Tag Archives: milestone

What’s your major?

Posted by Crystal on November 15, 2011 No comments

I’m going back to school. It’s been 50,000 years since I took a class. I’m not sure what mommy-brain has done to my ability to write essays and take exams. I’m a little scared.

Since I’m a full-time stay-at-home mommy of three young attention-grabbers, I’m going to start out light. I’ll probably only take one distance course in the spring semester. UAF is processing my admission deferment now, and I have an appointment with an academic advisor in a little over two weeks.

I majored in petroleum engineering once upon a time, 15 years ago, for about five minutes. At UAA, I was an English major, minoring in philosophy, and considering psychology as a secondary major. Then all manner of things happened, and my school days were over. The visions I had for myself then are vastly different than they are today. I have to take this into account when I look at the disciplinary concentrations offered by UAF, as I wonder what on earth I want to declare as my major.

I’m still completely drawn in by the idea of a dual degree in English and psychology. I’d love to have that as my foundation for the writing career of which I fantasize so often. The advent of ebooks combined with the decline in print media makes me question whether writing could ever be a profitable venture for me. So I ask myself, what else do I like to do?

I’ve looked at computer science/web design. I love anthropology, and as a child daydreamed of being an archaeologist on digs in exotic places, but that hardly seems like me now. I wanted to be a math major once, but even then didn’t know what I’d do with a math degree besides teach, which is something I have no interest in doing. Don’t get me wrong; I love teachers. I value the teachers I had so immensely, and consider many of them my friends today. I just know that teaching is not something I could do well, nor would I enjoy it.

How did you decide what to study?

Whoa.

Posted by Crystal on July 11, 2011 1 comment

Holy absentee blogger, Batman!

I’ve sort of been writing. Elsewhere. Stuff more for me and less for public consumption. I just haven’t been writing enough, which is likely why I feel… congested? emotionally. Time for a cathartic dump.

I’ve been exhausted, aching, and/or ill, for what seems like for.ev.er. I have depression/anxiety/panic issues, and fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain from an ancient injury. Those are all the basics that are with me on an almost daily basis. I’ve had in increase in migraines (complete with aura, awesome), a resurgence of insomnia, an uptick in panic attack intensity and frequency, and some unexplained diffuse lymphadenopathy which hit me like a freight train. And this has all just been my shit. Each of the kids has had their own (typical, uneventful, unremarkable, viral) illness, and John has had his fair share of ickies.

So through all this shit, a lot of things have taken a back burner. This blog was one. My spinning. My painting. My knitting too, on occasion. Reading, some writing, most frivolous/fun things.

I’ve spent more time primping and preening. I figure if I feel like absolute shit, I will at least look good. Hot, even.

I listen to more music than before. [Side note: each of the kids has a distinct musical preference. JR = bluegrass/jam bands, classic rock. Mia = '80s hair, metal, industrial. River = r&b and hip hop. These are usually incompatible genres, often leading to musical chaos and at least one disappointed child. Thank goodness for Pandora.]

I text more, play Words with Friends, nurse an ever-teething baby.

River’s not really a baby anymore. He’s 26+ lbs of adventure, charm, and mischief. He turned ONE YEAR OLD on July 3. My Itty Bitty Baby Boy is ONE. It’s amazing, and kind of heartbreaking. (He got cake. He loved it. He took his first steps just days before that.)

I’ve reconnected with some really great people. My friends and my music have really gotten me through some crappy times these last few months. Thank you.

My lymph nodes are all starting to calm down, finally. My spleen still hurts, but it too is on the mend. I have medication for the panic attacks and insomnia. Now that I’m getting at least 4 hours of sleep a night and am in less pain, I’m starting to feel like things are looking up.

Maybe I’ll get over this mental block I have about sharing certain things and y’all might see some more posts.

Pictures soon, promise!

New.

Posted by Crystal on January 1, 2011 No comments

(I’ll be back with 30 Days of Truth tomorrow-ish. Just wanted to note this. Workout: Complete, 20 minutes. 30 Day Shred 1, day 3 in.a.row! Liking the burn I’m feeling.)

My guys (John and JR) got a much-needed haircut by me tonight, followed by showery freshness. River practiced keeping his balance sitting up. John went to bed in hopes of chasing away his chest cold. Camilla fell asleep on the early side. JR, River, and I hung out in the living room before they decided to go to sleep before midnight.

I thought about mama, and how we would call each other at midnight each new year, just to check in with each other. I miss you, mama. I thought about new year’s eves of past, shook my head, and said a prayer of thanks for my life today. Sleep eluded me, so I came back out to the living room to do my workout as nearby fireworks rang in the new year.

New. New goals. New outlook. New habits. New hope. This year, I’m going to reveal a new me.

Happy New Year. May you find the newness you seek.

My boys

Posted by Crystal on December 28, 2010 No comments

are going to look exactly alike.

Here they both are, wearing the same exact Columbia fleece romper, almost 4 years apart. Click to enlarge.

River, December 26, 2010

JR, January 4, 2007

It’s about time! RT @maddow 65-31. It’s Dead. #DADT

Posted by Crystal on December 19, 2010 No comments

Thank you, Senate. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is dead.

I created this image below to celebrate this history. You can find it on numerous objects (t-shirts, stickers, mugs, etc.) in my CafePress shop. Wear with pride.