anything you ever wanted to know about me . . . or didn't wanna know. but here it is anyway!

30 Things You Love

1. sleeping in late
2. iced cold bottled water
3. shopping
4. driving with the windows down
5. playing scrabble
6. running 3 miles without stopping
7. rockwall climbing
8. sweet kisses from my nieces and nephews
9. flip flops
10. watching true crime television
11. no TV commercials
12. the miami heat
13. sunday dinner at the parents' house
14. swimming in my parents' pool
15. tanning
16. working out
17. "the amazing race"
18. driving fast
19. chocolate peanut butter ice cream
20. naps
21. doing laundry
22. listening to my music **really** loudly
23. reading
24. sunday mornings
25. coffee
26. crossword puzzles
27. texting
28. mexican food
29. doing nothing all day long
30. kissing

29 Things You Want to Do Before You Die

1. be on either "amazing race" or "survivor"
2. live in tuscany, italy
3. own my own home
4. write for a magazine . . . but a "big" magazine
5. finish my degree
6. learn to surf, sail and snowboard
7. get over my fear of live fish
8. sail around the world . . . or at least to the middle of an ocean where there is no land in sight.
9. live near the beach
10. visit the grand canyon
11. go to hawaii
12. write a book or two
13. publish my poetry
14. be a college professor
15. get a therapist
16. move out of killeen
17. be completely happy
18. get out of debt
19. run a marathon
20. visit all 50 states
21. jump out of a plane
22. bungee jump
23. go on a hot air balloon ride
24. drive down the california coast in a convertible and let the wind rip through my hair
25. own a restaurant / bar
26. go to a broadshow show on broadway.
27. see "the phantom of the opera" opera
28. visit the metropolitan museum of arts
29. live in new york city

28 Songs You Love

1. "by my side" by sade
2. "big blue sea" by bob schneider
3. "night train" by amos lee
4. "ode to billie joe" by bobby gentry
5. "summertime," live version by janis joplin
6. "some other spring" by billie holiday
7. "a kiss to build a dream on" by louis armstrong
8. "harold and joe" by the cure
9. "bullet the blue sky" by U2
10. "god only knows" by the beach boys
11. "judas" by depeche mode
12. "beach chair" by jay-z f/chris martin of coldplay
13. "violet hill" by coldplay
14. "untitled" by keane
15. "read my mind" by the killers
16. "sunday bloody sunday" by U2
17. "new year's day" by U2
18. "simple man" by lynard skynard
19. "sunset boulevard" by charlie robinson
20. "jack and diane" by john cougar mellencamp
21. "aquemini" by outkast
22. "alright" by john legend
23. "cross my mind" by jill scott
24. "tyrone" by erykah badu
25. "hope" by jack johnson
26. "the sun" by maroon 5
27. "who'll stop the rain?" by CCR
28. "put your records on" by corinne bailey rae

27 Things You've Done in This Lifetime

1. ridden a rollercoaster
2. eaten a cricket
3. killed a bug
4. gotten fired from a job
5. was a car saleswoman
6. ran til i couldn't run anymore
7. had a concussion
8. played varsity soccer my freshman-senior year of high school
9. stopped talking to a best friend for years over a boy
10. paid an $800 phone bill
11. lied to my parents and got caught
12. snuck out
13. lied to spare feelings
14. lied to get out of trouble
15. gotten married and divorced all in less than a year
16. traveled and got paid to do it
17. had my tonsils removed
18. hit a buzzard with my car
19. went to mardi gras in new orleans
20. slept in my car
21. called in sick when i wasn't sick
22. read the same book three times in a row cuz i loved it so much
23. shopped more than i needed to
24. got laid off
25. kissed someone i didn't know
26. bought cigarettes for someone who was under age
27. ran a canyon road and puked afterwards

26 Places You Want to Travel to Someday

1. tuscany, italy
2. barcelona, spain
3. hawaii
4. new york city
5. rome, italy
6. sicily
7. portugal
8. buenos aires
9. rio de janiero
10. madrid, spain
11. russia
12. vienna, austria
13. frankfurt, germany
14. connecticut
15. maine
16. grand canyon
17. lake tahoe
18. savannah, georgia
19. costa rica
20. greece
21. nice, france
22. napa valley
23. japan
24. amsterdam
25. nashville, tennessee
26. pittsburgh, pennsylvania

25 Places You've Been

1. dallas, texas
2. austin, texas
3. fayetteville, north carolina
4. salt lake city, utah
5. fort walton beach, florida
6. boise, idaho
7. redondo beach, california
8. hermosa beach, california
9. atlanta, georgia
10. six flags in dallas
11. disneyland
12. capitola, california
13. lubbock, texas
14. weatherford, oklahoma
15. ashdown, arkansas
16. texarkana, arkansas
17. salado, texas
18. fredricksburg, texas
19. college station, texas
20. tijuana, mexico
21. fairbanks, alaska
22. fort rucker, alabama
23. new orleans, louisiana
24. baton rouge, louisiana
25. rexburg, idaho

24 Foods You Love

1. sauteed zucchini
2. bbq chicken
3. pork chops in grey gravy
4. tacos
5. guacamole
6. chips and salsa
7. salad
8. ranch dressing *is that a food?*
9. broccoli
10. hamburgers
11. potatoes
12. pizza
13. popcorn
14. colby jack cheese
15. corn on the cob
16. cashews
17. apples with peanut butter
18. skor candybars
19. onions
20. peanut butter protein bars
21. black olives straight from the can
22. croutons dipped in ranch
23. french fries
24. dad's homemade chocolate cake

23 Movies You Love

1. "the sound of music"
2. "casablanca"
3. "the princess bride"
4. "brown sugar"
5. "the devil wears prada"
6. any and all james bond movies
7. "sex and the city"
8. "brokedown palace"
9. "how stella got her groove back"
10. "peter pan" (yes, the disney cartoon)
11. "private eyes"
12. "boondock saints"
13. "a river runs through it"
14. "legends of the fall"
15. "something new"
16. "an affair to remember"
17. "the three faces of eve"
18. "goonies"
19. "rear window"
20. "psycho"
21. "chicago"
22. "crash"
23. "shawshank redemption"

22 Things You Love to Do

1. take naps
2. workout
3. hang out with friends
4. hang out with family
5. shop
6. eat good food
7. play NTN trivia at buffalo wild wings
8. spend time with my nieces and nephews
9. help others
10. read magazines while laying on the couch
11. take hot bubble baths
12. work on my lawn (not mowing it or anything; more like planting grass and flowers)
13. cook
14. watch true crime television
15. write poetry
16. listen to music
17. do laundry
18. clean house (but i **really** have to be in the mood)
19. run
20. play punchbug via cell phone
21. give my nieces and nephews millions of kisses
22. tease colby

21 Important People in Your Life

1. mama
2. daddy
3. heidi (and family)
4. brett (and family)
5. todd (and family)
6. heather (and family)
7. hilary (and family)
8. chad (and family)
9. scott (and family)
10. leslie
11. ben
12. t-mac
13. sKaren
14. jamie
15. elizabeth
16. kevin
17. john
18. mac
19. angie
20. kuczek
21. mariota

20 Favorites

1. Holiday **christmas**
2. Season **fall**
3. Color **charcoal grey**
4. Animal **anything i don't have to take care of**
5. Vacation Spot **redondo beach, california (one of the only vacations i've been on recently and can remember)**
6. Movie **"the sound of music"**
7. Actor / Actress **taye diggs / julie andrews**
8. Musician / Band **tie: john legend, jack johnson, corinne bailey rae / tie: the cure, depeche mode, old U2, killers, keane and death cab for cutie**
9. Sport **to watch: nba basketball; to play: soccer**
10. Sports Team **football: 49ers; basketball: miami heat; college: texas A&M; baseball: san francisco giants**
11. Book **the count of monte cristo**
12. School Subject **english**
13. Flower **stargazer lily or hibiscus**
14. Food **mexican**
15. Drink **dasani bottled water OR triple tall sugarfree vanilla breve latte**
16. Ice Cream Flavor **chocolate peanut butter**
17. Piece of Clothing **olive green nike shirt**
18. Outdoor Activity **working on my yard**
19. Indoor Activity **cooking**
20. Day of the Week **tuesday**

19 Self-Defining Words

1. loyal
2. smart
3. funny
4. procrastinator
5. witty
6. thorough
7. over-analyzer
8. worried
9. fast learner
10. under-stimulated
11. homebody
12. honest
13. picky
14. in shape
15. tired
16. addicted
17. open
18. down to earth
19. fun

18 Things You Want to Do Before Year's End

1. get out of debt
2. buy new baseboards and moulding for my house and have it installed
3. get a new bed
4. get a new garage door
5. get over d-wade completely
6. save enough money for a down-payment on a car
7. train for a marathon
8. submit my book of poetry for publication
9. apply for "the amazing race"
10. get back into school (if tarleton switches to A&M)
11. be healthier
12. have a better yard than hazel
13. find a job i really love
14. finish getting my realtor's license
15. buy curtains for my house
16. go to six flags
17. visit john and hayley
18. get health insurance

17 Have You Ever's

1. Broken a bone? **fractured my right pinky**
2. Almost died? **not that i know of**
3. Been in a car accident? **more than one**
4. Traveled outside of the country? **just to canada and mexico (how boring)**
5. Gotten a tattoo? **i've gotten four; would like to get rid of three**
6. Been married? **once and i learned my lesson**
7. Had children? **no, thank goodness**
8. Done drugs? **never anything illegal**
9. Blacked out from drinking? **more than once (that was most of my days in college)**
10. Been arrested? **nope . . . i try not to be on the wrong side of the law**
11. Broken the law? **only when it comes to speeding**
12. Been on TV? **just the local news**
13. Seen a miracle? **who knows . . . define "miracle"**
14. Had your heart broken? **oh yes . . . many times by the same man**
15. Broken someone's heart? **not that i am aware of**
16. Been cheated on? **of course**
17. Cheated on someone? **i wish i could say no**

16 Favorite Memories

1. anything with my gramma
2. sharing a room with my sisters
3. hilary taking me to my first concert (blind melon and smashing pumpkins)
4. park city, utah with d-wade
5. spending a week in las vegas with heather, shawn and tyler
6. going to six flags with hilary, chad and scott
7. mardi gras with leslie
8. my second year of girl's camp with diane and marla
9. driving to and spending the week in california with veronica
10. watching my niece being born (even if it did make me puke)
11. last thanksgiving spent in arkansas
12. the summer after i graduated (hung out with regan and lorie EVERY day)
13. being in college
14. my first texas a&m football game
15. playing soccer in high school
16. my first kiss

15 Random Questions

1. Do you want to get married someday?
**been there, and i don't plan on doing it again.
2. Where could you go if you could go anywhere in the world?
**tuscany, italy
3. When / where will your next vacation be?
**not sure . . . but i hope it's somewhere fun!
4. Are you in love?
**yes, but he and i aren't together anymore; i'm working on moving on and i'm "in like a lot" with someone new.
5. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?
**i'm not very daring, to be honest. i guess i once outran a cop. not sure if that's daring or stupid, though.
6. What are three things you could never live without?
**coffee, cell phone and my family
7. If you had to give up one of your senses permanently, which one?
**smell?
8. Your most embarrassing moment?
**they all make me laugh
9. What's the greatest thing you've accomplished thus far?
**being a good aunt
10. What cause are you most passionate about, and why?
**being healthy, if that can be considered a cause. i'm most passionate about that because so many diseases can be prevented by just eating right and being in shape.
11. What political party do you belong to?
**i don't consider myself political.
12. The most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
**uh, who knows.
13. If you could take a roadtrip, where to go and who would you go with?
**anywhere as long as it was with someone i really liked.
14. What's one luxury item / privilege you can't live without?
**is coffee a luxury? if so, then that.
15. If you had to commit any one of the deadly sins, which one?
**lust

14 Things You Look For in a Romantic Partner

1. broad shoulders
2. overall sex appeal
3. sense of humor
4. loyalty
5. honesty
6. hard-worker
7. ability to get along with my family
8. willingness to learn
9. intelligence
10. stability
11. compatibility
12. attractiveness
13. trustworthiness
14. positive attitude

13 Things You Wish You Could Change About Your World

1. i'd have a job i **really** loved
2. i'd be financially stable
3. all of my debt would be gone TODAY
4. i'm leaving the rest of these blank because i think that that is all i'd change right now . . .
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

12 Random Facts About You

1. i love salt
2. i'm scared to touch live fish
3. i am addicted to text messaging
4. if i'm not listening to music, it's constantly running through my head anyway
5. i am crazy loyal, sometimes to my own detriment
6. i love to run and workout
7. i am scared of dying young and alone
8. i love music
9. i would love to be a psychiatrist
10. i am pretty OCD about a lot of things
11. i have only had one cavity in my life and i cried when i found out about it
12. i like driving

11 Defining Moments in Your Life *leaving this one blank on purpose; i can't think of anything i'd classify as defining, really. i've lived an ordinary life*

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

10 Things, and What They Remind You Of

1. "mr. jones" by the counting crows; reminds me of high school and regan
2. anything from the kanye west "graduation" album reminds me of utah
3. budweiser logos remind me of kenneth michael
4. logan's restaurant reminds me of the summer elizabeth and i became friends
5. the lakers and redskins make me think of d-wade
6. wrestling makes me think of my little brother
7. horses remind me of hilary
8. "goodnight moon" makes me think of jacob
9. the celica reminds me of veronica
10. my house makes me think of gramma

9 Descriptions

1. A Perfect Saturday **sleeping in late, getting coffee, spending time with family, hanging out with friends**
2. Your Best Birthday **last year when i got to see the cure in concert (even if it was the day after my birthday)**
3. An Ideal Dinner **any dinner on sunday night with my family**
4. Your Relationship with Your Parents **open, honest, intense, insane, loving**
5. Your Ideal Wedding **one that never occurs**
6. The Place Where You Grew Up **home**
7. The Time You Felt Most Beautiful / Handsome **any day i can be comfortable with myself and know that i am truly happy**
8. The Scariest Moment of Your Life **learning my daddy had cancer**
9. A Moment in Your Life You Wish You Could Have Back Again **the day my gramma died**

8 Things You Wish You Could Understand, But Don't

1. a man's brain
2. spanish
3. people who are close-minded
4. racism
5. organized religion
6. how someone can kill someone else (i'm just curious)
7. math
8. why coffee tastes **so** good!

7 Things You Wish You Could Do Today, But Can't

1. play the violin
2. play the guitar
3. run a marathon
4. buy a car
5. go shopping and spend all the money i wanted doing it
6. be out of debt
7. see all of my family for dinner tonight

6 Things I Believe In

1. coffee
2. myself
3. pro-life
4. the death penalty
5. money
6. happiness

The Five Senses - Your Favorites

1. Sight **my nieces and nephews, happy**
2. Smell **mama's and daddy's homecooking**
3. Sound **music**
4. Taste **mexican food**
5. Touch **hugs from colby**

The Four Seasons - What You Love About Them

1. Spring **the flowers, the sunshine, the rain, the green**
2. Summer **swimming in mama's pool, family visiting, flip flops and shorts, fmaily and friends coming for BBQs, my birthday**
3. Fall **the weather, the changing leaves, wearing light sweatshirts and flip flops, thanksgiving in arkansas**
4. Winter **the clothing, christmas, family visiting, christmas music, the anticipation of spring**

A Genie in a Bottle - What Are Your Three Wishes?

1. be independently wealthy
2. jacob's diabetes to go away
3. stay this age forever

2 Top Priorities in Your Life

1. getting out of debt
2. being happy

1 Quote to Sum Up Who You Are As a Person

1. "keep on keepin' on" . . . no matter what, i'm always truckin'!

promises, taken back

so i'm being laid off **again** on tuesday. gotta love the fact that when i got promoted to this position, they told me i'd more than likely not have to worry about getting laid off anymore.

guess they lied.

my long(-winded) weekend

i got home thursday, as you all know, from hell (paso) and it seemed like from then until sunday, i never stopped going. after the airport on thursday i ended up going to grab a bite to eat with heather at my **favorite place of all-time** (or at least that day cuz i didn't have it for two months in hell paso), jason's deli. then i went straight to mama's house and hung out there til after dinner, with everyone.

as soon as i walked into mama's house, jared came running up to me with open arms and gave me a huge hug and kiss. we chilled for a little bit before he took me to the pantry for a "nack" (snack). apparently since i've been gone, he's been deprived of hard, stale marshmallows and has only gotten fresh graham crackers. but since he's my boy and i know he loves those nasty marshmallows, i pulled them out and let him chow down! **he was in heaven.**



after that, i went to the house and watched "survivor," "grey's anatomy" and "private practice" before falling asleep on my couch. ended up going to bed to wake up early on friday, cuz i had to go to the zoo with colby and his class for a field trip. we hung out at the zoo for a couple of hours and let me say . . . i was **not** used to that humidity! it was crazy! i can say that about hell (paso) -- there was absolutely no humidity and it was nice. i wore the same outfit in waco that i wore every other day in hell and thought i was going to pass out! good thing i survived that, right?



after the zoo was over with, i headed to the house and laid down a bit before heading down to heather's to **mix and mingle with all those who aren't single.** some of our friends stopped over at her house for an impromptu bbq and since i hadn't seen any of them in forever, i decided to have a steak with them and catch up. we did a birthday cake for colby (his second of the day, as we had done one earlier for him with his class at the zoo when we were having a picnic lunch) and i cut out at 1030pm. had to be in dallas early on saturday.



was driving up to dallas to watch my niece, alexis, while valerie and my parents attended leslie's and g's mormony thing. since i cannot go and participate, but leslie is my best friend and i wanted to be there to support her, i volunteered to keep little alexis while the ceremony was going on. after we dropped val off at the temple, alexis and i headed over to the galleria mall to look around. i was good and restrained myself from buying anything, but man i thought i was in heaven for a minute **THE BIGGEST GAP STORE YOU'VE EVER SEEN** . . . i didn't even let myself stay and shop around. i headed out and ended up sitting for like an hour so alexis could sleep soundly. ended up heading back to the temple to meet up with everyone and snapped off a couple of shots of mom and dad with alexis. (sorry about the poor quality of this picture; we don't have facebook at work, so i had to pull the picture off of my phone and it turned out pretty bad, apparently.)



i also took a few shots of leslie, g and their little girl, mags, but for some reason **didn't get any of all three of them together** on my camera. either way, it was a happy day for them!





val and i drove home saturday night and i started to feel sick by the time i got home. burning throat, fever, headache, chills. all of my family was convinced i had swine flu; i just assumed it was allergies. ended up skipping most of dinner with the family on sunday because of my throat, but realized i had to go to mama's house when i looked for food at my place and found none. by the time i got there, there was no food left; i ate two cheese rolls (cheese tacos). they were **eh** but it was my fault for not getting there sooner (and they didn't look nearly as good as these ones).



sunday night i was unpacking my bags and what?!?! i realized i left about $1,000 worth of panties, bras and sports bras in my hotel room in hell. i hadn't noticed it before cuz i was so busy and had plenty of underthings in my suitcase from when i did laundry the night before i flew. finally got in touch with the hotel today and **YAY!** they do have my things. they're sending it all to me this afternoon. however, i'll be sure to wash everything twice **just in case.**

home sweet home

well today couldn't have gotten here fast enough, i tell you. seemed like yesterday dragged **on and on and on and on . . . and well, you get the point.** then this morning came and i couldn't get out of bed and ended up over-sleeping in by an hour. good thing i was mostly packed and only had a few things to get in the suitcase this morning. then it was off the airport!

the flight out of el paso was right on time and couldn't have been more full . . . literally. they had overbooked and so a couple of my co-workers who were hoping to get on standby didn't make it. as soon as i got into my seat, i was asleep. slept until we landed, actually. **i was exhausted.** got to our gate at dallas . . . and what does that say?

**DELAYED**

no problemo, i thought. only a few minutes. i was originally scheduled on the 1245pm flight out of dallas, but since i was there early enough, i decided to get on the flight daddy was flying on -- the 1145am flight. so i get to the counter, get my seat and am told that my baggage will prolly be on the original flight i was scheduled on. **no big deal,** i thought since i only live 5 minutes from the airport. and besides, we were still leaving before my original flight was. or so i thought.

**DELAYED** again.

by the time all is said and done, we end up leaving the airport at 1pm . . . a lot later than i wanted to. my original flight? left early. finally, we board the plane at 1pm and now what? **we're stuck sitting on the runway for thirty more minutes.** turns out our little crop duster was unbalanced, so we had to move all people and overhead luggage to the back of the plane since all the luggage was on the front of the plane. a little scary when you think about it.

but alas, all is balanced and we're ready to go. and then the turbulence start. **and i'm sick.** twice i had to reach for the puke bag cuz i wasn't exactly sure i was gonna make it. so bumpy. only one other time have i had to do that. it was pretty bad. my stomach was in my throat for most of the flight.

we finally land and i get to the baggage claim. and like the lady at the counter had said . . . my luggage wasn't on the flight. i am worried now cuz i know my original flight left early and i wasn't sure where my luggage was now. as i turn around to walk to the american airlines baggage place, i see my **two lonely suitcases** spinning around and around on the other conveyor belt from the earlier, but really supposed to have been later, flight. i grab them and am on my way.

not meaning for this to be a complaint. so in the end, i'll just say that i am **so** thankful to be home. as soon as i walked in the door, my little 2 year old nephew, jared, ran up to me and threw his little arms around me and gave me a kiss. granted, little ella -- my one year old niece -- had no clue who i was, but she'll warm up to me eventually.

either way, i am **in love with home** today. mama is in the kitchen cooking up some vegetables and daddy is bbq'n the country-style ribs. it's going to be a good night, a good weekend . . .

**a good life.**

me, daddy and mama

my sister sent me this picture today of me and the parents. it was taken over this past thanksgiving break, and i love it. they are truly two of the best people i know, and i aspire to be like them everyday. i sometimes feel like a huge disappointment to them, but i hope that they are proud to call me their daughter.

i love you, mama and daddy!

"holly and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day"

so yesterday was all around a bad day. i had a lot of stuff to get done at work and people just **kept bugging me.** bosses and boss's bosses. trying to get stuff done on a deadline is not really my forte. i can get it done during that time, but sometimes -- most times -- i like to take my time to ensure that i do not make mistakes when entering data or working in the database. so work kind of soured my mood yesterday.

i got home expecting to have a night to myself watching all my thursday shows -- "survivor," "grey's anatomy" or "the first 48" and "private practice." got to watch the first show. "grey's," of course, was a rerun **which they've been doing a lot lately** so i turned it over to A&E to watch "the first 48." but what happened? it played an hour earlier here than it does back home so i missed it. by the time "private practice" rolled around, i was too irritated to watch anything and decided it was time for bed.

but what happened before the TV fiasco? **the bathroom fiasco.** yes, that's right.

so the past five days or so, i've had to call maintenance every single day to come and plunge my toilet. and not because i'm, er, "dropping kids off at the pool," or anything like that. it flushes, and then it fills up to the brim and goes down. then it continues to do that. so maintenance has come each day and supposedly fixed it. well last night, i get home and go to the bathroom. the toilet does it's usual flush and fill, but it continues to fill. **and then begins to overflow.** and the toilet continues to run and the water continues to overflow. all over the tile floor in the bathroom. and then it runs over the tile and onto the carpet in the vanity area.

i frantically run into the bedroom area, call the front desk and yell that my toilet has again become clogged and that now it's overflowing all over the floor. they tell me they'll send maintenance right away. i slam the phone down, run back into the vanity area, and begin moving everything off the floor -- namely my shoes -- to prevent toilet water from getting all over them. maintenance finally arrives after five long minutes **did they not hear the panic in my shrill voice on the phone?** and sloshes through the now 2-inches of water covering my floor. he somehow gets the toilet to stop running and leaves to get towels to clean up the mess.

by now, i'm so irritated, i plop myself down on the couch to watch "survivor," and am super annoyed that i missed the first 10 minutes of it cuz of the bathroom. the maintenance guy brings back a ton of towels and the man with the water extractor to clean the carpet. all in all, he's there for almost an hour and the extractor is so loud that i have to turn the TV up to the max volume and sit two inches from the screen to hear it. he then gives me the option of throwing more clean towels on the floor for the night or bringing in an industrial-sized fan to dry the carpet. i opt for the towels for the night cuz **i can only imagine how loud the fan will be.** he takes the soaked towels with him and comes back with several dry ones. puts them on the carpet and leaves.

the rest of the night, i had to walk to the bathroom in flip flops. and this morning, to get into the shower, i had to wear flip flops. i stopped by the front desk on the way to work this morning, while maintenance was in my room, and asked them to also put the fan on the carpet while i was working. i had attempted to tell that to the maintenance man himself, but he **no speaka ingles** so it was a futile attempt. i didn't wanna leave them there fixing my toilet, but i had already waited an hour and a half for them to finish and they looked nowhere near being done. since i was losing work hours, i ended up leaving and telling the front desk to make sure that maintenance closed the door behind them.

i was told i was getting a new toilet or mechanism, if they could replace that. let's hope this doesn't happen again. i just want this weekend to be fairly decent. however, i am super glad that this is my last weekend in this place. i will be just fine if i never have to see hell paso again.

and now, a quiz:


It is midnight. Who are you texting?
*i better not be texting anyone at midnight, since i go to bed at like 9pm! but if i am, it's prolly ben, heather, e or t-mac.

It is Wednesday: where are you usually?
*work. maybe out with friends for dinner or something. but home in time to watch my new guilty pleasure -- "the locator" on WE.

Who are the last four people to send you a text message?
*ben, t-mac, heather and tanya

What is on your mind right now?
*not a lot; i am good today. just listening to music, waiting for my work to come in.

Do you know how to play chess?
*i know the basic concept, but i never win. however, i did come *thisclose* to beating my little brother once, and that was just like winning to me!

What are you listening to?
*my iPod, on random. right now, as i type, it's maxwell's "temporary nite." i **lovelovelove** him.

Your Christmas list consists of:
*i have no clue! it's too early to be thinking about that, isn't it?

You are going to New York for shopping; where do you go first?
*i don't care where i go as long as my favorite shopping partner -- heather -- is with me! i can't wait to get home so we can hang out and go again!

You need a new pair of shoes; what store do you go to first?
*well from now i will be going to the new balance outlet store! or the adidas or nike outlet store. i'll **never** pay full price for a pair again!

How do you feel about your hair?
*pretty indifferent about it right now. i am **seriously** considering cutting it. i am just tired of the maintenance and upkeep. plus, it needs a serious cut and color.

What time do you wake up for work?
*so many factors to consider.

What movie is in your DVD player?
*it's prolly "sex and the city" from the last time i watched it. months ago.

Last two numbers in your phone number?
*ninety2

Who calls you by a nickname?
*several people. not sure i like all the nicknames, but they work. **holly-dolly, hol, punkin, squirt, h, pants, hot pants, etc.**

What side of the bed do you sleep on?
*typically diagonally across the center of the bed. sometimes on the right side. all depends.

Do you like roller coasters?
*i **lovelovelove** them! can't wait to hit six flags this year! who's going with?

Favorite TV show?
*i keep up with "grey's anatomy" and "private practice," but i love "survivor," "the amazing race," "intervention," "the locator," and "i survived." PLUS **all** of my true crime shows.

Favorite beverage?
*it's a tie between dasani bottled water and my triple tall sugarfree vanilla breve latte **so good**

When is the next time you will kiss someone of the opposite sex?
*prolly not for awhile and i'm not particularly happy about that.

What do your pants look like?
*blue jeans from GAP **long and leans**

Are you tired?
*yeah, everyday. getting up at 4am really sucks! so glad that today was the last time i had to do that! and really, i didn't get up til later cuz i woke up today with a **horrible** headache. had to take out my contacts, take meds and go back to sleep for a couple of hours.

Do you have to pee?
*actually, i do. but it's ridiculously windy outside, so i'm holding it til the last possible second!

Would you kiss the cook of tonight's dinner?
*not sure some hot, sweaty dude behind the line at PF Chang's is worthy of my kiss, so prolly not!

Laugh much?
*at least daily. several times daily. **i love to laugh [hahahaha], long and loud and clear . . . ** (name the movie that song is from).

What are your plans for Saturday?
*going to the outlets with the boys, then perhaps some bowling and maybe a little bit of packing! YAY!

What is the dumbest thing you have ever done with your cell phone?
*either throwing it at someone or spilling a glass of iced tea down my apron when i was waiting tables, thus ruining my phone which i had **illegally** in there.

Favorite sit down restaurant?
*el chico, of course! however, i will miss leo's, too **which happens to be just about the only good thing here in hell paso.**

Bubble gum flavor of choice?
*orbit sweet mint. tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream **in love with it**

Do you want to take something back that happened in the last week?
*not that i can think of.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
*happy and successful.

The most excitement you had this week?
*i don't know that i'd call it "excitement," but my toilet overflowing pretty much takes the cake.

What do you usually order at Taco Bell?
*uh, nothing. i **never** go to taco bell. fast food is bad for you.

Have you ever sat all the way through "Gone With the Wind?"
*several times . . . i own that movie. and it's a goodie.

When was the last time you were up all night?
*it's been a minute. i enjoy sleep too much!

Favorite board game?
*ooh! either scrabble or parcheesi. and sorry when i play with my nieces and nephews.

Where is your favorite place?
*home **or** with my family.

Do you ever think about the price of gasoline?
*nope. why think about it? you have to have it.

Do you sleep with a fan on?
*always! i am like an oven at night. i think that's why it's so hard for me to sleep really good here. no ceiling fans.

What is the best thing about winter?
*not a whole lot. i guess the winter clothes. the weather sucks!

How often do you hold back from saying what you are thinking?
*i don't often hold back; i just try to phrase it tactfully.

Are you currently planning a trip?
*planning a trip back home! i'm also going to try to plan a trip to utah in the summer to see john and hayley, but we'll have to see how the fundage works out first.

Who was the last person you read something out loud to?
*prolly something to a co-worker. who knows.

Last time you forced yourself to do something?
*this morning, when getting out of bed.

Have you ever googled your name and found somebody else?
*yes . . . and i don't like her very much. she is crazy successful and owns every single email address for my name.

pickles in a bag and gas station hot dogs

first of all, i have to say that the above title contains two of the worst things ever invented by man. or god. or whomever invented pickles **especially "hot" pickles** and hot dogs **especially "gas station" hot dogs.** i have a girl in my office who loves both. and both of them make me wanna puke. and i have no idea why i felt the need to share that, but i did.

today i am annoyed with my company. they promise you one thing -- like all the travel pay they owe you -- by a certain day and nothing happens. no deposit, no money. it's quite ridiculous. even worse is when you're counting on that money to pay bills and such. **that's super annoying.** and so now i'm stuck cuz i have bills due but no money that was supposed to be deposited. they promised it by the 17th, but somehow i believe they're a company who don't [or is it "a company who doesn't"] value promises or people's welfare.

can't think of anything else to talk about this morning. i will be home in 8 days and i am **super** ridiculously excited. my own bed has been calling my name for months, not to mention colby ryan, who has called me just about every single day since i got here. hopefully i can get some major yard work done around the house. and get my car fixed. let's hope i get some money soon to do that!

anyway, leaving you with a quiz today. i have never done this one before. i think it was way fun. read and enjoy **and hayley, i'm expecting you to repost this one**

Aside from Driver's Ed, who really taught you how to drive?
*well, the first person to ever let me drive was my sister heather. and then dad turned the corner, saw me driving **at age 11** and it was all over. hilary used to let me drive her honda around the neighborhood a lot, before i turned 16. so i guess you could say i already knew the basics by the time i took driver's ed. after that, mom used to let me take the little isuzu truck to the church parking lot to learn to go from a complete stop to first gear without rolling on a hill **my parents were insistent that we all know how to drive standards and to this day, they are my favorite kind to drive**

What's the one thing you love / miss about your Grandma's cooking?
*i can't really say i miss too much about her cooking. as much as i loved my gramma, cooking was definitely not her forte. but i do miss everything else about her! except for when she used to try to make my little brother and i drink warm milk to calm our nerves at night when we would spend the night at her house and be scared. there is just something wrong with warm milk. unless it's in coffee.

If you had money to burn, what 3 charities would you donate to?
*no question about it: the american cancer society, american diabetes association, susan g. komen breast cancer foundation. all three diseases run prevelantly throughout my family.

What "Late Night Radio" song would you request to your man / woman?
*not sure . . . i guess i never really listened to late night radio like that, but i suppose it would be something like "by my side" by sade or "ai du" by ali farka toure. both are sexy, sweet songs.

What was the last high school / college project you did?
*last college project was my book of poetry for my independent studies course in college. yes, i have a book of poetry. i even had it all ready for publication, but never submitted it; i have a ridiculous fear of rejection and could never convince myself to submit it anywhere. maybe one day.

As a kid, who was the first -famous death- you remember hearing about?
*no clue . . . i don't think i paid much attention to that, to be honest. plus, i can barely remember famous people now, and you want me to remember a famous person's death years ago? **not happening**

What kind of music did your parent's listen to while you were growing up?
*a lot of beach boys on my dad's part **whom i still love to this day [especially "sloop john b."]** and my mom has always listened to **easy listening** music. not sure why, but she loves it. oh -- and a ton of church music.

Name 2 historic events that have happened in your lifetime:
*9/11 and obama.

Who taught you to tie your shoes?
*honestly, i have no idea. but take your pick of any of my brothers and sisters **excluding scott** and i'm sure he or she had something to do with me learning. maybe even my mom and dad. no idea.

Where did you go on your first official date?
*you'd think i'd remember this, but i have no earthly idea. i know it had to have been with my boyfriend at the time . . . richard mitchell. prolly to the movie or something. when i was 16. leslie and i used to sneak to the movies all the time with our boyfriends **who also happened to be best friends** so i guess unofficially richard and i had been going on dates since we were like 14. maybe he'll remember. i'll ask him next time i talk to him.

When you cruised the strip . . . who were you usually with?
*well in vegas, i was with my sister. in killeen, the "strip" was rancier. regan, lorie and i used to cruise that ALL the time . . . in regan's dad's truck. i remember one summer we put like 5,000 miles on his truck cuz we cruised so much. quite ridiculous. i'm not even sure what we were cruising for. but we did the "box" around killeen . . . WS Young / Twin Creek [depending if we wanted to drive as far as Twin Creek] to Rancier to Fort Hood Street to Stan Schlueter and around again. and again. and then again. for hours. whenever i'm stressed or just need to think or be alone, i **still** drive that route!

Who was like your second mom or second dad?
*growing up, a few people. regan's parents, leslie's parents. and mrs. frisch.

Who is your strangest relative and why?
*not sure i have any strange relatives, to be honest. i don't know all of my cousins, though, so maybe there are some weird ones there? i think we're all fairly normal, to be honest.

What's your typical ice cream order at Dairy Queen?
*mint oreo blizzard, extra oreo . . . thanks, e! but those are very rare.


This or That

Animal House or Caddyshack?
*never seen either one.

Dorito's or Frito Lays?
*mmm . . . i like doritos. the collisions with the chipotle ranch and zesty taco.

Straight-Man or Comic Relief?
*what is that?

Survivor Man or Man vs. Wild?
*man vs. wild. i have a crush on bear grylls **he's so manly**

Casablanca or An Affair To Remember?
*oh man! both are **great** movies, but i will have to go with "casablanca." something about that movie.

Princess Grace or Princess Diana?
*"the princess bride!" anyone ever seen that movie aside from me? i *lovelovelove* that movie! my second all-time favorite, behind "the sound of music" of course!

Books, Movies or TV?
*mmm . . . that's hard. definitely not movies. a tie between TV and books. but only true crime TV.

Marilyn Monroe or Anna Nicole Smith?
*ooh . . . hands down anna nicole smith. she was my hero for the longest time! while marilyn monroe was classically scandalous [or was she scandalously classic?], there was just something about anna. dumb as a board, but convinced a multi-billionaire to change his will to give her everything. **hello, anna . . . i think i lauve you**

Playboy or Hustler?
*neither . . . both are pretty trashy. and degrading. i choose women's health.

Disneyland, Disneyworld, or Universal Studios?
*only been to disneyland, so i will have to choose that by default.

Halloween or Christmas?
*christmas, for sure. i have never been a big fan of halloween. the whole dressing up thing is just too much for me. plus, no one comes home for christmas. and really, i should say thanksgiving cuz that's when i get to see most of my family. and that's always the best time.

Leading or Following?
*a good balance of both, although i was recently informed that i'm bossy. and i immediately took it as a compliment. hahaha! honestly, though. i wouldn't consider myself bossy. just right. and i like things done the correct way the first time.

Planes or Trains?
*how about automobiles? alright fine . . . planes. i've actually never ridden on a train. i think that that could be fun, actually. anyone wanna take a train-trip with me?

Yesterday or Tomorrow?
*yesterday is gone . . . i'll choose tomorrow. it's easier to look ahead.


Favorites

Painting?
*hmm . . . i'd have to say "starry night" by van gogh. mrs. frisch always had it hanging in her classroom when i was in 8th and 9th grade. i loved it.

Museum Exhibit?
*haven't been to a lot of museums in my lifetime, but i love anything WWII related. i am going to the holocaust museum this weekend **way looking forward to it**

Thing to do when you're sitting home alone and the power goes out?
*light a candle or take a nap. after you call the power company, of course.

Snack / Junk Food?
*hmm . . . i'm in love with cashews. and the southbeach living peanut butter high protein cereal bars **so so so good** and gala apples. not that big into junk food. every once in awhile i'll eat a skor candy bar. those are delish.

Pet name for your significant other?
*uh, typically "babe." i do give all my mens nicknames, but i think that those are different than pet names. those are names i give so that i can blog about them without revealing their true identity.

Nickname for your best friend?
*depends on which best friend we're talking about. i have many.

Revenge tactic?
*i don't typically seek revenge. it's not my style. i live and let live.

Song to sing in the shower?
*whatever song i have in my head. i woke up late and immediately thought, "oops! i did it again!" and what song got stuck in my head? "oops! i did it again!" by britney spears. so i will admit that this morning, that was not my favorite song to sing. i was actually annoyed, cuz that's the only part of the song i know. so i just sang that line over and over again until i could get out and turn on VH1.

Bill that you have to pay?
*do people really have a favorite bill? i guess i'd say my gas bill since it's always the lowest. or any bill that is my "last payment" to a bill. so i guess that this month it will be my capital one bill . . . finally paid off!

Cuss word?
*i try very hard not to cuss. my parents dislike it and i try to be respectful of that. so i have been saying "crimany" a lot. i like to say "bastard," but for some reason that seems to be a cuss word. either way, i'd say those two words.

Era to read about or watch a movie in?
*i like to read about WWII, but not sure about the whole movie thing. i guess there are a few movies from that era i like . . . "bridge on the river kwai" has always been a favorite; "the longest day" is another. my most favorite is "casablanca," though.

Poet?
*oooh . . . i love poetry **which would make sense since i'm a poetry major** so i'd have to go with walt whitman, william wordsworth, shakespeare, edmund spenser, who wrote this one, my favorite poem of all-time:

**One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
Vain man, said she, that dost in vain assay
A mortal thing so to immortalize!
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eek my name be wiped out likewise.
Not so (quoth I), let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name;
Where, whenas death shall all the world subdue,
Our love shall live, and later life renew.**

Villain in a movie?
*hmm . . . prince humperdinck from "the princess bride."

Topic to gab with your family about?
*mostly family things . . . things from the past or future. whatever is on the menu is fine with me. we talk about a lot!


And Finally...

If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do?
*oh wow. not sure. prolly the same thing i always do! i'm too boring to be adventurous.

If you could know everything that one person was thinking, who would it be?
*anyone i am dating at the time. it would prolly save a lot of heartache in the end.

If you could have coffee with 3 people, living or dead, who would they be?
*audrey hepburn, my sister who drinks coffee, and **you know i have to say it** your mom.

sister, i see you . . . dancing on the stage of memory

so today on the way into work, i had my iPod on random **as always.** the song, "peek-a-boo" by siouxsee and the banshees came on and it immediately reminded me of my sister, hilary. she used to **love** that song when we were growing up and i remember she had the cassette single. we'd listen to that tape over and over again in our room.

i am very fortunate to have some great sisters. yes, i have awesome brothers as well, but there is just something about the bond between sisters. i have become very close with all three of mine over the past couple of years and know that i would be truly lost without them. we are each others' support and voice of reason. i know i could ask any three of them for just about anything and they'd do it, no questions **or at least not a lot of questions** asked. i don't think i could have hand-picked better sisters. they are all my best friends.

i miss sharing a room with them sometimes. i know that we're all grown up and everyone has their own life, but i think back to those days and it's always with a fondness. i can remember heather waking me up in the middle of the night to get into her bed so that she could sneak out and mom wouldn't know she was gone if she came in to check on us **heather's bed was RIGHT near the door and hilary and i shared bunk beds across the room; occassionally mom would peak her head in to check on us, but stuffed pillows in my bed looked like me from across the room** . . . i think about the many years hilary and i shared a room and i think that that was the best time. she was in high school but she always let me hang out with her and her friends and i think it was because sharing that room with her made us so close. i have vague memories of sharing a room with heidi, but i guess the thing i always remember about heidi growing up was how nurturing and caring she was; she always made sure my hair was done and that i matched **no wonder she's such a great mother now.**

overall, i think i have the best sisters in the world. i'm also glad that my sisters-in-law are so amazing. they each bring a different thing to the plate and i feel overwhelmingly grateful to have those 3 extra ladies in my life, and honored to call them **as well as my blood sisters** my friends.

so i tip my hat and with a big smile say: **here's to you, sisters!**

haircut!

okay . . . so i **really** want to get my haircut. and so today i found this AWESOME website called www.thehairstyler.com and you can upload your picture and choose a hairstyle to see how you'd look. i wasn't expecting to like the short styles, but i saw it on me and fell in love with it. so i need your opinion. i won't tell you which one is already winning, but i do need you to post in a comment here which one you like best. i know that there are only two styles, mind you, but i'm also trying to figure out which color is best. i am counting on you! just start at the top and have the first pic be pic #1 and then down until pic #7. thanks!

crazy ladies and paprika

I can't get to sleep without?
*brushing my teeth

If I were a doll, the accessories packaged with me would be:
*starbucks coffee, cell phone, running shoes, flip flops (a girl's gotta have options), and an iPod. i'd be called "on the go" barbie. ha!

I have an irrational fear of:
*live fish. not seeing them in a tank. but actually having to handle them.

What weight were you when you were born?
*i wanna say i was 8 lbs 7 oz. can't remember, though . . . that was a *long* time ago!

I am most opposed to:
*politics and religion.

I am too old to be:
*without a degree.

I find the thought of childbirth:
*dithguthting.

Next door to my house is:
*an old german lady and her blind husband on one side, a crotchety old woman and her son on the other. but there are no longer windchimes!

My feet are:
*apparently *super cute* . . . and in desperate need of a pedicure!

My preferred style of jeans is:
*long and leans from GAP. they **always** make my booty look cute!

I know how to cook:
*just about anything, but i'm sometimes scared to try new things.

I am annoyed at / with:
*people who live for and love other's people drama so that they have something to talk about or start. **grow up and get your own life already**

Men should always:
*take out the garbage.

Women should never:
*get paid less for doing the same job as a man.

What child-related smell do you not like?
*poopy diapers, formula, spit up, etc.

What sea creature scares you?
*sharks.

What color hair do most of the people you are around have?
*dark or grey, surprisingly. i work with a lot of old men on this test.

What object have you broken most recently?
*my heart. hahaha! no seriously, that was a joke. oh! this morning, as i was hanging my towel up on the towel rack, i somehow managed to rip the entire rack thingy off the wall. and since i was running way late, i had no time to call it in to housekeeping. in my defense, this has happened before. i'll let the maid find it and call for me.

Name one of the Spice Girls?
*paprika?

What was the last thing to make you cry?
*being frustrated / angry with my job. not really my job, i should say. a specific co-worker.

I would like to be in an advertisement for:
*hmm . . . not sure. never really thought about it. prolly something i'd promote . . . so either starbucks, dasani or iPod / apple. i could dance my way across the screen.

What are the stems of wine glasses for?
*to hold onto and hang.

My favorite shoes are:
*oooh . . . i have so many **favorites** . . . my black quiksilver flip flops, any of my new balance kicks, my newer nikes. i have a ton.

My mother's greatest fear is:
*getting alzheimer's, like her mother. i don't think she has anything to worry about. she keeps her mind sharp.

Can you use chopsticks?
*i prefer to eat things with a fork, as the good lawd intended.

Do you prefer beaches or forests?
*beaches! is there anyone out there who would prefer a forest?

word of advice . . .

*never* open your mouth in the middle of sandstorm.

we're not in kansas anymore, toto . . .

i have traveled to a few different places TDY while working for my company. i will have to say that i've always deemed *dugway, utah* as perhaps the worst of all of the places i've been. from the smell of the porta-potties, to field mice and rusty trailer hitches, to the embarrassing notes left by maids, ripped jeans and bloody knees coupled with tetanus shots, i am pretty sure that dugway tops the list of *suck.*

however, today when i was walking here at dona ana base camp, for a moment, when the wind blew in *just* the right direction, kicking up sand in my face, forcing even the bunnies to run for cover and wafted that oh-so-familiar stench of the porta-potties across the arid desert . . . for a brief moment i believed myself to be in dugway.

and i had a mini-heart attack.

turkey stroganoff disaster

so as i mentioned in the previous post, i decided to make stroganoff for dinner last night. i got all of the ingredients and whatnot through gritted teeth *and only gritted teeth cuz i had to brave walmart at 7pm in el paso, where every place remains crazy busy* and started dinner.

i should've known that it wouldn't be good with turkey. but so far, whenever i have replaced hamburger with turkey, it's been a decent, if not good, meal. last night was the *exception* to the rule. ben, one of my best friends, stopped over to have dinner with me and typically he always has seconds of whatever it is that i am cooking. last night, not so much. i could tell he was having a hard time eating firsts. it was just so . . . bland.

chef chad, my brother, told me i should've added salt and pepper. there is something wrong when you add more salt (and pepper) than one should consume in a month's period to one dish and it's *still* bland. it's especially bad since i'm a saltaholic and am a firm believer that salt makes just about any dish good.

i was supposed to bring a plate of food in for daddy today for lunch. i didn't. i couldn't bear to serve him that mess. and unfortunately, he brought nothing for lunch himself. i do have to go into town today to fedex some paperwork, so while i'm there, i'll pick both him and i up something to eat.

and i can assure you, there will be *no turkey* in it at all.

today's haiku

watching the t.v.
character is a big jerk
reminds me of you


*and on a side note. i'm making homemade stroganoff for dinner tonight. it was always one of my favorite dishes growing up. i haven't had it in *ages* as my mom refuses to make it anymore. that and chicken broccoli casserole. i asked dad the other day if he wanted some when i made it and he made the *puke* sound and made it very evident that he didn't. and so, i'll eat all the stroganoff myself. nanny nanny boo boo!*

a quiz, cuz i can.

so i'm supposed to be teaching this old lady how to do these forms for work. problem is, she's *incredibly* annoying. or maybe i should say she's inquisitive. either way, she drives me nuts. and so now i'm pretending to be doing work -- you know, looking down at my "paperwork" on my desk every once in awhile, shuffling papers, pulling out folders, etc. -- all in the name of putting off the training. i have two hours left and i'm not sure i can keep this up for too much longer before my boss asks me when i'm going to train her. but until that time comes, i'm going to continue to "work" and do nothing online. yay!

a quiz for your reading / viewing pleasure.

have you ever thought about getting your lip pierced?
*nope . . . never. i had once considered getting my eyebrow pierced, but am ridiculously glad i never did. now i would *never* ever consider any facial piercing.

does a kiss make you feel better?
*depends on who's doing the kissing and where.

have you ever passed out on the bathroom floor?
*not that i can recall. my sister once dropped me when i was like 3 after she was swinging me in a circle by my arms. i passed out then. my very first memory is waking up screaming and my oldest sister holding my tongue. *great first memory, huh?*

do you start the water before you get in the shower or when you get in?
*before i get in. who wants to stand in freezing cold water while waiting for it to turn hot?!?

what did you do today?
*worked. drove back and forth from dona ana base camp. going to cook dinner tonight. then sleep.

Have you ever brushed your teeth while in the shower?
*not that i can remember.

Have you had more than 3 boyfriends / girlfriends at the same time?
*uh, i might've dated more than 3 people at the same time, but none qualified as a boyfriend if i did.

have you ever thought about your death?
*as a matter of fact, i have. i used to play "who killed me and why" with my friends. via text message. and then i promptly got on anxiety medication.

ever been in love?
*i've been *in compatability* with someone. is that the same thing?

would you rather be in a permanent relationship or play the field?
*at this time in my life, i think i'd rather be in a relationship, although i'm not sure i'd call it a permanent one. i think i've played the field enough to know what i do and do not want.

what is your favorite sport?
*to play? soccer. to watch? basketball.

what color is your shower curtain?
*it's maroon and tan, i think.

have you ever had stitches?
*nope. a butterfly bandage, but it should've been stitches.

did you believe that boys / girls had cooties?
*i'm sure i did when i was little. no clue.

do you know how to use chopsticks?
*i can use them, but not very well. i prefer a fork.

lyrics stuck in your head?
*"you were in my heart" by lenny kravitz. i'm singing along to the song.

do you like the Red Sox or Yankees?
*nope . . . i'm a giants fan.

what are you doing tomorrow?
*prolly pretty much the same thing i did today. fun stuff.

who was the last person you couldn't take your eyes off of?
*your mom . . . she's hott.

have you ever given money to a homeless person?
*quite frequently, although watching "intervention" has led me to believe that they're all alcoholic crack whores. either way, i still give. "WWJD" (ha!)

have you ever run over an animal?
*only a buzzard. on purpose. kind of. i thought the stupid bird would be smart enough to move. and it was . . . but flew right into my windshield. bird feathers for DAYS!

what is your favorite cereal?
*i'm a fan of cream of wheat *delish*

have you ever had an oreo with peanut butter?
*nope, but i wouldn't be opposed to trying it.

What are you doing right at this moment?
*avoiding teaching the new lady the forms *she's rather annoying*

do you think its right for straight guys to get their tongue pierced?
*i don't think it's right for *any* man to have his tongue pierced. period.

where's your favorite place to be?
*my house

what's your favorite song?
*oh so many to choose from. i'm feeling "ai du" from *unfaithful* . . . can't think of the artist . . . ali farka toure, maybe? it's a *great* song.

are you more of a coffee or alcohol drinker?
*coffee! YAY!

have you ever thrown shoes on a telephone wire?
*nope . . . my mama would've kicked my *you-know-what* had i done that as a kid . . . or adult!

have you ever been skinny dipping?
*yep . . . at my mama's house. with my sister. bad idea.

have you ever been arrested?
*no sir. i was a good kid.

do you dream in black and white?
*only when i'm not dreaming in color.

do you talk in your sleep?
*not sure. i'm typically sleeping and can't tell.

do you snore?
*nope.

are you a redneck?
*nope . . . but i am related to *more* than a few.

funniest thing you heard all day?
*your mama jokes . . . they *still* crack me up. and we do them daily, all day long.

have you ever gotten a mosquito bite on your face?
*not that i can think of, but i'm sure i have!

what are you afraid of?
*dying young / alone, driving over water.

and oh yeah . . .

is anyone else having issues changing fonts or colors on their blog? it no longer gives me those options. i can only bold or italicize fonts. what gives?

your mama wears combat boots . . .

so this week i've been working quite a bit of overtime. and quite frankly, i'm not going to complain *at all.* the money is going to nice, i hope. anyhow, nothing exciting going on. just thought i'd post this pic i snapped of myself over the weekend, heading into the field. after all, i think i look *ridiculously* cute!

my daddy, the derelict

so things here in hell paso are moving right along. not very smoothly, but moving, nonetheless. test hours are long and everything is pretty chaotic, but i'm surviving and *counting down the days* til i get to go back home! i am really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and seeing all of my family.

like i have said before, i have been fortunate to have daddy out here on this test with me. one weekend he hadn't shaved and he jokingly said that he was going to grow his beard out. i told him now is the perfect time, as mom isn't around to tell him to *shave it off.* and that's when the beard-growing began.

daddy hated his beard from the start. every day he complained about *looking like a derelict* and how it was itchy and annoying. whenever he complained about the latter, i'd get out some of my *really good lotion* and rub it on his face, hoping that it would soothe his beard. then i'd scratch it for him and tell him it looked so good! truth be told, i *really* liked the way he looked with it.

yesterday morning, daddy informed me that he had had enough of the beard. he said it was really itchy and compared his annoyance with it to my annoyance of not shaving my legs as i shave them everyday and hate going without. i told him not to do it, but since he was so sure he was going to shave it off, i snapped a couple of pics of him with it. we posted those pictures on facebook last night.

i posted them on his facebook page in one of his albums and before i could even post it as his profile pic, his phone rang that familiar ring. it was mom. i had joked to him that as soon as she saw the pic, she'd call, but i didn't realize she would be *that fast!* "SHAVE IT OFF OR DON'T COME HOME!!!" she said into the phone. dad laughed and said it would be gone that night. we took a poll of whether or not he should shave it on his facebook status, and the only three haters were my oldest sister, brother and cousin. everyone else *loved* it.

i didn't see him again until this morning when we were getting ready to make the hour-long drive to work. and sure enough, he was clean-shaven once again. i guess his beard was fun while it lasted!