the month did the way it did!

In order for me to tell how it went you need to meet someone..

This is Aaron... 

 

ISN'T HE ADORABLE!!!!! This is my little brother!!!! He is crazy (he gets it from me). Him and I have a cool relationship. He both like weird facts about stuff, we both love The Cardinals, he likes movies we have different tastes, and he is a great cook.

I mean for real... I can barley make a frozen pizza without burning it and this kid can cook a live lobster without ever having a freaking cooking class! He likes to make weird things that I would never try in my whole life! Him and I have both been busy so I wasn't sure if he was going to be able to make me dinner. However, it all worked out! 

Yes, he made me a lamb chop with roasted garlic!

Before you get all judgy say that a lamb chop is not crazy it is for me! I have never had a lamb chop before and the idea of lamb always made me said because they are cute! Regardless, it was actually really good! I was surprised. I thought I wasn't really going to like it because there was a good amount of fat on this piece but it was really good! 

I was glad that I got to have Aaron make me dinner because it haven't had the chance to really see him lately. It was nice to see him and I hope I can do this again soon!

For the next month it's going to be a little more complicated because my plane is to jump out of a plane..... 

Tom Hanks Hustle: The Terminal

So, after the crazy weird world of The Ladykillers I was a little concerned about The Terminal. I have heard of the movie before but never really knew what it was about. Then when I read what it was about I was worried it was going to be on the boring side.

This is the story of Viktor. He is on his way to New York and lands at the JFK Airport. When he arrives he is not allowed to enter into the country. The reason? While he was in the air his home country, Krakozhia, went through a government coup. The government fell and the country was no longer Krakozhia and was no longer recognized by the US thus making it impossible for him to enter our country. However, since Krakozhia is no longer a country his passport will not longer allow him to go home. He is now stuck in the JFK Airport until his country is recognized. If he leave the airport he will be arrested. Now he is stuck in a waiting game with no end in site and with some members of the staff out to get him nothing is making his life easy. 

What can I say other than I am shocked. This movie was not boring at all! I thought it was going to be but again I make the same stupid mistake that I always seem to do and make assumptions. The second the Mr. Hanks came on the screen and was talking in a Russian type accent I knew this was going to be an interesting film. It's charming, it's funny, it's witty, it's a great film about the human spirit and how being patient can pay off. It's how a little human kindness can go a long way. I mean Viktor spent 9 months in the airport waiting for some word about being let out to the US or to go home. In that time he got to meet everyone in the airport, he made friends, got a job, and was able to help change the lives of many people he came in contact with. He was the right person at the right place at the right time. It's a fantastic film about how doing the right thing is hard, and that it sucks sometimes to do it but look at what you can do when you think you have everything stacked against you. 

This is an unexpected movie about friendship. Really it is. To have someone you don't know reach out to you to try and to make things a little easier for you and help you out and then it turn into the lovely friendship with all of these people is amazing! This has to be one of the sweetest films I have ever seen and it will end up being one of my all times favorites. 

  

Tom Hanks Hustle: The Ladykillers

So, at this point you would think that we would start to recognize all of Mr. Hanks' films. We are in the early 2000s and we are catching up to more current movies. Then you get to Mr. Hanks' 29th starring role realize that you have a lot to learn still. 

Have you heard of this movie before? It's a strange movie, ok. It's nothing like I thought it would have been and I sure did not expect Mr. Hanks to play in the type of role at all. This is a very odd movie about stealing money from a floating casino. Goldthwaite, played by Hanks, puts together this really weird team of the most random of people to make it happen. 

I don't really know what in the world I watched let alone know what in the world I want to say about this movie. Mr. Hanks has had some interesting movies that we have covered already but I think this one really takes the cake. The second that he came on the screen with that voice he does in the film I started saying "What the F***" through the whole film. 

Honestly, if  you want to watch a weirdly unique film watch The Ladykillers. I really don't know what to say beyond that...