on the shore the world forces me to sink or swim 🏖️

out here I can just float 🦢

I feel the sky’s embrace 🤗

the waves heal my soul 🌊

the sun’s reflection nourishes me ☀️

I am a body of water, just like this gorgeous lake 💦

I go back to land in a amazing bubble of calm so quiet, I can again hear the heartbeats of those I love ❤️

This was a really fantastic weekend 💕

Michael was here all weekend 💕

Finn ran sectionals 🏃‍♂️

Dinner at Emil’s with Sabryn & Michael

Cleaned the house 🏠 inside & out ✔️

Graduation Party 🧑‍🎓

Ice cream truck 🍦

Sunday AM Coffee outside ☕️

SUP 🛶

Mimosas 🥂

Reading on the deck 📚

Meditation 🧘‍♂️

Nap 😴 during Cubs game 📺

Restorative Yoga 🧘 🐈‍⬛

Kids ran 20 miles, played disc golf, real golf ⛳️ and pickle ball!

Shockingly…. I didn’t do any work! This is how it should be! Time outside, time to relax, time with family and friends …. And no unpaid OT! Yay!!!

I am so proud of you! Not just because you’re graduating MSOE today, but because you are a fabulous human and I am so lucky to be your mom! 🍀 💕

From virtual signing day to masked move-in day and so many great meets, internships and job offers …. It’s been quite a ride these last 4 years! I really come to this day with deep gratitude that you have an actual commencement ceremony after all of your HS senior 2020 cancellations. I’m grateful you get the music, accolades, handshakes, walk across the stage and applause! You deserve it!

I have everything and nothing to tell you as you go out into the world. But it really boils down to the only advice I can give you:

Be Kind,

Be Brave.

Be Curious.

And know that I love you with my whole heart now, forever and always! I’m always here and on your side.

So grateful for a sunny 👨‍🎓 day! And no rain for pictures. Plus the northern lights were visible over Lake Michigan last night 5/10/2024.

My 5th overnight work trip …. In 26+ years was full of ART and I am here for it!

Day 3

OSU Campus is closed tonight due to protests (middle east war protests) – so I can’t go visit ☹

They might call in the National Guard for Graduation! (according to the local news)

I didn’t make it to the 📚 book loft, but I was a good employee and used resources wisely, made new connections and learned a ton!

Ended the week with live music and fun with friends!

A fun little weekend!!!

✔️ Taylor’s album dropped, I love her press release.

Our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it. And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.

✔️ Israel retaliated and bombed Iran. 💔

✔️ Bley grandma died yesterday.

✔️ Donald Trump’s jurors have been selected.

✔️ Caitlin Clark got a Nike shoe deal after she signed with the Indiana Fever

Stop for a quick walk and iced coffee in Richmond (and to take a work meeting) and found that the Richmond Cafe has a bed and breakfast above it! So cute, I want to stay there one weekend and take a yoga class next door, shop and write, eat & walk!

Stopped in Sparta for photo ops for Amanda S.

Hiked grandad bluff and had a beer with Chuck.

Checked in to the shadiest AF hotel, the front desk worker was meth’ed up and didn’t even know how to tell me to find room 137! My room smelled like smoke! And I have a view of the trailer park.

Opened my window and went to the hot tub. Grateful my skin biopsy this week was only on my ear and I could still enjoy!

Showered and headed to dinner.

Walked around the entire city of LaCrosse for an hour and no tables or it was too fancy (dress code) … ended up eating at Jimmy John’s in my hotel room!

Watched THE CHOICE on Netflix! So good 💕

Slept almost 11 hours.

Had free breakfast at the hotel with the Michigan Tech track team.

Checked out.

It started to snow! ⛄️

Grounded cafe for coffee and writing class.

Walked around LaCrosse.

Had lunch at the cowboy cafe where they had seats with saddles on it 🙂

Great parking spot for access to snacks and layers! 🥶

Say hi to Michael & Sabryn and gave treats to Holly.

Nap & 😴 podcasts in car 🚘

Watched Michael run!

Had a safe and relaxing drive home! 🚙

Always grateful for an adventure!! 💕

I see this number all the time!

3:33 am & pm (phone, computer, clocks)

Gas prices

Exit & Mileage numbers

Time left on the microwave

Minutes left in a book or podcast

Time left in an interval at orange theory

Addresses

Page numbers

Arrival time on gps

Timer I started and forgot about and looked at my alarm

Time left: 3:33

1. I am saving money for a park bench dedication saying “Be Kind. Be Brave. Be Curious.”

2. Ambulances with the lights & sirens on take my breath away and make my eyes fill up with tears everytime

3. Nothing is “too chocolatey”

4. If you asked me to name the people I love in order it’s me, Michael & Finnegan tied for 2nd, Ryan …. All my friends

5. My favorite joke is “why are chickens so funny?”🐔

6. Reading and writing are like inhaling and exhaling for my soul and everyday is better when I have time to read or write (or both!!)

7. Crashing waves, campfire crackles and sunrises/sunsets and deep conversations are the best things about being an Earthling.

8. Flip flop tans are the best “problem” ever.

9. I am an abundance of love, light, peace and growth.

10. The only Rx I need is a daily dose of Novelty.

It’s Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, and Pitchers & Catchers report & the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.

For as long as I can remember I have a countdown to retirement, but I don’t dream of sitting around, I have a list of possible retirement jobs and one is flower delivery person! And today that dream came true!

I just finished a 33-day journal exercise around love, it was perfect timing for my adventure!

I took a vacation day, called up my friend from grad school Eileen, gassed up my car and I was off!

Rich people are not as excited to receive flowers as I expected. And since it was a workday, most deliveries were just to a receptionist at an office building….. very anti climactic.

16 deliveries

2 returns! (This was the most surprising! But it is retail and there are a lot of emotions wrapped up in these gifts!)

~$4000 worth of flowers in my car 🚘

70+ miles driven

$100 check

$5 tip (one)

5,988 steps

✔️ done! 230pm time for Jimmy John’s 🍱