Lake Anna State Park, VA
15 years ago
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Furniture Shopping
We went furniture shopping yesterday. What do we need? Living room furniture (except side tables & coffee table), family room furniture with side tables and a new mattress for our bed. My hubby is trying to talk me into one of those memory foam mattresses. Can't get the feel of that? Not very comfy. The FR couch has to be long enough for him to nap on and comfy. We definitely don't want a sleeper in the family room. So, we went to Value City. Eh, not so great. Something called Room Store (?), eh, okay, but nothing "jumped" out at us. Then to IKEA. Looked a lot like dorm furniture or kid furniture, but great storage ideas and basement furniture, maybe. Then we ended up at Ashley. Didn't even know they had one. We probably would've bought furniture there, but the sales people were very pushy. Not a good point in our eyes. Leave us alone and let us look! So we walked out, but we left liking a lot of things they had. Now we need to figure out what to buy. I hate this. I wish someone could just come in and say, "Oh, well the couch and chair and ottoman is a must and the other chair would be fine too." But, no such luck! UGH!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
People in Virginia
They are so nice here, at least so far. I can say that after having to talk with them for about 3 months now. When I first started contacting the school system here about getting a job, they have been extremely helpful. One lady in HR even returned my call (long distance) to explain how I would go about getting my Virginia teaching license. When their application system was having problems and another lady in HR had to input all my desired teaching positions manually (in the days of computers, what a pain!), she still seemed to be smiling on the other end. After the summer, when we came for a long weekend to find a house, a third HR lady was calling all over the county to get me an interview because I had gone through their interview process and was considered "recommended".
So now, we're having house phone problems. Can't get calls in and can't make local calls out. I should say that the only reason we have a house phone is because we have two children with the propensity to have fibral seizures (get a temp. too high, too fast and their body reacts by seizing). Anyway, so 911 doesn't work too well with the cable phone service yet or cell phones. So we feel the need to subscribe to a house phone.
So I've had to deal with many phone calls to the phone company. Each phone call, I know I sound exasperated, but they always seem to be smiling. :) Good thing, because I'm not on the other end.
Anyway, they are fairly courteous here with their driving. Everyone seems polite. I'm just amazed. Is this Southern Hospitality? I don't know. If so, I'm never leaving the South!
So now, we're having house phone problems. Can't get calls in and can't make local calls out. I should say that the only reason we have a house phone is because we have two children with the propensity to have fibral seizures (get a temp. too high, too fast and their body reacts by seizing). Anyway, so 911 doesn't work too well with the cable phone service yet or cell phones. So we feel the need to subscribe to a house phone.
So I've had to deal with many phone calls to the phone company. Each phone call, I know I sound exasperated, but they always seem to be smiling. :) Good thing, because I'm not on the other end.
Anyway, they are fairly courteous here with their driving. Everyone seems polite. I'm just amazed. Is this Southern Hospitality? I don't know. If so, I'm never leaving the South!
Friday, September 12, 2008
My new position (not sexual)
We came to Virginia 3 weeks ago to look for house and the school system here wanted to do a pre-screening interview. It was explained to me that this was to insure I had everything I needed to be a teacher in Indiana and to what knowledge was in my head. Immediately after the interview, they had me go to a school to interview with them. I didn't get that position. My husband was bummed, but I was okay with it.
So, 2 weeks ago we left Indiana to make the big move here. We didn't have internet for a week, which, as Kier put it, was like losing my right arm. So I was going to the library and Starbucks (oh hardship) for the internet. All we had were cell phones, too. That part was really bad, but Verizon proved true. I never lost a call and was able to do a lot of talking when I needed my phone. Anyway, last week I spent a lot of time updating resumes and applications online, but no interviews.
This week I had 5 interviews! 3 of those went really well. I had Monday's set last week and one of Thursday's set on Monday. The other on Thursday was set on Wednesday and one of the ones today was scheduled this morning! The one scheduled at the last minute was the one I selected.
My first interview on Thursday I was told I had the position, but had to hear it from HR. The 2nd one on Thursday was special ed. Not my specialty and that would mean more classes! I had one interview scheduled for this afternoon. A kindergarten position. Then, as I was heading out in search of uniforms for my daughter, I get a call on my cell phone. This principal wants to interview me in an hour & a half. Okay. So back down the driveway to change and head out again. At the end, the principal said, "Now I can't offer you the position, but you'll be hearing from HR." So off to my 2nd interview of the day and 5th of the week! That principal says I interviewed really well!
So, now, my dilemma: which one do I choose? I decided that whichever school called me first, they wanted me the most and I would choose them. The school that called at the last minute, called first. It's what I wanted - an ESOL position in a needy school. The 1st interview on Thursday was like that, too, but that school takes longer to get to, but I would have taken it. I would have to go with a lot of traffic. The school I chose is in the direction that the traffic would be coming from. How nice!
So September 22nd, I will be employed once again. Yeah!
So, 2 weeks ago we left Indiana to make the big move here. We didn't have internet for a week, which, as Kier put it, was like losing my right arm. So I was going to the library and Starbucks (oh hardship) for the internet. All we had were cell phones, too. That part was really bad, but Verizon proved true. I never lost a call and was able to do a lot of talking when I needed my phone. Anyway, last week I spent a lot of time updating resumes and applications online, but no interviews.
This week I had 5 interviews! 3 of those went really well. I had Monday's set last week and one of Thursday's set on Monday. The other on Thursday was set on Wednesday and one of the ones today was scheduled this morning! The one scheduled at the last minute was the one I selected.
My first interview on Thursday I was told I had the position, but had to hear it from HR. The 2nd one on Thursday was special ed. Not my specialty and that would mean more classes! I had one interview scheduled for this afternoon. A kindergarten position. Then, as I was heading out in search of uniforms for my daughter, I get a call on my cell phone. This principal wants to interview me in an hour & a half. Okay. So back down the driveway to change and head out again. At the end, the principal said, "Now I can't offer you the position, but you'll be hearing from HR." So off to my 2nd interview of the day and 5th of the week! That principal says I interviewed really well!
So, now, my dilemma: which one do I choose? I decided that whichever school called me first, they wanted me the most and I would choose them. The school that called at the last minute, called first. It's what I wanted - an ESOL position in a needy school. The 1st interview on Thursday was like that, too, but that school takes longer to get to, but I would have taken it. I would have to go with a lot of traffic. The school I chose is in the direction that the traffic would be coming from. How nice!
So September 22nd, I will be employed once again. Yeah!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Things About Me
1. My tonsils were surgically removed when I was almost 4 years old because my sister had tonsillitis. The operation was performed by a heart surgeon. He was a family friend. I then proceeded to eat 2 pork chops for dinner that night.
2. My sister and I fought like cats and dogs growing up, but I would do anything for her today.
3. I joined the army after graduated from UF because I couldn't find a job. I had a blast!
4. I once broke a coffee table while dancing on it. I was slightly inebriated. I say slightly because I can remember doing it. I did have the help from 2 of my neighbors.
5. I once drank Gatorade at a kegger during college because I was afraid of getting busted for drinking underage. I was so naive.
6. While I was pregnant with my son, all indications pointed towards him having down syndrome. We did not have an amnio done because there was a risk of miscarrying and we were going to have the baby whether he had down syndrome or not. He doesn't have down syndrome. He is extremely smart, I have never looked at a child with down syndrome the same again.
7. I missed taking pictures of my daughter's first day of kindergarten because she wasn't supposed to start kindergarten that day. She was supposed to start PK4.
8. I quit my job that I had a real dislike for when I was 33 to go back to school full time to become a teacher. The Army paid for my school. This was something that I will never regret doing. It is something that I would have regretted NOT doing.
9. My dad's mom died when I was in college. My grandmother (mom's mom) is the one who told me. I didn't cry. She didn't like me and she showed it.
10. My mom has multiple sclerosis and I don't know how I feel about that yet. :(
11. My best friend and I have been friends since we were 2 1/2 years old!
12. My first date with my husband lasted until 4 a.m. and no, I didn't sleep with him!
13. Our dinner and dancing party (wedding reception) was at a restaurant that was a former brothel/chicken ranch in Hollywood, FL.
14. My daughter's due date was my son's birthday! I didn't want twins 3 years apart, so I was induced early. Yes, we have sex more than one day a year! ;)
15. I once talked my way out of a traffic ticket while at UF. I was going the wrong way down a one way street at like 2 a.m. I asked the innocent question of why there was a stop sign and a white line painted on the pavement if it was one way. The officer let me go. :)
16. I've been on 6 cruises and want to go on another soon.
17. I've visited 4 of the 7 continents. I would love to visit Australia and Asia, but can't picture myself in Antarctica.
18. My best friend in the Army was a guy. We were in basic training together and eventually stationed at Ft. Bragg at the same time, but different units. Everyone thought we should get married except us. We didn't. We still talk and I love him like a brother. I cried when he told me he was getting married. I was so happy for him!
19. I really disliked my 3rd grade teacher. I am an elementary school teacher and have no desire to teach 3rd grade. I don't know if this is related to my 3rd grade experience or not.
20. Both my children were extremely fast deliveries. My son was out in 2 pushes and my daughter in 4 pushes. Both without an epidural. My daughter was without any drugs at all! My hubby says I was born to have babies, but we're not having any more.
21. My step-daughter lived with us during her tween and early teen years. Her mother kicked her out of the house just before Christmas. It was the longest 3 or 4 or 5 years of my life. We went to counseling so that the counselor could tell me that it wasn't my job to raise her. She obviously wasn't familiar with the Army's way of life!
22. I have never broken any bone in my body or had any kind of surgery due to an injury or (my own) illness. Can you hear me knocking on wood?
23. I did have my wisdom teeth taken out when I was almost 21. I ate pizza that night for dinner and, although codeine was prescribed for pain, all I took was advil and rode my bike to the beach the next day!
24. I've been to Mardi Gras 3 times. The only time I was old enough to legally drink was the 3rd time. But that didn't stop me the 1st 2 times!
25. I am a 3rd generation Florida Cracker, which I'm told is rare. But my children are both Hoosiers.
26. I liked driving in Texas, but didn't like living there. There were posted speed limit signs, but no one paid attention to them. If the person behind you was going faster than you were, it was expected of you to pull onto the shoulder to let them pass! Crazy.
27. My maternal grandfather's family was one of the 3 families that founded the Cayman Islands. I can't apply for citizenship because my mother hasn't. :( Apparently, they have a lot of rules and control over who becomes a citizen.
28. I believe that honesty is a quality that everyone should have. I'm a very honest person. Too honest, so says the hubs. This is why I didn't get along with my step-daughter.
29. I am also a selfless person. Many are asked if they would move to another state to be with the one they loved. I did it. We moved to Indiana because my husband's kids were there. We now live in Virginia now. Sadly, they don't care. :(
30. I could go to the Magic Kingdom every weekend and still not get sick of it. I love all the Disney parks. My husband thinks, "Not so much."
31. The photographer took over 700 photos at our wedding! He was there until the place closed. Should I upload them?
32. My best friend in pre-school was mulatto (half-black, half-white). I can remember "tasting" each other to see if she tasted like chocolate and me vanilla. Then asking her older sister why she was darker than everyone else. That's the day we found out what adopted meant.
33. My parents used to take a whole month in the summer for vacation. We traveled everywhere camping. I had a great childhood.
34. My sister and I were the only grandchildren on both sides (mom's and dad's). To say the least, we were spoiled. We also had an uncle that was never married and didn't have children!
35. I usually only cook in our house when the husband is flying at night. I don't like cooking and my husband does. I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.
36. My favorite TV shows are 2 1/2 men, NCIS, Law and Order and Grey's Anatomy.
37. I absolutely LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles and could do them 24 hours a day!
38. I can speak Spanish really well. Well enough that I serve as a translator at the school where I work.
39. I could hammer a nail into a 1/4 inch board by the time I was 5! Why do I know this? My DAD wrote it in my baby book. He was impressed with his very girly daughter.
40. I didn't wear a pair of jeans to school until the 6th grade. I thought they were for boys and fishing. Now I could wear them daily.
41. I once put the claw of the hammer through my sister's left eye lid. I told you I didn't like her!
42. My parents say I could swim before I could walk. I loved swimming. I didn't join the swim team in HS because I couldn't dive!
43. I collect gator beenie babies. They don't have to be the real, name brand beenies. They just have to be small.
44. I love to clean. It de-stresses me. I clean the best when "Aunt Flo" comes to visit.
45. If there was a school that was open from like 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., I would sign up to teach there.
46. I can write with either hand on a chalkboard/white board/smart board.
47. I really dislike the taste of coffee, but love the smell.
48. I don't like chocolate milk or chocolate shakes or chocolate ice cream.
49. I've donated my hair to lock of love twice. The first time, they cut off 16 inches! And still cut more in order to style it correctly. The second time only 12 inches.
50. I love to cut the grass. I was forced to cut my grandfather's grass growing up and should probably hate it, but I don't. Yes, it was his grass, but my grandmother's house.
51. I'm a very laid back person. More than one person had told me that, including my husband. If you knew my husband, you understand why I am. Helicopter pilots are SO type A.
52. I have no desire to go to Las Vegas. I've been to Reno and have gotten my fill. I know, not the same, but that's me.
53. I wore my mom's wedding dress in my wedding. I had the sleeves removed. (Lace. Yuck!) I also had the back taken out. Then it was perfect! And I saved boo-coo amounts of money because my mom's friend did all the alterations for free!
54. I have never seen many of the classic love stories like Gone With the Wind and really don't want to see them. Weird, for a woman, I know. But I have no desire to see them. I am more likely to read the book.
55. I took Racquetball at UF because Tennis was full and I was told it was an easy "A". I had to work my ass off for that "easy" A. Volleyball was the same story.
56. I dislike shoes. I take my off as soon as I enter the house. That's why our coat closets usually have my shoes on the bottom.
57. I really don't like houses with multiple levels. It's due to the laundry room. What genius puts all the bedrooms on the top level, but the laundry on the main floor? Obviously, a man!
58. I have no problem donating blood, but give me a TB test and I nearly pass out every time!
59. I think actors with salt n pepper hair are hot, so therefore who I think is hot depends on their hair color. I thought Sean Connery was hot in Medicine Man, but now, not so much. His hair is all grey. I thought Richard Gere was hot in Pretty Woman. I don't know why I find this so appealing.
60. My grandmother was a nurse and so was my mom. I could never be a nurse. I could never stick someone with a needle and I don't like taking care of sick people. Blood doesn't bother me a bit.
61. I learned to drive a car in 3 weeks! I wanted to go to a summer acting class and my parents refused to drive me. It was their way of making me get my license.
62. I had the best summer jobs in HS. One summer I worked at Adventure Island in Tampa and the next at Busch Gardens. We were being paid to have fun. Ice fights. Free ice cream. Played games.
63. When my sister and I were very young, we chose to share a bedroom so we could have a playroom.
64. I am the youngest daughter and my dad still calls me "The Baby".
65. If I didn't think the hubs would notice, I would own hundreds of shoes.
66. I own a monopoly game from the sixties. My uncle owns one from the forties!
67. I once rode my bike 12 miles to get to the beach. I was about 14. My best friend and I would ride everywhere on our bikes. Those were the good old days.
68. I have a footlocker full of my school (MS, HS, college) memorabilia. What's missing are the yearbooks. Those are on a family room shelf, if not packed in a box!
69. I love painting walls in a house. If I thought I could make money at it, that's what I would do for a living. I painted our house by myself and loved every minute of it. All inside, of course. The house was brick. No need to paint outside.
70. I own about 7 bathing suits even though I don't live in Florida anymore.
71. I could wear a UF sweatshirt or T-shirt every day for a month and not wear the same one twice.
72. My roommate and I in college created our own Gator shirts with ribbon and such because we didn't want to pay the high price in the Gator shops.
73. I can trace my maternal grandfather's family genealogy back to the 1700s.
74. I don't scrapbook. I'm probably the only woman who doesn't feel I need to learn. I don't feel I have the time. I probably NOT the only woman who feels this way!
75. I love to drive. I am always up for a road trip. In college, my roomies and I went to Jacksonville on the spur of the moment because there weren't any parties in Gainesville! We got back to the dorms around 4 a.m.
76. I don't like rooms that are decorated with birdhouses. I don't think birdhouses belong in a house.
77. My favorite color is sage green. I wanted my bridesmaids' dresses to be in sage, but my mom and best friend's mom talked me out of it. Why did I let them do that?
78. I addicted to Diet Coke. There. I've said it!
79. I am obsessed with HGTV. I like all of their shows: anything home improvement or buying/selling a house.
80. My secret TV obsession is What Not To Wear. I don't know what draws me to this show. Maybe it's Stacy's and Clinton's honesty and sarcasm.
81. My husband and I renovated our basement, floor to ceiling, in under a month! We thought he was getting a job transfer and we needed to finish it before trying to sell it. We had previously tore out the ceiling and walls. It was a blank canvas.
82. I once ran through the Orlando airport carrying a backpack, an almost 3 year old and car seat while 7 1/2 months pregnant! My son was about to have a fibral seizure and I was running to get help. He had one before and I could tell he was going to do it again. Thank goodness he's past this phase.
83. As a kid, I would catch lizards and hang them from my ears like earrings. It didn't hurt and we thought it as cool.
84. I think people who wear socks with sandals should just wear tennis shoes. Why wear sandals if you're going to put on socks?
85. I don't like The Simpson's. I think it's the dumbest show ever put on TV. I can't believe it's lasted this long! Someone, please tell me the appeal of it.
86. When I was in the Army, I could run the required 2 miles in 15 minutes! I was very proud of that. It makes me wish I had joined cross country or track in HS. I also used to run 10K for fun!
87. I have wasted height. I am almost 5'8" but never used it for anything like basketball or volleyball. I do like to play pick up games of basketball, but that's it.
88. I was made in Germany, but it's not stamped on my butt or anything. My parents were living in Germany when I was conceived. I am proof of how well the pill worked for my mom.
89. I can sleep anywhere as long as I have at least one body pillow!
90. I can sleep until well into the afternoon if you let me. I can also stay up all night if I have to for a reason.
91. I have no desire to ever drive a mini van. I like my truck. Most people think it's too big. I even receive glares once in awhile. I admit. It's big. It takes a lot of diesel, but I like it and we need something to pull the camper we have and the camper we will have. :)
92. I refuse to wear sandals unless my toenails are painted. I don't like naked toes.
93. My hands don't match each other. My right hand looks like my grandfather's and my left hand looks like my mother's.
93. I love to people watch in the airport or mall. Actually, I just love airports. I don't even have to be going anywhere, just the airport.
94. I hate the snow and cold weather. I'd rather be sweating my ass off in Florida than freezing it off in the snow in 10 degree weather!
95. If I must cook, give me a gas cook top. But I prefer a electric oven.
96. I dislike pancakes. Doesn't matter how you make them, I won't like them.
97. I'm also not so fond of butter or margarine or whatever you want to call that yellow-tinted stuff you spread on bread. I get a lot of strange looks when I order dry toast in restaurants.
98. When my husband and I sold our house in Seymour, we became debt free. It is a great feeling. I recommend it to everyone. If you have doubts that it's possible, just Google "Dave Ramsey".
99. Making this list was painful. Why did I ever start it?
100. It took me 3 days to come up with this list!
2. My sister and I fought like cats and dogs growing up, but I would do anything for her today.
3. I joined the army after graduated from UF because I couldn't find a job. I had a blast!
4. I once broke a coffee table while dancing on it. I was slightly inebriated. I say slightly because I can remember doing it. I did have the help from 2 of my neighbors.
5. I once drank Gatorade at a kegger during college because I was afraid of getting busted for drinking underage. I was so naive.
6. While I was pregnant with my son, all indications pointed towards him having down syndrome. We did not have an amnio done because there was a risk of miscarrying and we were going to have the baby whether he had down syndrome or not. He doesn't have down syndrome. He is extremely smart, I have never looked at a child with down syndrome the same again.
7. I missed taking pictures of my daughter's first day of kindergarten because she wasn't supposed to start kindergarten that day. She was supposed to start PK4.
8. I quit my job that I had a real dislike for when I was 33 to go back to school full time to become a teacher. The Army paid for my school. This was something that I will never regret doing. It is something that I would have regretted NOT doing.
9. My dad's mom died when I was in college. My grandmother (mom's mom) is the one who told me. I didn't cry. She didn't like me and she showed it.
10. My mom has multiple sclerosis and I don't know how I feel about that yet. :(
11. My best friend and I have been friends since we were 2 1/2 years old!
12. My first date with my husband lasted until 4 a.m. and no, I didn't sleep with him!
13. Our dinner and dancing party (wedding reception) was at a restaurant that was a former brothel/chicken ranch in Hollywood, FL.
14. My daughter's due date was my son's birthday! I didn't want twins 3 years apart, so I was induced early. Yes, we have sex more than one day a year! ;)
15. I once talked my way out of a traffic ticket while at UF. I was going the wrong way down a one way street at like 2 a.m. I asked the innocent question of why there was a stop sign and a white line painted on the pavement if it was one way. The officer let me go. :)
16. I've been on 6 cruises and want to go on another soon.
17. I've visited 4 of the 7 continents. I would love to visit Australia and Asia, but can't picture myself in Antarctica.
18. My best friend in the Army was a guy. We were in basic training together and eventually stationed at Ft. Bragg at the same time, but different units. Everyone thought we should get married except us. We didn't. We still talk and I love him like a brother. I cried when he told me he was getting married. I was so happy for him!
19. I really disliked my 3rd grade teacher. I am an elementary school teacher and have no desire to teach 3rd grade. I don't know if this is related to my 3rd grade experience or not.
20. Both my children were extremely fast deliveries. My son was out in 2 pushes and my daughter in 4 pushes. Both without an epidural. My daughter was without any drugs at all! My hubby says I was born to have babies, but we're not having any more.
21. My step-daughter lived with us during her tween and early teen years. Her mother kicked her out of the house just before Christmas. It was the longest 3 or 4 or 5 years of my life. We went to counseling so that the counselor could tell me that it wasn't my job to raise her. She obviously wasn't familiar with the Army's way of life!
22. I have never broken any bone in my body or had any kind of surgery due to an injury or (my own) illness. Can you hear me knocking on wood?
23. I did have my wisdom teeth taken out when I was almost 21. I ate pizza that night for dinner and, although codeine was prescribed for pain, all I took was advil and rode my bike to the beach the next day!
24. I've been to Mardi Gras 3 times. The only time I was old enough to legally drink was the 3rd time. But that didn't stop me the 1st 2 times!
25. I am a 3rd generation Florida Cracker, which I'm told is rare. But my children are both Hoosiers.
26. I liked driving in Texas, but didn't like living there. There were posted speed limit signs, but no one paid attention to them. If the person behind you was going faster than you were, it was expected of you to pull onto the shoulder to let them pass! Crazy.
27. My maternal grandfather's family was one of the 3 families that founded the Cayman Islands. I can't apply for citizenship because my mother hasn't. :( Apparently, they have a lot of rules and control over who becomes a citizen.
28. I believe that honesty is a quality that everyone should have. I'm a very honest person. Too honest, so says the hubs. This is why I didn't get along with my step-daughter.
29. I am also a selfless person. Many are asked if they would move to another state to be with the one they loved. I did it. We moved to Indiana because my husband's kids were there. We now live in Virginia now. Sadly, they don't care. :(
30. I could go to the Magic Kingdom every weekend and still not get sick of it. I love all the Disney parks. My husband thinks, "Not so much."
31. The photographer took over 700 photos at our wedding! He was there until the place closed. Should I upload them?
32. My best friend in pre-school was mulatto (half-black, half-white). I can remember "tasting" each other to see if she tasted like chocolate and me vanilla. Then asking her older sister why she was darker than everyone else. That's the day we found out what adopted meant.
33. My parents used to take a whole month in the summer for vacation. We traveled everywhere camping. I had a great childhood.
34. My sister and I were the only grandchildren on both sides (mom's and dad's). To say the least, we were spoiled. We also had an uncle that was never married and didn't have children!
35. I usually only cook in our house when the husband is flying at night. I don't like cooking and my husband does. I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.
36. My favorite TV shows are 2 1/2 men, NCIS, Law and Order and Grey's Anatomy.
37. I absolutely LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles and could do them 24 hours a day!
38. I can speak Spanish really well. Well enough that I serve as a translator at the school where I work.
39. I could hammer a nail into a 1/4 inch board by the time I was 5! Why do I know this? My DAD wrote it in my baby book. He was impressed with his very girly daughter.
40. I didn't wear a pair of jeans to school until the 6th grade. I thought they were for boys and fishing. Now I could wear them daily.
41. I once put the claw of the hammer through my sister's left eye lid. I told you I didn't like her!
42. My parents say I could swim before I could walk. I loved swimming. I didn't join the swim team in HS because I couldn't dive!
43. I collect gator beenie babies. They don't have to be the real, name brand beenies. They just have to be small.
44. I love to clean. It de-stresses me. I clean the best when "Aunt Flo" comes to visit.
45. If there was a school that was open from like 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., I would sign up to teach there.
46. I can write with either hand on a chalkboard/white board/smart board.
47. I really dislike the taste of coffee, but love the smell.
48. I don't like chocolate milk or chocolate shakes or chocolate ice cream.
49. I've donated my hair to lock of love twice. The first time, they cut off 16 inches! And still cut more in order to style it correctly. The second time only 12 inches.
50. I love to cut the grass. I was forced to cut my grandfather's grass growing up and should probably hate it, but I don't. Yes, it was his grass, but my grandmother's house.
51. I'm a very laid back person. More than one person had told me that, including my husband. If you knew my husband, you understand why I am. Helicopter pilots are SO type A.
52. I have no desire to go to Las Vegas. I've been to Reno and have gotten my fill. I know, not the same, but that's me.
53. I wore my mom's wedding dress in my wedding. I had the sleeves removed. (Lace. Yuck!) I also had the back taken out. Then it was perfect! And I saved boo-coo amounts of money because my mom's friend did all the alterations for free!
54. I have never seen many of the classic love stories like Gone With the Wind and really don't want to see them. Weird, for a woman, I know. But I have no desire to see them. I am more likely to read the book.
55. I took Racquetball at UF because Tennis was full and I was told it was an easy "A". I had to work my ass off for that "easy" A. Volleyball was the same story.
56. I dislike shoes. I take my off as soon as I enter the house. That's why our coat closets usually have my shoes on the bottom.
57. I really don't like houses with multiple levels. It's due to the laundry room. What genius puts all the bedrooms on the top level, but the laundry on the main floor? Obviously, a man!
58. I have no problem donating blood, but give me a TB test and I nearly pass out every time!
59. I think actors with salt n pepper hair are hot, so therefore who I think is hot depends on their hair color. I thought Sean Connery was hot in Medicine Man, but now, not so much. His hair is all grey. I thought Richard Gere was hot in Pretty Woman. I don't know why I find this so appealing.
60. My grandmother was a nurse and so was my mom. I could never be a nurse. I could never stick someone with a needle and I don't like taking care of sick people. Blood doesn't bother me a bit.
61. I learned to drive a car in 3 weeks! I wanted to go to a summer acting class and my parents refused to drive me. It was their way of making me get my license.
62. I had the best summer jobs in HS. One summer I worked at Adventure Island in Tampa and the next at Busch Gardens. We were being paid to have fun. Ice fights. Free ice cream. Played games.
63. When my sister and I were very young, we chose to share a bedroom so we could have a playroom.
64. I am the youngest daughter and my dad still calls me "The Baby".
65. If I didn't think the hubs would notice, I would own hundreds of shoes.
66. I own a monopoly game from the sixties. My uncle owns one from the forties!
67. I once rode my bike 12 miles to get to the beach. I was about 14. My best friend and I would ride everywhere on our bikes. Those were the good old days.
68. I have a footlocker full of my school (MS, HS, college) memorabilia. What's missing are the yearbooks. Those are on a family room shelf, if not packed in a box!
69. I love painting walls in a house. If I thought I could make money at it, that's what I would do for a living. I painted our house by myself and loved every minute of it. All inside, of course. The house was brick. No need to paint outside.
70. I own about 7 bathing suits even though I don't live in Florida anymore.
71. I could wear a UF sweatshirt or T-shirt every day for a month and not wear the same one twice.
72. My roommate and I in college created our own Gator shirts with ribbon and such because we didn't want to pay the high price in the Gator shops.
73. I can trace my maternal grandfather's family genealogy back to the 1700s.
74. I don't scrapbook. I'm probably the only woman who doesn't feel I need to learn. I don't feel I have the time. I probably NOT the only woman who feels this way!
75. I love to drive. I am always up for a road trip. In college, my roomies and I went to Jacksonville on the spur of the moment because there weren't any parties in Gainesville! We got back to the dorms around 4 a.m.
76. I don't like rooms that are decorated with birdhouses. I don't think birdhouses belong in a house.
77. My favorite color is sage green. I wanted my bridesmaids' dresses to be in sage, but my mom and best friend's mom talked me out of it. Why did I let them do that?
78. I addicted to Diet Coke. There. I've said it!
79. I am obsessed with HGTV. I like all of their shows: anything home improvement or buying/selling a house.
80. My secret TV obsession is What Not To Wear. I don't know what draws me to this show. Maybe it's Stacy's and Clinton's honesty and sarcasm.
81. My husband and I renovated our basement, floor to ceiling, in under a month! We thought he was getting a job transfer and we needed to finish it before trying to sell it. We had previously tore out the ceiling and walls. It was a blank canvas.
82. I once ran through the Orlando airport carrying a backpack, an almost 3 year old and car seat while 7 1/2 months pregnant! My son was about to have a fibral seizure and I was running to get help. He had one before and I could tell he was going to do it again. Thank goodness he's past this phase.
83. As a kid, I would catch lizards and hang them from my ears like earrings. It didn't hurt and we thought it as cool.
84. I think people who wear socks with sandals should just wear tennis shoes. Why wear sandals if you're going to put on socks?
85. I don't like The Simpson's. I think it's the dumbest show ever put on TV. I can't believe it's lasted this long! Someone, please tell me the appeal of it.
86. When I was in the Army, I could run the required 2 miles in 15 minutes! I was very proud of that. It makes me wish I had joined cross country or track in HS. I also used to run 10K for fun!
87. I have wasted height. I am almost 5'8" but never used it for anything like basketball or volleyball. I do like to play pick up games of basketball, but that's it.
88. I was made in Germany, but it's not stamped on my butt or anything. My parents were living in Germany when I was conceived. I am proof of how well the pill worked for my mom.
89. I can sleep anywhere as long as I have at least one body pillow!
90. I can sleep until well into the afternoon if you let me. I can also stay up all night if I have to for a reason.
91. I have no desire to ever drive a mini van. I like my truck. Most people think it's too big. I even receive glares once in awhile. I admit. It's big. It takes a lot of diesel, but I like it and we need something to pull the camper we have and the camper we will have. :)
92. I refuse to wear sandals unless my toenails are painted. I don't like naked toes.
93. My hands don't match each other. My right hand looks like my grandfather's and my left hand looks like my mother's.
93. I love to people watch in the airport or mall. Actually, I just love airports. I don't even have to be going anywhere, just the airport.
94. I hate the snow and cold weather. I'd rather be sweating my ass off in Florida than freezing it off in the snow in 10 degree weather!
95. If I must cook, give me a gas cook top. But I prefer a electric oven.
96. I dislike pancakes. Doesn't matter how you make them, I won't like them.
97. I'm also not so fond of butter or margarine or whatever you want to call that yellow-tinted stuff you spread on bread. I get a lot of strange looks when I order dry toast in restaurants.
98. When my husband and I sold our house in Seymour, we became debt free. It is a great feeling. I recommend it to everyone. If you have doubts that it's possible, just Google "Dave Ramsey".
99. Making this list was painful. Why did I ever start it?
100. It took me 3 days to come up with this list!
Names in VA
Ok. So getting around this part of Virginia is more than just about learning new street names, etc. The person who laid out this area must have been smoking some good stuff. Now, in every city there are those roads that go along and then cross a road and suddenly are named something else. SOME roads do that. Here ALL roads do that! It's crazy! Then there are just some strange names here. Tell me, how would you pronounce this name "Niple". That is a name on the side of a rather large building on a major thoroughfare here. I nearly had an accident. If it weren't such a busy road, I would have stopped and taken a picture of it with my phone. There was another name that went along with Mr/Mrs Niple, but I was so hung up on that, I don't remember the other name. Could you imagine going through life (or school) with that last name? I think I would change my name.
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New
This will be my first blog and I'm just sorta trying this out.
We recently moved to the Northern Virginia area and still learning our way around. I'm really beginning to love it here. I like the variety of shopping and can't wait to go shopping for furniture. You see, we sold a lot of our common area (non-bedroom) furniture to make it easier to move. We liked our bedroom furniture too much!
So, we went and enrolled our son in school on the first day (day after Labor Day). That went fairly smoothly. Next, we went looking for a pre-school for our daughter. We went to the area Christian pre-school/school/daycare to check them out. We liked it and they asked her some questions. They kind of hinted that instead of PK4, they would be putting her in Kindergarten. So then she preceded to count to 100. That kind of sealed it. Now, as an Elementary School teacher, I wasn't so sure about pushing this little girl into school, so they told me she could try it for a day. We came back the next day for her to try it. She liked it and did better than some of the others. So she stayed. Basically it means that although our children are almost 3 years apart in age, they will only be 2 years apart in grades. This will probably be more confusing later. Now, it doesn't seem to matter.
We recently moved to the Northern Virginia area and still learning our way around. I'm really beginning to love it here. I like the variety of shopping and can't wait to go shopping for furniture. You see, we sold a lot of our common area (non-bedroom) furniture to make it easier to move. We liked our bedroom furniture too much!
So, we went and enrolled our son in school on the first day (day after Labor Day). That went fairly smoothly. Next, we went looking for a pre-school for our daughter. We went to the area Christian pre-school/school/daycare to check them out. We liked it and they asked her some questions. They kind of hinted that instead of PK4, they would be putting her in Kindergarten. So then she preceded to count to 100. That kind of sealed it. Now, as an Elementary School teacher, I wasn't so sure about pushing this little girl into school, so they told me she could try it for a day. We came back the next day for her to try it. She liked it and did better than some of the others. So she stayed. Basically it means that although our children are almost 3 years apart in age, they will only be 2 years apart in grades. This will probably be more confusing later. Now, it doesn't seem to matter.
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