Happy Birthday Steven!
We had a lot of fun celebrating Steven’s birthday this weekend!
On Saturday night we went to HuHot and Cold Stone Creamery with Jen and Troy. It’s always so fun to catch up with them!
On Sunday (his birthday) we started the day with presents, then we flew to Janesville, WI for brunch, then we made homemade döner kebabs for dinner.
We’ve been craving vegan döner ever since having it in Germany in April. I’ve tried an American version in Seattle, and we both tried it in Chicago, and both were meh, so Steven decided to make it at home.
First he had to figure out the bread – I won’t get into the technicality of it but it’s a special thick but not dense bread. Something about the water/bread ratio? Who knows. I’m horrible in the kitchen (but will enthusiastically try whatever he makes me!).
Steven researched and combined two recipes and pretty much nailed it after three tries:
He also made homemade seitan, and we got a ton of ingredients (the crappy part of his birthday – grocery shopping) to make all the toppings (all vegan) – garlic sauce, hot sauce, sweet onion with some special spice, shredded lettuce, shredded red cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
They were delish and the closest to the real thing we’ve had! Obviously we need to go back to Germany (maybe Berlin?) to have more, but this is a good substitute until that happens.
This is such a perfect example of who Steven is – he sees a challenge, figures it out, and makes it happen. Like tackling this complicated bread so we could have homemade doner kebab! He’s like that in every arena of his life. Every day I feel lucky I have a partner who’s always up for a challenge and makes things happen.
And now for the sappy part (ha, no, that last paragraph was not it!)! This has been an incredible year for Steven, and while he’s too humble to brag, I’m not! He got his pilot’s license, grew his small business in amazing ways, and still balanced it all with taking a few trips and making time for us. I’m always proud of him and in awe of everything he accomplishes.
Happy Birthday, Steven!
Ha, did you think I was not going to share a few details from our flight? THINK AGAIN!
First of all, how lucky are we that the weather was nice enough on December 22nd to fly?! Woo hoo!
It was cold though, and things operate a bit differently when it’s cold.
But first I am going to detour from THAT thought so say things were also operating differently because the school moved kind of back to their old location and was on a different side of the airport. Which we only knew because Steven called the day before to add an hour to our flight. He specifically asked what to do and how to get the plane and got the response of “someone will be there.” Let’s just say it took us a while to find that someone. It’s a good thing we added that extra time!
Okay, back to business.
Once we got to the plane I was excited to discover we got to do preflight in the heated hangar!!! Since it’s so cold out, all the planes stay inside unless they are being used. It was my first time experiencing this and me likey. If the plane had been outside, we would have done some of the typical engine off preflight checklist later (flaps and lights) after the plane had warmed up AND I WAS SO READY TO REMIND STEVEN OF THIS AND PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR REMEMBERING but I didn’t need to. I’d say “next time” but it was lovely to preflight in the hangar so I’m good if I never get to do that reminder.
I also learned while cleaning the window to always clean in the direction of the wind, not in circles. If you clean in circles and the window gets scratched, the way light refracts makes the scratches more noticeable than if you clean with the wind in straight lines. Good to know!
So our plan was to fly to Janesville and have brunch at Bessie’s Diner, an on airport restaurant. I knew they didn’t have any vegan options spelled out, but figured I’d order hashbrowns or toast or something.
The clouds were high and it was a beautiful moody day:
It was my first time seeing patches of snow on a flight!
Our flight there was uneventful. We did have someone on our same path headed straight for us out of Janesville, but everyone followed the rules – we both went to the right and they maintained their lower altitude and we stayed at our higher one. I love it when everyone behaves.
I was very proud of myself when Steven was getting into the pattern at Janesville and asked me what his final (final is the last part of the pattern before landing) altitude was and I told him “13” without missing a beat. I AM TRYING SO HARD TO BE A GOOD UNOFFICIAL COPILOT.
Anyway.
It took us a bit to figure out HOW to get to the restaurant, cause we are us, but then we got in, and…
Santa was there and they had a fixed buffet menu! So Steven ate and I didn’t want to pay $25 for potatoes and fruit so I just chatted with him knowing I would eat my fig bar back in the plane (yes this bit me in butt later and I had a meltdown after grocery shopping that I tried to keep to myself since it was Steven’s birthday and he already deals with me melting down over something every day).
It was a cute little restaurant and I was excited to check out someplace new!
I talked to Santa and told him what I wanted for Christmas. For a sign claiming he “flew in there” he did not seem amused when I told him I wanted a plane. No matter. Ha.
So was it the stopping to talk to Santa or Steven talking to another pilot on the ramp that made us run a bit later for our 12:30 return? We’ll never know but thankfully we had a tailwind, and Steven came in hot at Waukegan and we were on the ramp just a few minutes late! And no one was waiting for us, so alllllll good. I can’t wait for our next flight!
4 for 2024: Manis
Really reaching, right? Ha! But here are my four fave manicures from the year!
I’ve been going to my wonderful nail tech, Lorena, since 2018, and we’ve become good friends over the years. She’s actually the friend I see in person the most – we spend two hours together every other week, chatting the entire time. She even goes to my gym! Lorena is amazing.
Anyway, Lorena did all these manis!
1️⃣ Alternating Hearts
2️⃣ Pink Textured Flowers
3️⃣ Purple Leopard
4️⃣ Pink Holiday
Honorable Mention:
Okay, I love the one I just got. In case you didn’t see it in Friday’s post!
And this is the one I got the most compliments on. Oddly, it’s always the simple ones that get the most compliments!
Having my fingernails painted brings me a lot of joy (and keeps me from chewing them and picking at my cuticles). I’m grateful it’s something I can afford and fit into my schedule.
Reading Update (2024 #79-81)
[79] Variation by Rebecca Yarros
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, because I love this author, Kindle
Synopsis: Allie is a renowned ballerina sidelined by an injury, and Hudson is a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard. Their paths first crossed in high school when Hudson saved Allie and her sister from a sinking canoe. Eleven years later, they’re no longer in touch, but fate brings them back together for the summer when Allie returns to Hudson’s hometown to recover from her injury.
Review: Well, that recap made the book sound a little dull, and honestly? It kind of was. While the writing is solid, the story felt underwhelming. There was no spark between the characters, and the big reveal about that summer – the reason they stopped speaking -doesn’t come until the very end and didn’t feel worth the buildup. I’m not usually a big fan of second-chance romances, and this one obviously didn’t change my mind.
There’s also a subplot about the parentage of Hudson’s adopted niece that was confusing and resolved in a way I couldn’t quite follow. Add to that a lot of ballet talk that went over my head, and it just didn’t click for me. I was so excited to read this when I remembered it had come out, but in the end, it was just… meh.
ALSO, Yarros mentioned Smartwater specifically three times and her characters getting water out of the fridge OFTEN. What is with her bottled water from the fridge obsession?
Recommend? Sadly, no
[80] Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, saw in “Available Now” on Libby, audio
Synopsis: Stella’s Christmas tree farm has been hit with a string of bad luck, and she’s struggling to keep it afloat. In a last-ditch effort to save the farm, she enters a competition hosted by a social media influencer, hoping to win the $100K grand prize. There’s just one problem – she lies on the application, claiming that she owns the farm with her boyfriend. The catch? Her best friend Luca isn’t her boyfriend at all. Enter the fake dating trope.
Review: Although this book has Hallmark movie vibes, it’s wasn’t that cheesy, which surprised me! That said, it’s slow-moving and dull. The influencer doesn’t even show up until the last 30% of the book. And (spoiler!) we have the classic “I thought we were just pretending and didn’t really love each other, even though we’ve been friends forever” dark moment, and… I think I need a break from that trope. And I loved the narrator for Stella’s voice but the way she voiced men was cringe. I wonder if I would have liked this better on my Kindle, but I also think I would have been too bored to finish it.
Recommend? No
[81] Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh
Fiction / Romance / Holiday, saw on Amazon ad, Kindle
Synopsis: Molly and Andrew have become friends over the years, taking the same flight from Chicago to their home country of Ireland every Christmas. This marks their 10th year in a row, but a snowstorm throws their plans into chaos. As they navigate the challenges of getting home, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks something more between them.
Review: Similarly to the last book, this was not overly cheesy, it just didn’t have a spark that kept me engaged. At least in this one, they were honest about their feelings for each other and the “dark moment” was something else! But overall, not doing it for me.
Recommend? No
A realization
Ha, so, ALL of these books were friends to lovers trope (with the first being second chance as well) and it’s very clear to me now I should avoid that trope for a bit!
Make sure you avoid trauma
I saw my vascular doctor* for my annual appointment yesterday. First things first – he told me everything looks great and to keep doing what I’m doing. Good news. It’s been nice to be in a place where I’m getting consistent INR* readings and my meds have been the same for months. MY PHARMACY EVEN FILLED THEM CORRECTLY LAST TIME. What a wonderful surprise that was. I AM SO SICK OF ADULTING, and doing things like harassing my pharmacy to fill my prescription appropriately.
ANYWAY.
When the doctor was leaving the exam room he said “make sure you avoid trauma.”
And me, being a smartass, said “emotional trauma?” even though I absolutely knew he meant physical trauma (because of the blood thinners).
But then we actually had a nice conversation about the importance of therapy and building a toolkit to handle our emotions/feelings/etc., because even though we think we have control of our bodies, we really don’t. OH I KNOW.
Like I said, actually a nice conversation to end it on. I had no idea my doctor was so pro therapy.
[Side note: I’ve been thisclose from losing my s word for a couple weeks and went to schedule a therapy appointment but of course my therapist has taken time off for the holidays. Good for them! I’ll just try this.]
There were also some interesting detours in my visit, like him venting to me about the medical network spending money on medical system upgrades and not on patients… and I was wondering how much of that commentary was spurred by the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder.
He also went on a tangent about how disorganized the VA is, but that is my fault because I told him I work for the federal government and he mentioned he has friends who work for VA and I asked about it – specifically that.
And finally, for my records, we discussed brain bleed vs blood clot strokes and the signs to look out for. Basically reassuring me that my struggle to find words is not me having a stroke but probably me just being stressed. Phew.
*I have Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), a condition where your immune system mistakenly creates antibodies that make your blood more prone to clotting. Fun, right? I manage it by taking blood thinners and regularly getting my International Normalized Ratio (INR) checked to monitor my blood’s clotting speed and adjust my medication accordingly.
This is the whinier part of the post so proceed with caution. I will end it on a positive/grateful, I promise! But speaking of being sick of adulting…
My car has over 100K miles on it and I’ve been paying (closer) attention to how it’s driving because the timing chain and brakes are about to go to shit.
So I’m leaving for said appointment yesterday (over 40 miles away) and my car feels noticeably wobbly under my feet at low speeds. I text Steven to tell him, asking if he noticed when he drove it to get pizza the night before. He says no, but he wasn’t driving slow. Ha. He says we’ll drive it over the weekend and check it out. Perfect.
And I’m thinking, should I take the four-lane 70+ mph highway to my appointment or the two-lane 55 mph but people drive 70 mph highway to my appointment? I’m thinking if I break down I want to be on the two-lane one.
I take the four-lane one.
And don’t worry, I didn’t break down. Not even sure why I’m including all that.
So I get to my appointment, leave it and drive to another city where I do a UPS dropoff, get food, do a Kohl pickup, try to buy eggs for Steven, get hugeass tortillas at a grocery store, and stop at Tarjay where I have a HORRIBLE time trying to buy Starbucks giftcards (never again, I will remember this time! get them at a regular store), then finally go to my nail appointment where I get the most adorable mani:
We’ve taken such a detour on this story. Welcome to my brain.
It starts snowing while I’m at my mani. People are driving home much slower than they need to, but whatever. I’m listening to an audiobook and so happy to be on my way home.
I almost slide past our driveway (oops!) but make it and finally pull into the garage. I park and turn the car off and hear a strange hissing noise.
I open my door to listen better and wonder if Steven had the air compressor in Dragonstone (our other garage) on for some reason and accidentally left it on?
Then it dawns on me.
That sounds like a tire.
Mother effer.
JUST WHHHHHHHHHHHY.
So over it.
Sigh.
I feel so bad telling Steven about all my problems. He has so much going on at work and in our personal lives and every other day I am like “can you do this?” “can you fix that?” “can you look at this?”
TO MY CREDIT I try to troubleshoot and fix some things. But as I told Steven last night when we were talking about when we’d put the spare on and he asked if I was going to try on my own (because I was making it sound like it) – “I have a vagina and I don’t want to.”
Ha.
So he said, “let’s do our chores and change it!”
So we did.
He did.
It looks like a previous patch was no longer… patching?
SO I AM SPENDING MY MORNING AT THE TIRE PLACE! That’s why I have so much time to write this long-ass story cause I’ve been here for an hour and they haven’t made it to my car yet.
Okay, I promised I would end on a brightside. A few things:
- Thank f*ck that didn’t blow on the highway. GAWD. I probably would have totalled my car with the amount of traffic out yesterday. And I’ve totalled my car on the highway here before. Let’s not repeat that EVER. The garage was the perfect place for it to happen.
- When I got into the spare tire compartment I found something I’d been looking for since last summer. No idea how it got there but now I know where it is!
- I have the day off and can sit at the tire place ALL DAMN DAY.
- And finally, I’m so grateful Steven takes care of so much for us/me. At work this week, I was telling some coworkers how great he is and how he figures out and fixes everything for us/me, and they asked if Steven can do that for them too. Ha.
If you made it this far (and I really hope you didn’t, don’t you have something better to do?), thanks for reading my whiny rant about an ordinary thing that happens to people all the time and isn’t a big deal but just kind of feels like the last small thing that is threatening my sanity.
I do feel better writing it all out. So thank you!
Random Thoughts Thursday 478
- We had a cute new cat visitor this weekend. Snow Jr is being a jerk and scaring them away. Probably for the better and that’s how nature is, etc. etc. but it’s hard to see/hear.
- Look at this fun necklace Carrie W sent me! It says “be kind” on top then if you pull that up it says “…of a badass.” I had been looking at these types of necklaces and hadn’t mentioned it to her at all, and it just showed up at the house! I love it!
- Have crewneck sweatshirts been making a comeback? Or have I just fallen in love with them over the past few years? I used to be a hoodie sweatshirt girl but I’ve just been digging the crewnecks!
- Ha, just another reminder to fact check ChatGPT. I was asking it to help me summarize some of my flying blog posts for lessons learned and it came back with “Lesson Learned: Prepare for the unexpected, like how the door popped open during takeoff, and have a plan to stay calm and address issues safely.” THAT NEVER HAPPENED and hopefully NEVER WILL. We thoroughly check the doors EVERY flight.
- And another reminder – it’s really never appropriate to comment on people’s weight gain or loss. I know someone who lost weight unintentionally due to health issues and they’re getting lots of compliments on it. They’re actually trying to gain the weight back.
- And now for the whiny stuff – I’ve complained about this before but WHY WHY WHY does Google contacts delete birthdays? Like, a contact’s birthday will legit go missing from their contact card, and therefore, from my calendar, which I use to plan for birthdays. So I get to the end of December and realize I haven’t planned anything for Lindsey’s birthday because it’s *POOF* gone. And every time I try to google this it just comes up with ways to turn my birthday calendar back on. Thanks, but I know that. HOW CAN I STOP CONTACTS FROM EDITING ITSELF?! (What I do is make a recurring calendar appointment for their birthday along with having it on the birthday calendar so it’s doubled up.)
- I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed and uncommunicative lately. I find myself not sharing information just so I won’t have to follow up on it or answer questions. Not healthy. I should add – this is for digital communication only. I’m mostly fine if it’s in person.
- I was about to hit publish then saw a note on here for “lady hurt PO Monday.” I wasn’t sure if I was going to share that, but whoa, when I got to the post office Monday to drop off packages this woman had just fallen and smacked her head and there was A LOT of blood (she was on blood thinners, and I was like YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE A SCAN TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T HAVE A BRAIN BLEED – and that was the second thing the EMTs talked to her about after they arrived). Poor thing. I stayed to help as much as I could, and heard from the postal worker that night that the lady was back home and okay.
4 for 2024: Books
I decided to make 4 for 2024 into a series! You’re welcome!
Here are my top 4 books of 2024 – the ones I couldn’t put down, still think about, or find myself recommending over and over!
1️⃣ In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
Unputdownable romance
Izzy and Nate’s lives become forever linked after surviving a plane crash together. Though circumstances pull them apart, their paths cross over the years – including where the story begins, 10 years after the crash, in Afghanistan
The alternating timeline and chemistry between Izzy and Nate had me completely hooked. I finished this book in under a day, couldn’t put it down, and have recommended it many times this year. I will continue to put this one in as my suggestion at book club!
[Original review here]
2️⃣ The Women by Kristin Hannah
Historical Fiction I can’t stop thinking about
Frankie joins the army as a nurse to serve in Vietnam, where her life is profoundly shaped by her experiences, the bonds she forms, and the struggles she faces after returning home.
This book is heartbreakingly sad but left me with so much to think about – especially around the ‘don’t talk about it, just get over it‘ mindset and the strength of friendship. It also taught me a lot about the Vietnam War, making it both an emotional and enlightening read.
[Original review here]
3️⃣ Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Romantasy that will make you feel all the feels on Graphic Audio
Against all odds, Violet is determined to become a dragon rider and make her mother – the commanding general of the army – proud. She’s set on bonding with a dragon and surviving both the grueling training and the people who want her dead because of her mother’s position. Chief among them is Xaden Riorson, her wingleader and a son of the separatists – a group harshly judged for their rebellion.
This year, I discovered Graphic Audio – immersive audiobooks with a full cast and sound effects (thanks, Snis!) – and it completely changed how I experience stories. Listening to this action-packed, gripping book in that format made me feel all the feels. I can’t recommend this series enough on Graphic Audio!
[Original review here]
4️⃣ Falling by T.J. Newman
Addicting thriller
A pilot on a commercial flight from LA to NYC is faced with an unthinkable ultimatum: crash the plane, or his entire family will be killed. The story alternates between the tense events aboard the plane and his family’s fight for survival on the ground.
This is an incredibly high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat thriller. It starts off intense and never lets up. While I found some of the violent scenes involving the pilot’s family difficult to read, I was still captivated for the entire book.
[Original review here]
I had such a hard time choosing my final pick that I’m going to cheat a little and include an honorable mention!
Honorable Mention: To the Gorge: Running, Grief, and Resilience & 460 Miles on the Pacific Crest Trail by Emily Halnon
Touching memoir
This book follows Halnon as she runs the entire Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail in honor of her late mother. Along the way, she shares her journey through grief in a deeply human and touching way. It’s a beautifully heartfelt story that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
[Original review here]
The sun!
We’re thick into the season of “when was the last time I saw the sun?” where we live. Steven and I celebrate every sun appearance by exchanging texts like “I saw the sun!,” “the sun is out here,” and my personal favorite: “the sun!”
Sometimes, a photo accompanies the text, like this one I sent him today from my run. Thank you, little hole in the clouds, for giving me a peek.
I see you! Tee hee. What a fun game we’re playing.
Here’s a fact I remind myself of every time I start to feel annoyed we’ve gone so many days without sunshine in the fall/winter – clouds trap heat like a blanket, and keep it warmer than a clear blue sky would in the winter (from NASA). So… thanks?
If we could keep those clouds above 3,000 feet AGL (above ground level) with 5 miles of visibility (the minimum requirements for visual flight rules), even better!
Look at that. I found a way to make it about flying. Good work (?), Kim. We are also thick into the season of “most flights are canceled due to weather,” womp womp. That, paired with needing to find a new instructor after Josh left (cry!) last winter caused some major delays for Steven. <— this is me cutting myself of from rehashing all the delays Steven had in getting his license. Good work, Kim! But I will upload some cool cloud photos from flying cause why not.
4 for 2024
It’s kind of early to be writing 2024 recaps – there are still 16 days left in the year! Anything could happen!
But it’s my blog and I do what I want! Muah ha ha.
So here’s my top 4 memories from 2024 so far:
1️⃣ Our Europe Trip
In April, we visited the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium and spent time with Anita, Katja, Dunja, and Amy. This trip was an early 40th birthday present to myself, from myself, and it was absolutely wonderful! It feels like it happened so long ago now. We really miss our European friends!
2️⃣ The Colfax Denver Marathon
I keep forgetting I ran a marathon this year – what an experience that was, ha. I’m so grateful for my amazing friends who helped me cross the finish line and for Steven and my friends cheering me on.
3️⃣ Turning 40
I celebrated this milestone birthday surrounded by family and friends, and it was everything I could have hoped for (minus getting a cold then giving it to everyone else, ugh).
4️⃣ Steven’s Private Pilot License
I’m so proud of Steven for getting his private pilot license in August, and the adventures we’ve had since then have been amazing and unforgettable. I love being his unofficial copilot so much.
UGN to skyline, UGN to 58C, UGN to C59
UGN to BUU, UGN to 0N0, 4M1 to M09
UGN to RYV, UGN to RYV, UGN to practice area
After I wrote about picking my word for 2025 at class earlier this week, I remembered my snis picked out three words for me on January 1: calm, adventure, and healing. When I revisited that post, I also recalled my one goal for 2024: don’t rush around so much. More to come on that! If I remember.
Wardrobe Wins
What’s the most complimented thing you wear?
For me, it’s this Columbia jacket. People love it! Val originally picked it up for me as a running jacket (she and Tiff have the same one, so we’re triplets!). But when I realized how cute and cozy it was, I immediately thought, “No way am I stinking this up on a run!” Ha. Now, it’s my go-to jacket for running errands.
And I just got this AMAZING shirt from Stephany yesterday but can already tell it’s going to be a hit. I got MANY comments on it at the gym this morning. Thank you Stephany (and for the rest of the package)!
Random Thoughts Thursday 477
- Khali had her teeth cleaned Tuesday, and the vet had to do one extraction. Khali was quiet when I picked her up and the vet said she might not have any appetite for 24 hours, but as soon as we got home, she started meowing and lead me straight to her food. And she was all up in my business at dinner. So… she’s been acting pretty normal! (Phew, I’m always nervous when they go under anesthesia.)
- Khali’s teeth cleaning was expensive, but the vet had been recommending it for two years and it needed to happen. I was telling Steven this and how I wished I could girl math it, and he was like “well it was basically free because you saved all that money by not doing it for two years.” FOLKS, that is some ADVANCED girl math. Applause! Ha. I laughed so much when he said that.
- My 16 year work anniversary was on the 8th! Awww.
- Speaking of work, last week someone described my job as “the complaint line.” I’m not happy with how accurate that is. The good news is, I’ve been in this position long enough I can tell when something’s urgent and important, and when it’s… not as urgent and important. I’ve been able to compartmentalize my stress about it to during working hours (by almost never thinking or talking about work off hours), and I have a really good team and the resources I need to connect people to the correct folks to help them out.
- All that being said, I very much enjoyed this sangria after a bonkers work day yesterday. WHY ISN’T EVERYONE OFF FOR THE HOLIDAYS YET.
- Speaking of the holidays, I kind of forgot I usually put fake garland on our mailbox. That’s definitely not happening today – it’s like 3F right now.
- I did something a bit different with my mani – I got almond shaped nails instead of squoval! Val had that shape in Seattle and it made me curious how it would look on me. The funny part is I texted her “My friend Val got almond shaped nails so then I did,” with this pic, then she sent me a pic of her mani with “my friend Kim got squoval shaped nails so I did.” Ha! We switched. Anyway, this mani is so hella cute, I love it. Definitely a fave of the year!
Hi! I’m Kim, a 40-something-year-old living in northeastern Illinois with my husband Steven, and our cats, Khaleesi, Apollo, Starbuck, and Eddard aka Ned. My current main hobbies are running, painting rocks, flying, reading, and eating. I follow a vegan lifestyle and am employed by the federal government. I write about a variety of topics and consider this a “life” blog – a place I can share anything that’s on my mind. Please visit the “About” page to get a better idea of who I am! 🙂
