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Still Figuring It Out

10/15/2022

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In the past 12 months since my last blog post, I've been doing just that - figuring it all out. And what exactly is it that I've been figuring out? All of these things and MORE:
  • Completing an entire year of Grad Studies at Creighton University
  • Family summer travel to St. Petersburg, Florida - thankfully, before the latest hurricane attempted to disrupt what will forever be warm fuzzy memories of Treasure Island and Tampa Bay, complete with frolic, fun, and adventure
  • Continuing my technology career working as a Software Developer (in "hybrid form") with the Best Team in the Entire Universe at GALLUP, the Best Company for Which to Work
  • Becoming a glorified Empty Nester, and then not. To be continued with a happy ending.
And with that, I close this blog post with one of those aforementioned warm fuzzy memories, minus any hurricane activity:
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On Fire

12/4/2019

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via GIPHY

Lately, this is how I'm feeling about how things are going both on the home and work-fronts.

SO COMPLETELY KILLING IT.
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Sandia Crest Hike

9/1/2019

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Today was the first full day visiting my folks in New Mexico and we most certainly made the most of it as evidenced by this slideshow of the Sandia Crest hike Dad and I took on and conquered nicely. Weather? Perfect at @73 degrees even though we expected colder temps, bringing jackets just in case but ending up wearing them around our waists unnecessarily. Then after landing all of the perfect photo opportunities and feeling confident about our overall hike achievement, we finished off the afternoon in the best way possible by eating Gyoza, Sushi, and Bento boxes at Kyoto Sushi and Steak House, the best meal I've encountered in longer than I can remember and one that I hope to repeat again soon. So this whole hike through the Sandian Mountainside experience was not on my bucket list but entirely should have been. So in retrospect of it all? CHECK.
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Hike-Taking on the Fourth

7/6/2019

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Found this sweet flashback of hiking with family in Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, a rare moment made possible by my dear Dad who arranged this surprise family reunion. Hiking wasn't in the original plan but was a random afterthought since we were all there to surprise Mom on the celebration of their wedding anniversary. But being all antsy to get out and enjoy some New Mexico sightseeing, we found ourselves zipping up Sandia Mountain Peak via aerial tramway, then trekking up and around the mountains via the South Crest Trail and finally climbing up on top of Kiwanis Cabin, otherwise known as the Fred Flintstone House. The breathtaking view and feeling experienced while standing up there with Dad, nieces, son, & daughter was nothing less than stunningly unforgettable.

Repeat. Needed.
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Partied Up Like Nobody's Business

6/29/2019

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This photo collage is just a peek into all of the excitement I had partying it up on and around my actual birthday. Still coming down from all of the party goodness, I have to admit that shopping, food, and time with my people will never grow old, and neither will I.
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Father's Day 2019

6/15/2019

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This photo was taken July 26, 2013 just minutes after my step-dad legally adopted me as his daughter at the Sandoval County Courthouse in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Clearly by my genuine smile you can see this was one of the happiest times of my life, one which shall never be forgotten. And since my birth father died within months before this event, I continue to feel blessed knowing I have a physical "Dad" in this world.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.
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Half-Empty Nest

5/4/2019

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With tonight being the official move-OUT date of the oldest and move-BACK-IN date of the youngest, Half-Empty Nest is the new family status. So I'm calling this a SUCCESS on everyone's part and popping open a bottle of my favorite white wine in celebration of the aforementioned events, because after all of the laundry-doing and box-unpacking today, red wine will just give me a big headache and make me fall asleep before finishing tonight's Netflix repeat of Friends.

via GIPHY

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Moving Time - Let's Do This

4/28/2019

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By far, this week will be an epic one in the way of milestones with one peepster leaving the nest and another heading back into it, simultaneously. So I'm trying to stay light-hearted with thoughts of TV-watching in the "fort" created amidst all of the moving stuff piled up throughout the homestead, definitely not an easy task for certain neat freak types. *cough*

via GIPHY

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Seeing More Clearly

1/21/2019

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What better day to shop for new eyeglasses than on Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, the day upon which we celebrate the life, actions, and words of a leader who inspired all with visions of hope and unity. So in honor of MLK Day, the family and I took advantage of my newly acquired vision benefit by getting fitted with these swanky new glasses. And not only did I feel all excited about getting huge discounts, but I also felt special in having a paid holiday on which to celebrate and shop.

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."
— from "I Have A Dream" speech, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963
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Blue Apron-ing

1/13/2019

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Tonight the family and I concocted the Cheesy Black Bean and Chicken Enchiladas recipe via Blue Apron Shipment-of-the-Week, and it tasted much better than it looked. Our only advice for next time around?  More cilantro + sour cream mix in the enchilada stuffing.  Otherwise, tonight's meal was a great family team building moment and tasty dinner - although, being down one family member meant extra leftovers.  

​Not a bad deal, after all.
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    I am Brenda Swenson and sometimes I blog.

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