My 30s are quickly coming to an end and even though they were probably the hardest years of my life, I wouldn't change one thing because every thing that I have been through has made me exactly who I am right now!
So here are 30 things that happened to me or that I did during my 30s.
1. I got fired from my job in a nursing home which was the first time I had ever been written up at work, let alone fired. I called in sick the Friday after the 4th of July and my boss was upset about me calling in sick when I really wasn't and fired me. I remember walking out the door with my work stuff feeling so much relief and wondering how much time it would take me to get to the pool. lol
2. After being fired from that job I was unemployed for 6 months and after 6 months I got my first job in the substance abuse field and it changed my career path...for the good!
3. Christmas of 2003 I bought a small Christmas tree and kept it in my house, but close enough to a closet so I could throw it in there if my Mom came by!
4. I had to say goodbye to many of my furry friends........Astro, Brady, Bonk, Ben and Sophie. They all loved me when I felt I was unlovable and gave me reason to keep getting up each morning.
5. During my 30s I have had a Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Ford Taurus and Subaru Impreza. Anyone that knows me well, knows that my Honda Accord was my favorite and I can't wait until I get another Accord.
6. I started this blog. I had no idea that what I started 7 1/2 years ago would still be something that is a huge part of my life. I love the blogging community that I have found and many have become my personal friends!
7. When I started my 30s gasoline was $1.72/gallon. Today I filled up my car and I paid $3.53/gallon. I remember complaining about gas when it hit $2.00/gallon the next year, and now $2/gallon seems like a huge bargain!
8. During my 30s I was involved in 2 major car accidents. The first was in June 2005 when a semi-truck passed me and then his trailer hit the front of my car. The second car wreck was in January 2009 when I was stopped to turn left and the car behind me didn't see I was stopped and hit the back of my car going 40 miles per hour. My trunk was shoved into my backseat. Both accidents I walked away with minor injuries and know my guardian angels were working overtime both times.
9. My obsession with dragonflies started and I have a tattoo to prove my love of these amazing little creatures.
10. I moved out of Kansas City. I always dreamed of moving out of KC, but never thought I would have the courage to do so and now here I am living in the middle of the Rocky Mountains where it's winter 9 months out of the year!
11. I've had way to much dental work done and spent too much money on my teeth.
12. I was diagnosed with Lupus and I am now finding that each day there is a new part of my skin that is being discolored because of the Lupus.
13. My 30s started out with very little travel, but have ended with traveling all over the world.
14. Different places I have visited during my 30s.....Branson (who knew Branson was so much fun), Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Key West, St Louis (many times), Chicago, New York, Italy (my favorite), and the last place I will "visit' during my 30s is Kansas City. Seems very fitting!
15. I've also learned how much I love and adore Kansas City.....I always wished I lived somewhere else (somewhere that had more snow) , but in all those dreams I never imagined how much I would miss the city. Kansas City will always be my first home.
16. I spent many, many, many months in my 30s studying for my Kansas Social work license. The test is 170 multiple choice questions (with several answers that really could be the answer) and only 150 are counted. I learned I don't test well as an adult and when I finally did pass the test I decided to celebrate by having my gall bladder out 5 days later!
17. I had pneumonia for the first time and it was probably the most painful thing I have ever been through. In my theory of everything happens for a reason, getting pneumonia taught me how many friends I really had in Marysville. I was taken care of and loved as if I was one of their family members.
18. In the last 10 years I have also realized that not all Jehovah's Witnesses are bad and I shouldn't take out my anger on an innocent person knocking on my door. I've had people I grew up with say HI to me in public and ask how I am doing. (a huge no-no if someone is disfellowshipped)
19. I saw my first gay parade on an HBO show when I was 19 and during my 30s I attended my first gay pride weekend in St. Louis.
20. I became Lizzy's forever home! D found a 4 year old border collie named Armstrong that I immediately fell in love with and even though it was not meant to be for us and Armstrong, I will always remember him because he is the reason we found Lizzy. (it was while going to meet Armstrong that they brought me Lizzy and when D saw a pic of her she knew right away that Lizzy was meant to be ours and I am so glad I listened to her)
21. For the first time in my life I full filled a dream of decorating the outside of my house with Christmas lights. I had so much fun that first Christmas and went completely and totally overboard....and I loved every minute of it!
22. I've lived in 3 different cities....Kansas City, MO, Marysville, KS and Leadville, CO.
23. During my 30s I was introduced to my first iPod and my musical life has never been the same. I was also introduced to other Apple products and I will probably never own anything but a Mac now!
24. During my 30s was also the decade the changed my relationship with my parents/family forever. One day I was the Caroline they all knew and loved and when I told them that I was in love with a woman I suddenly became a family member who was now on the outside. My heart breaks every day for this broken relationship I have with them. The little girl in me will always hold out for them to come to me and say they love and accept me with no conditions.
25. In October of 2004 I auditioned for the reality show Staring Over. I was called back for a second interview, but it wasn't meant to be. I still remember how excited I was when I got the call that they wanted me back for an interview and how disappointed I was that I wasn't cast for the show. It was a fun experience and I just wish I had taken pictures while there for the interviews.
26. I've spent my birthdays alone, with a partner, with friends and since I have started celebrating my birthday I love how the universe has put people in my lives at just the right time to fill a void in my heart. I am truly blessed beyond words.
27. I feel that during my 30s I also became an orphan. Yes my parents are still alive, but there is no relationship at all between the three of us so in reality I don't have any parents. The loss of my parents has been at times completely paralyzing and in the beginning the pain and the raw feelings of rejection was too powerful and I would shut down. The further I get from July 4, 2004 the easier my life becomes without my parents. I have learned to embrace life in the moment because you never know what the future will hold.
28. When I was 33/34 my heart was broken into a million pieces and I never thought I would love again. During those years when I was single and living alone I told myself that I was going to appreciate this alone time I was given and embrace being single. And I had some really good times!
29. I started my 30s out by myself and thinking back I can't tell you what I did on my 30th birthday....but I am saying goodbye to this decade and welcoming the fabulous 40s with so many friends and loved ones around me I still have to pinch myself at times that the life that I have today is really mine and not just a dream. There were some very dark times during my 30s and even though there were many times that I just wanted to give up, I never did!! I kept telling myself that there must be something pretty special around the corner because at times things just really sucked for me....and now here I am saying goodbye to a decade that changed my life surrounded with love love love! I am a lucky girl! (and a very loved girl!)
30. What I am going to take from my 30s is the fact that I am way stronger than I ever give myself credit for. Leaving the church forced me to step outside my comfort zone and rebuild my entire life. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I knew that I could not give up because going back to the church would kill me! I knew that if my heart was going to heal from the loss of my entire family, I needed to get out of Kansas City and start over. Marysville and the wonderful people in that town gave me that chance to create my own support system from people that were once strangers. D often points out that most people couldn't move to a town where they know no one and leave there with a handful of friends..and I guess she is right.
So there you have it....30 things from my 30s. I can't wait to see what the fabulous 40s will have in store for me!
5.06.2013
5.02.2013
Spring time in paradise
I am in the middle of writing a post and so far it has taken me 5 days and I still have some to go....I am doing a 30 things that I did or happened to me in my 30s. It's been fun writing it and revisiting all the great (and some not so great) things in the last 10 years.
Spring time is here, but it seems that winter forgot to leave the Midwest. Kansas City getting snow in May??? The whole time I lived there I wished for snow on my birthday and even though it's still a while until my birthday, how cool that KC is getting snow in May! I know a lot of my friends are not too happy about it, but I think it's pretty cool!
I took a drive tonight with Lizzy to take some pictures of the beautiful blue skies and snow capped mountains. D has been skiing and she said it's the best snow all season right now. Most of the ski resorts are closed so it's a shame that all the good snow is coming this late in the season. The last couple of storms have really improved the drought and I think I saw on the news that our region is now at 100% for snow pack which is wonderful!
Here are some pictures from our drive tonight.....I live in paradise!
Spring time is here, but it seems that winter forgot to leave the Midwest. Kansas City getting snow in May??? The whole time I lived there I wished for snow on my birthday and even though it's still a while until my birthday, how cool that KC is getting snow in May! I know a lot of my friends are not too happy about it, but I think it's pretty cool!
I took a drive tonight with Lizzy to take some pictures of the beautiful blue skies and snow capped mountains. D has been skiing and she said it's the best snow all season right now. Most of the ski resorts are closed so it's a shame that all the good snow is coming this late in the season. The last couple of storms have really improved the drought and I think I saw on the news that our region is now at 100% for snow pack which is wonderful!
Here are some pictures from our drive tonight.....I live in paradise!
4.26.2013
A star in the making!
I think Lizzy would be a very good model because I can ask her to do something (sit, stay) and she will stay exactly how she is until I tell her it's ok to move. This morning I was out looking for her and I found her at the top of the street and when we were walking back home I told her to run up the lasts big pile of snow left in the neighborhood from the plows. She ran right up and then started playing in the snow. I thought it would be a great opportunity to take more pictures of her (you know, because I never take pictures of her! lol) and here are the results:
Wednesday I had to go to one of our senior lunches and since I was only going to be gone for a few hours I decided to take Lizzy with me. There is nothing she enjoys more then driving around in the car! So I took her and when we got to the site I let her out and she took off running. She stayed close, but it was fun watching her bounce like a rabbit and enjoy a whole new area to smell. She's so much fun to have around and I am itching to go hiking with her and dare I say for the snow to melt so we can hike up higher where the good trails are!
I had the privilege of spending about 24 hours in Pueblo and it's not a place that I would want to go on vacation to, but it was ok for the training I went to. The week before I had also stayed at a Holiday Inn and was given one of the worst views of probably all the rooms, but this time I got one of the best views and had one of the most beautiful sunsets....
As I was walking out the door to leave for Pueblo she asked me if I wanted to take my Canon and I decided not to, but when I saw this sunset I was kicking myself for not bringing it.
I know you are probably tired of hearing about our upcoming trip to Kansas City, but I am just so so excited. I am excited to get out of town and to visit with some of my KC peeps. She's having fun finding out what some of the best restaurants are and she keeps telling me that she really would love some catfish and since I don't eat catfish I wonder if you guys could make some suggestions as to where we could get some really good fried catfish! I really appreciate her being a good sport about going back and visiting KC....I hope she is pleasantly surprised as to how beautiful and full of flavor Kansas City is.
I look forward to reconnecting with my friends that have been there through all those rough spots and also reconnecting with a few people that came into my life when I was just 10 years old. It's going to be a good visit and it will be so good to be back "home" for a few days!
We're getting closer to the big birthday party.......Who's got the best partner in the world and having her 40th Birthday party at Hard Rock?? :-)
All those years that I was single I dreamed what I would want my life to look like with a partner and I never dreamed or imagined that I would find someone that would bless me with so much goodness. I love you D!
Wednesday I had to go to one of our senior lunches and since I was only going to be gone for a few hours I decided to take Lizzy with me. There is nothing she enjoys more then driving around in the car! So I took her and when we got to the site I let her out and she took off running. She stayed close, but it was fun watching her bounce like a rabbit and enjoy a whole new area to smell. She's so much fun to have around and I am itching to go hiking with her and dare I say for the snow to melt so we can hike up higher where the good trails are!
I had the privilege of spending about 24 hours in Pueblo and it's not a place that I would want to go on vacation to, but it was ok for the training I went to. The week before I had also stayed at a Holiday Inn and was given one of the worst views of probably all the rooms, but this time I got one of the best views and had one of the most beautiful sunsets....
As I was walking out the door to leave for Pueblo she asked me if I wanted to take my Canon and I decided not to, but when I saw this sunset I was kicking myself for not bringing it.
I know you are probably tired of hearing about our upcoming trip to Kansas City, but I am just so so excited. I am excited to get out of town and to visit with some of my KC peeps. She's having fun finding out what some of the best restaurants are and she keeps telling me that she really would love some catfish and since I don't eat catfish I wonder if you guys could make some suggestions as to where we could get some really good fried catfish! I really appreciate her being a good sport about going back and visiting KC....I hope she is pleasantly surprised as to how beautiful and full of flavor Kansas City is.
I look forward to reconnecting with my friends that have been there through all those rough spots and also reconnecting with a few people that came into my life when I was just 10 years old. It's going to be a good visit and it will be so good to be back "home" for a few days!
We're getting closer to the big birthday party.......Who's got the best partner in the world and having her 40th Birthday party at Hard Rock?? :-)
All those years that I was single I dreamed what I would want my life to look like with a partner and I never dreamed or imagined that I would find someone that would bless me with so much goodness. I love you D!
4.21.2013
Driving Miss Lizzy
We woke up this morning to sunshine and decided to just get in the car with Lizzy and go for a ride! Just driving around town has always been one of my favorite things to do, no matter where I was living. For many years I would get in my car around 7pm and just drive around for a few hours. The fact that I love music and love listening to good music while driving probably is a huge motivation for me loving being in the car!
So we decided to go for a drive and the first place we stopped was the football field because we thought this would be a good place to see how Lizzy does in an open area off leash and I am happy to report she did a great job and never was too far from us. We then drove up to the fish hatchery where we walked around for a bit before coming home. I always joke that we work for Lizzy and it's our priority to make sure she gets enough car rides! God I love this dog!
Friday morning I woke up and my left ear wouldn't stop popping and a few hours after waking up my ear started hurting. It went on all day and I finally called the doctor because I was afraid that I was getting an ear infection. They were able to squeeze me in and I left the house for my appointment thinking I would be gone for at least an hour. (the doctors office tends to run on the very slow side and sometimes it can take 1 1/2 hours for your appt) Well, I was very surprised when within 10 minutes of getting there I was taken back and within 20 minutes I was out of there! The doctor looked in my ear and said that there was some congestion behind my inner ear and that was probably causing the problem. She suggested Sudafed and time for this to go away. She said it would probably hurt going down to Denver because of all the high passes we would be going over, but thankfully I didn't have too much problem. The whole time we were in Denver my ear felt great, but as soon as we got home it felt like my ear was clogged again.
This is going to be an easy work week.....I work Monday and Tuesday and then half day on Wednesday so I can drive to Pueblo for a training on Thursday and then I am off work on Friday....I was supposed to start my new work schedule this past week, but I was told to wait because they wanted everyone to start the new schedule at the same time and since I am such a good employee I am listening to my boss and continuing my current schedule!
Three and a half weeks until Kansas City......Can't believe that I will soon be back where it all started!
See you next time!
So we decided to go for a drive and the first place we stopped was the football field because we thought this would be a good place to see how Lizzy does in an open area off leash and I am happy to report she did a great job and never was too far from us. We then drove up to the fish hatchery where we walked around for a bit before coming home. I always joke that we work for Lizzy and it's our priority to make sure she gets enough car rides! God I love this dog!
Friday morning I woke up and my left ear wouldn't stop popping and a few hours after waking up my ear started hurting. It went on all day and I finally called the doctor because I was afraid that I was getting an ear infection. They were able to squeeze me in and I left the house for my appointment thinking I would be gone for at least an hour. (the doctors office tends to run on the very slow side and sometimes it can take 1 1/2 hours for your appt) Well, I was very surprised when within 10 minutes of getting there I was taken back and within 20 minutes I was out of there! The doctor looked in my ear and said that there was some congestion behind my inner ear and that was probably causing the problem. She suggested Sudafed and time for this to go away. She said it would probably hurt going down to Denver because of all the high passes we would be going over, but thankfully I didn't have too much problem. The whole time we were in Denver my ear felt great, but as soon as we got home it felt like my ear was clogged again.
This is going to be an easy work week.....I work Monday and Tuesday and then half day on Wednesday so I can drive to Pueblo for a training on Thursday and then I am off work on Friday....I was supposed to start my new work schedule this past week, but I was told to wait because they wanted everyone to start the new schedule at the same time and since I am such a good employee I am listening to my boss and continuing my current schedule!
Three and a half weeks until Kansas City......Can't believe that I will soon be back where it all started!
4.16.2013
Spring time in the mountains
My heart is breaking for Boston right now! I have never been a fan of big crowds and watching all the news coverage of what happened yesterday makes me want to just stay in my little town and avoid big crowds all together! My heart broke even more for the families of Newtown that were there on mile 26 and were witness to another tragedy. I don't know how you get over the loss of your child in such a violent manner and then are witness to another violent tragedy. I just pray for everyone involved and hope one day we can find justice for the person(s) that did this!
Last week we were told that there was a massive snow storm on the way and that storm turned out to be a dud. So when I heard the forecast for this week where they were talking about another massive snow storm I really didn't believe them (they have been wrong so many times this winter) and drove into work. Within 30 minutes of me being at work the skies opened up and it started snowing and when I finally went to bed last night around 10pm it was still snowing. Because of all the snow and the bad road conditions I made a decision early on that I would just stay at a hotel for last night because I was dreading what could be a very long commute home in a ton of snow. As soon as I made my hotel reservation I kept thinking that maybe I was being a wuss and maybe I should have tried to drive home, but by 4pm it was still snowing heavily and I knew that I had made the right decision. My stay in the hotel was ok, but I sure did miss my girls at home! I didn't sleep that well because I kept waking up and my back was killing me, so even though it's only noon I am so ready to go home and just fall asleep in my own bed! Having not prepared to stay overnight I had no clothes or anything, but after a quick trip to Family Dollar I found some pants/shirt that I could hang out in during the evening since I was going to have to wear the same clothes to work two days in a row! There is more snow on the way and they are saying that Leadville could get another 4-8 inches tonight....so I am hoping my drive into work tomorrow won't be too bad.
One month from today we leave for our trip to Kansas City and I can't tell you how excited I am getting. I am so proud and excited for my nephew who is graduating from high school and can't wait to watch him walk across the stage to get his diploma. He should be very proud of himself because I know he has had a rough life and this is a major accomplishment....something his own father was not able to do!
I started this post on my lunch break and I am home from work now and boy does it feel good to be home!! It's also nice having my personal computer to do things online because my work one is sooooo slow and after only 30 minutes online I was down to half my battery. It used to be that my home computer was much slower then my work computers, but now I wouldn't give my Mac up for anything!!!
Last night before I went to bed I looked at the alarm clock and this is what I found when I turned it around and looked at the back....
I had no idea that the Holiday Inn was so scandalous!!! Haha. I have no idea why this word is on the back of the alarm clock, but I found it really funny!
Here is a picture of spring time in the Rocky Mountains....
Happy Spring everyone!
Last week we were told that there was a massive snow storm on the way and that storm turned out to be a dud. So when I heard the forecast for this week where they were talking about another massive snow storm I really didn't believe them (they have been wrong so many times this winter) and drove into work. Within 30 minutes of me being at work the skies opened up and it started snowing and when I finally went to bed last night around 10pm it was still snowing. Because of all the snow and the bad road conditions I made a decision early on that I would just stay at a hotel for last night because I was dreading what could be a very long commute home in a ton of snow. As soon as I made my hotel reservation I kept thinking that maybe I was being a wuss and maybe I should have tried to drive home, but by 4pm it was still snowing heavily and I knew that I had made the right decision. My stay in the hotel was ok, but I sure did miss my girls at home! I didn't sleep that well because I kept waking up and my back was killing me, so even though it's only noon I am so ready to go home and just fall asleep in my own bed! Having not prepared to stay overnight I had no clothes or anything, but after a quick trip to Family Dollar I found some pants/shirt that I could hang out in during the evening since I was going to have to wear the same clothes to work two days in a row! There is more snow on the way and they are saying that Leadville could get another 4-8 inches tonight....so I am hoping my drive into work tomorrow won't be too bad.
One month from today we leave for our trip to Kansas City and I can't tell you how excited I am getting. I am so proud and excited for my nephew who is graduating from high school and can't wait to watch him walk across the stage to get his diploma. He should be very proud of himself because I know he has had a rough life and this is a major accomplishment....something his own father was not able to do!
I started this post on my lunch break and I am home from work now and boy does it feel good to be home!! It's also nice having my personal computer to do things online because my work one is sooooo slow and after only 30 minutes online I was down to half my battery. It used to be that my home computer was much slower then my work computers, but now I wouldn't give my Mac up for anything!!!
Last night before I went to bed I looked at the alarm clock and this is what I found when I turned it around and looked at the back....
I had no idea that the Holiday Inn was so scandalous!!! Haha. I have no idea why this word is on the back of the alarm clock, but I found it really funny!
Here is a picture of spring time in the Rocky Mountains....
Happy Spring everyone!
4.09.2013
Lizzy's day at the pool
The local pool opened their doors to all the local dogs this past weekend and we decided to take Lizzy to see how she would do. She was very excited to go in, but once in she wanted nothing to do with the water and preferred to be on the bleachers with us and when I tried to "help" her in she freaked out so I totally backed down and decided we weren't going to push her anymore. It was also a great way for us to see how she does off leash with other people and dogs and we were happy to see that she followed us everywhere and was completely obedient off leash. Here are some pictures from our adventure at the pool:
We had a great time and are hoping that maybe when they open the pool again to the doggies next year she will be a little less afraid and maybe try the water. (I personally think she will love the water once she goes in!)
We had a great time and are hoping that maybe when they open the pool again to the doggies next year she will be a little less afraid and maybe try the water. (I personally think she will love the water once she goes in!)
4.03.2013
Spring is knocking on the door!
D is home from her trip to New York and I can tell you that we (the pets and I) are all happy she is home! After the first day of her being gone I was already so incredibly bored that I didn't know what to do with myself! I didn't sleep well at night without her being there and I really really missed her wonderful home cooked meals. Since she has been home she has been spoiling me with her cooking again and all seems well in the world again. :-)
Plans are coming along nicely for my big 40th Birthday blow out in June and with each RSVP that comes in I am getting more excited. I can't believe the amount of people that are coming in from out of town for the party and it really makes me feel special that people would fly from New York or Kansas City to come in for the party. Having been told that the date of my birth was "just another day" for most of my life I am pleasantly surprised that so many people want to be with me to celebrate my birthday this year!
We got a new director at work and we were all told that we can no longer work on a regular basis from home...I was only working 4 hours from home in a week, but that was saving me from driving in 5 days a week which was really nice...plus it was really nice to have a 3 day weekend every week. I will now do rotating 9 hour days and have every other Friday off, so at least I will have a 3 day weekend twice a month. I am just glad that they are still allowing us to have a flexible schedule because a lot of work places don't allow that.
The weather is changing and I can feel winter slipping through my fingers and spring is knocking on our door. I really hate to see winter leave, but I do admit that the summers in Colorado are so beautiful and the temps are never too warm. We can't wait to do more hiking this summer, a couple trips here and there and then before we know it the snow will start flying again and it will be winter again! I love love living in the mountains of Colorado and can't imagine living anywhere else!
See you next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)