week 29 - a change of heart

Week 2 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

I don't like this label. It has me compartmentalizing all my relationships into times and "levels of closeness". But closeness is too complex a word. Physically - it's my co-workers, I'm always at work. Emotionally? Mentally? Who knows!


So I'm taking the easy route, Martha has been my sister for 23 years (plus or minus an eternity), and we have been across every level of closeness over that time. I remember trying to throw a chair at her in our youth because I was just that furious! Of course I don't remember what she was doing at the time but I remember it was in the boys room. I can still smell the stink of what we all blamed on the iguanas but was more than likely the stench of just that, boys. Yick!


On the other end of the spectrum, I remember jogging to her house at 3 in the morning because I could rely on that closeness during a particularly rough patch in my life (and freaking out her neighbor since I had no way to get inside so I was 'prowling' around her house... but that's a story for another time). She's going to make a great Therapist. She knows when to be serious, she knows when you need to laugh, and she'll make it happen. She's understanding, patient and gives great advice. She has this tough girl facade that runs deep - yes, I know that's a contradiction. But it's true, she's tough as nails on the outside and has a genuine strength on the inside. Hmmm... Maybe this topic isn't so bad....


The picture part of this was pretty tough. I have a lot of pictures of us together and it's hard to just pick one. It actually made me want to dig through my kid pictures to find one of just us together - to prove that we liked each other when we little too - but I kept being drawn back to this one. And it's the grossest one I have! It was while we were working at IFA together. Some lovely person clogged up the toilet and there was nastiness all over the floor, leaking out into the hall. I was a pee-on (pun not intended) so it was expected that the clean-up should have fallen on me but Martha was a more valued and upper ranked employee. She didn't have to help. But she did.


I think you see where I'm going with this, She didn't have to help clean up raw sewage but she did to help her sister. Blah blah, more emotional drivel. But seriously, She jumped in (not literally, that'd be gross) without hesitation and helped. Now I don't think she thought of it this way at all - her helping her little sister - I know she thought it'd be fun to get all hazmated up, we had a blast! But I think that's what I love about her the most, she can make the most out of any situation. Even when there's poo on the floor:)

the countdown - week 30

Updated Note: This blog is titled “the Bare Beat” yet as I’ve been perusing the past posts I’ve noticed something, it’s mostly about me. Sure, Ben pops in here and there but in all honesty, until we start having kids I think this blog will be hovering around that somewhat conceited note. Sorry! But I will make an effort to include Ben in on this 30 week challenge. Maybe we’ll have a column “She” and a column “He”…..

 I haven’t been great about blogging but I recently saw this on a friend’s blog and wanted to try it. But not in 30 days – I'm not that dedicated, I’m shooting more for 30 weeks. That way, blogging should become a habit and I can include recent goings-on in our life. At least that’s the plan. Let’s see how it turns out.

 

Week 01 - A picture of yourself with ten little known facts

Opening night! Ah-MAZ-ing! -the show, not the lady's rear.

1. I worked at a pony ride and it is still, to this day, the BEST job I have ever had.

2. Contrary to what I’d always thought, I don’t like my sandwiches cut in any way. I fought with myself for a long time on this one. I felt like I needed to have a way to cut them; diagonal, horizontal, squares, triangles? I found myself hiding this from Ben. He would always cut my sandwich for me in what he thought was a cute show of affection (little did he know, it was tearing me apart inside). Instead of coming clean, I began taking a really long time to put my sandwich together so he would already be eating his and not notice that mine was uncut. But as of a few days ago I finally accepted myself and came clean, the center of the sandwich is the best part. don’t disrupt it.

3. I played soccer while growing up. I was primarily the goalie and I won’t lie, I felt like I was pretty darn good at it. In fact, our rival team gave me a nickname, “the wall”. Yes, I was flattered but because of my oversensitivity and the fact that I was (and still am) a porky kid:), I was always a little paranoid about it. 

4. I pretend to love and want a motorcycle. In reality, I’m terrified I would fall off of it and die. Considering my background with bicycles, I think those feelings are valid.

5. I have never broken a bone; which is pretty cool considering I hate milk (no calcium) and I’m clumsy.

6. I have an issue with #5. Once when I used this fact in a game of “Never have I ever”, I was told I must lead a boring life. I’ve rolled down mountains, been bucked off horses (and ponies), dove into pools of kicking feet (with cleats on), and lived a life with no shoes traipsing around the neighborhood as a child just as the other kids did. No I don’t lead a boring life. I lead a successful life. When I did stupid things as a kid, I didn’t get caught because I broke something – I got away with it. Is that the definition of success??? Hmmm. Thought provoking comment I just made there:)

7. As a kid I wore leg braces. I was pigeon-toed and had to wear these leg straightening metal brackets every night. Martha was the lucky one who shared a bed with me. I’m told she still has scars from my “jimmy legs”. 

8. My picture and one of my programs was in the most recent edition of the USU magazine. It was exciting:D

9. I am taking classes again, Management and Accounting. I want to work for Target as an HR rep. Hopefully my boss never reads this… Although I’m sure she’s gotten my obvious hints that I don’t particularly enjoy the behind the scenes aspect of fundraising.

10. I love traveling! Not by car, but by every other mode of transportation. My ultimate vacation destination would be to go on an African Safari. Where I could hold and play with all sorts of baby animals; elephants, tigers, lions, kangaroos, sea lions, panda bears, zebras, EVERY kind of baby animal!

There you have it. My goal was that, no matter who read this – even Ben, that they would learn something new about me. Did I succeed?