1. Passing the securities exams I took this summer to become a financial advisor. These tests are a kick in the pants. Don't let anyone tell you differently. I spent countless hours this summer studying for these tests and was thoroughly convinced I was going to fail them. I was so convinced in fact that I was job searching the night before each test because I was sure I would not be able to continue down this path. Alas I passed and here I am.
2. Running a lifetime PR in my last 4x400 experience. I ran track for 10 years. Nothing is greater in track than a lifetime PR. I went out and ran that race with no goals or intentions. It was the last meet with all my teammates before the conference meet. It was the Wartburg Dual and I had nothing to lose. I chased some girl down and crushed it. Never mind the fact my last race the following week was not as good but the PR race meant more to me because of the people I ran with. It was four years of friendship that race all jammed into a 4 minute race.
3. Raising a puppy. Anyone that says having a dog isn't like having a real child is lying. A year and a half ago we got a puppy (<3 Little P). It is amazing how helpless she started and how much she can do now. Every skill she has we taught her. At the same time every skill she does not have is our fault. She is far from perfect (sorry to all the people she takes a running leap at and hits you right in the midsection...It's only people she vaguely recognizes). She's a work in progress but I never thought we could get her to the point of free reign of the house while we're at work based on how the first week went. I have no idea how we potty trained her. She used to take a 3 hour nap after walking from her potty spot to the garbage center at the apartment and now we can walk an hour and she's hardly tired.
4. Picking out a wine cork with a tweezers in France because I didn't have a wine opener. I went abroad for a month during my sophomore year of college. We went to a grocery store in France and I bought a bottle of wine. Being the inexperienced wine drinker I was (because I was only 20 in the US which doesn't allow me to buy alcohol) I did not think to look for a screw top cap. I bought a bottle with a wine cork. I was determined to open the damn bottle myself. I sat on the floor on my hotel room in France with my tweezers for a half an hour picked out the cork piece by piece. Naturally I had to drink the whole bottle in one night because the cork was destroyed. I think it is an excellent testament to my patience and creativity.
5. Successful photography career at Luther. My first photos at Luther weren't great. I can't even remember the first ones but I know they were not up to the standard I wanted to produce. By my senior year I was in a wonderful place with my photography: I knew my camera inside and out and could manipulate it in the dark. I knew it well enough to teach others how to use it. The image I am most proud of specifically is still used widely in college mailings and advertisements. I got up at 4:30am to photograph the Martin Luther statue on campus at sunrise (fun fact: trees block the sun from touching the statue until well after sunrise hours). In order for the morning to not be a complete bust I wandered around snapping pictures of other campus attractions. The bell at sunrise with not a soul around and dew glistening on the grass is my favorite photo of all time.
6. Starting a blog. This blog started as a small undertaking and a free hobby during a time when I didn't have a ton of funds. I had no idea how many people would read it, enjoy it, and appreciate it. Thanks, fan club!
7. Learning how to cook. I left college with very few cooking skills and have managed to develop some recipes I am proud of. I am even at the point I can offer minor cooking advice to others. This winter my brother is going to live with me for a two months and I am going to teach him all I know about cooking. Not that my knowledge is vast but I can offer great advice for beginners.
8. Planting and growing a garden. One time in the 10th grade I wrote my autobiography (the entire class did, this wasn't just a me thing). We had to list out goals (5 years, 10 years, 15 years, and general). I put grow a vegetable garden on my general goal list. Low and behold I planted a tomato and squash garden earlier this summer. I was up to my eyeballs in tomatoes and the squash was pretty tasty. I did not anticipate my level of success but I learned a lot about small scale agriculture and now have a group of garden ladies at church that provide free advice for growing a successful garden.
9. Running a half marathon. I ran my half marathon back in 2014. I trained pretty religiously for this. Around mile 8 of the race I was content to quit. I tried to find a pothole midcourse and try to roll an ankle to end the misery. There were ample choices on an old stretch of interstate in the Twin Cities but alas I kept running. I finished. I laid on the ground after and cried. A nice man handed me a medal and congratulated me. He then informed me I was in the way and needed to move. Except I couldn't so I kept laying there until my family came to get me.
10. Prime execution of my 90s mom Halloween costume senior year of college. My roommate Jesse and I were unsure of what to be for Halloween. Naturally we went to Goodwill in town and scoped out the secondhand clothes options. We stumbled upon turtlenecks and jumpers. Add in our tacky jewelry and big glasses and we looked just like our own moms shortly before we were born. We got many compliments. We underestimated how hot our costumes would be at the bar and how drenched in sweat our outfits would be (note: don't wear a turtleneck to the bar. Just don't.). The morning after our adventure out I picked up my turtleneck and it was skill soaked. I nearly threw up it was that bad. But nonetheless we had the perfect costumes.
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