Life's a Roller Coaster. Smile and Enjoy the Ride!: 2011

I started a new term at school today (officially my last before I graduate) and I'm in this course called "Leisure and Culture". It's required. Anyway, so I thought I would hate this class and find it super boring but after reading my lectures for the week, I have a whole new developing outlook on life. We have become this society of people who don't work to live, we live to work and work to spend. It's not okay to just have the necessities, we have to buy useless crap to prove that we have money. We buy houses that are too big, cars that we can't afford to keep up the maintenance on, and toys we never enjoy. What's even worse is that we don't buy these things outright, we use our credit to buy the things we can't afford. Then, after we buy these extravagant luxuries, we work overtime to make our monthly payments, many times neglecting other aspects of our lives including family, religion, friends, etc. And after we have been heavily medicated due to the backbreaking work we performed our entire lives, we die; leaving behind our beautiful items to family that never really knew who we were.

Now don't get me wrong, I am completely guilty of this too. It's sad to look at it from this perspective though. Honestly, how many people in today's world can say they spend more time with their families (quality time, not multitasking time) than they do with work (that includes housework)? Being a stay at home mom you would think I could say that, but no. Most of my time is spent doing housework and schoolwork to prepare for a future career that will ultimately lead to less time with my family. Back in the 40s, it was expected that working Americans would only be required to devote 20 hrs/wk, or six months/year to paid employment. Instead of working less, we work about the same but commutes are longer, and less vacation time is taken due to the fear of losing our jobs. Of anyone reading this, how many of you used up all of your vacation time last year on actual relaxing time away from work, not sickness or other pressing matters? Not us! J had a 4 day liberty pass (kind of like a coupon), and used it to work on the Jeep project that still remains in our garage (it's not even ours). We are a generation of workaholics, unable to separate ourselves from our jobs and responsibilities, rarely allowing ourselves time to kick back and recharge.

Being a workaholic causes problems in all facets of our lives including personal health, marriage, family, etc. Our country has ridiculous divorce rates, horrible health, and a rising generation of neglected children. I'm not saying this is completely due to our need to work so we can spend, but they have been correlated. What would it be like in your life if you took one day a month or a week a year to do absolutely nothing but devote yourself to your spouse and children? Many religions use Sunday's as that day every week, including mine. In our house, we spend Sunday's together and make sure we do not do anything that would require someone else to be away from their family (like shopping or eating out). I definitely plan on going a step further and try to stay off the computer on Sundays. With school it'll be hard. But what's the point in working if you can't appreciate the benefits that come from it?

Well, onto a new year full of new surprises and goals. I'm set to graduate in Summer 2011 so I have 2 1/2 terms left to get my BS in Natural Resources with a minor in Fisheries and Wildlife. I hope to get a job working in either renewable energy (specifically hydroelectric) or fish biology. After all the jobs I've had, these areas made me the happiest. I'm pretty sure I was a fish in a previous life. My sign is also a Pisces so that may also have something to do with it. I don't know. I start classes again today after a month break. I've got some crazy classes left to take but I'm excited for them. This term I have Atmospheric Sciences; Mineralogy, Energy, and Geological processes; Senior Decision Making (not so excited about this one); and a Watershed Management class. Should be fun!

I just started the Couch to 5k program and am on week 2. That means by March I should be able to run a 5k. Plenty of time for me to get my speed up by May so I don't look like a complete fool when I'm running with a bunch of divers! I'm also doing classes on base. Mondays is kickboxing, T- Spin, W- Drill (It's like PT for marines but on a lot easier scale) Th- Weight training. I'm determined to be back in my bikini (or at least a swimsuit) for Spring break/Summer. I've already lost all but 2 pounds from pre-prego and am back in my old clothes but I want to get better than that. My life changed 180 degrees last year so I need to follow suit with the rest of my life. I'm not just a frumpy housewife; I'm a mom, a wife, a student, and I am so proud of that! Time to show the world how proud I am of who I am!

Christmas was a lot of fun. Very relaxing and quiet (well, in comparison to other years). Here are a bunch of pictures from December.