I see a shadow

Sandra Day O'Connor United States Courthouse
Phoenix, AZ

As I prepare for my upcoming trip home to Arizona, I have also been busy taking care of some preparations related to school. Things such as scheduling my 160 mentor tests, a requirement to advance to the very last steno class requirement, as well as set up some face time with my mentor back in AZ while I am home. My AZ mentor, who is an official reporter for the Federal Courthouse in Phoenix, has graciously agreed to let me shadow her while I am home. I am extremely excited. This will be my virgin voyage into the long-awaited internship hours, and I can hardly wait to experience life in the courthouse.

A little bit a crazy

Check off number 2 on the 30 for 30 list. That's right, folks. I completely rocked my skydiving adventure. After a whole lot of scary nerves and one day of wind delays, I successfully dove out of an airplane at 10,500 feet. There may be a little bit a crazy in me, but this was, without a doubt, the most insane and yet amazing thing I have EVER done!!! Completely indescribable. I still can't believe I did it. Anyway, documented proof below:



Drove to Richmond, IN for the big plunge.



Unfortunately, there were wind delays and so day 1 was a no go.
Me doing my "it's too windy to jump" pose.



Day 2 proved to be ideal weather. Me suiting up for the big jump.



Getting my harness just right.



I was checking out the plane outside the hanger just before my impending doom.



Loading up on the plane.



Taking off and flying up to 10,500 feet where we jumped out of the plane and free fell for about 10 seconds at around 115 miles an hour. A total rush!!!



Thank goodness for parachutes. Yep, that's me.



Gliding in for the landing.



Landing back down on on solid ground. Wow! What an adventure! I still am on an adrenaline rush and can't believe I actually did it!!! It is one of those things that literally takes your breath away. Completely awesome!!!

Tulips

My picture of the week is in honor of all the tulips I keep seeing, especially on my long walks through Spring Grove. I know they won't last long, yet I love them all the same. Oh, and speaking of long walks, only 10 days until the Flying Pig Marathon!!!!

Favorite Briefs and Phrases

On a recent discussion board for school, we were chatting regarding our favorite briefs and phrases. Briefs and phrases are basically one strokers that can save you tons of time (which in steno translates into a mere second or two) and in turn can mean the difference of a test pass or not. This discussion prompted me think about which ones I use regularly and how much I love them. So here is a brief list of a few of my favs, some of which I use constantly, and some I use only occasionally, yet I still love all the same.

WEM - welcome

T*U - thank you

T*UFP - thank you very much

PRAOS - produce

BLAOP - blood pressure

FAO*EUB - FBI

SWAIGZ - situation

KP*URD - accident occurred

SK*ERD - asked and answered

KLAURMTS - closing arguments

PRAUZ - proximate cause

B*UMS - being duly impaneled and sworn

Now that I am just getting going, I could go on and on and on...however I will spare you the steno speak.

A shopper's paradise

My picture of the week comes straight from NYC, compliments of JAK. Since I just returned home from my adventures in Chicago, which included a bit of shopping, this photo of New York's very own Bergdorf Goodman's storefront and window displays seemed extra fitting. Thanks for contributing James, I look forward to using a few others that you sent in the near future.

Coffee, Please

Sadly, I find my spring break has come and gone so very quickly. It is back to the grind as usual, and for some reason, it seems harder than normal. I'm feeling tired and exhausted, and unfortunately I have an incomprehensible amount of work that I must complete this week. So this choice for picture of the week seemed fitting given my week ahead. I think I'm going to need an IV pumping coffee directly into my veins so as to stay awake and actually complete it all. Oh, and just in case you are all wondering, no, the coffee will NOT be computer-side. I'm not ready to revisit the coffee-meets-laptop debacle anytime soon.