Because Denise was bored...and so am I...

(TAG! YOU ARE IT! Copy and post this on your blog ASAP!) What is this?

Well, you’re supposed to bold the things you’ve done so readers
can find out how you've led an awesome life so far.

Here's what I have done in bold...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland [okay, Disney World]
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Busy, Busy, Busy!

We've just had so much going on here lately. Most of it I still can't confirm, but I can tell you this: the times, they are a-changin'. So I'm stealing a survey-type thing from Lazy Crazy Mama, and it's only stealing because she didn't tag me. I look like the Lazy Mama now. Ah well. Writer's Block has me by the tail. So sue me.

......................................................................................

1. What is your funniest childhood story? Oy, I have to pick just one? This actually involves my cousin, Jake. Every Christmas Eve, my dad's family would get together at either my grandparents' place, my aunt and uncle's place, or my other aunt's house. For reference's sake: Grandma's, Uncle Ed's, and Aunt Marilyn's. So this particular year, it was at Grandma's and all but two of the cousins were across the road at Uncle Ed's. Steve, Maureen, Jake, Jess and I generally always retreated somewhere to get away from the raucous adults and older cousins (sorry Tracy, but you were among them!). Anyway, we were playing Pictionary and about an hour or so into it, we got a phone call from Grandma's that it was time to come back over to open presents. We get outside and it wasn't a particularly snowy year so we decided to race back across the road. Most of us were just lightly jogging because out in the country, you have only the moonlight to guide you anywhere. Jake threw caution to the wind and just took off. Took off and smacked directly into a giant fir tree. I mean, we actually heard the thump of his head hitting the tree. No worries, he was fine! But it was fun-nee!

2. What would your dream dress look like if you could design it? Um...I don't wear dresses. Ever. I wear a skirt maybe once a year.

3. What weird habit does your hubby have? He holds his head crooked. This affects his shaving habits in that whenever he shaves, his sideburns and goatee end up crooked. That's right: one sideburn is longer than the other and if you look at the goatee line under his chin, it's at a terrific angle.

4. How many cookbooks are in your kitchen? I'll go count. I have 24 cookbooks. HOLY CRAP! The best part: I only use one of them!

5. Granny panties or loyal Victoria's Secret girl? Here's my confession, everyone: I've never bought VS. Nope, not even once. I've been in there once or twice but I have always assumed (without actually researching the first point) that a) they don't make VS items in my size, and b) I can't afford to shop there. That said, I don't wear granny panties. I opt for boy-cut or bikini.

6. My favorite memory from 2008 so far is...the presidential campaign and election. Seriously. I know it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to but it was the first time in my life I've ever been seriously passionate about politics and how all of Washington's and Sacramento's decisions directly affect me. It was a very big turning point for me and despite the outcome, it's hands-down my favorite memory.

7. I secretly...love Adam Sandler movies. Not the more recent ones, which I openly admit I like, but the old ones. "Happy Gilmore," "Big Daddy," and "Billy Madison" are among them. I play it off like they really annoy me and that I can't stand his roles in them, but it's totally the opposite. What does annoy me is Rob Schneider's token role in all of Adam Sandler's movies! What is up with that?

8. I could really go for...some Mucinex, Campbell's Tomato Soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, a box of soft tissues, and some Carmex for my raw nose. I've been sick for all of 24 hours and I feel like I'm dying.

9. We are going to have a big snow storm and you will find me...standing at the kid's bedroom window with my face pressed against the glass, wondering how in the HELL we're having a snow storm the in the San Francisco Bay Area!

10. I knew he was the one...the moment I saw him. I'm not kidding, either. It's SO clichè, but it truly was "love at first sight." I loved his eyes, his smile, his voice, and a few hours later, the way he kissed. Most of you know the story but the Reader's Digest version reads: we talked every night on the phone for two months straight - while I lived in Pennsylvania and he lived in California - and then he moved in with me. It'll be seven years this week that we've been living together.

So I Wasn't Tagged...But That's Okay.

I'm doing it anyway, Mimi!
Truth be told, I'm very tired and have little to talk about. That's a lie. I have a LOT to talk about but only a small portion of it is set in stone right now. Hence, I can't really start flapping my gums until a few more things come together. Don't be mad. I don't want to hold out on you all but I kinda have to. For now. *mwah*

Five Things On My To Do List
1. Clean the bathtub. I cleaned the rest of the bathtub but I'm all out of Comet. Once I get the Comet, I clean the tub.
2. Clean the fish tank. I hate cleaning that damn thing.
3. Find gainful employment (more on that to come later).
4. See doctor about my nose on Wednesday.
5. Read "A Girl From Yamhill" before the 29th, when it's due back at the library.


Five Things I Like To Snack On
1. Cookies
2. Cake
3. Crackers and Sweet Pepper & Apple Relish
4. Pretzels
5. Chips & salsa


Five Things I Would Do If I Was a Millionaire
1. Buy a huge lot and build our own house in the country
2. Furnish said house with all new furniture
3. Sock away probably 1/3 of it for savings and kids' college funds.
4. Go back to school and get my psychology degree.
5. Boob job. No, I'm not kidding.


Five Places I Have Lived
1. Conneautville, PA
2. Slippery Rock, PA
3. Fremont, CA
4. Brentwood, CA
5. Hayward, CA


Five Jobs I Have Had
1. "Sales Associate" at Country Fair
2. Server at Cracker Barrel and Stable Pit 'N Pub.
3. Cashier at Giant Eagle
4. Receptionist at WHCI.
5. Mom. Best full-time gig I've ever had!


The Five People I’m Tagging
1. Amy at Inside the McMind
2. Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy
3. Diana at What A Novel Idea
4. That's it. I don't want to bother anyone else!
5.

I've been tagged!

By Jennifer, an awesome Okalahoman whose points of view I regularly agree with.



So I've fulfilled Rule #1. Rule #2 might prove to be a bit difficult since I just posted a blog containing 100 random facts about myself, but I'll give it a whirl.

1. I've never seen the Star Wars trilogy. Ever. I'm okay with that; they just don't interest me and I make no apologies.

2. Seaweed freaks me out. Not the kind they wrap California rolls in. I'm talking about that brownish-yellow bulbous stalk-type things you see wash up on the beaches. EW. It looks slimy, like tentacles. I won't go near it. I can't really explain why. It just freaks me out.

3. You know how I'm afraid to drive in the snow? I took my driver's exam in the snow. My three-point turn? Yeah, it was a five-point turn because the local plow-trucks only plowed the lanes. They didn't plow the berms. I passed, by the way.

4. I like my toast barely toasted. Most people prefer to hear a *crunch* when they bite into their toast. Not me. By the time I get the butter on it, I want it to more or less melt in my mouth.

5. I make lists all the time. Then I ignore them. I don't know what it is; I like to feel organized but I don't actually like to be organized.

6. I'm fascinated with disspelling the myth of Christianity. Some feel differently, but I read The Da Vinci Code and have watched those shows on The History Channel ad nauseam. I'm also fascinated with secret societies - past and present - and all the mysteries in history.

7. I've never had a pedicure. I've always wanted one, but I'm never sure of whether a salon has a good reputation or not and I'm afraid I'll step into one that hasn't exactly received rave reviews from the health board. Plus, I'm never willing to plop down money for something like that on me.

Okaaaay...Rule #3.

I tag:

Amy, because she's a sucker for things like this.

Diana, because she's my best friend and if she doesn't do it, I'll dedicate a post to all her shenanigans.

Valeta, because she's barefoot and pregnant and longs to do survey-type things.

Mimi, because she gave me an award a while back and since I don't currently have any awards to give out, I'll give her blog fodder.

Denise, because, like Amy (and myself), she's a sucker for things like this.

Mr. Lady, because she's awesome and knows it would mean the world to me. *wink*

Erin, because I love the name of her blog - and also don't really get it - and because she needs another reason to avoid her email replies.

And, like Jennifer, I'm not following Rule #4. I want to see if any of these knuckleheads read my blog.

Because my last post was ambiguous and boring...

Here's something only slightly less boring to fill your day and maybe some time.

1. What is your occupation? Stay-at-home mom and daycare provider to one boy.
2. What color are your socks right now? White with a tinge of brown from being really old.
3. What are you listening to right now? Dora is singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
4. What was the last thing that you ate? A cracker from the kids Cheerios Snack Mix.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? I can. I hate it though.
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My mom's answering machine.
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? We've never met...
8. How old are you today? 29
9. What is your favorite sport to watch? On TV, probably football.
10. What is your favorite drink? Diet Coke
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Lots of times
12. Last time you hugged your child? About 10 minutes ago
13. Favorite food? Hand me the menu from the Mexican place, this could take me a while. Offhand, I'd probably say their chicken quesadilla.
14. What was the last movie you watched? Uh...I have no idea.
15. Favorite day of the year? The day our tax refund shows up
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie
18. What is your favorite season? Fall
19. Ocean or pool? Pool. You can see the bottom. And things don't kill you in it.
20. Cherries or Blueberries? Cherries
21. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Honestly, email.
22. Who is the most likely to respond? Maybe Valeta...surveys aren't too common on blogs.
23. Who is least likely to respond? The big fish in our Bloggy Pond
24. Living arrangements? Our 2-br loft apartment
25. When was the last time you cried? This morning
26. What is on the floor in your closet? Some boxes, shoes, a few hats, and a pair of shorts.
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Diana
28. What did you do last night? Fretted, argued, watched "Fringe" and moped.
30. What inspires you? "The Biggest Loser"
31. What are you afraid of? Snakes, spiders, drowning, falling
32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheese
33. Favorite dog breed? Boxer!
34. Favorite day of the week? Saturday
35. What states have you lived in? Pennsylvania and California

There. Now you've successfully wasted 1-2 minutes of your day. Hooray for non-productivity!

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go To Bed

Denise tags me with a survey. Heh. I'm a sucker for these things because somewhere, deep down inside, there lives an narcissistic egomaniac who's convinced all 30 visits I get to my blog every day are visits searching for the "real" me. Here are a few more questions to answer that undying question:

1. Where were you 10 years ago?
- I was 19, a brand new freshman in college. I was still going home every weekend to see my boyfriend who, at this point, I was thinking about breaking up with.

2. What is on today's To Do List?
- Go to sleep!

3. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
- Pay off our debt, pay back a few people, buy a house out here and a house back east, sock away some money for our kids' college funds as well as money for when they need it (house, car, etc.), put a bunch away to live on when we blow through the rest of it...and after that, furnish the abovementioned houses. I love decorating.

4. Name 5 places you have lived:
- Hayward, California
- Fremont, California
- Brentwood, California
- Conneautville, Pennsylvania
- Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

5. Name 3 of your bad habits:
- I have a penchant for sweet stuff (ice cream, cakes, cookies, candy, etc.)
- I'm a habitual interruptor
- I let my desk pile up with papers for weeks before sorting through it.

6. What are your favorite snacks?
- The aforementioned sweet stuff, chips & salsa, carrots and ranch dressing

7. Who will you tag for this?
- I'm tagging Valeta, Jen, and Shawna.

Hi, I'm Darcie, and I'm Addicted to Surveys.

Denise saw this on her friends blog and I saw it on hers, so I'm thieving it and filling it out. Enjoy!

7 things I do well:
1. Be a mom
2. Write
3. Spend money
4. Cook
5. Tell the truth
6. Change diapers
7. Kill plants

7 things I don't do well:
1. Sing
2. Save money
3. Handle stress
4. Negotiate
5. Keep up with correspondence
6. Stay organized
7. Run

7 things I have never done:
1. Tried Indian food (and after watching "Kitchen Nightmares," I never will.)
2. Shaved my head
3. Seen the "Star Wars" movies
4. Jumped from someplace very high
5. Had a major surgery (in my mind, tosillectomy doesn't count)=
6. Broken a bone
7. Met my maternal grandparents

7 things I want to do:
1. See the world
2. Buy a house
3. Write a book
4. Move to the country
5. Dye my hair
6. Learn how to cook Chinese food proper...not from packages and jars of sauce.
7. Find the perfect pair of jeans.

7 things I say often:
1. I love you [baby girl, little man, etc.]
2. godDAMit
3. Sit still!
4. Thank you
5. I'll tickle your tootsies! (to the baby)
6. Yes, Boy's here.
7. Let mama see...

7 things my kids think I say often:
1. Stop!
2. Are we going to Lucky?
3. Oh god...
4. Shit
5. Good girl
6. I love you
7. Bath time?

7 things I will NEVER say:
1. I just love bugs.
2. Can we go to a car show?
3. Lets watch a full day of The Outdoor Channel!
4. I hate Diet Coke.
5. Let's make like the Duggars and just keep pumping out kids.
6. I can't wait to get home and watch "Date My Mom."
7. Obama '08!!!

Ha ha.

A Sixer

Six things I could live without, but really wouldn’t want to:
- TV
- Internets
- Diet Coke
- The occasional pint of Ben & Jerry's
- My Dirt Devil Scorpion
- Good shampoo

Six movies I’ve never seen before:
- 28 Days
- Don't Be A Menace
- Saving Silverman
- Seven Years in Tibet
- Menace II Society
- Ghandi

Six of my pet peeves:
- People who don't know how to get on the freeway
- Target's return policy
- Noisy or disruptive fidgeting
- Parents who think their "baby" is completely innocent, no matter the circumstances
- Having religion shoved down my throat, like that's going to make me believe
- Seasonal allergies

Six things I really love doing:
- Writing
- Watching chick flicks
- Laughing; Rob's particularly good at inducing giggle fits
- Dancing
- Making my kids laugh and smile
- Anything supernatural

Six things I was into as a kid:
- Barbie
- Cartoons (Smurfs, Garfield & Friends, He-Man, etc.)
- Riding my bike all over town
- New Kids on the Block
- Achieving the perfect "big bangs"
- TGIF!

Six things I was into as a teenager:
- "Friends"
- Socializing
- Being musical...I played instruments, sang in choirs
- Boys
- Cheerleading
- No Doubt

Yay! Chain Surveys on Blogger.

I was tagged by Valeta.

The rules:
Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules.
Share six non-important habits/quirks about yourself.
Tag three other people.

1. I'm currently obsessed with anticide. I'm not sure if that's an actual "-cide" but in my world, it's the mass killing of ants. We had a small problem when we moved in here and it's escalated. I've tried Raid discs, Combat Quick Kill discs, multi-purpose cleaner, a line of comet around where the ants are coming in, honey/borax bait, and just cleaning. The discs work somewhat, but after a good rain or a cold spell, those fuckers are back in here. I'm open to suggestions.

2. I'm tongue-tied. Literally.

3. I've never had a pedicure.

4. Between 1992 and 1997, I had no idea what my natural hair color was. Lo and behold, it's dark brown.

5. I'm a Diet Coke addict, I drink a LOT of it.

6. I refuse to watch any new Johnny Depp movies. Un-American bastard.

I hereby tag: whomever reads this. I'm only certain of one reader, and she tagged me, so...