Friend Making Monday

http://alltheweigh2009.blogspot.com/

What will you do to make this a December to Remember?

Quite honestly, the best thing I am going to do to make this a December to Remember is....put this year behind me.  While there have been some great memories this year, by and far, 2010 is a year I don't care to repeat.  Ever.  It will likely take much of 2011 and perhaps beyond to heal from the events of 2010...but I am taking steps now to hopefully facilitate that. 

One of the things I did recently, at the advice of a friend, was write my bucket list.  It's more like a Bucket/Project list....but it's the things I either want to do or accomplish at some point in my life. 

Part of making this a December to Remember is to begin working on that list...

All About Me Monday

1. Is your tree up yet? When did you (or when will you) decorate it?

We put it up this past Saturday....normally we do it the weekend of Thanksgiving, but it just didn't happen this year.  We also have not put up the outside decorations yet...we were all sick this weekend, but wanted to get the indoor stuff done.

2. Real or fake?

pre lit fake

3. Is your tree green or some other color?

it is green, although we do have a small white one with blue lights in the kitchen

4. Colored lights or white?

colored...we do have some white ones that we put up outside

 

5. Do the ornaments on your tree all match, or is it a hodge podge?

oh they are all hodge podge....ornaments made by my children, ornaments we buy as a tradition, ornaments that have some meaning to us....no theme or pattern... 

6. When will you take your tree down?

we try to take it down the first weekend after New Year's

7. Are there presents under the tree now? Or does Santa bring them all on Christmas Eve?

No presents....we have a cat that we got the weekend of Thanksgiving one year, the same weekend we put up our tree that year...so she is the Christmas kitty..she sleeps under the tree as soon as it is up until it goes down

Sunday Stealing

1. The latest book or movie that made you cry?

I admit, I cry very very easily, but I can't say that there is a book or movie that has made me cry recently.  I have cried at movies, typically those on Lifetime TV...there is a reason my husband calls it "the whiney station".

2. The fictional character most like you?

no idea....

3. The greatest album, ever?

I like too many to pick a "greatest"

4. Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?

Star Wars....probably because I saw it before I ever saw Star Trek, and it doesn't seem as "sci-fi" to me as Star Trek.  I also like the story line in Star Wars better...it is more "real" if that makes any sense.

5. Your ideal brain food?

hot chocolate!  or pretty much anything chocolate.... :)

6. Everyone is proud of a certain accomplishment, which one for you??

graduating college

7. You want to be remembered for ...?

being a good wife, mother and friend; for doing the best I can in less than ideal circumstances; for my love and faith in the Lord's gospel

8. Let's talk about recording artists. Who do you find the most inspirational?

Martina McBride...she sings about subjects that many artists shy away from

9. The creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature?

10. Your hidden talents . . .?

not that they are hidden..just not openly shared with everyone, but I write poems

11. The best piece of advice you actually followed?

whether it was the best piece of advice is yet to be determined....but I was advised several months ago to be patient..and so I am...still. being. patient. 

12. The best thing you ever bought, stole, or borrowed?

there are too many to name just one...and most of them were gifts...not anything I purchased

13. What is the most comfortable clothes that you wear?

tshirt and shorts

14. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be?

since it is unlikely that I will ever dine at the Ritz....there will be no guest....but if there were, it would be my husband, of course.

15. Time travel: where, when and why?

no idea.....I've never had any inclination to travel back in time

16. Stress management: hit man, spa vacation or Prozac?

a few months ago, I would have said hit man...but things are very different now than then....spa vacation sounds nice, but I would probably stress about the cost...while prozac is not my drug of choice, i will choose meds as my particular stress management from the choices above

17. Essential to life: coffee, vodka, cigarettes, chocolate, or . . .?

um.....chocolate!!

18. Environment of choice: city or country, and where on the map?

country....and no preference, as long as the neighbors can't see or hear me from their windows or immediate area surrounding their house...and there is lots of scenery (trees, etc) and fresh air.

19. What do you want to say to the leader of your country?

what i'd like to say is probably left not publicized

20. Last but certainly not least, what are you working on, now?

this blog...hahaha...seriously, I am trying to get my blog split and  then caught up; but I have a multitude of "in process" projects...

Sunday Seven

http://www.patrickkphillips.com/2010/12/05/sunday-seven-episode-266/

Name seven of your favorite holiday traditions you associate with Christmastime.

1.  Christmas Baking--we have in the past (and hopefully will again) made cookie trays for friends and family and coworkers.

2.  Christmas Music

3.  Putting up the tree and other decorations

4.  Pictures with Santa

5.  Buying a figurine to display for my son Kyle

6.  Choosing and buying a family ornament for the tree

7.  Looking at lights on Christmas Eve

Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Workshop

http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/

Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and got to Mama Kat's  and add your name to the link list.

The Prompts:


It's Thanksgiving time and the show will go on!

1.) Interview your kids...what do they think Thanksgiving is for? What are they thankful for? etc.

2.) Share a photo of what Thanksgiving looks like in your neck of the woods.

3.) Write a poem about the things you are thankful for.

4.) Describe a memorable Thanksgiving.

5.) Forget Thanksgiving, write about that time you fell down.

I could interview my children....but my daughter would say her family.  My oldest son would not really participate.  And my youngest would likely say his grandma.  I didn't take any photos....just a table full of food.  And not really feeling poetic today...although I do write poems...but I have to be in the mood to write.  A memorable Thanksgiving....the one I remember the most as a child (teenager) was the year we went to spend Thanksgiving with friends in San Antonio.  It was pretty cool.  After dinner, we went walking around San Antonio...don't remember much else.  But it was a Thanksgiving not spent at home, so it was different....aka memorable.  However, I had to laugh at prompt #5.…so that is the one I am choosing to focus on.

This past Saturday, my husband and son went to the basketball game. They are usually hungry when they get home…so I was fixing an egg sandwich for my husband. The egg was in the pan on the stove, and I turned to toss the egg shells in the trash, which is on the opposite wall of the stove.

As I lifted my left foot, I barely saw my cat’s tail out of the corner of my eye, so I tried to step wider to miss her. As she often does, she tried to move as well, and ended up under my foot still. As I attempted to keep from crushing her….I lost my balance and fell.

Flat.

On.

My.

Stomach.

It happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to try to catch myself. I let an expletive go as I went down…and then knocked the wind out of my lungs.

My husband heard me, and was calling my name…but I couldn’t answer. He thought I was in the bathroom, because he couldn’t see me on the kitchen floor.

As he came into the kitchen, I was getting up. 

I landed on my left elbow and right knee…the same knee that has given my fits since I was a freshman in high school. The same knee diagnosed with arthritis when I was 23. My elbow…well, this will probably facilitate new aches in coming years.

Go ahead….laugh.

My husband did.

He told me he went to an NBA game and didn’t see any dives for the ball like what I gave up for his sandwich.

I told him...

I give all.

Friend Making Monday

http://thetexasdarlings.blogspot.com/2010/11/fmm-top-10-of-2010.html

November is a great month to reflect on all we have to be Thankful for.

 Faith, Family, Friends, Health, Happiness.

What is your Top 10 of 2010?

1.  Family--my husband and my children are the reason I get up everyday;  I will fight with all I have to keep my family safe and secure and happy

2.  Faith--I will be eternally grateful for my faith; I have grown and deepened my love and testimony of the gospel this year...

3.  Friends--I have many many wonderful friends whose support and love I could not have done without this year

4. Love--to love and be loved....what could be better than that?

5.  Health--I am grateful for my (thus far) continued health and that of my children; I am grateful for doctors whose knowledge and expertise blesses those who are not so fortunate (even if it takes awhile to find the remedy that works)

 

6. Pets--animals bring a calm and joy and humor that just can't be gotten from any other source

 

7. Learning--our knowledge is the only thing we take to Heaven with us from our time on this Earth...I am grateful for the ease with which I learn and embrace each opportunity to learn and try to learn something new everyday; s ometimes what I learn isn't always welcome knowledge, but necessary for my well being

 

8.Job--I am daily grateful for my continued employment; in light of the ever increasing economic impact on company closings and "reduction in force"...I am glad to have a job waiting for me every day...(the hospital I work for let 26 employees go on Monday...so sad)

9.  Car--walking and biking is not always a feasible mode of transportation, given how spread out destinations are these days; I have no real requirements  for a car--just that it gets us where we need to be..but having air conditioning and heat plus a radio are great bonuses; our sunroof is nice too!

10. Home--I like my house...and am glad to have one to call home; 

Sunday Stealing

11/7/10

1. What do you consider your hometown to be?

Waco, TX (born, but not raised...I'm an Army brat..  :)

2. What’s the hardest part of your average day?

turning work "off" at the end of the day....transitioning can be hard, especially since I am on call pretty much 24/7...makes it hard to be totally "off work"

3. The easiest? Why?

getting started...I'm not really a morning person, but I'm also not one to procrastinate...I like to get up, get going, and get things done

4. What beverage do you reach for to quench your thirst?

this answer should be water...but it is usually Dr. Pepper

5. What is one not-so-secret goal you have for your life? I’ll let you keep your secret ones to yourself.

to go to the Temple

6. What physical pain do you fear most? For example, I’m trying to decide how bad my jaw pain needs to get before I risk a potential needle from my dentist. So, for me, throbbing is preferable to jabbing.

I don't necessarily fear any pain...I have a pretty high pain tolerance; however, I absolutely cannot stand needles--and it's not the pain....it's just something about the needle going into the skin that bugs me....

7. Where do you find solace?

in the scriptures

8. What makes you the saddest when you read/see the news?

any crimes, injustices, etc against children especially or anyone vulnerable or otherwise defenseless--elderly, animals, etc

9. What do you eat for a favorite snack?

I've been liking cheese sticks lately

10. What movie could you/would you watch more than two or three times and still enjoy just as much as the first time?

Titanic

11. What boy/girl first made you cry?

oh geez..I don't even remember...too  many years ago

12. What brand of coffee/tea do you drink most often?

I don't drink coffee....and I only drink herbal tea, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime

13. Dig in the dirt with or without garden gloves?

with....can't stand anything under my nails...can't stand to feel dirty

14. James Taylor or Carly Simon?

10/31/10

1. What inspires you to blog?

it started as a way to share events and happenings in my family with extended family and friends that live afar.....and primarily is still that; so, I guess the short answer is my family...but this last summer, I discovered blog hops, and well, I have always loved stuff like this.....

2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you?

"meeting" people, finding others with similar experiences, interests, values, etc as me, finding craft ideas, food recipes, and sharing my thoughts on just about any topic imaginable....it's awesome

3. What is your favourite book of all time?

The Twilight Saga...

4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up?

a glass of strawberry milk probably..maybe a cheese stick

5. Who are three of your style icons?

don't have a style icon...probably wouldn't hurt to have one...but I don't

6. What’s your current favourite song/piece of music?

I have many...but one that comes to mind is "Do I" by Luke Bryan

7. What is the last book you read?

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (a novella by Stephenie Meyer)

8. What is your current favourite recipe?

it's a chicken pot pie casserole....yum yum...and my husband even likes it, so bonus!

9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog?

I forget how I found blogger...probably through a friend's blog....but the intent was as a result of a failed family newsletter; this seemed a more probable way to share pictures and milestones with family and friends--everything I share are actual events from my life and family; I don't pretend to have an exciting life...it is what it is...boring day to day stuff, but it's MY life, MY family....I share what I want

10. What object could you not live without?

there's not just one....my scriptures, my laptop, my early Christmas gift (that remains unnamed until after Christmas)

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

married, approaching our 30 year wedding anniversary, probably with grandchildren by then, working still, but hopefully more time for crafts

12. Who or what made you into the person you are today?

most of who I am comes through the natural process of age...but certain experiences have shaped me as well....losing my son has made me less tolerant of petty people--life is just too short; more recent events have made me less trusting, I question and doubt everything, which is really very sad...but in the end it has made me stronger, more determined, and made me realize my own inner worth and value

13. What have your learned from blogging?

that there are people out there I can learn from...be it crafts or recipes or deeper levels of understanding and coping..we are all connected; that it is a small world..I have found blogs of people I know and have found mutual friends of people that I didn't know knew each other; I have also learned that people steal posts and events and ideas and portray them as their own ....it's actually quite sad--thankfully, that has not yet happened to me....but I have heard of a blogger that does that....

14. Knowing what you know now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self?

to not be so naive, to be aware, to not be so trusting of everyone you encounter...they are not always who or what they claim to be; to be prepared for heartache and struggles and challenges, but as long as you remember who you are and where you are going....you will endure and make it

15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal?

lunchtime...we currently attend church from 11am - 2pm, so we eat about an hour after we get home...that is aour main meal of the day; when we switch schedules to 9am - 112pm...we will eat a light lunch then have dinner

16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far?

just meeting people, learning from others...it's been awesome

Saturday 6

Do you still celebrate your birthday?
if by celebrate you mean acknowledge...yes; if you mean party...no.  I usually get cards from my parents and dinner with my husband....and a gift from my children


What's your favorite kind of cake?
yellow with chocolate whipped frosting  (not butter cream)


Craziest thing you've ever done for your birthday?
not into crazy....


What's your sign?
Gemini


Best present you've ever gotten on your special day?
not sure what is best....everything I've ever gotten I either specifically asked for or I was aware of prior to purchase


Worst gift?
don't know that i have any that qualify as worst....I've known what I was getting before I got it

Saturday 9

11/6/10
1. What do you see when you are watching the wheels go round?

my life spiraling out of control


2. Do you watch reality shows? Which ones?
a few....So You Think You  Can Dance, Food Network Challenges,


3. What's your favorite all time reality show?
So You Think You  Can Dance


4. Do you feel "reality" shows are real or are they faked?
i think some of them are faked....but not all of them


5. What does your personal neon sign say to the world?
"Welcome....Come in, stay a bit...but don't forget the way out"


6. Ever seen a neon sign with certain letters burned out so that it said something unintended?
I'm sure I have....but nothing comes to mind


7. What gives you a headache? Could be a scent, a sound, someone's actions - anything.
stress....in fact, about a month ago I had a headache that lasted for 3 weeks straight; found out it was a tension headache...got a prescription, took 3 days to get any relief.


8. What song, artist or album in your music collection would you pull out and play if you wanted to give your roommate/neighbors a huge, head-splitting headache?
Lady Gaga


9. What do you do to relieve stress?
what I'm doing now (although I am not as stressed now as at other times....but sadly stress is a constant companion I am afraid)....I blog, I journal, I read, I play bejeweled or free cell, I write poems, I sleep if I can

Friday Fives

11/5/10

5 things that are gonna be on your Christmas List this year

I have actually already gotten my Christmas gift from my husband....but he is still planning to get me something to open on Christmas morning from my children..so all my list consists of is getting the items for my children  (and since at least one of them reads this blog....can't actually say what it is...:)

10/29/10

1. Whats your go to recipe?

for work potlucks....green beans and cheese (even when I've signed up to bring something different, this gets requested)

2. When you hear "American food" what comes to mind?

hot dogs, hamburgers and fries

3. What would you say is one of your "weirdest" quirks?

all of my pens have to be writing end down in the cup....I've been called a less complimentary word than weird by more than one person (aka "an_l...a term used to describe perfectionistic Type A personalities)

4.What color do you mainly wear?

black or navy blue pants....cuz they go with everything.  My shirts are pretty varied in color, although I do tend to have quite a bit of pink, green, white, and blue

5. Always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?

depends on if I am writing or speaking....I communicate much more effectively in writing than I do verbally....especially if the conversation is emotionally charged or otherwise close to my heart.

Rock and Roll Friday

11/5/10

Billy Joel.

1. PIANO MAN… “Sing us a song, you're the piano man, Sing us a song tonight. Well, we're all in the mood for a melody, And you've got us feelin' alright”

What is your favorite Karaoke song to sing with?

I don't sing outloud...period.  No Karaoke for me.  Correction:  I only sing aloud at church, with the congregation or as a group....but that's it.

2. CAPTAIN JACK…”Saturday night and you're still hangin' around, Tired of livin' in your one-horse town. Like to find a little hole in the ground, For a while”

If you grew up in a one-horse town, are you still there, or did you try living somewhere else?

I grew up all over....my dad was in the Army.  I attended high school, however, in a one horse town....so small, there was only a blinking yellow light (at the time).  My school was so small, not only did it encompass grades k-12 on one campus, there were only 36 people in my graduating class.  We moved the summer after I graduated, and have only gone back on occasion for the summer fair.   And now, I live in TN.

3. NEW YORK STATE OF MIND…”It comes down to reality-and it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide, Don't care if it's Chinatown or Riverside, I don't have any reasons, I've left them all behind- I'm in a New York state of mind.”

What is your favorite New York food?

I was way too young when we were in New York....and I don't know that I have ever had any New York food. 

4. SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN TO ME…”But she'll bring out the best And the worst you can be, Blame it all on yourself, Cause she's always a woman to me”

Has someone else ever brought out the best or worse in you?

I like to think my family brings out the best in me...even though they have also seen me at my worst.  They make me who I am, tho.  As for someone bringing out the worst in me....sadly, there is someone.  I have turned into a very cold and distrusting person and have been accused of things that are untrue, that I misrepresent my life and my family....I admit I'm not  perfect (noone is) and I know I sometimes make poor choices (who doesn't?) ...but if I am going to be accused of something, it should be something I have actually done.  I am ever hopeful that one day ~soon~ this person will no longer be an issue. 

5. MOVIN OUT…”Workin' too hard can give you a heart attack ack ack ack ack ack, You oughta know by now. Who needs a house out in Hackensack? Is that what you get for your money?”

What is the most annoying line from a song lyric of all time?

there are way way too many to name here....that New York song from the spring comes to mind but don't know who sings it

6. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG…”They say there's a heaven for those who will wait. Some say it's better but I say it ain't. I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints …Sinners are much more fun...”

What would heaven be like for you? A shopping mall? A forest? Mansion? Do tell…

Heaven will be a place of love...filled with family who have gone before me, a place of constant worship and continued learning at the feet of our Heavenly Father and Jesus...a place with no pain, with no ill feelings for others, a place of warmth and health...and so so much more than anything anyone on Earth can comprehend. 

7. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE…”Don't go trying some new fashion, Don't change the color of your hair. You always have my unspoken passion, Although I might not seem to care…”

Have you ever changed something about yourself to please somebody else?

I think everyone does to a certain degree....it is a natural part of relationships.  During the course of long term relationships, changes happen.  I know during my marriage, I have changed quite a bit.  Not necessarily in an effort to please, but in an effort to be a better wife and mother and friend.  Changing yourself to please someone else is very short term and will likely not have the lasting results that are desired.....

8. STILL ROCK N ROLL TO ME…”Should I try to be a straight `A' student?

If you are then you think too much. Don't you know about the new fashion honey? All you need are looks and a whole lotta money. It's the next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways , it's still rock and roll to me…”

What besides “looks and a whole lotta money” would you require in a mate?

looks and money are not required....neither are components for a long term relationship; what is required is respect, trust and honesty first and foremost (if you lose those, the rest don't matter as much anymore and they are very hard to regain once lost), compassion, kindness, sincerity, tolerance, understanding, love, passion, and more I can't think of. 

9. YOU MAY BE RIGHT…”You may be right, I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for…”

Do you like bad boys (girls) or good boys (girls)?

depends on the definition of "bad"....a little of both can be great....as long as "bad" is not illegal or immoral

10. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE… “Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide, Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz, Hypodermics on the shores, China's under martial law, Rock and roller cola wars, I can't take it anymore”

List 13 things for a Billy Joel verse in this aggravating song…

11. TELL HER ABOUT IT…”Tell her about it. Tell her all your crazy dreams. Let her know you need her, Let her know how much she means…”

Have you told your significant other or dearest family member recently how much

they mean to you?

my husband and I we start and end each day with a kiss and "I Love You"...and we
express our love for each other multiple times on a daily basis....

12. UPTOWN GIRL… “I’m in love with an uptown girl, She's been living in her white bread world. As long as anyone with hot blood can, And now she's looking for a downtown man. That's what I am…”

Have you dated someone above or below your “level”? (richer or poorer). Did you feel comfortable with them?

I don't classify people at "levels".....income has no bearing on love...

13. THE LONGEST TIME… “Who knows how much further we'll go on. Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone. I'll take my chances, I forgot how nice romance is, I haven't been there for the longest time”

What is the longest you have gone without a love relationship?

I couldn't begin to tell you....I have been in love for 19 years and counting, which is
longer than I was ever out of love....

10/29/10

MARILYN MANSON :


1. SCHOOL’S OUT : “School’s out for summer. School’s out forever…”
What was your best summer vacation memory as a child?

my dad was in the army, so his transfers didn't always occur in the summer.....but the vacations I enjoyed the most as a child were the "leave" in between his duty stations....we would go home (aka Waco, TX) to visit family we hadn't seen for 4 or more years.  It was awesome...it was always like a huge family reunion that lasted for days, especially on my mom's side of the family (she is the oldest of 5 children)

2. BILLION DOLLAR BABIES : “Billion dollar baby, I got you in a dimestore

No other little girl could ever Hold you any tighter, any tighter than me baby”

What was the last thing you remember buying in a dimestore?

I'm not sure I remember ever going to a dimestore....dollar stores are the lowest denomination I have been too...inflation, I suppose....lol

3. WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE : “Welcome to my breakdown,

I hope I didn't scare you. That's just the way we are, When you come down!

We sweat laugh and scream here, Cause laugh is just a dream here…”

Can you tell us about a nightmare you have had recently?

nope, afraid not; it was almost too close to a reality not too terribly long ago...so it shall remain one of those unmentionable topics....I can however, tell you about one that I had on more than one occasion....at the time, there was a chance it could become a reality, but did not....
my youngest son (Kraig) is a surviving twin....his twin (Kyle) died at birth, and
Kraig spent the first 11 weeks of his life in the NICU...it was a very stressful, scary time.  On the days that we were unable to go visit him (due to admissions in the NICU, the weather on one occasion, a fever I ran on another, etc)....I would dream that there were two headstones at the cemetary.  I usually woke crying....thankfully my husband was (and still is) a fairly light sleeper so he would wake up....and we would call the NICU to check on Kraig....and of course he was fine everytime (well, "fine" considering he was in the NICU)....

4. ELECTED : “We're gonna win this one, take the country by storm

We're gonna be elected, You and me together, young and strong”

Democrats, Republicans or Tea Party? Who will sweep the elections?

my original answer for this question was I don't know...but I didn't get it answered before the elections...and I suppose by now everyone knows how the elections went....

5. NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY : “My dog bit me on the leg today

My cat clawed my eye, Mom's been thrown out of the social circles, And dad has to hide…”

Have you ever done something that embarrassed your family?

I do plenty to embarass myself, and I embarrass my children on a regular basis I am sure....but other than that...no.  I am much too reserved for anything like that.

6. SICK THINGS : “Sick things, in cars, rotate round. My stars. Sick things. Pretty things…”

Have you ever been motion sick? Was it in a car, on a plane, or on a boat?

nah...I don't get motion sickness....the only time I lost my supper in the car was on the way home two nights before my sons were delivered...and that had nothing to do with the ride

7. I LOVE THE DEAD : “I love the dead before they’re cold, their blueing flesh for me to hold. Cadaver eyes upon me see nothing. I love the dead before they rise, No farewells, no goodbyes…”

What celebrity death really bothered you?

probably Princess Diana....just because I kind of grew up watching her seemingly fairy tale life...her wedding, her children....she was beautiful, prim, proper, a lady through and through...and her death was so tragic and such a shock and so very unneccessary....I remember getting up that Sunday morning and staring dumbfounded at the news reports...and listening to it as I got ready for church (that's the only reason I even remember it was a Sunday)

8. SCIENCE FICTION : “Forever I’ll enjoy your under-achievement, I gonna see you every day now if I can, Why then don't the night show really matters, I still wake on the fields of regret”

What is your favorite science fiction movie?

Star Wars....I Robot...Wild Wild West...Smith Family Robinson (the more modern version in the space ship, not the island one)

9. WHITE KNUCKLES : Fistfuls of you… You pulled me through with white knuckles…

Fistfuls of you”

Has someone ever grabbed you to save you from a dangerous situation?

literally....I don't think so.  metaphorically....frequently--my husband keeps me afloat, keeps me sane, keeps me from succombing to my natural tendencies of despondency and insecurity.  He is my rock.  He recently shared with me other ways he has protected me...things I didn't even know about at the time they occurred.  He keeps and makes me feel safe. 

10. THIS IS HALLOWEEN : “I am the clown with the tear-away face

Here in a flash and gone without a trace. I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"

I am the wind blowing through your hair. I am the shadow on the moon at night

Filling your dreams to the brim with fright”

What is the oddest thing you ever did on Halloween?

can't think of anything odd I've ever done....I worked at a nursing home once on Halloween night...and the residents had a "Sock Hop"....but that's about as odd as I can think of

11. THE WOW : “I’m worse than what you think you’d catch from me. Complicated’s understated. Did you stop and take a look at who you fell in love with?”

Have you ever been through a divorce?

I can proudly and happily say that I have not...my husband and I have been married for 19 years,
20 years next June....with plans to just keep right on counting

12. THE FOOD PYRAMID : “Everybody! My body is a pyramid that's made of healthy food so do what we say (yeah) eat right every day (food) I love you.”

What does your food pyramid look like?

better than it used...but it's still a bit unbalanced....it's a work in progress

13. THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE : “Hey you, what do you see?

Something beautiful, something free? Hey you, why you trying to be mean?

You live with apes man, it's hard to be clean”

What makes a person beautiful?
beauty comes from the inside out...so one's personality traits determines how beautiful a person they are;  respect, charity, trust, friendliness, honesty, dependability, compassion, loyalty, kindness, spirituality, patience, sincerity, tolerance, understanding, love, passion, and many more I can't think of at the moment

Fill in the Blank Friday

11/5/10

1. My last haircut was this past Monday.

(NOTE:  I am not a good self photographer--but it is much much shorter than before..i like it!)

2. My most daring hair moment was the year I colored it red...I liked it well enough, but it was a pretty drastic change.  And it didn't last...so I won't do that again.

3. A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is:  I'm not sure there is one...I mean there are plenty I probably won't ever do...but not due to lack of bravery...I try to keep a cut that is easy to maintain and does not require alot of time or work in the morning.

4. I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head):  I like my hair color...I just would like for it stay longer...I am too young to be gray! 

5. My go-to hair do is blow dried bangs with a round brush and scrunched back.

6. My biggest hair disaster was non existent.  I I tend to be pretty cautious with my hair...i don't try anything on my own that I haven't had done professionally first...and even then, I don't go extreme. Whatever happens I have to live with or pay out the wazoo to have fixed...so I just tend to stay on the safe side.

7. A hairstyle I am dying to try is going out of style now....but I did want to try to stacked layers with the long sides..I don't really know what it was called.  I never did, because it would have required more trips for touch ups than I am willing to pay for my hair.

8. My best hair day was the day of our family pictures we had made in 2005.  I actually use that picture when I go get my hair cut (or I try to remember to take it)...what I have now is similar, but this is shorter. 

9. The worst hairstyle I ever had was in jr high.  I was letting my hair grow out of the feathered wing sides...and is was ugly. 

10. My hair is blonde from a bottle, just wavy enough to not be straight but not enough to be curly and so very thin I have to practically lacquer it to make it hold a curl.  And I shed.  I'm picking up blonde hairs from everywhere.  All. The. Time.

10/29/10

1. My Halloween plans this year will include eating way too much candy!

2. My most memorable Halloween costume was 2004--I dressed up as a twinkie box (I was pregnant with identical twins at the time).

3. For Halloween this year I'm going to be at home, watching tv, because my lovely daughter volunteered to take my youngest son trick or treating...there are times I truly cherish having an adult child!

4. I've always wanted to dress up as something unique and creative....the most creative I was ever able to accomplish was the Twinkie box.  That won't be happening again (at least not with the subtle comparison to my then pregnancy.)

5. Halloween free association! ????

6. The worst thing about Halloween is it is to close to my son's birth/angel day for me to enjoy it much....

7. The best thing about Halloween is the chocolate!

8.  What are your Halloween plans?  since Halloween is now over...see answer to number 1

Five ? Friday

11/5/10
1. If you could have any talent and turn it into an occupation, what would it be?

i'm trying to turn my scrapbooking and crochet talents into a business; it is a very slow process, especially since I have to work

2. Would you rather have a house at the beach or a cabin in the woods?
not sure...do I have to choose....?  I like both....I'd prob choose the beach...I love the sand and water, sunsets on the horizon, dolphins, warm weather...and my husband loves to fish.

3. Is there any meaning or reasoning for the names you chose for your child/children?
Kyrstyna--my daughter--chosen long before I ever got pregnant with her...simply because I liked it.
Christopher--my oldest son--is named after my husband
we chose names for our twins the weekend we found out they were twins....and had decided that whomever was delivered first would be named Kyle and second was Kraig...but Kyle's middle name is for a cousin of my husband's that he was close to

4. What is your guilty pleasure? (I know we've done this one before, but I'm guessing people's "guilty pleasures" change frequently. At least, mine do!)
blogging!  I love it...the memes, meeting new people, getting ideas for everything under the sun....it is awesome!

5. Do you live in a house that is deep cleaned or straightened?
straightened most of the time...but it does get deep cleaned when I can't take it anymore or we are having a get together...which doesn't happen very often


10/29/10
 
1. If you could be a fly on any wall, which would you choose?
there are a couple....but I don't necessarily wish to be a fly on a wall as much as a worm in a couple of computers...

2. Do you budget your Christmas shopping or just get it done without budgeting?

the closest I've come to budgeting has been when I buy throughout the year...I haven't done that in a while though....should really start again...it works out so much better when I do

3. What is the craziest fad diet you have ever done?

I can safely say I haven't done any fad diets...I have tried various methods to lose weight..but other than starvation style, no fads

4. Is there a TV show that you have seen every episode/season of?

not sure...prob not...

5. What one song always pulls at your heart?

there isn't just one song that pulls at my heart....

One More Day -- Diamond Rio

Streets of Heaven -- Sherrie Austin

The Little Girl -- John Michael Montgomery

Do I -- Luke Bryan

Open Arms -- Journey

Concrete Angel--Martina McBride

Everything I Do (I Do It For You)--Bryan Adams

Families Are Forever--LDS Church Hymns

I Know That My Redeemer Lives--LDS Church Hymns

I Stand All Amazed--LDS Church Hymns

...and many more than this

Thursday Thunks

http://thursdaythunks.blogspot.com/

10/28/10

1] We all love snuggly things, right? In your own words, explain how the "X" and "O" became symbols for kisses and hugs!

X--from having to angle your face just ever so slightly to kiss

0--your arms make an "O" around the other person

2] Besides eliminating sticks, what would you put in a non-stick pan?

eggs...had some this morning...my hubby made me my favorite breakfast--overeasy eggs and toast

3] x=y over pi squared. What are your thoughts on crematoriums having discounts on those that die in fires?

I think that whoever thought of this question had waaaaaay too much time on their hands....

4] Tongue twisters are fun...but, it's torture to try to say lisp with that "s" in the word. What is your favorite tongue twister? Risque answers get extra credit!

i don't do well with tongue twisters...even when I try to take my time and enunciate, I still  mess up! (and sorry...no risque answers here--my family reads this blog!)

5] Cold weather is coming up. If it's zero degrees Fahrenheit, and tomorrow night it's predicted to be twice as cold, what temperature will it be?

too damn cold...but great snuggling weather!

6] Your significant other is upset with you, would you rather be skating on thin ice or be in hot water? Why?

being in hot water just means he is angry....being on thin ice means he may be at his breaking point and may make a decision in anger that neither of us really want...so I would rather be in hot water and work through the anger (making up is always fun  :)

7] What's worse, expecting the unexpected or being a wise guy?

not really sure how the two compare...but expecting the unexpected should be the equivalent of being prepared....being a wise guy is just rude

8] What brand of vacuum cleaner sucks the best? Mine really sucks!!!

probably one I can't afford...lol

9] How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? Do you like playing with fire?

playing with fire...no.  I do love candles and fireplaces and campfires....I call my husband our own firebug....he loves making fires and keeping them going.  I also like food cooked over the fire.

10] Toys R us...what was your favorite toy?

oh gosh...I don't know.  When my children were young, I loved the selection of baby furniture and toys and clothes....in fact a new one just opened up...so I'm sure we'll be visiting it for Christmas gifts for my (now) 6 year old 

11] Halloween is near...let's go grave robbing....what would you like to find?

money!

12] Do you wake up or open your eyes first?

wake up first, but eyes open immediately after

13] What mask would you wear to a Halloween Party?

i don't really do masks...can't stand to have my face covered or my vision obscured..plus they're hot

Whatcha Say Wednesday

11/3/10

1. What actor/actress do you think looks most like you? or that people have told you.

hmmmm...it's late...can't think of anyone right off the top of  my head

2. What do you secretly want for Christmas this year?

I already have my Christmas gift...and as for what I secretly want....it shall remain a secret

3. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

(keeping the blog author's answer...)- NOTHING! hah my childhood made me who I am today and I wouldn't change a thing.

Bonus!

What's the worst pick up line you have ever heard?

I was once told my voice was "muy bonita" and that someone with such a pretty voice had to be beautiful...ok...lame....It was over the phone...had not met the boy (I was in high school)...I know what my voice sounds like over the phone...not so pretty.  (FYI...muy bonita means very pretty)

10/27/10

1. Do you have any birthmarks? If so where?

I do...I have a couple of "beauty marks" (?) on my legs...I personally don't think they are very pretty...and I have been told I have a freckle on top of my  head but I can't actually see that....

2. Where did you last go on vacation, where are you going next?

we went to Vancouver, WA to visit my best friend (and visited Forks, WA while we there as well)...our next vacation will be just my husband and I...we are going to meet my best friend in Utah/Idaho...I can't wait!

3. What is your favorite physical feature on yourself?

I'd have to say my eyes.....and my fingernails (even though I pay for them...lol)

Bonus!

Look around the room find something that begins with an A, B, and C. What did you find?
A--boy angel figurine given to my for my birthday from my husband and sons
B--bottle of water (I am really really trying to drink more)
C--computer (not a stretch there, huh)

Wednesday Wickedness

11/3/10

Dolly Parton. Here's Wednesday Wickedness!

1. "I hated school. Even to this day, when I see a school bus it's just depressing to me. The poor little kids."

What was your worst year in school? Why?

prob my freshman year.....we had just moved during the previous summer, so I knew NOONE..and we moved to a small school...so everyone had known everyone since birth...it was a while before I found my "niche"

2. "I still close my eyes and go home - I can always draw from that."

Tell us about YOUR home.

if you mean home as in where I'm from....that would be Texas....; if you mean home as in where I live..that is TN, where we have been for the last 7 years.  We like it....beautiful landscape, sports events (for my hubby and son especially),  

3. "I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else."

What have you been told that you couldn’t do, but proved them wrong?

it was suggested that I wouldn't be able to properly raise or take care of my daughter....but I did.  :)

4. "I'm old enough and cranky enough now that if someone tried to tell me what to do, I'd tell them where to put it."

What was the last incident where you were told what to do and were insulted?

that unfortunately does happen sometimes....but we get past it;  I have been insulted many times over the last year....not by being told what to do, but by the simple fact that certain individuals attempt to insult my intelligence...little do they know how smart I really am and clever they really are not.

5. "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."

Have you ever reinvented yourself? How?

to a certain extent, I do this each day, each week.....I try to be a better mom, wife, employee, etc everyday; I try to more fully incorporate the gospel in my life each week and day as well

6. "If you talk bad about country music, it's like saying bad things about my momma. Thems fightin' words."

Is there a type of music that you hate?

nah....not hate anyway.......there are plenty of songs I don't like, primarily those that have offensive language or topics

7. "It's a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I'd be a drag queen."

Have you ever crossed dressed for Halloween or just for the hell of it?

no...my costumes have always been gender appropriate

8. "My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order."

What are your weaknesses?

chocolate, chocolate

9. "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

Tell us about something that you did that required patience, but was worth it.

this is still ongoing....but so far has been worth it

10. "We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails."

When was the last time you made a major change in your life?

hmmm....i have this year refocused my efforts on making and keeping my family relationships  stonger than they have been 

10/27/10

Stephen King. Here's Wednesday Wickedness!

1. “I tend to scare myself…”

When was the last time you scared yourself?

um, not sure I remember....but I have done this before

2. “Time heals all wounds…”

What was the longest it took you to recover from an illness, injury or surgery?

physical illness/injury/surgery--probably the recovery period after the birth of each of my children
emotional--I think in most cases, this is an ongoing process, especially depending on the type of emotional "injury or illness"...

3. “Your first impulse is to share good news. Your second is to club someone over the head with it…”

What was the last good news you had to share?

that my husband has *hopefully* completed his throat procedures....WOOT! WOOT!; the other good news is ongoing...every day that I wake up with my family intact and healthy is good news

4. “When it comes to the past, we all stack the deck…”

Is there something in your past you speak highly of that was not so great while you were going through it?

not sure this really applies....but it's all I can think of--the days, weeks, and months following the death of my son were pretty intense, but I can now speak about it on a more positive note, ie, I can see the effects of it, I have grown in my faith, my husband and I are closer as each year passes, and while I do still question why and sometimes feel angered at the unfairness....I do believe there is a reason

5. “Do you drink? Of course! I just said I was a writer!..”

What do you need to drink to do?

while there are times that I seriously think I could use a drink....I don't drink. Anything. Ever.  at least nothing with alcohol...

6. “If you liked being a teenager, then there’s something really wrong with you…”

What did you like about being a teenager?

the friendships I made...I still talk to many of my friends from high school and a few from before that even (thanks to facebook)

7. “Nobody likes a clown at midnight…”

What do you like at midnight?

I like to be asleep, snuggled up with my husband usually

8. “It is the tale, not he who told it…”

Who is your favorite teller of tales or jokes?

my husband, hands down...I tell him often he should have been a stand up comedian....

9. “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool…”

Were you ever conned or fooled into a scam?

no...not a scam anyway.  There have been attempts recently to fool me, to hide things from me...and while I may not know the whole story, I know more than I am given credit for. 

10. “If fear cannot be articulated, then it can’t be conquered…”

What do you fear?
losing another of my children