2013 Wrap-up

   

Liked with Joy and where I orgionally saw this gem over at 

The Coop

     

  

Gained or lost weight?

Lost.  I blame, the minor shoulder surgery and major diet change of going gluten free, but really does anyone really complain when they loose weight?

Predominant feeling in 2013?

 Mixed.  I am happy it is over.  It was a rough year and I really learned a lot about myself, and people.  On the flip it did have many blessing in it as life aways does.

Predominant feeling for 2014?

Hopeful.  I start off the year big with my brain surgery, and recovery from that will be long, but I have been connected with some good organizations that can hopefully help me

Something you did for the first time in 2013?

Got a tattoo.

Something you did again in 2013 after a long pause?

Learned to accepted someones help without feeling bad about it.  Accepting that they wanted to send money or help with food ect because they can and they wanted too not because they felt that had too. 

Something you unfortunately did not do in 2013?

Go on more small adventures.

Word of the year?

Nerdfighter.  It is a term coined by the brothers John and Hank Green.  John is a well known author and brother Hank is a science lover / musician.  Growing up even in my family I was made fun of for being nerdy.  For liking Harry Potter, for not caring about celebrates or the latest fashion and for getting excited over learning cool facts.  This year a friend showed me one of their videos on youtube and it was instant love.  They talk about science, what is going on in the world and other cool facts, but they also are ok with being nerdy encourage those who are to be that way too.  In other words they really helped me accept that part of me and it has blossomed a whole new part of love for learning and sharing how excitement and knowledge.

City of the year?

Peoria, I learned a lot about myself in that city, and it is where my brain surgery will take place.

Hair longer or shorter?

Short, I always have a desire for longer hair, but than I get sick of taking care of it and go and get it all chopped off.

More or less money spent?

Less, with being out of work money is tight.

Highest mobile phone bill?

It's only me and everything is unlimited.

Hospital stays?

none, but there is a big one coming up!

(Fallen) In love?

With a boy no, but I have come to love myself and Christ more. 

Most called person?

Shea, hands down.

Whom did you spend the most beautiful time with?

First thing that comes to mind is my friends Sean and Jeanly and their kids.  They have a new baby and seeing a newborn is always amazing.  Watching children grow when you have known there since before they were born is also amazing, and they are just really really good friends. 

What did you spend most of your time with?

I live alone, so myself.

Song of the year?

mmmmm.  I am just going to say Michael Bublé newish album.  I know it's not a song, but I do not listen to the radio, and I really really like him.

This is my current favorite one... boy has talent. 

Book of the year?

I cannot pick just one!  I am such an avid reader that there is like 40 books, over half of which I loved! So I will just say the book I just finish which was The Testing.  Besides the few nature scientific flaw that it had after a world nuclear war it was really really well written, held my attention and the ending was great.  I look forward to the second one that comes out on the 9th.

TV show/movie of the year?

Walking Dead, Chicago Fire and Being Human for Tv shows.  Movies are like books for me.  I see a lot of the.  One I recently just saw that was very touching was Stuck.  It is a documentary about adoption.

Insight of the year?

I really liked In the Coops: In order to have friends, I need to act like one. But also in that process don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.  I am learning that their are a lot of superficial friendships out their, but the good ones are willing to work.

Three things you totally could have done without?

Drama, Chiari Maliformation, and Shoulder Surgery.  

Most beautiful event?

Super sappy but I think life itself is beautiful, so I cannot look back on one moment and say that was the most beautiful. 

More short-sighted or more far-sighted than 2013? 

Near-sighted but only by .25.... but than again I have a really low perception to begin with.

The most dangerous thing you did?

 Got a tattoo???  I know wild Child

The most expensive thing you bought?

New tires for my car.... those things do not come cheap! 

The most delicious meal or food you ate?

A roasted chicken, with potatoes and a side spinach salad I had at a friends house before we went to a movie.  I thing what made it so good was the friendship.

The best party?

 It was small but for my birthday a group of friend threw my a surprise birthday party. 

The most important thing you wanted to convince somebody of?

To learn truly learn how to be sorry for something, and to see that two people are a fault at something you have to meet at a middle ground in order to make things work.

Another one would be to know that I love them and they did nothing to make me leave.  That sometimes things are really messed up and complicated and they will one day be told and hopefully understand.  But I love them and it hurts my heart that I can't see them or be near them.

The most beautiful present you gave to somebody?

Not really sure on this one...

The most beautiful present that somebody gave you?

A group heard about my surgery and wanted to help with my rent and donated some money toward that.  I don't know who they are, but I was so moving to receive.

The most beautiful sentence someone said to you?

"Because your worth it"

The most beautiful sentence you said to someone? 

I would say the same as above.  It had such a powerful effect on me at the time that I try to use it on other so they know.

How will you celebrate New Year's Eve?

Party time with the Crowe's!  We are hoping to play a game and make it to midnight but they have thee kid thee and under, and my head has too much brain to contain so we will see.

What will you have for dinner?

 spagetti 

What drinks will be in your glasses to clink?

I have no clue... I may pick up some sparkling grape juice, but like I said we may not even make it... 

Will you ignite any fireworks? 

 No there will be enough blockhead doing that for us.

What are you going to wear? Comfy or glamorous?

Comfy.

Did you have any resolutions for 2013? And how about 2014? 

No.  I don't make resolutions because they just make people feel like crap.  I just alway try to learn from the year before and keep moving forward. 

What are your wishes for the new year?

For this year to be a better year, for myself and my friends to come into good things.

In one word: 2013 was...

unexpected 

Sunday Funnies Holiday show

-1-

This video... which I showed to my best friend Shea

Which turned into this... Gracie, we love you, even if we  torment you

We felt really bad at the end... she just flopped over and gave up.  She was showed with treats at 10 minutes later was begging for attention.  So all was right in kitty Cat world.

-2-

This is real and you can buy it on amazon... Christmas shopping was fun online this year.

-3-

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

-4-

My guess is the expensive ornament was not as pretty as mommy thought it was.

-5-

-6-

Shea this may be Gracie boo's revenge....

-7-

and lastly I wish you all the holiday joy you little heart can handle this holiday season. 

Evil did NOT win

Saturday is the heartbreaking anniversary of when Sandy Hook happened.  I sadly would have totally forgotten about it if I had not run into a video last night that one made me cry, and two reminded me of how amazing our God is.  How He heals and how the kindness of other can make the biggest difference in a persons life.  Back in April I wrote on Tragedy vs Beauty.  How the hope and beauty in this world is what we need to look for when bad things happen.  Below is an amazing video, of what love can do.

Sunday Funnies Nerd Edition

Sunday still has an hour left so for all you fellow night owl out there, I give you Sunday funnies the Nerd Edition.  I had a really hard time with this, not because it was hard to find them but because I have oh so many and it was hard to pick.  Fell no shame for not understanding when it come to being geeking and nerdy I am quite awesome at it.

 -1-

-2-

It was the redshirt joke that got me....

-3-

This image took dedication, and perhaps some pure dumb luck...

-4-

The joy I would feel cooking on this...

-5-

Ash always did have a flare for the dramatics.

-6-

So many jokes in one little scene, it brings about pure joy.

-7-

I would love to ring one of these!

What the Doctor Said

Well after weeks of waiting I finally have a game plan, not just a wait and see.

What do I have???

Arnold Chiari (key-are-ee) Malformation along with another hole on my Occipital Calvarinal.  

For Chiari Malformation we are all born with a hole at the base of our skull where the spine and the skull meet.  Some are born with one bigger, like me and if it is not a serious form it is not normally found out until someone person symptomatic like I am.  If I was just having headaches it would have been a longer wait for the surgery but tests in the office today showed that I am very symptomatic, having headaches, coordinations issues, trouble swallowing, vertigo, irregular eye movement, and the list goes on.

The Occipital Calvarinal may have been a birth defect or have other causes, they wont know until they get in there.  

The above is not my head FYI

The plan is to put a titanium mesh covering over the hole on the Occipital region, and for the Chiari Malformation they are going to remove the lamina or the spine to make room for the brain, sometimes they have to remove up to three.  They also remove part of the skull to remove pressure.  

Like with any surgery there are risks and when dealing with the brain they are more serious but I do feel that I am in good hands.  My doctor is one of the best in the nation and happens to be Catholic.  He has been know to pray with his patients who are religious before surgery and with his staff.  The Surgery itself is on January 6th and taking place at OSF. It will last between 3-6 hours. The hospital itself is Catholic and is even named after one of my favorite saints Saint Francis. More importantly I have God on my side and you really cannot loose with him on your team.  Thank you all for your continued prayer.

I Don't Always Do Something Crazy but When I Do...

It's putting ink on my body... for a second time... in the form of a tattoo.  Which is really funny because I do not come from a tattoo family, and yes I know they are for life, and yes I know my kids, gradkids, and nurses at the nursing home will see them... thats why I did not get anything crazy... like a piece of bacon.

So fresh and gooey from whatever Tattoo Jake put on it after

The clean and non gooey junk version

So why an arrow?  Well  many who have one have had struggled with depression and the scary that go with it, like I have.  It also reminds me that even when you are pulled back you will go forward, often with greater speed then when you where pulled back.  Seeing it gives the reminder to stay strong, which I really need right now and that I am a warrior, because it reminds me of how strong God has made me.... although at 6am today my brain did think it was a bug.  Hello instant wake up.

Originally it was going to be lower so it was easier to hide with a watch or what not, for an interview or future jobs, but Tattoo Jake convinced me that higher up would last longer, be easier to care for ect.  While this is my second tattoo in over a year period I do not see myself being a crazy tattoo covered lady in the future.  I really like mine to have meaning in my life and not just a "I got a dolphin because they are cool."