katieflodo-blog

[katieflodo-blog]

This night has been an absolute dream. Dan and Phil are now my friends. They hugged me twice and laughed at my jokes and were exactly 1 foot taller than me. @danielhowell @amazingphil thank you for taking the time to meet me and everyone else. #interactiveintroverts #ii #dnp #danandphil #danielhowell #amazingphil Also thank you Michael for the best birthday present ever and for driving me all the way to Seattle for them. 😬 (at Moore Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmXMAX9hCVf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p6ltmoyih3x2

[katieflodo-blog]

Space Jam (1996)

[katieflodo-blog]

I made a video! Odin does not like his cone.

[katieflodo-blog]

This is “Katie Faces”. One of the kids at the middle school I work at made “Sophia faces” for summer camp, and asked me to recreate it. So in true role-model fashion, I recreated it while class was in session with her by my side, coaching me on each face. It was a great bonding experience, and I’m glad I can contribute my face to the youth of America.

[katieflodo-blog]

[katieflodo-blog]

[katieflodo-blog]

“For you and your spouse.”

Someone made this for me and it was very sweet. Thank you to whoever did!

[katieflodo-blog]

[katieflodo-blog]

This is my puppy, Odin, and me. This was taken about two weeks ago and I love him so much! He is so smart and cuddly, and extremely adventurous. He is my kind of dog.

[katieflodo-blog]

Why I got married so young:

I fell in love. It was unexpected, unplanned, and unwanted for a very long time. My plan was to go to school, get a diploma, get a job, get out of debt, and then when my life is in order, find someone I love. This didn’t happen in the “correct” order, and now I’m so immensely happy.

There were various religious aspects to growing up that I did not necessarily agree with, because I did not see the role of men and women as such as my church tried to explain them. I have my own perspective on gender roles, and it has lead me to a man who appreciates me, respects my opinions, hears me when I talk, and a man who deeply empathizes with my incredibly overwhelming nervous habits of tearing myself down. In those times, his kindness and patience builds me back up. And I do the same for him.

Our relationship is give and take; two 100% efforts going into our relationship. Some days, I can only give maybe 30% of myself to our relationship because I’m either doing school, working, or having mental breakdowns. He, without ever feeling like I am a nuisance or disappointment, picks up the slack and picks me up, too. He is an incredible man.

Michael and I like some of the same things. Him and I both prefer an evening at home alone over going to a big party, but he is a thousand times more likely to go to a party over me. This balance helps push me to go out more, and he is still satisfied spending a night at home with me, holding hands on the couch and watching a terrible movie or Parks and Rec for the 4th time over.

We met in a strange way, through friends and exes and ex’s siblings... and this dysfunctional family dynamic has lead to a lot of laughter and strong bonds. This relationship is like something out of a sitcom where the two main characters don’t get together until like season 5. We decided not to wait for that, but we did date for 2 1/2 years before we got married. This was because I wanted to wait, he did not. So, we waited because he respected my timeline.

Michael is my best friend. All of those “When Harry Met Sally” kind of stereo-types are true. Friends make the best spouses because it feels like you get to be yourself 100% of the time.

I have very different professional goals than Michael, but him and I are so similarly minded. We problem solve in a similar way. Michael has the same goals as I do: Get a degree, get the better job, keep working harder, travel, start a family, etc. His goals are just in a different order than mine, but I have a husband who shares a lot of the same dreams I do. Now we get to do them together.

If “freedom” is what you’re worried about, you shouldn’t. There is no hindrance to my freedom for my job, where I travel, who I hang out with-I’m am much too stubborn to let someone control what I do. However, I do talk to my husband about our basic needs first, because those have to be met. Professionally, I do not want to be a stay-at-home-mom. I want to work. I always have a thousand things going on, and I do not plan on slowing down. This was all communicated to my partner before we said “I do”. He knows me, and doesn’t want or expect me to change. I have the freedom to do what I want, I just have to actually do it.

I want to travel, meet people, become a wildlife veterinarian, or somehow work in wildlife rehabilitation and work with lions. I want to travel to New Zealand, London, Ireland, Norway, and live in a foreign country at some point in time. These are still goals, and I fully intend on making them happen with my husband.

I have a team mate always on my side. It’s like I won the real life version of Big Brother, because I have the most loyal, dedicated, and reliable alliance member on my side. I got married because I fell in love, and I would do it again. (Except holy crap, I hated wedding planning while going to school, working, and living on my own. It was a nightmare.) 

Now we have a puppy and life is awesome. We are coming up on 6th months of marriage and 3 years of being together. We are sorting out finances, moving to bigger places, going to school, and are very busy all the time. We work a lot, and don’t plan on stopping. We are involved in our church, community, and plan on starting a family in 5 years. We have plans for the future, but who knows what will actually happen? The point is, we are happy. That is all that matters.

PHOTO BY DAWNPHOTOGRAPHY

[katieflodo-blog]

But he’s so naturally talented. I’m actually so impressed. Peter Parker would approve.

Tom Holland does Rihanna’s “Umbrella” on Lip Sync Battle