Which one to CHOOSE???????
OK. This one is fun AND embarrassing.
Back around 1997, when John and I were living outside of Cincinnati, we decided to pool up our meager credit card resources and take a vacation. As a couple, we'd only ever spent time off from school/work going home to visit our family in Indiana and Michigan. Well, this vacation wasn't too much different. I mean, we still took some time to visit family, but we made it a point to visit some places we'd never been as a couple in and around the way. We went to Chicago (having to stop at a seedy gas station right downtown as we didn't plan ahead very well and were on fumes), we went to Cedar Point (my first time going where it didn't get rained out), AND we went to Mackinac Island in Michigan
Now, part of the charm of Mackinac Island is that there are no motorized vehicles allowed. You can walk, take a horse-drawn carriage, or you can ride bicycles. John insisted on renting bikes. The catch--I'm not the world's greatest bike-rider.
I learned how to ride almost two years later than a lot of the kids in the neighborhood and was often embarrassed and humiliated about that. (Amusingly, my own children did not learn until the same "late" age [Izzy's still on training wheels, Keith didn't lose his training wheels until this last summer. Mary learned around the same age as Keith--and she basically taught herself.], but there are no neighborhood kids around here to tease them.) I think I just do not have the grace and coordination for physical stuff like that. My mother could dance swing and country line dances all night long--I have the WILL to dance, but not the coordination OR rhythm. Learning to ride a bike was painful and frustrating and I fought it tooth and nail (I blame a fall--while riding ON TRAINING WHEELS--when I was about 4-5, resulting in a seemed-to-me GIANT gash on my head, as part of my problem).
So! To get back to 1997, I was not the best bike-rider, and here my fiance was wanting to ride bikes about this charming island. Well, one thing about me, I go with the flow--self-fulfilling prophecies be damned!
Well, part of the problem with me and bikes I think is the not really knowing how to WORK them. I mean, I was presented with a 10-speed when I was in my teens, but except for the "this gear is for regular riding, and this is for uphill, and be careful when using the brakes downhill" bland instruction I received from my brother, I didn't know anything else about it. Now...focus on that last bit of advice. I was told to be careful applying the brakes down-hill because if I were going too fast, I may just topple head-over-heals down the hill causing myself great head-bashing pain.
Did you know that Mackinac Island has hills? And one really monstrous, scary (to a non-bike-riding enthusiast) hill--and that that hill is paved with GRAVEL, which is the scariest stuff out there to a not-so-great-rider who is deathly afraid of skidding and toppling and is unfamiliar with her bike and specifically with the minutia of HOW to apply brakes when going down a monstrous, scary, gravel-paved hill????????
John tells the next bit best. He was ahead of me on said scary hill, and all he can remember is seeing a Carrie-sized STREAK go past him at the speed of light. THEN the Doppler effect of Carrie screaming "AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Hey, I didn't skid or fall. ...And, at least I can laugh about it now! (And John MORE so.)
(Ugh--I have a story about my first time skiing that's "almost" as funny. Fortunately for me, no one was around to witness THAT humiliation. This is why I can now say, "Yes, I've skiied. Been there, done that. Check it off. I'm GOOD.")
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Day 16--A Favorite Food
Whoops! I went out of order! Sorry--all that catching up caused me to get all confused!
So! A Favorite Food! Well, I find it interesting that if asked this question 30, 20, and even 10 years ago, I'd probably present a different answer.
30 years ago: Mama's fried chicked and mashed potatoes and gravy. If my mother is anywhere near my vicinity on my birthday, she is still required to make this for me. Mmmmm....
20 years ago: Chi-Chi's Mexican--particularly the fajitas and guacamole. Too bad the food/service started going down, and then they went out of business.
10 years ago (or actually, more like 15): I was on an Olive Garden kick.
Currently:
Mmmmm....sushi.... *drool*
So! A Favorite Food! Well, I find it interesting that if asked this question 30, 20, and even 10 years ago, I'd probably present a different answer.
30 years ago: Mama's fried chicked and mashed potatoes and gravy. If my mother is anywhere near my vicinity on my birthday, she is still required to make this for me. Mmmmm....
20 years ago: Chi-Chi's Mexican--particularly the fajitas and guacamole. Too bad the food/service started going down, and then they went out of business.
10 years ago (or actually, more like 15): I was on an Olive Garden kick.
Currently:
Mmmmm....sushi.... *drool*
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day 15--Celebrity Crush
I can't believe I'm admitting this.
#1 on my list for a while--until he grew his hair out all stupid and became a sex freak. (Although seeing him shirtless in the 2nd X-files movie was a bit enjoyable.)
Day 13--Something I want to buy
I'm not much of a shopper. Half the time when I go out to buy something, I end up home with nothing. I get all frantic about the prices, or I'm bored at the selection, or I'm just plain annoyed. Unless it's something for the kids, I have a tendency to buy more of what I "need" than what I "want." This is not an easy entry to write. (Hey, MR, I almost put "right" again! GAH!!!! The horror!!!).
I guess that if I had a million dollars and no future money worries (hahahahaha), then I would buy us a beach house at Ocean City. The kids still go on and on about how that was our Best. Vacation. Ever (they've taken ohhhhh so many--ha!). I'd love to own a house out there so that we could go out whenever we wanted....
Practically, though, I guess now that I've got my Kindle, I can't think of anything else I fervently want. Maybe the money to be able to BUY books for it, since the only books I get are the free ones, and except for the classics (of course), so far the free ones haven't been that great.
I guess that if I had a million dollars and no future money worries (hahahahaha), then I would buy us a beach house at Ocean City. The kids still go on and on about how that was our Best. Vacation. Ever (they've taken ohhhhh so many--ha!). I'd love to own a house out there so that we could go out whenever we wanted....
Practically, though, I guess now that I've got my Kindle, I can't think of anything else I fervently want. Maybe the money to be able to BUY books for it, since the only books I get are the free ones, and except for the classics (of course), so far the free ones haven't been that great.
Day 12--Something I bought recently
I recently decided that my 4-year old winter coat was too shabby (and one of the zipper-pulls has been broken for a year), so I went on a hunt for a new one. Challenging as I had to pick a week we actually had money and a day I actually had time (san children) to look.
It was...exhausting. (Especially since the first day I looked, I had all three kids with me.) I ended up paying more for my coat than I wanted, BUT it looks good, fits well, and it seem really, really sturdy.
And...I can't find a picture of my new coat. Ah well. It's black, goes down to my hips, has a fake-fur trimmed hood, and...it's a Calvin Klein (swanky!). I'm a little surprised at the label, myself.
It was...exhausting. (Especially since the first day I looked, I had all three kids with me.) I ended up paying more for my coat than I wanted, BUT it looks good, fits well, and it seem really, really sturdy.
And...I can't find a picture of my new coat. Ah well. It's black, goes down to my hips, has a fake-fur trimmed hood, and...it's a Calvin Klein (swanky!). I'm a little surprised at the label, myself.
Day 11--Current photo of me
There are just not that many photos of me. Probably because I'm usually the one taking the pictures. And I'm also not nearly as interesting a subject as my children are.
There was a wonderful picture taken of John and me while we were at his co-worker's X-mas party last December, but I don't have access to the file. (I need to remind John to try to get a copy of that.) My limited resources produced this:
There was a wonderful picture taken of John and me while we were at his co-worker's X-mas party last December, but I don't have access to the file. (I need to remind John to try to get a copy of that.) My limited resources produced this:
 |
| My high school BFFs and me--Summer 2010 |
Day 10--Photo of me from over 10 years ago
OK, I took this challenge to heart and went to the photo albums to find a picuture of myself from EXACTLY ten years ago. There are not that many. This is the best I could find:
Another classic:
 |
| Mary's FIRST Birthday Party, December 2000. |
 |
| Easter, 2001 |
Another classic:
 |
| Senior picture, taken August 1990 |
Day--Whoops!
Too many computer problems to keep up! I wish I had ONE computer in my house where I had access to documents and pictures and spreadsheets and a working printer and a working scanner....yeah, that would certainly help out. *sigh*
The technology got to be TOO MUCH, so I tuned out again for a while. Well, that was a nice break! Back to business!
The technology got to be TOO MUCH, so I tuned out again for a while. Well, that was a nice break! Back to business!
Friday, February 04, 2011
Day 9--Pet Peeves
Pet peeves are those things that I don't notice I have--until one gets tweaked. Amusingly, I find that the pet peeves of my husband annoy me more than anything--in other words, I get annoyed if I see something that I know darn well will annoy my husband! One of the biggest that I look out for on his behalf--anyone chewing with their mouths open. Children BEWARE! Although, I had to be re-trained, too, as I discovered not long into our acquaintance that this ALSO includes blowing bubbles and snapping gum. Oh...but I soooooo love to snap gum. I guess that's why I stopped buying gum for a while, there. :-(
One of the things that stands out in my mind right now as a definite pet peeve of my own is folks who take off their socks and just leave them lying around the house. And what is one of the most annoying things my children do? You guess it! (I don't mind feet--I mind the SOCKS. No, it doesn't make sense, but pet peeves don't have to, do they?) NOW I tend to go into a murderous rage since abandoned socks not only make me gag, but they are now sure to be holed away in a corner somewhere by the dog who takes some sort of sick enjoyment out of EATING them and then HORKING them up later. GAH!
Oh yes--I also hate to see poor grammar and writing. I ESPECIALLY hate to see it on passive-aggressive signs "innocently" posted about the office. I've been known to grab white-out and correct the offensive signs because I can't stand to see the grammer/punctuation errors anymore. I don't mind verbal grammar abuse so much. I figure it's sometimes hard to word things just write when speaking on the fly. Written errors (Oh, especially in business emails!) make my skin crawl! Take the time to read over what you've just written, so you don't sound so stupid! The worst case of this is when I become guilty of it myself. If I detect a grammar error I made after the fact, oh! how embarrassing!!!!! I cringe--and then hope that no one else noticed my idiocy. Then I try very, very hard to remind myself I'm only human, too. (Oh goodness, PLEASE don't now go back through this post and all my other ones looking for my grammar errors!!! The horror!)
One of the things that stands out in my mind right now as a definite pet peeve of my own is folks who take off their socks and just leave them lying around the house. And what is one of the most annoying things my children do? You guess it! (I don't mind feet--I mind the SOCKS. No, it doesn't make sense, but pet peeves don't have to, do they?) NOW I tend to go into a murderous rage since abandoned socks not only make me gag, but they are now sure to be holed away in a corner somewhere by the dog who takes some sort of sick enjoyment out of EATING them and then HORKING them up later. GAH!
Oh yes--I also hate to see poor grammar and writing. I ESPECIALLY hate to see it on passive-aggressive signs "innocently" posted about the office. I've been known to grab white-out and correct the offensive signs because I can't stand to see the grammer/punctuation errors anymore. I don't mind verbal grammar abuse so much. I figure it's sometimes hard to word things just write when speaking on the fly. Written errors (Oh, especially in business emails!) make my skin crawl! Take the time to read over what you've just written, so you don't sound so stupid! The worst case of this is when I become guilty of it myself. If I detect a grammar error I made after the fact, oh! how embarrassing!!!!! I cringe--and then hope that no one else noticed my idiocy. Then I try very, very hard to remind myself I'm only human, too. (Oh goodness, PLEASE don't now go back through this post and all my other ones looking for my grammar errors!!! The horror!)
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Day 8--Something I Crave
Ho boy. That changes from day to day, week to week, month to month.
But here's something interesting. When I was a gawky teenager, I worked at Taco Bell. I would work three evenings a week plus the day shift on Saturday and Sunday. My mother was working a full-time plus a part-time job, so most days when I got off work, there was no dinner--and most times not even any food in the house. I cannot believe how many times I got off work--only to return an hour later to eat the same stuff I had just spent hours cooking/assembling/serving to customers. Because...I CRAVED it. After HOURS and HOURS, I CRAVED the crap! Of course, back then (so telling my age here), the beef was REAL, and we cooked it and added the seasonings ourselves. Even the refried beans were made out of REAL beans in a REAL HUGE bean pot with REAL LARD. Yeah...that was the good stuff.
Anyway, RIGHT at this current moment in time, I am craving some of those oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that I made during our snow day yesterday (a quarter of which I already polished off while the kids weren't looking).
...AND the guacamole/nachos that are pictured HERE. Mmmmmmmm.....
But here's something interesting. When I was a gawky teenager, I worked at Taco Bell. I would work three evenings a week plus the day shift on Saturday and Sunday. My mother was working a full-time plus a part-time job, so most days when I got off work, there was no dinner--and most times not even any food in the house. I cannot believe how many times I got off work--only to return an hour later to eat the same stuff I had just spent hours cooking/assembling/serving to customers. Because...I CRAVED it. After HOURS and HOURS, I CRAVED the crap! Of course, back then (so telling my age here), the beef was REAL, and we cooked it and added the seasonings ourselves. Even the refried beans were made out of REAL beans in a REAL HUGE bean pot with REAL LARD. Yeah...that was the good stuff.
Anyway, RIGHT at this current moment in time, I am craving some of those oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that I made during our snow day yesterday (a quarter of which I already polished off while the kids weren't looking).
...AND the guacamole/nachos that are pictured HERE. Mmmmmmmm.....
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Day Six--A Fun Fact About Me
OK, for the non-family members out there....
John and I were pretty much engaged from the words, "Hi, nice to meet you." We were in no general rush to actually walk down the aisle, though (and really, considered just NOT). Anyway, while we were in this general limbo, we had lots of discussions about what do with our last names if we got married.
I liked the sound of my last name, but I was iffy about keeping it and thought that hyphenating it with John's name would be a tad too much.
John didn't particularly care for his last name (too much name-calling as a kid, I guess), but he most certainly did not want to hyphenate nor take MY name.
One day while we were working our respective jobs, John just calls me up right out of the blue. "Hey! I got it! We'll COMBINE our names!" He took the first part of my name and the last part of his--and it created a really cool-sounding name.
A while later when we finally got off our butts and went to the Justice of the Peace, we asked, and sure enough, we could do that.
We've looked it up. We are now the only five people with our last name. It's unique and says a lot about us as a couple, I think. (Too bad not everybody could do it. Some name combinations just CAN'T work!)
John and I were pretty much engaged from the words, "Hi, nice to meet you." We were in no general rush to actually walk down the aisle, though (and really, considered just NOT). Anyway, while we were in this general limbo, we had lots of discussions about what do with our last names if we got married.
I liked the sound of my last name, but I was iffy about keeping it and thought that hyphenating it with John's name would be a tad too much.
John didn't particularly care for his last name (too much name-calling as a kid, I guess), but he most certainly did not want to hyphenate nor take MY name.
One day while we were working our respective jobs, John just calls me up right out of the blue. "Hey! I got it! We'll COMBINE our names!" He took the first part of my name and the last part of his--and it created a really cool-sounding name.
A while later when we finally got off our butts and went to the Justice of the Peace, we asked, and sure enough, we could do that.
We've looked it up. We are now the only five people with our last name. It's unique and says a lot about us as a couple, I think. (Too bad not everybody could do it. Some name combinations just CAN'T work!)
Day Five--Favorite Quote
I guess the quote I use most often, because it seems to describe my life the best, is actually from a Beatle's song. "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I had a LOT of plans on how I was going to live my life, but it just seems as if the actual living part keeps getting in the way.
I try very hard to focus on the positive of all that. Many, many wonderful things have happened to me in my life that weren't part of the overall plan, but when I look back, they all seem to fit right in. I try to remind myself of this any time I get frustrated about things in my life now that aren't going according to plan. Things just might turn out better than I ever could have imagined if I don't get too impatient, and I just LIVE.
I try very hard to focus on the positive of all that. Many, many wonderful things have happened to me in my life that weren't part of the overall plan, but when I look back, they all seem to fit right in. I try to remind myself of this any time I get frustrated about things in my life now that aren't going according to plan. Things just might turn out better than I ever could have imagined if I don't get too impatient, and I just LIVE.
Day Four--Favorite Book
That's honestly not a fair question to ask an English major, no?
Amusingly, my son asked me the age-old question the other day, "Hey, Mom, if you were stranded on an island and could only bring one book, which one would it be?"
After some deliberation, I told him my hard-bound collection of Jane Austin's novels. I read them the most often (the book is simply in tatters now), and it never fails to amuse me and cheer me up. So, a bit of a cheat (again)--one book which contains several--but hey, I gotta have my Jane.
Amusingly, my son asked me the age-old question the other day, "Hey, Mom, if you were stranded on an island and could only bring one book, which one would it be?"
After some deliberation, I told him my hard-bound collection of Jane Austin's novels. I read them the most often (the book is simply in tatters now), and it never fails to amuse me and cheer me up. So, a bit of a cheat (again)--one book which contains several--but hey, I gotta have my Jane.
Day Three--Favorite TV Show
OMG--I'm having some major computer issues right now. It figures, huh? So! I have some catching up to do--and will probably have to come to the library all month to finish this silly project.
Favorite TV Show(s)--for now
Modern Family
Community
Grey's Anatomy (what?)
House
Top Gear--BBC America.
I know--that last one is a surprise huh? I mean, I'm not much of a gearhead. The show is just simply brilliant, though. Interesting, intelligent, entertaining, and extremely funny. John and I record them and then stay up way too late at night watching them. The US version is just "OK." I'm sorry US, you just don't have the dry wit like the Brits do.
Favorite TV Show(s)--for now
Modern Family
Community
Grey's Anatomy (what?)
House
Top Gear--BBC America.
I know--that last one is a surprise huh? I mean, I'm not much of a gearhead. The show is just simply brilliant, though. Interesting, intelligent, entertaining, and extremely funny. John and I record them and then stay up way too late at night watching them. The US version is just "OK." I'm sorry US, you just don't have the dry wit like the Brits do.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Day Two--Favorite Movie
Yes, possibly harder to pick than Favorite Song. Maybe by categories?
Favorite Series: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Favorite Comedy: Roxanne, SouthPark: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Favorite Drama: The Thin Red Line
Favorite Horror/Suspense: The Blair Witch Project
Favorite Chic Flick: Love Actually
Favorite Kid's Movie: Cinderella, Ratatouille
I just thought of like 20 more movies I love. I'm not even going to look over this again--take the list as it is!
Bonus: Movie I can't stand but everyone else loves? Jerry McGuire. GAH!
Favorite Series: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Favorite Comedy: Roxanne, SouthPark: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Favorite Drama: The Thin Red Line
Favorite Horror/Suspense: The Blair Witch Project
Favorite Chic Flick: Love Actually
Favorite Kid's Movie: Cinderella, Ratatouille
I just thought of like 20 more movies I love. I'm not even going to look over this again--take the list as it is!
Bonus: Movie I can't stand but everyone else loves? Jerry McGuire. GAH!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
30-Day Attempt: Day One--Favorite Song
I was surprised to notice the other day that I only posted 47 times last year. Really? Only 47? I mean, I knew I had slacked off a BIT, but only 47 posts? That's...just crazy!
So, I'm being a copy-cat here and taking the 30-day challenge. Do I think I will manage it? NOT if my Saturdays and Sundays keep up as they've been going lately! But....I'll try.
Day One--Favorite Song.
Um...yeah. That's a toughie. I mean, I know in middle school I could go around saying what was my favorite song ("Who Can It Be Now" by Men At Work comes to mind as being a top contender for a while there), but NOW? I...can't possibly say. There are too many wonderful songs out there.
Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"--loved 'em in middle school, still love 'em now. How excited was I when I found out this was on Rock Band now??????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST86JM1RPl0
(Actually, this is one of my favorite albums--I love every song on it.)
The Beatles, "Let It Be." OK, I pretty much love All Beatles All The Time, but you know, here's ONE of their songs....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZ8Gz0rDtw
Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight."
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=phil+collins+in+the+air+tonight&aq=1
Men At Work, "Overkill." I love the version Colin Hay sings here on "Scrubs."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk
Metallica, "One."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8bTdBs-cw&ob=av2el
U-2, "One." This came out when John and I first got together (19 years ago!). So, of course, it's "our song."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjEcrrf7r0&ob=av2em
OK Go, "This Too Shall Pass." A "newer" favorite of mine. I love both videos.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKythlXAIY&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP0FB9262CF878A34A
Flaming Lips, "The Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Song." Live from the concert we went to last summer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdbLch3TxHU
Ben Folds, "Annie Waits."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toLs09dPFdw
Weird Al Yankovic, "One More Minute." OK, you all should know about my unhealthy obsession with Weird Al by now. Well, this is ONE of my favorites from him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhpk-8QLFQ&ob=av2el
Quite an ecleptic arrangement, eh? I keep adding/deleting songs, and I'm still not happy with the whole group. How does one pick favorite songs? AUGH!!!!!
Oh good grief. Just going through these videos on Youtube for this post took over two hours as I kept getting requests from my sickly, at-home-from-school son. Now, I think we're going to go watch a movie instead.
So, I'm being a copy-cat here and taking the 30-day challenge. Do I think I will manage it? NOT if my Saturdays and Sundays keep up as they've been going lately! But....I'll try.
Day One--Favorite Song.
Um...yeah. That's a toughie. I mean, I know in middle school I could go around saying what was my favorite song ("Who Can It Be Now" by Men At Work comes to mind as being a top contender for a while there), but NOW? I...can't possibly say. There are too many wonderful songs out there.
Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"--loved 'em in middle school, still love 'em now. How excited was I when I found out this was on Rock Band now??????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST86JM1RPl0
(Actually, this is one of my favorite albums--I love every song on it.)
The Beatles, "Let It Be." OK, I pretty much love All Beatles All The Time, but you know, here's ONE of their songs....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZ8Gz0rDtw
Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight."
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=phil+collins+in+the+air+tonight&aq=1
Men At Work, "Overkill." I love the version Colin Hay sings here on "Scrubs."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk
Metallica, "One."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8bTdBs-cw&ob=av2el
U-2, "One." This came out when John and I first got together (19 years ago!). So, of course, it's "our song."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjEcrrf7r0&ob=av2em
OK Go, "This Too Shall Pass." A "newer" favorite of mine. I love both videos.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKythlXAIY&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP0FB9262CF878A34A
Flaming Lips, "The Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Song." Live from the concert we went to last summer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdbLch3TxHU
Ben Folds, "Annie Waits."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toLs09dPFdw
Weird Al Yankovic, "One More Minute." OK, you all should know about my unhealthy obsession with Weird Al by now. Well, this is ONE of my favorites from him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhpk-8QLFQ&ob=av2el
Quite an ecleptic arrangement, eh? I keep adding/deleting songs, and I'm still not happy with the whole group. How does one pick favorite songs? AUGH!!!!!
Oh good grief. Just going through these videos on Youtube for this post took over two hours as I kept getting requests from my sickly, at-home-from-school son. Now, I think we're going to go watch a movie instead.
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