Kristie's Craziness

All the random things in life that I think we should talk about.

Recent Posts

  • Update

    Update

    Hello Lovelies.

    Sorry I ghosted you all this past week. Life has gone from 0 to 90 miles an hour in a blink and I haven’t quite caught my breath yet.

    First of all, I start my new job TODAY. I’ve been doing onboarding from home, which has pointed out what a terrible packer I am. All of my work clothes are in the way back of storage where I can’t access them. My important paperwork is in the safe, in the way back of storage where it can’t be reached. I somehow remembered to pull my husband and the kids’ stuff and transfer it to the fire box, but I guess I don’t exist in my own mind. I’ve had to order a new birth certificate, buy clothes and brush up on my excel skills.

    Because of this new job, my husband and I discussed pulling our house off the market. We only had 10 days left of our realtor contract, so we didn’t figure it would sell anyway. We were wrong. We’ve received a cash offer for exactly what our asking price is. The catch is that we have a little over a month to move.

    As you can imagine, I was already a little high strung on Saturday when all the kids came over for my eldest’s birthday. Everything was going great. We were laughing and making plans to visit my youngest son at college. Then the birthday boy mentioned that he had been having episodes with his heart. By episodes he meant that he feels like his heart is racing and the vein above his heart starts jumping to the point where I could see it through his shirt.

    We went to the emergency room. They hooked him up to telemetry and did an EKG. Luckily what they found isn’t life threatening, but it does require a referral to a cardiologist. He will have to wear a halter monitor for a couple weeks and get an echocardiogram before we know more.

    I know I asked for a sign about whether we should stay in Michigan or move, but a kid with heart issues was not what I had in mind. I guess I need to be more specific and tell the universe to help me find the perfect house next time.

    Sending love and prayers to you all.

    Kristie

  • Please Stay

    Please Stay

    I’m in a weird place right now. I’m not depressed, but I also wouldn’t say I’m happy. I think it’s more like a weird case of anxiety that makes me feel like something bad is about to happen and all I want to do is make sure the people around me know I love them.

    Maybe it’s the stress of going back to work, or the countdown to the anniversary of my brother’s death. Maybe it’s the biological wake up call that I’m getting older, even though my brain still feels like it’s on 25. 🤷‍♀️ Whatever it is, I’ve been spending a bit more time quietly reading memoirs, like Please Stay by Greg Payan.

    I relate to this book. My husband was in a terrible motorcycle accident in 2004. He died 3 times, lost a leg and spent 10 months in the hospital. We weren’t together at that time, but his mom saved all the cards and well wishes they received during that time. We had dated in high school and had mutual friends so I followed his progress and prayed for him from my soul.

    The emails and texts Greg and Holly share in Please Stay remind me of the memories she collected. They are proof that thoughts and prayers mean something, even if they just make the people closest to the situation feel less alone.

    The aftermath of Holly’s aneurysm is nothing short of a miracle, but Greg is honest when he says life isn’t perfect. He is experiencing the less thought about side effects of anxiety and insomnia.

    I think I’ll say a little prayer for both of them tonight.

    Kristie

    If you want to join me for next week’s book review, I’ll be reading If I Should Die Tonight by C. C. Avram.

  • Welcome to Jerome

    Welcome to Jerome

    Today I feel like I have stepped out of whatever funk I was in last week. I am making plans and even went on a fall photo adventure with Hannah after acro class.

    Town sign as you enter Jerome

    Jerome, Michigan is an unincorporated municipality in Hillsdale County. It’s one of those blink and you’ll miss it places, but sometimes those are the best ones to explore. I mean look at the pop of fall color we found as we entered.

    We found the Jerome Post Office at the other end of town. It looks more like a bait shop/ camp store than a post office from the outside, but they seem to get the job done.

    The Jerome United Methodist Church is in the center of town. it looks like it belongs in an episode of Little House on the Prairie. At first I thought it was abandoned, but the board seems current, so I guess not.

    Our final stop this evening was to the Jerome Community Center. It used to be a public school, but closed years ago when the district merged with North Adams. There is a super cute park on the side that we will have to come back and play at another day.

    Thanks for wandering a small town with today. I hope you enjoyed the photos.

    Kristie

  • True detective: Seeing Things

    True detective: Seeing Things

    Today I am spending the day curled up and wallowing in the pain my body has chosen to inflict with this period from hell. 44 day long cycles are not a blessing. They come back with a vengeance that wakes you up at night begging for Motrin and your heating pad. I’m currently numbing my brain with the 2nd episode of True Detective, Seeing Things.

    Summary

    In this episode, the boss tells Hart and Cohle that they better get results on the Lange case or it will be reassigned to a task force. They follow leads to a sex worker village and an old church. We also find out about Hart’s mistress.

    My Observations

    In a flashback to 1995, Cohle and Hart visit Dora Lang’s mother to tell her about her daughter and interview her as well. She’s a bit of an odd duck with pieces of religious icons and pictures of hangings mixed into her hoarder house. I didn’t notice any photos of her daughter though. During the interview, Mrs Lange gets defensive when asked about her husband. “What have you heard. Why shouldn’t a father bathe is child?” Makes me wonder how old the child being bathed was and if she mentioned anything to friends in order to start the “rumors.” Of course Hart and Cohle don’t explore those questions because this isn’t SVU.

    Later in the episode, Hart and Cohle visit a bunny ranch trailer park where Dora had stayed at one point. I’m not sure if stayed or worked is the correct word for a mobile home brothel. They interview a young teen who was friends with her. Hart is greatly offended by her age. Both the madam and Cohle call him on his hypocritical bullshit. The madam points out that the only reason Hart is offended is because the girl has taken control of her body from the men in her life. And Hart is a massive control freak. He wants his wife to create a place of peace for him to come home to, and he wants his mistress to only be with him, even though he’s married. The Cohle asks if the money Hart gave the young prostitute, Beth, was a down payment, seeing as Hart’s sense of family includes “getting his head right” before going home. Pretty sure it just means getting head, but maybe I misunderstand PIG language.

    In the final scenes, Hart and Cohle discover an old burnt out church. If the fire happened a while ago, how had Dora been attending church there. Like how messed up is your life that you think a religious cult in a burnt out shell of a church is “getting your life together.” Cohle’s drug flashbacks seem to cause him to see birds flying in the exact formation of Dora’s tattoo. Then inside the sketch of her wearing antlers on the wall behind ivy confirms they’re in the right place.

    I swear each episode ends on a cliffhanger. It definitely makes me analyze what I saw and question what’s next.

  • Pandora’s Box of Music: Select Songs from Adele’s Album, 19

    Pandora’s Box of Music: Select Songs from Adele’s Album, 19

    This week I am still feeling rather introverted and stuck in my own head. It’s not a bad thing. I just like to look at things from multiple angles before making decisions or having discussions. When I get like this, I gravitate toward Soul music. This week it’s Adele.

    19, Adele’s debut album, has always been my favorite. It’s where the world was introduced to her husky voice and wide vocal range. For a while I played the album on repeat. Then my daughter had a high school choir concert where all the solos were Adele songs. Could have been fun, but sadly most of the singers did not due her justice. Sometimes, it’s better to listen to the artist or sing along at home. My favorites include:

    Chasing Pavements: This is the song of unrequited love. Most people think it’s about someone who doesn’t know you’re alive or is unattainable. In 2008, this song was about being married to a narcissist. I had loved him with my entire heart, but always felt like I was never enough. Trying to decide if I should stay and keep trying, or walk away for my own sanity is the memory I conjure when I sing this song. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come since then.

    Cold Shoulder: This is just a pretty song with a catchy tune.

    Right As Rain: This is my broken girl redemption song. This is the I’m done; there is no one someone who doesn’t deserve me is worming their way back in.

    Make You Feel My Love: This is a song of unconditional love, maybe for a lover or in my case for my children. No matter how old they grow, or how far they spread their wings, I will always be here. I will cheer them on and be the voice of reason for as long as I live.

    Tired: A marriage is never 50/50. Someone is always doing a little extra in order to help their partner out. I don’t see the point in keeping tabs on that in a healthy relationship, but if you’re exhausting yourself and don’t feel appreciated or like your partner would even be willing to put your needs first, it’s not worth it. You just end up tired and resentful.

    Hometown Glory: The is something special about the place where you grew up. Going back and seeing all the changes, force you to acknowledge the changes in yourself. The things you want to hold onto, and the memories can be glorious and heartbreaking at the same time.

    Well now that I’ve taken you all on a trip through my memories and the scars of my heart, I’ll bid you farewell.

    Kristie