OMG...is it really that time of year again?
First of all, let me say that I'm a horrible blogger. I used to think I was pretty good at blogging--until I moved to Alaska. If people paid me to blog, I'd be fired. Luckily, there are only a handful of people who give a rat's fuzzy behind about this thing, and therefore, this blog still has a heartbeat! I have avoided blogging Asystole! I am verging on Pulseless Electrical Activity from a run of sustained Sinus Bradycardia, but dag nabbit!--I'm still alive! (How do you spell "dag nabbit" anyway? Spell check wants to replace it with "Rabbit"--screw you, Spell Check...PS Happy Holidays)
I literally dropped off the blogging map when I moved to Alaska. I got swallowed up into an arctic abyss of camouflage-laden lumberjacks, and women who think flannel pajama pants and rubber boots are a fashion statement because they have flowers printed on them. HAYeeellllllllp!!!!
Actually, now I'm warped because there are some cute rubber boots with flowers printed on them up here. Oh dear--I've become one of THEM! Not really, but there are some things I don't hate as much as I used to about Alaska. I still fully intend to make fun of everything Alaskan though. It's my right now. I'm a LOCAL! **SHIVER**
I wasn't trying to be a blogging butthead by ignoring you guys. It just happened. Before I knew it, time was flying by--which is weird, because when I moved to Alaska, it quickly turned into the longest two year commitment of my life. I think on some level, the first year here put me in a place where I couldn't really blog about my life. I just didn't want to go there, and drag you there with me. And now it's almost 2015--and I have a new outlook, and am very excited for all of the possibilities that lie before me.
Work has been going pretty well. We are always busy. I moved up here because I was constantly being put on call in Colorado, and I have literally been put on call ONE TIME in a year and a half (on a scheduled shift) at this job. I can't buy a call day when I'm scheduled to work. It's a blessing though. I love having a job I can count on. I also love my job.
Through my work, I have an awesome coworker who is a staunch yogi, and is constantly wrangling me (and others) and encouraging me to push myself in the world of yoga. Before practicing simple yoga poses with this girl at work, and attending rogue yoga classes in CO, I hadn't done a headstand since 1989. She has turned my world upside down, and I literally am loving "playing" with yoga through my Instagram yoga account, "ARCTICBARBIEGIRL". It gives me a chance to connect with other yogis, and people, and challenges me to break myself in half more gracefully by seeing the examples of other IG yogis.
I yoga at work--even when the security people think I look ridiculous as they watch their cameras.
I use yoga pics as ways to show how amazingly beautiful Alaska is.
I've learned to hug trees with my toes.
I've done yoga headstands on mountaintops--where people think I'm loco (check out the peeps in the background).
I've done yoga with my kids' dog in Colorado--even the dog looked worried that I was stuck like that.
I've tested the durability of street signs.
Tested the durability of trees.
The durability of bikinis.
Used yoga to play with knives.
Attempted to surf upside down.
Fully supported the revival of leg warmers.
Challenged that gravity wouldn't snap my neck.
And had a ton of goofy fun at work that led to LOTS of laughs.
I even show off my stylish footwear with my yoga poses now. What can I say? I'm a girl who love fashion. Why not use Yoga to express that. *cha cha cha*
SO FUN.
My kiddos came up for the summer here in Alaska. Last year was so tough. I think at one point I went two months without seeing them, and it almost killed me. I started picking up extra shifts after the twins left this summer, and now head down to Colorado every 3-4 weeks--although, they have been coming up here every three to four weeks lately with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday! LOVING IT!
The plan for next year???
And I kind of like it this way. I am moving back home to Colorado. I will be based out of there, but I might stay on at my job in Alaska as a "registry" nurse (flying up and working chunks of time). I do love the people I work with, and I've gotten into the groove with this hospital. We do some AMAZING things to help women with pregnancy, and through their deliveries--things I've never even heard of or that have been attempted in the lower 48 states to help save the lives of babes, and I'm all about it.
The guy situation
It's good. That's all I'm going to say about that.
There were a couple of situations that rocked my world over the past year. The first of which was my ex-husband's best friend dying from skin cancer. I'm not trying to make a Debbie Downer Christmas card, but it totally sucked. And it sucked for the beautiful kid that he left behind who called him "Dad". Please remember to take care of yourselves in the sun. Why do you think I look like such a pasty weirdo in all my pics???? Even when I get back from Hawaii, people can hardly tell I went somewhere tropical, let alone SURFED the entire dang time!!!! I don't care how "tan" my skin looks. It is not worth the cell damage that occurs with a tan. I plaster on the 50 SPF, and surf my brains out. I don't care that I'm the whitest white girl at the beach. You have to take care of your skin. It's the largest organ in your body, and without it, you are super screwed. Huge shout out to my peeps in Colorado, because we have the highest skin cancer rate in the nation. We are a bunch of white people running around at high altitude. Tans look great, but don't choose a tan over your life. Protect yourself. Be pale white Norwegian pasty like me. ;)
The most recent loss was that of my Godmother. What a blessed soul. All I can think is that God truly needed another angel, because she fits the bill. I want to write an entire blog about her, and I will, because of how amazing she was, and how much she touched my life. REALLY?? 65 years old, and God scooped you up? You must be doing something right, Auntie Pam. The rest of us have a lot of work to do before we receive that honor. I miss you terribly, and love you more than you ever knew.
This year has been monumental. My father contacted me--out of the blue, and asked to meet up for lunch during one of my trips to Colorado. I have not had a relationship with either of my parents for many years. It never meant I quit loving them, but it just was what it was. Sometimes life pounds on your relationships to the point where you think they are futile, and then God steps in and reveals that life is a wimp, and He has control over the revival of precious things. My dad has periodically kept communication open with me, but my mom is now starting to feel more comfortable with trying to get to know me again. For nearly half my life this has been a struggle, however, God is good. We are a family of faith, and sometimes faith has to be tested before your heart can commit to love. I can appreciate that, but also appreciate the opportunity it presents.
I am so excited for Christmas this year. This is the first year that I have sent Christmas presents to everyone in my family. They are so personalized, and so ME showing love to THEM--I can't wait until Christmas Day--even though I wont' be there to see them open their gifts...they will know they are loved. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? Granted, I spent almost $300 on all those gifts to ship them (and some of them came to me after I ordered them with free shipping...and then I had to re-ship them...DOH!!!), but I got to wrap all of them, and send my love with all of them. That's all that REALLY matters.
I want to wish everyone happy holidays this year. I know everyone celebrates them in their own way, but I want to say I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF JESUS CHRIST. It is undeniable. As critical as some are of "Christians", Jesus was the bomb. He was the one who hung out with all the people no one wanted to be around--out of LOVE. He was such an example, and that is what I push for through my Christianity--just realizing that purpose of Christ.
It's funny how the simplest of things can bring out thinking back to the most important things. And God bless Charles Schulz for having the balls to make a cartoon that became as mega-famous as it has and declares true meaning of Christmas. "Balls" meaning Christmas ornaments--of course.
May you have a super blessed holiday season. I am so blessed to have the amazing friends that I do, and look forward to a blessed New Year for all of us. God is good. Trust in that.
Love,
Whit
