So here it is. It'll be added-to, updated, changed ... but this is a start.
1. Work through "You Can Do It" (1/60 badges earned)
2. Publish!! (even if self-published)
3. own a home
4. Pyramids @ sunset
5. road trip across U.S. (route 66?)
6. long distance bike trip
7. nature-ed
8. Hawaii
9. Swim, lots
10. read in the bathtub once a week for a year (0/52)
11. be at goal weight
12. bikini
13. make my own perfume
14. spend whole day reading in bed w/Pete
15. go sledding
16. go tubing again
17. camping weekend w/K&S
18. snorkeling in the Caribbean
19. go to a Holi celebration (New York?)
20. Niagra Falls
21. Grand Canyon
22. Vegas
23. find my career path - not just a job!
24. fold 1000 origami cranes
25. get a tatoo
26. go to a pottery painting place
27. make my own shampoo/conditioner
28. remove money as a concern
29. find & subscribe to a mag that inspires me
30. write a letter to a little-known author to let them know how their work affected me
31. winery tour
32. watch sunset w/Pete
33. sing on stage with a band
34. sleep under the stars
35. pedicure
36. go to the zoo again
37. paint a picture
38. record a song w/Pete
39. draw an animated short w/Pete
40. take pics in a photobooth
41. create my personal mission statement
42. find another place to volunteer since the move (the year I spend as an advocate/emergency responder/crisis responder was fulfilling in ways I couldn't have imagined)
43.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
moving forward as if there is no past
Instead of talking about the huge break (and major life changes) here, I'll start from scratch. Again?
Hi. I'm Jenni. I'm currently living in a super small town somewhere in Northern(most) Michigan with my hubs and our three cats. We've had our Little Monster Punk for three years, and just 'inherited' the Boys a month ago. That's been a challenge. After a few scratched noses and a lot of hissing (almost all from The Little One), things are settling down.
I've started working on a 'Life List' (I'll post it here) and this is going to be the space where I talk about that. My last list worked out pretty well, and in writing this one I've realized how much I've actually gotten to do.
If you're working on one, please share.
Hi. I'm Jenni. I'm currently living in a super small town somewhere in Northern(most) Michigan with my hubs and our three cats. We've had our Little Monster Punk for three years, and just 'inherited' the Boys a month ago. That's been a challenge. After a few scratched noses and a lot of hissing (almost all from The Little One), things are settling down.
I've started working on a 'Life List' (I'll post it here) and this is going to be the space where I talk about that. My last list worked out pretty well, and in writing this one I've realized how much I've actually gotten to do.
If you're working on one, please share.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A Moment To Breathe
The past six months has been awe-inspiring, crazy, horrible & wonderful.
I got laid off in December.
Got married legally on Christmas Day in a really tiny (tiny) ceremony at my parent's place up north. It was one of the most meaningful moments of my life, I shook more while reading my vows then I can explain.
Our kitten passed away in February.
Pete's Grandfather passed away in March. We had an intimate wake for him, and I felt really accepted into the family fold. I watched my husband grow a lot in those days, the way he dealt with his grief made me love him in completely different ways, for his strength and grace.
I got a new job in April. It pays more than I was making before, and is a much different environment.
We got 'weddinged' in June with 100 of our nearest-and-dearest. And, oh, the stress that came out in me!! I hadn't realized I could be like that, but I finally understand. The whole weekend was packed with visiting family and all kinds of silliness. I don't know if I'd ever have the strength to do it again, but I loved every second of it.
Other than that, it's been discing and hanging out with friends and snuggling the new kitten (we adopted her in April). Life is crazy and busy, but I think I'm ready to come back to this site.
I missed it.
I got laid off in December.
Got married legally on Christmas Day in a really tiny (tiny) ceremony at my parent's place up north. It was one of the most meaningful moments of my life, I shook more while reading my vows then I can explain.
Our kitten passed away in February.
Pete's Grandfather passed away in March. We had an intimate wake for him, and I felt really accepted into the family fold. I watched my husband grow a lot in those days, the way he dealt with his grief made me love him in completely different ways, for his strength and grace.
I got a new job in April. It pays more than I was making before, and is a much different environment.
We got 'weddinged' in June with 100 of our nearest-and-dearest. And, oh, the stress that came out in me!! I hadn't realized I could be like that, but I finally understand. The whole weekend was packed with visiting family and all kinds of silliness. I don't know if I'd ever have the strength to do it again, but I loved every second of it.
Other than that, it's been discing and hanging out with friends and snuggling the new kitten (we adopted her in April). Life is crazy and busy, but I think I'm ready to come back to this site.
I missed it.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Kate, the woman who sits across from me, is a wonder. She and her sister both work here, and I've worked with her sister before. They're vivacious, funny, sweet, faith-driven women who have a lot going on in their lives. They're the first to help if someone needs it, the first to offer compassion and understanding. They're very involved in their church, the same church a lot of people around here attend.
They'll pop out with the occasional "amen" or "testify!" when they're listening to gospel music and it never fails to make me giggle a little bit.
If you hadn't gathered, I'm not a very religous person. But, I have so much respect for any beliefs that make someone else want to be a better person, and it's obvious their religion does just that for these sisters.
This morning, Kate had brought in breakfast. For the first time ever, I actually hear her pray : "Lord, we're waiting on the 12th to know where we stand here, and that we may be jobless. We give it unto your hands, trusting you'll lead us to the right place as you always do."
Kate just had a baby, she's been back from maternity leave for about three weeks. She's missing her son, needing the money that working brings, trying to find some balance between the two. Yet she sounded so serene and so trusting, not an ounce of the stress the rest of us feel in her voice. I've heard her voice her worries before, but in that moment they seemed gone.
If she can have that much faith and trust with so much new responsibility, shouldn't I?
I need to trust in The Universe (or what have you) to take care of me, while still pushing my resume out there. It's a hard line to walk for me. But I'm learning.
I'm thankful for the lesson.
They'll pop out with the occasional "amen" or "testify!" when they're listening to gospel music and it never fails to make me giggle a little bit.
If you hadn't gathered, I'm not a very religous person. But, I have so much respect for any beliefs that make someone else want to be a better person, and it's obvious their religion does just that for these sisters.
This morning, Kate had brought in breakfast. For the first time ever, I actually hear her pray : "Lord, we're waiting on the 12th to know where we stand here, and that we may be jobless. We give it unto your hands, trusting you'll lead us to the right place as you always do."
Kate just had a baby, she's been back from maternity leave for about three weeks. She's missing her son, needing the money that working brings, trying to find some balance between the two. Yet she sounded so serene and so trusting, not an ounce of the stress the rest of us feel in her voice. I've heard her voice her worries before, but in that moment they seemed gone.
If she can have that much faith and trust with so much new responsibility, shouldn't I?
I need to trust in The Universe (or what have you) to take care of me, while still pushing my resume out there. It's a hard line to walk for me. But I'm learning.
I'm thankful for the lesson.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
I can't believe my five day vacation is ending already!
Half of me can't wait to get back to work (as much as I loooove being at home, I need more things to do) and half of me wants another late night with my honey.
We've had a pretty great time. Most of it, honestly, has been spent watching movies and playing video games.
We had Thanksgiving dinner with Pete's Dad and brothers. Lots of great food and we all watched Death to Smoochy.
Saturday night, Mike stopped over for a while to hang out with Pete. They did the guy bonding thing while I was holed up in the bedroom writing furiously!
On Sunday, Pete and I were given some pretty great tickets to the Piston's game. I hadn't been in a couple of years. Driving back in the snow, we also got to talking about plans for the winter and how cozy everything is starting to feel.
And there was a huge amount of gooey almost-newly-wed talk. That Pete, he is great. And he's put up with so much from me this month ...
The lack of plans, the lack of socializing (although I did pop out a few times to say hi to the guys on Saturday night) was because of THIS :
That's right! I did it! I made 50000 words!
I'm so proud of that. I've been writing short stories and the beginnings to longer books since I was in the first grade. One of my nicknames in grade school was Chapter One because I'd generally stop soon after that.
So, I'd made a promise to myself that this year I'd buckle down and get it done. If it's crap, so what? And seeing as that's usually what stops me after the first 40 pages or so, throwing that worry out the window really helped.
I did all my writing by hand. Although I type more quickly than I write, it just felt awesome to have a pen in my hand almost all month.
Now I'm going to go let them de-cramp :)
I'll be back with some more sharing later & I can't wait to read all about your holiday weekends.
Half of me can't wait to get back to work (as much as I loooove being at home, I need more things to do) and half of me wants another late night with my honey.
We've had a pretty great time. Most of it, honestly, has been spent watching movies and playing video games.
We had Thanksgiving dinner with Pete's Dad and brothers. Lots of great food and we all watched Death to Smoochy.
Saturday night, Mike stopped over for a while to hang out with Pete. They did the guy bonding thing while I was holed up in the bedroom writing furiously!
On Sunday, Pete and I were given some pretty great tickets to the Piston's game. I hadn't been in a couple of years. Driving back in the snow, we also got to talking about plans for the winter and how cozy everything is starting to feel.
And there was a huge amount of gooey almost-newly-wed talk. That Pete, he is great. And he's put up with so much from me this month ...
The lack of plans, the lack of socializing (although I did pop out a few times to say hi to the guys on Saturday night) was because of THIS :
That's right! I did it! I made 50000 words!
I'm so proud of that. I've been writing short stories and the beginnings to longer books since I was in the first grade. One of my nicknames in grade school was Chapter One because I'd generally stop soon after that.
So, I'd made a promise to myself that this year I'd buckle down and get it done. If it's crap, so what? And seeing as that's usually what stops me after the first 40 pages or so, throwing that worry out the window really helped.
I did all my writing by hand. Although I type more quickly than I write, it just felt awesome to have a pen in my hand almost all month.
Now I'm going to go let them de-cramp :)
I'll be back with some more sharing later & I can't wait to read all about your holiday weekends.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
gimmie some sugar
Last night, Pete and I were bored. We decided to go see My Name is Bruce because, well, Bruce Campbell is one of the funniest guys ever. Army of Darkness is one of those movies I've watched over and over, usually with my Dad.
My sister and I still crack each other up with quotes from it.
The 7 o'clock show was sold out, so we went to a little bar around the corner (where Pete and I actually met) and ended up meeting some really cool people. This girl complimented me on my sweater (awwww...) and it lead to this really long conversation and her deciding we were new BFFs *lol*. She was awesome, though. Full of weird stories and she's leading a pretty interesting life.
We also met a few of her friends, and got invited to Thanksgiving Dinner with a big group of them. If we didn't already have plans, or want to hang out with my bestie in case those fall through, I'd really have loved to go.
After a few drinks, we went back for the 10 o'clock show. The movie was cheesy and funny, everything I expected.
And then Bruce showed up!!!
He did a half-hour long Q&A, the man is even funnier in person. Especially when someone brought up Bubba Ho-Tep. Heh. Seriously, though : he seems like such a great guy. And I'm so glad I got to hear him talk.
My Dad's gunna be sooooo jealous :P
My sister and I still crack each other up with quotes from it.
The 7 o'clock show was sold out, so we went to a little bar around the corner (where Pete and I actually met) and ended up meeting some really cool people. This girl complimented me on my sweater (awwww...) and it lead to this really long conversation and her deciding we were new BFFs *lol*. She was awesome, though. Full of weird stories and she's leading a pretty interesting life.
We also met a few of her friends, and got invited to Thanksgiving Dinner with a big group of them. If we didn't already have plans, or want to hang out with my bestie in case those fall through, I'd really have loved to go.
After a few drinks, we went back for the 10 o'clock show. The movie was cheesy and funny, everything I expected.
And then Bruce showed up!!!
He did a half-hour long Q&A, the man is even funnier in person. Especially when someone brought up Bubba Ho-Tep. Heh. Seriously, though : he seems like such a great guy. And I'm so glad I got to hear him talk.
My Dad's gunna be sooooo jealous :P
Monday, October 13, 2008
good days/better days
Things at work have kind of exploded. I can’t go into it here for obvious reasons, but right now it looks like my nearest & dearest are going to make it through unscathed. That wasn’t looking so likely two days ago. My phone was ringing off the hook on Friday.
At 1am I was pacing the dark living room talking to a co-worker/friend on the phone, trying to put all of our shared frustrations and fears into words. And I realized that it didn’t really matter. What we said wasn’t nearly as important as the fact that we were there for each other, that we understood exactly what the other one was going through. Although we have very different views on how to deal with it all, on what our personal response can and should be : we know why the other one feels the way they do.
I think that makes it all, if not worthwhile, at least bearable.
In the meantime, our new little man (HRH Spot) continues to be amazing. Spastic ninja wonder kitten. He’s settled down to the point where he lets us sleep for more than two hours at a time!!! Yay! A triple-somersault from the foot of the bed (claws out) straight into my toes is not an awesome way to be woken up.
His favorite place seems to be perched on the bathtub. Last night he was sitting up there and did an awkward little kitten stretch and fell in! Luckily I caught him just before he hit the water. I almost dropped him because I was laughing so hard at the little nerdling.
It’s so geeky to feel family-ish now. But that’s exactly how it does feel.
Sometimes, Instead of curling up in Pete’s lap and demanding attention, now I leave that to Spot (heh). And instead of driving me nuts occasionally by bounding through the living room and scooping me off the chair just as I started Piano Player and omg-now-I-might-mess-up, he bugs the kitten. We love each other madly and we’re still very much in that sick, new-love thing where we sometimes spend hours curled up on the couch together talking and we say the most saccarine-coated stuff to each other daily, but it’s nice to have Spot to give some of that attention to. And sharing those little looks after the kitten does something adorable? *SWOON* What's hawtter than a cute guy getting all sweeted out by an adorable little animal?
Not much, my friends. Not much at all.
At 1am I was pacing the dark living room talking to a co-worker/friend on the phone, trying to put all of our shared frustrations and fears into words. And I realized that it didn’t really matter. What we said wasn’t nearly as important as the fact that we were there for each other, that we understood exactly what the other one was going through. Although we have very different views on how to deal with it all, on what our personal response can and should be : we know why the other one feels the way they do.
I think that makes it all, if not worthwhile, at least bearable.
In the meantime, our new little man (HRH Spot) continues to be amazing. Spastic ninja wonder kitten. He’s settled down to the point where he lets us sleep for more than two hours at a time!!! Yay! A triple-somersault from the foot of the bed (claws out) straight into my toes is not an awesome way to be woken up.
His favorite place seems to be perched on the bathtub. Last night he was sitting up there and did an awkward little kitten stretch and fell in! Luckily I caught him just before he hit the water. I almost dropped him because I was laughing so hard at the little nerdling.
It’s so geeky to feel family-ish now. But that’s exactly how it does feel.
Sometimes, Instead of curling up in Pete’s lap and demanding attention, now I leave that to Spot (heh). And instead of driving me nuts occasionally by bounding through the living room and scooping me off the chair just as I started Piano Player and omg-now-I-might-mess-up, he bugs the kitten. We love each other madly and we’re still very much in that sick, new-love thing where we sometimes spend hours curled up on the couch together talking and we say the most saccarine-coated stuff to each other daily, but it’s nice to have Spot to give some of that attention to. And sharing those little looks after the kitten does something adorable? *SWOON* What's hawtter than a cute guy getting all sweeted out by an adorable little animal?
Not much, my friends. Not much at all.
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