1.14.2015

Also I'm Going To

I'm currently drinking hot water out of a mug and am wrapped in a red flannel heated blanket.  A red flannel heated blanket which just might be my favorite Christmas present of all time; who knew?  Who knew for someone who is always cold like me that a heated blanket is a way of saying - hey I got this for you.  You just sit back.  I got this.  

Also - I'm currently sitting here and reading.  

Reading leads me to wanting to write.  It's weird.  I suppose it's like a finished work of art quilt inspiring my mom to sew a square or two.

Mom, does that happen to you?  

For years, I have flirted around with the idea of writing a book.  Or a memoir.  Or a collection.  Or possibly a something else I haven't even thought of yet.  I just have this feeling that I'm supposed to - however the problem with that is...it won't ever get done if I keep on a thinking and not acting. 

My life right now is this quirky little existence that most likely will never repeat itself again.  I travel around the state for work.  I travel around to more than this state to see someone very important to me.  I travel to see my parents in the sunshine.  Everywhere, North Dakota to Red Lodge to Jackson to Phoenix to Salt Lake City to Nashville to back to Everywhere, North Dakota.  I travel around going on all these crazy little trips and then once I'm back, I travel for work again.  

I am a nomad.  

For the first time ever in the history of ever, I am a nomad.  Routine is not in my repertoire anymore- each day is drastically different.  

So if there ever was a time to most likely get after this itch called book, it's now. 

Being nomad challenges me in ways I've never been before and makes me deliriously happy and deliriously anxious all at the same time.  

This space will be neglected, which honestly it has been for awhile anyway.  When the itch to weave some words comes, I'm going to scratch it but keep the tapestry tucked away to see what might come of it.  Maybe something.  Maybe nothing.  

I might pop in every once in awhile to share really profound messages.  Like a little hey I'm lacking life lessons story about spilling a red smoothie all over myself right as I walked into a training on Tuesday morning.  About how I had to literally wash my clothes in the sink of the school and then walk in with them wet to stand in front of a room full of people and talk.  About how sometimes there's nothing to do but laugh at yourself.   

Please know when I say profound, I don't actually mean profound.  

Do you remember when four years ago, I wrote at the very bottom of a blog post "I'm also going to run a half marathon in May.  I figure if I actually write that down, it's real and I can't back out.  So, there you have it.  A couple of new things."  Then I did.  I ran my first half marathon after not being able to run a tenth of a mile just months before that.  Remember that?  

I'm hoping this will be similar.  

Four years from now, I want to look back at this and go - yes I did that.  I wrote a book, or a memoir, or a collection, or a something else.  

Also remember how I have been writing in this space for FIVE years?  I almost can't even look back in the archives to see where I was at the beginning and where I was in the middle and where I am now.  Through moves.  Through babies I call niece and nephew being born.  Through my mom's cancer.  Through my own complete health transformation.  Through job changes.  Through relationship craps.  Through wins.  Through losses.  Through funnies.  It's crazy.  Five years.  Remember that?  

Now let me wipe a little tear from my eye.  

Cheers to life being the best ever right now.  Cheers to professional goodness.  Cheers to family health.  Cheers to friendships remaining strong and forever.  Cheers to being with someone who makes me a better egg and who makes me throw my arms out happy. 

Cheers to the future book.  

























12.07.2014

This is a Good Life Letter

Dear Blog Reader,

Yesterday I had lofty goals of getting many items crossed off the list as this early Sunday morning brings another round of travel.  Instead, I nursed a headache from book club Christmas party shenanigans while drinking coffee with Karen and Brittany for hours.  Then, because she realized I was getting in rougher shape (so responsible I am!), Karen proclaimed that lunch was necessary and the next thing I knew I was in her car in a this is what I look like straight out of bed mode.  She was spot on.  Food fixed all woes.  Next, we went to a craft show and then put mascara on in the same bathroom - we showered in different ones - to get ready to head out to the annual cookie exchange.  Book club Christmas party Friday night, where there are no rules about sparkles and selfies and group picture posing.  Coffee drinking Saturday morning with Christmas tree leggings and two forever friends.  Pretending like I'm a college student lunching on Saturday afternoon.  Cookie exchange partying on Saturday night with even more of my favorite people.  This is a good life.  The only thing I can actually say was productive about the weekend was I had a really great mascara rendevous last night and much needed quality time with the people I call my people.  

P.S.
Please tell me you understand what I mean when I say it was a great mascara day.  Sometimes it goes on just right and you feel like you just might be six years younger.  

P.P.S
The picture of Bobsy Twin and me is supposed to not be the same exact one side by side but I'm sitting at the airport and I can't do anything to fix it so seeing double is what you get.  

P.P.P.S
Karen came to my house at 4:15 this morning to take my garbage out and clean the coffee pot and bring my running late hiney to the airport.  She is the very best human. 

Sincerely,
Me 

11.14.2014

Seeing Pretty

Before I went to Montana the end of September, there was a conversation that went something like this.  I don't care at all what we do, I just want to be able to see pretty and take pictures of pretty.  I haven't had a chance to do that in a long while and I'm ready to do some noticing of all things - small and large and everything in between. 

No worries on that wish.  I was more than soul filled with beautiful and was able to do the things I love to do.  Like stand in the rain while a waterfall crashes next to me and lay down in the middle of a highway in Yellowstone.  Yep, like that.  Although, really, it was the first time I've ever stood next to a waterfall in the pouring rain.  I just imagine that it was added to the list of things I do before I even knew it.  As for lying in the middle of the road?  This was not my first time on that one.