The stuff that's going 'round...

Ok...so, I joined the bandwagon:

What were you doing 10 years ago? Summer 1997…I had just finished my sophomore year of college, lived at home with my parents for the summer, and was working some sort of menial job (for gas, for fun $$)—gee, I wish life were THAT simple again.

What were you doing 1 year ago? Last June…the first part of the month I went to visit my aunt in NJ. Also, I was part of a training program at work that had me going all over the United States (that month I was able to visit Philadelphia, PA and Huntington, West Virginia. While in Philly, we learned about storm damages to our beaches (what kind of erosion takes place and what is being done about it); took a field trip to Atlantic City (it was a very rainy and very long day that ended in taking a Greyhound bus ride back to Philly—my very first (and most likely last) Greyhound bus trip!). From Philly, we DROVE to Huntington, WV and wow, what an amazing drive. I highly recommend it if you ever have the time. We made a pit stop along the New River and did a day-long float trip (through some Class V rapids!). While in Huntington, we learned about inland navigation—something a little more familiar to us back in Little Rock!

When I finally made it back home to Little Rock, we had a ribbon cutting ceremony for a project that I had been working on since I started with the government. It was a very exciting and busy month!

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. Stacy’s Pita chips—especially the Parmesan/Garlic ones! (Dang you Tallgirl!)
2. Fruity Cheerios (and/or other cereals within reach)
3. Cheese
4. Marshmellows
5. dark chocolate

Five songs that you know all the lyrics:
1. Manic Monday—The Bangles
2. Wide Open Spaces—Dixie Chicks
3. Bring on the Rain—Jo Dee Messina
4. Baby Girl—Sugarland
5. Stand by You—Carrie Underwood version

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. build the house I want on at least 10 acres of land
2. pay off all debts (house, trucks, school loans, etc.)
3. put money away for rainy days (invest for future endeavors—retirement, college for kids, etc.)
4. would still work, but less hours (because I can’t be idle for too long)
5. travel

Five bad habits:
1. procrastination (yeah, I do it)
2. caring too much what I look like when I go to work
3. road rage
4. being lazy
5. chewing the inside of my cheek (my mom always told me it would cause cancer??)

Five things you like doing:
1. reading—anything and everything
2. photography
3. camping/canoeing/ATV-ing (generally, if it’s outdoors, I like it)
4. sleeping
5. spending time with my hubby (even though it's hard to find that time)

Five things you would never wear again:
1. high waisted jeans/pants
2. anything with polka dots
3. skorts
4. high top sneakers
5. those big poofy hair clips; banana clips

Five favorite toys:
1. my truck—2004 Nissan Titan
2. 2006 Suzuki Ozark (250)
3. Ipod
4. my canoe (even though I haven’t been able to use it much!)
5. Our new TV

Seven Random Facts About Yourself

1. My dream job would be a photo-journalist for National Geographic (hey—where else can you travel the world, write, and take pictures for a living?). Now if only I could earn the pay I do now for THAT job!

2. I want to take a road trip across the United States someday. At least 3 months.

3. I am a book whore. I overspend on books to the point that I have enough reading material to keep me busy for the next 2 years.

4. I am getting tired of the way our medical system works. From the Doctors to the Insurance folks to the Pharmacists out there. They all suck. What ever happened to customer service? It no longer exists. What happened to the doctors working for you to help you figure out why you’re feeling bad? Instead, we now have to WAIT for THEM to see US (sometimes the wait can’t wait…).

5. I still love the Dixie Chicks. I respect and admire their musical abilities. 5 Grammys and a successful comeback album can’t be all that bad. They exercised their 1st amendment right and were crucified.

6. I never agreed with this war we are currently involved in. Bring our troops home safely. We miss them and we need them here, at home.

7. I still think about my mom every day. Sometimes I miss her so much it’s hard for me to function. And I’m scared that I don’t have my best friend to talk with anymore to keep me sane.