January 28th

This morning, I got up to go to Planet Fitness with Vanessa. I slept well, but I had a hard time getting myself to sleep and then staying asleep. To be fair, I went to bed late since I had to shower and shave – I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow morning; who wants to go to the doctor’s with hairy legs? (Not me.) I can’t do it today since I have a nail appointment tonight.

We did chest and Triceps this morning. I had requested it, and honestly, I did a lot better than I thought I was going to. The only arm workouts I really knew how to do at home were with the weights. We have a machine that I use as well—however, I need more experience to understand that I can do these workouts at home. My machine just looks slightly different.

V is always so good at continually cheering me on or helping correct my form when I work out. She really stepped up and helped me grow as a person because I felt like a complete newbie walking into the gym for the first time in forever. It truly was day 0 for me.

I believe that I am learning a lot and taking on more than I thought I would. V keeps telling me how proud she is of me. I feel bad because I only tend to build her up if she doubts herself. (I will take a mental note just to make sure that I am lifting her up as much as she does to me).

She had to be at work earlier than I had to, so when she went to shower, I jumped on the treadmill. I told myself I would only run a mile, but I was doing so well I pushed myself to 2 miles and did a walk cool down. I felt so proud of myself for pushing to keep running. I felt thoroughly worked out and exhausted.

I look forward to keep going hard at the gym and seeing the results. (I know you don’t see results immediately – but I swear if you looked at my thighs, they look more toned).

Keep my arms in your mind. They are like noodles. RIP.

Bucket list

What books do you want to read?

When it comes to books, I have a mental bucket list on books I’d like to read. I have a variety of genres I’d read cover to cover, but currently romance has been my favorite.

I am reading A Court Of Thorns and Roses series, I am on the second book. This is a series I started last year, I read the first book like a fever dream, but then struggled with the second, this year I reread the first book and now I’m on the second once again. I read it every day before bed.

Realistically I’d like to finish that series, then move onto more of Sarah I. Maas books.

I do, however want to explore more books in that genre (I get all my best recommendations from Vanessa).

Then I have random books that I’ve wanted to read, new poetry books, and Matthew Perry’s autobiography…I loved him. He will always be my Chandler Bing.

January 27th

I was first in today at work, which means I’m here at 7:45 in the morning, Vanessa also had to bring her dog to work for an annual – which meant I allowed myself to sleep in.

I woke up with a headache and congested, I think it’s just a side effect of sleeping in the sunroom at my uncles. My allergies just do not enjoy it.

I feel drained from the weekend, driving takes a lot out of me. I also feel like all of my household chores did not get completed either. I have laundry to fold, floors to clean, and things to put away. I did not have the motivation to do it when we got home last night.

But on the bright side, I came home to all of my pots on the counter. I thought they just got moved, I tried to put them away but there were new pots in their place. I blinked a couple of times and then asked my brother, “Did you get new pots?”

He had purchased a pots and pans kit as a surprise for me. It was a belated Christmas and Wedding gift for Brandon and I. He bought it the night I burned soup in one of my pots.

It was actually really sweet. And I cannot wait to use them tonight!

January 26th

Today we spent the majority of the day traveling back from Michigan to Ohio. It’s not too long of a trip, but let me tell you – it can be draining.

On the bright side, it is my heeler’s birthday today! Nyx turns four, and we didn’t do anything special for her we still get them gifts as if they are our real children.

Nyx got three new stuffed toys, a pig, a thin no stuffing flamingo, and a Gumby (which is her favorite) and then we got her a new busy toy. Since she is a heeler, she requires a lot of mental stimulation as well as exercise.

I cannot believe that she is four years old already. It feels like just yesterday she was a squishy little baby running after her big sister Luna.

To say they are spoiled, would be a big understatement. But how can we not, look at how cute her little face is in the snow storm from two weeks ago.

She has been the biggest challenge, yet, the biggest reward and I am so proud of her every single day. She truly has been the greatest dog, taking after her sister of course.

Nyx has been the goofiest dog that I have ever seen. Between her crack head hours and the moments that she truly shined with her mysterious attitude.

One moment that lives rent free in my head is the time she got into our roommates caramel M&M’s. Somehow she was able to open his door and not only inhale the rest of the bag, she got it stuck on her head and that’s how I found her. When she breathed in and out, the bag moved with it. I even got it on video.

Life has been just as crazy and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

So. Many. Hobbies.

What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

(As I have said In many, of my previous posts) I have so many hobbies that I keep up with every single day.

I love reading, so every night before bed I read a few chapters of my current book.

I love writing, so multiple times during my day I make a point to write how I am feeling or work on what I am writing.

I love crocheting, I tend to do this after I get home while I catch up on shows with my husband. (I am currently working on a coworkers baby blanket…then I have two more baby blankets to make).

I love tending to my plants, and obviously caring for them does take time everyday to maintain them. Whether it is watering, fertilizing, misting, repotting, or just noticing a new leaf emerging.

And all of those are just my main hobbies. Not even the extended ones that I will do occasionally.

Every now and then, I will pick my camera back up again and shoot some pictures to edit for myself. Normally this consists of just the dogs and my husband.

I enjoy hiking and walking, this is more of a spring and summer time activity for us, since the weather allows it.

I like playing video games, I’m never fixated on them for longer than a few days, but every now and then I feel the urge to pick up my controller.

Sometimes I draw, but I have not done that in months as well.

I seem to enjoy whatever hobby my mood deems worthy of my time, and I like that I have a variety to choose from,

January 25th

This will be a short paragraph today simply because it has been a day filled with family and I want to soak in these moments before going to bed tonight.

I’m just so thankful to be in the moment with my family. Between brunch with my uncle and his kids, to my cousins wedding, and now at my grandparents house just sitting in a circle talking to everyone about everything.

But I will share this funny video of my cattle dog, Nyx, trying to crawl into my yarn bag and use it as a bed.

Noah’s Arch

Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

Depending on your level of “close to home”, about 2 hours away from my house there is Noahs Arch Encounter. Technically, it is in Kentucky but I consider it close enough since my family has visited twice now since moving to Ohio.

I always thought it was interesting, but never drive two hours on a random weekend interesting. I seem to enjoy the comfort of my own home more than anything.

January 24th

I am not looking forward to today’s five-and-a-half-hour drive to Michigan after work. We are attending my cousin’s wedding this Saturday at the hunt club, where we typically have our family reunions. My cousin and her partner have been together for as long as I can remember, and I am happy to be a part of their celebration. (Getting there is another story.)

When we reached Michigan, it would be well past eleven, and my mom invited some of our family over to play games and have pizza. I think everyone will have left by the time we arrive, which is okay because the drive is tiring.

We are supposed to have brunch with my family on Saturday, and I look forward to seeing my uncle and his kids. Overall, catching up with my family will be a great weekend.

I have a plan for my gallbladder. I am keeping a food log with everything I eat and my reaction to it. I spoke to my aunt about her history of getting her gallbladder out, and I am listening to her advice. If it gets to the point where I am in too much pain, I will be heading to the ER and telling them I do not have a regular doctor. (Not yet, anyway).

It’s better than nothing, I suppose, but I wish I had been an adult sooner rather than now. Better late than never.

At least I can dance away my troubles at my cousin’s wedding. My mom picked me up a black silk dress; I cannot wait to put it on do my makeup, and just have fun. (More importantly, I get to continue my coworker’s baby blanket – IT IS SO FUCKING CUTE) #TeamBoy

January 23rd

After too long days of not doing anything, I am back to work. This morning, I went to the gym and worked out, and I honestly felt no pain which was great.

That was, until I ate eggs for breakfast, which are very high in fat. (I guess I didn’t think about it before I ate it on the way to work.) the next three hours my stomach had a mind of its own grumbling, gurgling, and threatening to resurface.

Which began my long journey of finding a doctors office. Let this be a lesson to all of you young 20 some things who think that nothing will ever go wrong until it does. Please establish care with a regular physician prior to getting any physical ailments as you age. Believe me, because if I had a regular doctors office, I would be seen sooner than the end of February.

Beyond that, my day, although rather uneventful turned out to be pretty good. I had a good day at the gym, learning that my biggest issue is insecurity and my form which leads me to not want to watch myself work out. But I’m sure that will soon be phased out of me as Vanessa is on top of it with corrections. (Which is the biggest help of them all, let me tell you.)

I have never felt so comfortable in a gym, I don’t feel that anxiety and I don’t feel that fear of being approached. (By people I don’t know of course, I did run into another friend while I was there who told me and I quote “It’s too early for you to be in here.” which only earned a chuckle from me.)

I will say, that I am more impressed by myself every day, not to take my own horn but, I am getting up at 5:30 simply just to work out before I have to be into work at 8:45. And that’s on my late days, I’m getting up even earlier when I have to be in at 7:45 or 8 o’clock.

Most of you don’t know me, but my entire life I have been a night owl. Potentially because it was the only time I felt that it was peaceful both in my head and in the world around me. I used to find comfort in the midnight hours, watching friends on late night TBS, Writing until I passed out, painting, or drawing. Even as I grew into my early adult age, I always felt that I saved the end of the night specifically just for me for YouTube videos for goofy make up tutorials and for talking to the moon.

Part of me does miss that version of myself, but I think that she has evolved into a healthier version of me. Because I do still enjoy the night, yet I am getting to meet an entirely different person within fresh morning. Knowing that the sun is rising as I am rising, brings me the same piece that I once knew, staring at the moon.

Now I’ll look forward to kissing the sunrise every morning and silently praying that my gallbladder decides to give up trying to kill me.

English

I wish that my dogs, Luna and Nyx, understood English. I can imagine sitting down after a long day of work and just chatting it up with them about what someone said or did (or even their pets! I work in a veterinary practice).

I guess Luna would be the supporting sweetheart, and Nyx would bring the sarcasm. At least, those are the personalities that I have projected onto them in real life. (Everybody does that, right? with their own little voices?)

Daily writing prompt
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?