The past year = Mostly bad but some good. December 31, 2009

Just for the record I’m counting late November 2008 and later as last year, or at least it feels like it to me because that’s when all of the bad started to happen. I’m allowed to add an extra month in there, right?

Bad:

I lost my best friend (late November 2008)

I lost my job (Early December 2008)

I ended up in the ER twice (in April & August).

ER bills= over $5100 because my shitty health insurance wouldn’t help me. I paid almost half so far but it’s pretty fricken hard to pay for the rest without an income.

Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, depression, loneliness, & being trapped.

I’ve gained weight

Good:

I finally got to do some traveling (a couple of days in St. Croix, a family vacation in Hawaii, & a weekend trip to South Dakota).

Some good times with friends.

I usually don’t pay any attention at all to New Year’s, it’s just another day. But I really want NEED next year to be better. Please please PLEASE!!!!!! Let 2010 be the year that I find happiness!

I need to find a job, hopefully one worth while that doesn’t make me miserable like my last one.

I want to spend more time with friends and be more social.

I want to do more traveling.

I want to be more self-sufficient and independent.

I need to lose 20lbs.

I want to be happy.

Christmas ’09 December 26, 2009

Short story: Christmas this year was uneventful. There is no long story. We were supposed to go up to my uncle Paul’s house today to see my mom’s side of the family but we decided not to chance it driving all that way on the slippery roads. So that sucks. I suppose I won’t  see anyone now until March. At least I got to see some of my dad’s side last weekend.  There is some good news to report though. When my mom called Paul to tell him we weren’t coming he announced that him and Cathy are now engaged! Cathy really does fit in with the family, she’s really great and already seems like one of my aunts Also just a few minutes ago I found out that my cousin Jamie just got engaged too! It does seem like lots of people get engaged during Christmas, doesn’t it? So in total that’s three weddings to look forward to because my cousin Dan also just recently got engaged to Mikayla but I’m sure their wedding won’t be for some time still. I’m some sort of wedding junkie. I could seriously go to a wedding every weekend and not tire of them.

Other than that it seems like the storm is wrapping up. Yesterday we got about seven or eight inches of wet heavy snow. Last night and today it kept switching from snow to sleet to rain and left a few inches of slush that is now frozen over into slippery ice. Who knows, maybe I’ll attempt making a snowman tomorrow although I usually lose interest and end up with just one very large snowball/bottom of a snowman. We’ll see.

Christmas time already? December 20, 2009

I can’t believe that it’s already almost 2010! Last night we went over to my uncle John’s for my dad’s side Christmas party. I really didn’t end up taking as many photos as I wanted. I always feel weird being the only one snapping pics. Even before we got there my mouth was watering for aunt Kathy’s deviled eggs. By the end of the night I must have consumed almost a dozen. I guess I should learn how to make my own at home.

Here’s the few photos I got:

Jessica, Darcy, Lauri, & Troy.

Emma (Mitchel’s girlfriend), Mitchel, Nick, & Midge watching some air hockey.

Emily & Deja.

Tracy & Payton.

Sean & Craig.

Rick, his girlfriend Diane, Mitchel, & his girlfriend Emma.

Mikayla (Dan’s new fiance) & Dan .

This was going to be a nice photo of Derek and my dad but all of a sudden they started wrestling. Sometimes family gatherings are like watching some sort of nature program and in this case the younger generation is trying to show dominance over the elders.

Nick.

Oh yes, and uncle Steve kept referring to me as “Pam” all night because he thinks I look like Pam from The Office. Ugh, I don’t even know how many time I had to exclaim “I don’t look like her!”  That whole thing is getting to be pretty old.

Thanksgiving November 27, 2009

Yesterday was time for Thanksgiving again. This year it was a bit more sparse than usual because not everyone could make it including my dad because he had to work. We did have a good time though and it’s nice to see family especially since you usually only get to see them during the holidays.

Chuck making his famous Cajun turkey. This is the food item that most of the family drools over.

Lindsey & Erin with my favorite Thanksgiving food, homemade rolls.

Jamie & Jake

Mike & Grandma

Jake brought tupperware along so he could bring food back home.

The couch, a great gathering place.

Samantha, Jamie, & me.

Re-enacting a photo from last year minus Kaleb.

Mom, Craig, & I. Craig doesn’t take “normal” photos.

Free backrubs.

Plenty of desserts left to bring home.

 

Halloween November 3, 2009

First I must say that I love Halloween! It’s the only holiday that I even really like. Second I must say as a warning that this is going to be a long post. With that said, on Friday everyone met up at Josh & Lynsie’s for their Halloween party.

Our hosts, Lynsie & Josh.

Little Sadie is so cute in her coat.

Josh, Jessie, Phil, Rachel, & Brad.

Jessie & I. I must say that I loved dressing like this, it was my first attempt at wearing victory rolls!

Max & Jessie. Max went as that scary Sham Wow guy.

I just thought this was a pretty funny photo of Caitlin.

Caitlin & her boyfriend Cody. Cute, right?!

Phil & Jessie

Jessie got a little lap dance by Lynsie’s brother.

The three photography students – me, Ashley, & Jessie. Kisses!

The Next night was Halloween and also Jessie’s birthday so we went out to eat at the Orchard, played apples to apples at Jessie & Phil’s, then went out to The Dive Bar for the rest of the night for some dancing.

There was a guy going around the dance floor with a vampire blow up doll.

We made a few trips outside in the very cold night air which feels pretty good after being in a very hot & crowded club.

The birthday girl!

One sad thing – they no longer offer the ladies drink free here because some guy sued them for gender discrimination. This makes me sad, very sad. I was waiting until 11pm for my free drinks but they never came In return I think they should at least offer some special like $1 drinks instead of charging a crazy $4 per drink. I was very thirsty so I bought 1 drink then refilled the glass a few times with water in the restroom. I get to see the ladies again next Sunday for Rachel’s baby shower, then again in a few weeks for Caitlin’s!

Labor Day Weekend September 8, 2009

This past weekend of course was Labor Day weekend and I think this was the first year I actually had something to do for the holiday weekend. Usually my dad’s side of the family tries to get most of us together once a year up at  Kathy & Jim’s cabin but this year we had to reschedule for September. I think this was actually the best weather we’ve had (it didn’t rain!).

 

Eric & Jim starting the beer drinking.

 

Craig and his very tiny tent. I would not sleep in that thing. I think it would make me feel claustrophobic not to mention too close to wildlife while sleeping because I like having some space between me and the tent walls at night.

 

My cousin Nick with a beer and a turkey leg.

 

Eric enjoying a beer.

 

Abri & Emily

 

Payton

 

Uncle Steve

 

This was actually a very pretty sunset but the sun doesn’t look right in this photo.

 

Abri

 

Emily (don’t you just love the soft light!)

 

Uncle John, Sammy, & Grace.

The four of us took a short little walk down the beach before dark. I love how sandy the shoreline is on Mille Lacs. It’s for sure one of my favorite lakes to swim in.

 

Some sitting around the fire:

Alan & aunt Mary Ann with Daphnie (the daughter of my dogs Gracie & Luke). They have to drive all of the way from Ohio to visit.

 

Craig & Nick

 

I think that Troy is getting a little big for this.

 

Jim mixed up a giant martini for uncle Tom.

 

The next day it was more warm sunshine

Deja

 

Emily & Grace

 

Pat at the wheel for a while thinking he’s the captain.

 

aunt Kathy

 

Jim, the real captain. (as indicated on his cap)

 

Rick & Mitchell

At the end of the boat ride Jim told a few of the guys to put weight on the front of the boat so they all got up there without really thinking and the whole front end of the boat went down like we were sinking. Thankfully we didn’t sink but sadly I didn’t get that YouTube worthy moment on film   I also went on another ride with the next group and noticed by the time that I got back to shore that I should have put on some sunscreen. I am seriously burned like I can’t believe. It’s painful to raise my arms and the burn has a purplish tint to it. Hopefully it will turn tan and not peel!

 

Dad, Rick, Derek, Mitchell, & Craig.

The Past Week Or So July 8, 2009

This past week or so I finally got to see some family that I almost never get to see since they live in Kentucky. My aunt Connie, cousin Melissa, and cousin Niki and her new hubby Teddy came up to visit us. On June 28th we met up at my uncle Greg’s for a little pool party.

 

Teddy & Niki

 

Niki & Melissa

 

Aunt Connie

 

Uncles Jerry & Greg getting competitive.

 

Me & Niki.

 

Then on July 2nd I ran up to the mall to hang out for a little while with them and have some dinner at Kokomo’s with the family.

Niki, Teddy, & I.

Sadly this is the only photo I took at the mall. I guess I was being lazy with the camera.

 

On the 4th of July we went back to Greg’s for a little get together.

My cousin Jaspar and her husband Kale.

(too bad I didn’t notice that he blinked when I took the photo.)

 

Teddy, Niki, & Chad.

 

Ryann & Connie.

Poor Ryann had only a couple of days to visit and had to go right back to L.A

 

Melissa & Erin.

I wish I could be that skinny & tan!

 

Ally & Chad.

 

Mary & Dan.

 

Craig & Chad.

(Craig doesn’t take many normal photos.)

 

Niki

 

Brett & his girlfriend Molly.