Rise & Shine Tastebuds!: October 2015

After our trip to the Sierras, and the cryo and micro ablation, I was feeling very down. I think it was a combination of the post-vacation blues, and the reality of my situation. I've been battling this cancer for over four years now, and no matter what I did, it just wouldn't go away. I know that most people don't live long enough to even have a fourth recurrence, but it was getting harder to summon the strength to continue fighting.

Normally when I'm down like that, it helps to go outside. I don't overthink things, or worry as much. My mind quiets down, and I'm absorbed in the beauty around me. Personally, I don't do therapy or support groups. I can't connect with therapists because I know unless they've had cancer themselves, they'll never truly understand what I'm going through. I don't do support groups because it's too depressing.

The closest thing resembling a support group was attending the Send It Foundation's 1st Annual Outdoor Adventure. It was a 3 day weekend at a beautiful rustic home in the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, and included activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding.

With my Stanford Team giving me medical clearance, and the Send It Foundation having a medical staff on hand, I felt confident and safe knowing that even though I just had surgery, I could push myself and have fun.

The whole experience turned out to be more than I could have hoped for. In addition to the respite, I connected with a great group of young adult cancer fighters. The conversations were natural, and for the first time in the past four years, I didn't feel alone. The Send It community and the gift of the outdoors gave me renewed strength to continue fighting on, and the hope that someday I would beat this.

Lake Tahoe

Our beautiful rustic home for the weekend.

Casual conversations on the deck.

Ridiculously delicious home-cooked meals by Chef Tommy.

I could get used to this.

Stand-up Paddle Boarding

My first time ever being on a paddle board. Thank you Ashley for paddling me around, and teaching me to stand.

Mountain Biking

All suited up, and ready to go.

Mountain biking lessons with Dave.

Northstar.

Not sure if I spent more time eating dirt than actually riding.

Kayaking

Heading to the dock for our next outdoor activity.

Nice and relaxing day to kayak.

No extreme downhills here, just calm water.

Kayak traffic jam.

Roomies.

Send It!

♥

Las Vegas, NV

"What Happens Here, Stays Here."

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden - Autumn Harvest 2015

Each season, the horticulturalists and designers transform the 14,000 sq. ft. floral playground into a showcase of the distinctive sights and colors of spring, summer, fall and winter.

90% of the trees, flowers and plants in the conservatory are recycled.

Loving the orange, yellow, brown, and gold.

The Linq Observation Wheel

The High Roller stands at 550 ft. tall, and it's the tallest observation wheel in the world, surpassing both the London Eye and Singapore Flyer.

No lines.

It wouldn't be Las Vegas without a place to get a drink.

There are 28 glass enclosed passenger cabins, each holding up to 40 people. The capsules are mounted on the wheel's outboard rim and are individually rotated by electric motors to smoothly maintain a horizontal cabin floor throughout each full rotation.

Each 225 sq. ft. cabin weighs approximately 44,000 pounds, and has a diameter of 22 feet. It's also equipped with eight flat-screen televisions and an iPod dock.

Sister, sister.

Hip hip hooray!

Amazing view of the Las Vegas Strip

Our 30 minute full revolution is complete.

Fremont Street

Fremont Street was named in honor of explorer John Charles Frémont. It was the first paved street in Las Vegas in 1925.

Fremont Street is known for many famous casinos such as Fremont Casino, Four Queens, and Golden Nugget.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

SlotZilla is the world’s largest slot machine, and features two 35 foot tall showgirls on each side. The showgirls were inspired by two real life models, Jennifer and Porsha, who accompanied former Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman to his many public appearances.

Our belongings were packed into a red bag that travelled down the zip line.

We opted for the upper Zoomline experience where flyers take off more than 10 stories up (114 feet) and are whisked 1,750 feet to the historic Golden Gate.