A Case of the Fridays

This week was full of fun little adventures, so of course I must share my thoughts and speak my mind.

1. Our church has selected a new pastor. Karl and I haven't been to church in almost two months - this is a record for me (other than the four years I missed while in college). But Karl and I have been gone or busy with weddings since Memorial Day weekend. I will say it was nice to be back. I love my church friends and I don't know where I'd be without Transfiguration Lutheran Church. Honestly, I feel so blessed for the community of our church. Does anyone else feel like a new person when they walk out of church on Sunday morning? There's an extra lightness in the air and with each step.

I was extremely close to our senior pastor, probably because we worked together for four years after I first moved to Minnesota. When Karl and I met with our pastor (Pastor Vern) last year to go over last minute wedding details, he told us he was leaving. I bawled. I never thought I would do that for a "pastor"!?!?! But I did. Maybe it was the banana pancakes at the The Original Pancake House (Joe Nathan of the Minnesota Twins eats here!) we’d have some mornings to catch up or because he had such an enormous impact on my life. He was by far the best boss I’ve had to date. He taught me more about effective communication than any of my professors in college ever did. I miss him dearly. But I am ready to meet the new guy and I hope he can handle me! Time to move forward!

2. The Oil Spill in the Gulf has been contained
Thank GOD! THANK God. Amen.

3. Planning a vacation with the in-laws
Karl's parents are graciously taking us on a trip this winter. I am excited! Problem is - nobody really knows where we want to go. I could tell you where I want to go: Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, every little island in the Caribbean, etc., etc. So I had a BAD experience in Mexico and feel like I don't ever need to go back. I think that's probably where we'll end up, and that's OK. I know I can be persuaded, but after our honeymoon in St. Lucia, there will always be a special place in my heart for the Caribbean. I just wish travel wasn't so expensive!! Any recommendations? Someone recommended a cool website called Vacation Rentals By Owners. WOW! Now I just want to use this and travel the world! Must finish writing my book so I can reach the best seller list!

4. I can't keep up with my magazine subscriptions
I have a teeeeeeny obsession with magazines. Let's see...I get Us Weekly, People, Health, Women's Health, Self, Shape, Fitness, Glamour, Ladies' Home Journal, Real Simple and Redbook starting very soon. I mean, a year subscription for $5.99 is a steal!! A year ago, I'd plop down on the couch and read the entire magazine the second it hit my mailbox. I promise, one of these days I'll have an article in one of these magazines!!Today, I have stacks lying all over. Now I understand why my mom has this very same problem! It's all starting to make sense...

5. My love affair with Chipotle
I could probably eat Chipotle three times a week without complaining. I love their food. It's healthy and you can mix it up so it tastes like something new every time! What food could I eat for the rest of my life, you ask? Chipotle, pizza and fruit. Lots and lots of fruit. Raspberries, cherries, strawberries and blueberries are in my top four of favorite fruits...there's a tie for fifth: kiwi, watermelon and mangos. God, I love summer!

6. Is there volleyball in heaven?
In the sixth grade my best friend Laura picked up a volleyball. We started passing the ball (it was called "bumping" in the 80s and 90s) back and forth. I was hooked. Laura encouraged me to try out in the seventh grade. We made the team! And I have been playing ever since. That's about 19 years of volleyball under my belt. I'm sure the day I stop playing for good will be a day of great sadness. Oh, how I wish I could go back in time and play with the knowledge I know now. Life is funny like that! I also wish my coaches in college would have let me play a little more. Damn politics!!!

7. South Africa
My younger brother, Mark, and my sister-in-law, Amy, (who we call Tater Tot), are supposed to come back to the states November 11. Our plan was to have a huge welcome home party for them back in Roscoe, Illinois. THEN out of nowhere Mark's work asked them to stay another month! NOOOOOOOOO! WTF! Seriously. Again, life is funny - nothing goes as planned! But just in case Mark’s boss reads this: I AM SAD!!! We want them HOME!!!

8. Wanted: Husband for my $100k Wedding
I'm on chapter 11 and I'm LOVING my book. I know I'm not pumping out chapters at the rate other hopeful writers are, but I'm trying! I will say this book has been so much fun to write. I just hope agents and publishers will see this...

9. Old Spice Commerical
I don't know if you had a chance to watch the Old Spice commercial but it cracks me up and I think it'll make you laugh as well! My husband thinks the man behind "old spice" is Denard Span from the Minnesota Twins. There is an eerie resemblance. I'd Google it if I were you...

10. Mental illness is wide spread
I know my fair share of people who suffer from mental illness, and yet there are so many who are scared to admit this or share their stories. Or they assume it's something else. Maybe it's cancer or migraines or stomach issues? The brain is SO powerful. Do not underestimate it!

Do not be afraid or feel alone - there are others who need YOU! I wish I could understand better what these dear friends of mine are going through, but it's hard to relate. To me, shutting the brain off from thinking or worrying is as simple as flipping a light switch. To them, controlling their thoughts is near impossible. And I don't get that.

I won’t lie - I will spend countless hours wondering what heaven will be like or how I'm going to react to losing someone close to me. Will I see them again? Is this it? Will my dog be there? But I have God to lean on. I have to believe he's out there because of LOVE. Love is so powerful and nothing is greater than that. To me, God is love. And just when I think I can't love anymore, something happens to challenge my thinking. A child is born. A miracle takes place. Love is real and so is God. If you are suffering right now, please know you're not alone and God is right there next to you! I promise! He has to be!

That's all for this week! More to come next week - my parents are coming up! Yeah! Have a wonderful weekend all!

"The most I can do for my friend is simply be a friend." -Henry David Thoreau

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Friday Funday!

It's Friday! And we know what that means... Time to update the world on my crazy thoughts for the week!

1. Basilica Block party
I have never been but Karl and I were determined to go the minute we found out Weezer was going to be there. Karl is in the Weezer Fan Club, and has been since 1997. He's sort of infatuated with Weezer. As I type this, Karl's favorite Weezer t-shirt proudly hangs in his car so everyone can see how big of a fan he is. Weezer was my sixth CD ever (Meatloaf was my first), and I feel like I owe them for bringing rad music into my life.

2. Microsoft Outlook
What is so scary about Microsoft Outlook? I don't know either. If you had the opportunity to use and learn it so you could simplify your work schedule, don't you think you would? I could type a book on this. But I also don't feel like getting fired.

3. Closer to 50
I'm not talking about age here. I'm talking about the 50 states!!! When I first met Karl, we talked a lot about Arkansas. We weren't sure why, other than his dad was there hunting and Karl's calendar was flipped to a picture of beautiful Arkansas. I was surprised how pretty is was. Travel has been a huge part of my life, Karl's too. In 2008 we traveled down to Arkansas and Karl proposed at the Murfreesboro Diamond Mines on the MOST perfect day; that day was the best day of my life. I would be spending the rest of my life with the perfect man [for me]!

This week we bought tickets for another adventure! Karl and I will be flying into San Francisco for a week-long trip. We plan to visit Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and maybe even snap a few pictures by DJ, Stephanie and Michelle Tanners' house (Full House)! We'll head north to Napa Valley and then drive our rented car along the Oregon and Washington coast. We plan to hit up a Twins' game at Seattle too before we fly back. I am so excited. We are celebrating our one year anniversary with another adventure!! After our trip, I will have visited 33 states and Karl will have 35 under his belt. We're getting there! All 50 states is the goal!

4. My book
I'm on chapter eight of my book! Yeah, me!! I have never in my life typed anything over 50 pages. I am now on page 84. I can only imagine how I'm going to feel after I type in the last period on page 333 and click save. I love this book so much. I started going back to chapter one, then two and then three. Not a good idea. Then I started doubting myself. I need to remember: write from the heart first and then edit later. It really helps!

5. Salt and lunch meat
I don't like lunch meat.
A. There are nasty nitrates in the meat.
B. It is extremely salty.
For example, I had Subway this week and two hours later my fingers, legs, ankles and feet were majorly swollen. Then last night we needed to eat the last of the lunch meat from the cabin and I couldn't even get my rings off my finger. Gross. My body obviously is trying to tell me NOT to eat it. If doctors don't want pregnant women eating this stuff, then why do non-pregnant people still eat it? Convenience! I was happy I didn't have to cook, but I'd rather choose my health! No more lunch meat for me! Sorry Karl.

That's about it for this week. Everyone have a nice weekend!

"There's something beautiful about finding one's innermost thoughts in another" - Oliver Schreiner

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Help Find a Cure - Ride for a Reason this Saturday!

Below is an article I wrote for Brooke (Palmer) Distad. I met Brooke my freshman year at Southwest State (SSU) in Marshall. We were family girls with boyfriends back home. We'd sit in class and count down the days until we could go back home. My town of Roscoe was an eight hour drive away and Kasson was around three for Brooke. Though we were at SSU on athletic scholarships, we struggled with our coach. Everyone did. We thought she was evil. After completing our freshman year, we both transferred out to play Division III ball in Wisconsin. We started playing against each other.

Brooke's parents were diagnosed with cancer within two years of each other. Her story is heartbreaking. Life is short and so very precious. We can never take a moment for granted!!!

Brooke devotes her time raising money for the American Cancer Society. To date, she has raised over $120,000 to find a cure!! Join her on her journey!

Help Find a Cure - Ride for a Reason this Saturday, July 10! | Mankato Area News

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Weekly Friday Thoughts

1. Writing a Heartbreaking Article
I’m in the middle of writing an article for my friend Brooke. Brooke and I used to sit in Health and Wellness class freshman year, spending most of our time counting the days until we could go home to see our families. I played volleyball with Brooke for one year at Southwest State (Marshall, Minnesota). Then we played against each other when we both transferred out due to our evil coach. I was at UW-Whitewater and she was at UW-Stout. Brooke lost her mom to breast cancer in 2002. And in 2004, she lost her dad to leukemia. How does one deal or even get out of bed? It’s very hard to write. My heart breaks as I write it. Will it be good enough?

2. My Mazda 6 (“Ma’s dress” - as my grandpa calls it.)
I currently drive a Mazda 6, 2003 model. It has rust forming around the wheel frames. I noticed this during my lunch yesterday. Thus meaning I’m going to have to buy a new car, meaning monthly car payments. Problem is Karl has a 2002 vehicle. Can someone say double payments! Money. Money. Money. I do know my next car will have a compass of some sort, GPS, a door that won’t slam shut on my leg as I reach for my morning coffee AND SIRIUS radio. Sounds expensive!

3. Bad habits
My name is Christie and I'm a nail biter. Why do I bite my nails? I saw my dad biting his while we were watching a Bears vs. Packers' game back in '84. Soon I was spitting my nails across the sofa just like dad. Today, I bite them so short they bleed. Gross right? How do I stop? I’m not sure, considering I like the taste of the NO BITE nail polish. I even bite my acrylics. What do you think this means?

4. Revenge of the Twilight Saga
How did I not get into the epic Twilight saga? Maybe it's the whole vampires vs werewolves rivalry. Or it could be because I don’t really find Robert Pattinson THAT good looking. He seems charming, but I don’t really have the desire to pick up the books or wait in line at a theater. But I don't want to sound too much like Miley Cyrus either. Now, Sex in The City is MY kind of movie!

5. Stay-at-home Mom vs Career-Driven Super Mom
We have these hoodlums around our neighborhood who hang out and vandalize our community gazebo every chance they get. They wear their pants too low, call me “shorty” and smoke a funny smelling substance. Where are their parents? Probably working and not paying attention! I just don’t know how long I’m going to handle sitting behind a desk after I give birth, as our adorable, chubby-cheeked babies are growing up. I’m not really thrilled about having someone else raise them for me. How am I going to work a full day, workout, cook, play volleyball and raise kids...oh, and be a good wife?? Seems impossible!! Am I asking too much? I’m taking my chances at writing a book... Praying it leads me to the “better” life:)

6. Manager? Graphic Designer? Web Designer?
What am I anymore? I feel like I have lost my identity at work. I'm incredibly burned out. I don't want to whine too much because I think "being overwhelmed" is common for everyone right now with the economy the way it is. I will say I am grateful I have a job. However, it's frustrating when I don't have manager experience or any training available and I can't delegate anything! I thought this is what managers do? Delegate... Maybe I’m bummed out we don’t have Monday, July 5 off like 90% of companies do. What would Harvey MacKay do?

7. I Miss Home
I wish my parents lived closer. I wish my brother, Mark, and my sister-in-law, Tot, would move back already... They live in South Africa right now and move back in November. They have been out there for two years. Great experience for them. We even made a family trip out there this past December. Quite the adventure for all of us. I know all families are a little weird, but I feel like there is really something special about mine. I could be biased. There is a lot of LOVE though. That makes me happy.

8.Cooking
I do not want to cook when I get home tonight. No desire. I'm wiped out on Friday evenings! But I can't expect to go to my in-law's cabin and mooch. I did that last weekend. Honestly, how do moms with full-time jobs AND kids do it? I'm just an independent married woman without kids. I think parents who work full time with kids have to be more organized to fit it all in, whereas moms who stay home are a little more spontaneous with their schedules? My mom was a stay-at-home mom and kicked butt at this. This is why I need to move closer to her, so she can teach me how it's done! I will admit I AM excited about making my famous Strip and Go Naked slush punch tonight though! It's supposed to be 95 and humid tomorrow. Refreshing!

9. Trucks, trucks and more trucks
Swear to God I get stuck behind every single slow semi out there. It drives me crazy, especially since Minnesota is home to clover leaf ramps. It doesn't help that I work across the street from one of the largest semi companies AND a college is right around the corner for "truckers"! I think I'm still upset at the semi that dumped a sheet of ice on my windshield this winter when I was going 78 mph. Scary.

10. Finances
Karl and I met with a financial advisor last night. Good news is we are great savers and are on track to retirement. If we keep doing what we're doing, we could retire comfortably. My stay-at-home mom idea was shot out of the window. And so my book writing continues... Someday I'll be writing this blog and it'll be all about how I'm drinking a fruity cocktail from the white sandy beaches of Tahiti!

I think that sums it up. Until next week! Happy Independence Day! Be safe and don't drink and drive!!!

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New week - New Adventures!

I’m currently on chapter five of my book and am super proud of this!! My schedule hasn’t been that easy to manage lately, so the fact I’m prioritizing my writing, makes me really happy. I now have the science down behind cleaning toilets in two minutes or less. Dinners and lunches for the whole week need to be planned on Sundays (I’m too healthy to eat takeout or hot dogs and mac and cheese). My husband now handles dirty-dish duty if I’m cooking. And I found a way to stay focused at work. Work is for work and writing is for home. I can’t mix the two together - way too hard. I don’t work out as much as I would like, but I can start up again full force in November. My health magazines say even 30 minutes three times a week is enough. I am exercising my mind though! There is a lot of give and take right now, and compromise. My husband is a gem. Not once has he doubted my decision to do this. He’s my biggest cheerleader. I love him for this.

I know some family/friends think I’m crazy. I just smile at them when I can hear the thoughts and conclusions forming in their heads. My silent answer: Yes, I do believe I am going to complete this book and, yes, it’s going to become something! This answer is what keeps me going. Most friends and family are extremely supportive and excited for me. This, I am forever grateful for.

I have been reading a lot of authors’ blogs and article links via Twitter - all which say first time writers MUST write. My secret to pressing on: I cannot analyze the total distance to Chapter 33. Truth of the fact is, Chapter 33 is pretty far off, but not so in the book world. I am making progress - and I must continue to focus on the small feats.

1. I have already completed five chapters in a month’s time. Yeah!

2. I still manage to keep up with all that’s asked of me - I still play on a volleyball league, work full time, handle bills, do freelance on the side, write for the paper and KSTP AND go away almost every weekend...

If I continue at the rate I’m going, I’ll have 30 chapters done by November. That is my goal. Karl and I are supposed to take a family trip to Mexico in January. I want that trip to be my personal celebration trip. I want manuscripts, outlines, query letters, etc. out to agents, so I can fully relax and resonate in my life’s biggest dream possibly becoming a reality. How cool to lay in the sun, with a Corona in hand, with my adorable husband lying next to me knowing I DID THIS. I wrote 33 chapters - completed a book I am excited about and proud of. I took something I thought would be incredibly hard and time consuming and ran with it!! This, my friends, is how people grow!

My motto right now: Don’t make someone a priority in your life when you’re only an option in theirs. This helps me find the time for writing. Perhaps, I make myself too available sometimes and can easily be taken advantage of. So I like this saying a lot. It’s a quote I found on a friend’s Facebook page. It’s a way for me to stay focused, positive and determined. You will always encounter someone who wants more of you. Remember - “a relationship should complement, not complicate!”

Keep pressing on!

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Chapter Two Complete!

Morning world! It's totally amazing what a week of rest will do to my body. I don't know if it's fair to say I rested, but I feel like a million bucks today. Flu must be out of my system! Christie's back!

Yesterday Karl and I celebrated our ten month wedding anniversary. When we clicked our glasses full of sweet tea over a healthy dinner (cooked by me), we both had a premonition - we felt like we should be celebrating ten years! That was kind of fun to giggle about. Then we started talking about gray hairs (some have been spotted already) and what our life will be like ten years from now. I honestly can say I count my blessings everyday for Karl. What a special gift to wake up to every morning! I'm excited for the next ten years!!!

I made a special trip to Mall of America (MOA) yesterday. Karl thinks I have a Bath and Body Works lotion obsession. Maybe I do, considering almost an entire shelf of our bathroom closest is full of half-used bottles. On the other hand, Karl has a lot of vitamins, strange prescriptions and medicines covering his shelf (and I mean...a LOT). We really do have a pharmacy in our bathroom. He made me promise that if I buy a lotion, I have to throw two out. I did that this morning! Bath and Body Works has the BEST sales at the end of June, especially at the MOA. I only purchased like ten bottles of hand soap, some lip stuff and ONE bottle of lotion. Their lip stuff that's usually an insanely expensive $7.50 was $1.75!!! I LOVE C.O. Bigelow lip gloss!

The best part of my trip to the MOA was seeing the rotunda set up for a book signing (Alyson Noel - A NY Times Best Author). I even took a photo of the set up and emailed it to my mom and my friend Jaymie. My mom even wrote back she already has her outfit picked out. LOL! She's really the greatest!

I was inspired after my dinner with Karl and wrote for two hours. I pumped out Chapter Two and felt really giddy after I hit save. I am LOVING this book so much. It's so much fun. They synopsis was the challenge for me, but writing the book is taking what I already pieced together in the nine page synopsis and breathing life into it! I'm hoping I get to Chapter Three tonight! I did skip my workout, but that's okay - it's all about a little give and take.

"A friend understands what you are trying to say...even when your thoughts aren't fitting into words." - Ann D. Parrish

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Sometimes our bodies know best

Some weird things have been going on with my health lately. I can't quite tell if it's stress, exhaustion or some sort of odd bug? The facts: I have been getting less sleep, running around a lot more, freaking out 24/7 that I should be writing instead of doing everything else. I think all that worry got the best of me. I mean...on Monday I crawled in the back seat of my car to catch a 10 minute catnap between work and volleyball. Food didn't even sound good. Me passing up food for sleep, something is definitely up. Then last night I arrived home from work and felt flu-like. What is up?? I'm usually so healthy. Then the chills started. Karl - with his obsession with thermometers - took my temperature. The fever began! [Sidenote: I really do have the most incredible husband, even if he's wearing his "game over" t-shirt today with a bride and groom printed on the front.] When I woke up, I felt incredibly weak with my head on fire. Temperature read 101. Yeah - no work! I can finally write! Not so.

When the body is sick, it's sick. There's no focus, energy or creative juices flowing - it's nearly impossible. Instead I slept. A lot. I think getting sick is a reminder that we can't do everything. It's OK to say no once in awhile and it's time to SLOW DOWN a little. Around 9 p.m. tonight, I started feeling more like myself (hence this blog entry). Plus, I'm now at my wedding weight...time to bust out the skinny jeans!! I feel terrible since my friend Kimbra is getting married tomorrow and I was supposed to go to their rehearsal and groom's dinner tonight. I didn't want to infect anyone, plus I'll be ready for the wedding tomorrow! Everyone knows I like me some weddings!!!

As for my book, I chatted with my friend who continues to graciously take time to review anything I send his way. He was finally able to devote time and read my nine page synopsis and actually LIKED (maybe even LOVED) all the revisions and provided plenty of encouragement - enough to totally motivate me. I feel like I'm now on the right track and all I have to do is write. YEAH me!!! I really like where my book is going!

Dreams really are strange. Where do they come from? Why do some go by the wayside and some really become a reality? I truly believe all dreams can become a reality.

Like Walt Disney says, "If you can dream it, you can do it!"

I'm going to start setting some goals for myself and I'll post those next. Goals help keep me on track! No more getting sick!!

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