25 things about ME

Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I do not have time for this.
2. I am a good procrastinator (please refer to #1)
3. I do not have any tatoos
4. I use to want a tatoo of a basketball with my name above it on my ankle (a couple of my friends had one and it seemed to be the thing to do)
5. I am only organized when I have to be or when someone gives me a system with which to be organized
6. I'm leaving for Iraq in about 5 weeks....hence the need to be organize but please refer to #2.
7. I am very laid back.... except when I'm competing or am under a deadline... along with a few other random things... over all I'm laid back, you get the point.
8. I can play the trumpet.
9. I love music (esp. LIVE)... I can get lost in a song if it's got a good beat or the lyrics move me.... the combination of good lyrics and music speaks to my soul.
10. I am completely undeserving of what Christ did for me (us)
11. I love smells (good ones).
12. I love getting and giving thoughtful gifts...especially when they are a surprise!!!
13. Filling these things out makes me feel slef-absorbed but for some reason I do it anyway....
14. I am selfish at more times than I 'd like to admit.
15. I don't like disappointing people but am realizing I can't live my life trying to please everyone!
16. I just found out (literally) that my leave date for Iraq is now 14 March 09...officially (for now).
17. I use writing and music as outlets....and of course basketball.
18. Dried spit in a sink is disgusting and it DRIVES ME CRAZY.... spit and rinse, it's not hard people!
19. I hate for people to wait on me (being late is a pet peeve of mine) OR to be waiting on people.... it's rude and self-centered. Pick up your phone and call if something comes up... don't just have me waiting and wondering... b/c I'm good at making up horrible reasons (car accident) of why you would be late and then start to worry.... not cool.
20. I enjoy people and hearing about experiences that have made them who they have become.
21. I want to travel out of the country more than I have.... Iraq wasn't really what I had in mind, but it's a start.
22. I am protective of my friends and especially my family.... I become very NOT laid back when it comes to them.
23. I have been a romantic at heart since I was little.... but am starting to sober up and realize that love is a CHOICE not just a feeling.
24. I like smiling, smiling is my favorite.... and laughing.
25. I love the beach AND the mountains AND I wish I knew more about photography b/c I love pictures......a random group but I am following the rules for once... my list of 25 is complete!

Now it's your turn! I'm tagging Megan, Goggles & Grace, Watkins Clan, Campbell Soup, Abby, Lil Scotts, and Carrie!

Things I hear at work....

For the most part, the fact that I work predominantly with people that are at least 20 years my senior, goes unnoticed from day to day tasks. But it's moments like today that it's impossible remind me, I am not amongst my peers.



I was standing talking to one co-worker while another came up to join the conversation. She let out a big sneeze and I did what normal people do and said "Bless you." Her response?? "Thank you. Goodness! That just made me wet myself." What? Excuse me? Did she just say her sneeze caused her to "wet" herself?? She did. And I could not hide the fact that I was 1. shocked that she admitted that, 2. baffled as to how that can happen and 3. humored at the fact that she wet her pants because she sneezed so hard.



My co-workers then went on to say how that happens to them all the time and sometimes when they cough hard enough. By now, I'm literally on the floor laughing and they tell me something about how I have that to look forward to... But I couldn't really hear them I was laughing so hard. These are the types of conversations that I am not-so-gently reminded that I work with old, um, "developed" people BUT I love them and their uncontrolled bladders. I don't get to hear stuff like that when I hang out with my friends.... at least, not yet.

Inauguration Day

I am watching the inauguration as I type. There are so many people there and you can see the excitement!! Megan texted me with a poignant thought... People are worshiping him. Instead of chanting U-S-A! U-S-A!! It's, O-BAM-A!! O-BAM-A!!! It worries me only because I know what happens when you put your faith and trust in any man.... disappointment.

I know this is an exciting moment in our country's history. I pray that we remember it is God who has allowed our country to get to this point and prosper, and God will continue to be the one who holds the fate of our great nation in His hands. One man, elected as president can not be our savior... we already have one of those, his name is Jesus. My hope and prayer is that President Obama leads with humility, integrity and courage as the task he has before him will not be easy... there are a lot of people with HIGH expectations from this man. I pray that we as a people will remember just that, he is a MAN, not a god. Let's put our faith in God and prayerfully support the man we have elected into this position.

Proverbs 21:1 - "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."

God bless you President Obama, you will be in my prayers!!!

Countdown to Iraq.... What?!?

I guess today is as good a day as any to announce to the blogging world that in less than two months I will be headed to Iraq. Yes, you heard me correctly, I'm going to Iraq. My leave date, right now (this has been an ever changing thing by a day or two since the time I found out I was going) is 2 March 09. I have mixed emotions about going over there, but when it comes down to it I feel like this is part of God's plan for me and am excited to go.

I've been letting people know one by one and have felt overwhelmingly loved by some of their responses. Here are just a few of them:

"Did you tell them you have to be here for my wedding?!?"
"You can only go if your teaching badminton behind a very safe wall"
"IRAQ?!? For what? Do they need to learn how to shoot free throws over there?!"
"No, I'm not allowing this... who do I have to write and present to? I'll have a power point ready in the morning!"

While I'm not thrilled about the thought of leaving the comforts of home as well as, friends and loved ones I know that this will be an experience not soon forgotten. I will say as the date inches closer day by day I get a little more antsy about this upcoming trip. While I do LOVE surprises, I also am a person who likes to know what I'm getting into and right now I don't know much. I know I will be working with Special Events for the Soldiers out there but all of what that entails will be learned when I get there.

Did I mention I leave in UNDER two months!? I have so much to do to get ready, I almost don't know where to start! Can you say overwhelmed?! The middle of our basketball season, work and preparing to leave for 6 months = CRAZY. And ignoring the fact that I'm leaving in less than two months doesn't work. Just so you know... I've tried, but my boss not-so-gently reminded me yesterday that I have more to do in the next two months than some people will do in a year. Thank you, Josh.

So if you're wondering why I haven't blogged in a while....GET OFF MY BACK. I don't have time pee, more or less time to sit down and think of something fun or introspective to write about! Cut a girl some slack. please. I'm going to make a to-do list (I HATE to-do lists) this weekend so maybe that will help manage my time in order for me to get on here and post a little somethin somethin from time to time. But until then... I am on a mission

Vanilla and Baking air freshener does not belong in the bathroom!

That's it, I can't take it anymore.... Every afternoon I walk into the bathroom at some point and get hit with a waft of Febreeze's Vanilla and Baking sent mixed with, um well, I'll just say bathroom smells. Needless to say, the myth that women's #2 smells like roses is just that... a myth. As the combination of smells hits me when I walk in the restroom door, I literally want to yak! I mean really, who in the world thought it would be a good idea to use the sent of something we eat and enjoy smelling to cover the odorous fumes that come out of a bathroom. And it's not like the Febreeze covers the smell, it just mixes with it and ends up smelling like a vanilla covered fart. Lovely.

I have been meaning to blog about this for some time now because it just amazes me every time I walk in the bathroom that someone thought they were being a "good neighbor" by bringing this nasty combination to our restroom. The fumes most mess with my memory (or maybe it's the lack of oxygen to my brain as I am holding my breath) because I always forget to sit down and blog about it by the time I get back to my desk. Am I the only one that is revolted by the mishmash of smells? I can't be! Unless everyones' noses have fallen off their face, someone has to be in accord with me. But I've had enough.... the problem is solved. SOMEONE accidentally knocked the aerosol spray in the trash can ;) People can be so carless someimes. I guess it's safe to say, so long are the days of the Vanilla and Baking sent in the Summit Center 1st floor bathroom.... Praise be to God.