BIO

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On my 30th birthday. 

I believe that being born is a big deal! I believe in do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Well, I celebrated others’ dates of birth in pretty big ways and grand gestures. On my 29th Birthday, I was not done unto me as I had done unto them, so I transcended that experience and began the birthday adventures as my way of doing unto myself as I have done, and do, unto others. 

A photoshoot which was rather routine but did allow me to celebrate myself in any way I wanted, with cost solely being my own. It was an ideal way to display what 30 looks like, on me! Age 30 is a big number birthday for many in their 20s, and maybe more so with those who are within days/nanoseconds from its official declaration! Even as I look at the pictures today, as I am now 56 years of age, I view those pictures with great pride and joyfulness because of the energy and joie de vivre that was abundantly effervescent, at that point in time, is directly identical to that which I possess today. I am grateful that I have always protected my positivity and joyfulness! My selection of what I will partake upon on my birthday instilled the exclusivity of opinion, viewpoint, and choice, resting independently upon me. This mandate is representative and reflective of my then, now, and future b-day adventures! 

Skydiving the first time when I was 21 before the annual adventures began will always rank high. Your first skydive is a catalyst to infusing the buzz of flying the sky, or it can haltingly dampen the desire to jump out of a plane. It was a turning point for me to completely trust in safety equipment and in the person who packed my parachute, with prayers that they were fully focused on my easy-breezy descent and a gentle touchdown back upon Earth’s terra firma.

I began seeking my b-day adventures via adventurists’ websites for my 35th birthday. I had always wanted to bungee jump. I neither wanted it to occur in a parking lot nor an amusement park. Being within nature felt like a rightful ambition. Upon diligent research, which is necessary for that which is known and mandatory for that which is unknown, I was delighted to locate the Great Canadian Bungee. That year, 1998, on their site they were listed as the highest jump in North America. Located in Ottawa, Canada, at Morrison’s Quarry, it appeared and resultantly was, exquisite, pristine, and nature-based. It was a hop, skip, and jump, both literally and figuratively away. It packed the WOW-FACTOR as presented, and made destination B-day adventures easy-breezy. Thus began b-day adventures beyond borders. Passport use expands not only your travel; it also broadens your mind with cultural knowledge, spreads your spiritual wings, and enhances your appreciation of God’s unpolluted handiwork. 

I did indeed have to revise this lofty honor once I walked the wings of a 450 Stearman in 2012. In the spirit of fairness of b-day adventures prior to wing walking, I give the aerobatics of Warbird Adventures the rank of most thrilling! Warbird Adventures utilizes a T-6 Texan. The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is a single-engine advanced trainer used during WWII and into the 1950s to train the pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Royal Air Force, and many other allied nations. It's a favorite in airshows and static displays. Within this turboprop plane, if you shared with your pilot that you were game, you are at the helm to perform maneuvers! You are within your own literal video game: Joystick et al! We performed loops, aileron rolls, 4-point rolls, and 8-point rolls. All of the maneuvers were an immersion in the "It factors" of skill, speed, and finesse. After pure astonishment at the pilot’s ability to teach and my ability to handle the controls, it was self-evident that aerobatics is the world's grandest roller coaster and the thrill ride of my life!! When I handed back the controls to my expert pilot Jay Vandersluis displayed a cherry-on- top-of-the-sundae-adventure by pulling up, up, up directly vertical towards the heavens until we expectantly stalled and the torque (and gravity) changed our direction to directly vertical to the farmlands below, only to barrel roll out of it with a mammoth loop to seal the deal!! The exhilaration of pulling out of each maneuver with respect for aircraft, the pilot, joyfulness for my bravery, and butterflies from head-to-toe that NEVER leave you, is an ever-lasting, ever-renewing, THRILL! Thus, this first foray created the need for stellar speed with another b-day adventure in the aerobatic jet of all jets: The Firecat L-39 with pilot Rich Perkins at the adroit helm!  Then, oh then, EUREKA...For my 59th b-day adventure I flew inside the cockpit of an Extra 330LX with the splendiferous pilot                 Dr. Warren Bruhl!!  As far as soaring within cockpits, this ride 'twas and is the epitome  synergistic experience into the personality of an aircraft and the safety, immersive imagination and skill of a Splendiferous Pilot!  AND...I was courageously introduced to   

💖My Favo Aerobatic Maneuver Ever:  The Kristina Tumble Lomcevak!!  Totally Speechless with glee, awe & ticklish butterflies from head-to-toe!!!

For my 40th birthday adventure, I wanted to scuba dive with the sharks in the Bahamas in Shark Alley. I had previously scuba dived in Hawaii and Cancun so I figured getting P.A.D.I (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified would be effortless. It was not! I took classes in Chicago and had great instructors, but when we went out to the open water certification in a quarry it was a bit debilitating. The visibility decreased with every flip of a fin and I knew that today was not my day. I chose to get certified in the Bahamas instead, and like a true warrior, I traveled solo (which facilitates freedom and endurance) to the Bahamas. Yet still, in the middle of the ocean, all was not vibing. I still had quite an adventurous time as a US ambassador (as we all are when we leave our shores). The entire adventure was a turning point for me as I became fully aware that water-based environments were not my way, for that particular day, for that particular moment in time. I thrive and expand when I am in the air looking upon the world, versus in the global other-world that lies beneath the surface of the water, which accounts for 70% of planet Earth! It also made me appreciate my understanding of what I can do, what I want to do and to respect the perimeters of ease and unease within myself, and empathy for the fears/hesitations of others. Certain boundaries need more time to blossom into comfort zones, and yes, in my lifetime I will shark dive with a smile! 

Inline skating/rollerblading with my crew along the Chicago lakefront as we perform extreme maneuvers through the cones! We share laughter, encouragement, and attain BLISS in our effortless camaraderie! Each blader simply and quite easily enjoys their personalized vibe and vibrancy. Therein lies a serenity of "just doing you" upon the wheels and upon the landscape of Chicago's lakefront! 

Very important to me is volunteering.  It's  a soul-enriching experience to help others!  Yes, to whom much is Given, much is Required...Giving Back, Gives Me Hope In Humanity!  Be it hours, days,  days, months, or annually...All actions matter!  Actions>Intentions!  Be it at events, facilitating meals with urban survivalists, walking-your-altruistic talk, locally, nationally and/or internationally:  Giving time, energy, smiles, effort is heart-worthy! 

The world overflows with ingenuity and I am attracted to those who provide their own distinct twist upon experiences. Those that Carpe Omnia within the baby steps, broad jumps, high-hurdling, and purposeful progressions of their own incredible lightness of bravely being themselves! This sharing of adventures provides the personalized perks of awareness and reciprocity. The parlay of communicating the been-there-saw-it-dreamt-it-BIGGER-want-it-would-love-to-do-it-and-live-It hopes, ambitions, attempts, rebounds, excursions, journeys, achievements, and the mores of life is of mammoth benefit! I am an abundant believer in those that TRY! Each hope and every dream which is actualized begets a broader expanse of DO-ABILITIES! It's the gift of life and the beauty of passing it onward, upward, inward, wing ward, southward, skyward, and forward! By your bravery, you tame your fears and energize your divine butterflies! Kaleidoscopes ROCK!!

For b-day adventures, I source the vantage points of adventurists that dare greatly. Work ethic, determination, and diligence are their front-and-center characteristics. 

#1: Won't Squash Me and/or It, Whatever It Is!
 

#2: Easily and Daily Celebrate Life With No Harm to Others!
 

#3: Embrace Safety Measures and Teamwork!
 

#4: Read, Listen, and Research Their Own Lives, Ambitions, Successes, and Dreams!
 

#5: Seek More, Higher, Faster, Farther, and Kinder!

In all sincerity, wing walking a jet seems a logical progression! In the meantime, wing walking every day of my life would dually be my heaven on earth and 3500' above it! Climbing upon the wings is my purest form of seizing the brass ring of joy, opportunity, and passing forward the positivity of possibilities! My heart's ambition is to perform in airshows, especially the illustrious Chicago Air and Water Show! Hometown Gir, Winging It!! That would be a beyond measure spectrum of Joy + Bliss + Ingenuity + Encouraging Aviation = The Sky is a Spectacular Playground for One and All!
 

To be a catalyst to inspire, innovate, and broaden horizons is within my DNA. It is within the big picture of maneuvering life with the aerobatics of kindness, commitment, dedication, diligence, honor, work ethic, respect, and teamwork.