You know what else 2009 is going to be about? Phone calls. I was previously anti-phone-calling, however I now see it as a potential positive. Phone calls. So, call me! I’ll try to actually chat! Or I might call you - be prepared!
With that, I’m off to call Katy.
“Life must be lived as play.”
—Plato
“ENTJs have difficulty following others unless those individuals demonstrate more competence than they themselves have. ENTJs are likely to commit to a career goal early, often in their teen years. They determine their overall goals and objectives and what it will take to accomplish them.”
HOLY SMOKES IT’S 2009. How did that happen? I had a very lovely New Year’s Eve consisting of sushi, Prosecco, cheese, wine, chess, weird shows, and my notsecret lover, my dear husband Jeff. (In case you can’t tell, I’m kind of way into calling him my husband, ha.) And so far my ass-kicking is pretty all-inclusive, so I’m proud of that. Tough workouts, getting shit done at work…of course, it’s only day two. But still.
So.
EVERYTHING IS GYMNASTICS. How can it not be??? At least once a day what I do in some way brings that to light, whether I realize it or not. This time years ago I would be so stressed and angry and angsty and crying, spending my weekends in Milwaukee in tears and sweat and blood and chalk, salty salty coppery dust. Maybe not that dramatic, but that’s how it felt to a 15-, 16-, 17-, 18-year-old me. HIGH DRAMA. But for all the drama, that was my high and the best place to be. I’m no longer not over it, if that makes sense; but I’ll still miss it always.
Now I’m just moving along in my ordinary way, but still these things pop up. I’m at it again: doing that which I like rather than that at which I could excel. Gymnastics?! I could have been much better at other things. I could have excelled at something, instead of muddling along as a gymnast; I could have spent my time elsewhere. But that would have been a lie. None of the other stuff mattered; all I wanted was gymnastics.
Here I am, muddling along as a designer. I could have been better at many other things; I could have spent my time elsewhere. “But why would you waste it all to be an artist?!” ENTJ silly silly. (And. It’s not fair to compare design to gymnastics like that, though; sure, I like what I do, but it’s just not the same kind of bug, and never will be. Let’s just be clear about that!) But here I am and here I’ll stay. For the times that feel stupid and wasted and failed, there’s always a time that isn’t, and that’s what you try to remember.
(Along with writingrelaxingasskickingmindfulnesspeacingout, I’m trying to be more confident in 2009, too. Right.)
How did I ever get to where I did in gymnastics? It was just by sticking around. Long after dozens of girls more talented than me had left for sweeter or saner pursuits, long after they’d found their prowess bloom elsewhere, I was still around, smart or no, silly or not. Last One Standing, more or less, Last Ones—Jenny and me. Whatever that means, but there we were.
I have at least 40 years of working ahead of me, and no one sticks around like my Dad did any longer, but I suspect some of this may hold true yet for me. It won’t be because I’m the best, or most talented, or putting in the time or weight or work; it’ll be because I’ve stuck around, and have yet to find anything better. We’ll see.
(As for writing more in 09….am I right or am I right? Thanks Mike for the inSPYration.)
“Serve Yourself / No one else can do for you like you / no one else fails like me / in my eyes I burn alive / no more words just you and I / high / in the sky”
—Starla Dear
5:24pm Diana:
most people do “best of 2008″ like what was released…
i’m self centered enough to just care about what’s new to ME
5:24pm Alexis:
HAHAHAHA
well that’s why we have blogs about OURSELVES
5:25 pm Diana:
RIGHT
—12/31/08
The Akerviks in Capri, 11/5/08
In the tumult of financial meltdowns, newsrooms and editors and blog posts and columnists declare 2008 to be a wash, and one most people would sooner forget. They look ahead to 09, happy to leave this year of failures and freefalls behind in the quest for something greater, and bemoan the unprecedented turmoil. Being the extremely, uncannily lucky person I am, for me, 2008 was none of these things, and instead was one hell of a banner year.
Needless to say, getting married has something to do with that.
The almost ridiculous levels of generosity, thoughtfulness, and care that the loved ones around us expressed for, during, leading up to, and after 11/1/08 still amazes me even now. I honestly have no idea what we did to deserve the wonderful people in our lives, but whatever the reason, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Our friends—from childhood dress-up partners-in-crime to college dorm- and class-mate cliques, from gradeschool/highschool loyalty gems to lake friends who were 5/7/10 and now are all grown up to our more recent, more local pals—and family—cousins, aunts, uncles, godparents, niece (!), grandparents—just outdid themselves in their support. And many, many thanks to our parents and Dave, Micah, Erik, Jenny, Stephie, Diana and Christie. It was a wonderful moment to have you up there with us.
And of course, the most important part: marrying my dear love Jeffrey Jason Akervik. It seems so simple and that’s all there is to it. I am a very lucky woman indeed.
Other random 2008 highlights:
-Fake-streaking with Kristin and Alyssa after the wedding. KLA together again!
-Being on the Amalfi coast (and Paris…and Venice…and Rome…and Firenze) with Jeff. Simply. Amazing.
-My niece Anna and the constant entertainment she provides
-2008, the year of BARACK OBAMA and SHAWN JOHNSON and NASTIA LIUKIN! Holy hell. Who knew that could all come to pass—unreal
-For almost the whole year, the peacefulness and security of our house and it becoming a home
-The TEA SHOWER! THANK YOU SISTERS!
-The out-of-control bachelorette party, games and limo and tutus and “private dancer” (not really) included (”Will you call Jeff and tell him I love him?” As if Jenny hadn’t done enough, she then complied with this request as well.)
-Jeff finding his current job, which is basically the perfect fit and a wonderful surprise; and me still having a good time at mine
-My INTERNET FRIENDS! As always…I am grateful!
-Thanksgiving/tournament with my extended family in Madison…30 people! Geez!
-Turning 27 - I am glad to be there, 3^3
-HEALTH, HAPPINESS / FAMILY, FRIENDS
What. A year.
In 2008, I did NOT go to San Fran; I did NOT give blood; and I did NOT learn to chill out (although I’m trying). And I did NOT write enough. I would like to ameliorate these things in 2009, and how!
I had thought 2009 was going to be the year I learned to kick back for some R&R more often, but it’s looking more and more like it’s gonna be all about Mindfulness and Kicking Ass.
The Mindfulness has to happen…I’m trying to be calmer, more grateful, more appreciative of the moment, etc. If you know me, you know that’s probably not possible, but hey, a lady can try. As a part of this, I’d like to learn to relax, or at least focusing on it, instead of ending every weekend feeling like I haven’t done enough. Who cares! It doesn’t matter what I Get Done! It’s about Living Life! Etc. We’ll see how that goes.
Of course, this contradicts the Kicking Ass part, but that’s a bit more specific and not overall-life-related. It’s not a bad thing necessarily; the outcome from these exercises has the potential to match the work in reward.
Or I’ll just say to hell with it and, as Diana would say “…CALM THE F&$# DOWN!” Yeah. I like it. Happy 2009, may you and your loves be warm, safe, and happy!
“Pregnant ladies attract more attention than a Porsche Boxster” -Steve “Yeah, and I suppose more than a toasted marshmallow, too.” -Barb.
A surprising amount of people have commented about our Christmas as newlyweds (”first Christmas as newlyweds” would be silly, as it’s our ONLY), so for my own sake I thought I should document it. Get ready, this could be boring, but remember, I’m trying to write more, regardless of what!
Our first married Christmas started right here at 5317 on Christmas Eve when we decorated cookies. Although it wasn’t necessary, making cookies/fudge just felt like something that had to happen, and since it was my first Christmas ‘away’ (I put that in quotes because we were indeed in Madison the 26th for our third Christmas, ha), it felt even more pertinent. We frostinged and sprinkled up a lot of angels, stars and trees and made a big mess. Fun.
We exchanged our gifts by our skinny tree in our house that’s perfectly cozy for Christmastime, and totally spoiled one another, whoops, in spite of a bad economy. We then packed up and headed down to Burnsville for Christmas #1 at Jack and Laureen’s. Jeff’s cousin Danny joined us there which was an excellent surprise, and Laureen cooked up a wonderful dish yet again. We hung around drinking beer and Old Fashioneds, eating cheese and then pasta, watched some of the crazy Christmas movie and opened gifts together. The end of the night came too quickly, because, though I may stray far away from it, the Catholic guilt still runs through my blood, and Christmas isn’t the same without a little church; we hit up the candlelight ‘midnight’ mass at Annunciation which was seriously beautiful and truly candle-lit. Annunciation is actually really, really nice, and I was happy to have Jeff there with me.
We woke up Christmas Day in our own home for the first time! It was very nice and super snowy out, which was lovely. We then headed out to Cottage Grove for a day with Sue, Greg, Kelsey, and Erik and Kim G. We had the typical Akervik Christmas morning breakfast, which was a complete food overload but so delightful, and then spent the afternoon opening stockings (LOVE stockings), gifts, sitting by the fire (that was definitely my highlight; so cozy), playing Indiana Jones Life (don’t ask) and fixing Sue’s computer. The day finished up with another enormous and tasty meal and lots and lots of Chianti. With the fire and tree and village, it was simply lovely, and everyone was so sweet about me being IN the family. Why yes I am!
“Boxing Day” as they say, we went down to Madison for Christmas #3, where my family had so graciously saved all of our Christmas Eve traditions and present-opening for us. On the way down we stopped at my grandparents and had a nice chat about the Culvers, the snow, and Game Informer. It was really nice and peaceful to spend time with them alone. Upon arriving in Madison, we found my mom and dad and Jenny had prepared a smashing spread of appetizer foods and Bloody Marys (the new drink of the year BTW), and we loaded up plates as the night rolled in and opened gifts. It was SO NICE to get to do that with them! We also played Apples to Apples which was completely amusing. The Saturday after we all worked out together (DORK ALERT) and had a fondue feast. In the evening we met up with my aunts Connie and Marsha and uncle Tom and Lisa for a good ol’ family beer-drinkin’ at Great Dane. CHIC NAILS! It was so good to see them all.
AND NOW 2009 is upon us, but that was our newlywed Christmas! Preeeety preeeety good :).
“If you bring forth what is within you, it will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, it will destroy you.”
—Gospel of Thomas, from Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult
“I promise to cherish this luck and love and you.”
Merry merry merry merry merry Christmas, holidays, season of light, Wednesday, whatever. In my life of undeserving luck and fortune, in my everlasting streak of good chance, 2008 pretty much expanded that exponentially, and I couldn’t be luckier. I could, however, be more grateful. So it’s all I can do to give thanks and remember that every moment I can.
In the meantime…off to warm up with my HUSBAND!
“Merry Christmas, may your New Year’s dreams come true / And this song of mine / in three quarter time / wishes you and yours / the same thing too!”
Wow. So I’ve been a terrible writer in the past 23947234 months and for that I apologize. I blame Facebook. And the wedding (not really). And life. And since the wedding and honeymoon I’ve felt like I can’t write until I write about those, and I haven’t. SOOOOOO I guess expect those to pop up sometime next week during my amazing ‘break’. That gives me freedom to chat about whatever I want, RIGHT NOW. HA.
Anyway. This weekend was a big birthday celebration for Jeff’s 31st. Made a lemon poppyseed bundt cake (obv. I am very proud of this) on Friday, had his mom and her fiance over for lunch on Saturday, meant to go out to Nami but instead picked up sushi so Jeff could watch his Gophers kick butt during dinner, and then hosted a pretty crazy party on Saturday night. 3 am! Pretty rare for us. But it was a great time. Today we did brunch with one of his buddies and then his pops and his wife came over to eat pizza/watch Vikes/eat cupcakes/hang out. Whew! Pretty fun though - we didn’t try to get anything accomplished really (other than vacuuming immediately after the party, ha).
So, In Conclusion: Happy 31st Birthday Jeff! I hope it was a “fabulous” one, among other things. Personally I’d say it was pretty swell.
I can’t believe Christmas is in 11 days. The past few months have been pretty surreal, and coming down from the wedding, which was 987x more spectacular than I imagined, and the honeymoon, which was just up to the amazingness level I’d expected, has really skewed time and thought. But not in bad ways, just…in ways. This whole year has been quite the shebang from beginning to end. January was pretty horrific, but everything else in my small world has pretty much blown me away. I’m incredibly lucky, as always. You know how the story goes.
Birthdays on Saturdays are the best. Another great thing about 2008.
Anyway. I’m seriously intending to be a better updater, if only because it’s pretty creepy/amazing to be able to read over the past 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE wow WTF. So, more for me than for an audience (my ‘audience’ of Diana, Christie, Michael and Steph. And Mom). I think that might help. I always feel like if I’m gonna take the time to write, it should be worthwhile, but that’s freakin’ lame. I’d like to call this new phase in my writing world “Inspired By Trike.”
All right. Enough! Time to read and hang out, if I can make myself not work. Ha!
Trike-like. Low blow. Rattle-free. Every month except January. Shay Bourne and Christmas wreaths and Bethlehem. Mumbai. Thailand. Trapped on the way up. Can you make it more yellow. Well more orange. Well still yellow. Yellow. Was that really all nine years ago? Yellow sweaters yellow paper lights admission bets. 31 on the 13th! 31?! Maybe you should replace that lint trap. Static. Clingon. Audience with the pope / gonna have to wait / how you gonna win / without within? Cough. Cold dust-filled brown gray desert. Arizona? Desert cough? Oregon? SF? St Louis? Boston? Madison. (Chicago in Feb…?) Less blog more twitter (but isn’t that over?). And the infinite… What kind of a yellow is that? Impossible shit storm. Our dear leader-elect of the Free World. All three names. Playoffs and crazy pictures with hats. First life. Pinatas and shrimp and cats. Too many planes. 65 degrees. Hot secretaries and cold alcohol. My Friend Frank. Freddie? Crazyface? BAM! Can that splat be more real. This Is. Your Brain Off Drugs.
—
Sorry about that. I’m hoping by writing whatever I want instead of what I meant to, I’ll start posting and stop abandoning. Vamos a ver. In the meantime, happy December, and happy almost-31 to my dear darling Jeffrey Jason. Ciao!
I have so many, many things to write up - you can probably guess - but I just wanted to say happy November and happy belated Thanksgiving. There’s a lot going on in this planet and I hope everyone’s OK.
No time to update. November quickly approaching. Soon we will have a new president, soon we will be in Italy, soon I will be a wife, soon it will be Halloween. (In what order again?) Terrific 27th (golden!) b-day, thanks to my JJs. I’m 27 now. Old enough, finally. September always tricks me. I think it’s my autumn version of July but then I remember, as we get there, that it’s October. Fingers crossed that’s the truth. Nevertheless. Economy crashing crashing crashing, could we be more irresponsible to be gallivanting across Italy and France for 14 days? But whatever. Wow, I didn’t know how to spell gallivant. As a spelling snob I am shocked. (PS, still can’t pronounce words.)
Too much going on. AAAH. Brain drain. Somehow I’ll get there. Good night!!!
Bad things are happening in this world. Bad things happen every day, Mom. NO. TURN ON YOUR TV. Sorry to be such a hippie but I think we should all just go home and be nice to each other. Everyone gathering in the KLA quad…everyone sitting and staring. What. Happened. What.
