Birthday, without a birth day

July 16, 2026 / Outrunning my demons / Leave a comment

No baby yet, although my daughter’s due date is less than a week away now.

Things are going good. I had some time off of work for the holiday weekend and I had the last couple days off in which I celebrated my birthday with family and friends. I love this time of year; warm weather, swimming, boating, listening to live music, grilling out. I can’t imagine why anyone would hate summer, especially around here when the season is so short.

Gratitude week 141

September 11, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 3 Comments

Summer, we had several warm weather days at the end of the week.
It was so nice out on Friday that I said screw it and put off my to do list. I decided we should spend one day of the week just relaxing and taking it easy. It shouldn’t be reserved for that one warm day at the end of the season.
I was able to spend time with all my kids this week.
I finally found my shoes for the wedding. I searched harder for those shoes than the prince did to find Cinderella.
Taking time to remember 9/11.
The landscaping company that did our big project last year is going to replace somewhere around 30 plants that either died or didn’t come in. I’m really grateful for that because it looks like crap. I really wanted to understand what the problem was. I think what happened was since they did the project in November right before the ground froze they did not get the proper watering and care they needed to grow and thrive.
We watched a really good series on Netflix called Devil in Ohio.
Our elderly friend Vince stopped by for a visit.
The grocery store had a really good deal on salmon and crab legs which we enjoyed over the weekend.

Gratitude week 140

September 4, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 2 Comments

Summer, although I feel fall starting to slip in.
A nice sailing getaway.
A quiet and relaxing Labor Day weekend.
Sleeping in my own bed with clean sheets.
Angel came over for a visit and took down the balloon arch from her party. I absolutely hate the sound of popping balloons and there were still over 50 in the house some filled with confetti. I swear her future mother-in-law must hate me. Ha ha, never again will I have that many balloons in my house.
My daughter’s wedding is less than a month away.
My best friend and her family had a safe, fun, and relaxing trip to Europe to visit their foreign exchange student. It was their first trip abroad and I’m happy for them that it went well.
A friend gave us enough firewood from the trees he took down to last us all winter. With natural gas prices skyrocketing, I’m grateful for free firewood to help keep our house warm.
The house is clean and most of the laundry is done.
My husband is making his homemade pizza tonight.

Gratitude week 139

August 27, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 2 Comments

I’m doing my gratitude list a little early this week as we are leaving today for the annual week long sailing cruise. I’ll be sure to share some pictures and stories when we get back.
I’m grateful to be able to go on the sailing cruise because previous to the last year I was unable to go because I had kids starting school. I didn’t want to miss that.
I’m grateful my kids are done with school and I am done with that stress.
Summer, the weather pattern the last couple weeks and for our trip is pretty close to perfect.
I’m grateful to be called up to the clerk at the DMV before I was able to even finish the paperwork. That never happens..
I’m grateful to be able to spend the next week with my husband on a sailing adventure and talking with people since we go as a group with our sailing club. That’s one thing I missed about our trip to Yellowstone, we were pretty isolated from other people. I didn’t think I would want to talk and meet new people, but I did.
My daughter Arabella is feeling better after COVID and an ear infection. For a few days I was having a hard time getting in touch with her and I imagined her laying in her apartment dead…so, yeah, one less thing to worry about.
I’m grateful my friend Jen is celebrating another birthday today as she struggles with cancer.
I’m grateful for a husband that works hard to make sure our bills are paid.
I’m grateful for music that makes me feel better when I am sad.

Gratitude week 138

August 21, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 2 Comments

I’m trying to enjoy what’s left of summer. In August we have the best weather here in Wisconsin. The stormy hot days of summer have mostly reached their end with warm days and cool evenings.
This past week I ate, slept, breathed, cooked, cleaned, and shopped everything bridal shower. The bridal shower for my daughter Angel went better than I even expected it to.
We had some difficult people attending the shower, but even they were on their best behavior. My sister-in-law Carla who we had issues with earlier this summer was a model aunt. She was over the top friendly towards my family which was greatly appreciated.
I couldn’t have done the shower justice without the help of my daughter’s future mother-in-law. I’m grateful for all of her help. She’s one of those crafty type people and made a majority of the shower gifts. It seems like everyone went home with at least two gifts. She did pretty much all the decorations as well. She bought a balloon arch which I still have set up in my house with another 30 to 40 stray balloons everywhere. (I’m not too entirely grateful about that).
I’m grateful that Angel, her future MIL, and myself stayed healthy. There is no way the shower would’ve happened if we were not able to be a part of it. My daughter Arabella had to miss the shower because she has COVID. It seems like everyone is sick again.
I’m grateful that my daughter received a lot of nice gifts for their house. It seems like there will be a lot of cooking for them in the future.
I’m grateful that after this past week the following week looks like it’s going to be low key.
Leftover party food so I don’t have to do a lot of cooking.
I’m grateful my daughter picked a great guy to marry.
I’m grateful I don’t have to do any weeding for awhile after all of the weeding I did this past week.
Everything has been cleaned up from the shower (except the balloons!!).
My sister-in-law Emily spent the night with my two nieces on Friday night. It was the first time I saw my sister-in-law this calendar year. We don’t get together with family often enough, especially since COVID so it was nice to catch up.

Gratitude week 134

July 24, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 2 Comments

My son helped me make a beat and that was fun.
We finally finished our landscaping project we did ourselves and it cost about a quarter of the price we were quoted.
Summer! It’s been a hot week.
Angel turned 24 this past week. Paul and I took Dan and Angel sailing for her birthday. We had a lot of fun.
Angel had her bachelorette party up north this past weekend. Nobody got too crazy and it was a really good time. We went swimming, walked to get ice cream, went out to eat at a supper club with live music, and played games. I got to know some of her friends better.
The heat wave is finally over and we are back to opening the windows to enjoy the fresh air.
The wedding shower has been planned and the invites have been sent out in the mail.
Paul and I are leaving for vacation in a couple of days for our 25th wedding anniversary. I’m excited to check off a couple more states on my bucket list.
It’s been stressful week, but I think most of the issues have been resolved for now.

Gratitude week 133

July 18, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 4 Comments

I changed my cartilage piercing for the first time in two and a half years with no issues, no swelling, and no bleeding like the last time…so after 8 years I think it finally healed.
Fresh picked cherries and my husband made cherry pie for the first time.
Summer!
My birthday week…seriously, I’m all birthdayed out.
Sailing on my birthday and staying overnight on the boat with Alex and Lexi. It was Lexi’s first time sailing plus her birthday was the day after mine…so lots of celebrating.
Celebrating my birthday with friends and family over the weekend.
Going out for lunch and getting a massage with my mom for my birthday today.
My good friend Lisa quit drinking. I’m happy she is making a healthy choice and is taking care of herself. She is a friend I really worry about especially the last couple years after her teenage daughter died.
I’m always grateful to be home and sleeping in my own bed.

Gratitude week 132

July 11, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 12 Comments

Lists, I really like lists.
Summer!!!
For the weekend spent on our sailboat.
I’ve been wanting to go on a jet ski ride for the longest time. I was finally able to check that off my bucket list.
Our hot tub finally got fixed today! It hasn’t been working for almost two months. It seemed to take forever to get the part we needed to fix it.
Last week was really hard after spending time with the extended family. I am doing a lot better this week so far…
It’s my birthday week. I’m grateful for another year of life and am looking forward to celebrating.
Being back home and sleeping in my own bed after being away for a couple of days.
Justice! I was running some errands today and I was being tailgated bad. I’ve never wanted to brake check someone more. The guy whizzed by me as fast as he could when he got the chance then got pulled over. It made my day.
Wildlife. We have been seeing a lot of deer in our yard. We also saw several eagles on our sailing trip and mink with their babies.

Gratitude week 131

July 4, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 4 Comments

A nice day sailing with my mom, Arabella, and her boyfriend.
I docked the boat into the slip by myself for the first time.
Lexi and I went thrifting and I had some really good finds. Two murder mystery games, two books, some clothes, and a variety of records from Billy Idol to organ music by Bach.
I may have the opportunity to check another state off my bucket list this fall so I’m starting to plan and think about it.
Fresh picked strawberries.
Going out to eat and visiting with my friend Jen.
Summer! This is my favorite time of year!!
1200 followers.
Independence Day! I love freedom and fireworks!
For two nights of seeing fireworks on the lake and a night of fireworks with friends.
I’m grateful all my kids came up north a couple of days. They all got along really well and had a lot of fun. It wasn’t quite the case with the extended family, but I’ll save that story for another day.

Gratitude week 130

June 26, 2022 / Outrunning my demons / 2 Comments

My daughter’s future MIL and I got together to plan the bridal shower and the meeting went better than expected.
The bridesmaid dresses came in for my daughter’s wedding. It’s hard to believe the wedding is a little over three months away.
Summer! We had a couple of really hot days, so I did break down and turn on the A/C. It’s cooled off quite a bit since then so today the windows are open.
Paul and I went sailing and the weather was perfect. We were able to spend some time at the marina’s outdoor swimming pool.
At the marina, I found a book I really wanted to read and finished my book so I swapped them out.
Yesterday I attended the graduation party for my friend Lisa’s son. We are all grateful he graduated since it was down to the wire. I know how stressful that can be.
I’m grateful to sleep in my own bed. Lisa said I could spend the night but I decided to drive home instead which meant 4 hours of driving. They were having a lot of people stay over and I have a hard enough time sleeping in my own bed medicated. Maybe it’s a PTSD thing, but if there are other people around I can’t fall asleep. I usually have to be the last person to bed and the first one up which is really hard on me.
There was a time when I wouldn’t even consider driving four hours by myself. I’m grateful my driving anxiety is pretty much gone. Lately I’ve even been able to drive over tall bridges. These are things I’ve really struggled with off and on over the years. My dad would terrorize us when he was driving us as a kid and I carried that over way too long into my adult life.
Life in general.
After our power went out our refrigerator started making this really annoying high pitch shrieking cricket chirping sound. It was driving me crazier than I already am. The funny thing is the younger the person was the more irritating the sound was. Sometimes I couldn’t hear it, but my kids could. Or sometimes I could hear it and my husband couldn’t. The refrigerator also got really hot to the touch in certain areas. There was a problem with the fan and I’m grateful Paul was able to fix it.