Welcome to my thoughts..

Happy “Saturday” everyone!

What do I want to do before the week is over? I would like to see the Braves win, I would like to watch SNL, I would LOVE to feel better and I would love to lay around and do nothing.

That only took a minute to write – so perhaps I should expand. The Braves win would put them in the World Series for the first time since 1999, which would be awesome. This was before I ‘met’ my husband, before Peanut was born, when I was in a pretty dark place. I don’t remember it super well, although I do believe they were swept. This time I’m able to share the game with the family, which is awesome. I should probably do some stuff around the house, but I am pretty sure sports watching and ipad game playing is going to win out this weekend!

I am really enjoying writing, even if it is only for 5 minutes a day-ish. It may be tricking me into thinking I can really do this every day (or so).

Until tomorrow.

#JuWriSoMos

Happy Friday! My prompt for today is “What’s weighing on my mind right now?”

I’m not sure if it is weighing, but I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I hate complaining because I know that so many people have it so much worse, but this cold is kicking my ass. I didn’t sleep well last night and today has been a struggle. I have no plans except for sports/show watching, so I plan to relax all weekend. I did make a list of things I should/need to do around the house. I just feel like I have been falling down on my household/wife duties (I said duties) and I want to pick up the pace. I’m gone a lot in the evenings and I would rather do my chores when my husband is still at work so when he gets home we can watch shows together.

The holidays are weighing on my mind too. My husband isn’t a big fan and I am so sometimes it can be difficult. I just want everyone to be happy!

And the Braves, they lost last night and everyone and I mean EVERYONE has been reminding all of us Braves fans that the Braves lost a 3-1 game lead to the Dodgers last year and they may do that again this year. Just win Braves – please!!!!

Well, there is my five minutes on this fine Friday. I hope to get up the writing over the weekend. I do my best planning at work, so we shall see!

#JuWriSoMos

Good Morning! Welcome to Day 4 of the JuWriSoMos Challenge!

Today’s prompt is “When I woke up today, what was the first thing I thought of?”

That’s pretty easy – the first thing was…should I call in to work! I’ve been under the weather the last 24-48 hours. It started with a sore throat and now I’m a big ol’ snot factory. I was up from 2:30 – 3:30 this morning, not able to sleep. Once I went back to bed, I got some sleep and when I woke up, I was trying to figure out how I felt. My throat is still sore, but I feel pretty good. I bowl on Thursday nights, so that will be a game time decision.

I also thought about my Atlanta Braves (yep, I own the team, so they are mine) – they haven’t been to the World Series since 1999. I hope that tonight is the night that they get to the series. It’s been fun, my whole family has been watching.

It’s weird, five minutes goes by very fast – but it’s a great way to write down some thoughts. Thanks Pointer II for coordinating this awesome challenge!

#JuWriSoMos

Here we go with Day 3 of the challenge! My prompt is How is the week going so far. Well…be careful what you ask for!

Monday: Was up by 5:30am to get my 10-year-old nephew awake and on the school bus. The bus arrives around 6:50, which if you ask me, is WAY TOO EARLY for a 4th grader to get on the bus. I was the good aunt and made him what he wanted for breakfast, an ice cream cone! After I got him on the bus (big win), I got myself ready made it to work. There is a lot that happened during that time, much more than five minutes will allow. Grocery shopping was on the agenda, which I love, and then home to watch football.

The Braves (my favorite baseball team) lost last night (Tuesday) so that was kind of sucky. The rest of the day was okay and today has been okay as well. I was able to get a walk in at lunch. It was brisk, which I love, so that made it a good walk!

In summary, this week is going pretty good. How is that for being descriptive????

#JuWriSoMos

Well, this should be day two, but technically, it’s day three. Yep, I missed the second day, I’m off to a good start. I now understand how important it is to carve out 5 minutes each day for me…for me to write. I kept telling myself I would get to it yesterday, but as you can see, I did not.

The prompt for day 2 is if I could take to one person today, who would it be and why. The easy choice is my pops. He passed away in 2006 and he has missed so many milestones. I would want to talk to him about his grandkids. How proud is he on all their accomplishments. How proud is he about my sister. All the crap she has gone through since he has been gone. How much does he love my youngest nephew since he never knew him. How glad I am that he continues to watch over us. I would also want some details on heaven. How is it? Has he been able to finally have a couple of PBRs? How are my grandparents, my aunts and uncles and my other family members that have crossed? I would ask him if he has been able to spend time with Chad. He never knew him in this life, but I hope the two of them have been able to get to know each other. Have they continued to talk about my sister and everything she has been through.

There are other people I would want to talk to, famous people, but that seems a little selfish to want to talk to someone I don’t know or will never know.

That was a fast five minutes…watch for Day 3 this afternoon to get me back on track.

#JuWriSoMos

I’m starting a journey. A writing journey with Rachel AKA Pointer II. Every week until the challenge ends, I will receive the prompts for the following week and a word of encouragement (which I know I will need!) My first goal is to schedule my writing time for each day so it remains a priority for me. I am started with five minutes each day this week.

Day 1 – What do I want to get done today?

I would like to get some projects at word done. I work in media so I will hopefully get some media fun stuff completed today. It is my busy time of year at work, so that will be my focus until 4:30 or 5.

I would like to walk at lunch. I believe this will happen with my work bestie Trish. We try to walk every day and since I missed the Y this morning, a walk is much needed. It is a great way to clear my head and get some good friend therapy!

I am excited to go to the grocery store tonight. I know this may sound a smidge on the sarcastic front, but I really do like to go to the grocery store. I normally go on Sundays, but I stayed at my sisters all week to watch my nephew while she picked up overtime at work. I got him on the bus this morning, so I consider that a win. Although, he did get ice cream for breakfast – I bet he considers that a win as well.

The last thing I want to get done today is watch Monday Night Football. I think that will be pretty easy. I may mix in some knitting while I watch – I’m working on a sweater.

Well, my five minutes are up, so until tomorrow…

JUst WRIte SOmething MOnths – #JuWriSoMos

I’m in a funk. I shouldn’t be. I can list several reasons why, in fact, I think I will do that

1. Me and my besties have signed up for a few knitting classes. We haven’t done this in a while because of stupid COVID. I haven’t been knitting as much as I was at the beginning of COVID because of a knitting related injury (a post for another day). We are all super excited for this. It has been a long time coming. We will be social distancing, only four in the class, masks, blah, blah, blah.
2. Me and my besties are getting together tomorrow night. We haven’t been doing this as much as we used to because of stupid COVID. We text a lot but we don’t get to just see each other and hang out like we used to. We need to change this and we are starting to do just that. I’m super excited!
3. It is finally cool outside. I mean, it is down right chilly, but as I sit in my spot on my front porch typing away, I’m happy to be in my favorite sweatshirt, listening to the wind and the rain and the cars go by and the neighbor yelling at his dog to, “come on’ – which I believe means get in the damn house
4. I read the Bible and I have finished the first five chapters and will start Joshua tomorrow. I wrote in my devotional journal and got caught up since I was a couple days behind.
5. Alex aka A-Man aka Alexander the Great, one of our cats, did not poop on anything.

Okay, now here are some reasons I think I’m in a funk

1. The sugars were not good today. I ate horrible over the weekend and didn’t walk at all. I get mad at my self and depressed when this happens
2. While I love the chilly weather, it’s raining and so I can’t walk. Now, I could go to the Y and walk on the track but I don’t want to and so that makes me upset that I don’t want to do that
3. This is the month that my husband is on the DM route. This just means that he will be home late. It’s only every third month, but I hate it when he gets home late.
4. The stupid COVID. It’s been, what it seems like years since all this nonsense started. Creighton got cancelled in the middle of their game. And then March Madness was cancelled and then when the CWS was cancelled, shit got real. Working from home and then working in the office with a limited staff. Not being able to see my mom since the beginning of March. Maybe it just is COVID. I don’t know. I feel that I really don’t have reason to complain or be in a funk. I know people have it way worse than I do. I have a job and a family and friends but, I don’t know…

Okay, so here I am, in a funk. What do I do? Maybe read, maybe watch tv, maybe just lay on the couch. Maybe do a bit of cleaning and organizing. Or may, I’ll just sit on the porch and watch the weather. Something peaceful about the weather…and then the neighbor yells at his dog again….

#mythoughts #funk #blessed #stupidCOVID

As I sit on my front porch, it’s starting to get a bit chilly. I welcome this weather. I’m a sweatshirt and jeans kind of gal. In the midwest, you can go from a 100 degree day (yesterday) to a 50 degree day (tomorrow) and not bat an eye. Labor Day has always been my favorite holiday. I know that this may seem weird, but this has always been a family weekend.

My sister lives in a small town that is famous for their Labor Day weekend festivities. When we were younger, we lived about 6 miles from this small town and we would go every Labor Day weekend. There would be a carnival, a flea market, lots of food vendors and of course, the parade. My sister and I always wished that we lived in this town and more specifically, in this big white house on the corner. This house was across the street from the park and right on the parade route. We mused that we would always be on time and we would always have great seats. I’m sure you know where I am going with this…my sister now lives in the big white house that we always loved.

When she moved in, our weekends would be spent in her garage with a few adult beverages. You could hear the street dance and could watch people walk downtown and then stumble back. More than likely, they would make a pit stop at the garage for one more. This is always the weekend that I ran into my husband. Well, he wasn’t my husband at the time, just a guy that I went to high school with many years back. That is a totally different post!

As we got older, the nights weren’t as long and the house was filled with kids and friends and family. There was always lots of food. There was a great spot to watch the parade, although I always missed the first part as in recent years, I drove the Labor Day Queen in my convertible.

This year was different. There were not festivities. There wasn’t a parade, or a flea market or food vendors. It was cancelled due to COVID. It really sucked. I was on my porch Saturday morning, having my coffee and I was sad. It was beautiful out, but I was missing the hectic weekend. I texted my sister and she told me to come down and hang out. I headed down Sunday and we had a good time. We went to see my mom (another story), and then out for an early super with my niece and nephew. It was really important to me to have this time with my family. I’m lucky that we have always been close and laughing and sharing old stories was just what I needed. We spend the evening with some cold beers and good friends.

Coming home today was different. I wasn’t fighting the crowds to get out of town or just getting out of my sisters. I was reflecting on the weekend and even though it was different, I wouldn’t trade it. Family and friends are everything. And if you are lucky to have friends that are family, their laughter and stories and just knowing that they are there for you, well, that is really the only thing that matters.

#LaborDay #SmallTown #MiddleAmerica

I’m a podcast person. I’m fairly new-ish to podcasts but have found that I enjoy listening to them more than music. There is still a place for musics, but this is about my favorite podcasts.

• Todd and Tyler
  • The Todd and Tyler Radio Empire is my favorite radio show. They are based in Omaha and I have been listening to them for many years. I have to admit, in the beginning, I wasn’t a big fan. I didn’t like the “skits” they would do. After they decided to move away from that, I was hooked. It helps that they lean the same way I do and that I really enjoy the ongoing segments, the clips they play. For me, it is a way to laugh and at the same time, get some news. In fact, Craig is the person I count on for my news. I’m happy with the addition of Nick, a local comedian. He makes me laugh and it’s nice to have a Chiefs fan on the show. The only thing that I don’t agree with…they don’t care for Nickleback.
• Nick Bahe
  • I was a little late to the game with Nick. I didn’t listen to his radio show with Schick back in the day (although I now LOVE their podcast – more later on that) but I started listen when he had his game time show on 1620. Like Todd and Tyler, I feel like I know Nick. I know about his family and his dream to broadcast a March Madness game. I even listen to his podcast episodes with Bo Ruud which are mostly about Nebraska Football and I really don’t like Nebraska Football. Of course my favorites are when he talks about Creighton basketball (my favorite college team) but I do learn something every time. My favorite one so far is his interview with Doug McDermott. I look forward to one with Kyle Korver some day!
• Defending the Kingdom
  • Mitch Holthus and Shawn Barber talk about the Chiefs. That’s it. Of course I love it.
• A Very Brady Podcast
  • Tach Van Sickle and Jimmy Klein talk about the Brady Bunch. They are currently in season 2. The first season was just Tach with different guest but then Jimmy joined him full time. I normally find myself forwarding through their personal banter but I really like when they talk about the show. It really isn’t kid friendly, which makes me like it even more. If you are a fan of the Brady Bunch – I would recommend it.
• Schick and Nick
  • This podcast makes me laugh more than any other one. I wish I listened to their radio show when it was on, but it doesn’t really matter that I didn’t. They play clips from their show and they do talk about current sport events. They started this during the COVID but I am super happy they have continued to do it. I hope they keep doing it! Enjoy your bye.
• Michelle Obama
  • This podcast is only on Spotify. I find her very interesting. Of course, her first guest was the President and the last guest that had was Conan O’Brien. This podcast if very down to earth. It is not political, but more on her life and how she handles things. She talks about health and relationships. It’s weird to think I can relate to some of the items that she talks about. Seriously, what on earth would I have in common with the former First Lady
• an oral history of The Office
  • Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) talks about the office. He doesn’t go episode by episode but really gives some history on when and how it started, the Jim and Pam relationship, when Michael Scott left the show. He has everyone on including the people behind the scenes. I learned a lot about The Office and I thought I knew most things. It’s funny to hear him on the radio with his own voice and not the voice of Kevin. The other person who has a different voice is Toby (Paul Lieberstein). Paul was the show’s writer, director, producer and showrunner. I really like his insight into the show and, let’s face it, Toby was such a great character!!

The podcasts above are the ones that I listen to all the time. I listen to every episode. It may take me a few days, but I get it done. I love to listen to them when I’m on my walk. There are other podcasts I listen to, depending on the guests. I’ll save that for next time.

#podcasts #mythoughts #toddandtyler #nickbahe #schichandnick

The battle that I have to deal with every day is my health. More specifically, my weight. If I can get my weight under control, my health will get better (I hope). My parents and my grandparents have given me some pretty sucky family health history.

When I was officially diagnosed with, what I like to call The Sugars (diabetes), on February 14, 2005, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I mean, my parents had it and my grandparents had it so I was destined to have it. Now, if I would have understood my numbers in my pre-sugar stage, maybe I could have head it off at the pass, but I didn’t.

My weight (and my sugars) have been up and down my whole life. I have an all-time fighting weight that I reached in college and then again in the early 2000s. I was getting pretty close to that a couple months ago. I kept telling myself that I was okay and yeah, my sugars were high, but I was okay. The problem was, I really wasn’t okay.

The day they called with my updated A1C was the day everything changed. For some reason, this really spooked me and maybe that is what I needed, to be spooked. I, of course, blamed some of it (okay, most of it) on The COVID. I was drinking more than I normally did, eating crap and doing a lot of laying around. I feel I was going through the motions.

Here I am, about a month after that fateful day and I’m doing pretty good. I’m down about 10 pounds and my sugars have lowered. I cut way back on my Diet Coke and my alcohol. I’m walking every day (sometimes twice a day) and I’m at a point where I am not thinking about food all the time. I still have my fast food on Sundays (a tradition) and a frozen pizza now and then, but my morning sausage biscuits with cheese have stopped as well as my weekly (sometimes daily) hot fudge malts. I can still have those on occasion, I just don’t have them as much as I used to.

I’ve looked at all the diet apps and websites to find that easy fix. Well, there isn’t one. I write down everything I eat but don’t really track the calories, it’s just a way to be aware of what I put in my mouth (that’s what she said). I test my sugars 3-4 times a day. This is my routine until my next round of blood work in November.

My battle. I have had it for years and I will have it for years. My goal is to manage my battle to the best of my abilities.

Welcome to my thoughts.

#mybattle #thesugars #lowertheA1C #welcometomythoughts