So, finally after many months of having this thing open, I'm finally writing my first entry. I don't know what will come of this just yet, but I am hoping to use it as a place to share my thoughts, rants, desires, and expectations of life, just like a whole lot of other people.
I can't promise this will be remotely interesting to anyone. But, I hope it will help me keep my life in perspective. I've been through times in life where I felt like I was for sure failing. Now I'm pretty happy with my B+ Life, working toward the elusive A+ Life. I can almost see it, just over the horizon, and I want to be able to look back and see how far we've come once we're there. That's pretty much the purpose of this.
Background Info
I have been married since I was 18. We promptly had a baby daughter, our only child, Carisma, the day before I turned 20. We were such a young family that in some ways, I feel like we all grew (and continue to grow) up together. We took a non-traditional path, and parts have been tough, but other parts have been great. We've spent so much of our lives being our little family unit that it's just not comprehensible to think of ever not being so. Adam and I are still very much in love, after 10+ years married, and we thank our lucky stars for one another every day. We sometimes daydream that Carisma will want to live next door to us when she's an adult. I suppose that would be part of the A+ eventuality that I'm talking about.
We thought about having more at a few points in the past, some more seriously than others, but eventually determined that we could use our resources more to our liking and to our only child's benefit better if we just kept it at one child. Population explosion and all of that. It's hard to say if it is easier this way, because I've only ever had one child. Maybe it would've been easier on her to have a brother or sister. But, then again, maybe it wouldn't. We'll never know, and I'm kind of fine with that.
Adam spent a six-year stint serving in the US Air Force. Most of that time we spent in Minot, North Dakota. So I don't even want to hear about how cold you think you are. During his enlistment, I held various jobs, went half-heartedly to college, and kept the home fires burning. I spent some time as an engraver for the trophy shop on the Air Force base, which I found to be quite rewarding. I also spent some time working in an ING call center, which I did not find to be the slightest bit rewarding. We had great friends in Minot, and entertainment was cheaper, though it was sparse. We could see live comedy for less than a $5 cover 3 nights a week, and I miss that, even though it was sometimes awful. I also miss our house up there. We bought it, and made it our home for about 4 years until we moved back to Kansas City after his enlistment was up, in 2006.
We moved to Independence, MO in the summer of 2006 and it was a pretty crazy time. Fresh out of the regimen of Air Force life, we both started working with his brother at his guttering company. We had an old friend move in to the basement of our duplex. Carisma started Kindergarten. Things went kind of bonkers for a minute. Glad that's over.
My cousin Erika hooked me up with a job at her company (at the time) in early 2007, and I've been working there ever since. I was so grateful to have a good grown-up job at this point, and the company treated its employees really well. I feel like, even though it's annoying at times, this was the first bright spot in a series of dark hours. Getting hired there was a real turning point for me. I rode the city bus to and from work for almost a year. I worked really hard and liked what I did.
Then, the economy tanked, friends were laid off, and I started to like my job less and less. I needed to carve a different path for myself. I took advantage of the tuition reimbursement options available through my employer and went back to school. After 4 semesters, I have all the credits I need to apply to the Professional Nursing program next month. The A+ horizon is getting closer. Previous attempts at college proved unsuccessful due to a lack of interest in doing any actual work. This time I know that I will succeed. I have to, otherwise I'll probably end up doing the same thing I've been doing for the last 4 years for the rest of my working life, and while that is good enough, if not excellent, for some, it isn't good enough for me. I have to know there is more to life than moving other people's money around. But for the time being, and for the last nearly 4 years, it has been exactly what I needed to move to the next phase of my life.
Goals for the Future
maintain/raise GPA - currently 2.7 due to failing Intro to Anatomy & Physiology in 2003. Apparently taking and getting a B in Anatomy & Physiology I does not replace this score, thus, the below-reality GPA.
cultivate relationship with Carisma - getting older isn't easy for either of us. we are both challenging people. I hope that she moves toward adulthood knowing that her parents are her teammates, and that she can trust us, and we can trust her.
continue to build positive relationship with Adam - he's the guy I picked. I'd pick him again, every day. We're great together. He's my person.
Get accepted into and kick ass in the Nursing program Fall 2011 - I have in the past and continue to in the future look at my education as though it is just a really long job training class. I want to be excellent at it.
Keep my job as long as I can - every day I wake up dreading my job. But I know that it is necessary to work now, while I can, before the rigorous schedule of the actual nursing program kicks in to high gear. At some point I'll have to quit. I need insurance and money until then.
Go on vacation - I want to go on vacation. I didn't in 2010, but did in 2009. It was an awesome cruise. I want to make sure I go on a great vacation in 2011. I turn 30 this year. Better start planning now.
That is all. for now.
drawing/cartooning/web-comicking. It is quite spectacular, but will take some getting used to. I played with it for a short time last night and it was not as easy as it looks! But with a little time and effort, I think I will get the hang of it and you all will be chuckling and/or admiring my comics/drawings in no time.
plicated, but I am certain she can get it figured out and be DJ Jewely Jewel in no time. She received some art sets from out-of-town grandparents, and those were a big hit as well. Now with so much for her to occupy herself, I wonder if I will hear about how bored she is again for a while. In-town grandparents got her a sweatshirt that has earbuds built in for her mp3 player, and she looks adorable in it for sure, it goes to almost her knees. So it'll fit for a while. :)