A Little More About What You Didn't Really Want To Know

Part One – Describe:
Your hair? ugly
Your mother? one of my best friends

Your father? the best Boppa ever

Your favorite food? crab legs
Your dream last night? I rarely remember my dreams

Your favorite drink? Diet 7Up
Your dream/goal? To write and publish a best-selling novel.

The room are you in? Living room

Your hobby? making cards
Your fear? losing a family member

Your TV? is on way too much.

Your Pets? one old kitty who poops and pees on the floor a lot lately.

Friends? very grateful for them
Your life? blessed
Your mood? optimistic
If you’re missing someone? always

Your best friend? I have several...I'm lucky...my husband, my mom, Rachel

Part Two – The Where’s?
Where do you want to be in 6 years? With my family celebrating a best-selling novel.

Where were you last night? At home playing games with my family.
Where did you grow up? Mostly, right in this same city, but partially all over.
One place that I go to over and over? my kids' school

Your favorite place to eat out? Jenpachi Japanese Steak House
Wish list items? bigger iPod, dresser and head/footboard made by the Amish, more music for my iPod, the addition/remodel to be finished so we can enjoy the added space, motivation to get everything done I want to get done, to be much thinner.
Last time you laughed? I laugh daily. I have 3 kids.
Last time you cried? Tuesday.

Part Three – The What’s?
Something that you aren’t? A published author

Last thing you did? Uh, wrote this post?
What are you wearing? pajamas
Something you’re not wearing? This is a weird question. I'm not wearing many things. Notably, I'm not wearing my Mother and Child pendant because the necklace kept making me break out. I need a new chain to put it on.
Your favorite store? Target

Thanks to Gunfighter for the inspiration.

Awarding Meme

Here's how the Honest Scrap Award works:

I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it.

I must list 10 honest things about myself.

I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.

I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links.

I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above requirements.

Lord knows I love to be like a wild buffalo and follow the herd, so let me see...thank you to the lovely Mrs. Dragon for giving me this fine award.

10 honest things. I can do that. But, like Amanda, I am curious about the origin of this award. Honest Scrap? That makes me think I have to write honest things about my scrapbooking habits. Wouldn't that be scintillating reading? Probably not. So. Here are 10 honest things that you probably didn't want to know!

1. I am a mosquito magnet. Honestly. They love me. I must be very sweet. Also? I react somewhat dramatically to mosquito bites. My bites swell to quarter and half-dollar size. When I was on vacation, one bit me on my right butt cheek. Not fun Friends, not fun at all.


2. I laugh heartily at the wipeouts on Wipeout. Yes. I do. Judge me if you will.


3. I'm not that great of a mother. I'm lazy. I yell too often. I hope that the moments that I do shine as a mother with sustain my children more than my failings will bring me down.


4. I like to be depressing on my blog.


5. I take a lot of teasing about Twitter but much good has come to me from it.


6. No matter how many sales I make in my etsy shop I think more people should be buying. It's very much just a hobby shop for me, but I always think my work is fabulous and should have tons of buyers. Honestly, I do great work! ;)


7. If the bat from a few weeks ago appears again I will go slightly batty.


8. Some of my favorite things include manicures and pedicures. I do not get them often, but I enjoy both immensely.


9. The week I spend "up north" with my family is one of the best, if not the absolute best, of the entire year.


10. I cannot imagine a better life. I am blessed and I know it. I still yell and complain and am unpleasant to be around, but I know that this is truly what life is about.

Nominees:

1. Creative Thoughts
2. Growing a Pair
3. Mayberry Mom
4. Tropic of Mom
5. Calculated Spontaneity
6. House of Revelry
7. You, if you want to do it!

The problem with me doing these kinds of memes is that many of the bloggers I read don't do memes at all, or they are seldom posting anymore. So, while I've tagged these wonderful people, I don't really expect anyone to do it because they are all so busy!

Our Souls

This was a meme that has been going around. I tried to link up where I thought it started but I couldn't get the link to work! Probably old lady error.

Anywho...these eyes are listed from oldest to youngest. (missing is Craig's eye because I didn't get a photo of his since he was busy making supper and you just don't bother a man when he's cooking supper do you? I think not.)

I have to say that K's eye looks deceptively small in this photo because he had one of those gigantic fake smiles in the photo...and that makes his eyes all squinty like his mom's. I have to say that I am particularly struck by how brown his eyes are. Just beautiful, just like his little (big) heart.

That's not to say that my girls' hearts and eyes are any less beautiful though, because...hello? Can you see the photos? You just know that the souls that come with those eyes are stunning.

100 THINGS

I know you're supposed to do this kind of list on your blog for your 100th post, but I never did it so I'm doing it now.

1. It is much easier for me to write than it is to make conversation with people.
2. Most people consider me quiet.
3. The people who know me best laugh about that.
4. In college, my friend Rachel and I knew the drink specials for each day of the week.
5. I had a lot of fun in college.
6. I also worked just hard enough to squeak through graduating Summa Cum Laude.
7. I sometimes wonder how I would have done if I'd actually studied.
8. I never thought I'd be a stay-at-home-mom before I had kids.
9. I thought I'd be a public relations rep or a reporter.
10. Once my first child was born I knew I wanted to stay home with her.
11. I was born with meconium in my lungs but the doctors acted quickly and I have no adverse effects from it.
12. Some people would beg to differ on #11.
13. When I was 6 I got my ears pierced in a shop beneath the World Trade Towers.
14. I have lived in San Rafael, CA, Port Angeles, WA, Governor's Island, NY, Mankato, MN and Rochester, MN.
15. When I lived in NY, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Manhattan were the views from my "back yard."
16. I cried when I heard the first plane had hit the tower, before we even knew it was a deliberate act.
17. I would like to visit overseas someday, but I probably never will.
18. I have started writing a novel but it is at a stand still right now.
19. If I ever finish it, I think it might be pretty good.
20. Up until my third child was born in May I was a Sunday School teacher.
21. #20 makes me laugh. Good thing they don't require you to have led a pious life.
22. I spend entirely too much time on Twitter.
23. I have an etsy shop (sentimentaljourney.etsy.com)
24. In times of great stress I sleepwalk.
25.Given the choice of going out or staying in I will usually choose staying in.
26. Once I am out somewhere I usually have a good time.
27. The first concert I went to was Bon Jovi at the Mayo Civic Center. I had butterflies in my stomach while I was waiting in line because I was so nervous.
28. I used to get butterflies in my stomach every time I was about to go out—whether it be to a friend’s house, to a bar or on a date. Still happens sometimes.
29. I am too sensitive and get my feelings hurt easily.
30. I love to dance.
31. In college I did a lot of two-stepping with much older men.
32. I was, at one point, the assistant manager at a shoe store.
33. Consequently, at one point, I had more than 70 pairs of shoes.
34. Sadly, after my son was born my feet grew a half-size and most of those shoes no longer fit me.
35. I’ve given most of them away on Freecycle.
36. I do not like to get my face wet so I hang a towel over the shower door so I can dry my face immediately after I wash it.
37. In a perfect world, if the planets were aligned just right, I would like to have been able to have more kids.
38. I really hated tomatoes until I was pregnant with my son. Now I love them.
39. Every summer I plant a bunch of flowers around my yard.
40. These flowers always include red salvias and dark red impatiens, planted in the same locations every year.
41. All but one of my grandparents passed away before I was graduated from high school
42. My remaining living grandparent passed away shortly after my high school graduation.
43. I wish every day that they had lived to meet my children.
44. Deep down, I know that they can see them.
45. I’m pretty sure my husband just insulted me as I was writing this.
46. He’s lucky I love him even when he irritates me.
47. I’m lucky he loves me even when I’m irritating him.
48. We irritate one another just enough to ensure no one else would put up with us.
49. I’m not at all convinced there are 100 things I can tell you about me.
50. I started my blog after reading only 1 post on 1 blog.
51. I don’t remember what blog it was, but I may have thought “I can do that, and better.”
52. I may be a little conceited.
53. I do not think I am at all attractive.
54. I think my children are extraordinarily attractive.
55. They’re smart too--sometimes too smart for their own goods.
56. If I had millions of dollars I would give away a good portion. I often see things at stores that I wish I had the money to buy and donate.
57. I do not ask for help even if I really need it.
58. I hate having to depend on others for even small things.
59. That was the hardest part of recovering from each of three c-sections.
60. It’s going to be a real bitch to put me in a nursing home. Sorry kids.
61. I performed in the school talent show in elementary school. I was petrified, but I did it. I sang “Maybe” from Annie.
62. I’ve sand karaoke in several crowded bars. I did not even need to be drunk to do it, although a beer often helped.
63. On my 22nd birthday I did a shot called a b!ow job on stage. I’m classy like that.
64. I was a Girl Scout.
65. I’m discovering I’m really quite dull.
66. I’ve never dyed my hair because I’m a chicken.
67. I save entirely too many mementos.
68. I get very addicted to playing video games.
69. I love going on “scary” rides, but I would never bungee jump.
70. Ditto for jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
71. I love to fly, however I have never flown with my children so that could change.
72. I have ridden in a sea plane and in a helicopter. (not at the same time)
73. My friend Rachel and I drove straight through from Minnesota to Texas during Spring Break in college. We spent what remained of the first night sleeping in my car at a roadside rest stop.
74. College me was not as smart as she thought she was.
75. I usually send birthday cards to my friends’ kids.
76. My kids have never gotten a card in return.
77. I’m always looking at things around me, assessing their photographic potential.
78. One of the most fun classes I took in college was Photography 101.
79. I was not particularly good at developing my own photos and I didn’t earn an A in the class, but the dark room was a soothing place for me.
80. I was good friends with most of my bosses at the jobs I worked during college.
81. I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper during my senior year.
82. I spend Homecoming weekend of my senior year in the hospital because I had mono.
83. I was a cocktail waitress when I was 18. The boss didn’t want to hire me at first but he gave me a chance because I was so persistent in trying to get a meeting with him.
84. I outlasted many of the older women that he’d hired. Many quit after one night because they couldn’t handle the stress.
85. It was one of the most fun jobs I’ve held.
86. I haven’t drank caffeinated pop/soda in more than 7 years.
87. I prefer dark chocolate.
88.The toilet paper goes over, never under.
89. I’d take being hot over being cold any day. So naturally I live in Minnesota.
90. Holy hell this is taking a long time to do.
91. I’m guessing only 3 people will actually read all of this.
92. I can make myself cry on cue.
93. Even though my kids have mostly lost interest in their Webkinz I continue to do their gardening, etc for them.
94. I love to play board games but rarely can convince other adults to play the games with me.
95. I enjoy watching shows like Nightline and Ice Road Truckers.
96. I considered becoming a police officer or a nurse but realized I’m too soft-hearted.
97. I am a night owl and routinely stay up until midnight.
98. I have a hard time squishing insects because I’m afraid they’ll fly at me and land on me before I can squish them.
99. I love to read and have been known to stay up all night reading a particularly good book.
100. While I am sometimes envious of others, I would not trade lives with anyone.

Where I’m From

I am from worn out tennis shoes, from Baby Aspirin and drawings on chalkboards.

I am from the dinging of the bell in the elevator of the high-rise. I’m from the salty sea air of the Hudson and the glow of the lights over the baseball diamonds.

I am from the peony, the large proud bloom on a sturdy stem.

I am from opening one gift on Christmas Eve, a Christmas ornament each year and dark circles, from Laura and Audrey and Edith.

I am from the stubborn and sleepless.

From What do you mean the book is upside down? and This is for the dogs.

I am from church with friends, from ringing bells in random churches and yearning for a home of my own.

I'm from San Rafael and Minnesota. Mac and cheese and green bean casserole.

From gathering soda cans from under the bleachers after a stock car race, the mud sticking to our soles, and playing cards in the kitchen.

I am from photo albums in the bedroom closet, files on the portable hard drive, the musty old-fashioned scrapbook with no frills and keeping memories at my fingertips even as they grow dusty.

*************

Write a poem!

Binky posted hers along with the format and it sounded fun so I did it. I don't know if I'm supposed to tag but I want to be better about linking to people so...I tag Kate, Sarah and Michelle! Even if you don't have a blog, but like to write, this is a fun one. Check out the format and test it out.

I don't mean to scare you...

If you had told teen aged me that when I was (such and such) an age I'd have 3 kids and I would post a photo of myself on the Internet in which I am wearing my glasses I'd have called you a liar. Yet here we are.

We had a snow day yesterday, a luxury for me these days because it means that I do not have to get up and get myself and 3 children ready to leave the house by 8 a.m. I strapped Baby D into her Baby Papasan chair and took my shower while the other two played in K's room. Once out of the shower I decided to wrap my hair like I do with Miss M's on occasion.

Then, because Miss M was supposed to have pajama day at school yesterday (which she was really looking forward to) we decided to have pajama day at home. Except I didn't actually wear my pajamas, but I did wear a velour sweatsuit that I try to never wear outside of the house. To me, wearing the sweatsuit outside of the house means I've really given up on looking decent. So, I wear the sweats when I'm not going anywhere. (Of course I could wear the sweats if I were going to the gym or something, but that hasn't ever happened.)

So this is how I end up looking like this at 9 p.m. on a Friday night. I'd just read Katie's post and enjoyed her self-portrait and thought I'd participate. Since I'd already posted yesterday I figured I'd take the photo right then and post today.
The meme rules, in case you're interested:

1) Take a picture of yourself right NOW!
2) DON'T change your clothes; DON'T fix your hair... Just take a picture.
3) Post that picture with NO editing.
4) Post these instructions with your picture.
5) Tag 10 people to do this.


And I stopped tagging people for memes (for the most part) a while ago...I wouldn't know who to tag for this one anyway. Just go for it if you want and be sure to tell me about it. I'll edit this post with your link then!

Kate at Eucalyptus Pillow

Front yard, back yard, all around the town

A few weeks ago Mayberry Mom posted the view from her front and back doors. Besides the fact that I'm at least a little voyeuristic, I thought it was fascinating to see the simple view out someone else's doors. So I figured I should post mine. These photos were taken October 28th.

As I look at these photos I realize how lucky I am. Not only with my husband and my three beautiful, intelligent children, but with the beauty that surrounds my home.

The front:

The back:

One of Craig's coworkers said if Craig wanted to get the play structure, we could have it. So we got a free outside play toy for our kids. Craig's very good friend from when they were kids also owns a landscaping company and let us take small boulders for the border and gave us a great deal on the mulch.

So this is my home on the outside.

What about yours? Let's see the view from your here.

By the Sixes

The very funny Katie at Motherbumper tagged me for a photo meme since we're doing NaBloPoMo and she wanted to give me an easy post! Thanks Katie!

Here are my instructions:

• Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
• Pray that you remember the details.
• Tag 5 others.

Let me say that I planned on following the rules, but when I got to the specified photo it was a photo that I don't want to post on my blog. So I did what any blogger would do: I cheated.

I set about figuring out other sixth photos in a sixth folder and didn't like the photos that I came up with. Eventually I figured F&%$ it, I'll just pick a photo that I want to use in this folder. So that's what I did.

I give you the not-so-randomly selected photo of Miss M and I on Mother's Day in 2004.

It was my second Mother's Day, and last as a mother of only one child. I was to have my son (whom I didn't know was a son) two months later. M, in this photo, is two months shy of two years old. She was, and still is, a child with a zest for life, and she was excited to be a big sister.

Some things that strike me about this photo:

1. I look really young to my eyes today.
2. That photo in the silver frame on the shelf in the background? I took it when Miss M was just 3 months old and we used it for our Christmas cards that year. That photo still sits on that shelf because I love that photo so much. When I went to order the Christmas cards, the lady at Target wasn't going to let me copy it because she thought it was a professional photo. Ha! I'll post that photo below too.
3. The bird feeder stuck to the window used to drive our cat nuts. She'd sit below it and cackle at the birds eating there, then jump up and try to get them through the glass. I'm not sure why that was so entertaining for me, but there you have it.
4. The preggo lady t-shirt I'm wearing is now one of my night shirts. But I did wear it again when I was pregnant with D. Old Navy t-shirts. They are comfy. And since no more babies, might as well keep wearing them for night shirts.
5. I'm sure Craig is thrilled with #4. Hawt!
6. My little girl is still awfully cute.

So now I'm supposed to tag 5 people. Let's go with: Holly at Tropic of Mom, Megan at Undomestic Diva, SusieJ, Karen because she takes awesome photos and doesn't blog much anymore, and Jeff because he seems to be running out of things to write about since he's writing about socks.

Who me?

Beck tagged me with this meme. It requires me to think a little more than some of the meme's I've done. I'm not the most coherent person these days, but I'll give it a shot.

Think back on the last 15 years of your life. What would you tell someone that you hadn’t seen or talked to for 15 years? How would you sum up your life? You get 10 bullet points. A list of 10 things to summarize about you. At the end of your list, tag 5 more people and send on the love…

• I went to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Mass Communications, Public Relations emphasis.
• My minor was in Speech Communications to force me to talk more since I'm what most people call "quiet." I took classes that made me get in front of the class and talk. It sucked but I did it.
• I'm still quiet.
• The paid job that I held the longest was as a clerk, then assistant manager of a shoe store. Yes, I was Al Bundy. Yes, I sometimes stick my hand in the waistband of my pants too.
• I worked for a medical association and designed several publications and their web site. I enjoyed much of the work. The office atmosphere was not so agreeable.
• I met my husband at a friend's wedding in which we were both participants. I thought his dimples were cute. He was impressed by my belching prowess.
• I'm a stay-at-home-mom now, and I couldn't imagine leaving my kids in a daycare.
• I teach Sunday school. For real. I didn't say I was good at it, and this last year I was more just a warm body in the room than anything, but I have been a Sunday school teacher for 3 years now.
• My third child was just born a few short weeks ago. Yes, third. I have three children. Yes, I know what causes that.
• Since high school, I have not been in contact with many people I went to school with, even though I am back living in the city where I graduated. Although this year my son and a former classmate's daughter were in preschool together.

Man I stink at picking people to tag. Plus I'm lazy...and I should be in bed instead of doing a meme that I just got tagged for a few hours (minutes?) ago.

Just do it if you want to and be sure to leave me a comment telling me if you do so I can read it!

The post where I ramble about random things and it's not even a random thoughts post

The lovely new mother of three mothergoosemouse tagged me for a meme and since I'm about to join the mom to three kids club I figured I'd better play along. If you haven't gone by her site and seen the adorable Oliver, you should. He's really cute. Almost as cute as my kids.


Julie did hers with a theme...we'll see if I have anything as coherent as that.


But first, the rules:


1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is my emotional state. I've admitted it before, I'm a crybaby. Add pregnancy hormones? Just ask my husband, I'm a time-bomb.

So here's my take on the meme: 6 random things I have cried over lately.

First, I took my kids to Target a few weeks ago. Let's just say it wasn't a pleasant trip. It ended with me sitting in the parking lot with my kids in the backseat crying hysterically because I'd not only had my kids acting like complete brats, but I lost my brand-new-$200-to-replace-cell phone. Now that was a fun trip. As my daughter told me tonight "sometimes you cry when you're mad mom." Ya think?

My kids have each said things over these last weeks that have struck me as funny. Now I can't remember what these things were exactly but let's face it, 3-year-olds and 5-year-olds are not known for their hilarious comedy routines. Nonetheless, I found their statements mighty funny. To the point of tears rolling down my face. And my helpful husband will help me to continue to laugh like that until I'm fairly certain that I'm going to drop a baby out of my body. Alas, that hasn't happened, but I've felt like it.

I bought the song "You're Gonna Miss This" from iTunes. It's Trace Adkins' song. If you're a mom and you've heard it, you'll know why I cried.

Similarly, the moms of the kids in our cherub choir will be singing with our kids this Sunday. It's a terribly sappy song about love being a special thing. Yeah, good luck with that one Heather. Ah, at least I'll be able to cry in front of a whole bunch of people. That ought to make it better.

Reading Rachel's blog and thinking about her little girl, who was so close in age to my little girl.

This afternoon, my son sang a happy mother's day song with his preschool class. He was supposed to do sign language and sign "I love you" but he couldn't quite get his fingers to work the way he wanted them to so he was doing the "peace" sign with both hands. He reminded me a little of tricky Dick, which made me laugh. Then I thought it was so sweet that I started to cry. Gotta love the mood swings.

I'm too lazy to do the tagging part. If you want to do it, go for it and let me know!

Letter meme

From Pantsfreesia:


Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following, and they have to be real places names, things...nothing made up!

What is your name: Heather
4 letter word: heat
Vehicle: Honda
City: Hackensack
Boy's Name: Harry
Girl's Name: Haleigh
Alcoholic drink: Heinekin
Occupation: Homemaker
Something you wear : hat
Celebrity: Helen Hunt
Food: hamburger
Something found in a bathroom: hair (in the drain)
Reason for Being Late: hit by a car (pleasant, aren't I?)
Cartoon Character: Hercules
Something You Shout: Hello!
Animal: horse
Word to describe you: harried

Doin' the meme thang.

Mrs. Swizzle tagged me for this book meme. So naturally I have to do it, because I always do as I'm told (quiet Craig. You too Mom and Dad.) except if you count the time that Kim at In Full Bloom tagged me for that "What's on your nightstand?" meme which I still haven't gotten around to doing. Let's see, she tagged me in, oh, November. Seriously I still have the post saved in my Bloglines so that I'll do it. Um. Yeah.



So, anyway.



Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)

Find Page 123 and Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.

The next book on my reading list is Backroads by Tawni O'Dell (as soon as I finish the last few pages of Ladder of Years.)

They were Rolling Rocks. Not the piss water he usually brought.

"Well they're not for Elvis."

And. Scene.

Tagging 5 people sounds like an awful lot of effort right now (feeling achy along with the cough and blowing nose now) so I'll leave it up to you to decide. If you're looking for something to post, this is an easy one. Don't forget to come back and leave me the link if you do!

Everything old is new again

My new friend and co-blogger at Midwest Parents, Michelle, tagged me for this fun meme where I get to go through my archives and post links that I like that fit each of five categories.

***********************
“So here’s how it works. Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:

Link 1 must be about family.
Link 2 must be about friends.
Link 3 must be about yourself, who you are… what you’re all about.
Link 4 must be about something you love.
Link 5 can be anything you choose. (Choose more!)

This is a great way to circulate some of the great older posts everyone has written, return to a few great places in our memories and also learn a little something about ourselves and each other. Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better. And don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!”

************************
Yeah, so I cheated on 2 of them and listed 2 links. Oh well.

I apologize in advance if you’ve been tagged before for this one! If you have, just pretend you didn’t see your name. Tags go to: Angi, Sandy, Kara, Bill and Dawn.

Even more stuff about me

Jennifer asked me to do this meme again, and since I like to play along...especially when someone is nice enough to link to me...I'm again doing a modified version of this meme.

So here are 7 more weird or random facts about me: (the pregnancy edition)

1. I used to think I make a great pregnant woman. Apparently now that I am getting older I don't make such a great pregnant lady. Or maybe I just whine more now.
2. I manufacture copious amounts of mucus while pregnant. (You're welcome for sharing.) I think my nose is stuffed up for the entire 40 weeks. The glamorous life I lead.
3. I get that dark line down the middle of my belly, from my navel to my, well, you know. Whatever the line is called, I forget and I'm too lazy to look it up right now.
4. My belly button has never "popped" like I see on a lot of pregnant ladies.
5. We pick out joke names for our kids while I'm pregnant. K's names were Talulah and Juha. I can't remember M's names right now. This one, so far is Tipper or Newt. Or maybe Hardy or Harvey. (If you know our last name those last 2 names are hilarious, trust me.)
6. I have taken 4 pregnancy tests since the first test I took. Now that I've seen baby and the heartbeat this need to take more tests should subside.
7. If my other pregnancies are an indication, I should be able to feel my munchkin move in about 5 more weeks.

I'm not playing by all the meme rules...so no tagging...but if you want to do it, go for it.

Silly meme

I saw this "Scattegories" meme on someone else's blog but I can't remember whose! Sorry!

Use the first letter of your name to answer these categories:

1. Famous Singer/Band: Hank Williams
2. Four letter word: hear
3. Street: High Street
4. Color: hazel
5. Gifts/Presents: home-made goodies
6. Vehicle: Hummer
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: hats
8. Boy Name: Henry
9. Girl Name: Haley
10. Movie Title: Hamburger Hill
11. Drink: hot chocolate
12. Occupation: hair stylist
13. Celebrity: Holly Hunter
14. Magazine: Health
15. U.S. City: Houston
16. Pro Sports Teams: Heat
17. Fruit: honeydew
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Hair dryer exploded
19. Something You Throw Away: hair (when you clean your brush!)
20. Things You Shout: Hey!
21. Cartoon Character: Holly Hobby

Interview

Slouching Mom graciously offered to send interview questions to some of her readers last week. Since she is such an amazing writer I thought I'd like to see what kind of questions she'd come up with for me. And she sent me some questions even though I apparently can't read!

1. So, be honest. You already have a girl and a boy. And now there's a third on the way! Are you hoping for a boy or a girl, or don't you care? Would M. and K. do better with a brother or a sister, do you think?
   
   Hmmm. This is a tough one. I haven’t been pregnant for very long so I haven’t had a ton of time to think about it. If I was totally honest I’d say I hope for another girl just because there are already 4 boys to the 1 girl in the cousin area. And the girl clothes are just so darn cute. And I know how girl parts work. Boy parts, not so much. Hence, K is not potty-trained yet. I can’t demonstrate how that thing works. In fact, I don’t know how to even start to help him with that area.
   
   On the other hand, boys need their mommies more. And I like to be needed.
   
   So, I guess I just want a baby…boy or girl. It’s all good.
   
   I think M and K will do fine with either, as well. But I’m probably in a delusional state. Pregnancy-induced euphoria?
   
2. Minnesota often gets a bad rap because it's so cold and snowy. Tell me something you love about living in Minnesota.
   
   Honestly, if I were to move away from Minnesota I would most miss (besides my family, who all live here in Minnesota) the distinct changing of the seasons. Sure you get those fluky days that are warmer or colder than normal but for the most part you experience the true four seasons here.
   
   When the leaves change color in autumn it is one of the most breathtaking sights. I get to see it every year.
   
   The winter snow hanging on the bare trees and against the dark green pines makes me think of Christmas in days gone by. The soft ping of tiny snowflakes hitting the window while I cuddle, warm, inside with my kids inspires me to do Sally Homemaker-type stuff like bake cookies. The muted sounds of everything when you venture outdoors.
   
   Everything that is brown turning green again. The clean scent to the air. Fresh spring rain.
   
   And summer? The hot days that beg for a swim that cool into a comfortable night. Those days that don’t cool spark spectacular thunderstorms that, while they terrify my kids, I actually love to lay in bed and listen to the rain pelting the roof and the thunder rolling over and over.
   
3. K.'s alternate nickname is "Accident Prone Man, Jr."; describe his most spectacular accident thus far.
   
   When he was about 16 months and still not the steadiest on his feet, he was playing in the garage at my parents’ house with his sister and his cousins. They play in the garage sometimes in the winter time because it’s too cold to go outside but they start to go stir-crazy in the house all the time. K was attempting to keep up with the big kids, tripped and fell on his face. On the concrete. Which promptly chipped off half of one of his front teeth. Have you ever had a mouth injury? Yeah, the mouth bleeds. A lot. Anywho. Call to the dentist (whom he’d never been to but luckily I had just taken M to so they would take K as a patient) who told me to bring him in for an x-ray. Let me tell you it is not fun to hold a screaming toddler’s head so that people can get an x-ray. He didn’t damage the root, which is what they were concerned about, so they sealed up his tooth a week or so later and built the tooth up a bit so it doesn’t look so chipped.
4. Do you feel as if you've become a better parent with each child? If so, in what ways?
   
   In some ways I suppose I have relaxed more. The way the “experts” say to do things often aren’t the best ways for my family, which really threw me for a loop as a new mom. Now I just do things my own wrong way and don’t worry about it so much. Also, with more than one child you don’t focus so much on one child and become one of those annoying parents who think their child does absolutely nothing wrong ever. Because let me tell you, my kids screw up often. But then, so do I.
   
5. Name the book you most recently finished and then review it.
   
   4 Blondes by Candace Bushnell.
   
   It is essentially 4 short stories about 4 blonde women (hence the title) who are upper-class and egotistical. The women spend much of their time thinking that the world owes them a favor. Perhaps this is a book for a younger woman or something…or at least a woman without children, because I found the women insufferable. Why did I keep reading? Because I have to finish reading a book if I start it. It’s just a rule. But seriously, skip this book. You won't be sorry.

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Thank you to Slouching Mom for these great questions. It was fun to answer them!

I'd like to pass on the offer if anyone would like me to write some interview questions for them. Leave me a comment here, then shoot me an email so I know where to send the questions!

Fab 4 Meme

I was tagged in early September and somehow missed the tag from Kim at In Full Bloom...so here is my Fab 4, albeit a bit late. Sorry about that!

4 Jobs I’ve Held

1. Grocery store cashier/bagger


2. Sears Portrait Studio photographer


3. Shoe Store manager


4. Communications Coordinator for a medical association

4 Films I Could Watch Over and Over

1. About Last Night...


2. Grease


3. The Breakfast Club


4. Say Anything

4 TV Shows I Watch

1. Grey's Anatomy


2. ER


3. Brothers and Sisters


4. Nightline

4 Places I’ve Lived

1. San Rafael, CA


2. Port Angeles, WA


3. Governor's Island, NY


4. Mankato, MN

4 Favorite Foods

1. cheese


2. tortellini


3. crab legs


4. fresh bread

4 Websites I Visit Everyday

1. Yahoo!


2. Bloglines


3. Twitter


4. Hotmail

4 Favorite Colors

1. emerald green


2. chocolate brown (like K's eyes)


3. blue (like M and Craig's eyes)


4. periwinkle

4 Places I Would Love to Be Right Now

1. Kee-Nee-Moo-Sha


2. Cancun


3. Orlando


4. Venice

4 Names I Love But Would/Could Not Use for my Children

1. Audrey


2. Peyton


3. Tristan


4. Nicholas

I pass this Fab 4 MeMe on to:

Sandy, Angi, Kara, and Mrs. Swizzle.

My history in Cars

I haven't owned that many cars. If I added in the cars that my husband has owned since we've been together, this post would be much longer. But I'm focusing on ME. ME ME ME ME. Because, really, it's all about me.

Here I am with my first car. I (We, my parents and I) bought it when I was 15 and didn't yet have my drivers license. Then, being an overeager teen, I took my test on my birthday and failed. It was an unfair fail. I still believe this to this day. The man that tested me had issues.
Love the bouffant bangs. That is a hottie there. And the car is pretty cool too.

I suppose I should mention what the car is. 1982 Mazda RX7.
Here I am (I think) the day I brought home my new car. It happened to also be prom night. This is me and my good friend Michael, who consented to go to my senior prom with me since my dickhead boyfriend was too cool to go with me. It had a manual transmission, so yes, I can drive a stick. Ahem.

The year of the car escapes me. But it is a Toyota MR2.

Here I enter a slightly more sensible phase. I bought this car after my Aunt Kay traded it to a dealership. This car took my friend Rachel and I to Texas and back, and took me back and forth from home to Mankato (college) many, many times.

1989 Pontiac Grand Am.

We sold the Grand Am when I took possession of my current car, a 2002 PT Cruiser. Go figure, no photos of me with my current car. Probably because I don't look as cute as I once did. We sold the Grand Am to one of Craig's coworker's daughter. She hit a deer with it and pretty much totaled it within a month.

So there you have it. My (short) car history. What's yours?

Me in the Middle

Gunfighter posted a meme about middle names and cheated by not actually tagging anyone, but I decided to play along because he seems like a nice guy in general. He even said so in his meme.

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here we go...

My middle name is Dawn, so I luck out on having a short meme and very few people to tag!

D - Dancing. I actually really like to dance, but you'd never know it from looking at me. I spent many evenings in college at different establishments cutting a rug with friends and strangers. I enjoyed two-stepping or three-stepping the most, but I would dance to any type of music.

A - Approachable. I must be, since I regularly have strangers tell me things that I really didn't need to know about them. They also ask me to help get things off of tall shelves. That may just be because I'm taller than them.

W - Water-logged. It rained more than 10 inches yesterday, and more today. We have enough rain now. Thank you.

N - Near-sighted. Shocker, I know. I wear contacts most of the time because I'm just that vain. I usually have them out and my glasses on by 6:30 at night if I'm not going anywhere though.

There you have it. Some not-so-interesting info about me.

So, I tag Sandy, Jeff, Damselfly and Kara.

More stuff about me...

This little meme has about 400 variations and I've now been tagged for it, oh I think this is the fourth time. But this time was from my new bloggie friend at Mother Nature. Since I'm unbelievably flattered and amazed that anyone would find my blog remotely interesting and even more amazed if they like it enough to link to me, I'll play any game requested! (although I will not tag anyone else...if you want to play...have at it!!!)

Here are the rules:
1. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
2. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

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1. I am reluctant to post any more pet peeves on my blog since my husband finds it extraordinarily funny to do all the things that irritate me. On purpose.

2. I hate getting my face wet. In the shower, I need a towel hung over the door so I can dry my face several times during the shower. It's a real bitch to wash my hair, as you can imagine.

3. When I was in 6th grade I played youth soccer on a team. I sucked. Badly.

4. That same year, I rode my bike with a friend in a bike-a-thon for diabetes. We rode about 23 miles before we had to quit to go to our soccer game. (I should have just kept riding.) I actually had a lot of fun doing it. (riding the bike, not the soccer game)

5. In college, my friend Rachel and her brother Joel introduced me to country dancing. We're talking 2-step, triple step, 16 step, etc. We would go to Bailey's Pub and Joel would be there dressed as the fox mascot for the radio station where he was a DJ. They'd rig the drawings so I would win embarrassing things like skimpy red lingerie. But Joel and his roommates and Rachel's boyfriend at the time would all dance with me and make me feel like I was the best dancer. And, I actually was pretty good. Good times.

6. I am a pack-rat. (Yes, Craig I know.) It takes a lot for me to get rid of something. Our garage sales are painful because I think about how cute my kids looked in the clothes that I'm selling. But once they're gone...I'm fine. It's just that initial hurdle of deciding to get rid of something. (Craig, you married me anyway so I don't want to hear it!!)

7. I have a sneaking suspicion that everyone else is a better parent than I. Then I hear of worse things and feel better.

8. I love making lists. Sometimes I make a list, do something that wasn't on the list, then write that thing on the list just so I can cross it off. It makes me feel like I accomplished something.

So, like I said, I'm not playing by the rules since I'm not tagging anyone, but really you know who I'd tag anyway don't you? Go for it...you know you want to.