Kristine Joy, Writer

1. Business is Boomin’

For the first time in this decade, I was called in for bindery work at the family business. This added 20 hours to my schedule, but I was thrilled because:

• It means that business is boomin’.
• It made me feel young again. If YOU walked to school both ways uphill in the snow, I spent half of my childhood doing bindery work. Except, I may actually have done so and you didn’t.
• The work was dual purpose because it served as a lift.

2. Cousin Love

I nearly ran into someone while walking the concourse at State Wrestling and it needed to happen because that someone was my cousin!

And a week later, I landed myself in Lake Geneva near another cousin-from-another-Aunt. Does it get much better than pizza and tennis with family?

3. Whiskey (because I was) Sour

While filming Paddle Battle, my rise and fall in the Kingdom seemed to be the way of the Reality TV world and this landed me at the hotel bar one of those evenings sipping a whiskey (despite the fact that drinking was a rarity for me then and since).

Well 😉🥃, re-living Episode 7 and 8 and awaiting 9, I somehow found myself back on a bar stool sipping whiskey. 🤷‍♀️

4. There’s a First For Everything

I was in a hotel fitness room.

The dumbbells were in increments of 5 from 5 to 50.

They didn’t have dumbbells heavy enough for me to complete the scheduled lift.

P.S. I’ve lifted 236,000 pounds this year—an average of a Toyota Tacoma per day.

5. TMNT

Our daughter has been watching TMNT. Overhearing some of the content has made me realize how much I learned from these “Heroes in a Half Shell”:

AI Overview…

• Family: Despite their differences and arguments, the turtles always support each other, proving that family comes first.
• Teamwork and Unity: The turtles show that by combining their individual strengths—Leonardo’s leadership, Donatello’s intellect, Raphael’s strength, and Michelangelo’s agility—they can overcome any obstacle.
• Emotional Control and Resilience: Master Splinter teaches that anger is a dangerous ally and should be managed, encouraging them to let insults “wash over [them] like a river over stone”.
• Leadership and Responsibility: Leonardo learns that leadership is about duty and sacrifice, not just being in charge.
• Embracing Individuality: The turtles teach that you don’t need to fit in to be cool or successful.
• Lifelong Learning and Growth: They demonstrate that mistakes are necessary for improvement and that one should never stop practicing, learning, or seeking to master new skills.
• Balance (Work/Life): While they are dedicated to fighting crime, they also prioritize fun, humor, and pizza.

P.S. And now you know where my long gone truck got its name.

6. Readership = Nil

I’ve been publishing on this website since May 1st of 2025. And still—nobody cares. But that’s okay. I’m “practicing, learning, or seeking to master new skills” (I got you Master Splinter) and humoring (and hearing out) myself.

7. Stay in Your My Lane

Note to Self

Only answer what is actually asked of you.

No one wants more than that.

Because the result is ego vs. ego.

8. Code of Conduct

Hmmm…stay private…write and publish all of your thoughts on a website?

Hmmm…dress well…do hooded sweatshirts count?

Hmmm…eat healthy…admit to consuming whiskey, sour gummy worms, pizza, Coke, fried cheese curds (and fried cheese sticks) and chips all in the last week?

Hmmm…talk less…points if I’m working on this (see #7)?

Hmmm…avoid drama…go on a Reality TV show and then be at the heart of drama within?

9. Closing Credits

I appreciate you.

And I appreciate your readership. 😘