Transition seasons are the best seasons. When the hot and humid days finally break and the gentle breeze picks up and the leaves on the trees begin to change... When the frigid days of winter let up and the sun comes out and you can feel the warmth once again... Those are the days that are the most relaxing, the most freeing, the simplest.
I used to write "poetry" in high school, though now I realize that my junior year CA teacher was correct in saying I should take a class to improve my work. Days like today were the kind of days that I would sit and write desolate words on a page forever, pretending I was a British damsel in distress, constantly thinking "woe is me".
Breathe deeply today. Take in the beauty. Because soon, the flawless cool days of autumn will steal the green, the warmth, the air, and we'll be left with nothing but white for months...before transition season begins again.
lakjsd
Monday, September 26, 2016
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Almost a Real-Life Photographer
I have officially taken my first people photos where I was SUPPOSED to come take pictures of people!
My best friend is a wonderful human being. She took a major risk on me, got her family to agree to me taking their family photos for them, and went out of her way to make the effort to support something I really enjoy. I've never had someone treat me so incredibly, even when I can be such a crappy human being sometimes.
I'll share a couple, as there are a few family members that do not want them shared at this time.
To be totally honest, I'm so so so happy. I exceeded my own expectations. :)
I don't know...I was asked by a friend of a friend to take pictures of her 1-year-old next month. Do I make this into a thing? It would be so hard to schedule around my nursing job, but I could attempt it. It might not go past these two events...
Anyone have name suggestions if I were to start up something?
My best friend is a wonderful human being. She took a major risk on me, got her family to agree to me taking their family photos for them, and went out of her way to make the effort to support something I really enjoy. I've never had someone treat me so incredibly, even when I can be such a crappy human being sometimes.
I'll share a couple, as there are a few family members that do not want them shared at this time.
To be totally honest, I'm so so so happy. I exceeded my own expectations. :)
I don't know...I was asked by a friend of a friend to take pictures of her 1-year-old next month. Do I make this into a thing? It would be so hard to schedule around my nursing job, but I could attempt it. It might not go past these two events...
Anyone have name suggestions if I were to start up something?
Thursday, September 22, 2016
I'm Sorry
I hate everything about the way my life is right now.
Work sucks. We have minimal staff, no appreciation, gratitude, or care from our administration, and things aren't family-oriented and fun anymore. I'm working doubles, not taking breaks, and trying to partake in 3 different roles most nights. We have patients and staff alike that are leaving because they don't feel like things are adequate. Thank God in heaven that I have some great colleagues that make it tolerable. Last night was the first good night in a long time...and I laughed. I forgot what that felt like at work.
I suck. Apparently I am a spectacularly crappy friend. Nobody answers me when I try to set something up. Nobody (except the one) talks to me or tries to do anything with me. I told Luke last night that I might just become an alcoholic and do shit on my own because being shot down repeatedly hurts my heart and my bones and maybe, just maybe, wine would numb the pain.
Home sucks. At least that's not anybody's fault. Except maybe my own. Luke works and studies and has minimal time for little else. Charley just keeps finding new ways to make my life miserable. She's cute, so I forgive her almost immediately, but when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry, she's sort of inconvenient.
My soul sucks. It hurts. It's sucking me dry. It's so dark in there right now that I don't know how to fix it. The only way I find sanity is by watching tv and draining my mind of all things involving my life. I've been trying so hard to stay positive, but each day I feel like I'm creeping lower and lower.
I'm lost guys. I'll keep working on it. It's just hard doing it alone.
Work sucks. We have minimal staff, no appreciation, gratitude, or care from our administration, and things aren't family-oriented and fun anymore. I'm working doubles, not taking breaks, and trying to partake in 3 different roles most nights. We have patients and staff alike that are leaving because they don't feel like things are adequate. Thank God in heaven that I have some great colleagues that make it tolerable. Last night was the first good night in a long time...and I laughed. I forgot what that felt like at work.
I suck. Apparently I am a spectacularly crappy friend. Nobody answers me when I try to set something up. Nobody (except the one) talks to me or tries to do anything with me. I told Luke last night that I might just become an alcoholic and do shit on my own because being shot down repeatedly hurts my heart and my bones and maybe, just maybe, wine would numb the pain.
Home sucks. At least that's not anybody's fault. Except maybe my own. Luke works and studies and has minimal time for little else. Charley just keeps finding new ways to make my life miserable. She's cute, so I forgive her almost immediately, but when all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry, she's sort of inconvenient.
My soul sucks. It hurts. It's sucking me dry. It's so dark in there right now that I don't know how to fix it. The only way I find sanity is by watching tv and draining my mind of all things involving my life. I've been trying so hard to stay positive, but each day I feel like I'm creeping lower and lower.
I'm lost guys. I'll keep working on it. It's just hard doing it alone.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Out West
Our road trip has come and gone.
It was a running joke between Luke and I for the longest time that the furthest west I had ever been was Minneapolis. I consider myself reasonably well traveled; I've been to New York, Washington D.C., Florida, Alabama, Hawaii, and Nicaragua. And while all of these locations have been stunning and unforgettable in their own ways, I hadn't been west.
Until now!
We opted to do as much as we could fit into 12 days. I don't have any regrets, but we were a speck time-crunched in some places and a little lax for things to do at others.
The drive out to South Dakota was a little over 12 hours. We stayed in Keystone, a cute little western town in the mountains. The first couple of days we went to...
Mount Rushmore,
Bear Country USA,
Reptile Gardens,
1880 Train,
Custer State Park,
and Crazy Horse.
History has never been my favorite subject, but a lot of the information we learned was fascinating. Of course, there were a few times that Luke would get very caught up in a history lesson and I would be over on the other side of the room watching the video on how they used dynamite to blow off sections of both Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
The weather was beautiful for the majority of the trip. A cold front came through in between Bear Country and Reptile Gardens that we weren't prepared for; we were dressed for the mid 70 degree weather that morning in shorts and t-shirts. By the time we got to the Gardens, it was mid 50's, windy, and drizzling. It was miserable, but we stuck it out. It rained and was cold all day for the 1880 train and Custer, but we were gifted with a lovely sunset by the time we reached Crazy Horse that night. Our only regret from our time in South Dakota was not having a little bit more time - we never anticipated spending so much time in Custer!
The drive from South Dakota to Montana and the entrance to Yellowstone was a bit of a hike, maybe 8 hours or so. The first 75% of the drive was a whole lot of nothing.
But eventually we found the mountains and our destination.
Yellowstone National Park is a beautiful place full of SO much creativity and baffling pieces of nature. We hit all of the main spots...
Mammoth Hot Springs,
Norris Geyser Basin,
the Grand Prismatic Spring,
and Old Faithful.
Crazy the things that God came up with, yeah?
Day 2 and 3 at Yellowstone was a little less unusual and much more beautiful, with a ton of wildlife (elk, deer, buffalo, even a couple bear cubs!) and picturesque views.
Then finally, after many days of go go go, we made our way to the Grand Tetons for a day of relaxation. However, a drive that was only supposed to last 3 1/2 hours ended up taking nearly 7 when Yellowstone rangers failed to set up proper notification that the southbound road was closed due to wildfires.
Grand Teton National Park was one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. Snow capped mountain peaks, a quaint little valley of villages, and just enough to see to keep you busy for a day.
Hiccup number two came on the drive home. Getting from our hotel in the Tetons back to home was scheduled to take 2 full days of 10+ hour driving with a hotel stay in the middle. We had every intention of stopping at Wall Drug and the Badlands on our way day one. However, we hit a pretty little storm. At first we tried to drive through it, but when it started hailing, we cut our losses and stopped to let it pass...until we learned it was only traveling at 25 mph while we were going 80. So, in an effort to stay on schedule, we opted to power our way through it and stop at Wall Drug for an hour before getting to the hotel. We made it, unpacked, and were settled into bed by the time the storm came marching through.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I can only wait to see what next year's adventure will bring!
It was a running joke between Luke and I for the longest time that the furthest west I had ever been was Minneapolis. I consider myself reasonably well traveled; I've been to New York, Washington D.C., Florida, Alabama, Hawaii, and Nicaragua. And while all of these locations have been stunning and unforgettable in their own ways, I hadn't been west.
Until now!
We opted to do as much as we could fit into 12 days. I don't have any regrets, but we were a speck time-crunched in some places and a little lax for things to do at others.
The drive out to South Dakota was a little over 12 hours. We stayed in Keystone, a cute little western town in the mountains. The first couple of days we went to...
Mount Rushmore,
History has never been my favorite subject, but a lot of the information we learned was fascinating. Of course, there were a few times that Luke would get very caught up in a history lesson and I would be over on the other side of the room watching the video on how they used dynamite to blow off sections of both Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
The weather was beautiful for the majority of the trip. A cold front came through in between Bear Country and Reptile Gardens that we weren't prepared for; we were dressed for the mid 70 degree weather that morning in shorts and t-shirts. By the time we got to the Gardens, it was mid 50's, windy, and drizzling. It was miserable, but we stuck it out. It rained and was cold all day for the 1880 train and Custer, but we were gifted with a lovely sunset by the time we reached Crazy Horse that night. Our only regret from our time in South Dakota was not having a little bit more time - we never anticipated spending so much time in Custer!
The drive from South Dakota to Montana and the entrance to Yellowstone was a bit of a hike, maybe 8 hours or so. The first 75% of the drive was a whole lot of nothing.
But eventually we found the mountains and our destination.
Yellowstone National Park is a beautiful place full of SO much creativity and baffling pieces of nature. We hit all of the main spots...
Crazy the things that God came up with, yeah?
Day 2 and 3 at Yellowstone was a little less unusual and much more beautiful, with a ton of wildlife (elk, deer, buffalo, even a couple bear cubs!) and picturesque views.
Then finally, after many days of go go go, we made our way to the Grand Tetons for a day of relaxation. However, a drive that was only supposed to last 3 1/2 hours ended up taking nearly 7 when Yellowstone rangers failed to set up proper notification that the southbound road was closed due to wildfires.
Grand Teton National Park was one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. Snow capped mountain peaks, a quaint little valley of villages, and just enough to see to keep you busy for a day.
Hiccup number two came on the drive home. Getting from our hotel in the Tetons back to home was scheduled to take 2 full days of 10+ hour driving with a hotel stay in the middle. We had every intention of stopping at Wall Drug and the Badlands on our way day one. However, we hit a pretty little storm. At first we tried to drive through it, but when it started hailing, we cut our losses and stopped to let it pass...until we learned it was only traveling at 25 mph while we were going 80. So, in an effort to stay on schedule, we opted to power our way through it and stop at Wall Drug for an hour before getting to the hotel. We made it, unpacked, and were settled into bed by the time the storm came marching through.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I can only wait to see what next year's adventure will bring!
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