True Life: I was an emotional wreck all week!

At about 5:00pm on Thursday, I was watching TV while running on the treadmill. It was like clockwork; at about 5:15...everyone at the gym came to a snails pace. The FBI had just released surveillance of the marathon suspects, and every TV station was playing it. Although the videos were grainy, they were good; and TV stations kept them on a running loop all night long.

As most of you know, it was an emotionally draining, exhausting beginning of the weekend in the world. Those men were out there, and now that their hideous faces were being plastered over the entire universe, they knew we were looking for them.

Kurt and I had been furiously listening to the Boston Police Department Police scanner...hoping, praying for something to come up about them finding these men. Thursday night we heard there was a shooting at MIT university. People all over Facebook were talking about it, saying "this is all just adding to the horrible week we've had." No one seemed to think it was connected to the terrorists. We went to bed about 1am, shortly after hearing the MIT cop involved had passed away; it was unbelievable, sad, awful, you name it.

I woke up around 7:00am to about 20 texts from family, friends, co-workers; texts ranging from "Oh My God Wake Up..." to "What are you doing?? are you okay? are you at work?"

One suspect dead, the other on the run

And that MIT shooting was conducted by them

Boston and surrounding towns were on lockdown

And I was scared SHITLESS

Because of Kurt's position at work, he was forced to go into the city. I grabbed at his arms as he tried to get ready, begging him to stay home, scared for my life---it was not pretty. You guys, I have never felt more scared in my entire life than I did on Friday. Police were sure he was hiding in a town about 20 minutes north from us, but how could they be so positive? He could have run anywhere.

I worked from home that day, texting Kurt every hour, updating his poor mother in New Jersey who was a wreck that he had to go into work, updating my family, you name it! He was finally able to get home around 4:00. 

As you all know, he was finally captured Friday night around 8:45. We were at my parents house listening to the scanner and watching the news---we screamed so happily when we heard the cops on the scanner say "we've got him." 

I never knew what it was like to feel such fear before. Fear for my family, friends, the victims, Boston, the world. But he is captured, and we are seeking answers, which can hopefully help some of us get through what has been one of the worst weeks Boston has ever been through.

Kurt and I visited the memorial site last night in Boston. I've been having a hard time with this whole thing, as everyone else is I'm sure, and felt like I just needed to go there. Some friends of mine have been "but you don't even live right IN Boston....you're 10 minutes South," and to them I'd just want to say that this has affected everyone---instilled a fear in all of us, no matter WHERE we live!

Boston scares me right now, unfortunately. A city I frequent so often whether it be for dinner, shopping, going out with friends, or just going for a drive, didn't seem the same to me. It felt sad, lonely, deserted. But at the same time, I saw the love, the strength, and the faces of people who were ready to build this city back up to what it was.

It's been such an emotional week!!

But you've all been here for each other, and that is just fabulous :-)

(Boston.com) 

(Boston.com)

Boston is a tough, resilient town. So are its people.

Obama said that quote perfectly yesterday,

speaking of the UNBELIEVABLE tragedy that happened yesterday in my home state and city!

While it's normal for us to want to lash out on the coward(s) who did this to us,

(and yes, we will find out who did this to us)

It's important to note that Boston, and the rest of the world for that matter, 

come together during times like this

I saw photos and videos yesterday of marathon runners running BACK some blocks to help people

First responders running towards the blasts

Marathon nurses/doctors running around to assist people

(photo taken from The Boston Globe)

A friend of mine shared this with me yesterday, and then I saw it everywhere

Facebook, Twitter, news sites, TV stations

A Google document of locals reaching out to help, 

Offering those in need their email addresses and phone numbers to contact them for a place to stay

While we may constantly question why this world is the way it is, 

I couldn't be more proud of how we come together when we need to

There are no words for what happened yesterday...

I sat with my co-workers at work, watching it unfold on the TV.

We were confused, shocked, upset, sad---how could such a perfect day be ruined in a split second

My heart is so heavy for everyone affected by this unbelievable day

I still can't believe this happened HERE.

I'm so freaking scared. Scared to walk around my city again, scared to walk by a trash can
Scared to just do ANYTHING anymore!
But we can't let fear win.

I immediately contacted Kurt who works just a mile away from the explosion--thank God he was okay

I called my mom, whose off this week from work for school vacation week (she's a teacher)

I could not get through to her for 10 minutes due to high cell-phone activity.

I can't stress how panicked I got.

She was planning on watching at the finish line, but thankfully none 

of her friends wanted to deal with the crowds; an act of God if I do say so myself!

I love you Boston!

And I'm thinking and praying for my city and everyone

xoxoxo

Rolla Coastas Baby--Travel Tuesdays

Some of you may or may not know this, but I am a roller coaster enthusiast. Kurt is as well!

But perhaps I should back up a minute—to that time in Disney World with my family when I was in 5th grade.

Rockin Roller Coaster at MGM had opened recently, and my younger sister and dad were just ITCHING to ride it. I, on the other hand, was not. Long story short, my dad is the type to literally drag his kid on a ride even if they are kicking and screaming. He wasn’t raising no wimpy daughters that’s for sure! I was riding that ride whether I wanted to or not.

And I am SO SO happy I did, because from then on, no coaster was stopping me from getting on it!

Which brings me to this post, and my first link-up for Travel Tuesdays!!

I’ve blogged about it before, but hell, it’s spring and that means amusement parks are opening.

One of my favorite road trips was when we went to the “RollerCoaster Capital Of The World!”

AKA, Cedar Point. And holy effing eff.

I took these from the massive ferris wheel!

That place is like heaven for roller coaster lovers.

The job I’m currently at, offered me my job to start August 23rd, 2011, but we had already booked this trip for August 25th-28th. Needless to say,  I would have looked like a total tool-bag asking for 2 days off immediately after starting—No way jose.

So what did we do? We changed it last second to the weekend before I started my new job and high-tailed 10 hours to Ohio to breathe in the glorious smell of wooden, steel and inverted coasters. It was the perfect way to end the summer before the new job!

Cedar Point has to be my absolute favorite amusement park in the world. Well, DisneyWorld comes first actually, but for roller coasters? Cedar takes the cake. It has some of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world, and no matter how many times we rode them, I still almost shit my pants every time with excitement and jitters! 

Take this one for example. It's called Top Thrill Dragster--aka, the second tallest and third fastest roller coaster IN ZEE WORLD! It's just a bit shorter than the tallest in the world, Kingda Ka at Six Flags New Jersey....also a FANTASTIC ride!!

Here's how it goes down!

It launches you at 120 miles per hour, 420 feet up, and then 420 feet down

INSANITY. But so so worth it!

This trip was such a blast because it was a complete new park to me!

Kurt had been years ago with his family, but hadn't been on a bunch of the newer rides

It was so much fun to experience it together, and freak out over the amount of coasters at our fingers
Plus, it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL! It's right on Lake Eerie and it just so picturesque

As a little souvie, I had to buy this shirt...because why not!? :-)

Link up for Travel Tuesdays!

This was so much fun to re-cap!

Do you like roller coasters?
What's your favorite amusement park!
Happy Tuesday!