It was another Friday with an urgent product issue …. We were all in the office to spend time together at the lunch. And instead of eating lunch, I took my first ambulance ride. I slide down a bench giving the actual seats to everyone else. And even though I wanted to sit in the sun, I helped move down to the shade. We juggled our location 3 times.

In the ambulance ride I said “at least I don’t have to go to all those meeting this afternoon” and the EMT said “I’m sure you’d rather be at meetings than the hospital” but no, I really loved getting excused time away, being cared for by 3 other people who were so kind (doc, nurse, registration). And having everyone at work (including my boss) say “don’t worry about work”

It was worth the headache, the staples, the cost of $$ whatever it will be.

I was able to sit patiently outside waiting for a ride home (which ended up just a ride to the office). I saw a first time dad with an empty car seat 💕.

I got to walk to the train alone, bike alone, ride the train alone and enjoyed a Friday night not having to go to a bar and drive my husband around.

I think I like going to doctors because I feel taken care of and listened to. get permission to rest, to be myself, to listen to my body, to feel all the feelings and just sit and breath.

Friday

Sunrise ☀️

Bike & Train 🚂 🚴

Picnic Lunch 🩸

Ambulance 🚑 😷

Stayed in 📺

Saturday

GYN appointment 🏥

Coffee ☕️

Lake Michigan Boat Ride 🌊

Sunday

Slept in!! 😴

Sunflowers 🌻

Outdoor Brunch with Robin 🎰

Outdoor Dinner in Milwaukee 💕

Monday

X-rays for Finn 🩻

Breakfast at Buttermilk 🥞

Nap 😴

Barbie Movie 🍿

Lots of work 💻

Tuesday

Drive Ryan to work 🛻

Dr Bordini 👨‍⚕️

Bronco Recall 🚘

Finn interview 📝

3 hrs work meetings 💻

Pick up Ryan and Car

I could use some kinda ‘cation …. That’s for sure!

Most summer nights my teacher-husband comes to bed about 3:30am.

He’s either out drinking, home hosting bags night, watching an exciting tv series or has trouble falling asleep.

I wake up one hour later, to get into the office early, watch the sunrise or make it to a 5am orange theory class.

We share a sleep schedule/bed for one hour.

And then I’m disappointed in myself for being tired …. And not being able to keep up with him. This is completely unrealistic.

I was hopeful my day off for his birthday would include a nap, kayak trip, pedicure, just rest in general…. But his birthday wish is a Tuesday mid week bar crawl.

But school started today…. And rest begins for me!

bird looks kinda sideways mid flight, right after the take off or right before they land …. Maybe that’s how we all look to each other ? We don’t know where we are coming from or where we are going, we should all just sit back and enjoy the ride/flight…. We are a little crazy-looking 😜

sometimes I come back after vacation and forget how great it was…. So here is what I spent my time on during my week of vacation June 30-July 9.

June 30 – Indiana Jones 🍿 🎥

July 1 – errands: Cannolis, Walgreens

Writing Class ✍️

Moving Day for Michael 🏠

Rainy Night at Mundelein Days 🍻 ☔️

Batcave 🦇

July 2 – Heather’s BBQ lunch 🍪

Nap 😴

Mundelein Days 😴 💤

July 3 – Abbott 💻

brunch at Teddy’s 🥂

Gaming at Oak Trail 🎰

mike & joe 🎶

Back to Teddy’s 🍻

July 4 – 5K 🇺🇸 🥂

hammock 💤

photo walk 🌸 📷

Nap 😴

Carnival 🎡

tailgating 💥 fireworks

July 5 – 9am truck appointment 🛻

Abbott work 💻

Netflix 📺

1pm Pedicure 💅

Rain ☔️ Lazy River failed attempt

Volleyball 🏐 🦙 cancelled for lightening

July 6 – Abbott work 💻

Meditations & (broken steam room)

massage 9am $200 gift cards 💆‍♀️

Cubs Brewers Game 💙 ⚾️

More Abbott Work 💻

July 7 – Abbott Work 💻

Summerfest 🎶 until 1am!

July 8 – slept in, no alarm!

Fun with friends in the afternoon and the a sunset photo adventure with Finn (2 today!)

July 9 – catch up on Abbott work 💻and plan for 🍊

Making a summer bucket list (want-to-do-list) isn’t about checking off to-dos for me, it’s about capturing a life worth living & reminding myself that I actually do fun stuff (other than work). And especially reminding myself that I don’t need to be retired to enjoy fun things!

Volleyball 🏐🦙 weekly

Brunch at Teddys 🥂5/7, 6/4, 6/11

Park on Park 🚘 5/10

Lemonade Stand 🍋 5/21

Public Art ☂️ 5/22, 8/15

Pool 🏊‍♀️ 5/27 (Mike), 6/10 (Sara), 7/7 (BFB), 7/15 (Nate)

Firepit 🔥 5/28, 6/3, 6/6

Ice Cream 🍦 5/30, 6/11, 6/18, 7/28

Beach 🏖️ 6/3

Bike Ride to Library ☀️ 🚲 6/9

Drive-In 🍿 6/16

Cubs 💙 ⚾️ 🍻 6/18, 7/6

Kayak 🛶 6/19

SUP 🌊 6/20

Concert 🎶 6/23, 7/3, 8/19

Boat 🚤 6/24, 7/22, 7/29, 8/12

Indiana Jones 🎥 6/30

Barbie 🍿 8/14

Moving Day 🛻 7/1

Mundelein Days 🎡 7/3

Fireworks 💥 7/4

Massage 💆‍♀️ 7/6

Lazy River 🏊‍♀️ 7/7

Summerfest 7/7

Farmer’s Market 7/15

Lindy’s 🍹 7/15

***just heard this called a “want to do list” instead of bucket list – I like that better!! ❤️

Just sitting in the sun enjoying life’s highlight reel ☀️

June 16-19 might have been the perfect summer weekend, the drive-in (podcast catch up) writing class, Libertyville days, bike ride to Tighthead, cubs game, nap (meditation catch up), coffee/lemonade outside with a friend, kayaking, deck time & art celebration 🎨. I also came away with some clarity that I need better boundaries at work, and I can make my own luck by focusing the abundance in my life as opposed to jealousy and envy (cleaning service, summers off, money, etc)

The word UP 🆙 has served me well this year. I embraced the “adventure is out there” from the Disney movie UP 🎈. I am now giving myself permission to have 2 words this year. Stay tuned for July (second half of the year) when I switch to a wonderful new word! I’m already so excited about the energy, focus, insight, clarity, and novelty that “glimmer” bringing to me.

Glimmer: a small moment of awe (the opposite of a trigger)

sometimes I don’t mind peace, alone time, quiet adventures and walk-abouts

but I wish sometimes people would go with me to musicals, drive-ins, forest preserves, libraries, art shows, pedicures, movies, bands I want to see, watch a show I pick …. or even just talk on the phone …

I’m not sure why I’m not used to it yet, my mom has always made me feel very alone, my dad, my brother; my husband, most of my “friends”, my coworkers…. basically everyone (not my children or sister though)..

I put myself out there and try and plan adventures. And I really am ok entertaining myself and being with my own thoughts, but sometimes I just really want connection, a partner, a friend, someone positive to talk to ….

I’m not sure what I do wrong, I know I’m not perfect, but I really do try and think of others, and reach out, and build connections. Maybe everyone is just as stressed out and exhausted as me, and they can’t find the energy or just need some downtime. I really think everyone just has someone else to talk to, and I haven’t found my person yet.

if you can’t find a friend, be one!

Tomorrow I will put on my brave face and try to be a great friend!

Be Kind. Be Brave. Be Curious. 💕