Category Archives: events

So long 2012

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Just to prove that I haven’t completely abandoned this site, here is a look back at the craziness that was 2012. It was a year full of ups and downs, major changes, small(ish) changes, new hobbies and friends. Here is hoping that 2013 is a little easier on us.

 

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

I rock climbed for the first time ever, and turned it into a passion. Now it’s something I make time for every single week, no exceptions. Well, unless I’m sick, or injured…

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn’t keep any resolutions, as they just get left behind and completely forgotten about before February even rolls around. You shouldn’t really need them to accomplish goals in your life. If you want to change something, don’t wait for a date on the calendar, do it now.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Well, I wouldn’t say close to me, (I wish that were different) but Vance’s cousin Allison gave birth to the cutest and sweetest little baby girl in October. They live in California and we finally got some snuggles in over Christmas. Totally contracted the baby fever. SO NOT A GOOD TIME.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I lost one of my great-aunt’s this year. She seemed to fall ill so fast. I wasn’t really close to her, but I remember her very fondly from when I was growing up.  Another example of why we shouldn’t take those around us for granted.

5. What countries did you visit?

Oh yeah, us leaving the country. That’s a good one.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you didn’t have in 2012?

It’s not so much for me, but for Vance…wait, it’s for all of us. I would like for my husband to have a job. One that pays really well, so I can quit working, or so that we can afford to put our two little ones in daycare and we can get some money put aside for a house. Thats what I want in 2013. It’s been 4 months, for CRYING OUT LOUD.

7. What dates from 2012 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

WELL. April 14th Archer turned 1.  Aug 2nd Vance lost his job. September 16th marked 5 years since Deven was born and since I became a mom. A MOM TO A FIVE YEAR OLD: THATS ME.  November 30th we took Deven to his first Rush concert and he had a BLAST, and though it’s not an exact date, my friend Karissa moved here in February and it was like no time had passed at all. It was like someone found my missing puzzle piece somewhere in Houston and drove it all the way back here and bought it a really nice house so it wouldn’t want to leave me again.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

I started working while taking 3 classes and I finished the semester with a 3.3o GPA. The entire time I thought I was going to lose my mind, but I didn’t. I don’t ever want to do that again (I’m taking 2 classes this next semester) but I proved that it could be done. 2 kids, a full-time job, and school is A LOT.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I feel like I could have been a better mom. I always feel that way. I’ve been so tired and overwhelmed, I sometimes would lose my patience with them, or not want to do anything fun with them. Something needs to change.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I was diagnosed (finally) with ulcers in May, and have been taking some pretty hard-core medication for it ever since then.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Climbing shoes, a harness, and a chalk bag. Best investment EVER.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Vance is awesome for putting up with me and for taking on the role of Stay At Home Dad. Deven is a great big brother and has the most colorful imagination. Archer is completely adorable and is learning to talk. And I can do everything I set my mind to. So we’ve all kicked ass this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Don’t even get me started.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Surviving.

15. What did you get really excited about?

Seeing Rush for a SEVENTH time and taking my little budding Rush nerd with us. And climbing! I’m always excited about climbing though.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?

This was a year of obnoxious songs that I couldn’t fucking get away from, so: that awful “Too Close” song from the Microsoft commercial, “Call me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, and my least favorite of them all, “Somebody that I used to know” by MotherFucking Gotye. Makes me wish I was deaf every time I hear it.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

A) An imbalanced fluctuating mess b) about the same, only more muscular c) poorer. Oh god poorer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Listened to my kids, listened to Vance. Just took more time to listen to the people I care about.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Panicked. It’s not that I didn’t have reason, I could’ve just handled it a bit better.

20. How will/did you spend Christmas?

I spent it exactly where I belong: here with my little family, in our little living room.

21. What was your favorite TV program?

I recently discovered a show on HBO all about Warwick Davis (the guy from Willow) called Life’s Too Short. It’s pretty much my favorite thing ever. I immersed myself in this year’s True Blood, even though it’s questionable whether or not it was worth the attention.

22. What was the best book you read?

I read a lot for me this year, and all of it was pretty remarkable. I would have to say the book (or in this case, books) I enjoyed the most had to be the Hunger Games Trilogy. Every bit as good as everyone keeps saying.

23. What did you want and get?

More time with friends, and a new exciting hobby (climbing, duh.)

24. What did you want and not get?

More money, a job for Vance. Seriously.

25. What was your favorite film of 2012?

It’s a toss-up between The Dark Knight Rises and The Hunger Games.

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

On May 20, 2012 I turned 27, and for my birthday my wonderful husband and children cut me loose and let me spend the day relaxing with my bestie poolside at her estate. The entire day. It was amazing.

27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

The complete unquestionable assurance that everything was going to be just fine. Spoken like a true neurotic.

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?

My fashion concepts will never change: jeans, comfortable, snug-fitting tshirts, and converse. I will never ever outgrow it.

29. What kept you sane?

Excellent music. My friends and climbing. Even better: climbing WITH friends AND excellent music in the background.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

If I don’t give myself a chance at the things I desire most in life, I will be doing myself an incredible disservice. And to roll with the freakin punches, you know, like I have some kind of choice in the matter.

 

 

 

This week could have been really awesome

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But it was ruined by a number of let-downs of varying severity. It all started with Archer and a persistent fever that showed up on Sunday night. He didn’t have any symptoms up to that point, and I kept waiting for something to show up. I kept waiting for him to get a runny nose, or to start coughing, or throwing up, but nothing happened. It was just this fever ranging from 101.1-102.5 that was only responding to Ibuprofen. I kept thinking he was teething, but usually he runs a fever for no more than 2 days. My silly ass decided to keep waiting for either symptoms to show up, or for the fever to disappear like magic.

Let’s just cut to Thursday, because that is where the real magic begins.

Archer seemed to be feeling well enough to accompany us to Deven’s gymnastics class. Deven, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with gymnastics. He didn’t fight me over it before hand at all. He got up, got dressed, and went to class as normal, but just refused to do anything the teacher told him to do. He even walked out of the gym and started running around the waiting area. In fact, none of the little boys in the class gave two shits about gymnastics that day, and they make up 2/3 of the class. The teachers are so great about it. They don’t scold them, they don’t nag them, they don’t show the least bit of frustration, even though you know they’ve got to be feeling some. Bless their hearts. I think there is a reason little boys gymnastics classes don’t start until they’re 6.

We went to Target, and everyone behaved. Poor Archer’s fever returned while we were in the store, and I had to pull over in the snack area to give him another dose of Tylenol (which does not work). I spent money on earrings and a $5 movie, and had no idea I had any reason to feel about it. I treated Deven to McDonalds because gymnastics class starts right at lunch time, and he didn’t give me any grief over going, at least. Everything was fine. I was looking forward to watching the Gymnastics All-Around final that night. I felt good.

And then Vance rolled in a little after 5, which is insanely early for him, with a jug of Sailor Jerry and a 2-liter of coke. Something was up. I asked him over and over again why he was home so early and just kept laughing and saying, “You won’t believe me.” Oh, jesus.

Then I got a phone call from my Mother-in-law, her relaying in an uncertain voice that her son had been laid off from his job. Vance and I had always agreed that because he is a shit and likes to joke about it constantly, that there is no way I was going to believe him when the day came that he lost his job. The plan was that he would have his mom call me to deliver the bad news. Then he handed me the severance checks and all of the paper work. So there. Thats how it all went down.

Vance was dancing with joy (he hated his job), and I was crying, because HOLY SHIT!?! They gave him a severance worth about 2 months of his pay, but what about after that? There are no jobs! We no longer have health insurance and Archer is running these 102 degree fevers, and now I have to get a job, and no one wants to hire me except Papa Johns and that place is HELL!

I never realized how afraid I am of change. This could potentially be a good opportunity for Vance, because he could wind up at a better-paying job he actually enjoys, with a boss he respects. We could wind up paying off our debt inside of a year and possibly even in a house by the time our lease is up. It could also mean that I could be working full-time while taking care of the kids and taking 3 classes, something I am not mentally or emotionally prepared for. What if Vance finds a job that pays $20,000 more a year, but it means he has to travel and be gone from home for weeks at a time? That’s what he’s been looking into ever since talking to my dad, which I knew was a terrible idea to begin with. I’m not emotionally prepared for that either. I’m scared of having a very infinite amount of resources to live off of, seriously: that scares that the crap out of me. I remember all to well what it feels like to be so broke, we’re relying on CoinStar machines to provide us our next meal, or we’re selling our video games to cover an overdraft fee. Now we have kids who rely on us. I know that we’re lucky and we have people around us who would step in to keep us from starving or becoming homeless,and we’re so grateful for that, but it’s not at all what we had planned for. I’m not ready for what will surely be a life of austerity.

At least Thursday ended well, in what turned out to be a in-a-grand-scheme-of-your-life-Who-Gives-A-Shit kind of way. Gabby Douglas won the All-Around gold. She was absolutely spellbinding. Again, she was solid and consistent; she owned the competition through all 4 rotations. It was incredible to watch, and I am so excited for her. We might be royally fucked, but at least there was someone I could be happy for.

I want so badly to say this is only the beginning for her, and in many ways it is! But the truth is, this will likely be her only Olympics. The popularity and accessibility of the sport in this country guarantees that there will be another Gabby or Jordyn peaking just time for the next Olympics, and by then she’ll be considered a “Grandma.” The demands of the sport on the body also mean she’ll likely be forced to throw in the towel by the next go-around. Gymnastics has changed ever since the days of Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, and Svetlana Khorkina. It’s so much harder than it used to be, it demands so much focus, and it demands so much of the body. I’m not saying it’s impossible, and I would love to see her in Rio in 2016, I’m just saying…I don’t think it’s likely. BUT I still think she is wonderful. I kind of wish I could be 11 again so that she could be my hero and I could take gymnastics classes so I can be just like her when I grow up.

So. Vance and I decided we weren’t going to worry about anything until Monday. We spent Friday relaxing. My dad blew into town for a few hours to hang out with the boys and to visit with us. He told Vance all about working with Trains as an engineer or something, and how they get paid 6 figures, but have to travel a lot, planting this evil seed in my husband’s head. I finally had enough with these fevers and crankiness that just wouldn’t let up and took Archer to the after-hours doctor. The Doctor seemed just as puzzled as I was that he had a fever for 5 days with no other symptoms, that is, until she looked in his ears. He definitely had an ear infection in one, and some slight inflammation in the other. How could I have missed that one!?! How could I have let him go that long without taking him in to the Doctor!?! Archer, I’m so sorry. I’m also sorry I have to give you the nastiest medicine known to man 2 times a day for 10 days. I’m so, so sorry.

After the first dose of Amoxicillin, I noticed a change. He didn’t run a fever at all during the night, which meant better sleep for us all. He wasn’t running one this morning either. He might gag through every dose, but it’s working, and maybe this will encourage him to learn to how to swallow pills.

So starting next week we both have to start job-hunting. My days as a care-free housewife will officially be over. Until then I am going to try to unwind as much as I can this weekend. I’m going to hang out with my friend tomorrow, which I need to keep from losing my mind. God, I wish I could drink.

 

 

Let’s talk about last night (Olympics and such)

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In 1996, on the night of the team final, Kerri Strug stuck her final vault on one foot, securing the US their first-ever team gold in gymnastics. On that same night, I badly sprained my ankle practicing my moves in my living room. Couch cushions do not make great mats. Just letting you know.

That was the first Olympics I ever watched, and I watched solely for the gymnastics. I didn’t care about swimming, dressage (because it’s horse dancing), or beach volley ball. I was an amateur gymnast, so that’s what I wanted to watch. It was fun to dance around my living room like a gymnast, throwing in some actual tumbling here in there (hence the injury). And then I watched them in 2000, when they placed a disappointing 4th. I watched Carly Patterson secure the All-Around gold in 2004, and of course I saw Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson battle it out for the All-Around title in 2008. I even started paying attention to non-Olympic gymnastics competitions. I totally make Vance watch with me as payback for getting me into football. (Go Pats!) At least he got enjoyment out of watching Alicia Sacramone and Shawn Johnson.

I’m riveted to this sport, I can not lie. My mind is blown by what these athletes can get their bodies to do. And most of them are so young! Most female gymnasts peak at age 16-18. They spend the better parts of their lives preparing for Olympic-level competition, though most of them will never make it that far. They withdraw from public school so they can spend 40 hours a week in a gym training. They battle through countless injuries that most other athletes never have to experience, let alone us more sedentary folks. I find it admirable. I am so very thankful I never pursued it that far, otherwise, I probably wouldn’t get quite the enjoyment out of watching it.

After watching the men completely blow it the night before, I was convinced it was a bad omen and Team USA was doomed right out of a world championship win. World Champion Jordyn Wieber lost out of her dream of competing in the Individual All Around final to her teammate Aly Raisman, due to the rule that only 2 athletes per country can be sent to the AA. I was convinced someone was going to drop the ball somewhere, and USA was going to come in behind China, or Russia, or BOTH.

This was one of those times I was more than happy to be proven wrong.

McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber OMNOMNOM on their gold medals.

It wasn’t just that they won, it was that they dominated. They beat Russa by 5 points, which is a significant margin. They were calm, they were confident, and they made it look effortless. They didn’t get lucky and benefit from their competitor’s mistakes, they went in there with legitimately stronger routines and difficult skills, and nailed all of them. It was wonderful to watch. And the best part was that I made it through the night injury-free!

I am really looking forward to Friday’s AA final. I don’t know if this team is strong enough to pull both a team and individual gold, even with talent like Gabby Douglas, but I am so very hopeful. If Aly or Gabby gets the gold, this will be the third consecutive Olympic games an American has won the AA gold. That right there would be an incredible accomplishment.

As I mentioned before, World Champ Jordyn Wieber lost out on her chance to compete on the All Around. I actually don’t really have an opinion on the rule, other than that she was out performed, plain and simple. I can’t imagine how it must feel to lose your dream for which you’ve worked so hard for so long. My heart goes to to her. She still has one more chance to nail an individual gold when she competes in the floor final next week. The Couch Gymnast (my new favorite website) has put together a great write-up on the controversial rule if you want some clarity on the subject.

Until then, I am rooting for Gabby Douglas. I have been all about this girl ever since I watched her nail the guaranteed spot on the Olympic team, beating out Jordyn Wieber. She is more than proficient at Uneven Bars (she’ll be competing in that event final) and she gains tremendous height in her tumbling passes. Not to mention she has an adorable smile and a great attitude. She has a fan right here! Go Gabby!

Now if you’ll excuse me, all of this gymnastics talk has made the couch look awful comfy.