ThinkKit wants me to write about a significant number in my year and I would say one to symbolize firsts that happened this year! Here is a list so this blog isn't TLDR.
*First time I saw my daughter WALK! It was amazing, and she has only gotten faster since!
*First time I took a 16 hour road trip with a toddler, it wasn't as hectic as I thought it would be.
*First time I went to a Dinosaur park (outside of Austin, TX), it was AWESOME.
*First time I had fire engine red hair!
*First time I bought a new car!
*First time I have freelanced as a florist for other florists (I still got to work with flowers without all the paperwork and stress)
*First time I went on a carousel with my daughter, she was so amazed by it.
*First time I saw a lot of great shows and movies thanks to my husband who is great at picking out good shows and movies.
*First time I started reading graphic novels, I LOVE them.
*First time I went to Minnesota for a half hour just because I could (We were in LaCrosse, Wisconsin for a wedding)
*First time I REALLY surprised my husband for his birthday (his band got to play at Birdy's and he had no idea!)
*First time all three of us have had stomach flu at the same time (NEVER AGAIN)
*First time I got to hold my nephew.
*First time I went trick or treating with my daughter
I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them. I think 2014 was a pretty swell year!
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Running is good for you but, God, at what cost?!
ThinkKit asked me what I discovered this year and the answer is I officially hate running. This June, I made a commitment to run at least every other day and did so for about 2 months until I came down with bronchitis. I hadn't been on a run for 4 years and it seemed so many people run and feel good doing it that I would give it a shot. I got so focused on making this a hobby I even looked up 5k runs for the fall. I did work my way up from running then walking to running a mile straight (which I haven't done in over 7 years).
I honestly do NOT know how people can or even want to run more than a mile. I hate being out of breath, I hate how my knees and back feel like they are going to break, I hate how I look while running (my knees knock and I feel like Ricky Bobby, not knowing what to do with my hands). I also find running really boring. It's like I get bored while running but also feel like I'm hyperventilating and going to die no matter how long I've run.
I respect those who do run, I understand wanting to be in shape and the endorphins that come along with it. But I will say this summer, I definitely discovered I will never be a long distance runner or even a runner in general. I gave it a go, I gave it what I had. I am just not a runner. I prefer to get my exercise going on long fast paced walks, dancing for a half hour in my living room with my daughter, or doing some chores that are physically demanding (that kills 2 birds with 1 stone!). So sorry folks, but you won't see me in any marathons probably ever.
I honestly do NOT know how people can or even want to run more than a mile. I hate being out of breath, I hate how my knees and back feel like they are going to break, I hate how I look while running (my knees knock and I feel like Ricky Bobby, not knowing what to do with my hands). I also find running really boring. It's like I get bored while running but also feel like I'm hyperventilating and going to die no matter how long I've run.
I respect those who do run, I understand wanting to be in shape and the endorphins that come along with it. But I will say this summer, I definitely discovered I will never be a long distance runner or even a runner in general. I gave it a go, I gave it what I had. I am just not a runner. I prefer to get my exercise going on long fast paced walks, dancing for a half hour in my living room with my daughter, or doing some chores that are physically demanding (that kills 2 birds with 1 stone!). So sorry folks, but you won't see me in any marathons probably ever.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Can you believe I went to art school?
ThinkKit asked me to make a drawing today so without further ado, here ya go:
A five minute pen sketch of me who looks like a shaggy haired man according to my drawing skills. I guess it's a step up from a stick figure right?
Friday, December 12, 2014
I'm taking a timeout from ThinkKit today to write a really ridiculous poem about my daughter's favorite stuffed animal that my husband has named Purple Monkey Dishwasher (it's a purple monkey stuffed animal in case you couldn't figure that out).
Purple Monkey by Jenn King
Purple Monkey works hard washing dishes
So he can spend money on all of Raven's wishes
He got fired from Chili's, what a sad place to be
But he found a job at our local Applebee's.
Although he works, he will still snuggle with his girl
Because Raven is more precious than any rare pearl
Purple Monkey washes dishes late, late at night
So he is in Raven's crib by the time it is light.
Raven and Purple Monkey are the best of friends
A bond so tight that it will never end.
He goes with her to daycare and many car rides
He'll go with her anywhere, if time abides.
For Purple Monkey, he goes far above
To show Raven what it is to love
He may have to wash dishes to make ends meet
But his loyalty to his friend is really quite neat.
Raven will get older, this is what we know
And her attachment to 'Purple' may start to slow
But he will always be there for the baby he adores
And will still be her friend even if she's forty four.
Purple Monkey is a great dishwasher and bud
Even when he grows old and full of crud
Raven will never forget her very first friend
What a silly poem, so this is the end!
Purple Monkey by Jenn King
Purple Monkey works hard washing dishes
So he can spend money on all of Raven's wishes
He got fired from Chili's, what a sad place to be
But he found a job at our local Applebee's.
Although he works, he will still snuggle with his girl
Because Raven is more precious than any rare pearl
Purple Monkey washes dishes late, late at night
So he is in Raven's crib by the time it is light.
Raven and Purple Monkey are the best of friends
A bond so tight that it will never end.
He goes with her to daycare and many car rides
He'll go with her anywhere, if time abides.
For Purple Monkey, he goes far above
To show Raven what it is to love
He may have to wash dishes to make ends meet
But his loyalty to his friend is really quite neat.
Raven will get older, this is what we know
And her attachment to 'Purple' may start to slow
But he will always be there for the baby he adores
And will still be her friend even if she's forty four.
Purple Monkey is a great dishwasher and bud
Even when he grows old and full of crud
Raven will never forget her very first friend
What a silly poem, so this is the end!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Meeting Joe
ThinKit's prompt today was to talk about someone I met for the first time this year. Well, I am happy to say I got to meet my first biological nephew, Mr. Anthony Joseph Cornell Jr. or Joe for short!
Don't mind my appearance in this photo, I was not expecting my sister to have little Joe so quickly (uhhh only a 4 hour labor for a first time mom?! Any other moms want to scream out their jealousy?) I guess I could have at least showered. The neat thing about Joe being born was my sister and brother-in-law didn't want family in the delivery room (understandable) but I did get to wait outside her door and hear his cry as soon as he was born. I'm not going to lie, I burst out into tears. I told my mom it was so exciting because I got to experience the joy of a newborn all over again without ME having to go through labor and pushing (over 21 hours for me and 3 of it was pushing).
Joe came into this world as perfect as a newborn can be, but maybe I am biased because he's my nephew;) He is a very chill baby, the complete opposite of my daughter who had colic and then never quit mumbling or getting dramatic about something ever since. Raven loves Joe and calls him "JoJo". I'm glad she has a boy cousin close to her age since she also has a girl cousin only 3 months older than her. My cousin closest in age to me is 4 years younger so I am glad she has 2 she can grow up playing with.
Joe has brought me so much joy this year as I have gotten to spend time with a newborn again and get lots of infant snuggles. He is a beautiful boy with great parents so I know he will grow up to be a kind soul. I just hope he always knows how much Aunt Jenn loves him!
Joe came into this world as perfect as a newborn can be, but maybe I am biased because he's my nephew;) He is a very chill baby, the complete opposite of my daughter who had colic and then never quit mumbling or getting dramatic about something ever since. Raven loves Joe and calls him "JoJo". I'm glad she has a boy cousin close to her age since she also has a girl cousin only 3 months older than her. My cousin closest in age to me is 4 years younger so I am glad she has 2 she can grow up playing with.
Joe has brought me so much joy this year as I have gotten to spend time with a newborn again and get lots of infant snuggles. He is a beautiful boy with great parents so I know he will grow up to be a kind soul. I just hope he always knows how much Aunt Jenn loves him!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Gone Too Soon
ThinkKit's prompt today is to talk about something strange that happened this year. I will warn you that the first thing that came to mind was not something funny or a happy. The strange thing is I have known 4 people around my age pass away this year. I guess I consider that strange because I know people MY age dying which is weird but also extremely sad. No parent should ever have to bury their child.
My husband's friend, Daniel, was delivering pizzas in January when he was shot and killed leaving the apartment he delivered to and had his car stolen. Daniel was very loved by many friends, especially musicians in the Indy area as he was a musician himself. I didn't know Daniel very well, but he was extremely kind the nights we chatted with him at the Alley Cat or saw him singing with his band. I have seen my husband cry maybe twice and when he got the news, he sobbed. I know many people miss Daniel and the way he was killed was so unfair. I know his loved ones will keep his memory alive with what a kind soul he was.
My husband's former drummer also passed away this year. I don't know the cause of death, but I know he had just welcomed a baby. I know he was younger than me which makes me realize even moreso that death doesn't care what age you are, we are all vulnerable to it. RIP Ben.
A former coworker of mine committed suicide a few months ago. Of all people, I would have never guessed she would be depressed enough to think suicide was the only way out. Rachel seemed very bubbly and excited about things going on in her life in the little time that I knew her. I don't know if she was suffering then and putting on a brave face, or something happened after we didn't work together that made her upset enough to end it. Suicide brings on so many questions. Unfortunately, I've known several people in the last 10 years who have committed suicide. I couldn't tell you why, but I hope their families and friends are finding peace as time goes on.
A great guy I knew named Todd who was a prominent hairstylist in the Indy area who I happened to work with on some photo shoots also passed away this year at the age of 38. He had a heart attack a year ago and later found out he would need a heart transplant. While waiting on a transplant, he had a major stroke and passed away. I miss his sarcastic humor on social media and the fun I had working with him. I wish he had found a heart and could be here today since so many people in our community loved him.
All gone too soon. I hope they rest in peace.
My husband's friend, Daniel, was delivering pizzas in January when he was shot and killed leaving the apartment he delivered to and had his car stolen. Daniel was very loved by many friends, especially musicians in the Indy area as he was a musician himself. I didn't know Daniel very well, but he was extremely kind the nights we chatted with him at the Alley Cat or saw him singing with his band. I have seen my husband cry maybe twice and when he got the news, he sobbed. I know many people miss Daniel and the way he was killed was so unfair. I know his loved ones will keep his memory alive with what a kind soul he was.
My husband's former drummer also passed away this year. I don't know the cause of death, but I know he had just welcomed a baby. I know he was younger than me which makes me realize even moreso that death doesn't care what age you are, we are all vulnerable to it. RIP Ben.
A former coworker of mine committed suicide a few months ago. Of all people, I would have never guessed she would be depressed enough to think suicide was the only way out. Rachel seemed very bubbly and excited about things going on in her life in the little time that I knew her. I don't know if she was suffering then and putting on a brave face, or something happened after we didn't work together that made her upset enough to end it. Suicide brings on so many questions. Unfortunately, I've known several people in the last 10 years who have committed suicide. I couldn't tell you why, but I hope their families and friends are finding peace as time goes on.
A great guy I knew named Todd who was a prominent hairstylist in the Indy area who I happened to work with on some photo shoots also passed away this year at the age of 38. He had a heart attack a year ago and later found out he would need a heart transplant. While waiting on a transplant, he had a major stroke and passed away. I miss his sarcastic humor on social media and the fun I had working with him. I wish he had found a heart and could be here today since so many people in our community loved him.
All gone too soon. I hope they rest in peace.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Come back Spring!
ThinkKit asked me what I look most forward to in 2015 and since we don't have any specific trips or big events planned, I would have to say the return of Spring. I like Indianapolis, it's a big city with a small town feel. My sister lives 20 minutes away and my in-laws live 25 minutes away which is great because my mother in law watches Raven part time so we can save money on daycare. My mom lives an hour away, so as you can see, I love having family close by. But I HATE this place November-March. I hate coats, I hate dry skin, I hate the rush of cold air on my face, I hate shivering, I hate snow and ice (especially scraping it off my car), I hate the darkness that is also bone chilling cold, I hate being stuck indoors with a toddler because I'm too cold to want to bundle her up and attempt to play outside, I hate how bad Indy drivers can be when the roads are slick, I hate wearing shoes (flip flops or sandals are WAY better in my book), I could go on about what I hate about winter, but I think you have the idea!
If I hate winter so much, why do I live here? Well like I said, I like being near my family (though I wish they all resided in the Southwest or a tropical island). JD and I have job security here with a low cost of living compared to other cities this size in the South. I love the fact that my daughter can see her grandparents and aunts and uncles so that just makes moving harder. We'd also have to get substantial raises to afford moving and living comfortably in a warm dry place like Austin or Las Vegas.
So since I hate the winter and everything about it (I literally do not like one thing about winter, hell I will take insects and sunburns as long as it's warm), the thing I look most forward to in 2015 is that first day where it's above 60 degrees and the sun is out. I want to see flowers blooming again. I want to take my daughter on walks around the neighborhood without coats on. I want to feel the warm sun on my face. I want to hang up my coat and put flip flops on. Basically, my body and mind were meant for someplace south. I don't care about changing of the seasons, how about one season where it's always at least 70 degrees? I even love hot weather, which we didn't have much of this past summer.
I probably have Seasonal Affective Disorder since I feel angry and trapped in the winter. I've tried Vitamin D and a light that mimics the sun, but that doesn't help. I'm still angry over the weather November-March. Hopefully we will move south sooner than later, though I will miss a lot of people including my family. I am just not meant for colder weather environments. Womp womp.
If I hate winter so much, why do I live here? Well like I said, I like being near my family (though I wish they all resided in the Southwest or a tropical island). JD and I have job security here with a low cost of living compared to other cities this size in the South. I love the fact that my daughter can see her grandparents and aunts and uncles so that just makes moving harder. We'd also have to get substantial raises to afford moving and living comfortably in a warm dry place like Austin or Las Vegas.
So since I hate the winter and everything about it (I literally do not like one thing about winter, hell I will take insects and sunburns as long as it's warm), the thing I look most forward to in 2015 is that first day where it's above 60 degrees and the sun is out. I want to see flowers blooming again. I want to take my daughter on walks around the neighborhood without coats on. I want to feel the warm sun on my face. I want to hang up my coat and put flip flops on. Basically, my body and mind were meant for someplace south. I don't care about changing of the seasons, how about one season where it's always at least 70 degrees? I even love hot weather, which we didn't have much of this past summer.
I probably have Seasonal Affective Disorder since I feel angry and trapped in the winter. I've tried Vitamin D and a light that mimics the sun, but that doesn't help. I'm still angry over the weather November-March. Hopefully we will move south sooner than later, though I will miss a lot of people including my family. I am just not meant for colder weather environments. Womp womp.
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