Kristine Joy, Writer

To Whom It May Concern and FWIW,*

• I need for our 50 pound dog to not stubbornly stop to sniff at EVERY numbered site post when walking a loop in the campground when we passed 86 such site posts before returning to ours (which she also smelled despite the smell being her own).

• I stopped drinking alcohol a few years back. I need a sponsorship from Athletic Brewing Company so that I can continue being the best version of myself as an obsolete athlete AND drink NA beer without breaking the budget (ahem…$11.25 per hour Summer job).
  • Athletica Mexican-Style Copper is my favorite (in the event I actually receive a shipment from the company or you).

• I need more people to take the high road.
  • Nike is behind me 100% on this.
    • Just Do It

• I need for the sucker on our vacuum to not suck (and I mean that in a “to not be worthless” kind of way as opposed for it to “not suck” because the problem is that it doesn’t)!

• I need to not waste time thinking about sh!+ that isn’t going to change, nor am I actually going to do anything about.
  • Per Mel Robbins (thank you for your books, inspiration, help, desire to help, etc):
    • Let Them (I am)
    • Let Me (not waste my time because I don’t care enough to actually to do a darn thing)
  • Zac Brown Band seems appropriate here also:
    • Let It Go

You keep your heart above your head and your eyes wide open. So this world can’t find a way to leave you cold. And know you’re not the only ship out on the ocean. Save your strength for things that you can change. Forgive the ones you can’t. You gotta let it go.

– Zac Brown Band, Let It Go

• I need for my daughter and husband to subscribe to my website and/or want to read my “bemoanings” (I Need…) and/or poetry, but maybe not ask for the password to the K.J. Off the Record posts.
  • This IS a test; this is only a test.
    • A passing grade can be earned by telling me a part of the website that made you proud or laugh and/or by bringing me a slush from Parlor City in any of the following flavors or mixed combo of your choosing: Strawberry, Lime, Cherry, Grape, Orange.

• I need for college tennis and pro pickleball to actually abide by the honor system when it comes to line calls (see comment above about the high road).
  • Someone told me that I’d never guess the top 3 cheaters in pickleball (based on an actual study); I named them in order because I’ve personally experienced their degree of cheating in the same order.
  • And college tennis can be blatantly bad with coaches turning an eye (which often leads to “an eye for an eye” retaliation).

• I need for the logistics of coaching collegiate triathlon to be quite a bit simpler.
  • Disassemble bike and pack it uber securely in a bike box. Do this for for five more bikes. Transport (somehow) six bike boxes to the airport. Transport (somehow and limited by rental vehicle options) six bike boxes from the traveled to airport to the hotel. Assemble six bikes. Transport (somehow) unboxed bikes, without damaging any of the six derailleurs (or anything else), to the race site for pre race day practice. Transport bikes back to the hotel. Transport bikes to the race site for race day. Transport bikes from the race site back to the hotel. Disassemble six bikes and pack them, again, uber securely in bike boxes. Transport six bike boxes from the hotel to the airport. Transport six bike boxes from the home airport back to the college. Assemble six bikes. Store boxes for use for the next competition.
  • Additional equipment needs….
    • Wetsuits. Tri Suits. Goggles. Helmets. Tire Pump. Tools. Bike Shoes. Running Shoes. Water Bottles. Nutrition. Lubricant.
      • Yes, I need to buy lubricant on the regular and then turn the receipt(s) for lubricant(s) into my Athletic Director. #explainthistome

• I needed to meet my time goal in the Iowa Trail Run Series 10K that I ran with my friend. I was filled with elation when I got to the 10K point seconds under my objective. Unfortunately, objectively, this point was not also the finish line.
  • I needed for the advertised distance of 6.2 miles to be 6.2 miles instead of the actual distance of…wait for it…7.28 miles.
    • Since this race was the day before Easter, I need to ask, “Who layed this (l)eg(g)?”

I appreciate your readership. I need the validation as writer; if there is a like or heart icon for you to depress, I’d most appreciate the support!

Sincerely,

K.J. Sculling

* The content is presented as “needs”, and some of them may front a harsh reality that evoke strong emotions. Others are expressed in pure jest to entertain myself (and maybe you?!?). Ultimately, the notion that we all live in a more idyllic world is at the core and not actual need. Life can be tough; regardless of your own circumstances, please keep up the fight because life can also be grand! The idea of ‘I Need…’ stemmed from my thought process while sitting at a red light listening to the song, Alright by Darius Rucker, on the radio (you can read the original ‘Idealist’ post here and all ‘Idealist’ posts here). If you’re inspired to submit your own ‘Idealist’ “needs” for future reader write-in posts, I’d love to hear from you via this form.