Life in Numbers

Posted on January 2, 2012 by TheJessicaness

One can be lonely, but another one can be great. Numbers are historical, revolutionary, superstitious, economical, meaningful, mathematical, scientific, and graph-able. Some are small and others large; some are round and others not; some tell time or count the days; numbers are used in many ways. I am one child born to two parents who ate three meals a day. My parents split and I met four new people when I was five.

I got the ‘how many days I have left’ idea from my Dad. I suppose I will want to live to be 90 years old; the equivalent of 32, 850 days. As of New Year’s Eve, I’ve already used 9,248 days. In those days I have learned about what my elders learned in their old age. I’ve learned about the death tolls of wars fought to save this country. I’ve learned about big debts and great depressions, but I’ve also learned of one person creating an idea.

An idea that would change the world. I’ve learned to enjoy the things that numbers have brought me, but not to fully appreciate them. To count something is to better understand it; to measure it and use it more efficiently. Examples are: minutes on your phone when you have a set limit; the cash in your wallet when you’re on a budget; and the limited days Americans are given for vacation.

I wish now that I had more numbers of my own, but I will appreciate what I do have and use this as motivation to do better. As of last year I had…I had lots of things. I thought about counting them, but I just realized that I still have too much. I would prefer that my numbers be in accomplishments; some being: 35,210 blog words, 8,068 pictures kept (345 posted online), and 2, 570 miles rode to school to get a 3.72 GPA.

Looking at these numbers – size does matter…sometimes. If I can live to be 90 then I have 23,600 days left. I plan to fill them with accomplished numbers. Instead of the one husband I can count all the things we do together. Instead of the two cameras I can count all the pictures we take together. Instead of the two energetic dogs I can count all the miles we cover together. As I go through this year I hope to get rid of things that will not help me increase my life numbers.

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I Welcome You

Posted on January 1, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Last year taught me that there is more to New Year’s Eve and other holidays than stuffing my face full of food and washing it all down with booze. I no longer follow others to gaze at a TV and watch as others enjoy themselves. I have started a new trend of traveling, reading, photography, cycling, playing with my dogs, and finding new and interesting ways to entertain ourselves; and I am loving this trend.

I love the sun and would stare at it for hours if my retina and camera lens would allow it. Yesterday we went for a morning run, took the dogs to the park in the afternoon, and rode our bikes in the evening. I brought my camera to watch the sunset when we realized we don’t have a good spot to watch. We played three games of bowling on base; all of which I lost. We visited some of the guys that were stuck at work and then made our way home. I would read for a while before calling it a night.

This morning came early, but almost not early enough. When I get excited about things I have trouble sleeping; that and Sparky likes talking back to fireworks. A 6:00am wake-up call should have us on the beach early enough. We get there at 6:50am just as the sky begins to get more colors than blue showing over the horizon. We get to see birds, squirrels, and one raccoon in their early morning routine. There are plenty of birds fishing, some dolphins playing, and one man runs by.

When asked what I would do with a million dollars; I would put it in a (few) high-interest savings accounts and become a nomad. I would see the sun from every elevation, from every earth style (woods, plains, desert, beach), and from every natural and man-made monument. I would look forward to experiencing this feeling every day. I love exploring the unknown and though I may not get to every corner of the globe this year I hope to get closer to the corners of my mind and the edge of my bodies limits.

I plan on pushing harder, running farther, riding slower, loving longer, photographing better, reading more, and continuing to learn more about myself to better help those around me. I want to progress out of the media norm, learn more about where people come from and where I’m headed. This life is a journey we all must take, no matter how many steps we’ve all been given, to the same destination. May I take a few more of my steps with others as we travel up and down this path together.

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Delve into Twelve

Posted on December 31, 2011 by TheJessicaness

My 2012 to-do list:

1. Ride my bicycle 3,000 miles

2. Read at least 24 books

3. Complete knitting project

4. Learn conversational Spanish

5. Run 100 miles with the dogs

6. Get SCUBA certified

7. Visit another country

8. Make a better list next year

9. Improve on skills I already have

10. Explore new places

11. Meet new faces

12. Enjoy life as it comes

13. Always plan for more; and leave room for less

Posted in Animals, Art, Camping, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Friends, People, Places, Things, Travel, Volunteer, Water | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Stuff my Dad Says

Posted on December 30, 2011 by TheJessicaness

I am not loonier than you aren’t.

Doing so much and learning even more is always a challenge.

Or maybe you are recovering from broken fingers – SO YOU CAN’T WRITE!

…but you know your Dad – don’t hold your breath!

Excuse 16. Because I’m John Wise.

February 1990

When do you leave for the Tortugas?

What is your school email address?

But a cactus I am not; time to be the rolling stone and get moving down the mountain.

As beautiful as it all is, it is not mine, I will not take a bit of it home.

Remember to get out there on center stage and live it up.

Time compression demands that we have convenience.
Time dilation allows us to find life’s luxuries.

What are you doing up so late?

That’s crazy…just because I’ll make my mom buy one
doesn’t mean my ex-wife has to buy one…

Weird how you and I are programmed that way.

Did you see the comment on your newest blog post?

March 2011

omg…you are making sense in ways I’d never considered…

How did you find yourself on this self delusional journey this day?
oh yeah….you were born from some of my genes

Long live the perpetual weekend.

Have fun and learn lots.

Tall sugar-free hazelnut soy latte – no foam.

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Love is…

Posted on December 29, 2011 by TheJessicaness

…morning-breath kisses
…cuddling on a cold night
…eating something you don’t like – yum!
…holding hands all the time
…trying something that scares you to death
…staying up tired – just to talk
…saying your spouse is your favorite color and smell
…rubbing sweaty feet
…buying chocolate – for good and bad days
…when quiet moments are enough
…letting a woman drive your car
…long letters and heavy boxes – while work keeps one away
…showing support for your spouses hobbies – hopefully not hoarding
…doing chores so your spouse doesn’t have to
…riding bikes in the rain
…when being dirty or clean are both sexy
…knowing everything else will be okay as long as you have each other
…making funny faces for photos together in public
…fake tattoos and steamy mirror messages
…getting lost together
…missing each other terribly when you’re apart
…puppies – need I say more
…sharing your food – even when your spouse wasn’t hungry
…rescuing dog food in the middle of the night from hungry raccoons
…fixing things so they last longer

...old photos

…also: crazy, awesome, sweet, loud, random, dorky, exhilarating, messy, embarrassing and hazardous but always fun when done together or for each other. This isn’t all of them obviously but these are a few of the things I think represent the love in my relationship. The most important one being putting up with me for all these years; I’m sure glad he has and still wants to.

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