Day 30: A Picture of Yourself & 5 Good Things That Have Happened

It said a picture, not a photo.  

Trust me, this is more flattering. 

This looks just like me right now, 

except I don't currently have a rainbow shooting from my brain 

or deformed unicorns floating in midair.  

But that's kind of how I feel (even with it being the craziest morning ever).

So, the 5 good things that have happened to me since doing this 30 blog challenge:

 1. I was able to make it down to the 'Ville to have lunch with some of my Blisters.  Even though it was a quick back and forth trip, it was well worth it to see these ladies and have some down time.

 2. I've lost 10 pounds in about 2.5 weeks.  That means I have about 23 pounds left to lose to be back to my slim, hexy high school weigh (that means I'm actually 10 pounds thinner than the above photo).

3. My gorgeous daughter, Midge, was informed that she is going to be added to the list of players on the Women's Basketball team at the college she plans on attending. 

4. I pulled out an old/new bathing suit the other day that I wore maybe one time and never again because I felt (and looked) like a piece of sausage and put it on and found that it fit and I wasn't a sausage anymore.  

5. I met someone I think it pretty fantastic.  I've spent the past couple of weeks "skipping and farting rainbows" according to my coworkers.  It's pretty insane.

Day 29: Who Is Your Hero

Not such an easy answer for this one because I can't say that any one person is my hero really.  I can say there were people who influenced my life in great ways, but I don't think that qualifies for heroism.  No, I think the true heroes are people who do selfless acts for the good of others.  Firefighters, police officers, and those serving the military would be at the absolute top of my list. To tie this in with Deltaville, I'd have to say that all the volunteers who helped during the tornado cleanup, feeding people, clearing debris, searching for anyone trapped, searching for bodies (of which there were, thankfully, none)- those who basically saw help was needed and helped- those people are heroes.

So thank you to anyone willing to lend a helping hand, willing to put their life on the line to save another.

 

Day 28: What Stresses You Out?

In my current state of mind (complete and utter distraction) I think it best to just list those things that cause my blood pressure to rise.

* Stupid drivers.  I don't mind if you go the speed limit, after all, that is the law, but doing anything under the speed limit on a sunny day is unacceptable. Also, if you pull out in front of me you better be stepping on your gas pedal.

*Traffic- Typically caused by the above stupid drivers.  I hate being late so hitting traffic when I have somewhere to be at a certain time stresses me out.

* Being Late- Something I inherited from my dad.

* Disorganization in my work space- This is amusing somewhat because as a teenager, my personal space was typically cluttered.  Though I always knew where things were.  Now I get stressed at work if I have the desk too cluttered.  When I cook, I have to clean up the kitchen first. 

I imagine these all seem like trivial things, and they are.  That's because, honestly, I'm just too damn happy to dwell on those things that cause the most stress in my life.  And most of the ones I mentioned aren't really bothering me either.  That's right, I've developed a wonderfully cheery disposition.  And I haven't even had any wine.

Day 27: A Photo of Your City

I don't live in a city.  

Heck, the town I live in isn't even big enough for it's own post office.  

So I'm using a photo my mom took last week of my horse in the pasture.

Day 26: Your Dream Wedding

I've rewritten this post more times than I've been married.  I've been married twice.  The first time I was 18 and got hitched in a quickie wedding chapel in Dillon, SC with 140+ other couples.  I wore a skin tight crushed red velvet dress and looked like a hooker.  Thankfully, there are no more photos (I hope).  The second, while more traditional, didn't really meet my expectations. But the cake was good.

I don't really know what the heck is down the road for me at this point, and I'm okay with that.  I think the "dream" is to see where life takes me without worrying about it. And in the event that I find myself in a situation where I can dream up something, I think mostly I just want to face it without the trepidation of the last two and have the faith and confidence that I'm finely making the right choice.

Also, I'd like crab hats for everyone and wine.
And a rubber ducky float for each person in the wedding party.

   And a honeymoon, because even with 2 weddings I never got a honeymoon.

Day 25: Something You're Looking Forward To

That would be 6pm-ish today for reasons I can't share because I don't want everyone in the world to know my business.  But it's something that makes me laugh and brings a smile to my face.

Day 24: Something I've Learned

* that I'm stronger than I thought
* that even when you feel totally alone, your family and friends are there for you
* that you aren't the only person going through whatever you're going through
* that eventually, great things happen
* that wine and crab hats make everything better

Day 23: Favorite Movies and TV Shows

I like when I don't have to think hard to blog.

Movies:
The Princess Bride- Seriously, how can you not like a movie with Giants, pirates, sword play, mind games, R.O.U.S.'s and Twue Wuve?

The Goonies- Still my favorite. Nothing better than Sloth, his love of Chunk and the ever popular Truffle Shuffle.  The Brat Child also loves this movie and does a mean truffle shuffle himself.

Pirates of the Caribbean (all 4)- 2 words, Johnny Depp

Star Wars- a Classic I used to want to marry Chewbacca back when I was 7

E.T.- Anything with Aliens has to Beee Gooood

Ghostbusters- no brainer, hello, it has ghosts (and Egon Spengler who I also wanted to marry in my youth)

When Harry Met Sally- Had to throw a chick flick on here, this one is particularly good.

Eat Pray Love- Good movie. Hot actor. (You're welcome CBW, I used this pic just for you)






TV Shows:

Scooby Doo (the originals not the new ones)- This is where I learned my insane paranormal investigation skills

NCIS- Special Agent Gibbs, and Michael Weatherly

NCIS Los Angeles
CSI
Criminal Minds- really, I love murder investigations and being the first to figure it all out (it really irritates Midge)


Ghost Adventures- What's to explain? There are ghosts.

Project Runway- Probably the one show most wouldn't think I enjoy.  Since my fashion sense runs to jeans and Mothman T-shirts, rubber duckies and crab hats.


Kitchen Nightmares (I have the hots for Gordon Ramsey)

Day 22: What Do You Want Your Future to be Like?

Full of this:

Day 21: Something You're Proud Of

That's easy.

I have a beautiful talented daughter who is a scholar athlete so named by the school, has made player of the year for field hockey, had a good season of basketball, tried out for a sport (soccer) she hasn't played since she was 5 and made the team, has been accepted by an excellent college, is being emailed by the field hockey and basketball coaches of that school, has an incredible voice, doesn't give me too much teenage drama, helps me out whenever and however she can, genuinely cares about people and wants to help them, has a clear career path planned, makes good moral choices, is absolutely gorgeous and hilarious.

I have a hexy son who tells his mom that he loves her throughout the day, tells her he misses her when he isn't with her, likes to help in the kitchen when I make salad, is doing an excellent job learning his numbers, letters, and words, has been able to read a couple of 'I Can Read' books at home, helps with the animals (as long as poop isn't involved), is a good friend, has pretty good manners, is funny as all get out and has a great brain....

Day 20: Something you Wonder What If About

I missed a few days.... It's difficult to upload something on the internet when you don't have internet access all weekend.  In many ways, that was a good thing.  I considered going back and posting day 17-19 in one jumbled mess, but I think it's best just to move on.... to what if.  


It's easy to drive yourself crazy with what ifs, and I speak from experience.  But honestly, while there are trials and tribulations I'd rather not have to deal with, I'm pretty good with things.  Anything different in how I've lived would not have given me my 2 great kids.  And they are pretty terrific.

Day 16: Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it.

There's a reason why I'm always behind the camera

Day 15: Death Row Meal

That's an easy answer:

Shrimp Boil

 It has everything: Shrimp, Corn on the Cob, Kielbasa, Carrots and Potatoes and Old Bay

But I'd want to eat it with friends.

 And wash it down with a chocit shake

And some Hush Puppies

Day 14: A Picture of You Last Year

How have you changed?.... I've become more animated.

I'm the short one on the right

 Oh I crack me up.  To see the whole cartoon story go here.

Day 13: Goals

* Build a chicken coop that is both aesthetic and large enough to house 6 chickens.
* Get the FAFSA forms filled out so Midge has money to go to college.
* Get an oil change (the poor van is long overdue)
* Buy a new camera, because I NEED it
* Spend as much time as I can in Deltaville this year
* Lose 30 pounds
* Write a book
* Finish getting my college degree (once I decide what to do when I grow up)
* Blog more consistently
* Learn how to can veggies
* Get back to all the hobbies and interests I've neglected (i.e. scrap booking, ghost hunting, photography, blogging)
* Finally backpack the 41 miles of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Maryland

Day 12: Something You Don't Leave the House Without

I guess the best answer is my cell phone.  

I find this rather amazing that in a just a few years society 

has gone from not being easily accessible away from a home or office to being accessible 24/7.

I remember the days of payphones

I remember when I got my very first address book and my grandmother gave me $.10 

in case of needing to make an emergency call.  

Yeah, it was $.10 back then.

My kids won't ever use a payphone.

I also remember that back when we had a trailer down in Deltaville,  

we didn't have a phone in the house.

This was not an issue when I was under the age of 13,

but when you get to high school and you have a boyfriend 

you can't bear to go a whole week without talking to

your only option was walking/biking to the Little Sue 

with a bucket of change and calling from the payphone.

The phone used to be located between the window and the ice chest.

Now there's talk of getting rid of the house phone because we all have cell phones.

(and I've noticed now that I don't even like to talk on my cell phone.  

I'd rather someone just text me)

Progress?

Day 11: A Quote You Love

Just one? That's not so easy for the girl who has two journals full of quotes and poems she finds interesting or profound.  So here are a couple of my favorites:

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”

~Rumi

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

"In the middle of every difficulty lies and opportunity."

~Albert Einstein

Day 10: Something You're Afraid Of

 Spiders- Specifically the Black Widow

And my fear originated in Deltaville in the 80's.

Once upon a time, we had an old metal shed in the yard that held the shovels, rakes and other yard tool stuff.  Also in this shed were black widows.

Truth be told, my grandmother was always worried about spiders (and snakes) and often told my cousin and I not to go in the crawl space and to stay out of the shed 

(I've tried to use this as an excuse to continue not having to go under the house or in the shed).

One of my older male cousins thought it was fun to catch black widows in jars 

where he would let them spin a web.  

 Once the web was spun, he liked to take the lid off the jar, 

hold it upside down over my head and tell me if the spider fell in my hair 

I would have only 3 seconds to live if it bit me.

I'd never make it to the house to dial 9-1-1.

I have been terrified of black spiders ever since.

Of course, while the venom of a black widow is 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake.

It causes muscle aches, nausea and difficulty breathing

but seldom long term injury or death 

(unless like the flu you're elderly, very young or have a compromised immune system).

Doesn't matter.

All I think about is having that spider biting me and only being able to have enough time to dial 9-1 before succumbing.

Day 9: A Favorite Picture of Your Best Friend

I can't really say I have a best friend.  That's mostly because I tend to have just a small group of people I consider friends with whom I have close and meaningful relationships with.  With that being said, here are a couple of photos (please note how serious and meaningful these relationships really are):

Day 8: A Place You've Traveled To...

...and where else you want to travel to.

Most of my vacations are spent in Deltaville.  

If I have a free weekend and some gas money, I'm going south.

I mean really, who wouldn't want to go here?

There have been other trips like out to Trout Lake, Washington to spend 4 days in a field at the UFO Ranch (yes, I said UFO ranch).

 It was great waking up and seeing Mount Adams right there outside the tent.

(Not to mention all the "interesting" people)

And I took a trip out to the West Coast

 But honestly, at the end of the day, there's no place I'd rather go to relax than the Tidewater region of VA.

Why would you want to go anywhere else?