"My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Our names are like the first identifier we’re ever given. Unless your mine and Mr Kisby’s child. In that case you get your name three days later.
Names often have meaning. Even when we started picking our own handles for IM and email as teenagers, there was thought that went into those names. I’m guessing I thought dicaprio_cutie was somehow going to get Leo to fall in love with me. Spoiler: He didn’t. Fact: We’ve never met.
Every moniker we have says something about ourselves or “our brand” to use popular context. Just from The Great Kaysby you can tell I love The Great Gatsby. You could also infer that I think I’m pretty great. 🤣
So today when I found out I have to rename one of my social media pages to fit new standards, I was unsure of what to think. What do I want to convey? What am I okay with for at least 60 days? What will be catchy without inducing eye rolls?
There’s a lot to a name!
Anyone else get anxiety when coming up handles? Is it just me?
Photo by Du039bVu039e Gu039bRCIu039b on Pexels.com
10:44 at night and I find myself thinking about sushi. Makes me think that maybe I shouldn’t have already declared tomorrow an “at home day.” It would be so fun to have a sushi lunch! Maybe a bento box with it… If not tomorrow, then what about the next day? I start to think things like maybe sushi after church on Thursday morning would be good. After all, I’ll already be out. It’s just 30 minutes in the wrong direction to get sushi.
I’ll sleep on it.
Spoiler, I’m 95% most likely not going to get sushi either day.
It’s not that I don’t really want the sushi. Trust me, if there is an opportunity to eat sushi, I’m going to have at least a Tuna Roll. Perhaps even a California Roll, Cucumber Roll, or Thai Roll too! But I don’t need the sushi.
If we are always giving into our wants – like if we really go get sushi each time we want it – what are we illustrating about our willpower and want versus need to our children? Mr Kisby and I have really been attempting to stress to LilKsby the importance of whether a want for something is fleeting (aka forgotten by morning) or an actual want that is worth waiting for. We’ve tried to stress this to him when it comes to things like picking out toys and food to eat (especially going out versus staying in). What we’ve found is that often times the things we want are only wants for a brief time period. Then after we get it we find ourselves thinking “Why did we put money, time, energy, effort, etc into said item?”
With LilKsby we often discuss how much joy something will bring him along with a need versus a want. Oftentimes when I talk about these things with him, I reflect on my own things that I sometimes mislabel as a need like the sushi. Like I tell him, I need water, food (see maybe I do need sushi), oxygen, shelter, clothes, exercise, and good hygiene. Pretty much everything else is a want. Of course wants have their place! If someone offered me a legit free trip to the Bahamas just because I don’t need it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t go. Plus wanting things gives us goals, and our wants don’t have to be materialistic. For example, this month I want to complete a Digital Marketing course to help improve our businesses. I also want to be able to do 15 in-person skin care consults. These wants are not bad at all, and they have the possibility to be way more beneficial than wanting something like a box of crayons when I already have some!
Like anything with parenting, discussing wants versus needs is a work in progress. It also takes a lot of strength because I believe all of us would 100% get everything our kids ever asked for if it possible and reasonable. No offense, I’m never buying LilKsby his own pony. I barely like scooping cat litter. I am not cleaning pony poop!
11:00…maybe I should go to bed and see if I still want sushi in the morning!
As I was reading a book on homeschooling today (BTW if you’re new to this blog, you’re going to learn that I read a lot), I was reminded of how thankful I am that my parents never stressed that I had to get all A’s when I was in school. One of the first things that the author mentioned was how her parents expected (and did not tolerate anything lower than) A’s when she was in school. She then discussed all of the negative mental and physical impacts that this had on her. Reading this made me very grateful that my parents always understood that MY best is My Best. They knew that I always tried my hardest in all of my classes, and they were okay with whatever grades I brought home given that I had truly tried. For me this frequently meant bringing home B’s especially in math. I’ve always said that I was great at math up until Algebra I. It was all downhill from there (which is why I also recognize that when we get to higher math my homeschooled child will need help from Mr. Kisby). I graduated high school with a 3.75, and that was my best. Guess what? I still got into good colleges, and my parents were pleased as punch. Plus, I didn’t have any negative mental or physical effects from overstressing about grades.
The philosophy of my parents has also been evident in our homeschooling. Since LilKsby was 3 in Homeschool Pre-K, he would get asked if he was making all A’s. First of all, I feel like that is a really weird question to ask 3 year-old. No reason to start making them stress over a letter on a paper before they can read! Secondly, I would always explain that I don’t give him letter grades. I look for if he is learning a subject or if he’s mastered it. That simple. It’s a great no pressure way to determine if he needs extra assistance with something without giving him a complex about a red letter on a paper (side note, when I taught in public school, I tried not to use red pens just because I feel like they give a complex). As long as he’s doing his best, I’m pleased.
On a different note, I like that the doing my best mindset has been something that can be adaptable to the illusive “real life” where as when you go to apply for a job no one really cares what your GPA was. There’s a lot that can be learned for encouraging people to do their best and not just making them focus on an end result. Also, it is a lot more important to know how to learn as opposed to just being able to memorize and regurgitate information. True story.
My maps app wouldn’t let me put all of the stops on one trip plan!
A couple of years ago, LilKsby and I were standing in line for a roller coaster, and we met someone who was working on going to 7 different amusement parks in 10 days. We didn’t get to chat much because there wasn’t a long line, but I remember thinking that it sounded like a fun adventure! After that day, I didn’t give the adventure much thought; however, over the past few days on a long car trip, I got to thinking about two things. One was that it would be fun to research travel itineraries and blog about them. The second was remembering the amusement park anecdote. Both of those things got me thinking about if money were no object, what would be a great amusement park journey?
Thus…18 Parks in 21 Days!
For this particular itinerary, I recommend starting at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, KY. Its proximity to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport provides an easy start to the trip as travelers could fly in from all over the country, rent a car, and be at the park within 30 minutes of landing as there is less than five minutes between the two. I also recommend purchasing a season pass while at Kentucky Kingdom. The pass will be beneficial at other parks that are owned by Herschend as they provide admission discounts to season pass holders. https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/
Following a day in Louisville, head south on I-65 for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to Bowling Green, KY. Here you will find Beech Bend which has an amusement park and campground. Highlights include The Kentucky Rumbler roller coaster and Sea Dragon which was purchased from MJ’s Neverland Ranch. It is a small park with a big heart! https://beechbend.com/
Next up is a drive to the Midwest experience Six Flags Saint Louis which is actually in Eureka, MO (approximately 4 hours, 52 minutes). Thought it currently has the Six Flags name, this park has been sold and is already being independently operated. In 2027 it will no longer retain the Six Flags name. https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis
Staying in the Show Me State, the next destination is one of the aforementioned Herschend Family Entertainment properties. Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO is approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes from Six Flags. Of all the parks that I have not been to that are on this list, this is the one that I want to visit the most. Why? They have rides and a cave! I have loved both since I was a kid! https://www.silverdollarcity.com
After a day in Branson, I would travel north to Kansas City, MO (approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes) to experience Worlds of Fun! When I would visit family as a child in the summer, I would always see ads for Worlds of Fun. For the sake of nostalgia, I added this park to the itinerary though it is a bit out of the way (if there can be such a thing when it comes to fun). Once again, I recommend purchasing a season pass. Several of the parks on this list fall under the Six Flags umbrella since they acquired Cedar Fair which will allow benefits to be used multiple times. As of this publishing, World of Fun is operating as a Six Flags park. After the 2026 season it will operate under its new owner: EPR Properties. https://www.sixflags.com/worldsoffun
So far on this journey, I have intended for parks to be visited on consecutive days. If you leave each park with an approximately four hour travel time around 7 pm, you can easily be halfway done with your drive – accounting for a brief dinner and fuel stop – and in bed at a hotel by 10 pm. Leaving the hotel by 8 am will provide 9 hours of sleep plus time for breakfast while allowing you to be at the next park by 10 am. The trip following Worlds of Fun is the first exception where more than one day will be needed for travel. The trip from Worlds of Fun to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL will take approximately 8 hours. This park is north of Chicago, and extremely close to the Wisconsin border. If you’re like me and have a goal of seeing all 50 states, you might as well check Wisconsin off the list by going through it! https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica
The next stop on the journey (approximately 3 hours and five minutes) is Indiana Beach in Monticello, IN. For a park that isn’t owned by one of the major amusement park conglomerates, this one has a lot of attractions! https://www.indianabeach.com/
Staying in the Hoosier State, journey south approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes to Holiday World/Splashin’ Safari! Of all the parks on this list, this one is my favorite! We went here several times as a kid, and everything that made this park special then is still present today! This park has always provided extras like free parking, free sunscreen, and free non-alcoholic drinks. It is also the only amusement park that I have been to where one of the owners – a member of the Koch family – came up to us to ensure we were having a good time. https://holidayworld.com/
Last up on the first half of the itinerary is Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH (approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes). If you only get to do one thing at this park, ride The Beast. This incredible roller coaster lives up to the hype! I especially recommend riding it in the dark! There are also several other great coasters at this park! As it is now owned by Six Flags, that season pass will come in handy again! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsisland
At this point, you could easily loop back to Louisville and end the journey if 9 parks in 10 days has been enough for you. If you’re still up for more adventure, head north for approximately 3 hours and 23 minutes to Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. Personally, I have never been to Cedar Point, but I have heard from MANY roller coaster enthusiasts that THIS is their park of choice! https://www.sixflags.com/cedarpoint
Once the day at Cedar Point is complete, travel approximately three hours and two minutes to West Mifflin, PA. Here you will find one of the oldest parks on this list: Kennywood. Given I have only been to PA in the off-season or for romantic mountain getaways, I have never been to any PA amusement parks. That said, Kennywood constantly comes up on travel blogs that I read. It’s 125 years old, and they have this great combination of old school rides and modern thrill rides! Add On: After I wrote this portion, I went to an amusement park with LilKsby, and we met three young men who work at Kennywood! They shared that some of their rides are among the oldest – and best kept – in the country. They also recommended Phantom’s Revenge for Hyper Coaster enthusiasts! Oh, and they told us that Kennywood is also a Herschend park now. https://www.kennywood.com/
Following the day filled with nostalgia and excitement, head to Hershey, PA (approximately 3 hours and 24 minutes) to experience Hershey Park! This is another park that has been recommended to me by coaster enthusiasts, but this one was recommended with a caveat. We all know that if you are traveling with children, you should make sure that there will be something they can ride based on their height (and sometimes weight). According to my source, this park is where they ran into the most difficulty finding something for their child to ride as they were too big for most of the kids rides, but they were not big enough for most of the thrill rides. Keep in mind that this would have been about 10 years ago. I also personally understand this frustration as the first time I went to Kings Island as a kid, I was in the dreaded in between stage (this was before they had a water park too). That aside, it looks like a great park from the Hershey complex parking lot. Be sure to checkout Hershey’s Chocolate World while you’re in the complex! This portion is open year-round, and I can attest to how much fun it is! https://www.hersheypark.com/
Next up is the shortest drive of the itinerary at approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes (which means you can enjoy Hershey Park even later)! This will take you to Dorney Park in Dorneyville, PA. This park opened in 1884! Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Lehigh Valley, at Dorney fun can be had by all ages be they ride enthusiasts or interested in shows! https://www.sixflags.com/dorneypark
After Dorney is the other drive where I recommend taking a travel day. Clocking in at 5 hours and 55 minutes, the trip to America’s Historic Triangle is the second longest on this journey. However, since the next park is in the Triangle, there is PLENTY to see and do on the travel day besides sit in a car. Side note, in the future, I will do a full blog on America’s Historic Triangle as part of my upcoming – and yet untitled – series about homeschooling and travel. Once you’ve rested up and perhaps brushed up on some history, you will be ready to tackle a place that was not part of the triangle during the Revolution: Busch Gardens. This park has rides, shows, and animal experiences! Oh, and they have a WIDE variety of food options beyond the standard amusement park fare. https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/
Another short drive (also approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes) will take you to Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. When it was originally built, Kings Dominion was designed to be a sister park to Kings Island. This provides a level of familiarity for those who have been to Kings Island as some of the rides at Kings Dominion are the same. However, the Rapterra roller coaster sets them apart from their sister! Rapterra is the second ever winged coaster built in the US. Fun fact, the first one was built at Holiday World! https://www.sixflags.com/kingsdominion
Three more parks to go! Can you believe it??? Next up is Carowinds in Charlotte, NC just about a 4 hour and 45 minute drive from Kings Dominion. Carowinds is also a Six Flags park, and if you are making this trip in 2027, you will get to try what will be the World’s Largest Log Flume Ride! They are also known for Fury 325 which America’s tallest and fastest Giga Coaster. https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds
After a brief stay in North Carolina, it is time to head to Georgia! In approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes, you will arrive at Six Flags Over Georgia. This is the last Six Flags property on the list, and I think it will be worth it! They have a multitude of attractions for the whole family! https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia
Last but not least, it is time to make the approximate 4 hour and 7 minute trip to Pigeon Forge, TN to spend time at Dollywood! Dollywood is the final Herschend property on this list and my favorite of their holdings that I have visited. Mr Kisby, LilKsby, and I have been to Dollywood during the summer and at Christmas. During both seasons we were able to experience great rides, entertainment, and food! There was something for all of us to enjoy! Dollywood is a must visit! https://www.dollywood.com/
If you bought a roundtrip ticket when flying into Louisville, you will need approximately 4 hours and 31 minutes to loop back to Louisville from Pigeon Forge. Afternoon or evening flight? You might as well pop back into Kentucky Kingdom again! After all, you’ve driven over 4,250 miles and spent 2 Days, 18 Hours, and 52 Minutes doing so. One way ticket? Spend the night at Dreammore Resort or Heartsong Lodge at Dollywood. Amazing accommodations! You can then fly home from Knoxville.
And there you have 18 Parks in 21 Days!
I would love to know what parks you’ve been to that are on this list and what you think! Drop a comment!
The oldest things I am wearing today are the oldest things I wear each day: my engagement and wedding ring. Mr Kisby gave me the engagement ring just after midnight on May 15, 2011 after the world’s most beautiful proposal involving a note of okay from my dad written on a napkin. The wedding ring is a simple band much like Mr Kisby’s inscribed with “I Love Thee” on the inside. The inscription was inspired by the rings in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet. These will be my forever oldest things I wear!
As I was reflecting over another year around the sun, one word came to mind: resilience. Last year, exactly one week after my birthday, the crushing blows to our “normal” existence began. Our lives quickly started to feel like a country song, and the title would have been “Everything Gets F’ed Up On a Thursday.”
With everything happening, it would have been super easy to put all life goals on hold. It would have been super easy to wallow in self pity and do nothing. However, in life you have two choices when things are not going well. One, you can do nothing. Two, you can exhibit bounce back ability!
Through a lot of prayer, tears, emotional roller coasters, and open discussion as a family, we chose bounce back ability. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? YES! Did we learn from it? ABSOLUTELY! Were there days when it was hard? Of course there were!
But we persevered, and now almost a year later, I can say…
We can survive the storm because we have each other.
My faith is stronger.
My drive and resolve to be successful are stronger.
Even on tough days (because let’s be real, some days I still miss my cat terribly!), I can do one thing to move forward.
I have learned to focus on what I can and cannot control.
As I start this next year, I’m not going to say it’s going to be all sunshine and rainbows. I can’t know what the future will bring, but I can know that I’ve learned resilience.
This one goes out to all of my biz owner friends in the audience!
How often to you get to month end and think, “How did we get here? How’s it __________? Where did the month go? I’m so behind!!!” More often than not, this has been me in the last twelve years that I have taken my direct sales business more seriously (because let’s be real, there are still moments when I don’t work as diligently as I should). Also, I say twelve years because those first eight years were kind of a crapshoot. We’ve all been there too, right? Yet there are still months when I find myself wanting to scream and shout on the last day of the month, “Who needs skin care? Who needs makeup? GO TO MY WEBSITE NOW!” Luckily for all of those in my immediate circle, I have gotten a lot better about not making desperate last minute social media posts to finish goals that I have allowed myself to procrastinate on achieving. Again, I’m honest and fully recognize that I have to say better and not perfect.
That said, two things have made the difference for me. First and foremost, I consistently remind myself of what I can and cannot control. In both businesses – our direct sales and our publishing – I cannot control the number of people who actually make a purchase. I cannot control the number of people who follow our socials, click on our website links, watch our YouTube channel, etc. Remember your granny saying that you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink? Turns out that is true in a WIDE array of areas. When you accept that there are things you cannot control, you can obtain peace. So what can I control? I can control the number of people that I contact, the number of appointments that I hold, the amount of content we post on socials and YouTube, etc. I can control how much networking I do, and I can control how much time I invest in working towards goals. I can also look up to mentors when I need help, motivation, etc. The second thing that has made a difference for me is learning that I don’t have to win every prize. This was a REALLY hard realization for my reward driven personality. However, I found that when I tried to win EVERYTHING, I would be so distracted that I would not win ANYTHING! Learning to narrow my focus to what I really want to achieve has mad a big difference!
Thanks to what I’ve learned, even though I’m not quite at my March goal, I’m not freaking out. I am proud of what I have accomplished, and I am using what I have learned to propel me into April.
Since we began homeschooling LilKsby when he was three, I have heard a lot of different misconceptions about what it means to homeschool. Today, I saw some that really take the cake. I kept thinking about these throughout the day, and though I know the people who were commenting on this particular post will never see my blog, I want to bust a few myths about homeschooling.
Myth #1 – Homeschool students don’t learn science. Let’s start with the one that left me the most shocked. I understand that there are some people that teach science with a non-secular world view. However, most families we know who homeschool including ourselves either use a science curriculum, piece their own together, or do a combo of both (what we do). He’s only 6, but LilKsby has learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, a variety of animals, various ecosystems, plants (including having to grow some), the water cycle, and more. He enjoys science so much that this morning (a Saturday morning) he woke us up and asked us to read about The Big Bang. We have also done more science experiments than I can count!
Myth #2 – Homeschool students can’t learn because their parents aren’t college educated and/or teachers. Let me count the ways that I can bust this myth! First of all, most curriculums for homeschool are designed in a way that anyone can teach the child(ren) no matter their educational or occupational background. Two, within our homeschool community, many of the parents are former teachers myself included. Additionally, many of the homeschool parents I know have at least one college degree. In our house, we have two parents with five degrees between us. I’m not usually one to brag about our levels of education, but sometimes I like to remind people that, “Yes, I am qualified to teach LilKsby” and “Yes, Mr. Kisby is qualified to teach LilKsby.”
Myth #3 – Homeschool students never get any socialization. Actually, LilKsby gets socialization with a variety of ages across a multitude of settings. First of all, we are part of a homeschool group. We have events multiple times a year. Guess what they include? Socialization! We also have opportunities to participate in a plethora of events at the library, gyms, and stores. Along this same line, LilKsby has no problem interacting with adults in settings that are going to benefit him as an adult. He can order his own food in a restaurant; he can talk with the bank teller or cashier at the grocery. He also knows how to ask for assistance in a store if we can’t find something.
Myth #4 – Homeschool students never go on field trips. Off the top of my head, this school year alone we’ve had eight field trips. They’ve been science, history, and performance arts related. Hey, look! There’s science showing up again!
“Can you help me?” It should be such a simple question to ask; it should be a judgment free question ask. Yet how many of us as children/teenagers preferred to do bad on a homework assignment instead of ask for help? If I wasn’t typing my hand would be raised. For a plethora of misguided reasons, I never wanted to ask for help in school. Likewise – unless it was to read something aloud – I didn’t want to be called on in class either.
Fast forward to today, those of us who were afraid to ask for help in our youth are now adults who are trying to break free of the toxic habit that is not asking for help. Yes, I said toxic habit. Why? Because not being comfortable asking for help has caused many people I know to be over stressed, over committed, and feeling as though they are doing something wrong because they cannot figure out everything on their own. Spoiler, I used to be (and sometimes relapse into) one of those people!
What changed? The realization that we as people are not meant to be strong, independent, and capable of doing every single thing ourselves. We are not meant to do every single thing alone. In fact, people were created to need other people. We learn from one another. We all have different talents that can compliment one another’s skills. We are designed to need assistance from other people so that we can in turn assist others! It is human nature!
Along with the realization, I knew that from the time LilKsby started learning that I never wanted him to be afraid to ask for help. Mr. Kisby and I tell him all the time that you learn by asking questions and asking for help. I want LiLKsby to grow up with the understanding that we have the potential to be better as people because we help one another.
So today I am giving you permission to ask “Can you help me?” You may just find that doing so will change your life!
Given that I started this blog to be about food and travel back in 2018, I absolutely love this question! Of these options, the only one that I have not done is a bike trip (neither motorcycle or cycling). Also, I should note that for me “cross-country” is limited to about half of the country. However, I have found that my preferred method of travel completely depends on the type of trip. For example, I have only ever flown for business trips. The last two times that I flew for business it was a matter of wanting to be away from home as little as possible. When it was just me and Mr. Kisby, it was no big deal for the two of us to hop in the car and go on extended road trips for business or pleasure. We would take our time and explore the areas we were visiting. Since LilKsby has come along, I try to be gone from home for business trips as little as possible. It has become standard to fly out super early the morning the conference starts and fly back immediately after it ends. Along the same line, I have also greatly consolidated how far I’ll travel for business by car. What can I say? Family comes before career for me!
Now if it is just a fun trip and my family is with me, I’m choosing to travel by train or car. I love how much of the country you can see with these two methods. I actually have two train trips on my travel bucket list. One is for New England in the Autumn, and the other is going West to see the plains and mountains. I am also a big fan of cross-country travel by car (provided you have the time) because of the number of things that you can stop and see randomly. Some of our greatest adventures have been when we see a sign for something and go see it on a whim!
Bus travel is interesting because you can see a lot and do not have to worry about doing the actual driving, but with the bus trips I have done, you lose some flexibility. However, I loved the time I did a bus trip to Chicago with my aunt because we did not have to deal with Chicago traffic, and we got to see A LOT of awesome sites! That trip was a little different because the bus dropped you off for a weekend. Other bus trips that we’ve done were more precise guided tours. Those have little flexibility because if you’re not on the bus when it’s time to leave, you are left behind (kind of like if you’re not on the boat at the cruise port when it’s time to go). Although these trips had the big bonus of taking us to way more places than we would have visited independently and being part of the tour allowed us to skip lines at some of the places.
I guess you could just say that if it involves travel I am for any method of transportation if I have the time!
So maybe our business idea isn’t crazy. After all, we, aka Letters & Lore, currently publish books through Amazon KDP. Our idea was simple: we wanted to make our dreams of being published authors come true. Instead of waiting around and hoping without action, we leapt in head first. Currently, we have lined notebooks, a fictional Christmas novella, books for kids, a business planner, journals, and devotionals. This year we plan to add a full length historical fiction novel AND put content on Audible. The last one feels a little crazy, but only because I have not yet done the research to find out how it works. For the last two years, completing work that matches our dreams has felt right and not crazy.
Crazy would be wanting to attach whales to icebergs in order to start an ice distribution business. Thank you Dr Heidegger’s Experiment.
Crazy would be wanting to sell ice over the internet in the early 00s using your daughter’s wedding fund. Thank you Jack Geller.
I applaud all of the responses I have read where people can pick one favorite album of all time! My immediate thought with this question was, “I can’t pick just one!” There are so many albums that have been influential at different times in my life, and I still listen to the majority of them when the mood strikes. Of course that is the thing that I love the most about music: how it impacts us differently at various points in life and always seems to come into our lives when we need it the most. So instead of choosing one album, I’m opting to reflect on a few that have been an intregal part of my life.
Millennium – Backstreet Boys – 1999 – I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this album in the last 26 years. To say that I was (am) a BSB fan would be an understatement. There was something about this album in particular that was magical. “The Perfect Fan” was the sweetest homage to moms, and I loved that my mom got to hear it in person at their concert that year right around her birthday. “Spanish Eyes” was beautiful, but it became more important when my future husband was singing it in my car one day. Yes, I was VERY impressed by Mr. Kisby’s ability to sing unreleased BSB songs!!! “Don’t Want You Back” was the anthem for so many relationships over the years, and “Larger Than Life” made us all think we had a chance at “making it” with a member of the band. HA HA Most of us were wrong! Sadly, I did not shell out the $1,000+ it would have cost to see them at The Sphere. Feeding the family comes before flying to Vegas! I’m sure that would have been an incredible experience! If only one of them wanted to give me tickets and backstage passess…I could totally become an official BSB blogger! HINT HINT
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack – 1996 – When I say I have seen this movie at least 16 times, I am not at all exagerating. It was a brilliant retelling of the story in a modern setting with a soundtrack that exemplified what mid-90s music was all about! There were alt rock numbers, adult contemporary numbers, a Prince song in a gospel style, and of course Des’ree’s OUTSTANDING “Kissing You”! I listened to that CD until it was scratched beyond being able to play everything. I could tell you exactly where songs were used in the movie, and when I listened to it, I felt the passion and emotions portrayed by the characters. How tear jerking was that ending? Baz Luhrmann is such a genius at making you think characters have hope before yanking it all out from under you!
Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf – 1977 – I was not born when this album was released, but in my teenage years this album became synonymous with family roadtrips. The lyrics were beatiful and the music was banging! As I grew up, the songs became more and more relatable. Like, how hauntingly accurate is “Two Out of Three Aint’ Bad” with “I want you, I need you, but there ain’t no way I’m every going to love you”? Also, “Paradise By the Dashboard” lights was iconic! Nothing left to the imagination there as they went for the line drive up the middle! The titular song was also amazing! Those riffs!
Reputation – Taylor Swift – 2017 – I loved how this album transistioned Taylor from young adult country/pop to relatable themes that so many of us experience as adults. I for one love the lyric “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now because she’s dead.” I feel like a lot of people were shocked by this lyrical choice, but I think it is a highly accurate portrayal of growing older. Frankly, I am very glad to not be the me that I was when I was 18 or in my early 20s. Personal growth like that mentioned in the song is how I’ve become the person I love today! This was also the first Taylor Swift album that I could listen to on repeat, and it was the last concert we saw before finding out that LilKsby was going to be joining our family!
The Greatest Hits Volume 1: 20 Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys – 1995 – I have also listened to this album over and over again! My love of the Beach Boys began when I was about five, and I would listen to my dad’s cassettes. I knew the lyrics to songs like Surfin’ USA before I could read! By the time I was a teenager, I loved this album even more because of the poinancy of many of the lyrics as well as the unmatchable musical genius of Brian Wilson (may he RIP). Brian could bring things to life musically that most of us could never dream of creating! That album introduced me to “Sloop John B” and “God Only Knows” both of which have become two of my favorite Beach Boys songs. Plus, “Kokomo” featuring John Stamos and that video with the pink tank top. Drummers who can sing are hot, mmmkay? I really wish I could have seen Dennis Wilson perform while he was alive. Added bonus, the songs from this album are also what got LilKsby hooked on the Beach Boys too! Timeless!
Honorable Mentions – these are albums that I may not listen to as much, but they have definitely had a lasting impact on my life either because of the moving scores or life event significance: Beetlejuice Soundtrack, Titanic Soundtrack, Clueless Soundtrack, Hamilton Soundtrack (seriously, right after you’ve had a child, “Dear Theodosia” will make you cry your eyes out), Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack, Josie and the Pussycats Soundtrack, American Wedding Soundtrack, Backstreet Boys’ DNA, Rent Soundtrack, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Musical Soundtrack. I could talk about each of these, but this blog is already too long!
At this point in my life, I have had nearly twenty years of experience as an aunt either from being a chosen aunt to my friend’s kids or to those I am actually related because of Mr. Kisby. I’ve always fancied myself a “Cool Aunt” with my fake nose ring (one day it will be real), tendency to draw on myself, hobbies that many consider to be “teenage things,” love of a variety of music from multiple decades including today, and willingness to take the kids to do cool stuff. As someone who had a “Cool Aunt,” I always wanted to be one, so I’ve tried to do my best! However, now that some of my nieces and nephews are becoming young adults, I also want to be the aunt that shares some life advice that isn’t typically learned as part of a diploma pathway in high school or as part of a degree program in college. So here goes…
It is okay to not know what you want to do at 18, 21, 29, 39, or older. Yes, there are some people who know what they want to do from the time they are small, and their dream never changes. However, some of us are still learning even in are 40s. At one time, I wanted to be an actress. I even spent two years of college pursuing that dream before realizing that starving artist really doesn’t sound like a fun career choice to me. Then I wanted to be a business something that required not one but two business degrees. Then I ended up getting a Masters in Teaching. A long the way I also thought it would be cool to be a bar tender, writer, yoga instructor, barista, blogger, and life coach. Of those I only ever pursued writing and blogging, but sometimes I think others would be cool. I kind of just want to have a bar tending licence much like I’ve always wanted a motorcycle license even though I don’t actually want to drive a motorcycle. Guess what I currently do that I never would have dreamed about it my teens or 20s? I want to – and thank the good Lord I get to – be a homeschooling mama who works a few flexible contractor jobs for a little extra moo-lah. The point? It’s 100% okay if what your dream is changes!
There is never a perfect time for anything. If you spend your life waiting for the time to be right, then you are going to either (a) miss out on a lot of cool things while you’re waiting for perfection or (b) never do what you wanted to do. I first heard this lesson from a former co-worker who said “If you wait for the perfect time to have kids, then you’ll never have kids.” I think this sentiment is applicable to a lot of things, and I loved it because we spend so much time hearing “wait for the right time” or “it’s not the right time.” In practice this means try not to say things like “I’ll do X, Y, Z when I finish school” or “I’ll do X, Y, Z when I have a house.” Instead consider if you really want to do the thing in question, or if you know you want the thing, start planning how you can make it happen. Obviously, there are some things that have to wait for some timing. For example, “When I have been at a job for one year and saved money, I will buy a car” and “When I have $5,000, I will be able to rent an apartment, turn on utilities, and buy the basic necessities for a first apartment.” These are logical because one helps get the other. Just keep in mind there is a difference in things taking time and planning and waiting for the perfect moment.
It’s okay if your first big love isn’t your forever romance, and it’s okay if your first big love is your forever romance. Some people are lucky enough to meet the one they are meant to be with at a young age and have it all work out. Some of us don’t meet and date the one we are meant to be with until the second, third, or more relationship. It is okay to be one of these people too. The important part is finding a partner who you have common interests with that you will love just as much in your 70s as you did in your 20s or 30s. I’ve now loved Mr Kisby through three different age decades, and I can tell you with him I hit the jackpot! It took a broken road to get there, but as Rascal Flatts once said, “God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you.” Along with common interests, it helps abundantly to find someone with similar religious/spiritual beliefs, a similar moral compass, and life goals. It also helps if your partner is someone you like along with loving them. Also, if your grandma doesn’t like your partner, take it has a hint and dump them. Grandmas are smart.
Have fun in life! Yes, being an “adult” is stressful, hard work, and involves a lot of boring things like paying bills, cleaning house, and having to make smart decisions liking eating at home versus going to fast food every night (which could lead to stomach issues so make sure your “adult” job as health insurance). However, you still have to find time to play. If you quit doing things that you find fun, then you’re missing out on a lot of good times. I’m an “adult” with several years of experience, but I still play video games, do stuff outside, chase my kid around, read books, color, paint, go on dates with my hubby, watch TV, sew, and hangout with friends occassionally. Doing those fun things are what keep you sane. Some of my best advice is to do one fun thing a day even if it’s just for five minutes. If you’ve got a lot of shit going on, set a timer on your phone for five minutes and until it goes off do something just for fun even if it’s just jamming out at max volume. Your mental and emotional health will thank you for having fun!
Last but not least, who you are as a person is 100% unique to you. As a kid you are often told what is right and wrong, what you should believe, etc. I can tell you from experience that it is okay if those things change for you as you grow. There are things that I thought were black and white issues. Now I can tell you that a lot of times there are gray areas, but that is because I have made a point of educating myself or have personally experienced the gray areas. You should do the same. Likewise, it is okay to recognize that something that was once commonplace is now offensive and to opt to change your perspective. I can also tell you for me personally, my faith in the Holy Trinity is a lot stronger now because of an almost decade long span where I didn’t attend church, pray, or really think about Jesus. But in the end, I found my way back, and having all those life experiences has made my faith stronger. It’s okay if the same has to happen with you. Likewise, it is okay to have been brought up with no spiritual/religious background and want to learn more about your options. It’s also okay to be steadfast in what you believe and never stray. No matter your story, you will end up where you’re supposed to be as long as you keep moving forward.
I could keep going, but man that’s a lot! And I know from experience that too much advice just goes in one ear and out the year because most of us don’t believe things until we experience them. Plus, a lot of us have the attention span of a goldfish, so some people may not have even read this far. This is a long post for me! Take it or leave it, those are all my words of wisdom as a “cool aunt.”
As you may recall this blog started as being focused on travel and food. Though I’ve gotten away from that in recent years, today I’m returning to my roots albeit with a different spin. Upon returning from a recent trip, I found myself thinking “I love to travel, but…” with a list of a few of things after the but. The thought was finished with some of these:
…but I miss Mr Kisby and LilKsby when they are not with me.
…but I miss my pets.
…but I miss MY bed. It seriously does not matter how comfy a hotel bed is, it is not the same as your bed.
…but I miss MY shower. There is nothing like coming home to my shower with my usual water temp and spray settings! Plus, hotel water tends to wreak havoc with my skin.
…but I miss MY comfy chair. My six year old recliner covered in a fuzzy blanket is my most relaxing place to sit. I’m in it now! LilKsby and one of the pets are sharing it with me!
I’m sure I’m not the only one who can relate to the “I love to travel, but…” sentiment. What are the things that would follow your “but…”?
For YEARS Diet Coke was my favorite drink. I was 100% addicted to them, and I couldn’t have just one. Diet Mt Dew was a close second. Then, I started learning just how bad diet soft drinks are for you. Like, does anyone really know what half of those ingredients are? On January 29, 2022, I had my last soda. It was Mr Kisby’s virtual college graduation, and I had a 44 ounce Diet Coke that left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable. After that I said to myself, no more and quit cold turkey. My gut health thanks me immensely!
So what is my favorite drink now? I drink A LOT of water. It’s become the typical daily drink. I also enjoy coffee and hot tea most days. Coffee is usually after breakfast, and hot tea is typically in the evening. For an indulgent treat I will allow myself unsweet tea (my fav treat drink), lemonade, and juice on a a rare occasion. My favorite juice is the cranberry that the Drury Inn & Suites serves at breakfast!
The Great Kaysby 