Kristine Joy, Writer

• I needed to listen to fellow PK Paddle Battle contestant, Sheldon Kolawole, on the Sports Will Save Us All podcast because though I only had Sheldon in my life for a week, I miss him in my life.
  • And I can attest to the fact that he is someone that “picks people up when they are down and supports them when they are up.”
  • And I didn’t know that we share a love for video games. Seems Season 2 needs a gaming console in the player’s lounge! 🎮

If you have 2 hours of podcast time to fill, you NEED to see ⬆️ and ⬇️.

I had previously listened to and enjoyed the Sports Will Save Us All podcast in which our PK Paddle Battle King 🤴 – Ace – was interviewed. You can find that episode here. And I don’t know for sure, but I’m thinking Ace’s nickname stems from the fact that he always seems to have one up his sleeve and/or in the hole?!?

Last, and least, you can find my interview on Sports Will Save Us All here.

• I needed for my daughter to rattle off the wrestling 🤼 weight classes because I simply didn’t think that was something that my daughter would ever iterate. #iowaborn #sportsphotographer #boyfriendisthe138
  • And for her boyfriend to have been the 6th seed in his opening weekend tournament and finish🥉.
    • And for us to have been there to watch him wrestle, and meet the “in-laws”.
      • And for the boyfriend to have 1️⃣ gotten a new truck earlier in the week ✌️been so surprised and excited that he wanted to show us his new truck on FaceTime ૩ brought us his Nana’s homemade (by him) muffins, but 𝟜 to not specifically have baked Nana’s muffins because it was the day after the family returned from her funeral. #RIP

• I needed for my daughter to relay this conversation to me:

But, you need a bit of backstory first. Friend “Jack” and friend “Jill” had started to “talk” and hung out at our house once. Both friends were in constant communication with our daughter as they navigated the friendship:

Jack: She just told me that she doesn’t want to date. Should I unfriend her?

Daughter: No, idiot. Just because she doesn’t want to date you doesn’t mean you two can’t be friends.

Daughter texts Jill suggesting she be more explicit about whether she wants to remain friends (thinking she’ll of course soften the delivery of not wanting to date him).

Jack: She just texted me again and said that she doesn’t want to date me OR be my friend. Can I unfriend her now?

Daughter: Ok, yes, good call.

🤣

(laughing about HOW this went down; not AT Jack for losing the girl or AT Jill for being BRUTALLY honest)

• I needed Grannie Jannie to visit and hold down the fort 🏰 – our house, 3 dogs, the 3 cousins she brought and our daughter – while we traversed Death Valley. THANK YOU!!
  • And for her to have left us Harry & David pears because they are delicious AND because I needed to throw together an appetizer plate on the morning of Thanksgiving (all stores closed) after returning late Wednesday.

• It needed to dawn on me the crazy number of families and organizations in my life that exude and embody a sense of family in which I feel blessed to be part of. #youknowwhoyouare but if you don’t……Tiedt’s, Bouchard’s, Natasha & Co., Mausser’s (their dog is named Mickey 😆), Molly & Co., Olson’s, my in-laws, the respective families of each of my cousins, Aunt (fill in the blank with any of them) & Uncle (fill in the blank with partner to ⬅️ Aunt), surrounding neighbors / The Pour Decisions Club, Pickleball Kingdom, Coe Triathlon, Coe Tennis, Ellis GC…..etc.

• I needed to remember that my Dad always referred to he and I as being two of the luckiest people on 🌎 and I truly believe this to be the case. For one, see above.
  • I feel a need to convey the caveat also; for my Dad was always quick to add that you create your own luck. 😉🍀

• I needed to realize that The Idealist Tuesday Treatise posts have served as journaling for me; 60% gratitude, 20% comedic and 20% shi+show.
  • As for the latter, perhaps I need to follow my own advice per the sign where one enters our home:

• I needed for my daughter to tell me that she and her best friend think me to be the ultimate side quester; which is the ultimate compliment from a young adult!

AI Overview on Side Questing

where you complete secondary missions for fun or extra rewards, often involving spontaneous, enjoyable diversions from your "main quest" in life, like a hobby or a random errand that adds flavor

• I need to wrap up here so that I can wrap up some holiday shopping; seeing as the following was unannounced…

Amazon Prime Two 7+ Day Shipping Policy

Anyone else get caught up in this snafu?!? If so, need I repeat myself? Do as I say and not as I do!

• I need to wrap up here because I still have more than 30 hours of Stranger Things to watch.

I appreciate your readership; I need the validation as writer. 😉

Sincerely,

K.J. Sculling