2024 BLOG

Let's start with the more boring part of my life. My job. I want you to keep in mind this is the most boring part of my life. And it is still fun. I work at a metal fabrication company, I won't say the name because who knows if I should. At this job I run lasers, yeah, lasers. I've been doing this for a little more than a year now and I surprisingly enjoy it more than half of the time. 

I'm the number two with the lasers so a lot of my time is just doing things on my own. I listen to music and podcasts for ten hours a day and I work with my friends. It really doesn't get much better. (If you're my boss reading this it does get better when I get raises). 

Also if you're my boss ignore the number of photos I have where I am eating in front of the laser. Gotta keep that blood sugar up. 

This job has given me the opportunity to meet people in this tiny town I live in, which has been the greatest thing in my life. It also makes me be active every single day. I went from barely being able to lift anything to easily lifting steel sheets. It's a good way to get any anger out when you are having to hammer parts out of skeletons and it's an easy way to keep my brain sharp when I am constantly having to build parts inside of a software as old as me. 

Let's talk about something that is constant every year. Trips. I've been an adult for four years. And in all four of those years I have managed to find a way to go on several trips out of the state. This year it will be five different trips. First was a cruise, which was way better than I expected. It also confirms that I cannot be stuck with my sisters for more than four days before we start being mean to each other. Second was Alaska, the only word I have for that place is wow. Genuinely the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Being able to see mountains completely surround you is insane. The animals are cool and the company I had was the best. Third was Chicago. Always love Chicago. Hate to say it but that was defintely my last Lollapoluza. Not my crowd at all. Fourth was Florida. Went for my sisters birthday. We love a good trip but not right before a major hurricane, very hectic travel. And the fifth hasn't happened yet but will next week. Tulsa for a concert. This year I have managed to get tickets for my two favorite artists, impressive with my money management skills. 

Along with all the out of state travel I had plenty in state. My trips to Kansas City are never a surprise but what is is how often I actually go north. Family is the most important thing in my life and we do our best to make sure they all know that. Along with KC I continously found myself on the water. Whether it was a river or a lake I was there. Float trips, rock hunting and sunbathing were a weekly occurance this summer. In fact I got the worst sunburn of my life twice this year. The first time was on the cruise, I wouldn't admit it to my sisters at the time (they kept trying to give me sunscreen but I didn't want it. I'm stubborn so leave me alone) one half of my face was like molten lava, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy (they know who they are). The second time was on a float trip. I have been on a dozen float trips and I don't know what happened. The sun was at a different level. We floated for maybe five hours and every single person was burnt. That has never happened. Regardless of those burns I guarantee I will do it again next year. 

I have to talk about some bad stuff before I get to good stuff again. Skip this paragraph if you are only here for the good. 

This year I had my first heartbreak. Ridiculous at twenty-two but it's honest. Still sucks but you live and you learn and you move on. 

This year we lost two pets. Our dog Blue, she is the dog I consider my childhood dog. I remember bringing her home and I remember every detail of her life. I miss her every day. I also lost my hedgehog Ace, he is was a prick. (Yes that is a pun). It was cool to have an 'exotic' pet and he had such a weird personality. 

Late in the year my family went through something incredibly scary. My father had a massive heart-attack. Not only the one big one but also two smaller ones. We got extremely lucky that he has some weird genetic abnormality which allowed him to drive himself to the hospital and not even realize how bad it really was. That day was the scariest day of my life. We are extremely blessed that God was watching over us. We are blessed that my sisters were able to come down and be here for him and for my mom. I am blessed that I am in a position to help my parents in the way that was needed. And everyone is blessed that everything worked out the way it did. My dad gets to complain about this healthy lifestyle and diet he now has to follow. I am happy to get to hear him complain every single day. 

Alright, let's go back to happier stuff. This year I started actually taking care of myself. Like I said when talking about my job, I have been forced to workout basically everyday at work. But alongside that I started doing at home workouts most days of the week and recently started marathon training (yes we all know girls do that when they are heartbroken. i don't care). I have been finding my way even closer to God, which is incredibly fulfilling for my soul and heart. And the thing I am actually really proud of myself for it going to doctors. If you're close to me you know how anxious I get about doctors and dentists. Well I faced that fear big time this year. I didn't really have a choice with the doctor. I got a spider-bite on the back of my leg and it swelled up like a baseball. Since I didn't suddenly get a superpower I figured I should see a doctor. On the dentist side nothing forced my hand. I decided it was time and I have now had to go several times (please brush your teeth). I no longer feel like I might explode before I go though so that is big!