March 24, 2024

It's a wintery day here in ND.   Luckily what had been predicted has been downgraded.   I have to say that I'm grateful for a little downtime.   I've been in a bit of a funk lately and I'm not sure why.  Maybe because I'm in the limbo of seasons.  I'm anxious to be outdoors, biking and gardening.  I'm ready for the sunshine on my face and the breeze on my shoulders.   With those things comes the hustle and bustle; longer days, jam packed nights and weekends.  Time goes too fast as it is.  I mean, here we are at the end of March when it seems like yesterday was New Years.   Surely, I cannot be the only one who wants the world to stop spinning so quickly?

Next weekend I'll be in sunny Arizona visiting (one of) my best friend, Donna.   She retired 2 years ago on her birthday, March 31st.  Last year the other 1/3 of the Three Amigos (Vickie) and I were supposed to visit her on her birthday.  Due to a winter blizzard, we never made it.  This year, Vickie had a hip replacement two weeks ago.  So here I am, playing the odds that there won't be another winter storm and booked a solo trip to leave Friday.   Luckily the weather shouldn't be an issue - fingers crossed. :)

I'll be gone over Easter though, which will leave Tom home alone.  He'll be in good hands as our nephew Robert is planning to make prime rib for his girls and Tom.  Tom's worried about me traveling alone, I reassured him I was taking a direct flight from Fargo into Mesa, bypassing Denver.  I plan on enjoying a day of going and doing all the things - then chilling with my bestie on her patio and/or in the pool. 

 I am definitely looking forward to chilling.   There are some things coming down the pike that I need to figure out (nothing in my personal life, peeps - so relax!).  Hopefully the time away from work will give me the answers that I'm searching for.  

                                    

Sunday morning observations of Working Superwoman: 1️⃣ the morning after the Spring forward time change is slow. I gave my mind and body some grace this morning. No gym, no projects...just quiet and reflection.2️⃣I know people try to be helpful by giving unsolicited advice...the "YOU should do it like this" or "YOU need to do this because it worked for me when I did it that way."Stop using the word "YOU need" or "YOU should". It's telling the person they're failing or not good enough in their efforts. No one needs to feel inferior. Perhaps think about saying words like "I know it's hard, keep going" or "I had great success when I did (insert)." Let  them absorb the information and make the decision to do what is best for them. Let them be the boss of their life.3️⃣Everyone has a battle; be nice!.4️⃣I guarantee you that for every time you talk about someone or criticize them...someone is doing the same about you.5️⃣It's perfectly fine to walk away from people or situations without an explanation 6️⃣A person's religious or political beliefs are theirs and theirs alone.7️⃣Life is hard, people. Most of us are trying to survive our own shit without others trying to pile theirs on top of it. 8️⃣Celebrate each other's victories and support each other's struggles 9️⃣Surround yourself with people who will do both in #8 and have your best interests at heart. And always remember #5. 🔟Be unapologetic and your true authentic self!  What other people think of you is non of your business.  Remember, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"

Merry Christmas!

For Christmas 2022, I had promised Blaine that I would take him to Million (aka Michael) and get his UJ (University of Jamestown) tattoo recolored.  Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and I couldn't fulfill my promise to him.

Christmas 2023 I was subtly reminded that I owed him his gift from last year!  He forgets to brush his teeth or clean his apartment but gosh darn he sure remembers if it's something he wants! 

Michael was all about making it look like new again and hooked us up with an appointment yesterday. 

 What a day!!!

We started out with coffee and egg McMuffins and plenty of conversation as we rolled down the interstate! I think his mouth was going faster than we were traveling! We covered so man

y topics! We laughed a lot but cried a bit too as we remembered the farm and grandpa and grandma.

After the tattoo, we went ro Scheels for a few more Christmas gifts.. a swim bag for his Special Olympics swimming gear, heated mittens for next winter, a new pair of gym shorts and a fun pair of socks; yes, they said SPAM. 😀 

After a great meal at Red Lobster (Blaine's choice), we made the trek home.   Of course, we had Journey playing and we sang like no one was listening.

Even though it was Blaine's Christmas gift, I'm pretty sure that I'm the one that received the gift.

I do it to myself

I took yesterday and today off, Monday is a holiday (President's Day).  So of course I started my Spring cleaning.  I almost killed myself trying to get it all finished in one day.  (Remember the whole procrasting perfectionest thing)?   Ya.  I tried to get it ALL finished in one day and really  thought I could pull it off.  My body, specifically my knees, had other ideas!  Well, that and picking Blaine up from work and going out for supper with Becky.  Actually they saved me from myself; I would have probably been cleaning at midnight!

I have two rooms left and a mountain of laundry to do.  As I feared, I now won't be able to finish until Monday.  Today and the next two days are booked with personal commitments.  I hate it when my mojo is disrupted hence my whole procrasting perfectionst timeline issue.  

I'm popping Ibuprofen like a a crack whore today; I think I'm 22 instead of 7 months from 62.  My body is saying "slow it down, Spunky!".  Whattt??  Heck no!  I'm good to go...just takes me longer now. Haha.

What is inside you?

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.

Why did you spill the coffee?

"Because someone bumped into me!!!"

Wrong answer.

You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.

Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.

Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.

So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"

When life gets tough, what spills over?

Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?

Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting-tendencies?

Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.

Let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.

Lunchtime Musings of a Working Superwoman: 1️⃣I am having a great hair day! 2️⃣ I'll take this Spring-like weather! Makes me want to get my bike out and start riding!️3️⃣ I love watching the real life Love Story unfold between Taylor and Travis!4️⃣ My money is on K.C. 5️⃣ I'm already planning my snacks for Superbowl! 6️⃣I like food. I'm ALL about the food! 7️⃣ #6 could be the reason my stretchy pants need stretchy pants🤔8️⃣ People! Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough! And wash your damn hands! 9️⃣ My stack of books to be read is growing and Barnes and Noble wishlist is growing too!  Need a book?  Chances are I have it!🤭🔟 I am blessed with the Best Best friends ever!!

Polar Vortex 01-11-2024

 Can someone tell me why I live in the frozen tundra?  You'd think I'd have gotten smarter in my advanced years.   But no, here I am, piling on the layers, eating soup and strategizing on running my errands in one day so I can hibernate for three (of my four days off).  

I took Friday off so I could get a jump start on the weekend.  I have a couple of tasks that I absolutely want to accomplish: 1) purge items from my closets (yes, I have two), 2) clean and organize my office.  

I suffer from S.A.D and the month of January is usually when my seasonal depression gets away from me.  From past experiences, I know that keeping busy and active will help create a diversion in my mental state.   With the addition of teaching fitness classes at the gym, and being Blaine's primary transportation during the winter months, I'm holding it bay (so far).  I feel good. I'm focused and motivated; dare I say - thriving. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself!)

2024

I try to live each day as a new beginning and don't wait for the new year to change things. I don't make resolutions for drastic changes.  I hold firm with the belief that we should make each day better than the day before.  That said, there is always room for improvement in any aspect of life.  We are, after all, a work in progress, right? 

The holidays were pretty great.  Tom and I hosted my sister and her family on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, we hosted our nephew Robert, his daughters and their mother.  New Years Eve was another family gathering with Robert.  We ate, drank, laughed and genuinely enjoyed our time together.  That's what it's about; celebrating and being with family.  

What have I been up to?  Work, gym, home. Pretty boring.  But you know what?  The older I get, that is absolutely the way I want it.  I have no desire for drama or trauma in my life.  I like being in my cozy warm home watching a movie, reading a book or enjoying a glass of wine.  I was just telling someone the other day that normally January is a tough month for me with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  But this year I seem to be doing well and optimistic that I will continue to do so.  I've been doing a lot of meditation, journaling and am aware when my mood tanks. Also, the combination of upping my vitamin D and daily exercise helps tremendously. 

The picture below is of Tom and I in West Virginia.   Robert, Tom and I went to visit Tom's brother (and Robert's father), Doug.  It's one or the rare pictures that Tom is actually smiling. Definitely worth sharing!

Happy New Year!  May it be one filled with good health, love, family and friends.!