A Lazy Meme

I stole got this from Jess at Making Home and it looked like my kind of Meme - easy! Plus I love seeing what life experiences others have had, so feel free to copy and post on your blog! And let me know if you do, okay? All you have to do is boldface the items on the list you have done. Easy-peasy! (Jo - I worked the "easy-peasy" in just for you since I know how much you love that word!)

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

Wow! This list almost makes me look accomplished! Ha! :)

Random Dozen

1. On an average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself?

I splurge in spurts. Sometimes I buy something little for myself four days in a row, and then I go weeks with nothing. Probably on average, I get something 3 or 4 times a month - even if it is just a gourmet coffee when I'm at the grocery store!

2. What is the last creative project you began/finished?

If this has to be began AND finished...wow, probably a set of knit baby hats before Andrew was born almost 11 months ago! But I have started some socks (knit) and I've done lots and lots of creative cooking now that I found out we are allergic to food!

3. OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or just right?

I think my house is just right! There is plenty of room and I can still keep it all clean most of the time. When our kids are older, we might want a different layout, but I don't think I'd really want anything bigger.

4. What is your favorite outdoor chore?

I'm not sure I can put "favorite" and "outdoor chore" in the same sentence. I hate all outdoor chores. Fortunately, Jerry hates all indoor chores and so we happily do what the other hates!

5. If you knew that cigarette smoking was not bad for your health but would be a weight loss tool, would you use it? Why or why not?

I'd probably be tempted, but opt not to due to the expense and odor. And I'm vain, so the discolored teeth would be a turn-off, too!

6. On a road trip, would you rather drive or ride?

Ride and knit, baby!

7. What do you consider a trivial pursuit?

My biggest trivial pursuit is keeping up with a couple reality TV shows that I like. It is quite trivial.

8. This weekend, we downloaded the movie "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Within 5 minutes, I was bored and annoyed, but I kept watching 5-10 minutes at a time hoping it would get better between small chores. I finally gave up and Jorge watched it alone, and then regretted wasting that time because he disliked it intensely, too. So ... how long do you watch a movie or read a book before giving up on it?

I used to not be able to put a book down once I started it out of some weird sense of duty to the book. I'm totally over that. If I am not hooked in the first chapter (book) or 10 minutes (movie), I move on.

9. Is there a song that you really love but are embarrassed to admit because it's not cool or it's racy or because it's by Hall and Oates?

"White Trash Wedding" by the Dixie Chicks. I don't know why I love that song, and other than Jerry, no one else knew until now...

10. On a scale of 1-10 (10 = extremely) how spontaneous are you?

4

11. Are you a food and/or beverage snob?

Yes. Except when it comes to junk food. I'll eat store brand Oreos with no problem.

12. Who/What are you trying to control in your life?

I'm so busy trying to keep up, I don't have time to try to control anything. I'd do a rotten job at it, anyway!

It's been a long time since I participated in a meme, but today seemed like a perfect day to begin again! I saw this one that Jenni at One Thing did (which she got from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee) and thought it was a good one to do! So here goes...

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?

You know, I'm just glad that I'm not the only one who gets a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration every time I go! It always comes with a side of whiny kids, in my experience, too. Anyway, I'm a firm believer in avoiding this store at all costs which means I only go about twice a month, if that. Usually, it is to get something that I know is cheaper there than a department store, like a box fan or some random child's toy. The only item I get there with regularity is nursing pads. There you have it.

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?

I totally agreed with Jenni's answer here - vampires. The obsession is mind boggling to me.

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?

Research. Yep, you read that right, research. I love, love, love learning about new and obscure things. If not for the Internet, I would require a huge set of encyclopedias. Not just regular ones either. I'd also need medical ones, special botanical ones, a full set of culinary ones...you get the idea!

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?

Honestly, as much as I enjoy singing, I never sing in the shower! As for the car, whatever is on the radio. Boring. Oh, well.

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:

Good quality vinegar. No salad is complete without it. Oh, and cheese. Mmmmm....vinegar and cheese. It has been a few weeks since I had either and I am in total withdraw.

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):

Don't think you are always going to post every day. Unless you become totally unbalanced in your life (or don't have any kids) it probably isn't going to happen. Oh, and more readers isn't always better!

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?

I think they considered Jennifer. I know my mom wanted my middle name to be Stephanie. But, I like my name just as it is. There were too many other Jennifers when I was growing up. Although, it would be nice not to have to spell and explain how my name is pronounced to every single person I meet.

8. What in your life are you waiting for?

Short term: Teething to be over. Mid term: For my baby girl to arrive. Long term: To meet Jesus face to face. (Although I would be thrilled if this was a short term after all!)

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?

Amazon.com, full of new books. Man, I love that place! If it is from a person I know, my mother-in-law, with something for whatever holiday is just around the corner!

10. Today--what song represents you?

Ummm...

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?

That I get way to focused on whatever problem I currently have or whatever new thing that is in my life and it consumes me to the exclusion of all else.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?

I chose by what would be super comfy. I am wearing capris with a soft waistband because I had a stomach bug yesterday, and my tummy is still a bit off today. I didn't want a waistband pushing in on me. It says I still am not 100%, but enough recovered to actually get dressed and not stay in my pj's all day, like I wished I had done yesterday when this bug hit.

Tag, Belly, and a Contest!!

Well, Joanna tagged me, which I'm not sure is totally kosher since we are here on the same blog, but I've never been tagged before and it seems kind of fun, so I'll do it.

10 years ago: I was married just a year and a half, living in a tiny town in Ohio and teaching PE in one Christian school, piano in a montessori school, and running my own piano studio out of our home. I had just been in a car accident that left me with nerve damage and stuck in bed on disability for an entire month, unable to use my hands at all or feel my hands or feet. Sometime, I'll have to blog the whole story, because God healed me miraculously when I went to the elders of my church and they prayed over me and annointed me with oil. An amazing testimony to God's power and his faithfulness to do what he says he will do when we do what he tells us to do. (Did that make any sense at all??)

Things on today's to do list:

• school
• finish the four embroidered blankets I started yesterday
• Do some heavy cleaning in my kitchen (a friend is coiming over to help me with this!)
• get milk from store (very ambitious, I know. But hey, I'm 9 months pregnant - it is ambitious!)
• Put feet up at some point

Snacks I enjoy:

• clementine tangerines
• milkshakes
• cereal
• guacamole

Five things I'd do if I were a millionaire:

• Tithe (I put this because others are mentioning it, but I do it now, so is it really something that fits this category??)
• Pay off my house
• Invest more
• Set up a trust to better fund our favorite charities
• Make sure my children never have college debt

Places I have lived: Woodstock, IL; Oak Cliff, TX; Cedar Hill, TX; Duncanville, TX; Upland, IN; West Milton, OH; Arlington, TX; DeSoto, TX. Lots of Texas in there.

Jobs I've had:

• Babysitting - lots and lots of babysitting.
• Hand solderer and inspector at a printed circuit board manufacturing plant
• Retail clerk at department store
• teacher (piano, pe, music, computer, jr. high science & Bible, jr. high & high school English, speech, creative writing.)
• Mom

I think I am only going to tag one other person - Shannon. She is a great friend of mine and new to blogging.

In other news, I'm going to have a baby soon. Yeah, yeah, you already knew that. I know, but it is on my mind since I cannot escape the looming reality. I think I finally snapped out of my denial that this little boy is coming soon last weekend. I hit 36 weeks, had a baby shower, and had my doctor chastize me for not being more prepared, since he found that I was dilating. Hmmm. Okay. So I came home and ordered a car seat, packed my bag, and got the nursery together. Oh, yeah, and pulled a ligament in my stomach because I did that all in about 24 hours. Fortunately, I had a prescription filled the day before for some great, strong pain medication that I need to sleep at night now that this boy's huge head is resting very, very low in my pelvis. (I know, too much information.) Even with narcotics, I could barely walk Tuesday. Ouch! Much better now, though.

To help you all understand the last post better, where I said I was suddenly getting many comments on my size, I give you this picture, taken at exactly 36 weeks. The day after I took this picture, I dropped significantly, and I think I've grown even more. At some point, this has to stop!

I'm officially huge. Actually, I think now is a great time to have a contest. I think we should all predict a few things here:

• What day will this baby be born? (I am officially due Nov. 16)
• How big will he be? (My others were 8lb. 14oz. and 8lb. 12oz. and both were 21 3/4 inches long.)

What do you think?? Leave your comments here and after he is born, I'll pick the person who came closest! I'll come up with a nifty prize for the winner soon and add it in. Right now, I cannot think clearly because my kids are loud. Maybe when they nap, I'll think again!

ETA: I have come up with a prize! I will go today and purchase the rest of the items I need for it and then post a picture, but here it is: The prize will be a collection of things that I am looking forward to enjoying once again after Andrew is born. Included will be

• Bath salts: representing being able to sit (or in this case soak in the tub) for more than five minutes at a time without my backside falling asleep.
• Nail polish: representing being able to paint my own toenails again! I normally keep them painted all the time...
• Starbucks Gift Card ($5): the last time I tried to drink coffee (an iced coffee from Starbucks with dulce de leche syrup added - yum, yum) I got heartburn that lasted hours and hours and resisted all medication I threw at it! Needless to say, I haven't tried again.
• White Chocolate Coconut bar: these are my absolute favorite indulgence. As a general rule, I don't eat sugar, but when I did (and occasionally now when I do) these are amazing. This bar will represent all the foods I currently am avoiding due to heartburn, which are mostly tomato based or spicy, but how fun is it to mail you a jar of spaghetti sauce?? :)

There it is! Worth playing for? Tell your friends - I love seeing your predictions! I will write down my prediction too, and photograph it for proof to see how well I can gauge my own growing belly! I won't post it until afterwards though. With my other two, I guessed more accurately than even the nurse who assisted with the delivery. As she was walking to the scale, she and the doctor both made guesses, then I did too. I was the closest by a good 8 oz!