Life Update - July 6, 2025

It's been a while since I've done a life update so I though I'd write an update.

Life has been busy both personally and professionally.

On the professional front, I had my annual performance review and my boss is pleased with what I've done.  He sees some new opportunities to work more with our security group.  Most of my work surrounds our web application firewall or WAF for short.  With 30 years in the organization, I also do a lot of education especially for new employees. Helping others can be a double edged sword at times - I appreciate when people read and ask questions about things that I write or advice that I offer.  What I don't like is when people sit on their hands expecting to be spoon-fed.  I had the latter happen to me this past week with the cherry on top being that the person who waited for my help proceeded to criticize and nit-pick me later.  After telling this person that, in the future, perhaps they should use available documentation to do their own work instead of expecting others to do work for them, I tried to turn the negative into a positive by working with more receptive coworkers to review some data to address some of the criticism that I received.  

The work scenario above soured my desire to be festive on the Fourth of July so outside of going to the grocery store that morning, I just laid low at home.  I spent a little time in the sun working on my "tan" before retreating to my air-conditioned house.  My late Grandpa Woodruff had skin cancer removed several times so while I don't like being pale, I don't sunbathe for long and I use a tanning oil with some SPF.

My husband travels a good bit in the summer for fun going places with the scouts doing fun things like zip lining, hiking, kayaking, etc.  He took  atrip with the Order of the Arrow (OA ) in early June. Jon and I got a little weekend trip of our own.  We went to Deer Creek State Park. We did a kayaking
program which really showed my weaknesses when it comes to kayaking!  I did a metro parks program last year where we were offered a bit of guidance on how to use the paddle before being told to go paddle and come back in 20 minutes.  We paddled for an about an hour at Deer Creek which included my getting stuck on several logs.  Thankfully, the naturalist guiding us and my husband were both very patient.  My husband bought two kayaks last summer and we're going to go out on our own at a put-in near our house.  Aside from kayaking, we walked around a car show at the campground and took a hike.  We opted to stay at the lodge instead of camping which is normally what my husband does on his summer trips. 

Our son works at Camp Falling Rock as the Brigade Commander.  Don't ask me what exactly he does other than a lot of work related to frontier and mountain man programs.  Summer means a lot of time spent at Camp Falling Rock (CFR).  My husband is the lodge advisor for an OA lodge that hosts Wednesday night float nights.  Rather than root beer floats served in the past, this year strawberry floats are being served. My husband or I go to our local Dollar General and buy out all of their two-liters of strawberry Fanta and Jon goes and buys gallons of vanilla ice cream at Kroger.  Jon likes pineapple so I bought a pineapple Fanta and is thinking about offering a "Lodge Master Surprise" float during the week he's at camp.

Speaking of scout camp, my husband spent a partial week at CFR volunteering at water front and anywhere else he was needed.  He'll be spend a week at camp with our local scout trip providing adult leadership as well as volunteering.  Jon always packs so much stuff when he goes to camp.  I recently attended mass with him and the gospel reading was about taking nothing with you - no extra shoes or shirts, leather working materials, frontiersman gear, etc. The context around this verse is that you are to rely on the kindness and hospitality of the people in whatever village you enter.  If you are not welcome, you "shake the dust from your feet" and move on.  This seems to go against scouting's "Be Prepared" methodology.  Jon will have several "traveling bags" or totes of supplies, extra shoes (not sandals), and several walking sticks.

Summer led to a change in my "regularly scheduled workout programming." When I prepped for the May powerlifting meeting, I lifted three times a week and did Crossfit once. Aside from one lift session with a coach, I did my other sessions during open gym.  To increase my strength as well as prep for my October meet, Coach Jonathan recommended that I do the Steadfast Strength class.  I do the 6 PM Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights.  I usually do the Crossfit partner workout on Saturday morning unless I have plans with Jon to go kayaking or hiking.  Sundays and Wednesdays are active rest days where I walk or use my elliptical machine.

Whew, that was a lot.  I told you life has been busy.  If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading!

Resources:

YouVersion Bible App - Scripture Image

Deer Creek State Park - Official ODNR Site