For any of you who know me...you probably know exactly what city I am going to say...
CHARLOTTE!!!! The hub of NASCAR. The city where it all happens. My future home. I haven't had the chance to visit Charlotte yet, but I will, someday. If that day happens to be the day that I officially move there? Even better :) K
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In today's writing challenge, I am supposed to tackle 10 interesting facts about myself... so... here we go!
1: I used to be a dancer! I started taking dance lessons when I was three and it quickly became a big part of my life! I took ballet, tap, pom, jazz and a few other forms from a private studio, one of the best in the area. Taking dance lessons definitely shaped a big part of who I am today. I learned how to work with others. I learned that you have to work hard to accomplish something important. I danced with my studio until I hit high school, then it was off to the high school dance floor. 2: I don't drink pop. In seventh grade, A few friends and I decided to see who could go the longest without drinking pop. Needless to say, I think I won that challenge. I haven't had a glass of soda since that day and I believe I am better off for it! 3: I started working at the YMCA when I was 14. And I am still working for the Y today! I started teaching swim lessons at the Y because I was too young to lifeguard or work anywhere else in the building. Since, I have been a part of the Y in some capacity and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love everything that the Y stands for and believes in and I hope to be a part of the Y for many years. 4: I played three sports in high school. Volleyball, Tennis and Swimming. 5: I was highly involved in choir. Varsity choir, show choir, jazz choir, church choir, madrigal choir, you name it, I was probably in it! 6: I have a double-jointed thumb. I love to freak people out with it!!! 7: My all-time favorite movie is Mary Poppins. I believe I wore out a few VHS tapes as a kid because I watched it so much!!! It is still my favorite movie today. 8: My first concert was Kenny Chesney. I was in 6th grade and I went with my best friend and our moms! It was a great show and I still have the t-shirt! 9: I have been to New York City twice. I absolutely LOVE NYC!!!! I really hope to call the Big Apple my home one day. I love the people, the atmosphere, the culture and everything and I am in heaven every time I step off the plane. 10: I would love to work as a crime scene investigator. It is something I could really see myself doing but I don't think I am smart enough to actually be one. There you have it, 10 interesting facts about myself. Come back tomorrow to see what place I would love to live... but have never visited. Some of you may already know :) K Ugh... This is one I was not looking forward to writing about. I'd rather change this challenge and pick something different... but... here we go.
It's hard to admit that I am kind of a late bloomer. I didn't have my first kiss until college. I didn't have a serious boyfriend until college. It wasn't because I didn't have the opportunities or teenage boys that I was crushing on, I was more focused on school and really, the activities I was in. So I didn't really date anyone until college and in turn, my first real kiss was in front of my dorm room building. My school rents out the local movie theater every month and students can come and go to these new movies for free because, well, we are all broke college students! He and I hadn't been dating long and we decided to check out one of the movies that the school was offering for free. Taken 2 was our movie of choice and since we were both movie fanatics, it was a good pick! After the movie, he dropped me off at my building, walked me to the front doors, because it's 3am and he is a gentleman :)... and... SMOOCH!!!!!! ;) Come back tomorrow as I dish out the 10 most interesting facts about myself! K SNAKES!!!!!!!
So... if I didn't scare you away yet, let me tell you about my earliest memory. I don't know if this really counts as my earliest memory because I had to ask my mom but this is what she said... "you put snakes in your pocket." Well, I didn't actually put snakes in my pocket, my uncle and father and my cousins were the ones who put snakes in my coat pockets. My grandma lives on a farm of sorts where snakes were hard to escape. They were everywhere!!! When I was little, one of my family members would put snakes in my pocket and then stick one in my hand and send me on into Grandma's house. From what I've been told, it was a pretty hilarious site! Being around all of those snakes when I was young must have left a lasting impact because I still love snakes today. In fact, I would really love to have one as a pet!!! Now I am sure I have scared you off :) K *Check back tomorrow for Day 3 of the Writing Challenge where I tackle my first kiss. YIKES!!!!!! Oh my... where do I begin? There are so many problems with social media that it is hard to know where to start. BUT...there are also just as many great advantages too. So I guess that means that everything balances out. Right?
I am going to change this one a bit and give you three problems with social media along with two good things. Okay... here we go! 1: It's easy to become addicted. This is one I was guilty of not so long ago. It's easy to become so engrossed in Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Snapchat and all of the other social media sites that you lose track of the world around you. I admit, there are still times, like Thursday nights (it's Grey's Anatomy night!!!), where my fingers are tweeting up a storm. 2: Anyone can make a Twitter account. Social media allows individuals to create a unique view of themselves that might not be completely authentic. Twitter is a good example of this. Anyone can make a Twitter account...or really... a Facebook account too. How do you know the person you are talking to is really the person they claim to be? 3: It's easy to hide behind a screen. Bullying is a problem in schools all across the country and with social media sites, it has become easier for bullys to target their victims at home. Cyber bullying is a major deal. I am sure all of us have been the victim of a cyber bully at some point. Social media accounts makes it easier for people, some of whom may not speak up in person, to say what is on their mind, naughty and nice. Now for the good. 1: It's a promotional tool. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter make it easier for businesses, groups, celebrities, artists and professional athletes alike to promote their products and games. It also allows us, the fans, to get an inside look at their lives, a look we may not get to see otherwise. How many people are glued to their phones, sucked in to Twitter and Facebook on game day or when their favorite TV show is on (Grey's Anatomy!!!!)? I have met some awesome people through Twitter and Facebook just because we are all fans of professional motorsports. I may not have had the chance to meet them in person, but we still have that connection come race day. 2: Expressions. Social media helps individuals express themselves in many ways. From clever tweets to links to personal blogs and personal photography to artistic renditions, social media sites help us share our personal work that may not otherwise be seen by anyone other than ourselves. There you have it!!!! I will always be a fan of social media, at least for the foreseeable future. Besides... if it wasn't for social media... who else would I share my thoughts (like these here) with? :) K *Check back tomorrow for a look into my earliest memory :) Comment below and let me know your thoughts on problems with social media!!! I came across this writing challenge when a friend of mine posted it on Facebook and I IMMEDIATELY knew I had to do this! Reading through the daily challenges made me think of different points to talk about for each topic and I can't wait to dig in!!!
While most of the topics are interesting and intriguing, there are a few I want to change; add my own element to this. I thought about waiting and starting this November 1st... but I can't wait that long!!! So... tune in tomorrow for Day 1 of this Writing Challenge and I will give you... five problems with social media!!! K So... if you haven't noticed, I've really be slacking on this blogging thing lately.
I'm going to try and get better at this. Promise! Anyway... If you missed the big announcement back in August, I up and moved away from home. Not too far, this place is about a two-hour drive, but definitely farther than I have been. The Capital city of Nebraska where Husker Football is a Saturday religion (unless you're like me and hate football), and you can drive drive the longest straight main street in the world. Well, that is still being debated, but O Street is definitely close. If you want to read up on the historical O street: Click here! So, my time in Lincoln has been good but a struggle. I fell into my new Y home quickly, I guess it helped that I had so many years of experience at the Y back home. The Y here is very different than my Y back home. I catch myself saying "My Y" a lot when referring to the Y in South Sioux City but I guess that place will always be a part of my life. Back to the Y here being different. We actually have a strict dress code: black or khaki pants and a blue Y polo. Definitely something I've had to get used to but it makes picking out my outfit for work pretty easy! The Y here has been good. My coworkers are pretty awesome and our directors are fabulous! We are in an old building so just working there gives you a nice leg workout! Enough about the Y... lets talk about jobs. FINDING A FULL-TIME JOB IS HARD!!!! Impossibly hard. I don't know if it's because I am not a University grad or what it is, but it is beyond frustrating. Another thing that is beyond frustrating...is meeting new people. I came to Lincoln too late to join adult sports leagues or dance classes or clubs. I have been lucky enough to say that I have never been the "new kid" but I think this can qualify. One thing about living in Lincoln is that there are plenty of things to explore. We have a quilt museum and a roller blade museum. I haven't hit these up yet but they are definitely on my list! Just walking Downtown is an adventure in itself. We even have a store dedicated to licorice. Yep. Well, I think that is all I have for you. For now. Until next time, K This day has been looming for a while now, the day that I get to say goodbye to my friends and family at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA. It’s hard to sum up my time at the Y, I mean; I started there my freshman year of high school. To put that in perspective, I just graduated college with my degree in Communications. I guess you can say I’ve been at the Y a long time but in all honesty, it seems like just a few days.
My time at the Y has left me with so many memories and even more great friends. I want to start from the beginning, back where it all started; the pool. I was originally hired, at 14, to teach swimming lessons for our summer programs, something that we, and I, still do today. My very first job was spending my days in the water; teaching kids anywhere from the basics of floating, all the way to the more advanced strokes like breast and butterfly. I wish I knew how many kids and even adults I have taught throughout the years. Besides swim lessons, I have spend countless hours, high above the water, on top of the guard stand. I remember telling my mom, when she suggested that I become a lifeguard, that that was something that was never going to happen. I am glad this is one instance where she was right. Being a lifeguard has been a rewarding experience. It’s through my time carrying the big red tube that I have met some of the most amazing people. I have heard countless life stories, times of war and times of great success in the lives of our members. The smiles I see when they are talking about the kids and grandkids, or the excitement in their voice when they tell me about a memorable moment in their lives make coming to work easy and leaving them for good that much harder.
The members make the Y what it is, that has always been my opinion. They become more that just the people you see everyday, they become friends. It’s the members that I am going to miss the most. Besides the members, the kids that I interact with and teach always put a smile on my face. Whether it was swim lessons, sports or youth activities, my time with the kids has been a blast. It was here at the Y that I realized that teaching kids about sports is something that I want to continue to do. Seeing them learn to work together as a team to accomplish one goal is priceless. My time in the sports department has been more rewarding than I can put into words.
One reason that I have stayed at the Y for so long is because if the impact that the Y has on people’s lives, not only individuals, but families and the local community as well. I have made connections with so many local groups and organizations through my time at the Y that I truly don’t believe I could have done on my own.
I am not one for words, spoken words that is. It is hard for me to say out loud what I write on paper, or my screen in this case. I have been thinking about this for a long time, what I wanted to say on my last day. Thanking each and every person who has made my time at the Y special in some way would have made this into a book. I want to talk about my coworkers for a minute. Each and every one of them has had an impact on my life in some way. Some of my closest friends are among those who show up in Y Staff t-shirts. It was a coworker and friend who got me to listen to something other that country music, and even got me to a Pitbull concert (which is still one of the best concerts I have attended). It was that same friend who taught me the importance of dancing just because.
Most coworkers are just that, coworkers. They work in the same building, the go home at night just to repeat the process the next day. The Y is a different story. We don’t just spend time together at work, but outside of it as well. Many like to call us a Y Family, but that is really what we are, a family.
I guess what I am saying is, so long, see you later, until we meet again. I refuse to say goodbye, because I have already promised many members that I would come back and visit them again. One member told me yesterday that my presence in the pool has kept her coming back every day, that I have positively influenced her life. In all reality, it’s completely the opposite. It’s the members who have had a lasting impact on me and I am eternally grateful for that.
I know there are a lot of things I am forgetting to put in this post but maybe that just means I’ll have the chance to do another one late. Thank you everyone, members, guests and coworkers, for everything over the years. It’s been one heck of a ride. You got what it takes you can win
Today is your day to begin Don't give up here, don't you quit The moment is now, this is it I know that you can then you will Get to the top of the hill Part of the fun is the climb You just gotta make up your mind Music has always been a big part of my life. Even before I can actually remember listening and enjoying music, my parents say I always asked to listen to Rickey Van Shelton and Reba McEntire. As a young child, I had to have my radio on and turned to country in order to fall asleep. Music has been my comfort; my go-to. It has been there for me in ways that nothing or no one else could in times when I needed it the most. I remember sitting at my Grandma's dinner table, listening to the country greats, learning how to play poker and various other card games. When she passed away, that music was my comfort; my emotional release. And that still applies today. There has always been one artist who's music has inspired me, empowered me, and helped me realize that anything is possible. Her lyrics have touched me in ways that are hard to explain. Her music is the stuff I sing out loud in the car driving through town. Shania Twain has been a personal hero of mine for many years. I wore out multiple copies of "Come on Over" because I played them too many times. I distinctly remember asking my father to play "Honey I'm Home" whenever I rode in his truck. I watched her "UP! Live in Concert" special on TV repeatedly and had a poster hanging in my room. When she quit touring and quit producing new music, I was devastated. At the time, I didn't understand but now, I admire her even more. At 22, the only real experience I have had was the experience of death. Losing all of my grandparents before graduating high school was a devastating time in my life and music, her music, got me through it. I listened to Shania Twain, all of her songs (even her first self-titled CD) on repeat for months. The lyrics of love and happiness and powerful women were surprisingly soothing and comforting. When Shania Twain quit touring, I saw my dreams of seeing her perform live fall into a burning ring of fire. I was devastated. Then, the comeback. "Why Not? With Shania Twain" debuted on the OWN Network and I was glued to my TV. She released her song "Today is Your Day", which you will find a portion of above, and it became my new anthem. You've got what it takes, you can win. Today is your day to begin. Don't give up here, don't you quit. The moment is now, this is it. It's powerful lyrics remind us to never give up, that you have what it takes to make your dreams come true. Today IS your day and nothing at all will stand in your way of making your dreams come true if you never give up trying. When she announced her two-year Las Vegas run, I begged my parents to take me but in the end, it never happened. Shania Twain was performing again, she was making music, and that was all that mattered. The Rock This Country Tour was announced just a few weeks ago and I knew I had to go, no matter how far I had to travel. Des Moines, Iowa is only a few hours drive, and August 6, 2015 cannot come soon enough. My dream of seeing Shania Twain perform live is finally coming true and I get to share this experience with some of my closest friends. While I get to check one item off of my bucket list, I only wish I could tell her just how much her music has influenced me, inspired me and helped me through times in my life when nothing else could. Thank You Shania Twain, for helping me realize that today IS my day and that I'm not just a pretty face because Man, I feel like a woman. KC It's that time of year again. That time of year where everyone decides that they are going to make changes in their lives once the new year starts. There are those who want to live better lives. Those who want to lose weight and be healthier. Those who want to reconnect with lost relationships and countless other resolutions. Every year, I make resolutions, promises, to myself. Every year, I break those promises. Never have I shared those promises with anyone but this year I am determined to be different. This year, I am sharing my promises with you in hopes that you will help me stay accountable for my actions in 2015.
Now, the key to resolutions is to make them broad, yet specific enough that the end goal is clear. Your resolutions should have steps and small goals to help you reach the bigger objective. Maybe you don't know what those steps are just yet but that is okay! You can figure them out as you go along. As you make your list of New Years Resolutions, make a list of rewards as well. There is nothing more rewarding as getting a little present once you reach a goal or objective. It doesn't have to be anything big or even when you reach your major goal, but treating yourself when you accomplish something will help you stay on track and help you achieve your resolutions...or as I call them... promises. So, to get started, here are my 2015 promises to myslef 1: Live a healthy lifestyle. I know what you are thinking, this has to be the most popular one, right? While you may have a point, this is one that I have made to myself for many years but can't seem to keep. Even working in a fitness center, exercising regularly and eating right seems harder than ever. Maybe that's because I work in a fitness center... makes it harder to stay and workout after a shift. Anyway, back on track. A few weeks ago, I tried CrossFit for the first time and while it scared the hell out of me and made it so I couldn't walk for a week... I loved every minute of it. I have decided to join the CrossFit gym in 2015. Maybe by paying for a membership, I will be more inclined to go and also, it's away from my work and coworkers. CrossFit is intense and hard and reminds me of workouts for high school sports. I hope to not only make working out part of my daily routine, but I hope to see some results physically in the process as well. 2: Honesty. This one is a little harder to explain. Honesty has never been something that I excelled at, not only with others but with myself as well. One of my goals for 2015 is to be honest with myself and those around me. I have seen too many relationships and friendships ruined because of lies and hidden truths and I don't want that to become who I am. I need to remind myself to be honest...especially with myself and those I care about. 3: Read more. Read more books. Read more short stories. Read more newspapers. Just READ MORE! That's my promise. I love reading and I have stacks of books in my bedroom but lately, I find myself reluctant to read, always opting out for something less rewarding, like Netflix. Inside the pages of a book are great adventures just waiting to be discovered and I miss finding and taking on those adventures. There is nothing like opening a new book and learning about the characters and their life story and when you finish that last page, it's almost a feeling of sadness because you want the story to continue. My goal for 2015 is to find 12 new books by the end of the year that I found to be life-changing. Of course, I plan on reading more that one book a month, but finding 12 that really stand out will be a challenge, and one that I can't wait to take on. 4: Find my true self. I don't exactly know how to explain this one. The past few months, I have felt lost in what I really want to do with my life after college. Now that graduation is right around the corner... it's time to figure that out. I also need to find out who I am... away from this place that I have called home for 22 years. I want to travel and see the world and figure out who I am as an individual and I want to figure out where I belong. One thing I do know is that I don't belong here. This city is way too small...way too constricting. I need a city that is always changing and always evolving. I love being around lots of people and I love the thought of always having something new to check out or explore. Although this one might be hard to accomplish in a year, I hope to get a good start on it by time 2016 rolls around. 5: Learn A New Language. This is one that I put on Facebook tonight and one I really hope to stick to. I want to learn a new language, or two or three. Can I accomplish this in a year? Maybe. The most obvious language to learn has to be Spanish and while that seems practical and probably the most convenient... that isn't necessarily the only one I want to learn. As someone who has a large Greek heritage...hard to tell with my fair skin and blonde hair...I hope to learn Greek. Will I ever get to use it here in the states? Probably not very often, but it is still something I hope to learn. Another language that I want to try and tackle is Sign Language. It's an interesting language and something that has intrigued me for years. Those are five of my New Years Resolutions... or like I said above...promises. |
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June 2017
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