What the world needs now...

I’ve been struggling with writing this post this morning.  I tossed and turned about it last night as I lay down to sleep.  I’m not going to get political. Yes, I am shocked and saddened by the results of last night’s election. On the other hand, I can understand that some Americans are so desperate for change that they felt this was the best answer.  Regardless, it is done. Too all that went out and voted, regardless of your political affiliation, thank you for exercising your right as a citizen of what I still believe to be the greatest county in the world.  I pray that we continue down that path. And I think the accountability starts with each and every one of us. Republican, democrat or independent; this is our country. This is our future.  These are our children.  We teach them the basics of right or wrong.  Not a man or a woman on the television or in the White House.  We raise the children in our communities to someday leave the nest and take on what can often be a dark and scary world.  We can’t hold their hands forever but we can pray that we did our best to raise them with morals, ethics and love for all humans regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual preference.  To my friends and loved ones that have had to fight these obstacles, know that I support and stand proudly beside you. 

We are not born with hate and fear in our hearts.  We learn it through our environment.  So my challenge to you today and each day you are blessed to wake up - be strong! Send supportive messages through your words and actions.  Fight for equality. Be active in shaping and molding our future. Spread love. Abolish hate and prejudice.  Teach respect. Just as every vote counted in that election tonight, each of us have the ability to change the world around us.  We often find ourselves in a bitter world full of judgement and finger pointing, obsessed with those that “offend” us.  Don’t worry about what Jim Bob down the street is doing. You can’t control him and frankly it’s none of your business.  Be the best you can be! Let your light shine! It starts within each of us. And I believe with every fiber of my being that love and goodness are contagious.  They are stronger than fear and hate. Do things with kindness, not because you want to be recognized or have it reciprocated.  Do it because it is the right thing to do.  Do it because the world doesn’t need any more assholes.  Peace and forgiveness may not be the easy choice but it is the only choice we have to move forward in a positive manner.  Never give up what you believe in.  Be like the Cubs.

The Cubs, Lyndee?  Really?  Yes!!! For a moment last week no one cared about the election. My social media feeds were positive and celebratory.  The underdog of 108 years, the nice guys finish last, “loveable loser” Chicago Cubs rallied back in the World Series and came out champions.  It was one of the greatest moments in sports history, in my opinion. I am a Cubs fan but it’s more than that.  I spent late nights with my friends watching the games and sharing laughs. We had something wonderful to talk about at work. I watched my brother’s dream for his baseball team come to life. Fans came to celebrate their heroes 5 million people strong in the 7^th largest gathering of humans in history.  There was no hate. No riots.  There was joy and jubilation. The curse had been broken.  And for a moment, people of all walks of life were united in celebration and hope.  It wasn’t just a baseball game.  It was a testament to the human spirit.  A moment I will never forget. 

Of course, I still feel like I have a bit of a “Cubs hangover”.  No, I didn’t drink too much but lots of late nights watching the games kicked my butt.  Friday night I enjoyed a relaxed evening with my girls around the fire.  Saturday took a much needed road trip with Summer and Maria. We drove to Iowa City and spent the day at a metaphysical expo. I know, it sounds kind of weird but it was awesome.  We got new stones, I bought a beautiful amethyst ring, had a chakra session and a a psychic drew my animal totem and gave me a reading.  Turns out mine is a mix of an owl and a butterfly, with the spirit of a phoenix.  I know! How fricking cool is that? It made a lot of sense when she described the drawing to me.  I love it. After the expo we went and visited my brother and his family.  You know I can never get enough time with my Gable and Kirkie, aka, Rizzo and Harry Carey if you saw them at Halloween.We enjoyed a wonderful dinner before heading back to Des Moines that night.  

Sunday was a productive day of cleaning, gym time, writing and running errands.  Sunday night I went to Ben’s for dinner, cards and a hot tub party.  It was a great weekend of chill time to recharge a battery that has been running low the last few weeks.  I’ve got lots of doctor’s appointments this week and next to make sure that all is running right again. Fingers crossed and prayers accepted for continuous progress and strength. 

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  Wasn’t it just 4^th of July? Time to get working on my ugly Christmas costume for this year.  And my gifts for the Beaver Framily Crafty Christmas! 

Losing loved ones, Hammerschlagen, Cresco and the Cubs!

Tuesday night I received a call that my aunt Opal had passed away.  So many wonderful memories of my childhood flashed through my mind.  She was always very special to me.  I know she’s in a better place now but knowing I would never see that smile or get a strong hug from that tiny lady with a huge heart again broke my heart. 

Wednesday morning I went to leave for work and my car wouldn’t start.  What the &%Q(#*?! * I didn’t have a lot of options at 6:15 in the morning so I called an uber to take me to the office.  Lukas my car guru offered up some suggestions on what could be wrong.  Per usual, Brian saved the day by picking me up from work and jumping my car so I could take it in and make sure it was nothing more than a dead battery.  Luckily, that was the case.  An easy fix and Opal the Optima, yeah, I had named my car after my aunt when I bought it three years ago, is back to purring like a kitten.  Maybe my car was in mourning too? Weirder things have happened. 

Wednesday night was our volleyball league playoffs.  We came in 18-3 and with the #1 seed.  We spent the first round without batting an eye.  Drew injured his knee which was no bueno.  We had a break between games and watched the Cubs put up a win against the Dodgers in LA.  Unfortunately, we played like poo and ended up getting 2^nd place for the leagues fall season.  Watch out next year though! We’re coming to take it all!

Thursday our friend Josh came home to visit from Colorado.  Mel organized a wonderful BBQ/bonfire/garage party at the Beaver Den for the crew.  We played a new game that Lukas and Summer had organized called Hammerschlagen.  Don’t know what it is? Join the club.  When they explained it to me I thought it was going to be the lamest thing ever.  It was completely frustrating but fun.  Wanna see how it works?  I posted a video here!  We had the Cubs game playing on the TV inside the Beaver Den. Firing roaring on the “ranger tv”.  Brats, burgers and wings on the grill.  And my bacon jalapeno corn dip went so fast, half the people didn’t get a chance to try it!  It was a great night of shenanigans. 

Friday I went home to spend some much needed time with my family.  I hadn’t been back to Cresco since my birthday party in June which has to be some kind of record for me.  It was so nice to just kick back and relax. I didn’t even take my laptop with me! What? I know! Stop the madness! Saturday night the grandparents and sissy came over for dinner.  Mom made homemade pizza and because I’m a spoiled brat, oatmeal cake!  If you haven’t tried this cake, you really haven’t lived.  It’s one that we get on special occasions and always makes me think of Mother’s Day gatherings with the Underbakke’s. It was a perfect tribute to Opal and hanging out with my grandpa and grandma’s.  To top off a wonderful night…the CUBS are going to the WORLD SERIES!!!!! Errr mrrr gawd!! I am so excited.  Although my friends and I have some super fun stuff planned for Halloween Saturday night, we are debating taking a road trip to Chicago Friday and watching some history happen in Wrigleyville.  You know I can’t turn down a fun road trip.  Go, Cubs, go!!!!!!!! This week looks to be another hectic one with the normal chaos at work and things going on every evening but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Making memories! #fearless40 #lovinglife

Please keep your hands inside the ride at all times

It has been one helluva week! Life sometimes resembles a scary yet thrilling rollercoaster and I rode that beast all week long. 

Monday night Molly and I started back with our personal training.  That was very scary after a few years without having someone boss me around for workouts.  And it wasn’t Scott we were training with which also led to some fear.  But I am happy to report that it was awesome and we love our new trainer, Ben.  There’s nothing quite like the endorphins of a great sweat fest.  I’m looking forward to my Monday and Thursday nights in the gym with Ben and Molly the next 25 weeks.  Like we always say, Motivate, Dominate, Destroy! MDD, baby!

Tuesday night Ben and I went to the I-Cubs game to enjoy some baseball.  It was so hot I thought my face was gonna melt off.  Although they got their butts handed to them by OKC, the company was great and it was nice to be outside enjoying some baseball. 

Wednesday I found out my celebrity love, Eric Church, will be doing a show in Des Moines in January.  Can you say so excited I almost piddled my pants? Also on Wednesday, my new tripod and remote came in for my ipad.  I can't wait to start filming some videos! 

Monday and Tuesday were the top of the rollercoaster.  What goes up, must come down.  And that it did.  Thursday morning I was at the office talking to Ashley when suddenly it felt like a Paul Bunyon size lumberjack had just buried an ax into my back.  I’ve never felt pain like that.  I thought if I could catch my breath it the pain would stop shooting down my body in a few moments.  But it did not. The pain continued to surge from my shoulder blades to my lower back.  It was terrible and terrifying.  I was trying to keep calm and wish the pain away but it was only getting worse.  Through my tears I told Ashley I needed help.  My amazing co-workers jumped into action and soon I was surrounded by Principal security, EMT’s and firefighters.  My blood pressure, which is usually perfect had seared to 180/120. The pain wasn’t subsiding. They strapped me to a gurney and took me out.  I have never been so embarrassed in my life as my friends and people in my department watched the drama unfold.  This was to be my first ambulance ride.  And hopefully my last!! The first EMT tried putting in an IV and blew right through the vein in my left arm.  The second EMT came through like a champ.  Soon I was being poked, prodded, covered in stickers and cords and shot full of pain killers.  Even through my pain killer fog, panic started setting in at the hospital as the doctor, nurses and EMT’s were using phrases like heart attack, blood clot, collapsed lung…

They drew more blood. Did an EKG. Chest x-rays.  Took more blood.  I was hooked up to more machines with stickers and human jumper cables.  More pain meds.  I couldn’t stop crying.  The pain was unbearable and I was scared out of my mind.  Soon Ashley and my leader Lucy showed up in my room. It helped calm me down to see their faces.  They were a wonderful distraction.  Bob and Ben came as well. Even in a hospital gown with tears streaming down my face and drugs racing through my veins, I was grateful for my absolutely amazing support system.  I simply could not ask for better people in my life.  Even my EMT buddy stopped by to check on me and give me a fist bump. 

I am happy to report that it was not a heart attack, stroke, blood clot or collapsed lung.  They aren’t sure what caused three hours of the pain in my back but at least we ruled out the scary words.  Eventually they released me from the hospital high on flexoral and hydrocodone.  I could hardly keep my eyes open as Bob drove me to get prescriptions, lunch and then took me home to rest.  I slept for nearly 20 hours off and on.  I don’t know if it was exhaustion or the drugs but my bed was my best friend until Friday afternoon. 

Friday, August 12^th.  Every year the 12^th is an emotional day for me and my family.  The anniversary of Kirk’s death. Hard to believe it’s been seven years.  I still think about him almost every day.  

I had made plans to go to dinner with my aunt, uncle, cousin and some friends that night.  We were going to my favorite restaurant, O’Hanas.  I knew that it was right where I needed to be on a day like this.  And the best part was that Brian had returned to Des Moines.  It’s hard to go a month without seeing your best friend.  He joined us for dinner and all was right in the world again as we caught up on the last few weeks and his trip to Alaska. 

 Saturday I skipped my plans to go to Lake Rathbun. Wasn’t sure I should be two hours from home with how I had been feeling the last few days.  Instead, I hungout with Ben and a buddy of his that was visiting from out of town.  We watched the cubs, enjoyed some OP pizza, talked and laughed for hours.  Brian joined us and we all relaxed in the hot tub.  Should I have gone to bed before the sun came up? Of course.  Does my body do well on three hours of sleep? Not so much.  Was it worth it? Absolutely. 

This morning was brunch with the Beavercrew on a patio in the sunshine. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up the week than laughing with those hooligans.  

To everyone that called, text or messaged me their prayers and concern, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am one lucky girl to have so much love around me.  #fearless40 #inittowinit #IVsarethedevil #whydoibruiselikethis?